Is there a long distance hike on the Appalachian Trail or another long trail in your future, but you're not sure where to start? This program will give you the knowledge and confidence to plan a long distance hike. You'll learn trip planning skills on where to find information, what to look for, gear, footwear, selecting a section, mileage planning, smartphone apps, maps, guidebooks, food, resupply methods, getting to the trail, shuttles, long-term parking, and more. You will gain confidence and skills to begin planning your hike, whether it is a week-long or months-long trek. Taught by expert hike, Andy "Captain Blue" Niekamp, who has over 20,000 miles of backpacking experience including five end-to-end hikes on the Appalachian Trail, a continuous footpath from Georgia to Maine that travels throughout 14 different states. He has also hiked the Buckeye Trail, Florida Trail, Arizona Trail, Camino de Santiago, Colorado Trail, John Muir Trail, Sheltowee Trace, Long Trail, Ozark Highlands Trail, Superior Hiking Trail, Ohio To Erie Trail, and other trails.

Drop in. Join us this morning to stretch your legs in a Hot Chocolate 5K run (or) walk through the park. The out and back course starts and finishes at the horse-camp-parking lot and offers 3.1 miles of flat roadway to accommodate runners and walkers of all abilities. A 1 mile Fun Run option is available for the kids or (for the kids of heart) is an option for anyone not wanting to tackle the full 5K . Dogs on leashes and strollers pushed by parents are welcome of course. Enjoy hot chocolate at the finish-line area and all participants will receive a small memento for braving the Hot Chocolate 5K. Restrooms are available at the start/finish-line area.

Drop in. Kentucky's longest cardboard cave! 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. Bring a light (NOT carbide!) but leave your shoes and helmet behind. Dress lightly since crawling through the Kenny McCoy Corrugated Cave can be strenuous and stuffy. Kneepads 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.

Drop in. Have some time to spare? Try your hand at the centuries old craft of weaving. You will have the opportunity to weave on a multi-harness floor loom, all materials will be provided and you will have a mug rug to take home with you. A mug rug is a smaller version of an Appalachian Rag Rug and is typically used as a coaster. This trip is open to all, no special equipment is needed. A $5 donation for your mug rug is being accepted by the Friends of Carter Caves Group.

Drop in. Would you like to know if you are the fastest rope climber at Winter Adventure Weekend? Now is your chance to find out! WAW is now hosting its tenth annual rope climbing competition this year. So come, compete and see how you stack up. Everyone is welcome to compete, regardless of age or experience! All of the required equipment will be provided for you. Personal equipment can be used, however the use of a seat harness is required. All personal gear will be inspected by the climbing competition staff, and the staff reserve the right to refuse gear that does not pass inspection. Prizes will be awarded by age group during the Saturday evening program. Staph are welcome to participate but will be in a separate category from event participants.

Drop in. 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 2 different categories: adult competition (15 years & up) and the kid's competition (6-14 years). We will have preliminary rounds on Saturday from 10am-1pm & 2pm-5pm in the Fields Facility of the Lodge. Adult competitors must take part in the squeezebox preliminaries 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. The winners in each adult category will receive a t-shirt, sign the squeeze box, and best of all have bragging rights until next years competition. Adult finalist will be posted on the squeezebox in the fields facility by 6:00pm. In the kid's competition, kids ages 6-14 years must also take part in the preliminaries on Friday or Saturday to be in the competition. 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 6:00pm on the squeezebox in the fields facility. Kid's competition winners in each weight category will win a prize. The winners will be recognized and prizes awarded during the awards ceremony around 8pm in the Fields Facility.

Take a 350-mile journey on the Pinhoti Trail National Recreation Trail from the southernmost peak of the Appalachian Mountains in Alabama to the Blue Ridge Mountains in northern Georgia with photos and narration as Andy Niekamp recounts his epic 2022 thru hike. This lesser-known trail is on one of the southern Appalachian Mountain's premier long-distance hiking trails. The Pinhoti Trail trail winds through diverse terrain of scenic views, rock gardens, forested mountain tops, and multiple water crossings. Completed in 2008 the Pinhoti Trail is often overlooked as a hiking destination because it's not well known and has some tough miles of road walking. The Pinhoti Trail connects with the Appalachian Trail via the Benton McKaye Trail. Learn about the controversial effort to make the Pinhoti Trail part of the Appalachian Trail. Presented by Andy "Captain Blue" Niekamp.