New York Finger Lakes
Megaflood Tour

6 days in the field with Randall Carlson and Bradley Young. Glacial gorges, Ice Age flood evidence, and the geology beneath the landscape. 35 seats.

August 30 – September 5, 2026

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About This Expedition

The landscape is a crime scene.
Randall Carlson is the detective.

The Finger Lakes look peaceful — vineyards, college towns, rolling hills. But this landscape is a record of catastrophic violence on a continental scale. You just need someone to walk you through it.

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A Landscape Carved by Ice

Two miles of glacial ice once sat on top of this region. When it retreated 11,000 years ago, it left behind the lakes, the moraines, and the raw geology you'll walk through every day.

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2,000+ Gorges in Six Days

Meltwater pouring off the retreating ice carved more than 2,000 gorges into the surrounding hillsides. Waterfalls dropped hundreds of feet from hanging valleys left stranded high above the new lake surfaces.

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The Grand Canyon of the East

At Letchworth, the Genesee River was forced to cut an entirely new path through 550 feet of Devonian bedrock after glacial debris blocked its original valley. You'll stand at the rim and read it in real time.

6
Days in the Field
35
Maximum Participants
2,000+
Gorges Carved by Meltwater
550 ft
Letchworth Gorge Depth
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August 30 – September 5, 2026.

Your Hosts

Randall Carlson

Independent Scholar · Geological Researcher · Kosmographia Host

Randall's approach to geological education is built around being in the field: standing in front of the evidence, reading the landscape, and connecting local features to the larger story of Ice Age Earth. On this tour, Randall leads the daily field interpretation, evening presentations, and group discussion.

Bradley Young

Expedition Coordinator · Field Researcher

Bradley handles the day-to-day coordination of the expedition and co-leads the field sessions — helping the group navigate sites, understand what they're looking at, and connect the geological evidence to the broader frameworks Randall presents in the evening sessions.

The Itinerary

Buffalo to Niagara Falls, through drumlin fields and gorge country, to Ithaca and back. Seven days of geological field education.

◎ View on Map
Day 1Sunday, August 30

Arrivals — Buffalo Niagara

▸Fly into Buffalo Niagara International Airport
▸Hotel check-in and registration with welcome kits
▸Niagara-area accommodations
▸Welcome dinner with participant introductions
▸Brad: general rules and itinerary overview
▸Randall: the story of the landscapes we'll cover
○ Dinner⌂ Niagara Area
◎ View on Map
Day 2Monday, August 31

Niagara Falls State Park

▸Breakfast until 9am
▸Brad overviews the day's events
▸Full day at Niagara Falls State Park
▸Picnic lunch in the park or walkable restaurant
▸Continued exploration of the falls and gorge
▸Dinner at hotel or walkable restaurant
▸Free time after dinner / sunset spot
○ Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner⌂ Niagara Area (same hotel)
◎ View on Map
Day 3Tuesday, September 1

Hamlin Beach · Drumlin Fields · Ithaca

▸Breakfast until 9am — check out and load bus
▸Hamlin Beach State Park (glacial lakeshore geology)
▸Picnic lunch at the park
▸Joseph Smith Hill Cumorah Visitor Center
▸Scenic route through drumlin fields
▸Check into Ithaca accommodations
▸Dinner and open evening
○ Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner⌂ Ithaca Area
◎ View on Map
Day 4Wednesday, September 2

Taughannock Falls + Randall Presentation

▸Breakfast — open morning to rest
▸Randall presentation
▸Local lunch
▸Taughannock Falls State Park (215 ft plunge — taller than Niagara)
▸Dinner
▸Group evening event
○ Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner⌂ Ithaca Area (same hotel)
◎ View on Map
Day 5Thursday, September 3

Cornell · Long Point · Fillmore Glen

▸Breakfast until 9am
▸Cornell University: Museum, Geology Talk, Science Center, Carl Sagan exhibit
▸Randall presentation
▸Picnic lunch at Long Point State Park
▸Fillmore Glen State Park (gorge and waterfall exploration)
▸Dinner and free evening
○ Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner⌂ Ithaca Area (same hotel)
◎ View on Map
Day 6Friday, September 4

Watkins Glen · Letchworth · Closing Event

▸Breakfast until 9am — check out and load bus
▸Watkins Glen State Park (19 waterfalls, 400 ft gorge descent)
▸Picnic lunch at the park
▸Scenic route back — moraines and other lakes
▸Letchworth State Park (time permitting)
▸Check into Buffalo airport area accommodations
▸Dinner and closing event
○ Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner⌂ Buffalo Airport Area
◎ View on Map
Day 7Saturday, September 5

Departure Day

▸Breakfast
▸Check out and departures
▸Airport transfers included within designated departure window
○ Breakfast⌂ Buffalo Airport Area
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What's Included

Included

✓6 nights hotel accommodation (Hampton Inn or Hilton brand, double occupancy)
✓All meals from welcome dinner through departure breakfast (within designated windows)
✓Ground transportation throughout the tour (hotel to all field sites and back)
✓Airport transfers to and from Buffalo Niagara International Airport (within designated windows)
✓All park and site entrance fees
✓Guided field excursions with Randall Carlson and Bradley Young
✓Evening presentations, lectures, and Q&A sessions
✓Private pre-event coordination with the tour team

Not Included

✕Flights to/from Buffalo Niagara International Airport
✕Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
✕Personal expenses and incidentals
✕Alcoholic beverages outside of included meals
✕Gratuities (optional, not required)
Pricing & Booking

Standard Ticket

$3,770

Per person · All-inclusive · Double occupancy

Full all-inclusive tour with shared/double room. Lodging, meals, transport, guided excursions, evening sessions — everything covered.

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Most Popular

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.

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Private Room

Private Room

$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.

Book Private Room

Maximum 35 participants. 27 spots remaining.

Who This Tour Is For

This trip is built for people who want to understand what they're looking at — not just see pretty scenery. Whether you've been following Randall's work for years or you're coming in fresh from a podcast episode that made you want to see the evidence for yourself, the format is the same: small group, real field access, and the space to ask questions and have actual conversations.

You don't need a geology degree. You don't need to have read any particular book. You need good walking shoes, curiosity about how the world got this way, and a willingness to spend a week with 34 other people who are asking the same questions.

Previous Contact at the Cabin tours are known for the community that forms during the week — part geology tour, part think-tank, part the kind of conversations you don't get to have in everyday life.

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No Geology Background Required
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Small Group — Max 35 Participants
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Easy to Moderate Fitness Level
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Real Field Access, Real Conversations
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What Past Participants Say
"

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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
Frequently Asked Questions

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Questions? Get in Touch

Have a question before you book? Submit an inquiry and we'll get back to you within 24 hours.

Or reach us directly at [email protected]

27 spots remainingFinger Lakes Megaflood Tour
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