Mammoth Cave Overnight Backpacking Trip

We just got back from Mammoth Cave National Park. We decided to take the Good Springs Trail. Upon arriving at the visitors center to get our backpacking permit, We decided to make a trail change. This decision was done do to the fact we had to reserve and campsite in order to get the permit and thus changing the direction that we had planned to hike. I would suggest if you are planning to hike here to reserve ahead in order to get a campsite in the area in which you are hiking.

There are several trails in the area in which we were to begin our hike. Be sure to bring a compass because a lot of these trails intersect each other several times. We parked at the Good Springs Church. Started on the Good springs trail loop to turn left onto Turnhill bend to a right turn on to Sal Hallow were we stayed on top of the hill in a secluded campsite ( if you were walking the direction that we were you would not have seen the campsite until you got to the top of the hill) over looking the river at Sal Hallow campsite. I have to admit these trails are marked very well. Lets say some are marked down to the tenth of a mile to be exact. The next morning we ventured back onto Sal Hallow to Buffalo Trail and then back to Good Springs.

Our Hike

Location: Mammoth Cave, KY

Length: 9.5 miles

User groups: Hikers, Mountain Bikers, Horseback Riders

Link: www.nps.gov/maca/index.htm

Directions from Nashville:

I-65 north to exit 48 (Park City Exit)

Turn left on to KY 255 as it becomes Park City Road into park

Follow Park City Road until it joins Mammoth Cave Parkway

Turn left

Follow Mammoth Cave Parkway to the visitors center

Our Comment Board

Hello Everyone,

The VentureTree Team has made some changes to our comment board. We are receiving lots of spam/junk comments. This comment board is for you the reader to become interactive with the VentureTree Team. We are not here to spread spam.

For our readers we are sorry for the inconvenience of this unnecessary spam and hope that the tweaking we have done will eliminate this problem. If not we may need to tweak a little more to fix the problem so please bare with us.

VentureTree Team

Warm Weather is Here

Yeah,
The cold 20 degree weather has backed off to let in some 60 degree weather. Why be inside get outdoors! Enjoy the weather and be safe. Knowing the weather here in Nashville we will probably have snow by next week.

Enjoy the weather everyone.

Bentley - VentureTree Team

Stomach Virus. Yuck!!!!

Sorry Everyone,

You will have to bare with me on the post for this week and last week. As you have guessed it, I was hit with the stomach virus that is going around. Just about the time I am on the recovery my 9 month old son gets it. We are a hot mess.

Here are some of the symptoms that I am feeling:
hot/cold
nausea
sensitivity to light, sound, smells
bathroom issues
vomiting
weakness and aches all over
wanting to sleep but above make it hard
headaches (from lack of food)

Recommendations:
drink plenty of clear fluids (gatorade, water, sprite, 7up,etc.)
food consist of jelly and chicken soup

I have had it with the liquid diet. I just want solid food. If your suffering from the stomach virus keep your spirits up and it will soon get better.

Bentley - VentureTree Team

Prepare for Winter Driving

Hey Everyone,

Here in Nashville, we got hit pretty hard with snow and ice yesterday. I measured the snow and we have about 7.5 inches of the white stuff. The weather reporters are saying that things are going to clear up but the snow and ice may get worse do to tempertures dropping tonight. I want to post some safe winter driving tips and a list of what you would need in a winter car kit. Yes, some of these maybe overkill but the Metro Nashville covers a vast area with many different types of terrain.


Here is the link to Tennessee Emergency Management Agency:
http://www.tnema.org/


The link will provided you with the information on how the roads and driving condition are around Tennessee. There is a link to the conditions by county and you can look at real time cameras of Nashville's roadways.


I did a search on the TNEMA website and found this PDF file that listed Winter Safe Driving Tips.
www.tdot.state.tn.us/mediaroom/snowbuster/driving_tips.pdf

Things that you need to have in your Winter Emergency Car Kit.
-flashlight with extra batteries
-charged cell phone/automobile charger
-basic first aid kit
-necessary medications
-pocket knife with can opener
-blankets or sleeping bag
-extra clothes (include rain gear, boots, mittens, socks)
-high-calorie, non-perishable food (MREs, dried/canned fruit)
-container of water (nalgene)
-windsheild scarpaer and brush
-fire exteinguisher
-shovel
-cat litter for generating traction
-basic tool kit
-tow rope
-battery jump cables
-road flares/reflectors
-brightly colored cloth to utilize as a flag to mark your location
-road maps

This list is intense, but I have traveled many places and all it takes is a split secoond and your in the ditch or ravine. You may have been seen or not and it is up to you to get help. As the scouts say "Be Prepared". I prefer to use an army wool blanket instead of a sleeping bag because it can stay warm when wet or dry. I also prefer headlamp instead of a flashlight do to being able to have hands free.

Be Safe
Bentley - VentureTree Team

Cleaning and Organizing Time!!!

Hey Fellow Campers,

Ya, I know the title of this blog brings some mixed opinions. Yet this is the time when backpacking, camping and hiking are limited due to all this rainy weather. Times like these you stare out the window watching a leaf float down the street and wish the rain would stop. That is no way to be! Why not go clean and organize your gear for when that weather changes for the better!

You may think that I am one who is always on top of things and have everything neatly organized and better yet it is packed and ready to go. WRONG!!! I am the worst when it comes down to cleaning gear. I usually try to clean/rinse off everything before I put it up but sometimes that does not always happen. Yes, you guessed it. I on occasion find those smelly unknown areas in the gear box. I struggle through the gut wrenching stench to clean and cuss my self internally for letting it get this bad. Enough of my horror stories.

This is the time to clean and organize your gear. Several stores have plastic bins on sale and these bins make great for organization for your stuff. You can label the boxes with duct tape and post notes. I try to separate summer from winter gear. I have a bin for cooking stuff and so on. I have a little more gear than some because we like to backpack and car camp at different times of the year. These bins once organize can be loaded up in the truck and off you go.


Cleaning some of the high dollar gear can be a challenge. Be sure to check with the outdoor gear company of your local gear store to see what products you can use. There are several products by Nixwax that can help that smelly sleeping bag or rain coat. A helpful hint when cleaning your sleeping bag throw in a few tennis balls to help in the drying process.


For more information on Nikwax visit there site:
http://www.nikwax.com/



Bentley - VentureTree Team