Saturday, August 27, 2011

Kingdom Come (Hiking in Harlan County)

I'll let you in on a secret. I love being from Eastern Kentucky. I'm Appalachian. My family comes from a place called Stinking Creek where they've been for 200 years. I love these mountains, the hidden beautiful places that are under-appreciated and usually not that crowded. They aren't tall and snowcapped like the Rockies or strange and alien like Yellowstone. But whenever I find myself on an overlook in Eastern Kentucky it feels better than the Swiss Alps, better than Yellowstone because it always feels like home. I'm proud to be Appalachian, to be a coal-miner's granddaughter just one generation removed from the holler. I'm tired of people from my region being ashamed of their roots. Eastern Kentucky is one of the most beautiful places on earth.

On top of Pine Mountain (side of HWY 119) & loving it

Cave Amphitheater at Kingdom Come State Park

View from halfway up Raven Rock


Raven Rock

Cool little shelter along the trail

We didn't peddle-boat. But I bet it's a wonderful Saturday afternoon activity.

No luck seeing live bears. But at least there's a stuffed & mounted one in the visitors center.


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