This NRO, held in Pittsfield Massachusetts, places you to right in the middle
of the Berkshire Mountain’s finest caves. The campsite is within a 10 minutes drive
of Lanesborough, the heart of Berkshire caving. It is also within a 30 minutes drive
of the caves in West Stockbridge, Sheffield, and Alford. Berkshire cave diggers
have worked very hard over the past couple of years trying to find caves within
a two hours drive of Hartford and have finally succeeded.
This year we will be holding all events at Camp St. Michael in Pittsfield Ma. This
is the first time an NRO has been hosted here and the first time the cave on their
property has been open for caving in many years. Campground features include a children’s
playground, basketball courts, a small pond for swimming and kayaking, and a cave.
Yes, there is cave on the property and you may set up your tent directly above it.
Known as Great Radium Springs Cave, this cave drains a swamp to the north and feeds
Hawthorne pond. No full map exists of the cave, but estimates put it at 750 feet
in length. More details are in the cave section of the NRO guidebook. If you are
new to caving, check out this guide to caving gear
Caving Checklist.
There are a large number of non-caving activities in the Pittsfield area that many
of you may check out. I highly recommend that everyone visit balance rock, only
minutes from the campground. There is great hiking in Pittsfield state forest and
great beer and food at the Pittsfield Brew Pub. In addition to fishing and kayaking
on Hawthorne pond, I recommend visiting lake Onota and Pontoosuc, only minutes away.
More info at:
Lanesborough, MA -- Interesting links}
This is the registration form, which you may print, fill out, and bring with
you. Fall 2009 NRO Registration
Form.pdf Of course we will have these at the NRO.
Everyone will be asked to sign a liability release. Please read and sign it in advance,
as this will speed up registration NRO
Field Event Waiver.pdf.
Camp St. Michael in Pittsfield MA The address is 1074 Cascade Street.,
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Detailed directions: NRO Fall 2009
Directions.pdf
Links to the Google map view of the site and area around it:
Google Map of NRO site small scale and
Google Map of NRO site large scale
Parking:
The entrance gate will be open for entire weekend: pull into the gravel driveway
and cross the small bridge. Just inside the entrance there is a small parking area
in front of the registration building. If you arrive late during the night, please
park here (not on the grass) and move your vehicle when daylight comes. There is
a larger grass parking area on the right side of the registration building. Please
do your best to make most efficient use of the space available. RV and camper parking
is available, check with registration for assistance.
Tent Sites and Setup:
Tents may be set up anywhere within the camp property (other than in parking areas).
I advise seeking high ground in the likely event that it rains. Cars are not
allowed beyond the parking area, so tents and other stuff will have to be carried
a few feet to a few hundred feet, depending on where you camp. The best sites for
scenic and shady camping and privacy are on the far side of the pond, and back in
the wood near the cave insurgences. The grass field is closest to the meeting and
food areas. I recommend walking the entire campground before choosing a spot.
Please come to the registration area when you arrive or as soon as you are set up.
Adult Basic NRO Fee: $4
Youth Basic NRO Fee: $3
Campground Fees:
Adult Camping (ages 15 and older): $5 per adult per night ($10 for entire
NRO weekend)
Child Camping (ages 6-14) $3 per child per night ($6 for entire NRO weekend)
Adult / Child day pass $3 per person per day (valid only if not camping overnight)
Other:
Guidebook: $3
Pint Glass: $10 (Fundraiser for Merlin’s Cave Purchase)
Payment accepted in cash and check (make checks out to "Central Conn Grotto")
Saturday Breakfast: $5
Eggs, pancakes, bacon, sausage, a juice, coffee and tea.
Saturday Dinner: $7
Hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken patties, and veggie burgers with beans, potato salad,
macaroni salad, sour krout
fixings will be; lettuce, tomato, onion, bacon, cheese, mayo, ketchup, relish, buns
plus coffee, bug juice, soda (cans)
Sunday Breakfast: $5
Eggs, pancakes, bacon, sausage, a juice, coffee and tea.
Camp fires are allowed in the fire pit between the registration building and
the pond, and in the fire pit located back in the forest. We plan to stock
both spots with wood for the weekend. You also may burn any dead wood found
on the property. Do not cut anything alive down.
Bathrooms
Men’s and Women’s bathrooms are located on either side of the main building.
Sinks and toilets with running water are available for our use. Note, we are
responsible for cleaning these facilities. Showers are not available.
Use the pond or the hose located at the gear decontamination area.
(See Registration for Details, some are fully open, some are lead trips only)
1) Masshole: Lead Trips only*
2) Jug End Karst (Bat’s Den, Crystal Pool)
3) Coonhound Karst (Shepard’s Cave) Lead Trips Only*
4) Devil’s Den*
5) Great Radium Springs*
6) Bakers Quarry (and area)
7) Coon Hollow (and area)
8) Convention Cave: Lead trips only*
9) McMaster’s Cave
10) Skeleton Cave: Lead Trips only
11) Pettibone Cave: Lead Trips only*
12) Bentley’s Cave
13) Snow Hole and Williams Caves
*Open only for this NRO weekend
Are you leading a trip? If so please, print the sign up form complete it for your
trip NRO Trip Signup.pdf
Please plan on attending the NRO auction, with proceeds going to the goals and projects of the NCC. Please donate items to the auction, preferably items of interest to most cavers, and of value. In other words, nice stuff, either new or used. Check out the NCC at http://www.necaveconservancy.org
The Saturday night program will be a slide show and commentary on caves the Berkshires with emphasis on recent explorations.
As most of you are aware, the Northeast’s bat population has been severely reduced by the White Nose Syndrome (WNS). We ask that all of you follow the decontamination procedures described later in this guidebook (and listed on www.necaveconservancy.org). We will have the NCC decon recommendations posted at registration along with a decontamination station. In addition, we ask that if you encounter bats in any of the caves this weekend to avoid close contact with them. If any bats are found on your trip, please report the sightings to registration.
Do you have extra caving gear that others can borrow? If so, please bring the gear to this NRO where is may be loaned to beginner cavers who don't have gear. We will do our best to keep track of the items using a sign-out sheet.
Raffle tickets will be sold to raise funds for local cave purchases and management. Items and gift certificates have been donated by businesses, including Dion Snowshoes and B&C Wunderwear. Raffle tickets will be sold from Friday evening until the drawing on Sunday morning.
Friday, Sept 11 |
|
| noon | Campground opens for setup |
| 2 pm | Campground opens for attendees |
| 4 pm | Registration opens |
Saturday, Sept 12 |
|
| 7:30 am-9:00 am | Breakfast by Steve Janesky |
| All day | Caving |
| All day | Vendors |
| All day | Vertical Practice |
| 6:30 pm-8:00 pm | Dinner by the CCG |
| 7:30 pm | NCC auction and 50/50 |
| 9:00 pm | Presentation by the Rockeaters |
Sunday, Sept 13 |
|
| 7:00 am-8:30 am | Breakfast by Steve Janesky |
| Morning | Vendors |
| 9:00 am | Raffle |
| 9:10 am | NRO business meeting |
| All Day | Caving |
| 3:00 pm | Campground closes |
