Outdoor Recreation Adventure Trips
The Spring 2016 Adventure Trip Schedule is out!! Look for a flier or go to www.vanderbilt.edu/outrec.
Spring Break 2016: Mar. 5 -13 (Sat - Sun)
Canoe-Camping @ Gulf Coast: FL & Blackwater River
Cost: $385
Sign-up by: Mon, Feb. 15
This Spring Break, we will be driving down to the Gulf Coast for a big canoe-camping trip! First, we-ll check out the wildlife in Big Lagoon State Park, FL. The lagoon is located just inland from the gulf. There will be a chance to hang out at the beach on the coast before heading to Florida-s Blackwater River State Forest. We will camp at Bear Lake where we can go hiking, or canoeing on the small lake. Finally, we will go on a 5-day, 4-night canoe-camping trip down the incredible Blackwater River. (The water is a dark, tannin-stained color, but it contrasts vividly with the snow-white sandy beaches at each bend). This is definitely an area that you have to just be there to experience all of its beauty. We will bring mostly canoes, but also 2-3 touring kayaks that we can take turns paddling. No experience is necessary for this week of camping and paddling, but you must know how to swim. In order to properly prepare for this fun adventure, plan on attending 2-3 Pre-Trip Meetings. Estimated trip duration: 6:30 am Sat. to 4 pm Sun.
Feb 27 (Sat)
Climbing @ Kings Bluff, TN
Cost: $29
Sign-up by: Friday, Feb. 19
Pre-Trip Meeting: Tuesday, Feb. 23 at 6:00 pm in the ORC
Wall climbers, it-s time to try the -real thing-! Kings Bluff is a great location for you to experience the fundamentals of rock climbing with our knowledgeable staff. Some climbing experience is preferred, so take some time to try out the wall first! Shoe rental = $7 extra. Estimated trip duration: 8 am - 5 pm.
Feb 27 (Sat)
Hiking @ Honey Creek State Natural Area, TN
Cost: $25
Sign-up by: Friday, Feb. 19
Pre-Trip Meeting: Tuesday, Feb. 23 at 5:00 pm in the ORC
Honey Creek is located just south of the Big South Fork N.R.A. This challenging 5.7 mile trail covers rugged, yet amazingly beautiful terrain. This hike is incredibly -green- due to the pine trees, the rhododendron, and the lush moss found along an intriguing creek. Estimated trip duration: 7 am - 9 pm
Summer 2016: May 21 -29 (Sat - Sun)
Backpacking, Hiking, and Camping @ Yosemite National Park, CA
Cost: $595 + airfare to and from Sacramento, CA
Sign-up by: Friday, Feb. 26
The Summer adventures continue with the Outdoor Recreation Program and this year-s trip to Yosemite National Park, located in the high sierras of central California. Home to some of the most famous and captivating scenery in the world, we will have a chance to see and explore the impressive granite cliffs and domes, rushing waterfalls, alpine lakes and giant sequoia trees. This trip will include a 4-day backpacking trip and 2.5 days of day hiking. The elevation in the park ranges from around 3,000 feet to 13,000 feet so participants need to be in good shape for this trip. We will mostly be hiking from around 4,000 feet to 7,000 feet in elevation and 6 - 11 miles per day. This will be a trip to remember!
Summer 2016: Aug 6 -14 (Sat - Sun)
Whitewater Rafting, Climbing, and Hiking @ Colorado
Cost: $665 + airfare to and from Denver
Sign-up by: Friday, Feb. 26
This summer, get ready to cross some items off your bucket list! We will meet at Denver International Airport and road trip to experience everything Colorado has to offer. We will start in the famous Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) and hike to hidden waterfalls and glacier lakes before doing some rock climbing at Jurassic Park. Then we-re off to hike some 14ers, mountains that are over 14,000ft. To give you some perspective Clingmans Dome, the tallest Mountain in Tennessee, is 6,644ft high. We will hike over two times that high on Pikes Peak (14,114ft) and Mt. Elbert (14,439ft), the tallest mountain in Colorado! To split up these two big ascents we are going to do some whitewater rafting through the Royal Gorge. There we will experience the Arkansas River-s big class IV and V rapids. A hike through Garden of the Gods will be the perfect icing on the cake before heading back to Denver. The majority of this trip will be intermediate day hiking (9-19 miles per hike with elevation) with the addition of rafting and climbing. It-s designed to be a tough but extremely rewarding adventure for experienced hikers, but we will allow enthusiastic beginners to join us on the excursion!
Mar 19 (Sat)
Trail Building @ Bells Bend Park, Nashville TN
Cost: FREE!
Sign-up by: Wednesday, Mar. 2
Pre-Trip Meeting: Wednesday, March 16 at 6:00 pm in the ORC
Bells Bend Park is a relatively new park in Nashville that is being developed as a more natural park, rather than a -ball field park-. This time we will help build a new mountain biking trail in the park. Experienced trail volunteers and equipment will be provided to help us. Lunch is also provided, and hiking afterward is an option. Estimated trip duration: 8 am - 3 pm
Mar 19 (Sat)
Rappelling @ The Great Stone Door, S.C.S.P., TN
Cost: $33
Sign-up by: Wednesday, Mar. 2
Pre-Trip Meeting: Tuesday, Mar. 15 at 6:00 pm in the ORC
The Stone Door is located in the beautiful South Cumberland State Park, just 120 miles southeast of Nashville. This trip features rappelling; it-s kind of like the opposite of rock climbing. Participants will hike up to the top of the bluff and then rappel down to the bottom. A belay will be used for additional safety. Beginners are welcome and basic instruction will be given. Estimated trip duration: 7am - 6 pm
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TRIP REGISTRATION:
- To sign up for an adventure trip online go to www.vanderbilt.edu/outrec. Find the specific type of trip on the Trip Schedule dropdown. Scroll down to the trip and Click link to register for that trip.
- You can now pay on-line with a credit card or debit card! If you cannot pay with this method, please contact Linda Rosenkranz at outdoorrec@vanderbilt.edu
For more information about a trip, the climbing wall, kayak workshops or equipment rentals, please e-mail outdoorrec@vanderbilt.edu or call Linda at 615-343-7898.
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Outdoor Recreation Spring Semester Hours: Mon and Fri 12 noon - 6 p.m.
Tue, Wed, and Thu 3 p.m. - 6 p.m.
VRWC Climbing Wall Hours:
Mon-Thurs 4 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Friday 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.