A Hike to Help Protect the World's Largest Red Hickory
Saturday, April 2, 2022
11:00 AM
The world's largest known red hickory tree (center) with surrounding trees marked for logging (blue slash marks on trees). The size of this tree must be experienced in person.
Hike with Kentucky Heartwood to see the world’s largest known Red Hickory and other amazing trees (including some lovely old-growth) threatened by the Forest Service’s logging plans. We will take a field trip to the Little Flat Creek area of the Redbird District of the Daniel Boone National Forest. Trees are currently marked for cutting, and we are still working to save them. We’ll be talking about ecology and natural history, the trade-offs inherent in management, and what you can do to help.
The Hike: will include about 2.5 miles (round trip) of hiking on a relatively level forest road and about 0.5 miles of hiking off-trail, including some hiking along slopes and through brush. Attendees must be comfortable hiking in these conditions. The hike will take about 4 hours.
Meeting point: We will meet at 11AM near the community of Big Creek in Clay County. We will send the specific location and directions several days before the trip. From that location we will consolidate into fewer (and high clearance) vehicles for the last couple of miles.
What to wear and bring: Appropriate footwear is closed-toes shoes (no sandals) with decent tread. Trail runners will be fine but hiking shoes or boots will be better. You will be off trail and exposed to ticks. Participants will also need to bring sufficient water and snacks for the day. If there is any chance for rain you will need to bring rain gear.
Please be aware the Kentucky Heartwood is not equipped to provide any emergency care, and participants are responsible for their own well-being.
Registration: The field trip is limited to 10 attendees, and pre-registration is required by filling out the form below. Because of limited space, please do not register if you are not certain that you can attend. Participants must be 12 years of age or older.
We greatly appreciate a donation to help cover our costs for the hike, but we welcome everyone, regardless of amount to donate. To donate, please click the donate button below, then use the drop down menu to choose your donation level. We also accept checks and cash. Donations can be mailed to PO Box 1486, Berea, KY 40403. Please include a note specifying for which hike you are registering.
The Hike: will include about 2.5 miles (round trip) of hiking on a relatively level forest road and about 0.5 miles of hiking off-trail, including some hiking along slopes and through brush. Attendees must be comfortable hiking in these conditions. The hike will take about 4 hours.
Meeting point: We will meet at 11AM near the community of Big Creek in Clay County. We will send the specific location and directions several days before the trip. From that location we will consolidate into fewer (and high clearance) vehicles for the last couple of miles.
What to wear and bring: Appropriate footwear is closed-toes shoes (no sandals) with decent tread. Trail runners will be fine but hiking shoes or boots will be better. You will be off trail and exposed to ticks. Participants will also need to bring sufficient water and snacks for the day. If there is any chance for rain you will need to bring rain gear.
Please be aware the Kentucky Heartwood is not equipped to provide any emergency care, and participants are responsible for their own well-being.
Registration: The field trip is limited to 10 attendees, and pre-registration is required by filling out the form below. Because of limited space, please do not register if you are not certain that you can attend. Participants must be 12 years of age or older.
We greatly appreciate a donation to help cover our costs for the hike, but we welcome everyone, regardless of amount to donate. To donate, please click the donate button below, then use the drop down menu to choose your donation level. We also accept checks and cash. Donations can be mailed to PO Box 1486, Berea, KY 40403. Please include a note specifying for which hike you are registering.
We will not turn anyone away due to inability to cover the costs. Donations are also welcome from people who cannot attend but want to help support these field trips and our work to protect Kentucky's public lands.