In the Heart of Daniel Boone National Forest lies one of Kentucky’s best backpacking and climbing destinations. The Red River Gorge is often explored by trail, but I’ve noticed a relative lack of creativity shown by the typical routes that are most often traveled by backpackers. The classic Gorge routes are classic for a reason, […]

Auxier Ridge Loop 6.3 miles hiking, 2.1 miles paddling (6-12 hrs)Best Hiking Scenery, Most Adventurous, Short Float This loop involves off-trail hiking and possibly some light rope-work if it’s wet and slippery, so look at a different loop if you want something easier. Back to routes page Overview Those that have hiked the Auxier Ridge […]

Red River Loop 13.4 miles hiking, 12.5 miles paddling (1.5 – 3 days)Great Hiking Scenery, Scenic Float, Higher Mileage Option This loop involves off-trail hiking and possibly some light rope-work if it’s wet and slippery. See “Variations” below to avoid this. Back to routes page Overview This is the longest loop listed here, as well […]

Cloud Splitter Loop 8.5 miles hiking, 3.7 miles paddling (8-14 hours)Good Hiking Scenery, Interesting Float If It’s Running Back to routes page Overview The hiking section of this loop looks otherworldly in the morning mist as the trail contours in and out of multiple hollows. With a side trip up to the top of Cloud […]

Swift Camp Loop 10.6 miles hiking, 13 miles paddling (1-3.5 days)Hiking Drags On, Best Float In The Park If It’s Running Back to routes page Overview This is easily my favorite of the loops listed here. Up front, the hiking on this loop is…a bummer. Compared to most of the trails in the park, anyway. […]

As Jake Kirinovic and I were planning trips together in the Big South Fork area of Tennessee, I noticed something I hadn’t before. The way the New River (but not that New River) bent sinuously through the landscape invited a quick little bushwhack to connect it to the Clear Fork, skipping the languid flat-water section […]

Sadly, early on day 6, after 169 miles of progress, I had to abort my unsupported FKT attempt on the Sheltowee Trace. I’ll post a full write-up here later, but I’ll give some of the details and reasons why. Large sections of the Trace were still underwater from the highest-ever-recorded flood level on the Big […]

April 2nd-4th, 2020 Getting done with a 96 hour week at the fire department, I was tired and discouraged. My wife is immunocompromised and has multiple co-morbidities for COVID-19, so I’m living in our basement. It’s nice, with a bed and bathroom and squat rack and X-Box. But I needed some time away to recharge. […]

A last minute anniversary trip to Zion/Las Vegas in January. We’ve never been to Zion before, and with the Weeping Rock/Hidden Canyon trail closed, there were two obvious hikes to do. Sam preferred not to be out over night, so we staged out of our hotel in Springdale. Out of season, the park was not […]

I’m planning a comprehensive packrafting and hiking route of Red River Gorge (KY) to be executed this May. I spent a few days scouting possibilities over the weekend. This was my second real scouting trip down there, but also my 15th, as I’ve been gaining memories and taking notes on my trips there for quite […]