NCRC Weeklong 2010, Mentone, AL

[Tadpole]

I know I'm getting excited about the weeklong this year. Not only will I get to see all my buddies and catch up with everyone, but getting to spend a week in the North Georgia, Alabama area is awesome! Totally excited about the pilot class, it will take all the Level 1 and 2 skills (which are the prereqs. for the class) into the field for a week of practice scenarios. Those skills and tools that you talk about, and sometimes see, but not everyone gets to touch and use, will show up in Team Operations and Field Exercises (TOFE). We'll have the opportunity to really hone in our skills with practice, practice, practice! We'll pull the "whole picture" together in different environments, incorporating the technical aspects of rescue, rigging and such, with comm, ICS, patient care and general problem solving. While it's not on the general info. about the seminar, TOFE will show up when you go to register, so don't be dissuaded. It should be great, but it IS a PILOT CLASS and space is limited!!

[Carl Amundson]

I know I'm getting excited about the weeklong this year. Not only will I get to see all my buddies and catch up with everyone, but getting to spend a week in the North Georgia, Alabama area is awesome! Totally excited about the pilot class, it will take all the Level 1 and 2 skills (which are the prereqs. for the class) into the field for a week of practice scenarios. Those skills and tools that you talk about, and sometimes see, but not everyone gets to touch and use, will show up in Team Operations and Field Exercises (TOFE). We'll have the opportunity to really hone in our skills with practice, practice, practice! We'll pull the "whole picture" together in different environments, incorporating the technical aspects of rescue, rigging and such, with comm, ICS, patient care and general problem solving. While it's not on the general info. about the seminar, TOFE will show up when you go to register, so don't be dissuaded. It should be great, but it IS a PILOT CLASS and space is limited!!

There might be a little Level 3 improvisation also...
(will it work; is it safe)

[Carl Amundson]

Hey Tim or Rebecca,
What will the entrance skills testing be for the pilot program; Level 2 or Level 3?
I'm thinking it will be Level 3 entrance skills, but I hate to assume.

Carl

[Tim White]

TOFE (Lvl X or what ever we call it) is only Lvl 1 and 2 skills. There will not really be traditional entrance skill testing as you are accustom to, but rather a review of the students skill level. This will allow the instructors to get a better understanding of where each student is and what area we might need to focus on. This is a class of reviewing, learning and practicing practical and foundational cave rescue skills.

[Carl Amundson]

Darn, I was hoping to better my Level 3 SRT skills test of 7min 30 sec.

[Stridergdm]

Darn, I was hoping to better my Level 3 SRT skills test of 7min 30 sec.

Hmm, I think the standard that was set was 7 minutes and 29 seconds. So sorry.

[Tadpole]

I'll be happy to pull out a stop watch just for you Junkman!

[Anonymous_Coward]

Just signed up Bonny for Level 2 and me for Level 3!

See you there in two months!

[polrbear]

I intend to register for the weeklong shortly, but need help with one thing: logistics. What's the best way to get from one of the airports (prefer Atlanta) to Mentone without renting a car? It seems wasteful to rent a car to let it sit for a week while I'm in the class. Are there any carpools going or group transport arrranged?

Mentone is certainly out of the way of everything--great for the class itself, but tough to get there!

[NZcaver]

I intend to register for the weeklong shortly, but need help with one thing: logistics. What's the best way to get from one of the airports (prefer Atlanta) to Mentone without renting a car? It seems wasteful to rent a car to let it sit for a week while I'm in the class. Are there any carpools going or group transport arrranged?

Mentone is certainly out of the way of everything--great for the class itself, but tough to get there!

Welcome to the forum. That's a very good question. I was looking through the seminar info last night, and wondering the same thing.

I suggest contacting the seminar staff directly - http://www.caves.org/ncrc/national/2010 ... ts2010.htm

If you find out, feel free to post the answer. See you there!

[Stridergdm]

I intend to register for the weeklong shortly, but need help with one thing: logistics. What's the best way to get from one of the airports (prefer Atlanta) to Mentone without renting a car? It seems wasteful to rent a car to let it sit for a week while I'm in the class. Are there any carpools going or group transport arrranged?

Mentone is certainly out of the way of everything--great for the class itself, but tough to get there!

That's a great question. As NZcaver suggested, contact the staff. Generally they'll develop a list of times and people who are flying in, etc. and try to arrange some carpooling or the like.

I know last year I ended up being co-opted into picking someone in Indianapolis. They had arrived on a bus. I met them at a random sidewalk

BTW, I would also recommend looking at other airports such as Chattanooga. While often more expensive, sometimes it's actually cheaper and the distance isn't all that different.

I still haven't decided how I'm getting there. I suspect driving. But we'll see.

[Anonymous_Coward]

Cross-posted with Stridergdm

What's the best way to get from one of the airports (prefer Atlanta) to Mentone without renting a car?

We're flying into Nashville, my folks live there, and it is only about 2 hours away. You could also check out Chattanooga and Huntsville. Both are very close to Mentone and I was surprised how affordable the flights into HSV were. Birmingham can't be all that far either and I'm sure there will be cavers driving in from all four cities. If there is no seminar-sponsored transport, maybe you could check with the Nashville, Huntsville, Birmingham, or Dogwood City Grottos for help.

[NZcaver]

I still haven't decided how I'm getting there. I suspect driving. But we'll see.

I assume you're planning to arrive on Thursday Greg? If you're driving, you could pick me at at the airport on the way if you want to.

I'm thinking of flying into Chattanooga, but I can't book flights until I know where I'll be leaving from. Situation normal for me!

[NZcaver]

I suspect folks may be on their own (or may have to arrange their own carpooling) this year.

Several times in previous years, the info brochures have stated "Students are encouraged to arrange their own transportation to and from
the airport. Contact the registrar well in advance if you want help with transportation." Last year volunteer staff/instructors kindly provided shuttle transportation (1 hr 45min drive each way!) for those who gave advance notice.

These offerings are conspicuously absent in this year's brochure. There's no harm in contacting the seminar staff to ask for carpool suggestions. Or just keep bugging people here on the forum, and see what happens.

[Stridergdm]

I still haven't decided how I'm getting there. I suspect driving. But we'll see.

I assume you're planning to arrive on Thursday Greg? If you're driving, you could pick me at at the airport on the way if you want to.

I'm thinking of flying into Chattanooga, but I can't book flights until I know where I'll be leaving from. Situation normal for me!

Actually not sure when I'll get in. I may have to work that Thursday meaning driving in through most of the night if I do. I hate doing that though since I start with a sleep deficit.

The train is tempting (that's how I usually get to Georgia) but then I need a ride from the station to the event and won't get there until Noon or so.

Hey, you could fly into DC and drive down with me