Gray's Arch Red River Gorge Geological Area Daniel Boone National Forest Kentucky Hard to believe that it was year ago January 23, 2017 that myself and my good friend Christopher Morris and I made the 5 mile knee deep round trip hike to Gray's Arch in the Red River Gorge after 18 inches was dumped on central/eastern Kentucky. At times during the trek it seemed like one of the dumbest things I've ever done but looking back it was an adventure of a lifetime where I pushed myself to my limits to see one of my favorite places as few have. But the hike in the snow was half the adventure, as temps plummeted during the hike when we arrived back to my 1987 soft top Jeep Wrangler. Being soaked from sweating and driving 65 mph down Mountain Parkway on the way home as it was 5 degrees outside made for a cold, cold return ride. We even stopped at Wal-Mart after 40 miles on the road and bought dry cloths and changed in the bathroom. Oh, and I forgot to mention that I ruined my 4 wheel drive busting through a snow drift. What a day, one of my favorites!
Gray's Arch Red River Gorge Geological Area Daniel Boone National Forest Kentucky
Half Moon Rock Red River Gorge Geological Area Daniel Boone National Forest Kentucky You never know where you're going to end up when you do a quick photography day trip. The original plan after visiting Kentucky's Natural Bridge State Park was to shoot over to Rock Bridge and Creation Falls in the nearby Clifty Wilderness of the Daniel Boone National Forest, and Chris was really pushing for Grey's Arch, but we ended up spending so much time at Natural Bridge we had to opt for something that didn't require much time. I suggested running over to Chimney Rock, an outcropping at the edge of a cliff that the viewer has a 280 degree view over the Red River Gorge. We were hoping the snow was just as awesome as it was on our earlier adventure and it was. As we neared the overlook I noticed this cool little natural window where you could see nearby Half Moon Rock and I couldn't resist taking some shots. Although there wasn't nearly as much drama as there was at Lookout Point earlier that morning, it was still gorgeous, and I realized after all the years I'd been visiting Red River Gorge I'd never seen the park as beautiful as it was this day.
