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Horse sanctuary closes several trails
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN DEBORD — First Frontier Appalachian Trails announced Monday that several routes in its trail system in Martin County will be closed indefinitely due to a land lease conflict. However, organizers confirmed the Rural Revival Veterans Ride on May 16 will proceed as scheduled. The closure stems from a lease issued…
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First Frontier Appalachian trailhead welcomes first visitors—all the way from Iowa
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN DEBORD — First Frontier Appalachian Trails (FFAT) officially welcomed its first visitors to the newly opened trailhead on Davella Road in Debord last week—and the guests made quite the trip to get there. “This fine group of folks drove 11 hours from Iowa to come enjoy our trails,” said Lara…
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Job opportunity: FFAT seeks community trail development coordinator
MARTIN COUNTY — First Frontier Appalachian Trails announced Jan. 14 a job opening for a community trail development coordinator to spearhead efforts to map, design and expand its 19-county trail network in eastern Kentucky. The position, based in Knott County, offers a salary range of $45,000 to $55,000 and involves extensive fieldwork across the 19…
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The next big thing in Appalachian adventure: Trails open in Martin County
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN DEBORD — This past Saturday, Martin County officially kicked off a new era of outdoor adventure. The inaugural trail of the First Frontier Appalachian Trails made its debut in Debord during the annual Fall Hill Crawl, drawing a crowd of outdoor enthusiasts and local officials alike. State Reps. Bobby McCool…
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First Frontier Appalachian Trails to debut adventure trails in Inez
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…
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Blazing trails in Inez
On Sept. 14, Inez will host a parade and a celebration of the thrilling promise of a new chapter in Eastern Kentucky’s outdoor adventure scene. The First Frontier Appalachian Trails (FFAT) is set to open its first adventure trail in Martin County. The Fall Hill Crawl and the Martin County Harvest Fest will help to…
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Martin County Tourism seeks public input on naming new trail system
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Residents can participate in naming the new First Frontier Appalachian Trails system in Martin County. In a Martin County Tourism meeting Monday, board member Jarrod Slone proposed advertising a public campaign inviting name suggestions. Community members can send their ideas to the tourism board via Facebook Messenger until…
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Pocahontas grants 46,500 acres for trails in Martin County
County officials bring largest landowner to table BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — A vast expansion of the First Frontier Appalachian Trails is on the horizon as the Kentucky Mountain Regional Recreation Authority secured a significant licensing agreement with Pocahontas Land. Announced Tuesday during a KMRRA board meeting in Inez, the agreement incorporates 46,500…
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A red-letter day for Martin County
It’s a red-letter day for Martin County. A major expansion of the First Frontier Appalachian Trails is on the horizon following a significant licensing agreement between the Kentucky Mountain Regional Recreation Authority and Pocahontas Land Company. This agreement heralds an integration of an impressive 46,500 acres of land into the trail system, making it a…
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First Frontier Appalachian Trails board ‘press forward’
BY PHILL BARNETT MOUNTAIN CITIZEN The First Frontier Appalachian Trails board of directors met Thursday to discuss progress toward establishing a public riding trail system throughout eastern Kentucky. Known officially as the Kentucky Mountain Regional Recreation Authority and created by the Kentucky Legislature in 2017, the authority comprises 19 Kentucky counties. The group began signing…
