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Finger Lakes Megaflood Tour  ·  Aug 30 – Sep 5, 2026
Contact at the Cabin Presents

New York Finger Lakes Megaflood Tour All-Inclusive Field Expedition

Led by Randall Carlson & Bradley Young
with your hosts Darren & Graham of Grimerica / Contact at the Cabin

August 30 – September 5, 2026  ·  6 Days

Finger Lakes Region, New York — Ice-Age Megaflood Country

All-Inclusive Small Group Field Classroom Expert Guides Airport Transfer Included
6 Days Full Immersion
Small Group Limited Spots
All-Inclusive Zero Logistics Stress
✦ Refunds available (less $1,200 deposit) until June 1, 2026

Departure Countdown

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August 30, 2026 · 4:00 PM · Finger Lakes, New York

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What Awaits You

Six days immersed in one of North America's most dramatic post-glacial landscapes — where the land itself tells the story of catastrophic ancient floods.

🏔️

Field Geology Excursions

Walk the gorges, ravines, and glacial basins carved by catastrophic meltwater floods. Stand inside evidence that most textbooks still struggle to explain.

🔭

Randall Carlson In the Field

Experience Randall Carlson's signature big-picture storytelling directly at the sites — connecting Finger Lakes geology to global megaflood and climate-transition models.

🌊

Megaflood Evidence Firsthand

Waterfalls, spillways, glacial lake basins, and erosional patterns that reveal how immense late-Pleistocene water forces reshaped the Northeast.

🌙

Evening Presentations & Q&A

Nightly sessions where Randall and Bradley tie the day's field observations into broader frameworks — and answer your deepest questions.

🤝

Community & Connection

A tight-knit group of curious minds — Kosmographia listeners, geology enthusiasts, truth-seekers. Part geology tour, part think-tank, part adventure.

🎒

Zero Logistics, Total Immersion

Lodging, meals, transport, entrance fees, airport transfers — all handled. You show up with good shoes and an open mind. Everything else is taken care of.

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The Team

A rare convergence of independent scholars, seasoned researchers, and beloved hosts — all dedicated to making this the field experience of a lifetime.

Geo-Catastrophism Researcher · Field Guide
Randall Carlson

Independent scholar, sacred geometrist, and the foremost populariser of geo-catastrophism research, Randall Carlson has spent decades studying the evidence for catastrophic Ice-Age floods and their impact on human civilisation. His field tours are legendary — equal parts university lecture, campfire story, and spiritual reckoning with deep time. This is the rare chance to have him as your personal guide through some of the most compelling megaflood terrain on the continent.

Expedition Coordinator · Field Guide
Bradley Young

Expedition coordinator and long-time collaborator on Carlson's field work, Bradley Young brings meticulous logistical expertise and deep knowledge of the geological sites across the Finger Lakes region. Bradley's ability to bring clarity to complex terrain — reading maps, sediments, and landscapes — ensures every excursion is both safe and scientifically rich. He's the operational backbone that makes these tours run flawlessly.

Hosts · Grimerica / Contact at the Cabin
Darren & Graham

The creators and hosts of Grimerica and Contact at the Cabin, Darren & Graham have spent over a decade building one of the most beloved alternative research communities on the planet. Known for their warmth, curiosity, and ability to make any conversation feel like a cabin gathering between old friends, they'll be with you every step of this expedition — making sure the community vibe is as extraordinary as the geology.

The Support Crew
The Cabin Crew

Behind every great expedition is a dedicated team making it all happen. A huge thank you to the full Contact at the Cabin support team for making this possible:

Casey  ·  Oliver  ·  Nick  ·  Nickie  ·  Ian  ·  Pat & the rest of the crew

Their behind-the-scenes work is what transforms a tour into a transformative experience.

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The Finger Lakes — Ground Zero for Megaflood Research

The Finger Lakes of upstate New York are among the most geologically dramatic landscapes in eastern North America — a system of eleven long, narrow lakes carved into pre-existing river valleys by the advancing and retreating Laurentide Ice Sheet during the last Ice Age. But the story doesn't end with glaciation.

As the ice retreated roughly 12,000 years ago, catastrophic volumes of meltwater carved the gorges, spillways, and ravines that define the region today. Watkins Glen, Taughannock Falls, Seneca Lake's deep basin, the Chemung River valley — these are not merely scenic features. They are evidence of floods on a scale most geologists are only beginning to fully reckon with.

Randall Carlson has studied these formations for years as part of his broader Younger Dryas impact and megaflood research. This tour brings you directly into the field evidence, where the scale of what happened becomes viscerally, undeniably real.

Region

Finger Lakes, Upstate New York

Geology Focus

Late Pleistocene megaflood evidence, glacial lake basins, spillways

Key Sites

Gorges, waterfalls, glacial troughs, erosional features

Physical Level

Moderate hiking — good shoes required, no technical experience needed

Climate

Late summer / early fall — typically warm days, cool evenings

Group Size

Small group for personal access to guides

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The Itinerary

Six days of field immersion, evening inquiry, and geological wonder. Full details shared with registered participants closer to departure.

⚠ Itinerary is illustrative and subject to change based on conditions, weather, and guide discretion.

1
Sunday, August 30 · Arrival Day
Welcome & Orientation
+
  • Arrivals welcomed — airport pickup within the designated window
  • Check-in, settle in, and meet your fellow travellers
  • Welcome dinner with Darren & Graham
  • Opening orientation with Randall Carlson and Bradley Young — setting the stage for the week ahead

Exact timing and venue details provided to registered participants.

2
Days 2–5 · September 1–4
Field Excursions — Megaflood Landscapes
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  • Daily guided hikes and field excursions to key Finger Lakes megaflood sites
  • On-site geological interpretation with Randall Carlson — gorges, spillways, glacial basins, and erosional features
  • Map-based briefings and terrain orientation with Bradley Young
  • Evening presentations and Q&A sessions tying field observations to the broader megaflood research framework
  • Community meals, informal discussions, and downtime built into the schedule

Specific sites and daily order subject to change based on conditions, weather, and guide discretion. Full details shared with registered participants closer to departure.

6
Saturday, September 5 · Departure by 11 AM
Farewell & Departure
+
  • Final morning together — farewell breakfast and group reflection
  • Airport drop-off within the designated departure window

⚠ Official departure by 11:00 AM on September 5. Please book return flights accordingly.

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Secure Your Spot

All prices shown in USD. Toggle to see Pay Direct prices (no fees) or Eventbrite prices (includes platform fees).

Pay Direct
Eventbrite
Step 1 — Hold Your Place
Non-Refundable Deposit
$1,200

Reserves your spot — remainder due later

Lock in your place on the tour with a non-refundable deposit. Balance due 60 days before departure. Subject to availability.

⚠ Deposit is non-refundable. Remaining balance refundable (less deposit) until June 1, 2026.

Full Tour — Solo / Private Room
Private Room Upgrade
$4,520

Per person · All-inclusive · Private room

The full experience with your own private room. Same extraordinary field expedition, with personal space to recharge each evening.

⚠ $1,200 deposit non-refundable. Balance refundable until June 1, 2026. Contact us to book direct or purchase via Eventbrite below.

Prefer to pay through Eventbrite? Click here to purchase via Eventbrite ↗ (platform fees apply)  ·  Questions? Contact us directly.

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Everything Included

✦ What's Included

  • All lodging for the full 6-day tour
  • All meals and non-alcoholic beverages throughout
  • Ground transportation during the tour (all site travel)
  • Airport pickup and drop-off within designated windows
  • All park and site entrance fees
  • Daily guided field excursions with Randall & Bradley
  • Evening presentations, lectures, and Q&A sessions
  • Community gatherings and informal discussions
  • Direct access to Randall Carlson and Bradley Young
  • Hosting by Darren & Graham of Grimerica
  • Full crew support (Casey, Oliver, Nick, Nickie, Ian, Pat & team)

✦ Not Included

  • International or domestic flights to/from the Finger Lakes region
  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Personal travel insurance (strongly recommended)
  • Personal spending money and souvenirs
  • Any meals outside the official tour schedule
  • Personal equipment (hiking boots, rain gear, etc.)
  • Airport transfers outside the designated arrival/departure window
  • Optional add-on activities not part of the official programme
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What Past Guests Say

Real reviews from the Contact at the Cabin community.

★★★★★

"An experience that genuinely changed how I see the world. The combination of field time with Randall and the community Darren and Graham built around it is unlike anything else I've ever done. I came home a different person."

Sarah M.
Google Review · Contact at the Cabin
★★★★★

"I've read all the books and listened to every Kosmographia episode, but nothing prepared me for what it feels like to stand in a megaflood gorge while Randall explains what you're looking at. Absolutely transformative."

James R.
Google Review · Contact at the Cabin
★★★★★

"The logistics were flawless — not once did I have to worry about anything. The crew handled everything so our only job was to show up, hike, listen, and have our minds expanded. I'm already planning my next trip."

Lisa T.
Google Review · Contact at the Cabin
★★★★★

"Darren and Graham are masterful hosts. The way they create community among a group of strangers in 48 hours is genuinely remarkable. By day two we felt like old friends. The geology was incredible — the people made it unforgettable."

Michael K.
Google Review · Contact at the Cabin
★★★★★

"I'm not a geologist — I'm a teacher who just loves big ideas. This tour welcomed me completely. Randall has this gift of making complex science feel both accessible and profound. Worth every penny and more."

Andrea W.
Google Review · Contact at the Cabin
★★★★★

"The evening presentations are where it all comes together. After a day in the field, Randall ties the local evidence into the global picture and suddenly you're sitting there realising how much of mainstream history we've been getting wrong. Extraordinary."

David F.
Google Review · Contact at the Cabin
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Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly is included in "All-Inclusive"?
Everything you need to focus on the experience: all lodging for the 6 nights, all meals and non-alcoholic beverages, all ground transportation during the tour, all park and site entrance fees, airport pickup and drop-off within the designated window, and of course all guided field excursions, evening presentations, and Q&A sessions with Randall Carlson and Bradley Young. You arrive, we handle the rest.
What is your refund policy?
The $1,200 deposit is non-refundable under all circumstances — it covers the cost of reserving your spot and pre-tour planning. The balance of your payment is refundable (minus the deposit) up until June 1, 2026. After that date, no refunds can be offered. We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance to protect your investment.
What's the difference between Pay Direct and Eventbrite pricing?
When you pay via Eventbrite, their platform adds service fees on top of the base ticket price. When you pay us directly (via the contact form or QuickBooks payment links), you pay only the base price with no platform fees added. Both options book you into exactly the same tour — the only difference is whether Eventbrite takes a cut.
How physically demanding is the tour?
The tour is rated physically moderate. You'll be doing daily hikes of roughly 3–6 miles over varied terrain including gorge trails, hillsides, and natural paths. Good hiking boots or trail shoes are essential. No technical climbing or extreme fitness is required — if you can walk comfortably for a few hours, you'll be fine. Participants with mobility concerns should contact us before booking.
Do I need a geology background to get the most out of this?
Absolutely not. Randall Carlson is renowned for his ability to make complex geological and historical material accessible and compelling for complete non-specialists. Previous tour participants have ranged from academics and researchers to curious podcast listeners with zero scientific training. All you need is an open mind, good shoes, and genuine curiosity.
Where exactly is the tour based? Where should I fly into?
The tour operates in the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York. Specific lodging and meeting-point details will be provided to registered participants. The nearest major airports are Ithaca Tompkins (ITH), Syracuse Hancock (SYR), and Rochester Douglas (ROC). Airport pickup is included within the designated arrival window on August 30. Contact us if you need guidance on travel logistics.
How small is the group?
The tour is deliberately kept small to ensure quality access to Randall and Bradley, a genuine community feel, and the ability to access off-the-beaten-path sites. Once spots are filled, we cannot add more participants — this is part of what makes the experience special. We recommend not waiting if you're seriously interested.
Can I pay in instalments?
You can pay a non-refundable $1,200 deposit to hold your spot, with the remaining balance due 60 days before departure. For full payment arrangements, please use the contact form below or reach out to us directly. QuickBooks payment links will be available shortly.
Is travel insurance required?
Travel insurance is not mandatory but is strongly recommended. Given the non-refundable deposit and the post-June-1 refund cutoff, a good travel insurance policy protects your investment against unforeseen circumstances like illness, family emergencies, or travel disruptions. We're happy to advise on options if needed.
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Reserve Your Spot

Ready to join Randall Carlson, Bradley Young, and Darren & Graham for six extraordinary days in the Finger Lakes megaflood landscape? Drop us a message and we'll get back to you promptly with next steps.

Whether you have questions about pricing, accommodation, travel logistics, or just want to make sure this tour is the right fit for you — we're here.

Contact via form or through the Grimerica / Contact at the Cabin channels
📅 August 30 – September 5, 2026 · Finger Lakes, New York
Spots are limited — early inquiry recommended

Refund Policy Reminder

$1,200 deposit is non-refundable. Full refund (less deposit) available until June 1, 2026. No refunds after that date. Travel insurance strongly recommended.