Park Happenings

Event Details

Have you done our Buggytop Cave Tour and felt that you wanted to do something more challenging? Did you think to yourself afterward, "That was easy peasy, not so squeezy?" Well, good news!! Our Tom Pack Cave Tour Adventure might be just the caving you've been craving! Tom Pack Cave is not usually promoted to the public, so this tour is the best way to experience this natural wonder. Join us on this adventurous cave tour of Tom Pack Cave!

This will be a very intense program that includes a 6.25-mile round-trip hike with a 3-4-hour cave tour. 4 miles of the hike will be along our strenuous Buggytop Trail, and around 2.25 miles will be off-trail. The cave tour will be very active as well. You WILL get dirty and wet. Expect a good bit of crawling (estimated 200-300 feet total)(a mix of army crawling and hands-and-knees), climbing wet rocks and short waterfalls, and possibly wading through water up to thigh-deep. You also won't be the only thing crawling! Various salamanders, insects, and aquatic critters call the cave their home.

Now that's enough of the down and dirty! Still interested? Good, let's talk about what participants need to bring. The park will provide helmets, headlamps, and size large gloves if you don't have your own, but everything else is on you.

Requirements:

Water, snacks, lunch, a can-do attitude. Hiking boots with aggressive tread are required for inside the cave. Additionally, participants should wear durable outdoor clothing with minimal to no cotton (NO JEANS); wool or synthetics are recommended. Coveralls or pants and long-sleeved clothing are preferred.

Must be at least 16 years of age for this tour. Youth under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

Highly Recommended: Kneepads, a smaller pack for taking water and snacks inside the cave (waterproof or with a waterproof liner), and extra socks and shoes for the hike back (I cannot recommend this enough).

Optional: Your own gloves, camera, and an emergency wag bag for in the cave.

We will be practicing Leave No Trace principles on this hike. Anything we bring with us will leave the cave and hike back with us as well. If you have previously taken any of your gear or clothing into a cave, please decontaminate it using proper white-nose syndrome protocols before and after attending.

We highly recommend that you sign up only if you have attended one of our Buggytop Cave Tours or have caved in a wild, undeveloped cave before. Registration is limited to a small number of people to ensure a safe experience and minimize impact on the cave's ecosystem. If you have any questions about the program or registration, please email Ranger Allen.

Safety

If you have a fear of heights or suffer from claustrophobia, this program is not the best choice for you. Please read the program description and requirements carefully before registering. Visitors with health conditions or limited mobility should carefully consider their limitations. Evacuation from the cave to a hospital for medical attention could take several hours.

Additional Notes: Registration closes 48 hrs prior to the start time. This program is weather-dependent. In the event of inclement weather, the event will be postponed or canceled. There is no bathroom at the trailhead, so please plan accordingly.

If you sign up, please email Ranger Allen.