Carter Caves State Resort Park
Winter Adventure Weekend
January 27-29, 2012
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Saturday TRIP #38: Smoky Bridge High-Line Ride (Level 2) - Duration: 1.5 hours - Limit: 15 people - Status: full Now that you have had the chance to go down a rope and up a rope we are introducing the concept of across the rope. That's right over a 200ft long high line will be stretched across the gorge down behind the lodge. We will strap you in and you can take a ride to remember as you drop 40ft in elevation and cruise by the parks largest natural arch, Smoky Bridge. Make sure you bring your cameras for there will be some great photo opportunities. The Friends of Carter Caves Organization helped make this years high line possible by purchasing $1,000 worth of vertical gear for rigging the ride. Keep this in mind when you are making bids during the silent auction, since more gear is required to guarantee a high line ride year after year. Follow signs from lobby to site. No transportation required.
Saturday 12:00pm
A short briefing on mountain biking techniques followed by rides on trails and gravel roads. This will be a six mile route for the more advanced bikers. The required equipment includes a mountain bike with spare tube/pump and a helmet! Meets at lodge . Transportation required.
Saturday 12:00pm
A short briefing on mountain biking techniques followed by rides on trails and gravel roads. This will be a three mile route for beginners. The required equipment includes a mountain bike with spare tube/pump and a helmet! Meets at lodge . Transportation required.
Saturday 12:00pm
Drop in - no registration required. A Saturday mini-presentation. 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. Meets in fields facility. No transportation required.
Saturday 12:30pm
Would you like to try rappelling? Here's your chance. No experience will be necessary. This will NOT be a ""how to"" workshop. You will be given basic instructions, put on the rope, and monitored on the descent. We have a new location for the 2012 event that will make you pucker before your decent. Required equipment includes leather gloves. Follow signs from in front of lodge to site. No transportation required.
Saturday 12:30pm
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 12ft. or 1200ft. Down for Dummies may get you to the bottom, but you will need us to get you out! We will provide you with all necessary equipment including a climbing system and helmet. Follow signs from in front of lodge to site. No transportation required.
Saturday 12:30pm
Eastern KY has a rich and proud coal mining heritage. This trip will strive to show the participants what it was actually like to work in the mines with only the light of various flame lamps. From early clamshell lamps to carbide, the last flame lamp, this will be a history and hands on experience of how the miners did their hard work underground with barely enough light to see. We will have working original examples and explain the history of each type of mine light. See original photographs from the day of not only the miners, but the kids as young as 6 years old that worked in the mines day in and day out. Trip will take place on the commercial routes of Cascade Cave. No Flashlights will be used, participants will be provided a carbide miners light (one light per two people) to light the path ahead.(Participants please do not wear any clothing or shoes that have been in another cave or mine outside of the Carter Caves area since 2006. This possibly will help prevent the spread of White Nose Syndrome, a disease that is killing bats across the Eastern United States. Because of the seriousness of WNS, all participants are required to walk across a bio-mat containing Lysol I.C. solution at the end of the cave trip.) Meets at lodge . 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
Drop in - no registration required. Do you like tight places? Come find out just how tight of a space you can mentally and physically squeeze through. Due to the nature of their amusement, cavers have always wondered how tight of a place they can fit through. That was when the squeeze box was invented and later constructed. Here is the way it works. There will be 3 different categories: adult competition (15yrs - 39yrs), troglobite competition (40yrs & up) and the kids competition (6-14yrs). We will have preliminary rounds from 9am-12pm & 1pm-4pm on Saturday in the fields facility of the Lodge. Adults and troglobite competitors must drop in during these times to attempt to qualify for the finals held on Saturday night. In the adult competition, the top four male contenders along with the top four female contenders in each weight class will advance to the finals. In the troglobite category the top four male and female competitors will advance. The winners in each adult & troglobite category will receive a prize ribbon, sign the squeeze box and best of all have bragging rights until next years competition. Adult & troglobite finalist will be posted in the lobby by 5:00pm. In the kids competition, kids ages 6-14yrs old can take a stab at the squeeze box during the preliminary competitions held on Saturday. We have set different categories for children and will keep track of the records throughout the day. The child that squeezes through the box at the lowest height in each weight category will be determined the winner. The winners of the kid's squeeze box competition will be posted by 5:00pm in the lobby of the lodge. Kid's competition winners in each weight category will win a prize ribbon. The ribbons will be awarded before the adult squeeze box competition. Meets in fields facility. No transportation required.
Saturday 1:00pm
Drop in - no registration required. This is an EXTREME cardboard maze that is adventurous for both adults and kids. You will encounter extensive crawling passages and some constrictive spaces during this trip. The passages simulate conditions often encountered by cavers in the area's wild caves. The corrugated cave has undergone some renovations since last year. Bring a light (NOT carbide!) but you can leave your shoes & helmet behind. Dress lightly, it is strenuous and can get stuffy in the cave. Knee pads are a good option if you have them. We allow 10 people maximum in the cave at one time, therefore a short wait may occur. Children 10 years old and under need parental supervision in order to participate. Follow signs from lobby to basement. No transportation required.
Saturday 1:00pm
Now that you have had the chance to go down a rope and up a rope we are introducing the concept of across the rope. That's right, a high-line over 200 feet long will be stretched across the gorge down behind the lodge. We will strap you in for you to take a ride to remember as you drop 40 feet in elevation and cruise by the parks largest natural arch, Smoky Bridge. Make sure you bring your cameras for there will be some great photo opportunities. A weight limit of 250 lbs is in place for this trip. The Friends of Carter Caves organization helped make this years high-line possible by purchasing $1,000 worth of vertical gear for rigging the ride. More gear is needed to guarantee this trip year after year. Keep this in mind when you are making bids during the silent auction. Follow signs from lobby to site. No transportation required.
Saturday 1:00pm
Drop in - no registration required. A Saturday mini-presentation. 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. 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. Meets in fields facility. No transportation required.
Saturday 1:00pm
The elusive Bigfoot has remained a mystery because he practices Leave No Trace to preserve his environment. Meet Trek and Track, the fun hiking boots that use interactive activities, targeted towards the younger generation (ages 6-10) to introduce you to the principles of Leave No Trace. Each participant will receive a Leave No Trace backpack tag. Meets at Cottage 248 . 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
Like climbing trees? Recreational tree climbing is a popular high adventure activity that puts a twist to our backyard tree climbing pastime. We will cover what the traditional tree climbing schools are teaching, which is traditional double rope technique that involves using a modified hip thrust to pull themselves 20-40 feet off of the ground. Changes for 2012 include a new location and the addition of Single Rope Technique (SRT) Climbing opportunities. This is a strenuous high adventure activity. Participants 15yrs & under require parent or guardian supervision. Required equipment includes climbing appropriate gloves and warm clothing. Meets at lodge . No transportation required.
Saturday 1:00pm
A commercially lit tour of X-Cave. X-Cave has two vertical joint passages that meander through a large layer of limestone which puts you up-close to many beautiful cave formations. Some of the highlighted features include turkey rock, the pipe organ, and the giant column which is the largest cave formation found at the park. Be aware of your surroundings and you will discover how this cave became known as ""X-Cave."" (Participants please do not wear any clothing or shoes that have been in another cave or mine outside of the Carter Caves area since 2006. This possibly will help prevent the spread of White Nose Syndrome, a disease that is killing bats across the Eastern United States. Because of the seriousness of WNS, all participants are required to walk across a bio-mat containing Lysol I.C. solution at the end of the cave trip.) Meets at Welcome Center. Transportation required.
Saturday 1:00pm
Backpacking is an activity that gets you about as close to nature as you can get. If you are new to backpacking or thinking about looking for an outdoor activity to pursue this workshop fits the bill. Take part in a interactive discussion of the do's and don'ts of multi-day backpacking trips. Topics to include trip preparation & planning, safety, training, gear, packing your pack, food options and basic navigation. During the workshop we will take a 3.5 mile hike and look for good places to set camp, demonstrate filtering water and discuss leave no trace backpacking principles. If you have a backpack and gear bring it with you to show off. We will show different examples of equipment available. About a 30-45 minute portion of this workshop will be indoors. 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
Would you like to try rappelling? Here's your chance. No experience will be necessary. This will NOT be a ""how to"" workshop. You will be given basic instructions, put on the rope, and monitored on the descent. We have a new location for the 2012 event that will make you pucker before your decent. Required equipment includes leather gloves. Follow signs from in front of lodge to site.. No transportation 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 1:30pm
Land navigation will lead the participants in the fundamentals of using map and compass. We will take a look at map features and the information that can be gathered from them. We will also look at compass use and finding headings, bearings, as well as the difference between true, magnetic and grid north. We will then plot some points on a map of the park and learn how to navigate cross country. You will be outside during this workshop so dress appropriately for the weather elements. Meets at lodge . Transportation required.
Saturday 1:30pm
For the first time ever we are offering a guided horseback ride during Winter Adventure Weekend. Take a guided horseback ride through parts of the beautiful Tygart State Forest and Carter Caves State Park. This ride will take you up high on ridges with awesome views and deep into the valleys of Cave Branch. The ride will be around 5-6 miles and last about 1 1/2 hrs. Horseback riders must be 8yrs or older to participate. Participants will be required to sign a waiver. Parents or guardians of children will need to sign off on a waiver for their children. This program cost an additional $30 per person. Needs a minimum of 5 participants to go, if not the trip can be canceled. If this happens you can cancel your registration and receive a full refund or we can register you for other trips during the weekend. Meets at Horseback Riding Stables. Transportation Required.
Saturday 2:00pm
Drop in - no registration required. Do you like tight places? Come find out just how tight of a space you can mentally and physically squeeze through. Due to the nature of their amusement, cavers have always wondered how tight of a place they can fit through. That was when the squeeze box was invented and later constructed. Here is the way it works. There will be 3 different categories: adult competition (15yrs - 39yrs), troglobite competition (40yrs & up) and the kids competition (6-14yrs). We will have preliminary rounds from 9am-12pm & 1pm-4pm on Saturday in the fields facility of the Lodge. Adults and troglobite competitors must drop in during these times to attempt to qualify for the finals held on Saturday night. In the adult competition, the top four male contenders along with the top four female contenders in each weight class will advance to the finals. In the troglobite category the top four male and female competitors will advance. The winners in each adult & troglobite category will receive a prize ribbon, sign the squeeze box and best of all have bragging rights until next years competition. Adult & troglobite finalist will be posted in the lobby by 5:00pm. In the kids competition, kids ages 6-14yrs old can take a stab at the squeeze box during the preliminary competitions held on Saturday. We have set different categories for children and will keep track of the records throughout the day. The child that squeezes through the box at the lowest height in each weight category will be determined the winner. The winners of the kid's squeeze box competition will be posted by 5:00pm in the lobby of the lodge. Kid's competition winners in each weight category will win a prize ribbon. The ribbons will be awarded before the adult squeeze box competition. Meets in fields facility. No transportation required.
Saturday 2:00pm
Drop in - no registration required. This is an EXTREME cardboard maze that is adventurous for both adults and kids. You will encounter extensive crawling passages and some constrictive spaces during this trip. The passages simulate conditions often encountered by cavers in the area's wild caves. The corrugated cave has undergone some rennvations since last year. Bring a light (NOT carbide!) but you can leave your shoes & helmet behind. Dress lightly, it is strenuous and can get stuffy in the cave. Knee pads are a good option if you have them. We allow 10 people maximum in the cave at one time, therefore a short wait may occur. Children 10 years old and under need parental supervision in order to participate. Follow signs from lobby to basement. No transportation required.
Saturday 2:00pm
Now that you have had the chance to go down a rope and up a rope we are introducing the concept of across the rope. That's right, a high-line over 200 feet long will be stretched across the gorge down behind the lodge. We will strap you in for you to take a ride to remember as you drop 40 feet in elevation and cruise by the parks largest natural arch, Smoky Bridge. Make sure you bring your cameras for there will be some great photo opportunities. A weight limit of 250 lbs is in place for this trip. The Friends of Carter Caves organization helped make this years high-line possible by purchasing $1,000 worth of vertical gear for rigging the ride. More gear is needed to guarantee this trip year after year. Keep this in mind when you are making bids during the silent auction. Follow signs from lobby to site. No transportation required.
Saturday 2:00pm
Some of the most unusual and interesting animals are found in the darkness of caves. Bats, bugs, and many other animals call caves their home. Join Breaks Interstate Park Naturalist, Jayd Raines, on a field trip to get an up close and personal look at these creatures of the darkness. Close toed shoes and flashlight are required. Children 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult. (Participants please do not wear any clothing or shoes that have been in another cave or mine outside of the Carter Caves area since 2006. This possibly will help prevent the spread of White Nose Syndrome, a disease that is killing bats across the Eastern United States. Because of the seriousness of WNS, all participants are required to walk across a bio-mat containing Lysol I.C. solution at the end of the cave trip.) Meets at lodge . 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 2:00pm
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 12ft. or 1200ft. Down for Dummies may get you to the bottom, but you will need us to get you out! We will provide you with all necessary equipment including a climbing system and helmet. Follow signs from in front of lodge to site. No transportation required.
Saturday 2:00pm
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. Meets in fields facility. No transportation required.
Saturday 2:30pm
Like climbing trees? Recreational tree climbing is a popular high adventure activity that puts a twist to our backyard tree climbing pastime. We will cover what the traditional tree climbing schools are teaching, which is traditional double rope technique that involves using a modified hip thrust to pull themselves 20-40 feet off of the ground. Changes for 2012 include a new location and the addition of Single Rope Technique (SRT) Climbing opportunities. This is a strenuous high adventure activity. Participants 15yrs & under require parent or guardian supervision. Required equipment includes climbing appropriate gloves and warm clothing. Meets at lodge . No transportation required.
Saturday 2:30pm
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 commercially lit walking tour with some stooping and bending. Kenny the Real McCoy will be your guide and provide you with a one uniquely delivered cave tour. (Participants please do not wear any clothing or shoes that have been in another cave or mine outside of the Carter Caves area since 2006. This possibly will help prevent the spread of White Nose Syndrome, a disease that is killing bats across the Eastern United States. Because of the seriousness of WNS, all participants are required to walk across a bio-mat containing Lysol I.C. solution at the end of the cave trip.) Meets at Welcome Center. Transportation required.
Saturday 2:30pm
Have you ever wanted to cook over a campfire? People have been cooking over open fires for centuries. This trip gives you the opportunity to learn how to season cast iron ware, how to tell the temperature inside a Dutch oven, what types of cookware can be used on an open fire, how to cook over an open fire and receive several recipes to take home with you. Each participant will have the opportunity to prepare a hoecake. No equipment or experience is needed. All materials are supplied. Bring your appetite. This trip is indoors and uses a fireplace inside the Welcome Center meeting room. Meets at Welcome Center. Transportation required.
Saturday 2:30pm
Would you like to try rappelling? Here's your chance. No experience will be necessary. This will NOT be a ""how to"" workshop. You will be given basic instructions, put on the rope, and monitored on the descent. We have a new location for the 2012 event that will make you pucker before your decent. Required equipment includes leather gloves. Follow signs from in front of lodge to site. No transportation required.
Saturday 3:00pm
Drop in - no registration required. Do you like tight places? Come find out just how tight of a space you can mentally and physically squeeze through. Due to the nature of their amusement, cavers have always wondered how tight of a place they can fit through. That was when the squeeze box was invented and later constructed. Here is the way it works. There will be 3 different categories: adult competition (15yrs - 39yrs), troglobite competition (40yrs & up) and the kids competition (6-14yrs). We will have preliminary rounds from 9am-12pm & 1pm-4pm on Saturday in the fields facility of the Lodge. Adults and troglobite competitors must drop in during these times to attempt to qualify for the finals held on Saturday night. In the adult competition, the top four male contenders along with the top four female contenders in each weight class will advance to the finals. In the troglobite category the top four male and female competitors will advance. The winners in each adult & troglobite category will receive a prize ribbon, sign the squeeze box and best of all have bragging rights until next years competition. Adult & troglobite finalist will be posted in the lobby by 5:00pm. In the kids competition, kids ages 6-14yrs old can take a stab at the squeeze box during the preliminary competitions held on Saturday. We have set different categories for children and will keep track of the records throughout the day. The child that squeezes through the box at the lowest height in each weight category will be determined the winner. The winners of the kid's squeeze box competition will be posted by 5:00pm in the lobby of the lodge. Kid's competition winners in each weight category will win a prize ribbon. The ribbons will be awarded before the adult squeeze box competition. Meets in fields facility. No transportation required.
Saturday 3:00pm
Drop in - no registration required. This is an EXTREME cardboard maze that is adventurous for both adults and kids. You will encounter extensive crawling passages and some constrictive spaces during this trip. The passages simulate conditions often encountered by cavers in the area's wild caves. The corrugated cave has undergone some renovations since last year. Bring a light (NOT carbide!) but you can leave your shoes & helmet behind. Dress lightly, it is strenuous and can get stuffy in the cave. Knee pads are a good option if you have them. We allow 10 people maximum in the cave at one time, therefore a short wait may occur. Children 10 years old and under need parental supervision in order to participate. Follow signs from lobby to basement. No transportation required.
Saturday 3:00pm
Now that you have had the chance to go down a rope and up a rope we are introducing the concept of across the rope. That's right, a high-line over 200 feet long will be stretched across the gorge down behind the lodge. We will strap you in for you to take a ride to remember as you drop 40 feet in elevation and cruise by the parks largest natural arch, Smoky Bridge. Make sure you bring your cameras for there will be some great photo opportunities. A weight limit of 250 lbs is in place for this trip. The Friends of Carter Caves organization helped make this years high-line possible by purchasing $1,000 worth of vertical gear for rigging the ride. More gear is needed to guarantee this trip year after year. Keep this in mind when you are making bids during the silent auction. Follow signs from lobby to site. No transportation required.
Saturday 3:00pm
This is a hands on workshop where you will be constructing and using your own prusik climbing system. All participants needs to bring 36 feet of 8 mil cord to build your system. In order to try out your system you should also bring a climbing harness and 3 carabineers. Meets at Cottage 248 . Transportation required.
Saturday 3:00pm
Drop in - no registration required. A Saturday mini-presentation. 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! Meets in fields facility. No 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.
Saturday 3:30pm
Would you like to try rappelling? Here's your chance. No experience will be necessary. This will NOT be a ""how to"" workshop. You will be given basic instructions, put on the rope, and monitored on the descent. We have a new location for the 2012 event that will make you pucker before your decent. Required equipment includes leather gloves. Follow signs from in front of lodge to site. No transportation required.
Saturday 3:30pm
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 12ft. or 1200ft. Down for Dummies may get you to the bottom, but you will need us to get you out! We will provide you with all necessary equipment including a climbing system and helmet. Follow signs from in front of lodge to site. No transportation required.
Saturday 4:00pm
Drop in - no registration required. This is an EXTREME cardboard maze that is adventurous for both adults and kids. You will encounter extensive crawling passages and some constrictive spaces during this trip. The passages simulate conditions often encountered by cavers in the area's wild caves. The corrugated cave has undergone some renovations since last year. Bring a light (NOT carbide!) but you can leave your shoes & helmet behind. Dress lightly, it is strenuous and can get stuffy in the cave. Knee pads are a good option if you have them. We allow 10 people maximum in the cave at one time, therefore a short wait may occur. Children 10 years old and under need parental supervision in order to participate. Follow signs from lobby to basement. No transportation required.
Saturday 4:00pm
Now that you have had the chance to go down a rope and up a rope we are introducing the concept of across the rope. That's right, a high-line over 200 feet long will be stretched across the gorge down behind the lodge. We will strap you in for you to take a ride to remember as you drop 40 feet in elevation and cruise by the parks largest natural arch, Smoky Bridge. Make sure you bring your cameras for there will be some great photo opportunities. A weight limit of 250 lbs is in place for this trip. The Friends of Carter Caves organization helped make this years high-line possible by purchasing $1,000 worth of vertical gear for rigging the ride. More gear is needed to guarantee this trip year after year. Keep this in mind when you are making bids during the silent auction. Follow signs from lobby to site. No transportation required.
Saturday 4:30pm
A commercially lit tour of X-Cave. X-Cave has two vertical joint passages that meander through a large layer of limestone which puts you up-close to many beautiful cave formations. Some of the highlighted features include turkey rock, the pipe organ, and the giant column which is the largest cave formation found at the park. Be aware of your surroundings and you will discover how this cave became known as ""X-Cave."" (Participants please do not wear any clothing or shoes that have been in another cave or mine outside of the Carter Caves area since 2006. This possibly will help prevent the spread of White Nose Syndrome, a disease that is killing bats across the Eastern United States. Because of the seriousness of WNS, all participants are required to walk across a bio-mat containing Lysol I.C. solution at the end of the cave trip.) Meets at Welcome Center. Transportation required.
Saturday 4:30pm
Drop in - no registration required. A Saturday mini-presentation.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. Meets at fields facility. No 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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