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Save the date! Spring VAR coming to Spruce Knob, WV, May 9-11, 2025
Basic Info
- Dates: Friday, May 9, 2025 - Sunday, May 11, 2025
- Location: Spruce Knob Mountain Center, 18 Woodlands Way, Circleville, WV 26804
- Pre-Registration: $50 (includes dinner). Individuals under 18: $20, kids 12 and under are FREE. Online Registration is now open!
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Contact: Email Out of Bounds Grotto (OBG) at
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Proceeds: Proceeds support the Virginia Region (VAR), Out of Bounds Grotto (OBG), Germany Valley Karst Survey, Vertical Training Section of the National Speleological Society (NSS), and Central Appalachian Cave Rescue Team.
Camping and Accomodations
- Camping: Ample space available with bathhouses (toilets and showers).
- Dorms: 40 beds per dorm. Additional $30 per night.
- Yurts: Guest yurts available (sleep 4). Additional $70 per night.
- Pets: Not permitted on-site.
- Fire Policy: Fires allowed only in designated fire rings with local wood.
- To Reserve Dorms or Yurts: Contact OBG at
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Caving Opportunities
Vertical Caves:
- Shoveleater Cave: Technical skills required. Includes rebelays, J-hangs, traverses, and drops up to 215 ft.
- Ruddle: Vertical with tight spaces
- Thompson Pit: Vertical
- Con Cave: Vertical
- Harper’s Pit: Vertical
- Sites: Vertical
- Sites Attic: Vertical
Horizontal Caves:
- Hamilton Cave
- Trout Cave
- New Trout Cave
- Kees Cave (optional easy vertical)
- Stillhouse Cave
- Sinks of Gandy
- Cave Rat Cave
Many other cave trips are in the works.
Other Activities
Meteor Shower: Eta Aquariids – Perfect viewing location at the campsite.
Hiking:
- Whispering Spruce Trail: Easy, ½ mile, stunning sunset views
- Seneca Creek Trail: 5.5 miles, waterfalls, natural springs, and bridges (expect wet feet)
- Huckleberry Trail: 11 miles, high meadows and backcountry vistas
- Piper Apache Plane Crash Site: 10 miles, easy hike on old logging trail
- Seneca Rocks: Hiking (1.5-mile ascent) and rock climbing (over 400 routes)
Event Schedule
Friday, May 9, 2025
- Registration Opens: 2:00 PM
- Self-Guided Cave Trips
- Trip Sign-Ups: 8:00 PM
- Campfire: After Dark
Saturday, May 10, 2025
- Guided and Self-Guided Cave Trips
- Dinner: 6:00 PM
- Evening Program: 7:30 PM
- Presentation by Kyle Mills: "Three Carabiners and a Whole Lot of Guts: Early Vertical Exploration in Pendleton County"
- Meteor Shower Viewing
Sunday, May 11, 2025
- VAR Business Meeting: 9:00 AM
- Site Closes: 12:00 PM
- Self-Guided Cave Trips Continue
Additional Information
- Vendors:
- Sophi Reaptress -Cave Suits and clothing
- Jeremy Hush - artist
- Southeast Expedition Medical
- Cheryl Suitor -bat paintings
- CACRT
- Outstanding Stitches
- And possibly more to come...
- Waivers: Must be signed on the OBG website.
- Stay Updated: Follow OBG or VAR on Facebook for the latest updates.
https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/2025-spring-var
