Winter Adventure Weekend Planned Jan. 28-31 at Carter Caves State Resort Park

OLIVE HILL, Ky. – Carter Caves State Resort Park will present a weekend of outdoor adventure with its seventh annual Winter Adventure Weekend Jan. 28-31, 2016.

Guests will be able to enjoy hiking, kayaking, recreational tree climbing, cave tours including wild cave trips, winter survival, rappelling, archeological field trips, ice climbing a zip line and other adventures.

Guests can select from a list of trips they want to take – for beginners and advanced winter adventurers alike. All of the trips and events are led by guides.

Each trip level is based on the difficulty and skills required. The higher the level, the more skills and special equipment are needed. Guests will be responsible for appropriate dress, water, snacks and other items.

The list of the trips, along with registration information and other details for the 2016 event are available at www.winteradventureweekend.com. All participants must register online at this site. The site can be viewed now and registration starts Dec. 16.

The nonrefundable fee for adults (age 18 and older) is $40, teenagers (age 13-17) is $30, and the nonrefundable fee for children ages 6-12 is $20. Some of the trips have additional fees. (All participants must be at least 6 years old. Some trips have additional age requirements.)

Some new trips have been added for this year’s event, including a series of beginner wild cave trips called Caving: Do it Right. Another favorite past Crawlathon trip, Carter City Connection, comes back to the table. Other wild cave trips being offered include a Cascade Gone Wild Trip, a Lantern Trip, and a 5-hour trek into Tar Kiln Cave.

The weekend will start with programs and workshops on Thursday afternoon.

Evening programs and entertainment each night includes a self-defense workshop on Thursday night and campfire social along with local Bluegrass music on Friday night. On Saturday night, there will be a silent and live auction by the Friends of Carter Caves, a squeezebox competition and Kentucky’s own Heath & Molly will perform.

Participants will be able to submit photos in the Winter Photo Salon competition. Categories include winter adventure, caving and local nature-adventure photos. The images will be shown during the Saturday night program, and winners will be awarded ribbons.

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 1-800-325-0059.