Service in the Footsteps of Daniel Boone in the Red River Gorge, Kentucky

The Trip

Work in the footsteps of Daniel Boone in the Red River Gorge District of the Daniel Boone National Forest. Daniel Boone (November 2, 1734-September 26, 1820) was an American pioneer, explorer, woodsman, and frontiersman, whose frontier exploits made him one of the first folk heroes of the United States. Boone is most famous for his exploration and settlement of what is now Kentucky, which was then part of Virginia but on the other side of the mountains from the settled areas. 

We'll work with the U.S. Forest Service in one of the South's most beautiful landmarks. Carved by wind and water over the centuries, the Red River Gorge is characterized by steep sandstone cliffs, overhanging rock ledges, and narrow valleys littered with boulders. It is also home to more than 100 natural sandstone arches, many of which can be seen from the area's 60+ miles of hiking trails.

The 28,000-acre geological area has been designated a national natural landmark. Within the gorge is the Red River, a portion of which is designated as a National Wild and Scenic River. This unique river features both gentle ripples and exciting whitewater. The complex topography provides habitat for a rich diversity of plants and animals, including many rare species.

This is a wonderful place for bird watchers, boasting more than 100 species. This time of year, migrating birds pass through to winter in the South. Common game species such as white-tailed deer, fox, squirrel, turkey, grouse, and quail are prevalent. Bobcat and coyote are present, although their secretive nature makes sightings rare. Instead of a few dominant plant species, 20-25 species share dominance, especially tulip poplar, sugar maple, beech, basswood, yellow buckeye, red oak, white oak, red maple, hemlock, black walnut, black cherry, shagbark hickory, white pine, and white ash.

The Project

Getting There

The nearest airport is Lexington, Kentucky, a 90-minute drive from the gorge. We will be about three hours south of Cincinnati, and you will need to rent a car or carpool. The trip leader will provide a list of participants to facilitate ride sharing. Please do not make travel arrangements until the leader has confirmed you as a trip member.

Accommodations and Food

The group campsite will accommodate our cars and tents. You can bring a camper and leave it below the campground for a small fee. There are several picnic tables and a large shelter for food preparation. Electricity is available for cooking, and we'll even have a microwave. For our convenience, there will be a Jacuzzi among the trees, an onsite shower, and a chemical toilet. Meals will be prepared to accommodate both vegetarians and non-vegetarians. Those with other special food needs should contact the leader.

Trip Difficulty

This trip will be moderately strenuous, and will require basic manual work skills. You need to be in good physical condition. No special skills are required; the safe use of all tools will be demonstrated. The ability to work in cooperation with Forest Service personnel and fellow Sierra Club members is a must.

Be prepared for daytime temperatures in the 70s to 90s and nighttime temperatures that can get down into the 40s. The weather is often great at this time of the year, but you must be ready for rainy, wet, and cold conditions, as we will work in all reasonable weather conditions.

Equipment and Clothing

The leader will send you a detailed equipment list after you sign up, but there are a few essentials. You must bring a pair of leather work gloves. You will need a day pack for carrying lunch, drinking water, etc. to the work site. Bring two one-liter water bottles to take water from camp to the work site. A pair of broken in, waterproof boots suitable for hiking and trail work is mandatory. A pair of lightweight camp shoes (Tevas or similar) is recommended for comfort after a long day on the trail.

The Sierra Club provides cooking gear. You can bring your own reusable eating utensils (cup, spoon, knife, fork, and plate); however, all plates, cups, and utensils are also available from the U.S. Forest cache. A tent with a rainfly and a waterproof rainsuit (not a poncho) are required. Your equipment need not be expensive, but it should be made of quality materials.

Recommended clothing for this climate is lightweight long underwear, such as Capilene, and warm outer clothing. Plan to layer your clothing so you will be able to take things off or put them on as the weather dictates.

References

Maps:

• "Red River Gorge" geographical area topo map: "Daniel Boone National Forest"

Books:

• Sierra Club Bluegrass group, Hiking the Red: A Complete Trail Guide to Kentucky's Red River Gorge.
• Ellis, William E., River Bends and Meanders: Stories, Sketches and Tales of Kentucky.

Conservation

Publicity has greatly increased visitation to Red River Gorge. The area is within a six-hour drive of 23 million people, prompting fear that it might be "loved to death." While some areas are now extremely popular at times, the trails and backcountry are still pristine and provide a feeling of wilderness and solitude. However, logging, upriver strip mining, oil extraction, and other intrusions threaten the gorge's health. After many years and much effort by dedicated individuals, a significant portion of the Red River was designated for protection under the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System in 1994.

Since its founding in 1892, The Sierra Club has worked to preserve and restore the natural environment we all share on this planet. Thousands of grassroots-level volunteers spearhead our efforts to conserve and sustain resources, both in our own backyards and on a global scale. Through direct experience in the outdoors, Sierra Club outings enable participants to better understand, advocate, and participate in the environmental conservation goals of the Club.

Service outings, in particular, stand out as one of the Sierra Club’s most important “boots on the ground” conservation efforts. The work done by service trip participants in our nation’s public lands is a way of practicing conservation in the most direct way possible, whether it’s improving access while preserving wilderness values, restoring wildlife habitat, or repairing human-caused damage to a natural area. Service trips are a great way to pitch in and do something tangible to make the world a better place; they’re a way to go beyond just talking about conservation; a way to get out there and experience conservation with your whole being.

Sierra Club National Outings is an equal-opportunity provider and when applicable will operate under permits obtained from U.S. federal land agencies.