Kayak: Paddling from Blackwater to Paragon

So we spent another beautiful weekend doing some flatwater paddling. We enjoyed the Blackwater section of the Licking River so much, we couldn't resist going back. This time we made things a bit easier and got to Paragon early on Saturday morning to setup camp before we went paddling.

We took about an hour to clean up the campsite, as it had been left in poor condition with trash everywhere. Once the campsite was clean, we hung our hammocks and popped up a dome tent for my son and nephew that would be joining us later for some camping. Our preparation should provide for some extra R&R once we return from our trip.

We headed to the Blackwater Boat Ramp and set out on our trip. The water level was a little low from the lack of rainfall, but we were rewarded with an increase in wildlife activity. Not having my Digital SLR, we did manage to capture and enjoy the sights of a few cranes, turkey vultures, and majestic bald eagles. There is also a great deal of fish activity in this area, but unfortunately I am in no position to determine the species we encountered.

I plan on paddling the rest of the flatwater leading into Cave Run Lake, but this one was a great enjoyment and due for an encore.

Off-Road: East Fork State Park

Over the Labor Day weekend, I took the family up to Cincinnati to visit my sister and her family. I love spending time in that area bucause of it's rich history and the variation from one small community to anotner. Most of the weekend was family catch-up time and tons of enjoyment with all the kids, but Sunday was play day.

My brother-in-law and I got up early and grabbed our bikes. He had recently bought some new bikes for his family to ride on a wicked 10 mile bike trail created by the city that started at the end of their neighborhood. Considering a new mountain bike, we decided to head over to East Fork State Park to check out their trails and ease him into trail riding.

East Fork State Parks consists of three very well maintained trails that offer contrasting conditions. There are two 4 mile trails that offer beginner and moderate levels of biking, and another loop that offers more experienced conditions. The area gets used heavily and quite busy by mid-morning, so get there early. These trails won't disappoint.

Trails.com (East Fork)

Camping: Ultralight or Bust

So I thought I would take a moment and discuss what came to me as a revolution. I had been searching for some time for a ultralight solution to hauling around a cumbersome tent while hiking. I had considered a slew of designs and had almost narrowed my choice to a bivy, a one man ultralight tent resembling a cocoon or coffin. I had ready many reviews and was not satisfied with the results I was discovering. My patient and wise (skills I dare not possess) friend Brian then recommended a hammock.

On first thought of this notion, I assumed he had lost his mind. He assured me of the contrary, and pointed me to a company called Hennessy Hammocks. Their hammocks, upon closer inspection, looked absolutely killer and the best part was the idea of a comfortable night sleep without hauling a mattress into the woods. It took some time and about 9 hours of watching various setup videos on the company website and YouTube, but I finally pulled the trigger and ordered their Expedition ASYM a couple of weeks later.

Once my hammock arrived, I could hardly wait to get outside and set it up. I had studied the setup instructions before it arrived, so I felt like I was up for the challenge. I quickly began to discover the advantages this hammock offers in speed of setup and take down, along with it's entry system and simple rain fly adjustment. It wasn't long before I was satisfied with my setup and put it to the test with a quick nap.

Hennessy creates an amazing product, and if you are a lone camper, then there is no better product for quick and easy setup, comfort, and meaningful rest. Check them out at http://www.hennessyhammock.com

Kayak: Blackwater Paddling Trip

As the day was growing short, we dropped off our return vehicle at Paragon and loaded into my truck headed toward Blackwater boat ramp. There we would put in and start what was to be a overnight paddling trip. This section of the Licking river was quite calm and interesting offering subtle differences from the Tailwater section we recently completed. Most of this section of river is riddled with stumps and branches reaching out of the water creating an amazing haven for all sorts of waterfowl.

Our trip began at 5:00 p.m. as we started paddling for Bangor boat ramp. The route meanders through countless twists and curves of river trail riddled with stumps and branches reaching out of the water creating an amazing haven for all sorts of waterfowl. Along many of these passages were enormous section of rock that had been mined out of this area countless years ago creating plentiful options for camping or just taking a break. The trail totaled 9.4 miles in length, but as we approached our break point, we were presented with a major dilemma.

It was 8:55 p.m. as were stepped out of our boats to stretch our legs at Bangor boat ramp. My GPS informed me that the sunset was scheduled for 9:10 p.m., and from the looks of things it would be right. Should we go ahead and make camp, or continue the push for the last 3.5 miles to Paragon knowing that we will be paddling in unforgiving darkness. Onward it was.

Our final stretch was without a doubt one of the most peaceful experiences I have ever had. I had to stop and put my paddle down for several minutes as I stretched back and gazed upward toward the heavens. The view of the heavens from this location and time of day was more than I can describe. What we thought would be a troublesome mistake, turned out to be the best decision we have made.

We paddled into Paragon at 10:00 p.m. completing our 13 mile trip in 5 hours. Quickly ditching our boats, we drove to get my truck and returned to the campsite. After setting up our Hennessy Hammocks, we enjoyed a victory drink of ice-cold Gatorade before retiring for the evening. While this trip may not be for every paddler, it was a wonderful and breathtaking trip not to be forgotten.

Location: Licking River
Lat/Lon: N37 58.479 W83 23.726
Trail: Blackwater - Bangor - Paragon

Hiking: Carter Caves 4C's Trail

I must admit, I did not expect to enjoy the trails of the Carter Caves State Resort Park nearly as much as I did.  I pre-judged this area before doing adequate research, and I was in the wrong.  Carter Caves has an awful lot of enjoyment to offer, from caving to paddling to hiking, there is something for everyone.  

The trails were very well maintained and fun to hike.  We chose to hike the 4C's trail, an acronym for Carter Caves Cross Country Trail.  The trail is 7.5 miles in length with beautiful views that incorporate the many parts of Carter Caves I really enjoyed.  The trail passes through Shangra La Arch to wind along the banks of the Smoky Valley lake.  Crossing a swinging bridge to the far side of the lake, you hike back across it's dam and spillway toward a beautiful backcountry campsite.  The trail winds to a close joining the 3 Bridges Trail near Fern Bridge, a massive sandstone arch which gets it's name from the assortment of flora along it's base.  This was rated as a difficult trail, but I found it most enjoyable and worth every step.

Location: Carter Caves State Resort Park

Lat/Lon: N38 22.651 W83 07.328

Trail: 4C's

Hiking: Red River Gorge (Trail 221, 220, 226, 223)

I will try and keep this post very brief.  Hiking through the Red River Gorge is a wonderful thing to be able to experience.  This is one of the most amazing hiking areas in Kentucky, and I thoroughly enjoyed our hike.  I would add that I would not return to this trail during the summer months.  The combination of excessive heat, humidity, and trail difficulty definitely hampered the experience.

Location: Red River Gorge

Lat/Lon: N37 48.492 W83 39.464 (Grey's Arch Trail Head)

Trail: Grey's Arch, Rough Trail (221), Koomer Ridge Trail (220), Buck Ridge Trail (226), Pinch-Em Tight Trail (223)

Gear Test: Merrell Chameleon Hiking Shoes

One of the most important parts of hiking is taking care of your feet. Being comfortable throughtout your hike is ofter overlooked, but only becomes more important and evident as the miles pass and the day grows long. I decided to start my research a couple of months ago to treat myself to a new pair of hiking shoes. There are nomerous styles and brands, all of which have tremendous advantages depending on the hiking conditions. In the end, I narrowed my choice to the Merrell Chameleon Iso GTX XCR.

The Merrell Chameleon Iso GTX XCR is a hiking shoe that has a combination of features that makes it one of the best all-purpose hiking shoes available. The breathable mesh upper really helps cool your feet on those long hikes by allowing hot air to escape. Merrell also coupled a Gore-Tex waterproof liner to the breathable upper allowing your feet to stay dry when your path crosses streams or is riddled with mudholes.

Additional features include:
Protective toe bumpers
Air-cushion midsoles
Ortholite footbeds
4mm lugs
Vibram outsoles

I've logged over 52 miles on these shoes in the past two months and I'm completely amazed with the results. The longer I own them, the happier I become with my decision. The break-in period seems to be rather long, probably due to the Vibram outsoles. I broke my pair right out of the box and the comfort allowed me to immediately hit the trail without any second thoughts. Check them out and hit your favorite trail.