RRC Archives

From "American Rock":

"When all the southern canyons are explored, all the escarpments of the Cumberland Plateau discovered and documented, the state of Kentucky will probably show the most rock, will probably turn out to be the mother lode of southeastern sandstone. Already well known to climbers everywhere is the Red River Gorge, with its complex tributary drainages. The Red has more than a thousand high-quality routes, and climbers there say they've developed only the most obvious, easily accessible cliffs. The countless little subcanyons that splinter off in dendritic patterns in all directions will likely triple the amount of climbing we see there today. But Kentucky climbing does't end with the famed Red River Gorge. To its south, running into Tennessee, are the vast canyons of the Big South Fork, potential for at least as much climbing as in the Red." --Don Mellor

Wow!

1) Yes, you can drink while riding a horse in Kentucky. You just can't get drunk. In fact, a lot of equestrians visit the KY side of the Big South Fork to drink and ride. In TN it is illegal. I spooked a guy on a horse last fall, he was thrown, and his beer+whiskey watered the earth. He was the epitome of an angry drunk.

2) Natural Arch is a Scenic Area in the Somerset RD. The northend is hammered by OHV use, but alas no climbing.

3) The Big South Fork is frontier for ky. RRG is more accessible, but it's sorta small geographically. The BSF is a deep, remote, and much larger gorge. The rock is the same, just harder to access.

Also nearby, anyone done any bouldering below Cumberland falls? There are several large boulders close to the falls.

I know that they have been played on. In Redmond's bouldering guide he talks about them. I'm going to try and get down there this summer and check them out myself if you want some company.

I have been down there a few times and looked around a bit. Looks like there is a ton of potential. The next trip to Somerset I am taking shoes and a pad. While they hike around I am going to get in some climbing.

The BSF is really cool, mtn biked all most every inch of that place. There is lots of way of the beaten path. I have rode all the sheltowee trace trail and the southern sections have some really cool rock.Did quite good trad FAs along the way.