Carter Caves State Resort Park
Winter Adventure Weekend
January 27-29, 2012
|
Field Trip Descriptions
All Level 3 Trips
Friday 7:00pm 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 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 12:00pm 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 12:30pm 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.
Sunday 10:00am 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.
Sunday 10:00am 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.
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.
|
 |
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. |
Carter Caves State Resort Park Home Page
Kentucky State Parks Home Page
Webmaster: Andy Niekamp
Contact The Webmaster
