Carter Caves State Resort Park
Winter Adventure Weekend
January 27-29, 2012
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Hiking - Field Trip Descriptions Friday 7:00pmTRIP #2: Backpacking for Adventurous Women (Level 3) - Extra Fee: $10.00 - Duration: 17 hours - Limit: 0 people - Status: full This trip is designed for all women, who have the desire to explore, to learn and to share with others, the fundamentals of backpacking as a female. This course starts on Friday evening and will last until approximately 12:00 noon on Saturday. Participants will take part in a night hike, fire building, campfire cooking, wilderness shelter building, slack packing and learning about safety on the trail along with personal hygiene. The trip includes an overnight stay in a bunkhouse (tenting is optional) and a campfire dinner on Friday night. To sign up for this trip you must be a woman that is 18yrs or older and be able to carry the weight of their own backpack, with gear, for several hours and/or several miles. This program cost an extra $10.00 per person. For additional information and equipment requirements CLICK HERE Meets at lodge. No transportation required.
Saturday 8:30am
During this multi-mile hike through much of the park, you will learn to decipher tell-tale surface features that are indicative of a dynamic sub-surface environment. Cave entrances, sinkholes, pits, shelters, springs, arches, and bridges will be featured on this scenic ramble through some of the Park's less-traveled paths. Meets at lodge . No transportation required.
Saturday 9:00am
Archaeological studies have demonstrated that within a short distance of the park lodge there are a large number of rock shelters, open habitation sites and small caves that were used from around 1400 AD to at least 4000 BC by the first cavers and visitors to the park lands. Evidence of this occupation is scattered on the surface of some park trails indicating that the Smokey and Tygarts Creeks served as a resource for cobbles of chert (flint) that was used to make a variety of tools. We will follow park trails and pass through, over, and under at least 15 ancient habitation sites. We will visit Raven Bridge which may have served as some form of ceremonial site or special habitation location. Also, we will descend the cliff about 30 ft. to visit several rockshelters and a small cave that were used by Aboriginal visitors to the area. A rope will be used but it will not be necessary to rappel. [proper shoes a must] We will not go into the cave due to the presence of hibernating bats. Total distance covered is around 1.5 miles. Meets at lodge . No transportation required.
Saturday 9:00am
Have you ever wondered how we find caves? As it turns out, winter is a perfect time to go looking. We will explore the world of ridge walking by hiking through a section of the park, noting karst features and having a general discussion on the topic. What do we look for? What is important to remember? What can we find? How do we mark our maps and take notes? All this and more will be answered in a nice hike through the woods. Because this hike is off the normal trail system, it is rough! It's not for the kiddies! Participants need sturdy hiking boots, layered warm clothing, a day pack, pack lunch, snacks, water, helmet, knee pads, flashlight, gloves, camera and a small notepad and pencil. Meets at Lodge. Transportation required.
Saturday 10:30am
Bat Conservation through Cave Conservation, Restoration and Preservation: a field trip that will take you to several caves on the park with a discussion on bat species' natural and life history, the gating of Laurel Cave, and protection and ongoing conservation and restoration efforts at Saltpeter Cave. This trip will lead us to the small building protecting the Abe's Room sinkhole culvert. Then off to the entrance of Bat Cave to discuss the gating and flood control efforts that are on-going at this critical site where conservation and preservation efforts intersect. Other cave and bat conservation work in Kentucky will be discussed along with current conservation efforts necessitated by the threat of White Nose Syndrome. This trip will be led by Michael Baker, Eastern Rare Bats Program Coordinator, for Bat Conservation International and Brooke Hines, Bat Ecologist for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. Together they have over 30 yrs of Bat protection experience. Meets at Welcome Center. Transportation required.
Saturday 11:00am
It's not always a breathtaking overlook or picturesque ridge top that makes a hike special. On this trip, we'll concentrate on the views that Carter Caves provides best - cave entrances, our windows into darkness! We'll start out near the Welcome Center, view the entrances of several Cave Branch caves and then hike into Horn Hollow valley where the karst spectacles continue. You'll see no less than 10 different cave entrances, maybe more, each with their own unique personalities, so to speak. Keep in mind that we will NOT be going into any caves, but bring along a camera or sketch pad because these underground wonders are wondrous to behold from the outside too! Join us as we hike with our feet, and our imaginations! (Note: Some off-trail and rough hiking may be required.) Meets at Welcome Center. Transportation required.
Saturday 12:30pm
A multi-mile hike after a short drive to Cascade Cave.This will be an on-trail/off-trail hike up the valley paralleling the Cascade Cave System (Cascade, Sandy, Jones, Tire Creek, Waterfall caves) demonstrating a variety of impressive karst features including streams, an insurgence, springs, many cave entrances, a karst window, and arches. Time and weather permitting, various sandstone features can be visited as well (caves, springs). Meets at lodge . Transportation required.
Saturday 1:00pm
Bat Conservation through Cave Conservation, Restoration and Preservation: a field trip that will take you to several caves on the park with a discussion on bat species' natural and life history, the gating of Laurel Cave, and protection and ongoing conservation and restoration efforts at Saltpeter Cave. This trip will lead us to the small building protecting the Abe's Room sinkhole culvert. Then off to the entrance of Bat Cave to discuss the gating and flood control efforts that are on-going at this critical site where conservation and preservation efforts intersect. Other cave and bat conservation work in Kentucky will be discussed along with current conservation efforts necessitated by the threat of White Nose Syndrome. This trip will be led by Michael Baker, Eastern Rare Bats Program Coordinator, for Bat Conservation International and Brooke Hines, Bat Ecologist for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. Together they have over 30 yrs of Bat protection experience. Meets at Welcome Center. Transportation required.
Saturday 1:00pm
Join us on this Geo/Archeology adventure and view a massive Box Canyon natural arch and a collapsed cave that formed an ancient habitation site used for thousands of years. See the massive 3.5 million year old 100 ft. high cliff of Carter Caves Sandstone that forms the right angle corner of the ""box"". A waterfalls cascades down to a the deep rock strewn stream canyon that flows into underground passages. Giant sinks mark the presence of caves in this karst area. Then follow a key prehistoric Aboriginal trail, view Tygarts Creek from over 200 ft. above the stream, see where the James Branch exits the Cascade Cave and merges with the Tygarts. View the massive Mississippian Limestone and Sandstone cliffs and go to the entrance of Rhododendron Cave. If time and interest permit, we will enter an Archaeological site that was occupied by the first cavers back to at least 4000 BC. There we will see giant iron oxide ""liesegang banding/rings"" in the ceiling. Also, ""boxwork"" and ""honeycomb"" weathering provides unusual formations and photographic opportunities. Bring your camera, good hiking shoes and an interest in the wonders of Carter Caves. Total walking distance is approximately 1.4 miles. Meets at lodge . Tranportation required.
Saturday 1:30pm
Can you count to 8800? Find out as you trek into the wilderness with us. You will hike alongside big sandstone cliffs, through three Natural Bridges, visit scenic overlooks of Smoky Lake and see what nature has to offer during the winter at Carter Caves. It takes 8800 steps to complete this adventure. No other visitors will know you were there, since we will learn and practice Leave No Trace hiking principles along the way. All participants will receive Leave No Trace backpack tag for participating. Meets at lodge . No transportation required.
Saturday 2:00pm
Birding is a fascinating hobby that promotes outdoor movement among many age groups. Ron Vanover, State Naturalist, and Brian Gasdorf, Natural Bridge Park Naturalist, will be leading this hike and sharing their identification and vocal knowledge of many winter bird species. In addition, this program will lead you on an adventure as we will explore the roadways, field areas, and common areas where you are sure to see and hear several bird species. No experience necessary as this hike is intended for those beginning birders that want to whet their curiosity. Come on out and be a snowbird. We will provide binoculars, but if you have your own bring them along. This trip will have a short indoor portion before heading outside. Meets at Cottage 248 . Transportation required.
Saturday 3:00pm
Join ""Almost Gone"" and ""Barely There"" for a short hike for beginners. This hiker duo will walk you through the basics of hiking and inspire new comers to open their door to more hiking adventures. Along the way you will get to see one of the parks Natural Bridges and some scenic views of the Smoky Valley Lake. Total hiking distance is approximately 1.25 miles. Meets at the lodge. No transportation required.
Sunday 9:30am
This Bud's For You! Are you ready for a cold one? Do you want to take a peek into my BUD bag? No, you have the wrong perception. But now that I have your attention, let's explore the basics of Winter Tree Identification. Join State Naturalist Ron Vanover as you will learn characteristics that will enable you to identify many of the tree species at Carter Caves. What tree bud looks like a Phillips screwdriver head? What tree bud looks like a lip stick pen? What tree bud, when scratched, smells like a lemon? These and others will be discussed, so that you have a better understanding on how to identify trees in the winter. This trip will begin with a short indoor portion then will continue outside. Maybe you will get to make your own bud bag! Meets at Cottage 249 . No transportation required.
Sunday 9:30am
This trip takes you into and through multiple ancient dwelling sites used by the first cavers. We will pass though the Wood Hen Hollow Archaeological complex where Mississippian Sandstone has formed multiple, connected ancient habitation sites that have indicated occupation from at least 1000 BC to 1400 AD. You will view the Smokey Creek valley as seen by the first cavers many thousands of years ago. Then we will proceed to the Smoky Bridge area to view the bridge, small caves, and an archaeological area above the Smoky Bridge. On our return to the lodge you will see evidence of the ancient sea that covered this area in the Mississippian Era. Meets at lodge . No transportation required.
Sunday 10:00am
It's not always a breathtaking overlook or picturesque ridge top that makes a hike special. On this trip, we'll concentrate on the views that Carter Caves provides best - cave entrances, our windows into darkness! We'll start out near the Welcome Center, view the entrances of several Cave Branch caves and then hike into Horn Hollow valley where the karst spectacles continue. You'll see no less than 10 different cave entrances, maybe more, each with their own unique personalities, so to speak. Keep in mind that we will NOT be going into any caves, but bring along a camera or sketch pad because these underground wonders are wondrous to behold from the outside too! Join us as we hike with our feet, and our imaginations! (Note: Some off-trail and rough hiking may be required.) Meets at Welcome Center. Transportation required.
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Carter Caves State Park 2011 Winner of Outstanding Park Of The Year. |
| Winter Adventure Weekend 2011 Winner Of The Outstanding Special Event Of The Year. |
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