Kentucky Heartwood will be leading a hike and field trip to see some outstanding forests in the Jellico Mountains threatened with logging under the U.S. Forest Service’s proposed Jellico Vegetation Management Project. On this hike we’ll see and discuss examples of mature and old-growth forests, different forest communities, and examples of previous forest management, with incredibly scenic views of the Jellico Mountains. We’ll also visit a newly discovered northern red oak (Quercus rubra) that may be the largest ever measured in Kentucky. This excellent tree is located in an area proposed for clearcutting by the Forest Service.
The hike will be approximately 2.5 miles, moderately strenuous, and almost entirely off-trail. While there will not be much elevation change, participants will have to be comfortable with off-trail hiking, including uneven terrain, occasional greenbrier, and a few steep sections. Freshly fallen leaves may make the forest floor a bit “slippery” as well. The hike itself will take about 4 to 4.5 hours.
📅 WHEN: Saturday December 14th, 2024
⏰ TIME: 10:30a – 4:30pm.
📍 WHERE: Meet at 10:30am in Williamsburg Walmart parking lot off KY-92.
The meeting location is in the back of the parking lot across from Huddle House.
HOW: Register through KY Heartwood by clicking this link.
Questions? Email whitney@kyheartwood.org
