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| Trip Name: | Exploration and Science in the Mammoth Cave System |
| Trip Code: | 31 |
| Trip Summary: | At well over 590 km, the Mammoth Cave System is by far the longest cave in the world. This vast three-dimensional maze extends under four principal ridges, containing what were once four separate major cave systems. Enjoy five days of caving in Mammoth Cave's farthest reaches. Daily science and exploration trips will provide the opportunity to follow the muddy footprints of one of the great explorations of the last century.
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| Start Date: | July 27, 2009 |
| End Date: | August 2, 2009 |
| Starting Location: | Nashville International Airport (BNA), Nashville, Tennessee |
| Ending Location: | Nashville International Airport (BNA), Nashville, Tennessee |
| Minimum Size: | Eight (8) |
| Maximum Size: | Forty (40) |
| Contact | Jim Borden and
Pat Kambesis |
| Setting: | Mammoth Cave is located in south-central Kentucky in the Southeast United States, about midway between Nashville, Tennessee and Louisville, Kentucky. The area is characterized by low-relief ridges and shallow valleys. The mean elevation is 200m (650 ft). The area is agricultural and the climate is humid-subtropical. Typical daytime temperatures in late July range from 30°-35°C (86°-95°F) and nights typically dip to 24°C (75°F). Summer weather is normally hot and humid and can be uncomfortable. Thunderstorms are not uncommon.
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| Trip Details: | The Flint Ridge Cave System, Mammoth Cave, Proctor-Morrison Cave, and Roppel Cave were once four separate large cave systems. Extensive exploration throughout the latter half of the last century climaxed in 1983, when the last of these four great caves was linked to create what is now called simply the Mammoth Cave System.
Mammoth Cave is a vast, complex, multi-leveled cave system that is still revealing new discoveries on multiple fronts. Although many passages are large, much of the cave consists of smaller canyons and crawlways. The vertical extent of the system is about 140m (460 ft).
The Mammoth Cave field camp will offer several cave trips each day. You will be able to choose between trips with a scientific focus and those oriented towards exploration. Most trips will be completed by early evening, although some of the exploration trips may last well into the night. Trips will be tailored to the abilities and interests of the participants. While most trips will be in the Mammoth Cave System, there are many other important and interesting caves in the area, and there may be trips to some of these.
Science Trips will cover multiple disciplines, including geology, hydrology, biology, archaeology, and history. Trips will be led by experienced guides who know both the cave and the featured discipline(s). Some of these trips will be rigorous, while others will take place on tourist trails in Mammoth Cave. Many trips, even on tourist trails, will exceed several kilometers, and all trips will require good physical fitness.
Exploration Trips: Mammoth Cave offers some of the most spectacular caving trips in the world. Several trips will visit parts of the cave that show off its most notable features. There will also be several classic "portal-to-portal" trips between entrances, and long loops that wander through the cave. Many of these will cover vast amounts of cave (up to 10km, or 6.2mi, each) and will include relatively untraveled sections of the system. Most exploration trips will be strenuous and require good physical fitness.
In addition to caving, activities will include lectures, slide shows, and some guided surface activities. Non-caving activities will be made available for rest days and for non-caving companions. Possible non-caving activities include commercial cave tours, guided canoe trips, hiking, and local cultural attractions.
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| Accommodations: | This camp will be held at the Cave Research Foundation (CRF) Headquarters, located at Hamilton Valley just east of Mammoth Cave National Park (see a description on the CRF website). Located on 68 hectares (160 acres) on the Mammoth Cave Plateau, the Hamilton Valley (HV) facility offers a beautiful setting in classic Kentucky ridge and valley terrain. Facilities include a central meeting building with a large dining area, kitchen, restrooms and showers; and two dormitory buildings, each with five rooms containing four bunks each. All facilities are air-conditioned.
Many people prefer tent camping, and there are plenty of good camp sites on the CRF property. You must provide your own tent, sleeping bag, and mats.
For those who require more private accommodations, there are a number of motels about fifteen minutes away. If you choose this option, you will be responsible for your own arrangements, as well as for transportation between the motel and the field camp. There are no reductions in camp fees for those who choose to stay off-site. All participants are strongly encouraged to stay at the HV facility to have the full camp experience.
This is a "group cooking" camp where everyone pitches in to cook meals and clean up afterwards. Food will be standard American fare and will include dishes popular in the American South. We will prepare breakfasts and dinners for the group and have self-serve options for lunch for those in camp.
| | Special Considerations: | - In order to ensure the safety of all participants, trip leaders will have the discretion to decide who is qualified and properly equipped for a particular trip.
- Participants must provide their own clothing and caving equipment. This includes helmet, sturdy boots, cave pack, water bottle, three reliable sources of light, spare batteries, kneepads, etc.
- Those wishing to participate in vertical trips must supply their own vertical equipment, except ropes and rigging. All equipment must be suitable for use with 11mm ropes.
- For caving trips, we will supply canned food, candy bars, and other similar foods. If you prefer some other type of cave food, please bring your own.
- Cave conditions are generally relatively dry, although mud is abundant in some areas, with temperatures around 12°C (53°F). Heavy caving
suits such as those made from PVC or Cordura are not recommended because they are generally unsuitable for trips that move rapidly and cover a lot
of territory. If you want to participate in some of the longer, wetter trips, you will need supplemental clothing or, in some cases, a thin wetsuit.
- Caves in the Mammoth area have numerous crawlways, which can often exceed 100m in length. Comfortable and sturdy kneepads are strongly recommended.
- Camp participants must provide current health status information and sign a waiver of liability for use of the CRF Facility and for access to some entrances.
- Participants are responsible for providing their own bedding. Bring a light-weight sleeping bag or blankets and sheets, and your own pillow. We should be able to make arrangements for these items for an additional fee, if you request them in advance.
- Individual bunks do not accommodate couples.
- Please advise us in advance regarding special dietary restrictions.
- Non-caving companions are welcome. They pay the same fee for the camp as full participants. A number of non-caving activities will be made available.
- Bringing children on this field camp is not discouraged; but they must be supervised at all times. Parents and guardians are responsible for making arrangements for child care.
- Full camp participants should be sixteen (16) years of age or older, although exceptions may be made on an individual basis. Some trips will not be open to participants under eighteen (18); however, other options will be available for these younger cavers.
- The HV facility is located in a "dry" county. This means that you will not be able to purchase alcoholic beverages anywhere in the immediate area. We will serve wine and beer with the evening meals.
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| Travel Information: | Transportation between Nashville International Airport (BNA) and camp headquarters at the Cave Research Foundation's Hamilton Valley Field Station will be provided on July 27 and August 2. Plan to arrive at BNA no later than 4:00 PM on July 27, and to depart any time after noon on August 2. Because of the length of the trip and other logistics, we will be able to provide transportation on only these two dates. The details for pickup and drop-off will be coordinated based upon arrival and departure times of participants.
The camp staff will provide transportation for cave trips, camp activities, and other non-caving activities scheduled for participants and non-caving companions. Transportation for non-camp activities or for off-facility accommodations, including hotels for those not staying at Hamilton Valley, is the responsibility of the participant.
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 The 15th ICS Organizing Committee wants everyone to enjoy their trips and excursions, but cares about the safety of all visitors and the
protection of the caves, their contents, and the land in which they occur. ICS Trip Leaders will have the right to refuse entry to a cave or
property, or remove any person from a cave or property if that person's skills, equipment, or actions are likely to harm that person, other cavers,
the cave, its contents, or the property. For general information on accepted caving equipment, techniques, and conservation methods in the US,
see http://www.caves.org/safety/ and http://www.caves.org/info/policy.shtml
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