Red River Gorge

Lora and I headed up to the Natural Bridge State Resort Park in Slade, Kentucky. We stayed in site #31 in the Middle Creek campground. We had been here before, but wanted to see some more of the area. After we set up camp with the camper, we headed out for a hike. We took the Original trail to the Natural Bridge. We went on top and then took the Laurel Ridge trail past the Skylift to lookout point. Then we hiked to Lover's Leap, not to jump, just to look. From there we went down through Needles Eye to Devils Gulch trail and back to the Original trail. We had dinner in the camper due to winds and temp.

Tuesday we took the Original trail to the Rock Garden trail. We hiked down to the Skylift parking area and took the Hood Branch trail, including the Loop trail, back to the Natural Bridge. From there we took the Rock Garden trail back to the Original trail back to the campground. After dinner we had a campfire and looked at the stars.

Wednesday we drove over to the Red River Gorge and drove out the Double Arch road. We hiked to the Double Arch and then took the Auxier Branch trail over to Courthouse Rock. We came back by the Auxier Ridge trail. On the road out we stopped and hiked to Grays Arch. Both beautiful hikes. Back at camp we had another campfire. Dropped below freezing that night.

Thursday we drove over to the Red River Gorge to Koomer Ridge Campground and hiked the Hidden Arch Loop and Silvermine Arch. Then we drove out Chimney Rock road. We hiked to Chimney Rock where we got to watch a helicopter drop a couple of loads of water on a wildfire. Then we hiked to Princess Arch. After that we went into the Clifty Wilderness and hiked the Rock Bridge Loop which was beautiful. Ran out of firewood, so no fire tonight. Dropped below freezing again.

Friday we packed up and headed home.

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Big South Fork TTA

Deb led another great hike at Big South Fork. I met the other hikers in the parking lot at Leatherwood Ford. It was a cool morning, but after hiking for a few minutes we had to strip down a little. The hike along the river is always pretty. Then the climb to Angel Falls Overlook. It was very windy at the overlook. We had lunch here. I lost my apple trying to catch a stray water bottle. We had a great group. Started with 11 then on the way out picked up 2 more that had started at Bandy Creek. 

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Savage Gulf South Rim Trail

Lora and I took advantage of the beautiful day and went to the Savage Gulf and hiked the South Rim trail. The colors are changing and beautiful to look at. We had lunch at one of the overlooks before the campground. On the way out we noticed a family and their children hiking and we were so glad to see them out on the trail. As I talked to the dad I noticed that I knew him. He was one of my firefighters from my volunteer fire department of many years ago. So great to see him. 

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Cotton Patch Loop, Bear Creek Loop, and Lee Hollow Loop

Day one: 7 miles

Day two: 9.25 miles

Day three: 4.2 miles

Day one started at the Steven's Branch trailhead. We hiked the Cotton Patch Loop trail counter clockwise. It was a beautiful day and we had a lot of nice views. They have been working on the horse trails by bulldozering them and putting down large chip rock. This makes it very hard to walk on and I am sure the horses are not very proud of it either. We stopped and made camp at Tappley Creek crossing. We had a nice campfire to listen to the owls and coyotes.

Day two we continued on the Cotton Patch Loop to Bear Creek Loop. We went around the Bear Creek Horse Camp and then took the Lee Hollow Loop counter clockwise. When we got back to the Bear Creek Loop we made camp at the crossing of Bear Creek. Another beautiful night around the campfire listening to the owls and coyotes.

Day three we continued on the Bear Creek Loop and took the Cotton Patch loop on the way out. 

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Big South Fork

Day 1: Lora 2 miles, Craig 6 miles

Day 2: 8 miles

Day 3: 7.3 miles 

After getting chores done, Lora and I headed out for our first backpack of the season. We headed up to Big South Fork for three days. We started at the Middle Creek trailhead and headed towards Charit Lodge. We set up camp just across Fork Ridge Road along side the creek. When we got to unpacking, I noticed the camera case zipper had failed and the camera was gone. So after setting up camp I headed back along the trail and finally found it back near the car. Added four miles onto my hike. It was a pretty night around the campfire.

Tuesday we got up, packed, and headed towards Jakes Place. When we got near the Needle Arch a bear coming up the trail headed quickly off the side and down the hill. We walked around the corner to find a second bear heading our way up the trail. When she finally looked up and saw us, she took off down the hill as well. We took a break at Jake's Place and tried to figure out a plan of where we were going to go. We stopped at Charit Lodge for a break. The lodge cat enjoyed rubbing all over me as we decided to go ahead and have lunch there. We sat at the picnic table where the cat joined us. After lunch we headed down Station Camp Creek trail. They have bulldozed and rocked this trail which made it very hard to walk on. We set up camp along the creek. After everything was ready, we decided to walk on and went as far as the Bleven's cemetery. We passed a thru hiker of the Sheltowee on his twenty forth day. After getting back to camp we rested along the creek bed until dinner time. Another beautiful night around the campfire.

Wednesday we got up and hiked Fork Ridge road taking a lunch break by the Johnson cemetry. We had two deer walk across the road in front of us and a hawk flew by. We found ripe muscidines hanging over the road. Yumm! We returned to the car by the Middle Creek trail.

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Bald River Trail - TTA

 What a beautiful day for a hike! Started out with a sweatshirt on. Met up with our Scenic City hikers at Bald River Falls. Betsy led the hike along Bald River with cascades and boulders and rock walls and outcrops. Carl shared his knowledge of the rock formations as we walked along admiring God's handiwork. We found a beautiful place for lunch right by the river watching the water tumble over the pretty rocks and boulders in the river. 

Hikers were Randy, Carl, Marie, Betsy and me. 

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Stone Door - TTA

Chapter member Wayne Yancey led 7 hikers starting at the Stone Door Ranger Station. We hiked the Big Creek Rim trail to Alum Gap campsite for a break. Then continued on the Big Creek Gulf trail and took a side trip to Ranger Falls. The creeks were bare but there was a nice water flow at Ranger Falls. Saw some late summer wildflowers and lots of interesting mushrooms. 

Total hike was about 10 miles. Hikers were Jay Brain, Joe Campbell, Chris Manzione, Lora McBride, Sara Pollard, Jan Safavi, Cindy Watson and Wayne Yancey.

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Ark Encounter

Time to take the camper out. Headed North into Kentucky to visit the Ark Encounter. We stayed at Kincaid Lake SP. On the way up we stopped at the Army Corps Waitsboro Campground for lunch. From there we headed on to Kincaid Lake. There was nobody working at the campground when we got there. We just found our site and set up. There was nobody in our whole section of campsites. Hiking around the campground there were only about four campers in the other section. We decided on a quick canoe trip for the evening. We put in at the marina and paddled around til dusk. Lot's of stars tonight and then every night that we were out. Saw 2 shooting stars!

Tuesday we took the canoe back out and launched from the marina. We paddled the whole lake and down the river. Beautiful day out on the water. Still nobody working at the campground.

Wednesday we went to the Ark Encounter. It was very interesting and answered a lot of questions that I hadn't even asked about the Ark. This was during the forty days of gospel music so we had music during lunch and then a concert that evening. We stopped and ate dinner in Falmouth, KY at the Howard's Place Resturant. Very good food. Still no workers at the campground.

Thursday we headed to explore the historic town of Augusta, KY. We parked on Main street and walked to the historic jail. It had a phone number to call and we did. The very nice lady from the visitor center gave us a tour of the jail and then gave us a tour of the whole town on her golfcart. It was great! After that we ate our lunch on the bank of the Ohio river and then walked around town looking at all the historic buildings. This is also the town that George Clooney is from. Later we put the canoe in the Ohio river and paddled up Bracken Creek,  passed the two donkeys and then turned around. Nobody working the campground. 

Friday we packed up and headed out. We drove to London, KY and stopped at the Levi Jackson Mill to have our lunch. After eating we walked around the mill and then decided to stay. We camped at the Levi Jackson Campground. We walked their little trail and then went to the pool for a swim. After dinner we hiked around the park. 

Saturday we decided that we really did need to go home so we did. 

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Soddy Lake

Today was a quick trip to the lake. Trying to beat the storms we did a loop from the park to the bridge. We got to see a huge beaver which was exciting to see. We also saw fish, turtles, and all sorts of birds. Yes, we got caught in a storm and had to pull over and get our of our metal canue till it passed.

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Carters lake

We arrived at our campsite after lunch. After walking to the boat ramp and swimming beach, we changed into our swimsuits and went back to the beach where we spent the afternoon. We went back to the camper for dinner and walked the whole campground afterwards. There was a Casita in one of the loops.

Sunday we drove over to the Ridgeway Day Use Area and hiked the Tumbling Waters Nature Trail. Short hike to a pretty cascade.  From there we drove to the Visitor Center with overlooks of Carters lake. Then we drove to the South Reregulation Day Use Area and hiked the Hidden Pond Songbird Trail. We also walked the dam. We headed back to the camper for lunch and then canoed the West side of the park. Afterwards back to the beach. We got in another campground hike in.

Monday we hiked the Oak Ridge Nature Trail and explored the day use area. Took a trip to Ellijay. Took a canoe trip in the rain around the East side of the park. The rain stopped and we did a little swimming. Later on after dinner we took another canoe trip past the Island and a little farther East.

Tuesday we hiked the Amadahy Trail. After that it was back to swimming. Later that night we did a canoe trip West to the Boat In Campsites. Our second beautiful sunset.

Wednesday we did the campground hike and then canoe trip ending in the loading of the canoe. We did some swimming before lunch and then broke down camp and headed home.

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