Field trips

The Danube Gorge (September 22 - conference field trip)

Interests: karst geomorphology and evolution, fluviatile entrenchment, speleogenesis, cave bear.

Key-points : the Danube Gorge in the “Cazane” sector, Ciucarul Mare Plateau (karst morphology, sinkholes, fluviatile terraces), Ponicova Cave System (tiered cave; ~1 km long).

Equipment : Visit of the Ciucarul Mare plateau, located on the left side of Danube Gorge (320 m elevation) requires an easy walk of ~1 hour. For the visit of Ponicova Gorges and Ponicova cave, mountain shoes and light devices are required. For the access into the upper level of the cave (the Bats Passage) climbing of a 15 m flexible ladder is required and participants should be physically fit accordingly.

Transportation : mini-bus

Meals : lunch in the field

Price : included in the registration fee.

Post-symposium field trips (September 23 - 26)

Important:

1. The number of participants to either of the post-symposium field trips is limited to 15. Participation will be established on a first-come first-served basis and only after full advance payment of the registration fee + field-trip fee.

2. The majority of the caves visited are NOT fit for tourism and the access to the paleontological sites or excavations requires that participants: (a) are physically fit for caving access (including crawling and climbing vertical passages); (b) posses full personal caving equipment including overall, rubber boots, helmet with doubled light devices. The group leaders reserve the right to decide on the spot which participants are granted the access into the "wild" section of a cave. All participants intending to visit such sections must be in possession of a personal accident insurance covering risks associated with the practice of speleology.

3. Since some of the caves are Scientific Reserves, the access is granted nominally to registered participants only. No last-minute replacements will be possible for such sections/caves.    

Field trip 1: Southern Carpathians 

UPDATE May 28: This field trip is now fully booked! New registrations will be placed on a waiting list.

Route: Băile Herculane, Topolnita Cave System ,Baia de Aramă, Cloşani, Tismana, Tg. Jiu, Pestera Muierilor, Rm. Vâlcea, Bucharest (arrival in the evening of September 26).

Key-points: the karst system Topolnita-Epuran (over 22 km in length); karst depressions on the Mehedinti Mts.; Cloşani laboratory cave; the karst system of Bulba-Ponoarele (including caves, a natural bridge, limestone pavements); Pestera Muierii (cave bear and Paleolithic site), Olteţ and Galbenul Gorges, historical and religious caves in Southern Carpathians. At least five caves will be visited (two show caves).

Accommodation : the Institute’s laboratory house in Cloşani (dormitory accommodation); local bed & breakfast (usually double-bed rooms).

Price : 250 EUR.

Field trip 2: Western Carpathians

Route : Băile Herculane, Haţeg, Alba Iulia, Gârda, Chişcău, Oradea, Şuncuiuş, Cluj-Napoca (arrival in the evening of September 26).

Key-points: Cioclovina cave (cave minerals, cave bear site); Hateg dinosaurs site; Gârda valley and caves; Scărişoara Ice Cave (underground glacier); Urşilor Cave (show cave, cave bear site); Betfia paleontological site.

Accommodation: en-route, hotels or bed & breakfast.

Price : 300 EUR.

Common points for both post-conference field-trips

Transport : Mini-buses and cars

Meals : three meals a day, minimum one warm meal, lunch usually in the field.

Equipment: Whenever possible, surface trips are offered as an alternative to cave tours. Warm clothing, mountain shoes and rain coats required.

Note: please let us know if you intend to join the field trip by own car. Pending on transportation arrangements a reduction in price may be applied for participants using own cars. In such cases refunds will be made in Baile Herculane prior to field trips.