Indian Trace and pointer trees

[KY Hiker]

Anyone see a turkey foot on this topo map?

Dark lines and lines close together indicate steep slopes and shear cliffs.

 

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[swiftfan]

Bit of an idea here, but search for the oldest topo maps to see if there were name changes to the areas you’re looking at. Could be someone named those areas later... related place names brings in tourism.. tourism = dollars.. just saying

 

[Rebel - KGC]

Bit of an idea here, but search for the oldest topo maps to see if there were name changes to the areas you’re looking at. Could be someone named those areas later... related place names brings in tourism.. tourism = dollars.. just saying

YEPPER! ADDS to the "MYSTERY"... GREAT MARKETING!

 

[KY Hiker]

Bit of an idea here, but search for the oldest topo maps to see if there were name changes to the areas you’re looking at. Could be someone named those areas later... related place names brings in tourism.. tourism = dollars.. just saying

Oldest I can find online is 1952 and the names of the streams and ridges are the same. They just didn't mark the arches back then. Oh, and Daniel Boone N.F. was called Cumberland N.F. back then. Almost all of the streams were named in the late 1700's to early 1800's in this region of KY. Swift Camp Creek and Campton were named around 1800. Campton was called Camp Town first... because of Swift and where he had a camp along that creek.

I think I remember where I heard of Osbourne, it was that presentation video by Prather on his book about Swift in Prestonsburg.

Old article on Swift and this general area with pictures, I think someone else posted this before. It starts on page 419.
https://books.google.com/books?id=a...t&sqi=2#v=onepage&q=swift silver mine&f=false

 

[1320]

1890 Topo Map

 

[1320]

https://scholarworks.moreheadstate....gi?article=1143&context=rennick_ms_collection

 

[KY Hiker]

1890 Topo Map

Sweet map, thanks! Looks like only creeks named back then and they haven't changed.

 

[franklin]

Sweet map, thanks! Looks like only creeks named back then and they haven't changed.

Where is Blackburn Creek? I could not relocate it?

 

[KY Hiker]

Where is Blackburn Creek? I could not relocate it?

Its not shown I guess because of its size. It would be the fifth drain on right going North on Spaas Creek. Near where it says Haystack along Red River. I think Boomer posted a picture of the gravesite and carving of Blackburn.



Its amazing to me how the old map shows the head waters of Lower Devil's Creek so close to Rock Bridge Branch/Swift Camp Creek. Where modern day Pine Ridge is. It almost had to be an Indian trace through there, its a natural pathway when you look at a modern topo.

 

[KY Hiker]

https://scholarworks.moreheadstate....gi?article=1143&context=rennick_ms_collection

Nice find, thanks 1320!
Postal records?

 

[1320]

Nice find, thanks 1320!
Postal records?

Robert M. Rennick was an authority on Kentucky place names and spent over thirty years traveling throughout the state documenting the locations and histories of communities, post offices and geographical points of interest.

The Robert M. Rennick Kentucky Place Name Collection consists of maps, oral histories, manuscripts and note cards produced by Rennick during his many years of research.

 

[1320]

This may be of limited use. Looks like Mr. Rennick noted the obvious, nothing earth shattering but perhaps worth a look.

 

[KY Hiker]

This may be of limited use. Looks like Mr. Rennick noted the obvious, nothing earth shattering but perhaps worth a look.

Thanks again 1320! Trace Fork looks interesting East of Campton! Actually if you have the side by side maps just North of this one. Slade and Pomeroyton quadrangles cover the RRGorge propper.

 

[KY Hiker]

I came across a description of the Warrior's path through KY. Proctor, near Beattyville was a crossroads of sorts. I'll paste it here.

Warrior's Path

Cherokee - through Kentucky/Ohio

Flat Lick -US25E c7 miles NW of Pineville --Path goes north
Manchester -KY11 -Goose Creek -below Mudlick Station/Flat Creek
Proctor -KY11 (near Beattyville) on South Fork, Kentucky River
West Liberty -US460/KY7 -Morgan Co --Licking River headwaters
Grayson -KY7 -Carter Co -Little Sandy River
Greenup -KY1/2 -Little Sandy River/Ohio River -above Portsmouth
path seems to go north up the Scioto River/Little Scioto
to Sandusky River north of Columbus --to Lake Erie

One branch coming in from Virgina
Big Stone Gap VA -US23
Hazard KY -Kentucky River -Perry Co -KY15
Proctor -KY52

One branch north
Proctor -KY11 north -Lee Co
Mt Sterling -KY11 -Montgomery Co
Sherburne -KY11 -Fleming Co -Licking River//Upper Blue Lick
Maysville -KY11 -Ohio River//Limestone Landing
path continues to Chillicothe OH -Scioto River -north
seems to follow Zane Trace -OH

 

[Curtis]

good stuff!

repeating myself, but, I think Swift had followed the last one, someone's diary had said Swift had been seen near
limestone(Maysville).

 

[KY Hiker]

good stuff!

repeating myself, but, I think Swift had followed the last one, someone's diary had said Swift had been seen near
limestone(Maysville).

And the first one takes him right by the waybill area!

 

[Curtis]

yes...kind of exciting! There were no doubt other trial/traces, but these really help confirm what they could have followed.

 

[KY Hiker]

I will be down in the RRGorge soon looking for more trail trees and possibly getting some grey stone samples collected. I hope to get some more pictures posted as well once I get back.

Anyone been here yet?

 

[KY Hiker]

Well i found two more trail trees in the Rock Bridge area which is about 6-8 miles South of the the first one on Copperas Creek. These were most likely along the same trace. The first one was found right along Rock Bridge Rd about 10ft from the road and point down into a drain that feeds Rock Bridge Fork of Swift Camp Creek. I took these with my cell phone since I was parked on the edge of the road and it was raining.

After finding this tree right along the road it is possible that the road was put in by the forest service where the original trace once was. The next tree was found on a trail that leaves this road and goes to Turtleback Arch. Much of this trail is broad enough to have been a road at one time as well, at least the first half of it near Rock Bridge Road. These were taken with my camera, I thought ahead and brought an umbrella to protect it from the light rain.





That is some type of fungus growing from the end of the pointer. I kicked apart someones fire ring that was 15ft from the base of this tree. Definitely don't want someone taking a hatchet to this tree one day! I'll post a topo map with the locations and pointing directions in the next post.

 

[KY Hiker]

Here is a map with the approx. locations and arrows of pointing direction of the trees I found.


Both point to ways down into either Rock Bridge Fork or Swift Camp Creek. Although the second one could be pointing to Turtleback Arch as well... It would be easier to get a bearing in Winter when the leaves are down.