Highways and Byways

Little Shepherd Trail


Photo from www.harlancountytrails.com

    Kentucky Highway 1679, "Little Shepherd Trail", is a 38-mile narrow road on the crest of Pine Mountain from US 421 east of Harlan to US 119 south of Whitesburg. This serpetine route twists though numerous refreshing overlooks and massive, spine-like rock out-croppings, termed "Hogbacks." Rhododendron and Mountain Laurel bloom profusely in craggy exposures.

    Paved sections are easily traversed, while mountain bikers and hikers greatly enjoy the more remote sections of this route. If you drive, a 4x4 vehicle is recommended. Current paved sections are: US 421 to KY 2010 and KY 160 to Creech Overlook.

    Little Shepherd Trail also passes through Kingdom Come State Park

Source:
http://www.harlancountytrails.com/littleshepherdtrail.php

Fort Duffield - West Point Kentucky

                                                            Fort Duffield Sunset

Fort Duffield is an American Civil War fort located outside West Point, Kentucky. It saw use in 1862, and was abandoned when it appeared that the War would never come near the fort. Ironically, John Hunt Morgan would in 1863 lead his Raiders right past the fort and could have been stopped had the fort not been abandoned.


William Tecumseh Sherman was concerned with the Confederate positions in Bowling Green and Columbus, and sent the 37th Indiana and the 9th Michigan regiments to West Point. The plan was to use West Point as a Union supply base for Elizabethtown. Sherman ordered the fort to be built on Pearman Hill to protect the town and supply route. Construction began on November 3, 1861 and was finished in two months. The fort was named for the Rev. George Duffield of Detroit, whose son, Colonel William W. Duffield, led the 9th Michigan Infantry . There were 950 troops stationed there, but they were soon sent to the front lines and the fort was mostly unused in 1862, seeing its last use that Fall.

Source: Wiki
Photos by Mary C Smith

Kentucky Moonshine

Photo by Mary C Smith