Circus of Goats


We’re baaaaaack 😉

Welcome to Tread the Red Podcast hosted by Rachel & Darren! We are the Red River Gorge Podcast (AKA we LOVE The Red and we wanna tell you all about it)!

We took a kinda-sorta-not-totally-intentional-but-kinda-intentional (???) break from the pod, but we’re getting back into it now. It is SEPTEMBERRRR, which means…spooky season and the onset of cooler temps! Say goodbye to the deer flies and hello to crunchy leaves (yessssss).

While we haven’t had the chance to regularly record during the past (few?) months, that doesn’t mean that we haven’t gotten out to the RRG. In this podcast we catch up with you all on some of our summer Gorge adventures which include:

*Making it up to the Front Porch for the first time ever! This nifty (amazing) overlook is situated right on top of Whistling Arch and would be the perfect spot for sunset. The climb up is a little bit technical (utilizing the LIVE tree on the side of the arch), but it was all worth it. Like anything in the Gorge, know your limits and don’t push it if you aren’t comfortable! And as always, remember to think about how you’re gonna get back down before you go up. 😉

*Seeing the homestead/place where the magic happens of Positive Attraction Soaps! If you haven’t already, head on over to their website and score yourself 25% off of their amazing soaps, lotions, and more for their 10 Year Anniversary until September 10 using code “10yearsofsoap” at checkout! I literally don’t use anything else but their soaps because I love them so much andddd they have a Red River Gorge collection! We love to see it…or smell it? 😀 


*Experiencing the Perseid Meteor Shower with good friends in the heart of the Gorge. This was a bucket list activity for Rachel and was so so magical. And guess what?! The Perseids are an annual meteor shower in July/August, so if you missed it this year, check in next year and get to a sweet spot to view them.


*The goats of Rock Bridge Rd. Do we need to say more? 


*A sunrise hike on Auxier Ridge Trail with some awesome people! This was also a bucket list activity and if you haven’t caught a sunrise in The Red, we totally recommend it (you will have to wake up early, but like…who needs sleep when you can say good morning with all the toads hoppin’ around, hear the Whip-poor-wills wake up the woods, and experience the slow creeping of color into the sky?!) 


Anyway, we hope that you all have had an awesome summer (staying hydrated!!!) and stay tuned for more coming soon. And since it IS spooky season, if you have a creepy RRG story to share, send it to: treadtheredpodcast@gmail.com ! Rachel would LOVE to do another round of creepy-themed RRG stories for an October podcast episode! 

Kentucky Heartwood!


Welcome to Tread the Red – your Red River Gorge Podcast! 😉 
This week we have a very special episode featuring a super cool and awesome guest, Whitney Hamblin from Kentucky Heartwood! Whitney is the Communications and Outreach Coordinator for Kentucky Heartwood and is here to chat all about WHAT Kentucky Heartwood is and does, WHY this organization is so important, and HOW you can become involved to make a difference in the forests near you. 
Kentucky Heartwood was formed in 1992 by people concerned about logging, mining, and off-road vehicles on the Daniel Boone National Forest (DBNF). The group advocates for the greatest protections of Kentucky’s public lands, with the twin values of protecting and restoring ecological integrity and a reverence and respect for wild nature as their guiding principles. Through public education, outreach, forest monitoring, and the suite of administrative and legal avenues of public participation and recourse, Kentucky Heartwood continues their tradition of effective advocacy.


There are a couple of ways you can get involved immediately! 
1) You can RSVP for the Virtual Meeting on July 13th at 7 PM for an opportunity to raise your voice in defense of mature and old-growth forests in the eastern US and around the nation! You can visit the link in their instagram bio (@kentuckyheartwood) and RSVP or head to the link in their website! 
2) Make a public comment to the U.S. Forest Service by July 20th to urge the agency to recognize their logging as the primary threat to carbon storage in eastern national forests, and to advocate for the protection of mature and old-growth forests in the fight against climate change. The few remaining old-growth forests provide unmatched natural benefits and beauty, but the U.S. Forest Service continues to target them in timber sales. If the older, most resilient forests’ incredible biodiversity, water-purification power, and boundless opportunities for recreation are not enough to convince you they’re worth protecting, their potential to store and sequester mass amounts of climate-harming carbon should. Please consider making a personal comment or using their premade form and signing!!

As always, thank you so much for listening! We hope that this episode shines some light on some  really major game-changing things that are impacting the forests surrounding us (we’re a hiking podcast, so we know y’all listeners care about them)!! 

But WHAT IF?

It’s a Darren and Rachel Fun-Time Adventure-Time Gorge-Time episode! We’re still covering a back log of RRG trips, and this one features Indian Staircase Bypass Trail + Indian Staircase Loop + Adena Arch and some high-liners up on Indian Staircase!

Things happening in the Gorge:
*The RRG Farmers Market EVERY Wednesday and Saturday! (Go back a few episodes or follow @rrgfarmersmarket on Instagram to learn more).
*Festival of the Red is coming up THIS WEEKEND (June 22-24)! Follow @festivalofthered on Instagram to learn more!

Hikes featured in this episode:
*Indian Staircase Bypass Trail
*Portions of the Indian Staircase Loop Trail

Stay safe and hydrated this summer season! 😀

We’re Here To See The “Gorge-y” Thing with Powell County Tourism!


This episode of Tread the Red features two very special guests from Powell County Tourism, Pete and Rita! It was so much fun to get to sit down and chat with both of them all about Powell County Tourism, their home base – The Slade Welcome Center, and just RRG in general. 


Powell County consists of Clay City, Stanton, Bowen, Slade, and several other unofficial towns in the RRG region of Kentucky. It’s also the home of Natural Bridge State Resort Park, the Pilot Knob State Nature Preserve, and the Wild and Scenic Red River (AKA soooo much goodness)!


It was really fun to get to talk with Rita and Pete and find out more about what all the area has to offer – spoiler alert – it’s not just hiking and climbing. 😉 We also get a little insight into some of the different kinds of conversations that come up when working at the Slade Welcome Center, some tidbits of Gorge history, and we wrap it all up with personal connections with the Gorge area and its community. 


Stop in and say hey to Pete & Rita next time you’re in the RRG! You can find the Slade Welcome Center right off the Mountain Parkway Slade exit 33 at 30 L & E Railroad Place. They are open Monday-Saturday from 9AM-5PM and Sunday 9AM-3PM. Check out their website at GOPOCO.ORG to find more information about the area including maps and an events calendar! You can also visit their social media pages on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date (Facebook: Powell County Tourism Commission – Natural Bridge/Red River Gorge KY, Instagram: @gopowelltourism). Thanks for listening to Tread the Red – The Red River Gorge Podcast! 

Moss Girl Summer


It’s a Darren-Rachel Fun-Time Adventure-Time Gorge-Time episode! Welcome to Tread the Red, a podcast all about the Red River Gorge (but also about other things too). 


First things first – Tread the Red is *unofficially* sponsored by The Hive through the month of June, which means you all can use the code TREADTHERED to get 15% any stay at The Hive this month! We’ve talked about The Hive several times on the pod now, and we’ve even got Josh (the owner and mastermind…or should we say…wizard) on his own episode (search “Hoods Up” if you wanna listen)! Not only is The Hive such a cool place to stay (glamping tents and cabins and a literal stage and outdoor bar etc. that you get to enjoy), but Josh is constantly supporting the Gorge community! 


In this episode we cover: 
*The time my sister, Kate, and I scheduled a photoshoot at The Hive with Lila (www.LilaCalliePhotography.com)…and not just any photoshoot, but a recreation of the Masterminds photoshoot scene (aka AWKWARD/hilarious photos). We also did a couple shortie but goodie hikes: Rock Bridge Trail and Princess Arch Trail! I highly recommend both of these trails if A)You don’t have a whole lot of time to spend but want to see some really cool stuff, B)It’s your first time visiting the Gorge, or C)You or someone you’re hiking with aren’t “avid” hikers and you want to keep things mostly chill! 


*Our stay and adventuring around Dappled Light Adventures! A super cool 50 acre property real close to RRG (I want to say about 15-20 minutes from Hops)! They’ve got glamping tents and cabins and trails on their property that you are free to explore if you stay there. We stayed in The Cabin (with Pippin) and had an awesome time! One of the owners, Izaac, also took the time to meet with us and show us around the property as well. We checked out the waterfall area, and the overhang rock wall area and it was all very serene and super cool to see! We definitely want to go back. Stay tuned because we are hopefully going to record an episode with them sometime this summer or fall!! 


*A group hike with Instagram friends! We met up with Billy (@billy.hikes), his wife Lindzey (@lyarosh23), Marcia (@marcialynn007), LeighAnne (@wandernotlost), and her husband David (@davidturnr) (+Mollie and Pippin!!) for a group hike to Veranda Overlook and Hanson’s Point! We took a loop trail: Pinch-em-Tight to Rush Ridge..hike the entirety of Rush Ridge and then turn right on Rough Trail…very quick branch off of Rough Trail to visit Veranda Overlook and then back track back to Rough Trail and continue on Rough Trail for awhile until reaching the turn-off to Hanson’s Point…hike to Hanson’s Point and back to Rough Trail…continue on Rough Trail until intersecting with Pinch-em-Tight and then going right all the way back to the parking lot! I believe this loop is about 7-7.5 miles, so it’s a really good *more hefty* day hike with lots to see!! I highly recommend! Just make sure you bring PLENTY of water if you do this one during the summer months!!! (And like, all the time, but especially during the summer). *STAY HYDRATED Y’ALL* 


*A little update: Rachel has artwork displayed in the new art gallery, RRG Earth Shop, in the Gorge! There are also many other talented artists/photographers with work displayed there, so you should definitely check it out when you’re in the area. It is owned by a local artist, Ingrid, who we’ve talked about on the pod before, and are hopefully going to get to record with her at some point!! 


Anyway, we somehow still didn’t get through the back log of notes I have on hikes we’ve done this spring, so you’ll have to wait until next time! Thanks again for listening and we hope you get out to enjoy the nice bright & sunny days!! 

Eat the Rainbow! With the RRG Farmers Market Co-Founders!


Are you all ready for episode 2.0 with the RRG Farmers Market?! Exciting news is in store for the Market’s 3RD SEASON!! This week’s episode features special guests, Jann, Kevin, (and Aster), to talk about all things Red River Gorge Farmer’s Market.
Darren and Rachel recorded with Jann and Kevin a few years ago before the market’s first opening season, and it was so cool to get to sit back down and chat about how far the market has come since then, and where it is going. 

Some cool new things for this season:
First and foremost, the market has expanded to offer 2 market days per week! Wednesday markets are held at the Slade Welcome Center (the same place they have been in years past) and is 5-7PM. Saturday markets are now being held at Natural Bridge State Resort Park in the Skylift parking area from 10AM-2PM! There are returning vendors and new faces and we are excited for all of it. 
There are also several cool programs kicking off this season, including Kids Carrot Cash! Kids that are visiting the market will be given “Carrot Cash” vouchers that they can then use as money to spend with the local farmers. Other programs that are coming are a Walking Program with market vouchers, and a pilot program with USDA called VegU where there will be 10-minute educational sessions to learn all about a certain fruit or vegetable. The RRG Farmers Market was 1 in 3 markets across the entire country to be picked for this program, so that is a big deal!! 

To learn more about all of the awesome programs happening and to find general information about the RRG Farmers Market, you can visit their website rrgfm.com. 
To donate to the market, you can hit the donate link on their website home page, or follow this direct link here! 
To stay up to date on everything happening and get information on what vendors to expect on each market day, be sure to follow their socials! Instagram @rrgfarmersmarket and Facebook Red River Gorge Farmers Market.

Psst – Darren and Rachel (and Pippin) will be set up at the Memorial Day Weekend Market on Saturday May 27th! Come say hi! 

Connections: Featuring Jen & Jordan of RRG Experiences

A long-awaited episode of Tread the Red featuring special guests, Jen Meunier & Jordan Byrnes, of Red River Gorge Experiences!!
Meet JEN (Founder, Guide, and Experience Facilitator of RRG Experiences): With her Appalachian roots (specifically eastern Kentucky and western Pennsylvania), Jen immediately fell in love with the Red River Gorge of Kentucky more than 15 years ago. Jen’s outdoor recreation experience began with her rural upbringing and family members who worked for the US Forest Service who taught her trail navigation at an early age. She has honed those skills along with environmental education, leave no trace training ethics, team building facilitation, event planning and hospitality management. The rich biodiversity of the plants and animals, the sandstone arches and cliffs, the waterways and the wonderful people who are the fabric of the Red River Gorge community is what make Kentucky home for Jen. Her desire to share the beauty and opportunities in the outdoors with others through inclusive and engaging experiences was the catalyst for the launch of Red River Gorge Experiences.
Meet JORDAN (Guide & Experience Facilitator of RRG Experiences): Jordan was born and raised in Kentucky. He has been visiting Red River Gorge for 25 years and living there for the last 8 years. He loves Kentucky so much he thru-hiked the 343 mile Sheltowee Trace National Recreation Trail twice! He also has experience hiking and backpacking countless other trails in Kentucky and all over the world! He brings a rich variety of experience to RRG Experiences including: working as a wilderness therapy guide, leading geology hikes, teaching backpacking and bushcraft lessons, teaching at the Red Oaks Forest School, and more!
RRG Experiences also is comprised of 2 other guides/experience facilitators, Sherry and Liana (maybe we’ll get to have them on a future episode of the pod!)

Red River Gorge Experiences is a woman owned hiking guide and trip planning service committed to getting all people outdoors. Whether through a guided hike away from the crowds, or their trip planning service to help you maximize your time in Kentucky’s Red River Gorge, they are here for you!
They specialize in guided hikes for individuals and small groups to experience transformative moments in nature and cultivate a sense of place and belonging in the outdoors. Their guided hikes are led on private property and in nature preserves in the Red River Gorge region.

Interested in booking a trip with RRG Experiences?
Check out their website, rrgexperiences.com, contact them by email at rrgexperiences@gmail.com, or by phone at (859)379-8328!

Surf Man Miguel

Another Darren & Rachel Fun-Time Adventure-Time Gorge-Time episode! We’re sorry we’ve been so sporadic in recording and uploading new podcast episodes for y’all lately – we are in a transitional period of our lives and finding good spots to record has been a struggle! BUT – we have a good one for you this time! We talk about an arch that has never been featured on the podcast yet – Rango Arch!!

Overall, we briefly talk about Powder Mill Branch Trail to Blackburn Rock Overlook (including Powder Mill and Wolf Pen Arches), and then our hike to Rango Arch! We have a backlog of stuff to talk about, so as soon as we can record again, we’ve got more. 😉

Things happening!
April 15th – RIAD (Red in a Day)
April 21-22 – 2023 Herpetology Weekend! Woohoo!!

We are coming up on the opening weekend of the Red River Gorge Farmers Market as well! All things good happening here in the Red. 😀

Surprise!! A Tread the Red Compilation

YOU ALL. Darren SURPRISED me with this episode he recorded/compiled on his own for my 31st birthday! He said he wanted to both make something that was just a mix of a bunch of our random funny side conversations, but also as a way to show how far Tread the Red has come over the years. I can’t even imagine the time it took to listen through previous episodes and pull out all of these conversations – it was the best gift ever!!
Even though this is not our “usual” episode, I still wanted to share it because I thought some of ya’ll might get a kick out of it too (and if you are new here, this is a good preview of the chaotic mess that is Tread the Red) 😉

Follow us for Red River Gorge information and hiking inspiration! Instagram and TikTok @tread_the_red, or check out the website, TreadTheRed.com. You can visit my shop on there and keep an eye out for new shirt preorders that are in the works!

Thank you for listening and please subscribe, rate, and review if you listen and like the podcast! ❤

Guest Feature: Red Oaks Forest School

Hi and welcome to Tread the Red – a Red River Gorge Podcast! This episode features a very special guest – Tina Brouwer, Director of Red Oaks Forest School!
You can listen to learn all about Red Oaks, all that they are doing, and how you can get involved! Their mission is “…to foster a deep and lasting connection to nature and community through exploration, education, and play.” Be sure to check out their website (linked above) and you can also check them out on Instagram @redoaks_explorers and Facebook at Red Oaks Forest School.
Also, consider signing up to participate in their Zugunruhe event that invites everyone “to listen to their personal inner stirring and make a commitment to spend time in nature this spring by going on their own journey.” Registration is open and the event kicks off on the Vernal Equinox on March 20th!
You can donate to support their organization through their website! I will also be hosting a fundraiser on my Instagram for Red Oaks during the remainder of March!

Thank you so much for listening and hope everyone gets to plan some outdoors time for yourself! ⍋⋆