Outdoor Recreation
SEPT. 6 (Sat)
HIKE & SPLASH
Cummins Falls AND Burgess Falls State Parks, TN
Cost: $24
Sign-up by: Fri, Aug. 29 // Pre-Trip Meeting: Tue, Sept. 2 at 5 pm
Cummins Falls State Park is the newest in Tennessee-s great State Park system. We will hike through the woods and along and in a creek bed ending at an incredible waterfall! Burgess Falls State Park is less than an hour from Cummins Falls and it has 3 large waterfalls on a 1.5 mile hike. The final fall is the tallest, and the hike to the bottom is rewarded by a chance to get wet! We will hike less than 7 miles total. The pools may not be deep enough for swimming, but you will get cooled off. Estimated trip duration: 8 am - 6 pm.
SEPT. 13 (Sat)
TRAIL BUILDING
Bells Bend Park, Nashville, TN
Cost: FREE!
Sign-up by: Fri, Sept. 5 // Pre-Trip Meeting: Tue, Sept. 9 at 5 pm
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. (Note: this is during the VU Family Weekend.)Estimated trip duration: 8 am - 3 pm.
SEPT. 14 (Sun)
RIVER CLEAN-UP: via CANOEING
Harpeth River, TN
Cost: FREE!
Sign-up by: Fri, Sept. 5 // Pre-Trip Meeting: Tue, Sept. 9 at 6 pm
We have cleaned this river before, so maybe it will show! This will be a 5-mile canoe trip, except the emphasis will be on picking up the trash from the Harpeth River. Equipment, transportation, clean-up supplies, and lunch are provided. Beginners are welcome. (Note: this is during the VU Family Weekend.) Estimated trip duration: 8 am - 5 pm.
COMING SUMMER 2015:
June 27 - July 11
Backpacking, Camping, Hiking, and Whitewater Rafting in ALASKA!!
Cost: $1,695.00 plus your round trip airfare to Anchorage, AK
Sign up BEGINS: at 3:00 pm on Wed. Aug. 20 at the ORC
Sign up by: Friday, Sept. 19. // Pre-Trip Meeting: Tuesday, Nov. 18 at 5:30 pm.
In the summer of 2015, a trip coordinator from the Outdoor Recreation Program and Linda Rosenkranz, Director of Outdoor Rec., will set out with a crew of 8-10 participants to the great wilderness of Alaska. Our plan will be, over the course of 16 days, to immerse ourselves in the wilderness (via backpacking) as well as the unique cultural and ecological heritage of the state. We will meet in Anchorage and then drive down to Seward on the following day and camp. Next we will begin a 4-day backpacking trip to Lost Lake which is surrounded by mountains in the beautiful Kenai Peninsula. Following this we will lodge in Anchorage for two nights and go whitewater rafting (class IV) on the incredible Sixmile Creek in the Chugach National Forest. The thrills and the scenery will both be memorable! Next we will drive north to Denali State Park and begin a 4-day backpacking trip on K-esugi Ridge. This hike will provide us with some incredible views of the south face of Denali and the Alaskan Range. We will end our trip with some camping and hiking in Denali National Park. We plan to take the park bus on the 85 mile journey to Wonder Lake. This is the closest campground to Mount McKinley, aka Denali. The bus ride can be fascinating as the driver will stop whenever he/she sees any wildlife up close, such as grizzly bear, elk, moose, and Dall sheep. We will camp two nights at Wonder Lake, giving us ample time to explore the surrounding area. The final night will be spent in a cabin or hotel before going to the airport in Anchorage. This trip offers a mix, and through balancing our backcountry time with a dose of front country decadence, we hope to offer a well-rounded experience.
Designed for the experienced backpacker, we will allow enthusiastic beginners on this trip. Expect to hike 6-10 miles a day, sometimes with significant elevation change. Everyone who goes must be in good physical shape by the time we leave.
Cost includes: van transportation, hotel / house / cabin for 4 nights, front country camping for 4 nights, whitewater rafting fees, food for whole trip minus 6 dinners and a few lunches, group equipment, bus fees, park fees, etc.
Registration for this trip begins at 3:00 pm on Wed. August 20th. You must bring $300 cash, check or credit card to the ORC. Space is limited to the first 10 people and this is a first come first served trip. DO NOT miss out on this amazing opportunity!
To sign up for a trip, come to the Outdoor Recreation Center (ORC), located on 2600 Children-s Way, kind of behind the Student Rec. Center, and pay a deposit or the full amount of the trip. The ORC accepts cash, check, and the Vanderbilt Commodore Card. For more info on trips, workshops, and equipment rentals, check out the web at www.vanderbilt.edu/outrec.
Outdoor Recreation Hours:
Mon and Fri 12 noon - 6 p.m.
Tue, Wed, and Thu 3 p.m. - 6 p.m.
www.vanderbilt.edu/outrec