Cave Tours, hiking featured at Winter Adventure Weekend Jan. 24-27 at Carter Caves State Park

Cave tours, winter survival, rappelling, ice climbing, and guided hikes are among over 200 activities and experiences offered at the 10th annual Winter Adventure Weekend, set for Jan. 24-27, 2019, at Carter Caves State Resort Park.

The four-day event offers 220 instructional workshops and field trips for beginners to advanced winter adventurers based on difficulty and skills required. New field trips added for 2019 include Natural Bridge On-Rappel, Staying Warm in a Winter Camp, Frozen Foraging Hike, Star Gazing and Trail Running 101.

Friday night features a presentation on “Winter Adventure: A Look at Crawlathon and Winter Adventure Weekend (W.A.W.) Through the Years,” by John Tierney, while Saturday night offers “Lechuguilla Far West Expedition,” a presentation by Tammy Otten. Other featured events Saturday include a silent auction by the Friends of Carter Caves, a squeezebox competition, and music from Kentucky’s own Heath and Molly.

Participants will also be encouraged to submit photos in the W.A.W. Photo Salon competition. New categories this year include: winter adventure “selfie,” a Carter Caves State Resort Park site photo, as well as categories for caving and local nature photos. The photos will be displayed during the Saturday night program and winners will be awarded ribbons.

Registration for the weekend is $20 per person and the price structure is set so that guests may “pay-to-play” for additional experiences. Some of the field trips and workshops are free, but many carry an additional fee. Several field trips require guests to bring their own equipment. Trips will fill up quickly, and guests are encouraged to register online in advance.

Registration can also be completed at the park, based on availability, during the event. All participants must be at least 6 years old and some trips have additional age requirements.

For the full list of field trips, registration details, and more, visit winteradventureweekend.com. Online registration is set to start Dec. 8.

Carter Caves State Resort Park is located at 344 Caveland Drive in Olive Hill. The park has a lodge with a restaurant, cottages and campground. Besides cave tours, activities include hiking, swimming, boating and fishing.

The park is off Interstate 64 at exit 161. Take U.S. 60 east. Go approximately two miles and turn left on KY 182 north. The park entrance is three miles from the left turn onto KY 182 north.

For more information, call the park at 606-286-4411.

From Kentucky State Parks