The 28th Annual
Carter Caves State Resort Park
Crawlathon
January 23-25, 2009
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The 28th Annual |
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Saturday
Saturday 8:30am TRIP #1: Scouts Only Bat Cave Excursion (Level 2) - Duration: 3 hours - Limit: 25 people - Status: 2 Spots Open Scouts Only. This trip starts with a 1/4 mile hike to the cave entrance from the maintenance parking area. Bat Cave is completely wild with the exception for the cave gates. You will be required to navigate through some walking passages, climb over breakdown piles and do some hands and knee crawling. You get the whole package with the cave being a combination of dry, muddy and wet. How wet you get depends on how merciful your guide is. Meets at Lodge; Transportation Needed.
Saturday 8:30am Would you like to try rappelling? Here's your chance. No experience will be necessary. What you will need are leather gloves and a hard hat with chin strap. This will NOT be a "how to" workshop. You'll be given basic instructions, put on the rope, and monitored on the descent. Follow signs in front of Lodge to the site.
Saturday 8:30am Wilburn cave is located near the top of a big ridge. The trip to the cave entrance is a strenuous 250 ft. climb up a 30 degree banking, so you should be in good health to participate in this trip. There is little to no walking passage found in the whole cave and it is known for plenty of nasty little crawls. At one point in the cave you will have to straddle over top of a 20 ft. canyon to navigate through the passage. The cave is on private property and we have permission to visit the cave during Crawlathon Weekend only! Meets at Lodge; Transportation Provided.
Saturday 8:30am This hiking/caving trip will take you into the beautiful Tygart's Creek Gorge. This trip will consist of 1 ½ hours of scenic hiking through rough terrain and steep inclines around Tygarts Creek. Along the way you will get to see two different caves. Skyscraper Cave, seen only during the Tygarts Creek Regretta in the past, is considered by many to be the most beautiful in Carter County. On this trip you will have to navigate through a very narrow canyon passage and a very tight S-turn side crawl for about 15-20ft. But the formation filled room at the end makes it well worth the crawl getting there. After Skyscraper Cave you will venture off to another cave found within the Tygarts Creek Gorge. The cave is on private property and we have permission to visit the cave during Crawlathon Weekend only! Meets at Lodge; Transportation needed.
Saturday 8:30am This trip will be only for those vertically-competent cavers with considerable experience (no beginners!). Two pits in the area will be rigged, but you must have your own vertical gear including a mechanical safety. The trip begins with a gear inspection and orientation by the field leaders (if you don't have an acceptable climbing system you will not go). These caves can only be visited during Crawlathon Weekend only! Meets at Lodge. Transportation needed.
Saturday 8:30am Find some hidden secrets in these wild and often-visited park caves. Dripping dome rooms, scalloped rock passages, huge breakdown, canyons, the connection crawl and a room filled with dozens of mini bathtub-like dams are just a few of the treasures you'll discover. These caves contain active streams. Be prepared to have wet feet, wet hands, possibly more if you slip! Water bottle/snack suggested. Total outdoor hike of at least a mile required, including a climb over steep hill to reach the Horn Hollow Valley, so be mindful of the weather and dress appropriately! Meets at the Lodge; Transportation Needed.
Saturday 8:30am Now that you have rappelled into the pit you have to get out, right? This trip will give you a taste of what is needed to ascend out of that pit you may someday find yourself at the bottom of. You will be introduced to a basic system of rope ascending commonly used by cavers and you will get a chance to do a rope climb. These same techniques are used whether you need to climb 12 ft. or 1200 ft. Down for Dummies may get you to the bottom, but you'll need us to get you out … Follow signs in front of Lodge to the site.
Saturday 8:30am This is an extensive cave system with many dusty crawling and walking passageways. The dust will be flying in the crawls so if you have breathing problems this is not the trip for you. Highlights include encountering the famous Bills Crawl, a 100 ft. belly crawl utilizing only your elbows and toes. The trip to the cave entrance is a 300 ft. climb up a 30 degree banking, so you should be in good health to participate in this trip and have past caving experience. This cave is one with a long history including a short stint as a commercial cave in the late 1800s. In case of cold weather, it is suggested you wear a coat to the cave entrance and leave it until the return. These caves are on private property and we have permission to visit them during Crawlathon Weekend Only! Meets at the Lodge, Transportation Needed.
Saturday 8:30am Sandy Cave has a huge and long trunk passage that is part of the Cascade Cave system. It also provides some interesting areas that are accessed by crawling and climbing. The entrance is through a karst window with a 70-foot long pool of deep water at its bottom. The guides intend to lower a john boat to the pool and offer a boat ride to dry land. This trip is subject to cancellation if potential flooding conditions occur. Participants must help carry the boat through the woods for ½ mile to the cave on the Saturday Morning Trip and from the cave on the 10:30 Sunday Morning Trip. This cave is only accessible during Crawlathon Weekend! Meets at Lodge; Transportation Needed.
Saturday 8:30am (Open to anyone, Just show up, Pre-registration is not required. Does not count toward your Saturday Trip Limit.) This slide presentation and short program will go over what to expect when you explore a wild cave and the equipment you will need. Caving techniques, safety, and conservation will be discussed. This presentation is intended and highly recommended for new cavers and other interested persons. Meets in the Grayson Room of the Lodge; No caving equipment required.
Saturday 8:30am Come join us for an exciting trip following the clues left by Arne Saknuessemm to treasure and adventure. This is a great trip for the six to twelve year old year old set, however they must be accompanied by an adult over eighteen. HELMETS & LIGHTS ARE REQUIRED! Meets at the lodge. Transportation needed.
Saturday 9:00am
Saturday 9:00am Yet another rendition of the cardboard box cave. Bring a light (NOT carbide!) but you can leave your shoes & helmet behind. Dress lightly, it's strenuous and can get stuffy in the cave. Must be at least 10 years old to participate. Follow signs from the lobby to the basement.
Saturday 9:00am You will head to Cascade to practice taking basic cave photos. Work on lighting and composition for passage and formation shots. Start learning to "see" what your camera can do and how you can add the dimension of photography to your cave trips. This is considered an amateur photography workshop. Additional equipment needed includes camera (digital or film), tripod, additional flash (if you have one), camera bag, comfortable clothing for a lot of standing around. (No strenuous caving will be involved). Cascade can be fairly cold during the winter. Bright clothes can brighten up a scene Meets at Lodge; Transportation needed.
Saturday 9:00am This clinic will be geared toward cavers who already have vertical experience. But not too advanced for a beginner to join in. We will spend a short amount of time in the class room going over knots and basic rigging. After the classroom session we will go cliff-side to learn new or hone existing skills. During the course you will learn lock off—tie off, change overs, pick offs, prusik out of a jam and how to negotiate an edge. We will provide the ropes and rigging gear. Required personal climbing gear includes climbing helmet, harness, rappel device, ascending gear, etc. There may be a small amount of loaner gear if you do not own everything listed. There is a chance some more on rope time might take place Sunday Morning. Meets at in the Grayson room of the Lodge.
Saturday 9:00am An easy trip into Bat Cave. It will involve some walking, some stoop-walking, and a short optional hands-and-knees crawl. The trip will include information on geology, bats, and caving techniques as well as a comparison and demonstration of basic caving equipment. There will be numerous opportunities for questions. HELMETS REQUIRED; a flashlight is required. Attending the 8:30 Caving, Lets Do it Right presentation is recommended. Meets briefly in the Grayson Room of the Lodge before going to the cave. Transportation Needed.
Saturday 9:00am This trip starts with a 1/4 mile hike to the cave entrance from the maintenance parking area. Bat Cave is completely wild with the exception for the cave gates. You will be required to navigate through some walking passages, climb over breakdown piles and do some hands and knee crawling. You get the whole package with the cave being a combination of dry, muddy and wet. How wet you get depends on how merciful your guide is. Meets at Lodge; Transportation Needed.
Saturday 9:00am These are two interesting wet caves with some nice cave formations. Flood cave starts with a belly crawl entrance and opens into a nice walking passage. Hands and knee crawling as well as light climbing are required for the trip. Fern cave starts with a plunge into at least 3 feet of water in the entrance passageway. There is virtually no walking passage in fern cave considering the majority of the trip you will be straddling a water filled canyon. A 20-foot ladder climb is required to access the really pretty upper level of the cave. The trip requires about a 20-minute hike through some steep terrain. These caves are on private property and we have permission to visit it during Crawlathon Weekend only! Meets at Lodge; Transportation Provided.
Saturday 9:00am This is a strenuous hiking & caving trip through the rough terrain found around Carter Caves State Park. A good portion of your day will be spent above ground hiking on and off trails as well as hopping across creeks in order to get to the different caves. The hiking alone can make this a strenuous trip. But as a reward you will get to push 10+ small caves. This trip requires good comfortable boots, foul weather gear, Level 4 equipment, a pack lunch, a backpack for all your stuff, a good attitude, willingness to push small dark holes, and a sense of smell (for caves that is). Be prepared for any type of January weather. These caves can only be visited during Crawlathon Weekend only! Meets at the lodge.
Saturday 9:30am This is a small cave with a lot to see. It is known for the large formations seen along the way. There may be a chance of seeing woodrats and Big Brown Bats along the route. This is a walking tour with some stooping and bending. MEETS AT THE WELCOME CENTER; Transportation needed.
Saturday 9:30am Would you like to try rappelling? Here's your chance. No experience will be necessary. What you will need are leather gloves and a hard hat with chin strap. This will NOT be a "how to" workshop. You'll be given basic instructions, put on the rope, and monitored on the descent. Follow signs in front of Lodge to the site.
Saturday 9:30am This is a 6-mile canoe trip that involves a brief stop to explore Skyscraper Cave. This is one of the smaller caves in the area, but also reputed to be one of the most beautiful. After some tight vertical squeezes, a cold shower, and a short crawl that puts the Squeeze Box to shame, you are rewarded to one the most spectacular flowstone formations you will ever see. Canoeing experience is required! If you don't have the experience, then you'll know why we call this a Regretta. You will navigate Tygart's Creek Gorge. Kentucky's most scenic limestone gorge. You will be on the creek for at least 4 hours. It is cold and wet, especially if you swamp! Because of the remoteness of the gorge and limited access, there is no turning back once you start. Canoes, paddles, and vests will be provided. You should bring waterproof containers for caving gear, polypro and/or wool clothes, change of clothes (wet suit, a recommended option), drink, and lunch or snack. The cave is on private property and we have permission to visit the cave during Crawlathon Weekend only! Meets at Lodge; Transportation provided.
Saturday 9:30am Join us in dropping the three largest natural bridges at Carter Caves.......We will drop Smokey (25'), Natural (50') and Fern (80') Bridges. Each has something unique to offer. This is not an instructional trip, you should be well versed in caving SRT (i.e., no 'Aussie' rappels). Equipment required: Helmet with chin strap, harness, rappel rack or figure eight (no other rappel devices will be acceptable), quick attach safety (handled ascender on a sling), an extra 2' - 3' sling with carabineers on each end, sufficient carabineers for your system, rappel gloves, appropriate clothing for outdoor rappelling in January, including a heavy coat such as a down parka for wearing while waiting your turn at each drop, and potentially rain gear if precipitation is forecast. To save time, please have your harness on when you show up for the trip. EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS WILL BE RUTHLESSLY ENFORCED. You must be 18 yrs or older to participate. Anyone who does not exhibit safe practices at all times will be removed from the trip. Meets at Lodge. Transportation needed.
Saturday 9:30am This trip starts with a 1/4 mile hike to the cave entrance from the maintenance parking area. Bat Cave is completely wild with the exception for the cave gates. You will be required to navigate through some walking passages, climb over breakdown piles and do some hands and knee crawling. You get the whole package with the cave being a combination of dry, muddy and wet. How wet you get depends on how merciful your guide is. Meets at Lodge; Transportation Needed.
Saturday 9:30am This is a tour through Cascade Cave, the largest and longest commercial cave in Carter County. Along the route you will see parts of the commercial route, but you will also venture off the beaten path to visit some of the wild sections of the cave. This is a good tour for beginners or those with assorted aches and pains. Meets at Lodge; Transportation Needed.
Saturday 9:30am Sandy Cave has a huge and long trunk passage that is part of the Cascade Cave system. It also provides some interesting areas that are accessed by crawling and climbing. The entrance is through a karst window with a 70-foot long pool of deep water at its bottom. The guides intend to lower a john boat to the pool and offer a boat ride to dry land. This trip is subject to cancellation if potential flooding conditions occur. Participants must help carry the boat through the woods for ½ mile to the cave on the Saturday Morning Trip and from the cave on the 10:30 Sunday Morning Trip. This cave is only accessible during Crawlathon Weekend! Meets at Lodge; Transportation Needed.
Saturday 9:30am A BIG cave, with numerous entrances, just getting there is a challenge. You'll hike about 1/2 mile to the cave, through cow pastures and steep sloping hills and maybe snow and ice, and then you must decide: how wet do I really want to get (understanding that eventually you'll be making that 1/2 mile hike back to your vehicle). Wet gear is recommended if you want to get really wet, but most will choose only to get their boots wet. There are only a few short necessary crawls, but for you that love to crawl, opportunities will be available. Bring a change of clothes for afterwards. NOTE: This trip attempts to avoid as much water as possible. The cave is on private property and we have permission to visit the cave during Crawlathon Weekend only! Meets at Lodge; 25 miles of car travel round trip; Transportation needed.
Saturday 9:30am This is an extensive cave system with many dusty crawling and walking passageways. The dust will be flying in the crawls so if you have breathing problems this is not the trip for you. Highlights include encountering the famous Bills Crawl, a 100 ft. belly crawl utilizing only your elbows and toes. The trip to the cave entrance is a 300 ft. climb up a 30 degree banking, so you should be in good health to participate in this trip and have past caving experience. This cave is one with a long history including a short stint as a commercial cave in the late 1800s. In case of cold weather, it is suggested you wear a coat to the cave entrance and leave it until the return. These caves are on private property and we have permission to visit them during Crawlathon Weekend Only! Meets at the Lodge, Transportation Needed.
Saturday 10:00am
Saturday 10:00am Yet another rendition of the cardboard box cave. Bring a light (NOT carbide!) but you can leave your shoes & helmet behind. Dress lightly, it's strenuous and can get stuffy in the cave. Must be at least 10 years old to participate. Follow signs from the lobby to the basement.
Saturday 10:00am Find some hidden secrets in these wild and often-visited park caves. Dripping dome rooms, scalloped rock passages, huge breakdown, canyons, the connection crawl and a room filled with dozens of mini bathtub-like dams are just a few of the treasures you'll discover. These caves contain active streams. Be prepared to have wet feet, wet hands, possibly more if you slip! Water bottle/snack suggested. Total outdoor hike of at least a mile required, including a climb over steep hill to reach the Horn Hollow Valley, so be mindful of the weather and dress appropriately! Meets at the Lodge; Transportation Needed.
Saturday 10:00am Adults Only. This trip starts with a 1/4 mile hike to the cave entrance from the maintenance parking area. Bat Cave is completely wild with the exception for the cave gates. You will be required to navigate through some walking passages, climb over breakdown piles and do some hands and knee crawling. You get the whole package with the cave being a combination of dry, muddy and wet. How wet you get depends on how merciful your guide is. Meets at Lodge; Transportation Needed.
Saturday 10:00am Now that you have rappelled into the pit you have to get out, right? This trip will give you a taste of what is needed to ascend out of that pit you may someday find yourself at the bottom of. You will be introduced to a basic system of rope ascending commonly used by cavers and you will get a chance to do a rope climb. These same techniques are used whether you need to climb 12 ft. or 1200 ft. Down for Dummies may get you to the bottom, but you'll need us to get you out … Follow signs in front of Lodge to the site.
Saturday 10:30am Cascade is the largest commercial cave in Carter County. You will experience large cave passageways, bats, beautiful cave formations and finish with a look at a 30 foot underground waterfall. This is a walking tour with some stooping and bending. MEETS AT THE WELCOME CENTER; Transportation needed.
Saturday 10:30am Would you like to try rappelling? Here's your chance. No experience will be necessary. What you will need are leather gloves and a hard hat with chin strap. This will NOT be a "how to" workshop. You'll be given basic instructions, put on the rope, and monitored on the descent. Follow signs in front of Lodge to the site.
Saturday 10:30am Wilburn cave is located near the top of a big ridge. The trip to the cave entrance is a strenuous 250 ft. climb up a 30 degree banking, so you should be in good health to participate in this trip. There is little to no walking passage found in the whole cave and it is known for plenty of nasty little crawls. At one point in the cave you will have to straddle over top of a 20 ft. canyon to navigate through the passage. The cave is on private property and we have permission to visit the cave during Crawlathon Weekend only! Meets at Lodge; Transportation Provided.
Saturday 10:30am A fun, safe caving trip for kids ages 6-12 years old. Learn about caves, cave formations, bats and how to cave safely. Trip is easy to moderate. A light source is required. HELMETS REQUIRED! Knee pads & gloves strongly recommended (gloves required for thumb suckers). Responsible partner 18 years or older for those who are 6-10 years old. Meets at Lodge; kids need transportation to Cascade cave.
Saturday 10:30am If you have been on the bat cave backdoor trip and thought that the cave was for beginners, well think again. On this trip you will visit most of the tight long crawlways that you never knew existed in bat cave. Extended hand and knee crawls and some belly crawls will leave you wet, sore and exhausted. Meets at Lodge; Transportation Needed.
Saturday 10:30am A BIG cave, with numerous entrances, just getting there is a challenge. You'll hike about 1/2 mile to the cave, through cow pastures and steep sloping hills and maybe snow and ice, and then you must decide: how wet do I really want to get (understanding that eventually you'll be making that 1/2 mile hike back to your vehicle). Wet gear is recommended if you want to get really wet, but most will choose only to get their boots wet. There are only a few short necessary crawls, but for you that love to crawl, opportunities will be available. Bring a change of clothes for afterwards. NOTE: This trip attempts to avoid as much water as possible. The cave is on private property and we have permission to visit the cave during Crawlathon Weekend only! Meets at Lodge; 25 miles of car travel round trip; Transportation needed.
Saturday 10:30am This is an extensive cave system with many dusty crawling and walking passageways. The dust will be flying in the crawls so if you have breathing problems this is not the trip for you. Highlights include encountering the famous Bills Crawl, a 100 ft. belly crawl utilizing only your elbows and toes. The trip to the cave entrance is a 300 ft. climb up a 30 degree banking, so you should be in good health to participate in this trip and have past caving experience. This cave is one with a long history including a short stint as a commercial cave in the late 1800s. In case of cold weather, it is suggested you wear a coat to the cave entrance and leave it until the return. These caves are on private property and we have permission to visit them during Crawlathon Weekend Only! Meets at the Lodge, Transportation Needed.
Saturday 11:00am
Saturday 11:00am Yet another rendition of the cardboard box cave. Bring a light (NOT carbide!) but you can leave your shoes & helmet behind. Dress lightly, it's strenuous and can get stuffy in the cave. Must be at least 10 years old to participate. Follow signs from the lobby to the basement.
Saturday 11:00am Kids Exreme. This trip is designed for young cavers 12-14 years old (or older) who are ready for a bigger adventure than Level 2 trips but not old enough for Level 3! (Must be accompanied by a parent/adult guardian.) Marty Brown, a Carter Caves Veteran Cave Guide, will take you youngsters on a wild ride through the dark, muddy & possibly wet passages of Bat Cave. This trip will be more intense than any other Level 2 Bat Cave Backdoor Trip you have experienced. Water bottle/snack suggested. Be prepared to get wet. Outdoor hike of 1/2 mile required, so dress appropriately! Meets at the Lodge; Transportation Needed.
Saturday 11:00am These are two interesting wet caves with some nice cave formations. Flood cave starts with a belly crawl entrance and opens into a nice walking passage. Hands and knee crawling as well as light climbing are required for the trip. Fern cave starts with a plunge into at least 3 feet of water in the entrance passageway. There is virtually no walking passage in fern cave considering the majority of the trip you will be straddling a water filled canyon. A 20-foot ladder climb is required to access the really pretty upper level of the cave. The trip requires about a 20-minute hike through some steep terrain. These caves are on private property and we have permission to visit it during Crawlathon Weekend only! Meets at Lodge; Transportation Provided.
Saturday 11:00am Take a new look at an old favorite trip from Crawlathons of the past: Horn Hollow Cave, Rimstone Cave, PLUS the new addition of H20 Cave and Horseshoe Cave - H.H. Extreme! This trip includes a trip to a beaver dam and a look at a pit (sorry, no rapelling), as well as climbing over breakdown, a long low dusty belly crawl connecting two caves, domes-a-plenty, bats, cave formations and crawling through LOTS of water, so be prepared to get wet up to your thighs. (An extra pair of gloves is highly recommended.) Some parts of this trip may be modified depending on water levels and weather conditions. Water bottle/light pack lunch suggested. Total hike of at least a mile required, so be mindful of the weather and dress appropriately. (NO COTTON or low cotton content - help fight hypothermia by wearing polypro or some wool!) Check out the H.H. Extreme web page at www.crawlathon.com/hh for the gory details! MEETS AT THE WELCOME CENTER; Transportation Needed. Horn Hollow Extreme Web Page
Saturday 11:30am Similar to the Bat Cave Extra Extreme only a shorter version. Meets at Lodge; Transportation Needed.
Saturday 11:30am This is an extensive cave system with many dusty crawling and walking passageways. The dust will be flying in the crawls so if you have breathing problems this is not the trip for you. Highlights include encountering the famous Bills Crawl, a 100 ft. belly crawl utilizing only your elbows and toes. The trip to the cave entrance is a 300 ft. climb up a 30 degree banking, so you should be in good health to participate in this trip and have past caving experience. This cave is one with a long history including a short stint as a commercial cave in the late 1800s. In case of cold weather, it is suggested you wear a coat to the cave entrance and leave it until the return. These caves are on private property and we have permission to visit them during Crawlathon Weekend Only! Meets at the Lodge, Transportation Needed.
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