Published: December 11, 2006 11:13 pm

Event offers guided tour of caverns

OLIVE HILL — It’s that time of year again — time to slither through Carter County’s caverns.

Well, almost anyway. Staff at Carter Caves State Resort Park are finalizing plans this week for January’s annual Crawlathon caving event.

“We’re expecting a big turnout,” said John Jordan, park manager. “And everybody’s getting excited.”

Naturalists and volunteers have more than 100 guided trips planned for the Jan. 26 to 28 event.

It’s not only a lot of fun, as everyone from veterans to novices can explore an assortment of caves, not all of which are always open; but also it’s great for the park because it comes during its slowest season.

“Plus, this year the Crawlathon was recognized as one of the top 25 attractions in the state,” Jordan said.

And, it made it in the “Top Ten” festivals and events for winter in a contest sponsored by the Kentucky Tourism Council.

Crawlathon, which celebrates its 26th year this time, started in the early 1980s with about three guides and seven trips, with only about 30 signing up that year, according to park naturalists.

Now, the park uses between 100 and 120 volunteer guides and gets about 550 participants every year.

Besides wild caving, sightseeing walks, canoeing and “pit plunging” using rope in vertical caves, the event offers plenty of educational and exciting experiences for participants of all ability levels.

Some events offered at the easier level include a class called “Do it Right,” which is an introduction to caving, as well as walking tours through commercial caves and events for children.

Intermediate level activities are more “hands and knees” cave tours, and higher levels involve being underground for extended periods of time.

Some activities require certain skills, such as rappelling or canoe experience, before you can even sign up.

The event is worthy of its high ranking around the state because of its “uniqueness,” naturalists say.

It’s different the way it brings together wild caving and many other fun activities, especially during winter — lucky visitors can even see “ice stalagmites,” for example.

As always, there will be a few new trips, different speakers for different cave topics, during Friday and Saturday’s evening programs, Jordan said.

And the park has made more room for its “corrugated cave,” a cave made from enclosing hundreds and hundreds of cardboard boxes for a 500-foot-plus long crawl, he said.

“Last year, it probably netted as much or more people than other trips,” he added. “It’s unique, and making it bigger will mean it’s even better this time.”

Everything’s on schedule so far, Jordan said.

“We really, even the staff really, look forward to Crawlathon each year,” he said. “It’s a challenge to pull it off, and we rely very heavily on volunteers of whom we’re very appreciative, and we hope it continues to grow.”

Crawlathon information is expected to be posted online at its official Web site Friday or this weekend, when participants may book trips. Past trip schedules and photos are also available online.

Check www.crawlathon.com or call (606) 286-4411 for information.

ALLEN BLAIR can be reached at ablair@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2657.