Peak Freak Designs – RRG Farmers Market Guest Feature

Helloooo and welcome to Tread the Red! A podcast all about the Red River Gorge. This episode is the 3rd installment of our series featuring RRG Farmers Market Vendors and features – Peak Freak Designs!

Cindy is the human behind Peak Freak Designs – she is the owner, creator, and adventurer! Peak Freak Designs are home and beauty inspired by the trail, located in Louisville, KY. When Cindy is not crafting, you can find her out on the trail either hiking, running, backpacking, or rock climbing. She has a deep passion for nature which goes into every item she makes. Cindy pulls inspiration from her time and stories on the trail to create unique, one of a kind soaps, lotions, and knits. She loves creating natural art that you can use in everyday life.

Peak Freak Designs mission is to bring you the best in high quality, hand crafted goods for everyday life inspired by the trail.

How you can find Peak Freak Designs:
Website: www.peakfreakdesigns.com
Instagram: @peak_freak_designs
TikTok: @peakfreakdesigns
Facebook: @peakfreakdesign

ALSO: Peak Freak Designs is offering 25% off for all podcast listeners! You can use the code TREADTHERED25 in the online shop through 8/15/2022.

Happy listening and happy hiking! You can check out Peak Freak Designs at the RRG Farmers Market every Saturday from 10AM-2PM at the Slade Welcome Center. 😀

Dan & Judy Dourson – RRG Farmers Market Guest Feature

Hi and welcome to Tread the Red Podcast – this is a special RRG Farmers Market Guest feature episode featuring biologists/educators/authors (and MORE!) Dan & Judy Dourson!
These two have worked closely within the RRG Region and have so much to share. Everyone who has experienced the Gorge – whether that be as a hiker/climber/or what-have-you…you will connect with this episode that shares some of the wonders of our favorite place – The RRG. We encourage everyone to listen to this episode and to also check out Dan and Judy’s booth at the RRG Farmers Market for some fun educational activities and to look into their published books and everything else they have going on!
You can find their website here: TheRogueBiologist

The RRG Farmers Market is held every Saturday from 10AM-2PM at the Slade Welcome Center. You can check out more information about the market from their website, RRG Farmers Market, or on their instagram @rrgfarmersmarket. Thank you for listening, and we hope you keep an eye out for my RRG Farmers Market Guest Features! 🙂

Huecos

Gorge Geology!! The Gorge is an amazing place and there are so many cool things around every corner! We happened upon these HUGE “huecos” while out hiking along the Rough Trail one day. The path to these is unofficial/unmarked, branching off of the Rough Trail right before some scrambling up some boulders to connect up to Grays Arch Trail. If you want to know more information about the hike/location, listen to the podcast episode “Spice and Tidbits” where we cover this!

The Red River Gorge is predominantly made up of sandstone rocks. Within this sandstone was siderite concretions. The siderite chemically reacted with the components of water and was dissolved over time, leaving behind spherical bodies. These bodies were then rapidly weathered, leaving behind holes! The huge holes you see here are called “huecos”. Pretty neat!

As always, please Leave No Trace when visiting these areas! Do not burn a campfire inside this “hueco”. Do not spray paint inside or around this area! Also, be careful whenever you are using something to climb that was not put there by you. You never know how it was constructed or how long it has been out there exposed to the elements. Thankfully, the ladder we found was in tact and held our weight, but the first step was obviously showing wear. Be safe!

Huge “hueco” seen slightly off of Rough Trail.

Tarr Ridge “Extravaganza” Trail

Tarr Ridge “Extravaganza” Trail – This has become one of my favorite trails in the Gorge! Especially when hiking during the Fall. First things first – this is an Unofficial/Unmarked trail, so there will not be tree blazes to mark your way. The trail itself is pretty obvious from use, but can get overgrown in the warmer months. If you are not familiar with the Gorge area, or are new to hiking, I would not recommend an unmarked trail!
Okay, now to get into it. This trail features 3 prominent (and AMAZING) overlooks. If you hike this trail in combination with Tarr Ridge East Trail, you can make that 4 amazing overlooks. 😉
Overall, this trail is about 4 miles TOTAL out-and-back. If you add in Tarr Ridge East, it is a little over 4 miles. The majority of this trail is “easy” because it is relatively flat, BUT the last 2 overlooks require rock scrambles, with the last one being the biggest challenge. There are sometimes ropes at these scrambles, but don’t count on it. There was only rope the first time I ever hiked this trail a few years ago, and there hasn’t been any since. There are ways to get up to the 2nd to last overlook without rope if you are careful, but the very last overlook requires a taller and steeper scramble with a drop-off on the side, so there is no room for error (I would not attempt this one without rope).
As always, know your limits while out there exploring, and be safe! Know that whatever you climb up, you will have to climb back down (and down is usually harder). Also, please Leave No Trace while you’re out there exploring the beauty of the Gorge! We have unfortunately found abandoned campfires that are still burning, and a few campsite areas littered with beer cans and trash along this trail. Don’t be those people!! If you find a burning campfire that has been abandoned, please put it out.
You can view the video below for general trail guidance and to give you an idea of “what to expect” while you’re out there. The clips in the video are from all different seasons!

Tarr Ridge “Extravaganza” Trail

Spice and Tidbits

Welcome to another Darren & Rachel – Gorge Time – Adventure Time – Fun Time episode! I cannot remember why the episode is named the way it is, but I’m sure you’ll figure it out at some point while listening. Also, this is actually part one of a two-parter! GASP. We talked too much and didn’t get through the whole trail and all the *stories* from that day. Guess y’all will just need to keep an eye out for part two! We won’t make you wait too long. 😀
Anyway, we cover the BEGINNING of a balloon loop trail featuring Rough Trail/Grays Arch Trail/Classic Crag Overlook Trail/Daniel Boone Hut Trail. The noteworthy feature along the part of the hike described in this episode is a huge “hueco” we found of the official trail!
Huecos are “hollows” in the sandstone cliff face that are made when siderite concretions within the sandstone get dissolved with water and leave behind spaces that are eventually weathered out into holes! The bigger holes are called “huecos”! Pretty NEAT.

Trails covered in this episode:
*The portion of Rough Trail from Martins Fork parking area up to where it connects with Grays Arch Trail

Features of Interest:
*Huge Hueco

Stone Gully – RRG Farmers Market Guest Feature

Hi and welcome to Tread the Red Podcast! This episode is the first in a series we are hosting that features RRG Farmers Market Vendors! In this first episode of the series we talk to Kate Stone of Stone Gully.

Stone Gully is a 180-acre natural habitat that allows Kate to craft and farm a small corner. Kate Stone is a nature artist, butterfly enthusiast, shepherdess, dog wrangler, berry fanatic, and flower child. You can find her every Saturday at the Red River Gorge Farmers Market in Slade, Kentucky or at stonegully.com.

We are so excited that we were able to chat with Kate about what she offers at the RRG Farmers Market (what you all can see if you come visit!) and also about her vibrant life!

Thank you for listening to the first episode of the RRG Farmers Market Vendor Series of Tread the Red & we hope you come visit the market!

Happy hiking!

Arches?? Windows??? Portals???? Orifices?????????

So, we are feeling some big CHAOTIC energy and just decided to roll with it and record an episode (and when I say “we”, I mean mostly Rachel). Welcome to Tread the Red Podcast where we debate holes…sandstone holes. Or are they holes? Do the holes have a specific name??? We honestly don’t know anything anymore.

Between all the chaos, here are some things of note in this episode:
* Our first time setting up this season at the RRG Farmers Market (sooooo many cool vendors and wonderful things coming of this! Please visit if you haven’t – every Saturday from 10-2 at the Slade Welcome Center) 😉
* The Hive at High Rock – we revisited and saw Josh’s new glamping set-up and let us tell you – it is a fantasy world!!!
* Angels Windows Trail, but mostly just talking about holes.

Anyway, we hope you all keep listening (sorry not sorry for this episode) and we hope you have got to do some cool hikes recently and have plans for more! 😀

Follow us on Instagram at @tread_the_red and the website TreadTheRed.com

Thank you for listening!!

Just A Lot of the F Word (And I Don’t Mean Forest)

Welcome to Tread the Red! This week we go into some recent Gorge adventures (and misadventures…). A casual PSA: Natural Bridge Campgrounds (Whittleton and Middle Fork) operate under a reservation service, not a first-come-first-serve like Koomer Ridge Campground in the Gorge. Please be aware when planning your trips! 🙂
Trails featured in this episode:
* Sky Bridge Trail
* Rock Bridge Trail

We also talk about our experience with a professional photographer of the Gorge Region, Lila! You can find her website here and follow her on Instagram @lila_calliephotography ! We had an amazing time doing a sunrise hike and overlook photos with her and would highly recommend you contact her for your photography needs!

ALSO: This episode includes a little “extra” feature on our first experience hiking throughout Hocking Hills State Park in Ohio (GASP..I know, not the Gorge, but we thought some of y’all would like to hear about it!)

Also, can’t remember if we mention it on this episode, but Rachel and Darren will be set up at Hops in the RRG on Friday June 3rd from 7-8PM to chat all about trails and the Gorge with whoever decides to stop by! Rachel and Darren will also be set up at the RRG Farmers Market on Saturday June 4th from 10AM-2PM, so make sure to come by and say hi! All of Rachel’s artwork will be on sale along with Tread the Red merchandise. 🙂

Swamp Time Water Balloon Feet

Hi and welcome to Tread the Red Podcast! Where we talk about people, places, and things of the Gorge. 😉
During this episode we talk about the opening day of the RRG Farmers Market for this season and the balloon loop hike we also completed that day. Specifically, we hiked Koomer Ridge Trail > Buck Trail > Pinch-em-Tight Trail > Rough Trail and then back to Koomer Ridge Trail! Rachel has hiked parts of all these trails before except for Buck Trail – this was a first time for that one! Also, this loop trail is a great challenge for anyone who is wanting surreal creek adventures and a longer trail to hike! It tops out right at about 8 miles and definitely has a lot of climbing involved! (Not CLIMBING climbing, but hiking climbing…you know). It also utilizes all marked official trails of the Red River Gorge!
Spoiler Alert, but you may not want to hike this trail if you don’t have waterproof boots/socks, hiking sandals, or are comfy with stripping off your shoes for several creek crossings! 😉 You’ve been warned!

Catch us next time on Tread the Red Podcast, and in the meantime, you can follow along with our Gorge adventures through Instagram & TikTok @tread_the_red and on Rachel’s website, treadthered.com . Rachel also just released a new line of stickers that are all available on her Etsy under “Stickers”! Check them out & happy hiking! Stay weird and pet some moss for us!!!

Trails in this episode:
*Koomer Ridge/Buck Trail/Pinch-em-Tight/Rough Trail Balloon Loop

Serenaded by the Frog Chorus (& a Safety PSA!)

Hi and welcome to Tread the Red!! This week’s episode covers some more serious topics – AKA a creep that is stalking women in the Gorge. I know…it is scary and terrible, and unfortunately, Rachel had a direct experience with him. BUT, we are sharing her story (and other’s stories!) to get the word out in the hopes that it will create a space where more people will be aware of the issue and therefore, be more prepared when heading out for a day of hiking or camping! Head over to Rachel’s Instagram or Tiktok @tread_the_red or her Twitter @TreadTheRed, to see a picture of the stalker’s vehicle & more information. We want everyone aware and to stay safe!!
On a lighter note, we talk about a failed car-camping experience (oops) and some awesome trails! And obviously, Pippin.

Also! The RRG Farmers Market returns this weekend, May 7th from 10AM-2PM! We hope everyone will come out and check it out, because there are going to be a lot of awesome vendors there!

Trails featured in this episode:
* Camera Point Trail
* Douglas Trail
* Tunnel Ridge Road “N”

Thanks for listening! Stay safe, stay weird, and happy hiking!!