Red River Gorge Marathon Hike

“After setting up basecamp close to the Martin's Fork Trailhead, going to start early in the morning Saturday and hike as far as I can on the Rough Trail and Swift Camp Creek Trail, with only day essentials. Will hike to a pre-designated turn-around time and come back, with the goal of hiking as much of the trails as time allows. An out-and-back of both trails in their entirety is approximately 32.2 miles”

“CB, this sounds like a great trip!! I will see what my schedule permits. With this being a "dayhike" I could get on the road early sunday morn. How far from the trailhead will you be staying?”

“as close as possible. hopefully within a half-mile”

“Cool, thanks.”

“anyone doing this should plan on being there friday night, because i plan on taking off first thing in the morning, hopefully between 6 and 7 am”

“Thats what I had figured. If I make it I wouldnt get in till about 11pm friday,kinda late but not awful. The biggy will be fuel cost, that will make or break it for me.”

“Now, I'm not making ANY promises here but it would be super awesome if birch could drive down to my house and we split gas to RRG on that Friday. Makes it more acceptable. Let me do some shmoozing with the wife...

I've been wanting a hike like this to blow the carbon out of my engiens. I don't do high miles any more because the dog goes with me on most trips.
last edited: 10/15/05 8:35:03 AM”

“Damn I just realized I'm not sure where I'll be working in December. We'll play it by ear.”

“I like to join, but 32 miles in one day, would be too much for this out of shape, old dog.
I could probably handle 20 miles at the most? Whats the weather typically like at that time of year. I've been to gorge once, with the family and just did the drive/scenic tour. I've always wanted to hike here too.
Not to try and change your plans but, What about a east to west traverse, starting at the clifty wilderness and finishing at western end, spending one night along the trail, at the half way point ?
I don't have my map in front of me, but maybe this would be too short of a hike? Also, with about 10 hrs of daylight you'd have to maintain a 3 mph pace without stopping, just to hike 30 miles? Well, I guess you are calling it a marathon hike! LOL
last edited: 10/15/05 11:19:05 AM”

“i doubt ill make the whole 32 miles. we'll all just go out with the goal of get as far as we can and turn around after X amount of hours

I could probably handle 20 miles at the most

thats fine. everybody go at their own pace. maybe 2 or 3 groups. play it by ear. i suspect ill make between 20-25

Whats the weather typically like at that time of year

chilly. shouldnt be bad cold yet.”

“i want to try this again in late spring/early summer, when we got more daylight time, but before it gets too hot”

“with about 10 hrs of daylight you'd have to maintain a 3 mph pace without stopping, just to hike 30 miles

since we'll be hiking with just day-packs, its conceivable. i think a good goal for me would be to make it from martins fork trailhead, to the junction of swift camp creek and wildcat trails”

“Ok, If we'll be in different groups/abilities, then, I'm a maybe for the hike. I would go to meet and hike with others, so, I'd want to team up with someone with the same pace 2-2.5 mph on flat terrain? I wouldn't want to try and keep up with you guy's and/or end up trailing behind and hikiing alone. No fun”

“i dont think we should let anyone lag behind because the rough trail is kinda confusing at times”

“So, you've hiked here before and would be our guide? LOL
The last trip I planned, Everyone looked to me as the leader. One person even kept putting it in my face constantly. I was starting to get pissed-off too. I mean, when you have someone always saying, "well you said" I made the comment before the trip, that there would be water along the hike. This person took this to mean a river or something along the trail for the entire 35 miles WTF? So, this person blames me for only bringing a one qt. nalgene. As it was the longest stretch without water was 5 miles, dude give me a break. I propably won't hike with this person in the future, always in a rush and blames others for his lack of planning. I think you need to have a disclaimer with your trips, unless you want to take responsability for others.”

“In the transition zone it can be anywhere from 70 to 0 at that time of year.

BTW...NFW am I going to do 32 miles in one day...don't want to, don't have to, but hey it's your hike. Enjoy”

“10 days into december in kentucky, i highly doubt temps anywhere near 0. 30 maybe.

NFW am I going to do 32 miles in one day

like i said, i doubt if i will, either. its just something to shoot for if everything worked out perfect (up super-early, high energy, no mishaps, etc)”

“You're out to kill someone!”

“honestly, i wouldnt be the least bit surprised if i turned around after 10 miles, either. im not in the shape i was a year ago. but no harm in shooting for the stars”

“I’m not in fantastic shape but I can still lay down some miles with enough hours in the day. I was actually planning on going the Extreme Dayhike way and leaving camp at 4am-ish alone to allow for enough hours in the day to finish it all. Depending on the terrain and pace I’m looking at about a 17 hour day for 35 miles as I average but 2 MPH.”

“if someone else would do it with me, i could possibly be up by 4”

“are you asking me to go on a date?”

“Exactly my favorite day hiking distance. Would you ever come to NC, please shoot me a message. There are quite a few such hikes around here. One has at least 10K gain (I did not try it yet).”

“10,000 feet of elevation gain? thats pretty hardcore. how long does it take to gain that? im guessing at least 15 miles?”

“ I think you need to have a disclaimer with your trips, unless you want to take responsability for others.”

i have seen that done once before, and tho some may think it silly, its actually not a bad idea. ive wondered aloud if maybe matt should do something like that for his and our protection, legally. so far, ive not heard of any serious accidents/mishaps (jmt bailout aside), but all it takes is one idiot and a penchant to blame others for their own mistakes to ruin everything. whether im an organizer or just part of the trip, i take the approach that ultimately everyone is responsible for their own safety and well-being, as well as having all the necessary beta. theres no excuse for going into the backcountry un-prepared. i also try to make myself as available as possible, and giving as much detailed, clear and concise help as i can, because i want everyone in my group to be prepared”

“i like the term "trip organizer" as opposed to "group leader". it emphasizes the fact that once everyone hits the trail, each individual is responsible for themselves, and not one person responsible for all.

one more thought: due to the short hours, and the fact that i want this to be enjoyable, i dont expect this to be a balls-out hike, in case anyone was put off by the strenous-sounding itinerary. i am going to see how far i can go, but im not deathmarching 30 miles in 10 hours (unless i get a wild hair up my ass). if i wanna stop and smell the daisies (or peer over the cliffs) i will. i already have one cliffside stop planned.”

“simply put, i see a "trip organizer" as the person who is responsible for planning the itinerary and the logistics. you are responsible for your hike.”

“Well, I wouldn't quite call this person an idiot? I just don't like negativity on a hike, It will never make a bad situation better? And I don't always take criticisum well, especially from a newbie/wana-be.”

“not your specific person was an idiot. i was meaning more hypothetically, potential future idiot”

“I can think of three TTers who weren't prepared for a trip or had issues that endangered themselves. It's never happened on a trip I've been on personally.
I think you're right on C!B! The person who invites others should not be held responsible for their shortcomings unless they weren't clear about the mileage/terrain, etc. However, I'd consider myself a fool for joining a trip I didn't know the details of.
It'll be a very sad day if some trip organizer or Matt gets a lawsuit over someone's lack of preparedness or fitness.”

“BTW, I'm gonna wait a bit before I say yea or nay on this one. Sounds like a blast but I wanna see how my knee treats me at Mammoth before I even think about saying yes.
Thanks for the invite!”

“I would like to go on this but I tend to stop and take to many pictures.

CB,it can't be much worse than that trip to Rocky Top...up,up,up,up and up we went”

“Ok, I’m down with this trip barring any last minute puppy pile surge in sign ups. After hiking there last weekend I have changed my mind about my start time. I think with all the leaves down combined with the permanent wetness that I’m just going to split the daylight hours, set my turn around time and just hike. However far I get at the halfway point is as far as I get. There is a great big camping area just in from the TH (maybe 20 minute walk) that would be a good camp to hold everyone.

Good to see ya signed up for this one Mike! Looking forward to meeting you finally.”

“I REALLY want to go on this trip. I am not sure what December holds for me, however, so for now I am a tentative maybe.”

“Just where the heck in KY is the Red River Gorge?
Never been there and not that interested in a Marathon Hike but from Nigal's pixs the area just got added to my to do list.”

“it is southeast of Lexington, Ky

check mapquest for mileage, use Slade Ky as your destination. It is approx 4.5 hrs from Nashville”

“You go up 75 to Lexington and turn right. It's about 50 miles east of Lexington. Well worth the drive my good man.

Pitts- I think it's going to be a "do whatever mileage ya want" hike.”

“Thanks, Ewker!”

“http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/boone/documents/maps/rrg.pdf

map of RRG”

“Holy Sheeeettttt... 750.8 miles, 12.5 Hours driveing one way.....”

“Its a very pretty place stovie....but i wont do a marathon hike either. :P”

“There is a great big camping area just in from the TH (maybe 20 minute walk)

i dont even think its that far if its the same one im thinking of. when is anyone planning on arriving? whoever gets there first needs to jump on it. seems like every time i go by somebodys in it.”

“nigal, i assume you mean the martins fork TH?”

“Yes, and the site is right on the other side of a bridge in a pine stand? Lots and lots of room. I'll get there mid afternoon Friday and get dibs on the site. Scratch that cause I'd be coming down with birch if he goes.
last edited: 11/07/05 4:35:08 PM”

“sounds like the place. if you can, call me once youve got a site set up”

“I can't get cell service once I get into Slade. i can't even get analog roam once on the trail. As soon as you leave the road and go over the first bridge the trail splits off to the right, keep going straight. Then the trail splits off up a hill to the left, keep going straight and over the next bridge. The big spot is right after this bridge on the left. Is this where you're thinking of? It shouldn't be too hard to find.”

“I am really hoping to make this trip, if I can I will try to bug outta work early.”

“It's only about 3 1/2-4 hours from my house so we could make it there in time for happy hour. :)”

“very cool.”

“I'm in so long as I'm doing okay with my schoolwork at that point. And we get a dog and babysitter. Birch has dibs on this one if not.”