Saturday 6/21 – Sunday 6/22/2025 – This pre-camp will take place on June 21-22 in the Green Mountain National Forest with cost set for $70 to be collected at the camp. This pre-camp is open to 6 registered attendees. Colin LaFromboise has asked that folks reach out to him directly using his email (lafromboise.colin@gmail.com) or phone number (802-356-2054) and he will confirm details and your participation.
Preliminary details:
VCA NSS Pre-camp June 21-22
Emerald Lake State Park Camping | Windy River Horizontal Cave | Purgatory Pit Vertical Cave
Welcome Travelers!
We are inviting you to a fun-filled weekend of camping and caving adventures organized by the Vermont Cavers Association (VCA). Staying all weekend, at the established campground, Emerald Lake State Park. Saturday we will travel one mountain peak over to the Purgatory Plateau for some vertical experience in the wild. Sunday we head south to Windy River Cave, a peculiar horizontal cave. Travel time from here to the 2025 NSS Convention is right around 2 hours. We have LIMITED AVAILABILITY Here’s what you can look forward to:
Weekend Activities
Friday
● Camping at Emerald Lake State Park
● Simple camp dinner of sausages, burgers, peppers, onions, etc. (please inform us of any food allergies, and diets so that we may accommodate)
Saturday
● Saturday breakfast of eggs. sausage, pancakes, coffee, etc.
● Short drive to parking for the Purgatory Pit hike.
● A steady hike of 1.2 miles and 800+ feet of gain
● Purgatory Pit!
o Open pit, good for practice
o A trip to the second deep drop at the back of the cave is possible
o ALL CAVERS MUST BE VERTICALLY PROFICIENT
Sunday
● Sunday Breakfast, same as saturday
● 30 minute drive to rendezvous parking area
● A short hike.
● Windy River Cave!
○ Horizontal cave
Monday
● Departure from campground no later than 11AM
What to Bring
● Camping gear: Everything you need to stay comfortable overnight in the park (we are not taking all equipment to the cave)
● Bathing suit/swimming apparel
● Food for lunch and dinner Saturday and Sunday, we provide breakfast only, except for friday night dinner
● Lots of water, big gallons are great, but make sure you have a few smaller water bottles to bring in the cave
● Safety equipment: Helmet, 2 helmet mounted sources of light, gloves, knee pads, elbow pads. Wetsuit recommended for a trip to the back of Purgatory Pit
● Vertical gear: Bring a cave-worthy SRT kit, no funny business, frog is preferred.
● Clothing: Extra warm layers, dry clothes, towels, etc. You do not want to run out!
What We Provide
Ropes – Provided
Dinner – Friday
Sausages, peppers, onions, burgers, fixings, etc.
Breakfast – Saturday, Sunday
Eggs w/ fixings, pancakes, sausages, coffee, etc.
Cost – $70
This really just covers the meals, and the campsite fees. We kept this as low as possible 🙂
To RSVP, please follow these steps.
1. Go to www.cavermont.org
2. Go to the “Event Sign-up” page
3. Fill out the Sign-up form
a. Ensure the “Date of the trip you plan to attend” answer corresponds with your day of arrival
4. Wait for a response! We have limited slots, signing up through the website does not guarantee you a spot.
We look forward to seeing you there for an unforgettable weekend of caving!
Cave Softly,
The Vermont Cavers Association (VCA)