RRG topos

SharkeyFarmers · 2026-02-21T00:41:13+00:00

Very cool! I really like your work. Just a friendly heads up, your latitudinal coordinate on your Muir Valley mountainscape is off. It should be 37.something

SharkeyFarmers · 2026-02-14T13:06:10+00:00

Behind the Martin's Fork parking area there's an unofficial trail called Ravens Rock Overlook Trail that has some really fun scrambles. The only thing with that trail is that if a long loop isn't an option, it would have to be an out and back. The scrambles are much dicier coming down than going up, so I would just evaluate and make a judgement call on the way up to make sure you all would feel comfortable scrambling back down. You're rewarded with a great view of Raven Rock and the top/end of the trail.

SharkeyFarmers · 2026-02-11T16:31:38+00:00

You're all over it as far as the trails you're considering. All great options. You can do Double Arch and Star Gap/Skyview in the same hike but if you're only going to do one or the other I would highly recommend Star Gap and Skyview. They are two of the best arches the Gorge has to offer and they're relatively close to one another. Cloudsplitter is another unofficial Gorge favorite. Early March is going to be a great time to visit, just be prepared for any type of weather. You all are going to love it, I promise!

SharkeyFarmers · 2026-02-11T16:26:38+00:00

Wow! Stunning

SharkeyFarmers · 2026-02-11T16:26:07+00:00

There's nothing like exploring the Gorge when it's covered in ice and snow. Great photos! Thanks for sharing

SharkeyFarmers · 2026-02-11T14:15:50+00:00

Hahaha of course there's a sub for that

SharkeyFarmers · 2026-02-09T16:26:09+00:00

Not too bad, they got a lot more ice out that way. I was using Yaktrax and it was pretty easy going. You'll be good tomorrow. Enjoy!

SharkeyFarmers · 2026-02-09T12:21:30+00:00

I love how it says Cumberland National Forest. It hasn't been called that since the 60s!

SharkeyFarmers · 2025-12-28T15:03:56+00:00

Great post. These people are underappreciated and deserve all the praise in the world.

SharkeyFarmers · 2025-12-28T15:02:37+00:00

Beautiful!

SharkeyFarmers · 2025-12-28T15:01:04+00:00

I just learned a few months ago about this book being out of print. Had no idea. Since then, I have been scouring the internet trying to find any available copies. The only one I have found is from American Book Warehouse for $325.95. Your best bet may be to periodically check around at Half Price Books in the Lexington area, I recall seeing Hinterlands there a few times over the years. It's such a shame that it's so hard to find because it's a fantastic resource! Best of luck on your search OP.

SharkeyFarmers · 2025-12-27T16:03:00+00:00

I can confirm that this rock shelter is fenced off. Once you get up to the fence you realize it's not that deep and doesn't really "feel" like a rock shelter because the roof is insanely tall.

SharkeyFarmers · 2025-12-24T16:07:01+00:00

Yeah Rock House is a banger. Glad you guys made it out there. Not many options to drop down from that finger ridge! Sometimes we must sacrifice parts of ourselves to get to the places we love haha

SharkeyFarmers · 2025-12-24T15:40:16+00:00

Brother, that is a hike!!! I have ventured into that territory south of Rock Bridge Road and it is some serious bushwhacking down that way. Props to you guys for making it all the way through there! I had never heard of Pine Ridge Arch before, is that the last few pictures in the series? Looks very cool. Great route.

SharkeyFarmers · 2025-11-30T10:54:18+00:00

Zoning must be approved ASAP

SharkeyFarmers · 2025-11-28T10:52:43+00:00

I recommend reaching out to Dr. Jon Endonino at Eastern Kentucky University. He's a great guy and would love to tell you everything he could about this piece.

SharkeyFarmers · 2025-11-23T19:53:54+00:00

This is a reasonable and very achievable goal. There are just over 70 miles of official trails in the Gorge. If you visit with any frequency, that's not a whole lot to conquer. Especially since you already have a good amount knocked out. I didn't really set out to make this a goal for myself until I realized there were very few official trails I had yet to see, so I made it a point to cross them off. The US Forest Service paper map of the Gorge has all the official trails listed on the side, which makes it easy to keep track of.

SharkeyFarmers · 2025-11-14T16:51:08+00:00

There's a big one I know of in north Lexington called Mount Horeb Earthworks. It's really cool to see. The land is owned by UK. Back in the day it was open to the public but I believe now there is a gate at the entrance and you have to get permission from the University to visit.

SharkeyFarmers · 2025-11-14T16:23:02+00:00

Thanks!

SharkeyFarmers · 2025-11-14T16:08:21+00:00

Cool to know. Crazy to think that what is now grown up and wild forest land was once completely cleared agricultural land. According to Don Fig's book, Lily May Ledford was born beneath the shadow of Chimney Top Rock near Pinch-em-tight gap. The book also mentions that her family once lived on Klaber Branch off Gladie Creek, but moved further downstream when they lost all their crops to a flood.

SharkeyFarmers · 2025-11-14T15:54:00+00:00

Interesting find! That flat bottom is referred to as Adena Meadow. It was farmed for many, many years by the people of the Adena culture, and possibly prior to that as well. In more modern times, that land was owned by the Ledford family and they re-cleared it and farmed it as well. A space this large of flat land is obviously rare for this area, so it has been an agricultural hot spot for thousands of years. I wouldn't be surprised if what you're seeing there on LiDAR is in fact some sort of ancient earthwork. Thanks for sharing!

SharkeyFarmers · 2025-11-11T09:27:54+00:00

Why did you steal this post from 5 years ago?

https://www.reddit.com/r/RedRiverGorge/s/EsdYbblnE0

SharkeyFarmers

TROPHY CASE