Something we are adding this year, which was a recommendation to us by Todd Fife, was to document the history of arch hunting in Kentucky. Specifically the arch hunters that have been tromping through the forest and mountains of Kentucky searching for and documenting the natural wonders that they came across.  Several of the forefathers of arch hunting started out in Kentucky, before moving out West and documenting the arches of Utah and beyond.  

One of the first arch hunters was Bob Vreeland.  He has two unpublished volumes on Kentucky arches.  He listed many of the now well known arches of Kentucky, in his first volume.  

Read on about Bob Vreeland here.

Here is the cover of Bob's first volume of 25.

 

 

Robert H. Vreeland 1917-2005. SPAN - July 2005 - Robert H. Vreeland (1917-2005). (n.d.). Retrieved January 29, 2022, from http://www.naturalarches.org/span-0507-article-RobertVreeland.htm

As we kick off Arch Awareness Month, we always highlight arches that have been abused around Kentucky.  This can vary wildly, but generally includes either spray painting on the arch or carving into the rock of the arch.  There are other abuses, such as illegally driving across an arch.  Other arches have had illegal fires or campsites created underneath them.  Another form of arch abuse is the illegal digging for artifacts, known as potholing.

Since we have started Arch Awareness Month back in 2019, we have been highlighting these abuses to bring awareness to the fact that damage is being done, and that you should not do this to these unique features.  

You can check out pictures of the arch abuse in our new section called Arch Abuse.  Click here, or it is on the top left menu under Arch Awareness.

If you would like to check out some additional arch awareness information and to follow along on it all, please visit our Facebook group, Kentucky Waterfalls, Arches and Landscapes.

Apex Arch, which is one, if not the most abused arch in Kentucky.

© Bill Fultz

Happy New Year, and welcome to a new year of arch hunting in Kentucky. 

The database now stands at 2450 documented arches, with 2538 documented features (including false arches and windows that are less than 3' openings).  The map is also updated to 888 features.  We also have updated the lead list, which now stands at 225 possible arches or leads.  

All of the Top 10's have been updated (if required) and can be found here.

There has been some big movement in the arch counts for some counties.  Definitely check out the Top 10 Counties as there has been some movement among them.  McCreary now has over 300 arches in the database, making it the 4th county in the state to boast that many arches within it.  Menifee lost a few arches due to them being false arches, and it dropped just under 200 known arches.  Meanwhile, Edmonson jumped to over 200 known arches, placing it 5th on our list.

If you'd like to submit an arch or a photo of one in the database please click above or right here and submit an arch!

Welcome to Arch Awareness Month.  It is where we highlight the damage done to arches, documenting arches, and just trying to explain how awesome these natural wonders are.  They come in all types, shapes, sizes and uniqueness.  Expect to see a lot a posts and articles added in this month as we have a lot planned for the 2022 edition of arch awareness.  To start the month out, we bring you a new milestone in the database.  The database now stands at 2509 documented arches, with 2600 documented features (including false arches, windows that are less than 3' openings, and destroyed arches).  The map is also updated to 811 features.  We also have updated the lead list, which now stands at 221 possible arches or leads.  

All of the Top 10's have been updated (if required) and can be found here.

If you'd like to submit an arch or a photo of one in the database please click above or right here and submit an arch!

If you would like to check out some additional arch awareness information and to follow along on it all, please visit our Facebook group, Kentucky Waterfalls, Arches and Landscapes.

Lastly, below is the updated map after hitting 2500 arches!  As part of Arch Awareness Month, I have gone back and created maps for each of the past Arch Awareness Months.  They can be found here!  This database was created in 2018 with the first Arch Awareness Month being in January 2019.  It has since shifted to February.  

The database now stands at 2295 documented arches, with 2371 documented features (including false arches).  The map is also updated to 768 features.  We also have updated the lead list, which now stands at 220 possible arches or leads.  Big shoutout to Bill Fultz for all his work as well as Mike Hoffman & Dustin Robinson for their submissions and exploration.

All of the Top 10's have been updated (if required) and can be found here.  There has been movement in the Top 10 Counties as Dustin Robinson found a slew in Pulaski County to rocket that county into the Top 10, passing a few counties on the way.

If you'd like to submit an arch or a photo of one in the database please click above or right here and submit an arch!

More Articles ...

  1. November 2021 Update
  2. Early October 2021 Update
  3. September 2021 Arch Map
  4. September 2021 Update #2