The RTNA Gathering this year is being held at Wiley’s Last Resort in Letcher Co., Kentucky. Wiley’s is a whacky, wild, weird place on top of Pine Mtn at the Eastern Edge of Kentucky. It is home to an Appalachian poet and visionary, Jim Webb, and is the second home to many artists, activists, outdoor enthusiasts and adventurers from across the Mountains and the Whirled.
Wiley’s sits high above the town of Whitesburg on one side, and Eolia on the East Side. Eolia, and many nearby communities have been laid siege by Mountaintop Removal operations for well over a decade, and the devastation is plainly visible from many locations at The Last Resort.
Whitesburg, on the West side of Pine Mountain, is the county seat, and one that shows the scars and open wounds of the boom and bust coal economy. Whitesburg is also the home to the Appalshop, a new farmers market, and a hopeful and growing set of people and small businesses that believe in, and are creating, a Bright Appalachian Future.
Wiley’s has been home to Mountain Justice events repeatedly since before we built the MJ People’s Pavillion and hosted Mountain Justice Summer in 2010. Since then we have returned, and added infrastructure, and deepened our network’s relationship with the land and people of Eastern Kentucky and SW Virginia.
That being said, times are hard for many in our area, and tensions are high, for some. We ask that visitors be respectful in dialogue about coal and energy, and that they listen at least as much as they share. We work closely with many who must go home to their families, and to church with their community, and will deal with the long term process our region is going through as King Coal loses his throne.
Now, about the site. There is grid tied electricity readily available. Cell phone service is very strong for Verizon and affiliated carriers, weak for most others. There is not internet on site, unless you bring it with you.
We will have water available through large water containers that are filled from a source off site. Running water for showers is limited, but we have solar shower systems available.
The most available toilets are composting toilets, though there is one bathroom with warm water and a shower available for limited use.
There is ample flat camping, both in tree cover and in open field. You will have to transport your camping gear away from your vehicle, so pack accordingly.
We encourage bringing Mtn. Bikes, for utility of travel over the land, and for the fun of seeing all of The Last Resort.
On Pine Mtn, there is known to be things like mosquitoes, no-see-ums, bears, snakes, poison ivy, potentially hot, potentially rainy, potentially very rainy and windy conditions, ETV. The event’s programming will take place in a large pavillion and in large tents. Weather conditions are known to change rapidly upon occasion. Pack accordingly.
All that being said, The Last Resort is truly an amazing place, and we are excited to welcome you. There are many hikes, swims, views, discussions and much more to be experienced, and we hope you have a great time while you’re here!
Below is a more succinct list of things to bring etc. A couple of very important things:
– There is a pack of dogs that help guard the Resort (The Panzer Division). They don’t take kindly to other dogs, but they love humans. Please don’t bring your dog, unless you absolutely must, in which case you should prepare to have this dog’s freedom seriously curtailed, a leash might not cut it.
– Dont bring glass. Jim Webb, aka. Wiley Quixote, does not like glass and it is grounds for expulsion, if he and the Panzer Division catch you.
WHAT TO BRING
* strong stand alone tent or bring strong tent stakes because of high winds
* sleeping bag/ ground pad/ tarp for under your tent
* flashlight/ headlamp
* camp chair/ folding chair
* RAIN GEAR – rain jacket, poncho, umbrella
* warm clothes / fleece jacket – it gets cold at night
* clothing that is appropriate for engaging in community service and field trips in a small rural town.
* BOOTS!!!!!
* sunscreen/ bug stuff/ Tec-Nu**
* reusable/ re-fillable WATER BOTTLE
* travel mug
* Musical instruments
* Mountain bikes
* Frisbees, soccer balls, kites, etc.
* Toiletries
* any specialty foods you may require
* notebook/ journal & writing utensil
* personal medicines(Stinger allergies – epi pen and Benadryl, not expired)
* solar panels
WHAT NOT TO BRING
The event will be waste free. This means, we will be composting, recycling, re-using, etc. but there will be very few trash cans going to landfills. Please Do Not bring anything disposable, unless you plan on packing it out with you. In general, it is imperative that we begin to move away, in general, from our throw-away consumer culture. Let this camp be a first-step towards a less disposable existence.
Please do not bring your dog to camp. There are five large dogs that travel in a pack at Wiley’s and they don’t get along with new dogs.
Please do not bring the following items to camp.
No Glass
No 4-wheelers
No Trash
No Dogs
No Weapons
CAMP LOCATION AND DIRECTIONS
Wiley’s Last Resort
8904 US 119
Jefferson National Forest, Eolia, KY 40826
From Charleston WV
Take US 119 south from Charleston – go through Williamson to Pikeville KY
At the T intersection with US 23 at Pikeville turn left, remaining on US 119 south. This is also US23 south
About 25 miles south of Pikeville, watch for signs for Jenkins KY.
At Jenkins, take US 119 south on the right heading towards Whitesburg KY
(If you go up the mountain into Virginia on US 23, you have missed the turn)
Take US 119 south for 10 miles to a 4 way intersection with a McDonalds
Turn left at McDonalds continuing on US 119 south for 4 miles – you will be going up a big mountain
At the top watch for signs that say Little Shepherd Trail, stay on US 119 South
Just past the Little Shepherd Trail, you will start heading down the mountain on US 119. Go about 1/3 mile down the mountain
You will see the parking area on the right and the entrance to the camp with a pop up canopy will be on your left.
Turn left into the driveway.
From Louisville KY or Lexington KY or Ohio
Go to Lexington KY via I 64 or I 75
Head east on I 64 and go past Winchester KY
Get on the Mountain Parkway going east
Go past the Red River Gorge to the Campton exit
Get on KY 15 heading south through Campton and Jackson
At Hazard go past the Hal Rogers Parkway, stay on KY 15 sout
Take the KY 15 bypass on the right around Hazard
After going around the bypass you will rejoin KY 15 South
Take KY 15 South 30 miles to Whitesburg.
After passing the Wendy’s in Whitesburg (on your left), the 15 bypass will go off to the right
Take the KY 15 bypass around Whitesburg to McDonalds
At McDonalds turn right to go South on US 119 for 4 miles (up the mountain)
At the top watch for signs that say Little Shepherd Trail
Just past the Little Shepherd Trail, you will start heading down the mountain on US 119. Go about 1/3 mile down the mountain
You will see the parking area on the right and the entrance to the camp with a pop up canopy will be on your left.
Turn left into the driveway.
From Asheville NC or Kingsport TN
Take I 26 north to Kingsport TN
Enter Virginia
Remain on I 26 as this road becomes US 23 North in Virginia
Go past Norton, Wise and Pound VA on US 23
Enter Kentucky on US 23 and go down the mountain
At the bottom of the mountain, get in the left lane and turn left onto US 119 south
Take US 119 south for 10 miles to a 4 way intersection with a McDonalds
Turn left at McDonalds continuing on US 119 south for 4 miles – you will be going up a big mountain
At the top watch for signs that say Little Shepherd Trail, stay on US 119 South
Just past the Little Shepherd Trail, you will start heading down the mountain on US 119. Go about 1/3 mile down the mountain
You will see the parking area on the right and the entrance to the camp with a pop up canopy will be on your left.
Turn left into the driveway.
From Knoxville and Nashville TN and Points South
Get to Knoxville via I 75 or I40
From Knoxville, go north on I 75 and take Exit 112
Get on TN 131 North to TN 33 north heading towards Maynardville
Go through Maynardville on TN 33 and stay on this highway to the intersection with US 25 E at
Turn north on US 25 E and go through Harrogate TN and go through the tunnel at Cumberland Gap
Continue on US 25 E through Middlesboro KY. Go about 10 miles past Middlesboro and turn right on US 119 at Pineville
If you go into the town of Pineville (through the flood walls) you have missed the turn onto US 119 North, go back
Go 30 miles on US 119 to Harlan, bear left and continue on US 119 past Harlan
Stay on US 119, after Cumberland KY, highway 119 will become a narrow and curvy road
About 20 miles past Cumberland, you will pass a sign for Bad Branch and head up a big mountain
Nearing the top of the mountain, look for a parking area on the left of the highway and the entrance to camp with a pop up canopy on the right
Turn right, pull up to the canopy and get instructions
From SW Virginia
Head north on US 23, go past Big Stone Gap and Wise and Pound
Enter Kentucky and head down the mountain
At the bottom of the mountain get in the left lane and turn left on US 119 South
Continue on US 119 for about 10 miles to Whitesburg McDonalds
Turn left on US 119 at McDonalds
go South on US 119 4 miles (up the mountain)
At the top watch for signs that say Little Shepherd Trail
Just past the Little Shepherd Trail, you will start heading down the mountain on US 119. Go about 1/3 mile down the mountain
You will see the parking area on the right and the entrance to the camp with a pop up canopy will be on your left.
Turn left into the driveway
From other parts of Virginia
You may want to take I 81 down to Kingsport TN, then head north on I 26
Remain on I 26 as this road becomes US 23 North in Virginia
Go past Norton, Wise and Pound VA on US 23
Enter Kentucky on US 23 and go down the mountain
At the bottom of the mountain, get in the left lane and turn left onto US 119 south
Take US 119 south for 10 miles to a 4 way intersection with a McDonalds
Turn left at McDonalds continuing on US 119 south for 4 miles – you will be going up a big mountain
At the top watch for signs that say Little Shepherd Trail, stay on US 119 South
Just past the Little Shepherd Trail, you will start heading down the mountain on US 119. Go about 1/3 mile down the mountain
You will see the parking area on the right and the entrance to the camp with a pop up canopy will be on your left.
Turn left into the driveway.