Kentucky - Whitley City

Ywahoo Creek is the source for Ywahoo Falls near Whitley City, Kentucky.  A trail goes to Ywahoo Creek where a ford can be made by foot travel.  A huge rock shelter is present at the Falls area.  The scenic Ywahoo Falls area is in the Big South Fork National River and Recreation area.  The narrow road that must be used to access the Falls Area begins at a local fueling station called Becky’s.  Adjacent to the Big South Fork property is the Daniel Boone National Forest.  The Ywahoo Falls area is a dramatically scenic natural area. 

Seeing places



Cave Run Lake, Kentucky

We take much of our lives for granted. We are surprised when change comes and we struggle with dealing with the change.

When we open our heart and hold a moment in awareness we find the hurried rush of our lives diminishes.  When we pay attention our life unfolds in a moment; we see the miracles around us.

This scene is from the Daniel Boone National Forest, a land of cliffs and valleys that wants to be beautiful if allowed to be itself.  The water side is Cave Run Lake.

The Weeks Act and the Eastern Forests

 

 

Daniel Boone National Forest - Redbird Unit

The forests and parks we have now came after struggles.  The Congress and authors and prominent citizens debated the idea of setting aside land for protection of water resources and the enjoyment of the people.  John Muir and Giford Pinchot were a part of it.  The Weeks Act was a watershed event in this land's history.  Were it not for the Weeks Act there would be no Daniel Boone National Forest, Nantahala National Forest or Cherokee National Forest. John Muir said the struggle would go on.  What needs to be done in our time?

This image is from the Redbird area of the Daniel Boone National Forest where there are large American Beech trees.  The land that became the Daniel Boone National Forest was once bare of trees over wide areas of the landscape.  Like most of the places that became the eastern national forests the land was bare of trees and blackened from fires.

But in the these tracts of land with hills and valleys were old growth trees.  These stately trees survived the ax through the wide lumbering times before the Weeks Act.  When the Forest Service amnounces timber sales sometimes the sale areas include the locations of these old growth trees.  Sadly our woods become the poorer for the loss of these old growth denizens.

Meditation

 

 

There are places that inspire.  Places that are good for mediation.  This photograph was taken in the Daniel Boone National Forest in Laurel County. This area is on the East side of the Rockcastle River.

In us

"Life is a great adventure... accept it in such a spirit."  Theodore Roosevelt

"We little know how much wildness there is in us."   John Muir 

"If you wish to advance into the infinite, explore the finite in all directions."       
  Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe 

See more, hear more and do it soon.  Theodore Roosevelt, John Muir and Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe have provided the path for you.