Spelunking - Sat, Mar 13 2004

Spelunking

The Basics:

Event Type:

Event Location:

Raccoon Mountain Caverns

Date(s) & Time:

Sat, Mar 13 2004 9:00 am >> N/A

Registration Opens:

Mon, Jan 1 2007 12:00 am

Registration Cut Off:

Fri, Feb 20 2004 11:59 pm

Event Duration:

per itinerary

Difficulty Rating:

D2: Easy to Moderate

Trip Leader(s):

Email Trip Leader(s)
You must be logged in to get the Trip Leader contact information.

Member Cost:

None

Participant Info:

Who's Invited:

Members Only, 21 And Older Only

Maximum Group Size:

Minimum Group Size:

Number Registered So Far:

22 / 0 (To see who's signed up, log in to the Member Area)

Are Dogs Permitted:

Itinerary:

moderate (crawling, hiking, camping)

We will meet at 6:30 pm to check in and we will enter the cave at 7:00 pm. The tour is approximately 4 hours of crawling, and hiking, with some belly crawling possible. We will sleep in the cave overnight, and will leave the cave at approximately 7:00 am.

The cave is a natural, limestone cavern extending over 5 miles into Raccoon Mountain. It is noted for its incredible variety of passageways, large waterfalls, diverse formations, abundant fossils, and spectacular scenery.

The Wild Cave Tours are designed to permit you to explore the inner portions of the cave system with a skilled guide. These areas are unlit and are presented in their natural state. Emphasis is placed upon safety, ecology, and proper technique. Their tours are regarded by many as the most challenging and rigorous expeditions in this part of the country.

You will experience the challenge of a vast network of underground chambers, canyons and tunnels requiring you to walk, crawl, and climb over, under, and through a rugged maze of rock formations. This will be an exciting and unforgettable adventure!

We will be doing a four hour expedition which includes some short belly crawls, a visit to sandpaper slide, and the 49-cent squeeze.

The Caverns will provide you with a safety helmet, headlamp with battery pack, kneepads, gloves, and duffel bag for the overnight tour.

There are portable rest rooms located near the sleeping areas and a bathhouse with private showers that you may utilize after your tour.

After showering, we will go up to the gift shop for hot coffee, hot chocolate, and donuts. Be aware: Hands need to be free for crawling. If you bring a camera, you must keep it in a waist pack.

It is muddy, wet, and/or slippery throughout the cave. Helmets must be worn and caution used when walking, crawling, etc.

The tour will go the speed of the slowest person in the group and rest often. The entire group does the tour - no one stays in the sleeping area and no lone exploration.

The cave environment is extremely fragile. We must be careful not to disturb animals or leave anything behind that would disturb the ecosystem. The cave should be left as you found it - it is illegal to take anything from the cave.

The tour is physically challenging and is not recommended for those with heart conditions, recent surgery, etc. If unsure, please call and ask. The guides must be told of any medical condition (asthma, diabetes, etc.) before entering the cave.

Required Items to Bring:
An adventurous spirit!
No expensive clothing! The tour can be rugged, wet, and muddy with occasional walking in several inches of water. Coveralls, overalls, old jeans, or work pants (absolutely no paper type disposable coveralls).
Wear long pants (no sweat pants) and long sleeved shirt. It is 60 degrees in the cave, so dont overdress. Shorts are prohibited.
Wear sturdy shoes. Boots or high tops are necessary. Worn out, slick sneakers are dangerous. No street shoes.
(Gloves, kneepads, helmets, and lights are provided.)
Canteen for drinking water (must attach at belt).
Complete change of clothes (you will get dirty).
A plastic bag for dirty clothes and gear.
A sleeping bag or bed roll with plastic sheet.
The Caverns will provide you with a safety helmet, headlamp with battery pack, kneepads, gloves, and duffel bag for the overnight tour.

Clean clothes to sleep in (sweat suit, extra socks, light jacket).
Framed back packs are not permitted. PACK LIGHT - you have to haul what you bring in through two crawl ways.
Small flashlight for campsite.
Drinking water.
Small plastic bag for trash removal.
Money for meals on the road

Recommended Items to Bring:
Use our Event Checklists to make sure you have everything you need.
Disposable Camera (disposable cameras are highly recommended as expensive cameras can be easily damaged)

Snacks: Water or Powerade to drink; chewy granola bars, candy bars, or beef jerky to eat. No soft drinks, no glass, no coolers, nothing that crumbles, please.

How to Get There:

Event Directions:

Chattanooga, TN Meet in the registration office by 6:30 PM to check in. Take I-75 North to I-24 West. Take exit #174. Turn right. Raccoon Mountain is 1.3 miles on the left.

Notes:

Event Payment Methods Quick Access to Payment Menu: PayPal Cash Check or Money Order Personal Check Dont forget... Your reservation for any event is not guaranteed until you have paid for the event. You must arrange payment prior to the event registration cut-off date. Check the event details to see what the fees are for each event you register for. Most are free, but overnight or meal-provided trips usually have some costs. We are PayPal Certified! Paypal allows you to pay for events using your debit or credit card, as well as automatic withdraws through your bank/checking account. We have included the basic instructions here for using PayPal to secure your reservations... Go to www.paypal.com Click the link to Sign Up Now* (its free to get an account) Fill out the questions on the form to get your account set up Once your account is set-up (check your e-mail for info), log into PayPal Follow the online prompts to get your credit card added to your account or to add funds from your checking account Once you have either your credit card or funds in your account, click the Send Money tab at the top Put in treasurer@atlantaoutdoorclub.com as the recipient Put in the total that you owe Put Service for Type Put in your e-mail address In the Note field - Be sure you put in the name of the event and who you are paying for (you, your friend, etc). This is very important so we know who to mark as paid! Receipts for PayPal: You will receive your receipt that you paid via e-mail from PayPal. Hold onto this - it is your receipt! *If you already have a PayPal account: Follow steps 4 through 11 above. Please note: If you dont have a (free) PayPal account we recommend signing up for PayPal well in advance of your trip cut-off date. It can sometimes take some time to get your account verified... you want to be sure your account is active before money is due to the event organizer. Cash Cash must be physically handed to Katt Martin (president) or Phil Tuck (treasurer) no later than the registration cut-off date. You will get a cash receipt when you give them your payment. Cashiers Check or Money Order A Cashiers Check or Money Order can be physically handed or mailed to Katt Martin (president) or Phil Tuck (treasurer) no later than the registration cut-off date. Payment should be made to Atlanta Outdoor Club and mailed to P.O. Box 468241, Atlanta, GA, 31146. Personal Check Guarantees your spot on the trip ONLY AFTER it clears the bank. A Check can be physically handed or mailed to Katt Martin (president) or Phil Tuck (treasurer) no later than the registration cut-off date. Payment should be made to Atlanta Outdoor Club and mailed to P.O. Box 468241, Atlanta, GA, 31146. Receipts for Cash, Check or Money Order: You will receive a paper receipt when we receive payment from you. Hold onto this!
Is this a rain or shine event? YES

Are dogs allowed? NO

* We encourage all members to follow our Etiquette Guidelines while participating in AOC events.

Cost Includes:

$45.00 per person(the caverns provide breakfast).

Deposit of $10.00 to be paid within 10 days of signup. Balance due by March 5th. Refunds available before February 20th. No refunds after February 20th unless you find someone to replace you on the trip.

You may want to bring cash for meals on the road (approximately a 1 1/2 to 2 hr drive)

Cancellation/Partial Attendance: Please review the AOC cancellation policy.