Yesterday (2010-06-07) I returned to my hometown of Morehead to run some errands, and decided to take a little detour on my way back.
A couple of years ago one of the valleys on Divide Hill was blasted and bulldozed in a failed development. Those who live in the Morehead area see the front portion of this nearly every day. It’s right on the I-64 connector and adorned with a lot sign in what has to be the most pitiful attempt at expense recuperation I have ever seen. But ugly as it is from the main road, I venture that few know just how silly the whole project was.
What you see from the highway is in reality just a tip of the proverbial iceberg. Over the first rise an area nearly the size of downtown Morehead has been blasted into the hills, going so deep it connects with the next hollow. Just think mountain top removal, except without the coal.
It’s a sad case of destruction for nothing, but does make for a quick access off road run and provides another perspective of the area once you reach the top. I’ve been up it many times, but always at night or in low visibility conditions, most recently during the last big snow. This was the first time I could get some decent pictures.
Junction of Flemingsburg and Old Flemingsburg road viewed from top of the cutout.
Looking toward town. Morehead is in the background. At lower left is the far end of Bartlett Drive.
This is the blasted area hidden from view. One picture doesn’t really convey the scale; that immense Super Walmart nearby could have easily been housed here with room to spare. Tree removal has left the whole place ripe for destructive erosion. Gullies and mud pits already pock mark the entire site.
You don’t need any skill to get where I’m standing, but as far as I can tell only bulldozers have been to the knob in this picture. That’s about to change.
Climbing the north knob. As mentioned in the previous photo, it’s easy money so long as you pay attention. In dry conditions you don’t even need four wheel drive.
This sinkhole and ridge combo doesn’t look like much, but it was by far the toughest obstacle to deal with. I did In fact miscue and bottom out. With nothing to hook my winch to I had fall back on the old jack trick to get loose.
Scouting for a line.
Next stop, the top of Rowan County.
I wonder if any of the cars down there noticed me at all.
