Field Trips

The Danube Gorge (May 29 - conference field trip)
Interests: karst geomorphology and evolution, fluviatile entrenchment, speleogenesis.
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.
Transportation: mini-bus
Meals: lunch in the field
Price: included in the registration fee.

Post-conference field trips (May 30 - June 3)
Field trip 1: Southern Carpathians
Route: Băile Herculane, Topolnita Cave System ,Baia de Aramă, Cloşani, Tismana, Tg. Jiu, Rm. Vâlcea, Bucharest (arrival in the evening of June 3rd).
Key-points: the karst system Topolnita-Epuran (over 22 km in length); karst depressions on the Mehedinti Mts. Ridge; Cloşani laboratory cave; the karst system of Bulba-Ponoarele (including caves, a natural bridge, limestone pavements); Sohodol, 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); local bed & breakfast (usually double-bed rooms).

Field trip 2: Western Carpathians
Route: Băile Herculane, Haţeg, Alba Iulia, Gârda, Chişcău, Oradea, Şuncuiuş, Cluj-Napoca (arrival in the evening of June 3rd).
Key-points: Cioclovina cave (minerals, paleontology); Gârda valley and caves; Scărişoara Ice Cave (underground glacier); Bears Cave (show cave); Criş Gorges and Wind Cave (the longest in Romania).
Accommodation: en-route, in speleo huts and hostels.

Common points for both post-conference field-trips
Transport: Mini-busses 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. Please note that many of the visited caves (including Topolniţa and Wind Cave) are not show-caves; regular caving equipment is required, including boots or mountain shoes, warm clothing and doubled light devices. Carbide will be provided by the organizers; you may also borrow some pieces of equipment (e.g. helmets) but these must be requested in advance.
Price: EUR 250, everything included.

IMPORTANT: Please note that the number of participants to the post-conference excursion is limited. Although no advance payment is required we kindly ask you to reserve your place by April 15, 2006. After this deadline, there will be no guarantee for available places to the field trips.