Saturday Schedule of Events

7:00am - 10:30am: All You Can Eat Breakfast Buffet in Tierney’s Cavern Restaurant ($)

7:30am: Registration Table Open in the Lobby of the Lodge.

8:00am - 4:00pm: Coffee and hot chocolate served in the lobby of the lodge courtesy of the Friends of Carter Caves group. Donations accepted.

8:30am - 4:30pm: Field Trips

Saturday Morning Field Trips

9:00am - 12:00pm: Corrugated Cave. Drop in. No registration required.

9:00am - 12:00pm: Squeeze Box - Adult Squeeze Box Preliminaries and Kids Squeeze Box Competition. Meets in Fields Facility. No registration required.

9:00am - 5:00pm: Welcome Center and Gift Shop open.

10:00am: Adventure Presentation: "Bicycle Basics" by members of Ashland Cycling Enthusiasts. Basic information on three popular types of bicycling: road, cyclocross and mountain biking. There will also be information on cycling opportunities in the area along with a presentation on basic bicycle maintenance and repair.

11:00am: Adventure Presentation: "Through Hiking the Buckeye Trail" by Andy Niekamp. In March 2011 Andy "Captain Blue" Niekamp set out on a hiking journey from Dayton on Ohio's Buckeye Trail. His goal was to hike on the Buckeye Trail for as long as it was fun. Over 1,400 miles and 88 days later Captain Blue returned to Dayton on the Buckeye Trail, the longest circular trail in the nation. His presentation will take you on a foot journey around Ohio with his beautiful photos and narrative. Come get acquainted with Ohio's backyard trail. Andy is the 6th person to complete a thru hike of the Buckeye Trail.

11:30am - 3:00pm: All You Can Eat Lunch Buffet in Tierney’s Cavern Restaurant ($)

Saturday Afternoon

Saturday Afternoon Field Trips

Noon: Coffee and hot chocolate served in the lobby of the lodge courtesy of the Friends of Carter Caves group. Donations accepted.

Noon-7:30pm: Friends of Carter Caves Silent Auction - Some items includes equipment,  various adventure trips and overnight stays in Kentucky State Parks.

Noon: Adventure Presentation: "Almost Gone - A Journey Of Hiking And Weight Loss" by Cathie Vickers. Cathie Vickers presents her success story where she lost over 100 pounds and has maintained the weight loss with a passion for backpacking, hiking and kayaking.  Join Cathie as she presents a photo journey of her adventures.

1:00pm - 4:00pm: Squeeze Box - Adult Squeeze Box Preliminaries/ Kids Squeeze Box Competition. Meets in Fields Facility. No registration required.

1:00pm - 4:30pm: Corrugated Cave. Drop in. No registration required.

1:00pm: Adventure Presentation: "One Hiker’s First 42 Mile Trip on the Appalachian Trail" by Laura Letton. Be inspired by first time Appalachian Trail (AT) hiker Laura Letton as she shares her personal stories about what she and her five fellow hiking companions learned and experienced on an eight day adventure on the AT in October 2011. Laura and her fellow hikers prepared, planned, and trained for a 42 mile trip by taking various classes and training hikes in their local Five Rivers Metroparks system. They also gained experience on several backpacking trips to Germantown, OH Metropark, Red River Gorge, KY, Zaleski State Forest, OH, and Big South Fork, TN. Visit the beauty of fall on the Appalachian Trail through pictures. Hear how Laura and the others gained experience in backcountry camping, and built their stamina and strength in Mount Rogers/Grayson Highlands,VA, as well as hiking up Roan Mountain, TN, and Hump Mountain, TN. Enjoy her personal reflections about the challenges and the rewards of the trip, why she decided to make the journey, and the effect it had on her personally.

2:00pm: Adventure Presentation: "Adventures on Kentucky's Long Trail - The Sheltowee Trace" by Steve Barbour, executive director of the Sheltowee Trace Association and Scot Ward, Sheltowee Trace "thru-hiker" and author of the Sheltowee Trace Trail Guide will talk about opportunities for outdoor adventure on Kentucky's Long Trail. Whether walking, biking or horseback riding, there is plenty of opportunity for day or overnight experiences on the Sheltowee Trace National Recreation Trail in the Daniel Boone National Forest.

3:00pm: Adventure Presentation: "Machu Picchu, & Climbing Waynu Picchu" by Colin Gatland. Machu Picchu & the Waynu Picchu (that chunk of rock that always towers above MP) complexes constitutes one of the seven wonders of the world. Nestled high in the Peruvian Andes it was never found by the Spanish Conquistadores and consequently never conquered. Rediscovered in 1911 it still is a very remote and yet magical place. Planes, trains, busses & very badly maintained automobiles driven by insane Peruvian drivers, was required to reach our destination, but was half the fun. Nothing however compares to the very first instant that your eyes fall upon this breathtaking site for the first time. It truly leaves you speechless.

4:30pm: Adventure Presentation: "Archeological view of Ancient Crawlathons" Presented by archeologist and re-enactor Matt Maley. Many of the caves and rock shelters at Carter Caves and in Carter Co. were visited and occupied for thousands of years by Aboriginal visitors. We will take a time trip to visit these sites and see the numerous artifacts that were left behind. Archaeological studies in association with the KY Heritage Council have provided information on who was here, when they were here, what foods they had available, where they obtained their raw material for stone tools and which caves or shelters they most frequently used. In addition, you will see some evidence from Bat Cave that has not previously been documented.

4:00pm - 8:00pm: All You Can Eat Dinner Buffet in Tierney’s Cavern Restaurant ($)

5:00pm: Adult Squeeze Box Competition Finalist & Kids Squeeze Box Competition Winners Posted In Lobby of Lodge.