The 48th Annual WSS Hodag Hunt Festival Sept 7th,8th and 9th

Each year in the fall, the Wisconsin Speleological Society sponsors a three day festival called a Hodag Hunt for all cavers and outdoor adventurists in Wisconsin and the surrounding states. A Hodag is a mythical creature found in caves, and possesses five legs and three eyes. A replica of a Hodag is placed in one of the caves in the area and whoever finds it receives a valuable prize. The three-day festival features camping, cave trips, science related trips, nature hikes, informal slide shows, yard games, Saturday night grill out, featured speaker, and numerous opportunities to socialize with friends, both new and old. The Hodag hunt Festival is fun for all ages! The 2012 48th WSS HODAG will be held this year at Cherney Maribel Caves County Park, near Maribel, WI. Cherney Maribel Caves County Park is just off of I-43 half way between Manitowoc and Green Bay. Take the Maribel exit off of I-43 onto Hwy 147 east. Next drive less than a 1/4 mile onto Hwy 147 and then turn north onto County Hwy R. The park is one mile north on County Hwy R on the right hand side. Just follow the signs for the park once you exit I-43. The HODAG fun activities will be on Friday night, all day Saturday, and Sunday until 3:00 PM. Registration and check-in for the Hodag will start at 4:00 PM Friday night and run into Saturday morning for late arrivals. Friday and Saturday evenings will include star and planet gazing through high-powered telescopes if weather permits and socializing around a campfire, (and perhaps some spontaneous singing so bring your instruments if you have them). Saturday morning will begin with an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast (which, if in demand, will be offered on Sunday morning as well). Saturday late morning will feature a very rare cave connection celebration and an publicity even. The connection will be made during the HODAG between Tartaus and Split Rock Caves, which currently are completely separate caves. Names from registered HODAG attendees will be drawn to see who gets to be the first, second, third, etc., in order of drawn names, to be be the historical first, second, third, etc. cavers to enter one cave entrance and exit another. Newspaper and may TV reporters hopefully will be hand to capture your name and photo in print. On-site cave and off-site cave trips, vertical rope work in the park, and a possible geological road trip are planned for Saturday afternoon and Sunday late morning. Saturday evening for dinner will be a brat and hamburger cookout with all the fixin’s, followed by a fund raising auction with some great deals and works of art to be had, and lastly the evening will conclude for the first time with entertainment from a Blue Grass Band to finish off your day. As always the Hodag will be lots of social fun and offers much more. There are registration, camping, and meal fees for the Hodag outing. For more information on the 2012 Hodag, contact Kasey Fiske (fiske@grad.wisc.edu) or check out our web site at (www.wisconsincaves.org). More HODAG information will be posted on our website soon. A separate email update also will be sent in the next couple of weeks including Hodag Registration Forms, costs, and an agenda for this once in a year great outing.