Back in the spring I started a photo project on Red River Gorge down in my native southeastern Kentucky. Some rich assholes have decided that turning Red River Gorge into the next new tourist trap is just the thing to 'help' us poor Appalachians. Think gentrification, but for out-of-towners.
For some reason the phrase 'mineral rights' keeps coming to mind. Anyways, I've been exploring and documenting the gorge, trying to capture it before it's overrun and hopefully get some ammo for a little monkeywrenching. Last week I made my fifth trip down there to catch the leaves changing before the weather turned cold and wet.
In a way, all my previous trips had been scouting expeditions for the best places to catch the fall colors. Ultimately I elected to return to the two ridges I'd hiked on the previous trip, Auxier Ridge and Double Arch trail. They run roughly parallel to one another so you can shoot the valley from both sides.
It's fun, you can shoot the places you were shooting from the day before. The first day I did the Double Arch trail and aside from the sun playing peekaboo in the clouds, things couldn't have been more Gorge-ous.
Could have spent a week or more here and still not do it proper justice. As it was I got to spend a couple days before I had to head back to Louisville. Was far from the only person gorging on fall, it was the busiest I'd seen the place.
There's a rather limited amount of parking throughout the gorge, so when it's busy getting a spot can be something of a challenge. Still not sure how they expect to fit more people into the gorge without destroying it in the process. I got lucky and found a spot without too much difficulty but the trailheads stayed full until nearly dark both days.
These last three photos are from Auxier Ridge on the second day. It was threatening rain all day and naturally as soon as I made it to the end of the ridge it started to rain. In the photo above you can see Double Arch, where I was shooting from the day before. I snapped these as the rain rolled in and then made my way back to my car. Should have hung around until the rain stopped to shoot the steam rising from the mountains but I didn't think of it until I was driving past it on my way home.
We've got a freeze warning tonight, so I doubt the leaves will be on the trees for much longer. Guess that means I need to start making plans for getting snowed into the gorge. As much as I hate the cold, it may just be worth it. And now it's time for me to fall asleep.
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Gorgeous photos, gorgeous place. My ignorant ass had no idea Kentucky could look like this.
Thank you! The eastern part of the state is in the Appalachian Mountains, has its own unique, rugged beauty. At least the parts the coal companies haven't ruined. The rest of the state doesn't look much like this though.
Just a bunch of derbies and self-appointed colonels sipping bourbon and nibbling fried chicken in the rest of the state, huh. (Only Kentucky-themed stuff I could think of.)
I had part of such an experience this year and it was absolutely amazing. These photos are amazing as well, love the colors.
Ah, did you stick around until after the rain? My granny always said the steam rising was the groundhogs making coffee, saw it plenty growing up but completely forgot about it. Thank you!
I did, quite a bit, till the cars arrived, here's the post with photos 😀
Beautiful shots!
Thank you!
Esas fotos están únicas , muy hermoso despeñadero , lástima que quiera venir la exploración y explotación del hombre hacia la madre naturaleza.
Una pena sin duda. Con suerte podré usar algunas de mis fotos para interferir un poco con eso.
luchemos por nuestra naturaleza, mi hermano...
Honestly, you started a great project
You are doing well with the photos
They look cool and beautiful
Thank you for those kind words. The real test is going to be trying to stop them from turning the gorge into a mess.
This is really a beautiful place to explore and visit
The pictures are really amazing I must confess
It really is a glorious place. Thank you!
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