FALL VAR 2024 HAS UNFORTUNATELY BEEN CANCELED DUE TO HURRICANE THREAT - PLEASE DO NOT GO THERE! The VAR Business Meeting will still take place Sunday at 10:00 AM on Zoom. See the Listserv for more info.
Fall VAR 2024
Sept. 27-29, Hungry Mother Lutheran Camp
Hosted by the Out of Bounds Grotto
Registration
Pre-registration is $50 and includes dinner. Register now!
Camping
Plenty of room for camping. There are a couple bunkhouses that will be available first come, first served for larger groups, if requested. RVs are allowed, but there are no hookups available.
Dogs
Well behaved and managed furry friends are allowed. No pets allowed in buildings, owners must clean up after their pets and be in control of the owner at all times.
Cell Service
The site has no cell connectivity or wifi, please come prepared to interact with each other.
Alcohol
BYOB, but please embibe discretely and responsibly.
Caving (a work in progress)
Both horizontal and vertical trips will be available.
- Perkins Cave - Washington County, limited trips available, but well worth it!
- Newberry-Banes (vertical) - Where "Veritical Bill" Cuddington pioneered many of the techniques we use to explore today.
- Cyclops Cave - Russell County (vertical) Permits required) ***
- Salamander Cave - Giles County (vertical) Permits required ***
- Buchanan Saltpeter - Smyth County
- Hancock - Smyth County
- Horseshoe Pit - Smyth County (vertical)
- Newberry-Bane - Bland County (vertical)
*** These caves are owned by SCCI. You must request a permit prior to coming to the VAR!
Vendors
- Sophi Reaptress - caving gear
Other Activities
Don’t want to get down and dirty? Don’t blame you; there is so much to do above-ground!
- Marion Farmer's Market, Saturday morning, for locally grown produced you may desire for your meals.
- Float trips on the Holston or Clinch Rivers are with an easy drive.
- Biking on the historic Virginia Creeper Trail is just minutes away.
Dinner
Schedule
Friday - September 27, 2024
- Registration opens @ 14:00
- Self-guided cave trips
- Trip sign-ups @ 20:00
- Campfire – After Dark
Saturday - September 28, 2024
- Guided and self-guided cave trips
- Dinner @ 18:00
- Evening Program @ 19:30
Mike Ficco will be giving a presentation on the Omega System, Virginias longest/deepest cave.
Katarina Ficco will be talking about the discovery of Petra, the prehistoric American cheetah discovered in Lee County - Cave Movie @ 21:00
Sunday - September 29, 2024
- VAR Business Meeting @ 09:00
- Site Closes @ 12:00
- Self-guided cave trips
Social
Facebook Event (You must join the OBG Facebook Group).
Directions
See OBG's website, and scroll to the bottom.
