Spring VAR 2017

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Spring VAR 2017

Postby cavefox » Feb 16, 2017 11:36 am

The 2017 Spring VAR will be held April 28-30 at Thorns Springs Park in Franklin, WV.

REGISTRATION:
Preregistration is now open. Download the registration form and mail it in before you forget. Pre-registration will end April 8th. Adults are $35 and children 6-16 are $25 in advance, and prices will go up to $40/$30 at the door. Children 5 and under are free. See the registration form for details on cabins. Please make all checks payable to "Baltimore Grotto."

CAMPING AREA:
There are plenty of wooded campsites aroung the park, next to a babbling brook. Camping is included with registration. The campground has a bath house with flush toilets and hot showers. Seven electric hookups are available for campers and RVs for $5. No sanitation disposal is available. Fires are only permitted in the available fire rings, and firewood is available for $10 per wheelbarrow load from the park office. Please do not bring firewood from elsewhere to minimize the risk of spreading invasive bugs.

CABINS:
Thorn Springs has about 10 cabins, and the VAR has reserved most of them. 8 bunk cabins are $40 and 16 bunk cabins are $80 for the weekend. First come, first served. Get your registrations in soon if you want a cabin.

HOTELS:
There are 2 motels in Franklin, only a few miles away, if camping doesn't suit you.

VENDORS:
Inner Mountain Outfitters plans to attend.
We are still working on other vendors.

T-SHIRTS:
Wie will have a Make-Your-Own T-shrt Station with markers, paints, and plenty of cave-related stencils, etc. Bring your own blank T-shirt to start with. Michaels has plain T-shirts in a rainbow of plain colors for only about $5, sometimes as low as $2-3 on sale.

FRIDAY NIGHT:
John Fox spinning the tunes for dancing and socializing, cave trip sign ups

SATURDAY CONSERVATION TRIPS:
There will be a conservation project at the Trout Rocks Cave Preserve to fix fencing and remove grafitti.

SATURDAY CAVE TRIPS:
Arrangements for limited trips to Cave Rat Cave and others are being worked out.
McCoys Mill Cave is within walking distance of Thorn Springs.
Kee Cave is 5 minutes away.
Blood Cave is 5 mintues away.
Sites Cave (vertical) is nearby.
The NSS Trout Cave Preserve is 5 minutes away. Come help with the conservation project!

Organizer Tommy Carpenter is actively seeking trip leaders. If you are willing and able to lead a trip, please contact Tommy at ibaskateboarder [at] yahoo [dotcom]

VERTICAL WORKSHIP:
The ER-NCRC will be hosting onsite vertical practice to help you practice your techniques, or optimize your vertical system.

SATURDAY NIGHT:
Dinner will be served in the big pavillion, which has plenty of picnic tables.After Dave Socky's presentation, the evening will continue with John Fox spinning your favorite dance tunes.

SPEAKER:
Dave Socky will give a presentation on Catawba Murder Hole and show the new movie "Murder Hole," which he filmed.

SUNDAY MORNING:
There will NO pancake breakfast Sunday, but we may have coffee for everyone - please bring your own mug.

VAR Business Meeting in the big pavillion.
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cavefox
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Joined: Jun 28, 2006 1:10 pm
Location: West Virginia
Name: Nikki Fox
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