EcoEKY: Green News from Eastern Kentucky

from the Harlan Daily Enterprise:

Guided hike through Blanton Forest set

By JOEY WILLIAMS
Staff Writer
Published: Saturday, May 10, 2008 12:54 AM CDT

The beauty of Blanton Forest will be on full display May 24 as the Kentucky Natural Lands Trust (KNLT) will host a guided hike through the forest.

Hikers will be able to enjoy the strenuous trails of Knobby Rock and Sand Cave Loops. It is recommended that anyone looking to hike the trails should be in good physical condition and also bring a lunch and plenty of water.

The hike is scheduled to last for several hours. Merrill Flanary, KNLT Forest Steward, will be the guide. Donna Alexander, program manager for KNLT, says the hike draws a lot of attention from people all over Kentucky.

“A lot of people don’t realize the beautiful scenery that we have here in our state. Once people have the chance to get out here and see how beautiful nature can be, they’re really impressed, “Alexander said. “We have people hike from southeastern Kentucky, Frankfort and also Louisville. Over the years, people from those areas have shown great interest in the hike.”

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Alexander also pointed out that this year’s hike will make history as a family from Washington, D.C., will come to Harlan to go on the hike. She says that’s a great example of growing interest in Blanton Forest.

“I think that really shows how interested people really are in the forest. When you see people coming from that far away just to visit this forest, you know interest level is high. This is a really exciting thing for people to see, so, hopefully, we can continue to draw great interest. This is a way that people can see things that the early settlers probably saw hundreds of years ago. So it really is an exciting and unique thing to do.”

Blanton Forest is the largest known old-growth forest in Kentucky. It is home to several distinct natural communities, including the mixed mesophytic forest. This forest normally includes a large variety of canopy trees such as sugar, maple, beech, tulip, poplar and several other species of oak and magnolia trees.

KNLT is a nonprofit organization celebrating 13 years of working to preserve Kentucky’s diminishing natural places. Since 1995, KNLT’s activities have been focused on the protection and preservation of Blanton Forest. For more information about KNLT, visit KNLT.org.