SOME REFLECTIONS TO SHARE--

on the Hocking Hills...

As a hiking experience the Hocking Hills are a premier location in Ohio—most likely the premier location.

Both Ash Cave and Conkles Hollow are easy, level, handicapped accessible walks, both into absolutely enchanting experiences.

Ash Cave is part of the Hocking Hills State Park and Conkles Hollow is separately administered but that difference certainly is not obvious.

The four remaining geologic attractions; Cantwell Cliffs, The Rock House, Old Man’s Cave and Cedar Falls require varying degrees of exertion and all six venues demand repeat visits. They change with the weather, the lighting and the seasons.


Most, if not all, of these attractions have multiple trails for your viewing pleasure. The main trail generally goes to the heart of the attraction while optional and rim trails offer a wide variety of viewing opportunities.

All are free of entrance charges.

You’ll want good, comfortable hiking shoes and socks. Those are essential. A day pack for water and snacks would be helpful, and, I like a hiking stick.  Otherwise, just dress for the weather.

There is a state park campground adjacent to Old Man’s Cave with its own nearby restaurant and conference facility.

There are bazillions of rental cabins around the area. Our cabin in the promo piece to this series cost us $300 per night. With six adults that amounts to $50 each for the weekend. And for that you get a well equipped, furnished and supplied home of your own complete with a hot-tub, fire pit and firewood, and cook-out facilities.

This cabin had three bedrooms, two full baths and a loft which would sleep eight more adults in both single and bunk beds. It also featured a wide screen TV with satellite service, a dishwasher, and clothes washer and dryer. It was secluded but just off SR 56 and only about 2 miles from Ash Cave.

Cell phone service is not reliable.  I consider that a blessing.

Sue and I recently also visited nearby Nelsonville and enjoyed a ride on the Hocking Valley Excursion Railroad. On an earlier visit I enjoyed the bike trail that extends from Hocking Technical College in Nelsonville to Ohio University’s campus in Athens.

There is a rappelling attraction close by and a zip-line through the treetops somewhere up near Logan which itself is just 10 miles or so away with all the shopping outlets you are likely to need.

In addition to the venues mentioned, the Buckeye Trail traverses the state park. The most convenient and absolutely enthralling hike on that trail goes through the Old Man’s Cave area and another three miles to Cedar Falls.

That is a stunning hike. There is an additional three mile section that goes on to Ash Cave. That is comparatively bland. If you are up to doing six miles, hike down to Cedar Falls then hike back to Old Man’s Cave.

That is a terrific experience.

Can you tell I enjoy the place?
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Pictured top are friends Mark Meinzer and Don Karger approaching the Devil's Bathtub in the Old Man's Cave area.  In the lower photo Mark is waiting for yours truly to catch up on a challenging section of trail.

AN ALBUM--

The Hocking Hills, May 2010

Don Karger (left) and Mark Meinzer (right) work on their photography while Nancy Meinzer, Sue Brooks and Roberta Karger enjoy the Rock House

Mark Meinzer photographing the author at the Cantwell Cliffs

Don and Mark ascending from the Cantwell Cliffs

Traversing the Rock House formation

Mark working in Conkle's Hollow

The falls in Conkle's Hollow

Young girls oblivious to the beauty of Cedar Falls

Don working at the Upper Falls of Old Man's Cave

Don on the Buckeye Trail between Old Man's Cave and Cedar Falls

Following the blue blazes on the Buckeye Trail between Cedar Falls and Ash Cave

Thanks again God    --Terry

CANTWELL CLIFFS—

In the Hocking Hills State Park

About 3 or 4 hundred million years ago this area of Ohio was under an ocean.

Sediments there were under enormous pressure and they compressed into what is today known as Black Hand Sandstone, the basic ingredient in the various rock formations in the Hocking Hills including the Cantwell Cliffs.

In more recent history the continents, then joined in what was known as Pangaea, drifted apart and ultimately formed the globe as we would recognize it today. The oceans drained. Ice ages and glaciations came and went.

Ultimately a little stream, we now know as Buck Run, went to work and eroded the softer of those ocean created sediments and left us with the formations we enjoy today.

The Cantwell Cliffs are 17 miles north of Old Man’s Cave. That distance from the popular cave venue plus their relatively remote location discourages visitation.

But, it certainly deserves to be on your hiking agenda when in that general area.

The erosion work of the little stream now accounts for the deep valley, steep cliffs and rock shelter under that cliff. Approaching that overhang today’s trail winds its way through narrow passageways caused by large slump blocks that have fallen away from the main cliff.

The narrowest passage has been named Fat Woman’s Squeeze.

The cliffs extend upward about 150 feet from the creek bed and offer a commanding view from their Lookout Point on the East Rim Trail.

That's on the agenda for our next visit.
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That's Mark Meinzer (above right) between sloping slump blocks while wife Nancy leads Sue Brooks, Don Karger (red shirt) and wife Roberta below.

THE BUCKEYE TRAIL--

On its journey through

The Hocking Hills...

When you leave the parking lot at the upper end of Old Man’s Cave you are immediately immersed in geologic grandeur.

One moment there is the hum-drum of civilization. Just paces later humans are marginalized by an Earth that reveals rocky formations that rattle your senses while flowing water soothes your soul.

Trees tower everywhere while they tip-toe through colossal colonies of ferns. Over there another evergreen clings to its rocky rampart while yet another rots in the moist humidor on the floor of the gorge.

A tiny human mind tries but fails to wrap itself around the millions of years of geologic force that has laid bare this spectacle that even now undergoes silent, eroding evolution one grain at a time.

The forces that have left this creation count their hours in epochs. And, visitors trundle on trying to grasp the immensity of time that is now our pallet; our visual treat to enjoy and try to understand.

Nancy would stop and spread her hands and her jolly eyes would plead with us to pause and enjoy the sound of natural silence.

Oh my, do I really have to leave this place.

But, life goes on and so do we.

Down past the Devil’s Bathtub and the cave where the old man lived, past the Sphinx Head formation before we tumble into the rocky amphitheater around the Lower Falls.

All that in the first mile of our hike along the Buckeye Trail which traces its way through the gorge known as Old Man’s Cave; this segment but a chip-shot in that trail’s 1,400 mile circumnavigation of our state.

The cave venue ends but the trail continues another three miles to Cedar Falls, every step providing a kaleidoscope of rocky formations including the dizzying mystery of a stream that flows first one way, then another.

At Cedar Falls the trail does an ascent and promptly deposits hikers on a gravel path that disappears in the forest toward Ash Cave. It’s like being ejected from a visual symphony.

But, we trundle on and follow the blue blazes through woods that are a patch-work of evergreens here and deciduous growth over there. A surviving sister of the Mohican State Forest fire tower lives along this trail and points our way to Ash Cave which we encounter from the top.

The forest floor and the little creek on our left simply disappear over the precipice and we peer down upon the human ants squirming on the sandy surface of that venue, the southern most in the Hocking Hills State Park.

I shudder as I stand back from the edge knowing there is nothing beneath this slice of firmament but the hollow of that cave nearly 100 feet straight down.

Down below, Sue and I pause for a photo near the water that plunges those 100 feet and marks the spot of our “engagement” here just over three months ago.

I feel a pleasant shiver at this very human experience while being very much aware of how truly miniscule a lifetime really is.

THE HOCKING HILLS REVISITED—

The delightfully secluded cabin above was our weekend home as Sue and I with four square dancing friends explored the natural wonders of the Hocking Hills State Park recently.

Joining us (right) were Mark and Nancy Meinzer to my immediate left and Don and Roberta Karger flanking Sue. Nancy is showing her OSU colors and Don is in the red shirt.

Highlights of the cabin experience included the hot tub which provided a bubbling dose of warm comfort after each day of robust hiking, S’mores by the campfire pictured below, and, Mark’s grill-skill with a monstrously tasty, strip steak dinner.

On Saturday we explored Cantwell Cliffs, the Rock House and Conkle’s Hollow. Sunday, we did seven miles of the Buckeye Trail which we launched at the Upper Falls of Old Man’s Cave.

We were immersed in a stunning gorge for nearly four miles to Cedar Falls, then, concluded with another three miles through the forest to Ash Cave.

There, the Buckeye Trail leaves the state park and continues its 1,400 mile circle of Ohio.

Hiking in this venue simply bombards the senses with geologic features which have developed over a span of time that defies human comprehension.

Please stop by Saturday when our coverage will begin with a story that takes a peek at the Buckeye Trail component of our weekend.

CAN YOU SEE ME SHAKING MY HEAD—

Went to town the other day.

Should have stayed home.

Naturally, there was the usual assortment of ding-a-ling, tailgating drivers.

Then I ran into a rude clerk at the license plate bureau. No surprise there, unfortunately. That must be part of their job qualifications.

Then after getting no “Thank you” when I paid my lunch tab, I cheerily proclaimed “You’re welcome!” You should have seen the blank stare that produced.

Then I stopped for a pedestrian in the crosswalk on Mansfield’s square who almost got run over by the three ignoramuses who whizzed past me in the adjacent lane.

Bought a new radio/alarm clock on the way home. A big sheet of directions inside, but, absolutely nothing in English.

Sí, debería haber quedado en casa.

THE CIVIL WAR, 1861-1865--

A Confederate artillery squad returns cannon fire across Home Road against the Union Army in the 33rd annual Ohio Civil War Collector's Show and reenactment held recently at the Richland County Fairgrounds.

Union and Confederate officers and soldiers preserved the memory of horrors like Chancellorsville and Harpers Ferry and Charleston Harbor and Gettysburg and Vicksburg and Antietam....

They reminded us more than 678,000 men and women died in this conflict where sometimes fathers fought sons and brothers fought brothers in an epic series of battles that would determine the future of our then young nation. 

Gettysburg was the bloodiest battle of them all with 51,116 deaths while Chancellorsville claimed 29,609 lives and another 22,726 died at Antietam. 

That's the young lawyer from Illinois named Lincoln in the top hat and beard above who guided the nation through that time just 140 some years ago when that free nation was in the process of tearing its dreams asunder. 

Fogeyisms salutes all the folks around our land who participate in the reenactment process and preserve the memory of just how fragile a nation like ours can be.

Live displays of infantry and artillery drills kept the crowd's attention throughout the weekend show while a little touch of humor below concludes our story with a couple of soldiers (left) taking a time out from battle--for a root beer float--and another of their fellow soldiers enjoys the diversion of a pretty young lady.

Speaking of a little humor; an assistant "surgeon" at the field hospital was displaying some period surgical instruments to the crowd of onlookers when a fellow was repulsed at the thought of someone using that instrument on him.  The "surgeon" added a little encouragement by explaining, "...but, today sir, we will accept your Blue Cross Card."