BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
INEZ — First Frontier Appalachian Trails (FFAT) is set to host its annual Fall Hill Crawl in Inez on Saturday, Sept. 14, marking the soft opening of its first section of adventure trails.
The ride will kick off with the Martin County Harvest Fest Parade in celebration of the cusp that so many, including FFAT organizer Lara Pack of Johnson County, have worked long toward.
“This is what we’ve been waiting on for so very long,” Pack remarked. “And we are 50 kinds of excited to have our big day in conjunction with Martin County’s yearly Harvest Festival shindig.”
Trail riders will convene at coordinates 37.86261° N, 82.50774° W, where the blacktop ends on KY-645 (just past the entrance to Martin County High School at Holly Bush Road in Inez) and where parking is available for trucks and trailers. Registration will begin at 12:30 p.m.
“We will then journey to the parade lineup at 1:30 p.m. at the Martin County Swimming Pool (coordinates 37.86332° N, 82.52649° W),” Pack said. “From there, we’ll cruise through the parade, toss some candy, and wave at everyone as we head out of town. We will take the 4-lane (New Route 3) to where it connects with the trail in the Davella/Debord area.”
The trail connection is Middle Fork Wolf Creek Road (37°46’38.3″N 82°35’52.8″W).
“Anyone who doesn’t want to ride in the parade with us can meet us at the beginning of the trail,” added Pack. “That’s fine too, but I can’t guarantee parking there.”
Riders will pause at Middle Fork Wolf Creek for fanfare and commemorative photos.
“And then we’re off,” Pack said. “We’re going to do the Wolf Creek trail and some playing in the creek. It’s probably going to be the only opportunity this season for a group ride to the creek because once the weather starts turning, it gets kind of chilly.”
The group will return to Inez on the same route.
“We’ll be back in town in time for some great street food and to close out the night with the newest Brushy Creek wonder, Noah Thompson, bouncing some tunes off the hills of Martin County,” remarked Pack, an avid side-by-side rider.
[UPDATE: Concert lineup has changed. See Martin County Harvest Fest shakes up concert dates: Noah Thompson to perform Friday, Sept. 13]
“It’s going to be a great time to be an Eastern Kentuckian and an even better time to be a trail rider. Y’all come join us.”
FFAT recently opened a satellite office on Davella Road in the former Pocahontas building, which will also serve as a trailhead. It is developing a trail system in 18 Eastern Kentucky counties.