Grays Arch Red River Gorge Geological Area Daniel Boone National Forest Powell County Kentucky Over winter I took a trip down with a good friend and his youngsters to one of my favorite places on Earth, Red River Gorge. Or itinerary for the day had us going to the Grays Arch near end of day, since the last time I was here I went early and direct sunlight made shooting the arch and it's rock house a difficult challenge. We had hiked to Ravens Rock and I was beyond wore out after that and was considering not even going to the arch but as we had a late lunch in the truck snow showers had left a light blanket of snow on the ground and I just couldn't pass up the opportunity. The scene at Grays Arch is truly one of the most spectacular scenes in Kentucky and in my opinion in the eastern US. A massive rock recess scattered with monstrous boulders stacked on top on one another leads to the arch that sits atop a ridge. In the middle of the recess is a 10 ft. tall crevice that runs almost 3/4ths of the recess and it offers some of the coolest views of the arch. The 1.2 mile hike for the most part is easy but the final .2 miles is more difficult as you drop down into a gorge by trekking nearly 100 steps, but it is well worth it and this place should be on everyone's list to visit sometime in their life.
Grey's Arch Red River Gorge Geological Area Daniel Boone National Forest Powell County Kentucky Photograph captured after 18 inches of snow fell on the red Jan 2016. I sure hope everyone survived the snowpocalypse last week. Wow what a mess Nonetheless; I couldn't resist getting myself knee deep in it as my good friend Chris and I drove down to Red River Gorge Saturday morning and hiked up Tunnel Ridge Road and to Gray's Arch; a round trip 5 mile journey in 18 inches of snow. It was truly an adventure of pain; cold; exhaustion; failure; suffering; awe; beauty and success; all details that I will share at a later time. For now it's a short story to accompany this image from beneath my favorite arch; the sandstone and snow contrasting against one another. Truly one of my favorite things to see in nature.
Gray's Arch Red River Gorge Geological Area Daniel Boone National Forest Powell County Kentucky On my most recent trip to Grays Arch I'd planned on getting some perspectives that I've attempted to shoot before because of poor lighting conditions, but I couldn't resist getting some perspectives I've shot in the past as well. With this in mind, myself and good friend Jason Haley made a late afternoon jaunt to the arch knowing that the sun would be low enough to not effect the photos. Being my favorite arch I couldn't have asked for better foliage or light conditions and I couldn't think of any other way to spend a warm autumn Wednesday afternoon.
