Savage Gulf Trip Report

“Foot's nearly back to normal. Can't wait for my next ECT!”

“Cooool!”

“Glad to hear it. I'm not sure when my next trip will be. I'm going to Cumberland Island for sure. Other than that, I got enough Vac. for one more GOOD trip before June. Either WV or Arkansas or Indiana. Don't know yet. I'm also hoping to make the Blood Monutain trip in June. That place is EXCELENT!”

“whoa...steve hiker...you put it beautifully....
the direct experiences......once you have them....all it seems you have to do to "be there" again is to close your eyes.....
mmmmmm ..the wind on an overlook.......mmmmm”

“dude, i think the wind is one of the best parts of blood mtn, too.

that late night wind...”

“That was Chip's wind I thought LOL”

“LOL!!!!

no, it's a creepy, silent wind.”

“I put my other roll of film in yesterday. As soon as I get them back, I'll post them.”

“Great pictures, steve hiker!! I especially liked those near the bottom of the water running through the trees. Sure wish I could have been there.

Damn! That stone door is mighty narrow. What happens if you meet someone coming in the opposite direction?

Can't wait to go on an ECT hike! :o)”

“Yo Sunshine
The Stone Door is about 10 feet wide. Passing people ain't too hard. It does make for a final lung bustin accent if your comming up from the bottom of the Gorge. Ask Rad. He can vouch for that.”

“Yeah Dude I got my film back noew if I can only figure out how this upload deal works....”

“yes, i avoided a rough climb by taking a hell climb. and it was at the end, too!!!! ugh.”

“ok here it goes, cut and paste folks.
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=1519968&a=11490728”

“WOW!!!! those are GREAT, CLEAR pics!

i'm still lookin'....”

“Great pictures, sirpete!

So, who is the guy wearing the cowboy hat and who is the guy wearing the overalls?

And Dude, where is the tight fitting polypro you mentioned on another thread?!

Dem is some ni-i-i-ice legs you got thar, Ape! *wink, wink* All that fancy gear!

You guys look like you just walked out the the Backpacker magazine.

Jerbear, If I had known you wanted a head hicky, I would have given ya one and it wouldn't have hurt near as much. ;o)

Sure wish I could have been there!”

“Awesome pics! Thanks for sharing. What kind of camera do you use? How do you get them so sharp and clear?”

“DAMN NICE shots sirpete!! You still can't do that place justice with photos. You came mighty close though. You just gotta see it in person!
Sunshine
Them tight fitting polypros was under nylon pants huggin my tight ass! LOL!”

“Boy what a picture THAT brings to mind!!!!!!”

“Yeah! Let's see a picture of that!”

“And people thought I was a pervert!”

“Heavens Sirpete....those photos gave me a pulse.

Impressive place .....the pic of stone door is breathtaking
and i gotta say it again....what a fine collection of men.
i would like to go on the next savage gulf hike...wow.”

“Happy Birthday Jerbear. No better place to be eh?

Live well.

tekapo
fka kid”

“I'm glad everyone enjoyed those photos! Between Steve, dude and myself we really did capture the essence of the gulf but he's right (Dude) pictures don't give it justice you really have to go there to get that. Baume 66 I use an inexpensive fugi point and shot camera but when I get it developed I have it just put on disc (cd). I can then crop, lighten, darken, turn etc. any of the pictures first before I do anything else with them.”

“Thanks for the trip report guys! I have thoroughly enjoyed my morning read - way better than the Sunday Star. :)

Where exactly is Savage Gulf?”

“off I-24 in Tenn between Chattanoga and Nashville”

“Thank you Sir Pete. The trip sounded wonderful and I am thinking I need to check the place out...”

“It's worth your drive.”

“Yo Friends, just spent a weekend in RRG and Did the rough trail NICE! I also did my usual trail Angels window front door, THATS WHAT I will call it.I did a B&B, which was cool. The lady, Billie, that runs it is very nice.And cooks good too!75thou. I want to go back SOON and hike. Perhaps I will stir somthin up.
SUNSHINE-You would give ME a HEAD hickey!!!! I am smittened! You sweetie! LOL
I took down the ECT sign that was STILL up at the mountain parkway and SR15, Crow it is still useable!RR! You make good signs!”

“Jer; thanks for takin' down the sign. I took the back-roads(KY-27/15) back from that trip and realized after I had been on the road for about an hour that I forgot the sign by the Mt. Parkway exit. I felt a bit guilty about that. I sure didn't think that it would still be there, let alone in good shape. Not bad for cardboard, gladwrap, some tape and electric wire tie downs. You must have had a good suprise at seeing the sign still there.

I'm glad to hear that you got a chance to do the Rough Trail, that is a nice one.”

“Bagless/Space Blanket and I did Rough Trail and it was fun. I htink bagless could've done without the narrow trail up the steep hills. :) No packs on that one...”

“Yeah, The Rough Trail was Sweet! I hiked it on around to Gray's Arch after I left camp on that trip.”

“Bear I plan to do a solid 4 day trip thru RRG, mebbe 5 if I can work it out before I head West. I'll keep ya in the know, see if you can line something up to join in. Same goes for summa you other cats. Now when I go, it ain't gonna be no keg party there. I'll keep it to no more'n 7 miles on any day for the b-day boy, hehe. Depends on the campsites really I'd guess. Mebbe summa you wanna-be hiker Yankees would like to join in too! Crow, I needs me a connection on a map, or I tell ya what, gimme their tele# on your map and I'll get one easy enough that away. Save ya a trip and postage. Thanx!
Dude I know you'll be interested, hehe. Spam, you gonna be luvin' up to the General that weekend too? LOL! Now summa you gals don't be shy! Nobody got bit on the Savage Trip, uhh, that I was aware of anyhow, hehe.”

“Ape Sounds good. Now as long as I do not get a JOB!LOL I can help with an itenary! I will look at some possibilities, ifin thats ok wit U! I have book as well as topo! Dew U? Ya Bear!”

“Nu uh on the book and map thang, and your itenerary 'd be great with me man, see what ya thank. I'm game! I might be able to do 4 nights 5 days, see if there are possibilities for ppl to join us partway thru, kinda like Rad did on the Savage Trip.”

“You got it apeman!”

“I will definitely make this trip I will!! I will!! I will!! I know I will!!



RRG is my home away from home I've hiked every hike in there many times”

“I'd like to go but the lack of enough Vacation time forbids it. Yall have fun. Think of the DUDE on them uphills!”

“Red River Gorge? When?”

“Workin on trip, When has not been discussed yet!”

“This'un is just in speculation stage Steve Hiker, but we'll let ya know in the next cupla weeks when we set a pretty agreeable date. Most likely either the end of Mar or the end of April is best for me. I'm just guessing that the end of Mar is best for JerBear, as he'll be job huntin eventually. And as always I deffinitely prefer no dawgies, but this is a free country and it ain't up to me to tell others what (or not) to do. And cb do chime in with your input. If ya know of some great trailage thru there that sorta fits my above description .... then start GABBIN!

I dunno if somebidy wants to play "RRG Return" host, but I just dunno much about the area to be of much good. If a good # of ppl come along, we can work out the details together, such as car shuttles, pre and post transport, available couches, ect, ect. I hope to do at least 3 nights, if not 4. For me it depends on what Mamaw has going on. It's just too early for me to give more details than that at this moment.

WD you'll be greatly missed, but the Fiery Gizzard Trip (ECT FGT) is coming up, that'll be a good'un too. Cow Patty, you ready for a real RRG hike???”

“I have been lookin at the maps and see many trails, but seem like they are 3-6mile LOOPS. I am countin on the crow to fly in and help with at least a 3 day, mostly 4 would be just fine with me. I was thinkin mid march.APE, you cant make mid? And you are right ifin I look for work I will find it and that puts a damper on my travelin!SHUCKS!”

“I know of a loop or two that you guys could do in four days. Let me look at my maps and I'll run a couple ideas past y'all.

There is an outfitter in RRG that will do shuttles and you can park on his property which is just off the Sheltoee Trace trail. There is a catch; this time of year the owner stays in Lexington, the shuttle(s) would have to be arranged a few weeks in advance. It wouldn't be that hard to do without the profesional shuttle anyway.

As long as the camps are agreed to ahead of time it shouldn't be that hard for people to hook up for a day or two of the 4 day hike. In RRG you would have to try pretty hard to camp more than a 3 hour walk from a trail head.
WARNING: Red River Gorge is not a good place to hike at night, lots'a people die like that. I'm sure I can figure out something that keeps the camps within four miles of a trail head. It might also be a good idea to tie a red(or what ever) marker or two on the trail near camp, to help everyone get together. Any sign y'all wanna agree to will work.

I'll try to come down for a saturday/sunday and hook up with everybody. Unfortunately this is the busiest time of year for us construction type people. I'm in a rush now but I'll run a few ideas past everyone within the next day or so.

Where's Zen hiker, this is his turf too. He'll probably have an idea or two. He still lurkin'?

You can order USGS quad maps(2) of RRG but the NFS map is better. Anyone know how to order NFS maps? I can get them from the local outfitter but they may only have a few copies and it takes them a couple weeks if you 'order' more. I'll be glad to buy and mail out what ever copies of the NFS I can get if anyone wants.

I'm sure you folks will works something out and maybe I'll get to meet a new ECT'er or two.
Happy Hikin'!”

“zen is off protesting the election.”

“If you guys head out there between March 12-18 I could do 4 or 5 days with you.”

“Dont make it the end of April..Im looking forward to having you all meet at my house for the Wilson Creek Trip..Dont let me down.”

“Here's the rest of my pics from this trip.

http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=1465610&a=11455351”

“Somebody has got to teach the Dude how to set up a link to his pictures! I would but I don't know how either LOL!”

“LOL no kiddin Spam! I needs me a link education too! Jer I'll hafta see about mid-March. I'll try, but fo sho I cain't make any promises. Same goes to you baume! It's actually easier for me to do the very last of May than to move it up a week. I'll try tho!

No worries Evergreen! It'll be next month ....... sometime.

Hey thanx Crow, will ya please get me a copy mailed fer lil ole me. My e is cayak@bellsouth.net, I'll give ya my home addy, and I'll get yours and cut a check. Thanx bro!

Cow Patty whut gives? Mozark start luvin up to yo warden honey so's you can make it too!!

And thanx for lookin over the map(s) Crow and suggestion some routes for us to take.”

“LOL! Spam. I ain't very computer literate. I recon I'z hopeing Skiracer or somebody would fix a link for me.
hehehe”