SAD. I went up there many times. But no more, all the good trails you could get out and drive down are gone. Just plain SAD. Kinda glad I live in Florida now.
It breaks my heart to see this. As a dedicated off roader it really tears me up when I see the Forest Service stepping in and closing routes like this. They are in the process of doing essentially the same thing to the Tellico trail system in western NC. It amazes me that they always claimed to not have enough money to maintain the trails, but they sure can find money to destroy them. It really disturbs me that my son will never get the chance to enjoy these trails as I have over the years
Yes, RoughshodBronco, it broke my heart too when this road was so rudely closed. I first drove it in the mid '70's and have many wonderful memories from many journeys down this special and unique road.
One by one our freedoms are being taken away in this country - mainly by unelected bureaucrats and judges. If you want the rights to your public property preserved for your son and his sons, it's time to join with others and start taking back the turf.
Leave it to the govt. to do more harm than good! If they just used all that time and money to repair the road things would be much better. I'm a disabled vet. that use to love driving my old jeep through there. But not now there is no way I could ever see the views again unless its on a picture.
DWDtrain: When Natural Bridge Cave was gated, we pointed out that those responsible for its closing did not care about the needs of the elderly or the disabled. When we discovered how Narrows Road had been so rudely closed, we made the same statement again. It's not right that the Road (or what's left of it) can now be enjoyed only by those who are physically fit. With the help of folks like you, we intend to get it open again, just as we intend to get Natural Bridge Cave reopened too.
and oil drilling was somehow over looked? that pretty much rapes the land, i dont think oil companies were thinking about the future of their environmental impact
If it is to remain closed it should be voted on. However, blaming the damage done on the vehicles only isn't fair. As an avid off road enthusiast, I DO agree with you. The typical off roader loves the mud holes. However ,there are many of us who Tread Lightly and educate others on the proper ways to enjoy the environment without causing damage. Local business I'm sure would like to see our debit cards again, but the trails need to be policed (and we'd be happy to help).
I too do not want to allow ATVs, Dirt Bikes, or Rock Crawlers anywhere in our parks but the total destruction of the Narrows Road was insane. If a strip mine operator walked off and left a mess like the one that was created here somebody would be going to jail and fines would be paying to make the repairs. The point is NO ONE IS ASKING WE THE PEOPLE!!! Big Brother is telling us what is best for us. I take that back theyre not telling us they are just doing what they want.
Some of the tax paying public will want to see it stay closed, some will want it reopened, thats not the point here. How roads, trails and even whole areas are closed is. A Park Manager with ties to the Chipmunks Have Rights Too activist may soon choose to close the whole park and no one can stop him. If he wants to create an environmental disaster by running bulldozers down each trail to plow it up he can and has to tell no one.
There is suppose to be checks and balances to all offices of government, where is the environmental impact report and the environmental engineers plan for how the Narrows Road was to be dug up and plowed under? I cant find one. After seeing the trenches, ditches, and what appear to be large bomb craters and all the erosion that is now taking place all along the road I can not believe any engineer was stupid enough to sign off on such a plan.
MrForestlover: You may be correct about no environmental studies being done, but the U.S. Forest Service (the agency which actually dug the trenches) did have an archeological study done (by a highly respected archeologist). Nothing significant was found, so they started the destruction. Your description of their work as "bomb craters" is right on the money!!!
As an avid off road enthusiast, I agree with you to a certain extent. However, there is a large group of off roaders who Tread Lightly and continue to educate people on how to enjoy these areas without destroying them. I'm sure the economy in that area would like to see our debit cards again and I would like to see the trails policed to keep people from doing damage (and would be happy to help).
Keeping it closed prevents anyone from enjoying the area.
I love how the off road community gets blamed. As the owner of an off road club based in Lexington, we camped in that area every weekend we could. We kept people off the climbs that they weren't supposed to be on and packed out WAY more trash than we packed in. Spent thousands of dollars in the area to boost the community, and have to sit back and watch it being shut down one trail at a time.
patrickdotson: Certain store owners in the Slade area have said that the loss of the annual Jeep Jamboree constituted the biggest financial hit they ever took. I suspect that this is why some are no longer in business.
Another thing is also clear. We can play the 'blame game" until the cows come home and all that will do is divide and conquer those of us who are responsible, legitimate members of ALL user groups. Education, enforcement, peer pressure from within all groups keeps the bad apples in check better than anything done to this point. Pointing fingers in a broad generalized manner is insulting and will only alienate folks who always used the area responsibly whether on 2 feet, 4 feet, or tires.
Well said. We can't leave it up to government officials to protect public land. They almost always take the easy way out and limit or deny public access.
I believe that. While a weekend out of town to go camping down there only cost me about $150, there were usually 10-20 of us going. We'd wait until we got there to buy fuel for our Jeeps and tow rigs, food, etc because we wanted to boost the economy as a way of saying thanks.
We can debate the original damage to the area all day. The facts are too much human impact on a small area always has a negative affect, but is usually unintentional. One thing however is clear, the wanton destruction of this area by government officials was intentional and criminal!
The problem is off-roaders who have destroyed much of this irreplaceable arch. The only way land managers could keep the arch from being forever destroyed was to make such giant pits in the road. I'm sure some off-roaders believe in "tread lightly," but the sad fact is that most don't give a damn about soil, water, wildlife, or irreplaceable geological features. If you want to lay blame, blame the off-road crowd.
gnalredliriodendron: My vid places the PRIMARY blame for the Road's demise on off-roaders. The government's action was simply the last and worst damage. And their environmentally-damaging barriers only stop lesser vehicles. Rock crawlers can cross them with no problem! One of my tenants builds such machines. He said that to drive across the biggest barrier (and the guard rail beside it) would take less than 3 minutes! These folks no longer drive the road simply because of respect for the law.
gnalredliriodendron: Good news! The arch has NOT been irreplaceably damaged. I was on top of it yesterday and it looked much like it would have looked a hundred years ago. The primary damage off-roaders did to it was to erode the dirt-bed which was placed on it long ago, so that ordinary cars could drive over it. Because of weathering and rubber tires, most of this fill dirt is gone and much bare rock has been exposed. It is not possible for motor vehicles to destroy this beautiful arch.
@iloveheartyloaf there is a difference between sharing a resource and degrading a resource. It doesn't really matter who is doing it or why. But when you degrade something you are taking something away. That's why "tread lightly" is such an important practice. There can be places for off-roaders, but when people run up and down the creek (as they do in Sand Lick Fork) and cause ongoing sedimentation and aquatic damage it is taking from all Kentuckians. That's not sharing a resource.
@gnalredliriodendron I agree with you 100%. But, It is not fair when people exacerbate the effects of offroading, yet neglect to understnd the effects that they cause to the environment. Us offroaders love nature, and scenery that's why we offroad and ride. Our sole intent is not to destroy land or cause harm to anything. There's nothing like cutting back from life and hitting the trails and cruzing. It is even more unfair when people cast the irresponsible riders, with ones who are responsible.
@gnalredliriodendron People from every type of recreation can and do leave trash, and do cause harm. Offroading is a recreation. I do not like the way some people can destroy someone elses freedom and enjoyment to ride, because they simply do not like the sport themselves. Every recreation should have equal rights.
What is it hurting to put a bolt in a rock. The problem is that someone else said it was bad. Someone did"nt get to make money off the rock climber so its a bad thing now. Let the people alone and let them enjoy the parks. Let us ride the horses,hike the trails,bike ride and rock climb. Its the tax payer that keeps the rangers a job not the Government. Another example of someone that made a decision that could affect someone else. I feel sorry for the younger generation.
To continue my message below, the tragedy is that now there are no users in there who do adhere to TREAD Lightly and who report abusers. There is no group like the Jeep Jamboree who hauled out dozens of bags of trash every Spring. Only the bushwackers and litterbugs are left. Because the closure was done in a way that was clearly NOT with concern for the environment it has become a joke with the very abusers the Park wanted to stop. Who are the winners in this? Certainly not the Arch.
I have intimate knowledge of this whole "power play" by NBSP supervisors. I coordinated the Jeep Jamboree in that area and I rode it with the Clark Co Saddle Club. We used TREAD Lightly practices.
The Powell Co Judge Exec had no funds to maintain it (really a county road) and Sun Oil got little help from USFS in policing it (no funds) so the NBSP Superintendent basically blasted rock and dirt to "show us all" he could stop the "abusers". Is it healed now? Of course not. SAD.
Shame on the rock climbers for bolting, shame on the off-roaders for all that damage. Yes, what the gov't did was sad, but we need to act more resonsibly then that. If we can't be self-poicing, then we'll be policed.
It never ceases to amaze me that the people we pay to maintain and care for our parks, etc. come to believe that it is THEIRS and therefore do not want anyone but themselves allowed on the land. I have run into this in almost every public land I have ever visited. This video is so discouraging but I must say that I am not surprised.
Its the Government telling the tax payer what is best for us. I agree that we need to preserve nature but if its up to every tree hugger and the Government we would"nt be able to walk on trails outside of were they tell you to. Come on ,walking off a trail is"nt killing the forest. We own the parks and should be able to enjoy every inch of it.
Unfortunately the area near Star Gap Arch is actually a private inholding and does not belong to the land agencies. The government agencies cannot control that area.
We need public input on all land use decisions in Kentucky, and then we the users need to follow this up with good behavior to keep our natural resources from being trashed. We need to work together for both the first part and the second -- all those who want to spend time in Kentucky's beautiful outdoors... and leave something for the next generaton.
If night after night you keep getting robbed and you finally say enough is enough so you set a trap for the thief, lets say dig a big hole, and this thief falls and gets hurt, who goes to jail and then gets sued for damages? You do, it the law. Now that someone has dug traps and put in place dangerous environments with the intent to do damage who is liable? The person that ordered it done? The ones that did it? The one that allowed it to be done? The ones that did nothing to stop it?
Its just my opinion but it seems to me the State Park did as much damage to the environment and echo system as the oil companies and even more than all the jeepers have ever done. I wonder how many of their own rules and state laws did they break? Is it now my duty to turn them in? I wonder if they did an environmental impact study before they brought in the bulldozers? How did they get round state and federal laws?
When did we decide that to save the environment you must damage it? Using this line of logic maybe we should take our flamethrowers and melt the polar ice caps. Sounds stupid but thats whats happed here. To keep someone from digging up this small part of the environment lets dig it up first and do it bigger! I hope this line of logic never gets into healthcare.
If some areas are in need of extreme protection it should be WE THE PEOPLE that decide not a self serving government employee thats just trying to make their job easier. We are loosing more and more of our rights every time some high ranking official says I know whats best for you. How are we ever going to clean up the mess left by the oil companies now that the road is not just closed but damaged beyond belief by the same people that are suppose to be serving WE THE PEOPLE.
If you have ever gone to a gas station and purchased a gallon of gasoline then you have paid taxes that are suppose to go towards the maintenance of our state and county roads. The County Judge Executive usually makes the decision as to what roads get the money. Cant help but wonder if he was informed of the state parks decision to close the road. I consider myself a Tree Hugger I love being in the forest. I want my children and grandchildren to see the natural wonders KY has to offer.
I think the big question here is not Why was the road closed BUT How was it closed with absolutely no input from the taxpaying citizens that have paid to keep it opened? What will be closed next? Squirrels breed in the open forest maybe we'll be locked out of the all wooded areas. Park rangers arent the only ones that appreciate nature but we the tax paying public are the only ones being locked out.
Thank you for posting your comment! One clarification: We have no evidence that public money was used to maintain the Road in the last couple of decades. Before that we don't know who actually paid the bills. We do know that before maintainance was halted, county-owned equipment was used to smooth and grade it. And we certainly do know that our tax dollars were used to close it!
Anyone who disagrees with my comments feel free to find my home page I will tell you who I am and how much I don't give a damn to defend respectful off roaders, it has brought many stressfree weekends to me and my family throughout my life. "DESTRUCTION BY RUBBER TIRES AND ADVENTEROUS DRIVERS" WHEN I HEAR PEOPLE LIKE THIS GUY IT MAKES MY SKIN CRAWL.
continued... Anyone who has been riding up there recently can tell you that nothing much has changed as far as new trails there has always been blazer,carb,widomaker, little widomaker upper lower staircase, last chance, holiday hill, moonshine, trust me I know my way around up there and can tell you that I have picked up plenty of beer cans up there but the off roaders are not the people to point the finger at there is nothing that pisses me off more than everyone blaming it on off roaders.
In the mid 1970's, when I first started driving the Narrows and other dirt roads, they were in vastly better condition than now. I know because I drove them in a Toytota Corona! Few people had 4WD or buggies in those days. Most of the hillside erosion and short trails seen now was done in the last 15 years or so. The baddest mud hole on the Narrows Road was dug by one of my best friends and his Jeep buddies. He now regrets what his fun has done!
I have lived in Clay City just down the road from here since I was born I have been fourwheeling here since I have been 8, on atvs, trucks, and dune buggies. I have never while I have been up there done excessive damage to the area cause the rumor of this happing has been around for years nobody I ride with is nothing but respectful. All of this whining this guy is doing about off roaders running amuk is bullshit compared to the tree huggers camping drinking and leaving there trash WHINE ASS.
It's a shame that this beautiful area has been closed to the public for foot travel and horseback riding. Too bad it hasn't been kept up for such activity.....we're not all criminals and vandals......there are a lot of us out there that appreciate and will take care of such areas.
Not long ago I walked the Narrows Road, there is no way I would ride a horse on the road now (unless I hated the horse) and if you think you can ride a bike on it youll probably end up carrying it as much as you ride. The impact craters the State Park dug are insanely big. There is no way any one with any mobility impairments can enjoy the Narrows Bridge anymore. If you are overweight, have small children or just an old guy like me go to another park, this will not be a fun hike.
As a responsible Jeep enthusiast, this disturbs me. I enjoy being able to go places with my Jeep that other people cannot. However, I do so responsibly. I stay on marked trails and bypasses and I pick up after myself. There is no reason the Narrows should have been closed. The scenery is beautiful and above all, it belongs to me just as much as it belongs to everyone else in this state.
I grew up next to the narrows and have traveled that road all of my life. Its one one the best places in the world to see. I would love for my boys to be allowed to travel the same road. I am a off roader and the arch has not changed in my live time. The road did get a few more mud holes but that could have been fixed. The goverment did more damage with what they did than the poeple ever did. We always had clean up rides to pick up trash. It was not uncommon to meet people from all over the usa.
Yes years ago the jeeps and atvs dug mud holes and left trash.But there were lots of clean up rides that cleaned up after some,mud holes were nothing like what the state did with the big ass holes they dug.we could not have done that in 1000 years.
And all the money that has been lost by running everyone off.The hotel and campgrounds and gas station used to be packed!!! It looks like a gost town now!!
Makes me wonder just who are they trying to keep out and what are they trying to hide. Is there some environmental disaster the park managers are trying to cover up? I can understand trying to keep the Rock Crawlers and Off Roader from chewing the place up but what it looks like they are trying to do is evict and prohibit everyone from trespassing in the area so they wont have to clean up tons of junk and trash left behind by the oil companies. What will be next?
It is an outcry that this road and nature trail was closed in the first place. As a tax payer in KY, for years I have enjoyed this area and now learn that without so much as a vote or even a reason this area was taken from me. The cave at Natural Bridge was my first cave to explore and it was my childrens first cave also. I was looking forward to my granddaughter and grandson ages 4and 1 having their first cave exploration in this cave also. Hopefully this will be reversed and restored.
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
that is an ugly scar, that jeep road. lets hope it grows over with bushes and some of the 750 varities of flowers in the area real soon! kentucky only has a tiny amount of wilderness, and they need a whole lot more..
Yes, nature will eventually erase all evidence of human activity. But for centuries, deers and other animals will still be in danger from the tangles of steel cables and sharp, rusting metal objects which remain in this nature preserve. The same backhoes and dump trucks which brought in the boulders and guard rails used to block the road could easily have carried out the worst of this trash - but that was not done. Some of us question if this is proper management of our beautiful public land?
SAD. I went up there many times. But no more, all the good trails you could get out and drive down are gone. Just plain SAD. Kinda glad I live in Florida now.
johninloveindaytona 1 month ago
Comment removed
TheFreeVoiceover 1 year ago
It breaks my heart to see this. As a dedicated off roader it really tears me up when I see the Forest Service stepping in and closing routes like this. They are in the process of doing essentially the same thing to the Tellico trail system in western NC. It amazes me that they always claimed to not have enough money to maintain the trails, but they sure can find money to destroy them. It really disturbs me that my son will never get the chance to enjoy these trails as I have over the years
RoughshodBronco 1 year ago
Yes, RoughshodBronco, it broke my heart too when this road was so rudely closed. I first drove it in the mid '70's and have many wonderful memories from many journeys down this special and unique road.
One by one our freedoms are being taken away in this country - mainly by unelected bureaucrats and judges. If you want the rights to your public property preserved for your son and his sons, it's time to join with others and start taking back the turf.
SPELEOGUY 1 year ago
Leave it to the govt. to do more harm than good! If they just used all that time and money to repair the road things would be much better. I'm a disabled vet. that use to love driving my old jeep through there. But not now there is no way I could ever see the views again unless its on a picture.
DWDtrain 1 year ago
DWDtrain: When Natural Bridge Cave was gated, we pointed out that those responsible for its closing did not care about the needs of the elderly or the disabled. When we discovered how Narrows Road had been so rudely closed, we made the same statement again. It's not right that the Road (or what's left of it) can now be enjoyed only by those who are physically fit. With the help of folks like you, we intend to get it open again, just as we intend to get Natural Bridge Cave reopened too.
SPELEOGUY 1 year ago
and oil drilling was somehow over looked? that pretty much rapes the land, i dont think oil companies were thinking about the future of their environmental impact
Its our land, our day ,lets enjoy it
bmx301 1 year ago
If it is to remain closed it should be voted on. However, blaming the damage done on the vehicles only isn't fair. As an avid off road enthusiast, I DO agree with you. The typical off roader loves the mud holes. However ,there are many of us who Tread Lightly and educate others on the proper ways to enjoy the environment without causing damage. Local business I'm sure would like to see our debit cards again, but the trails need to be policed (and we'd be happy to help).
patrickdotson 1 year ago
I too do not want to allow ATVs, Dirt Bikes, or Rock Crawlers anywhere in our parks but the total destruction of the Narrows Road was insane. If a strip mine operator walked off and left a mess like the one that was created here somebody would be going to jail and fines would be paying to make the repairs. The point is NO ONE IS ASKING WE THE PEOPLE!!! Big Brother is telling us what is best for us. I take that back theyre not telling us they are just doing what they want.
MrForestlover 1 year ago
Some of the tax paying public will want to see it stay closed, some will want it reopened, thats not the point here. How roads, trails and even whole areas are closed is. A Park Manager with ties to the Chipmunks Have Rights Too activist may soon choose to close the whole park and no one can stop him. If he wants to create an environmental disaster by running bulldozers down each trail to plow it up he can and has to tell no one.
MrForestlover 1 year ago
There is suppose to be checks and balances to all offices of government, where is the environmental impact report and the environmental engineers plan for how the Narrows Road was to be dug up and plowed under? I cant find one. After seeing the trenches, ditches, and what appear to be large bomb craters and all the erosion that is now taking place all along the road I can not believe any engineer was stupid enough to sign off on such a plan.
MrForestlover 1 year ago
MrForestlover: You may be correct about no environmental studies being done, but the U.S. Forest Service (the agency which actually dug the trenches) did have an archeological study done (by a highly respected archeologist). Nothing significant was found, so they started the destruction. Your description of their work as "bomb craters" is right on the money!!!
SPELEOGUY 1 year ago
Let's keep it closed. The damage done by vehicles would be repeated all over again if they are allowed in.
Geezers2008 1 year ago
As an avid off road enthusiast, I agree with you to a certain extent. However, there is a large group of off roaders who Tread Lightly and continue to educate people on how to enjoy these areas without destroying them. I'm sure the economy in that area would like to see our debit cards again and I would like to see the trails policed to keep people from doing damage (and would be happy to help).
Keeping it closed prevents anyone from enjoying the area.
patrickdotson 1 year ago
I love how the off road community gets blamed. As the owner of an off road club based in Lexington, we camped in that area every weekend we could. We kept people off the climbs that they weren't supposed to be on and packed out WAY more trash than we packed in. Spent thousands of dollars in the area to boost the community, and have to sit back and watch it being shut down one trail at a time.
patrickdotson 1 year ago
patrickdotson: Certain store owners in the Slade area have said that the loss of the annual Jeep Jamboree constituted the biggest financial hit they ever took. I suspect that this is why some are no longer in business.
SPELEOGUY 1 year ago
Another thing is also clear. We can play the 'blame game" until the cows come home and all that will do is divide and conquer those of us who are responsible, legitimate members of ALL user groups. Education, enforcement, peer pressure from within all groups keeps the bad apples in check better than anything done to this point. Pointing fingers in a broad generalized manner is insulting and will only alienate folks who always used the area responsibly whether on 2 feet, 4 feet, or tires.
mht391 2 years ago 3
Well said. We can't leave it up to government officials to protect public land. They almost always take the easy way out and limit or deny public access.
msueagleky 2 years ago
Amen!
SPELEOGUY 2 years ago
I believe that. While a weekend out of town to go camping down there only cost me about $150, there were usually 10-20 of us going. We'd wait until we got there to buy fuel for our Jeeps and tow rigs, food, etc because we wanted to boost the economy as a way of saying thanks.
patrickdotson 1 year ago
We can debate the original damage to the area all day. The facts are too much human impact on a small area always has a negative affect, but is usually unintentional. One thing however is clear, the wanton destruction of this area by government officials was intentional and criminal!
msueagleky 2 years ago 2
The problem is off-roaders who have destroyed much of this irreplaceable arch. The only way land managers could keep the arch from being forever destroyed was to make such giant pits in the road. I'm sure some off-roaders believe in "tread lightly," but the sad fact is that most don't give a damn about soil, water, wildlife, or irreplaceable geological features. If you want to lay blame, blame the off-road crowd.
gnalredliriodendron 2 years ago 3
gnalredliriodendron: My vid places the PRIMARY blame for the Road's demise on off-roaders. The government's action was simply the last and worst damage. And their environmentally-damaging barriers only stop lesser vehicles. Rock crawlers can cross them with no problem! One of my tenants builds such machines. He said that to drive across the biggest barrier (and the guard rail beside it) would take less than 3 minutes! These folks no longer drive the road simply because of respect for the law.
SPELEOGUY 2 years ago
gnalredliriodendron: Good news! The arch has NOT been irreplaceably damaged. I was on top of it yesterday and it looked much like it would have looked a hundred years ago. The primary damage off-roaders did to it was to erode the dirt-bed which was placed on it long ago, so that ordinary cars could drive over it. Because of weathering and rubber tires, most of this fill dirt is gone and much bare rock has been exposed. It is not possible for motor vehicles to destroy this beautiful arch.
SPELEOGUY 2 years ago
@gnalredliriodendron any way you look at it off roaders have rihts to the land too.
iloveheartyloaf 1 year ago
@iloveheartyloaf there is a difference between sharing a resource and degrading a resource. It doesn't really matter who is doing it or why. But when you degrade something you are taking something away. That's why "tread lightly" is such an important practice. There can be places for off-roaders, but when people run up and down the creek (as they do in Sand Lick Fork) and cause ongoing sedimentation and aquatic damage it is taking from all Kentuckians. That's not sharing a resource.
gnalredliriodendron 1 year ago
@gnalredliriodendron I agree with you 100%. But, It is not fair when people exacerbate the effects of offroading, yet neglect to understnd the effects that they cause to the environment. Us offroaders love nature, and scenery that's why we offroad and ride. Our sole intent is not to destroy land or cause harm to anything. There's nothing like cutting back from life and hitting the trails and cruzing. It is even more unfair when people cast the irresponsible riders, with ones who are responsible.
iloveheartyloaf 1 year ago
@gnalredliriodendron People from every type of recreation can and do leave trash, and do cause harm. Offroading is a recreation. I do not like the way some people can destroy someone elses freedom and enjoyment to ride, because they simply do not like the sport themselves. Every recreation should have equal rights.
iloveheartyloaf 1 year ago
What is it hurting to put a bolt in a rock. The problem is that someone else said it was bad. Someone did"nt get to make money off the rock climber so its a bad thing now. Let the people alone and let them enjoy the parks. Let us ride the horses,hike the trails,bike ride and rock climb. Its the tax payer that keeps the rangers a job not the Government. Another example of someone that made a decision that could affect someone else. I feel sorry for the younger generation.
MrQtrhorsefan 2 years ago 2
To continue my message below, the tragedy is that now there are no users in there who do adhere to TREAD Lightly and who report abusers. There is no group like the Jeep Jamboree who hauled out dozens of bags of trash every Spring. Only the bushwackers and litterbugs are left. Because the closure was done in a way that was clearly NOT with concern for the environment it has become a joke with the very abusers the Park wanted to stop. Who are the winners in this? Certainly not the Arch.
mht391 2 years ago
I have intimate knowledge of this whole "power play" by NBSP supervisors. I coordinated the Jeep Jamboree in that area and I rode it with the Clark Co Saddle Club. We used TREAD Lightly practices.
The Powell Co Judge Exec had no funds to maintain it (really a county road) and Sun Oil got little help from USFS in policing it (no funds) so the NBSP Superintendent basically blasted rock and dirt to "show us all" he could stop the "abusers". Is it healed now? Of course not. SAD.
mht391 2 years ago
Shame on the rock climbers for bolting, shame on the off-roaders for all that damage. Yes, what the gov't did was sad, but we need to act more resonsibly then that. If we can't be self-poicing, then we'll be policed.
Laurajeand1 2 years ago
It never ceases to amaze me that the people we pay to maintain and care for our parks, etc. come to believe that it is THEIRS and therefore do not want anyone but themselves allowed on the land. I have run into this in almost every public land I have ever visited. This video is so discouraging but I must say that I am not surprised.
katesmock1 2 years ago 2
Its the Government telling the tax payer what is best for us. I agree that we need to preserve nature but if its up to every tree hugger and the Government we would"nt be able to walk on trails outside of were they tell you to. Come on ,walking off a trail is"nt killing the forest. We own the parks and should be able to enjoy every inch of it.
MrQtrhorsefan 2 years ago 2
Unfortunately the area near Star Gap Arch is actually a private inholding and does not belong to the land agencies. The government agencies cannot control that area.
lanebold 2 years ago
We need public input on all land use decisions in Kentucky, and then we the users need to follow this up with good behavior to keep our natural resources from being trashed. We need to work together for both the first part and the second -- all those who want to spend time in Kentucky's beautiful outdoors... and leave something for the next generaton.
ggrulke 2 years ago 7
If night after night you keep getting robbed and you finally say enough is enough so you set a trap for the thief, lets say dig a big hole, and this thief falls and gets hurt, who goes to jail and then gets sued for damages? You do, it the law. Now that someone has dug traps and put in place dangerous environments with the intent to do damage who is liable? The person that ordered it done? The ones that did it? The one that allowed it to be done? The ones that did nothing to stop it?
MrForestlover 2 years ago
A very well stated and poignant video. Very impressed with the quality and points made. 5 stars, and can't wait to see what other videos you have.
EmeraldAisle 2 years ago 2
Its just my opinion but it seems to me the State Park did as much damage to the environment and echo system as the oil companies and even more than all the jeepers have ever done. I wonder how many of their own rules and state laws did they break? Is it now my duty to turn them in? I wonder if they did an environmental impact study before they brought in the bulldozers? How did they get round state and federal laws?
MrForestlover 2 years ago 4
When did we decide that to save the environment you must damage it? Using this line of logic maybe we should take our flamethrowers and melt the polar ice caps. Sounds stupid but thats whats happed here. To keep someone from digging up this small part of the environment lets dig it up first and do it bigger! I hope this line of logic never gets into healthcare.
MrForestlover 2 years ago 2
If some areas are in need of extreme protection it should be WE THE PEOPLE that decide not a self serving government employee thats just trying to make their job easier. We are loosing more and more of our rights every time some high ranking official says I know whats best for you. How are we ever going to clean up the mess left by the oil companies now that the road is not just closed but damaged beyond belief by the same people that are suppose to be serving WE THE PEOPLE.
Working4who 2 years ago 6
Amen!!!
SPELEOGUY 2 years ago
If you have ever gone to a gas station and purchased a gallon of gasoline then you have paid taxes that are suppose to go towards the maintenance of our state and county roads. The County Judge Executive usually makes the decision as to what roads get the money. Cant help but wonder if he was informed of the state parks decision to close the road. I consider myself a Tree Hugger I love being in the forest. I want my children and grandchildren to see the natural wonders KY has to offer.
Working4who 2 years ago 2
I think the big question here is not Why was the road closed BUT How was it closed with absolutely no input from the taxpaying citizens that have paid to keep it opened? What will be closed next? Squirrels breed in the open forest maybe we'll be locked out of the all wooded areas. Park rangers arent the only ones that appreciate nature but we the tax paying public are the only ones being locked out.
Working4who 2 years ago 5
Thank you for posting your comment! One clarification: We have no evidence that public money was used to maintain the Road in the last couple of decades. Before that we don't know who actually paid the bills. We do know that before maintainance was halted, county-owned equipment was used to smooth and grade it. And we certainly do know that our tax dollars were used to close it!
SPELEOGUY 2 years ago
Anyone who disagrees with my comments feel free to find my home page I will tell you who I am and how much I don't give a damn to defend respectful off roaders, it has brought many stressfree weekends to me and my family throughout my life. "DESTRUCTION BY RUBBER TIRES AND ADVENTEROUS DRIVERS" WHEN I HEAR PEOPLE LIKE THIS GUY IT MAKES MY SKIN CRAWL.
bafatf06 2 years ago
continued... Anyone who has been riding up there recently can tell you that nothing much has changed as far as new trails there has always been blazer,carb,widomaker, little widomaker upper lower staircase, last chance, holiday hill, moonshine, trust me I know my way around up there and can tell you that I have picked up plenty of beer cans up there but the off roaders are not the people to point the finger at there is nothing that pisses me off more than everyone blaming it on off roaders.
bafatf06 2 years ago
In the mid 1970's, when I first started driving the Narrows and other dirt roads, they were in vastly better condition than now. I know because I drove them in a Toytota Corona! Few people had 4WD or buggies in those days. Most of the hillside erosion and short trails seen now was done in the last 15 years or so. The baddest mud hole on the Narrows Road was dug by one of my best friends and his Jeep buddies. He now regrets what his fun has done!
SPELEOGUY 2 years ago
I have lived in Clay City just down the road from here since I was born I have been fourwheeling here since I have been 8, on atvs, trucks, and dune buggies. I have never while I have been up there done excessive damage to the area cause the rumor of this happing has been around for years nobody I ride with is nothing but respectful. All of this whining this guy is doing about off roaders running amuk is bullshit compared to the tree huggers camping drinking and leaving there trash WHINE ASS.
bafatf06 2 years ago
@bafatf06 they're not really treehuggers if they leave trash, are they? (rhetorical question, no one has to answer)
KingLouis1414 2 years ago 3
It's a shame that this beautiful area has been closed to the public for foot travel and horseback riding. Too bad it hasn't been kept up for such activity.....we're not all criminals and vandals......there are a lot of us out there that appreciate and will take care of such areas.
Megacrazigurl 2 years ago 6
Not long ago I walked the Narrows Road, there is no way I would ride a horse on the road now (unless I hated the horse) and if you think you can ride a bike on it youll probably end up carrying it as much as you ride. The impact craters the State Park dug are insanely big. There is no way any one with any mobility impairments can enjoy the Narrows Bridge anymore. If you are overweight, have small children or just an old guy like me go to another park, this will not be a fun hike.
MrOldgraybear 2 years ago 11
As a responsible Jeep enthusiast, this disturbs me. I enjoy being able to go places with my Jeep that other people cannot. However, I do so responsibly. I stay on marked trails and bypasses and I pick up after myself. There is no reason the Narrows should have been closed. The scenery is beautiful and above all, it belongs to me just as much as it belongs to everyone else in this state.
Ratach 2 years ago 10
I grew up next to the narrows and have traveled that road all of my life. Its one one the best places in the world to see. I would love for my boys to be allowed to travel the same road. I am a off roader and the arch has not changed in my live time. The road did get a few more mud holes but that could have been fixed. The goverment did more damage with what they did than the poeple ever did. We always had clean up rides to pick up trash. It was not uncommon to meet people from all over the usa.
kyhillbilly69 2 years ago 6
Yes years ago the jeeps and atvs dug mud holes and left trash.But there were lots of clean up rides that cleaned up after some,mud holes were nothing like what the state did with the big ass holes they dug.we could not have done that in 1000 years.
And all the money that has been lost by running everyone off.The hotel and campgrounds and gas station used to be packed!!! It looks like a gost town now!!
The state is just running everybody away.
I will just go take my money to Tenessee.
hondafj40 2 years ago 6
Very well put, great video.... 5*****
Plagu3Marine7 2 years ago 3
Makes me wonder just who are they trying to keep out and what are they trying to hide. Is there some environmental disaster the park managers are trying to cover up? I can understand trying to keep the Rock Crawlers and Off Roader from chewing the place up but what it looks like they are trying to do is evict and prohibit everyone from trespassing in the area so they wont have to clean up tons of junk and trash left behind by the oil companies. What will be next?
MrForestlover 2 years ago 5
It is an outcry that this road and nature trail was closed in the first place. As a tax payer in KY, for years I have enjoyed this area and now learn that without so much as a vote or even a reason this area was taken from me. The cave at Natural Bridge was my first cave to explore and it was my childrens first cave also. I was looking forward to my granddaughter and grandson ages 4and 1 having their first cave exploration in this cave also. Hopefully this will be reversed and restored.
Manateediver55 2 years ago 5
This comment has received too many negative votes show
that is an ugly scar, that jeep road. lets hope it grows over with bushes and some of the 750 varities of flowers in the area real soon! kentucky only has a tiny amount of wilderness, and they need a whole lot more..
floydstinkyboy 2 years ago
Yes, nature will eventually erase all evidence of human activity. But for centuries, deers and other animals will still be in danger from the tangles of steel cables and sharp, rusting metal objects which remain in this nature preserve. The same backhoes and dump trucks which brought in the boulders and guard rails used to block the road could easily have carried out the worst of this trash - but that was not done. Some of us question if this is proper management of our beautiful public land?
SPELEOGUY 2 years ago