Spelunking Adventure Trips

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Spelunking Adventure Trips

• At Cumberland Caverns
• Frequently Asked Questions

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The Original Overnight Adventure

• Cumberland Caverns is the first cave to offer an
  overnight wild cave experience to the public
• Thousands have enjoyed our Adventure tour over
  the past several years

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Where are We Going?

• Cumberland Caverns is located near McMinnville,
  Tennessee
• McMinnville is in the heart of Middle Tennessee,
  close to Nashville, Knoxville, Chattanooga

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Cumberland Caverns History

• Was discovered in 1810 by Aaron Higgenbotham.
• Aaron was lost in the cave for 3 days, stuck on a
  tall ledge.
• When found, his hair had turned completely white
  from fright.
• He never forgot his time here, neither will you.

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Cumberland Caverns FYI

• Cumberland Caverns first open to public in 1956
• There are 27 miles of mapped passages
• Open Year Round 7 days a week

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What is the Adventure Trip?

• Wild caving through undeveloped sections of
  Cumberland Caverns
• Every step and each turn is a new discovery
• With nothing but a flashlight and your own
  determination
• "I came, I caved, I conquered!"

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What Will We Be Doing?

• Each of our Adventure trips feature
• Hiking through wild portions of the cave
• Climbing over rocks and ladders
• Hands Knees crawling (some belly crawling)
• Sloshing through mud in Bubble Gum Alley

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Adventure Trips

• Adventure Trip 1 Rocky Topper
• Adventure Trip 2 Higgenbothams Revenge
• Adventure Trip 3 What Waits Below

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Adventure Trip 1 Rocky Topper

• Daytime Adventure
• 2 ½ - 3 Hours
• Original Wild Tour Route
• 4/5 Mile Wild Caving
• Through 10-Acre Room, Ladders-in-the-Caverns,
  Higgenbotham Room, Bubble Gum Alley, the Lemon
  Squeezer
• Optional Daily Scenic Walking tour can be added

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Adventure Trip 2 Higgenbothams Revenge

• Daytime Adventure
• Historic Route Trip
• 1½ Mile Hike to Higgenbotham entrance
• 1½ Miles Wild Caving
• 3 ½ - 4 hours
• Longer and more adventurous route
• 20 ladder climb
• Optional Daily Scenic Walking tour can be added

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Adventure Trip 3 What Waits Below

• The Overnight Adventure Trip
• Includes Daily Scenic Walking Tour
• Original Wild Tour route
• Camping out in the Cave
• Includes Breakfast the next morning
• 14-15 hours in the cave

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How Do We Get Started?

• Groups of 10 to 250 first register for their
  Adventure Trip and reserve date by paying in
  advance.
• All Participants must sign a release form
• Group leader finalizes numbers and pays for trip
  at least 10 days in advance

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What Happens First?
If you can do this. ? Youll have no problem
with this. ?

• Your leader checks in the group at designated
  time
• Your group enters the cave together
• Helmets and helmet lights are distributed
• Everyone makes a test crawl through The Box
• Then youre off on a Spelunk-tacular adventure!

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What Do I Need?

• Flashlight
• Jeans (long pants)
• T-shirt
• Lace up shoes/boots
• Optional
• Knee/ elbow pads
• Change of clothes
• Gloves

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What Do I Need? (Overnight)

• Sleeping bag
• Warm clothes to change into and sleep in.
• Optional
• Tarp or sleeping mat
• Air Mattress
• Money for snack bar at night (breakfast is free)

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What is Not Allowed

• Chewing gum
• Alcohol or drugs
• Food or drinks
• Pets, radios, video games, laser pointers, or
  musical instruments
• Weapons or fireworks
• Cigarettes, cigars or chewing tobacco. Cumberland
  Caverns is a tobacco free environment

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What is Allowed

• Cameras Video
• Your own helmet (bike helmet work fine)
• Extra flashlight, extra batteries (recommended),
  glow sticks, or any other extra source of light

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Spelunkers Rules of 3

• Always cave in groups of at least three people.
• Always tell three people where you're going and
  when you'll be out of the cave.
• Always have three light sources
• Use three points of contact on climbs

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Caution Statement

• The Spelunking Adventure Trip is an extremely
  strenuous activity.
• These trips are also highly addictive, many
  adventure seekers have been known to want to go
  back again and again.
• There are several tight crawls and you will get
  wet and muddy! (Good clean dirty fun!)
• The smallest crawlspace is only 11 inches high!
• You will be amazed and in awe at what and who can
  be squeezed through an 11" high hole. .

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Caution Statement

• DO NOT participate in the spelunking tour if you
  have heart or respiratory condition, knee or back
  problems.
• DO participate in the spelunking tour if you have
  a sense of adventure, a thrill seeking condition,
  or need for physical activity.

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Most Important!

• Have a Good Time!