Caving Trip - October 2016

Troop 9 is heading down to Marengo Cave on Friday October 14.  It will be an adventurous trip that will allow the boys to explore a cave in its natural state.  The Troop is very excited to be back for the first time since 2013.  The cost of the trip will be $50 for cavers and $35 for non-cavers.

Update. Here are some pics from the trip: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B_-lpOZSZ9bKNzBma2xVSV9ESU0

The trip will be a 4 hour drive from Champaign to Marengo, IN.

While in Marengo the troop will be staying in the Marengo Cave bunkhouse called the Clifton Center.  The Clifton Center is not in Marengo Cave Park, it is about 2/10th of a mile east of the park entrance.  When coming from the west you will pass the entrance to the park go down the hill and the entrance is on your left.  There are large pines in the front and a historic home just east of the Clifton Center.

The Clifton Center is a bunk house that sleeps 22 on each side. The troop has reserved both sides. It has a bathroom and showers. Each bunk will have a mattress so all that is needed is a sleeping bag and pillow. There is also a fire pit outside. More info.

Clifton Center Address: 500 Indiana 64, Marengo, IN 47140
Marengo Cave Address: 400 East State Road 64, Marengo, IN 47140
Marengo Cave Phone: (888) 702-2837

The troop will spend Saturday going on the Caver's Day package.  If you are coming make sure to bring clothes that can get dirty because the package requires crawling around in the mud and water.

The tentative schedule for the trip:

10/14/16:
1730 Pack and Load

1800 Depart, eat dinner at Brownsburg Wendy’s

2330 (EDT) Arrive at Cabins (lights out)

10/15/16:

0630 Wake up, breakfast and lunch preparation

0800 Equipment prep and final checks before departing for caving

0930 Depart for Caving

1000 - 1600 Caving, eat lunch at lodge/cavern, cavern walking tour

1600 Arrive back at campsite, downtime

1700 – 2200 Dinner and activities at the cabins

10/16/16
0630 – 0900 Wake up, breakfast, pack-up campsite

0900 Depart for HCS

1200 (CDT) Arrive HCS

What to bring in addition to your normal gear:

• Release form
• Packing list for caving includes clothes that can get VERY Dirty.  Recommended clothes:
• Inner layer: T-shirt or long sleeve shirt
• Inner layer: thermal pants or equivalent
• Outer layer: long sleeve shirt or sweatshirt
• Outer layer: jeans or long pants (no sweatpants or jogging pants)
• heavy socks -2 pair (wool or cold weather gear best)
• boots or high-top tennis shoes
• kneepads
• gloves
• trash bag for wet clothing and shoes
• shower supplies
• Sleeping bag and a pillow
• Flashlight
• Money for dinner on Friday

Menu:

• Friday Dinner: Wendy’s in Brownburg
• Saturday Breakfast: Biscuits and gravy, fruit
• Saturday Lunch: Sandwiches, chips, cookies
• Saturday Snack: Trail mix
• Saturday Dinner: Baconburgers, chips, smores
• Sunday Breakfast: Poptarts, granola bars, fruit

Additional notes:

• No eating, drinking, or smoking inside the cabin. All cooking and eating must be done outside.
• Minors must be accompanied by an adult when visiting the giftshop
• Observe the quiet hours 11:00pm to 7:00am.