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trips - Return to the Batcave ButtkickerTrip Info
DescriptionUPDATE: APRIL 19 EVERYONE!!!!!! Check the Group sites before you visit sites 71 to 73. I missed the obvious for sometime now not realizing there were group sites in the headquarters campground. STOMPER - TRY to get 2 of these together. I will call you in the morning. UPDATE: APRIL 17 3 days beyothces! I called the office this morning and both the Houchins and Green River ferries are open. Next, the green river ferry opens at 6am on Saturday. We may be able to get a few cars over the river to complete a shuttle before 9am. As you arrive at the campground, come find us immediatly. If we can get completed campsite reservations in to the park office before they close at 5pm, then a group can get started earlier. UPDATE: APRIL 9 Less than 2 weeks to go! The area has received a lot of rain receintly so prepare for muddy trails. I need favors from the following people: Stomper: *Reserve backcountry site no. 1 at First Creek *Pay for 2 sites (no. 71 and 73) ay Headquarters Campground. I will collect money from people as they arrive to pay you back. Thriftyhiker *Reserve backcountry site no. 2 at First Creek Many thanks in advance! If you guys have questions now, email me: backpakn2@sbcglobal.net or day of trip, call me on the cell 219-713-3776 (jim, is that right?) Stay Tuned Background: This is a follow-up hike to last years Golly Batman! Check out that Mammoth Bat Cave! backpacking trip. We all had a great time and so the hope is that we can have even more fun the second time around. All trails will probably be muddy! Time/Distance: 2 days, 2 nights, mileage depends on you (see below) Itinerary: 20-Apr: Arrivals, Camp 21-Apr: Meet at Visitors Center, Stage Shuttle, Hike, Camp 22-Apr: Short Hike to Shuttle (<1 mile), Return Drive. Important Note: If you are not planning on camping Friday evening, 20-April, please meet the group at the visitor's center at 8:30 AM CST sharp. We will complete the registration and proceed to the Green River ferry crossing which open at 9 AM. After crossing the river, it is roughly a 20 to 30 minute drive to the trailhead. We need to complete this as quickley as possible to ensure enough time to complete the hike. The shuttle will be very close to Saturday Night's camp (within a mile). This means people can use daypacks, leave a portion of their pack behind, and/or pack food or refreshments at the shuttle to pack into the camp later in the day. Sweet, eh? If you are planning on stashing gear in the car we leave at the parking area near our campsite for Saturday evening, please take care of this at the visitor center parking lot. We will designate what car this will be then. First Nights Camp: Mammoth Cave Campground Directions: Enter park on Mammoth Cave Parkway. Turn Left into campground. Stomper will be reserving 2 sites at the headquarters campground on Friday for us. These sites cost $17.00 a piece which brings the total to $34.00. If you are camping this evening, please plan on paying her at least $5.00 to cover your share of the site. Five bucks should be enough.: updated March 22 Google Maps map of Mammoth Cave Campground @ (37.181894, -86.096849) - estimated location. Note: It is a 6-7 hour drive from Chicagoland to the First Nights Camp. It is 7-8 hours from Detroit. Trailhead (for first days hiking): From Mammoth Cave Campground:
Park at First Creek Parking Area. Google Map Directions to Trailhead from Mammoth Cave Campground - estimated start and end points Google Maps map of trailhead @ (37.245293, -86.192873) - estimated location. End of Hike/Shuttle: Parking area off of Houchins Ferry Rd at the end of the McCoy Hollow Trail, 3.5 miles South-West of Trailhead on Houchin Ferry Rd. Google Maps map of hike end @ (37.219393, -86.219244) - estimated location. Difficult: Route One (The Buttkicker) - ~17 miles:
Intermediate: Route Two (The Buttwhacker) - ~9 miles:
Moderate: Route Three (The Buttkisser) - ~5 miles:
Camp Sites: 20-Apr: Mammoth Cave Campground (see above) 21-Apr: First Creek 1, First Creek 2, Second Creek, then spillover back to Three Springs (8/site is the limit) Google Maps map of First Creek 1 @ (37.225502 -86.228031) - estimated location. Google Maps map of First Creek 2 @ (37.224887;-86.225724) - estimated location. Elevations and Mud: Buttkisser: A few climbs and quite muddy. Those that dayhike on the McCoy Hollow trail see Buttkicker below. This is classified as "beginner" to intermediate because the distance is within easy reach for most beginners as is the trail however you can choose to tackle as much of the McCoy Hollow Trail as you feel comfortable with. Buttwhacker: Basically the same as the Buttkicker with regard to elevations (see below) with fewer miles and less mud. This is classified as "intermediate" because it has fewer miles but still the challenge of the McCoy Hollow Trail. Buttkicker: The start of the hike has lots of water/stream crossings and a lot of mud with a few climbs. There are many horse-beaten trails, muddy with some slippery hills. The later portions of the hike (prior to McCoy hollow trail) are fairly flat with a few hills and less mud. The final segment starting with the McCoy Hollow Trail has lots of climbs that are demanding with still less mud. This hike has lots of miles, hills, stream crossings, and mud. It is classified as "difficult" because of the distance and the terrain. Paper Maps: National Geographic Trails Illustrated Mammoth Cave National Park: Kentucky, USA (Map) (ISBN 156695004X) Online Map: National Park Service Map (caution, this link is to an Adobe Acrobat File) Fun Photo:  Waiting for a ride at the end of last years trip. The usual cast of suspects... Should anyone have a question, please email me backpakn2@sbcglobal.net Weather for Mammoth Cave http://www.crh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?CityName=Brownsville&state=KY&site=LMK
 = Yes,  = Maybe
Trip Attendees
Picture Albums Mammoth Cave April 07 (23 pics) - MsDoolittleMammoth Cave Trip (8 pics) - windigrrl
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