A few months ago, I spent a weekend in Hocking Hills doing some training and got the pleasure of also doing a little hiking there as well. Hocking Hills State Park offers a multitude of options for hiking, from prepared paths traveled by thousands to highly technical terrain that may include some bouldering skills as well as hiking. We do a lot of our rappelling outings at Hocking Hills when we are looking for an area that offers natural terrain formations suitable for rappelling. There are several areas to mention in the Hocking Hills area, such as Ash Cave, Old Man’s Cave, Rock House, Conkle’s Hollow, Cedar Falls, Cantwell Cliffs, Whispering Cave Trail and many, many more.
On this outing, we were doing some rappelling, so I hiked the area around Conkle’s Hollow where the climbing and rappelling area is located. The area is beautiful, with many caves, natural rock formations and miles of hiking trails. This particular area offers some very technical hiking, with narrow trails bordering up to 125-foot cliffs, where paying attention to your surroundings is a must, but if you’re up for the challenge, the hike is definitely worth the experience! Things like Table Rock pictured here, and the natural rock formations that make up the climbing and rappelling area are amazing, to say the least, and the experience is one you will not soon forget.
Earlier this year, I did a 6-mile trip with some friends leaving from the same parking area at the Climbing and Rappelling area and headed out towards 21 Horse Cave (also called Chapel Cave due to the triangular opening resembling that of a church) and Airplane Rock. Many of the trails are bridle trails, so you may encounter horses along the way. The trail is quite challenging, so it is recommended that you do not attempt it unless you have proper gear and experience, and only after several days with no rain. If, however, you are looking to up your hiking game a little, then a trip to the Hocking Hills area is surely worth the drive.
Hiking in such varied terrain as Hocking Hills will test your skills. This is a great opportunity to test out any gear you've acquired for hiking, as you will use most of it. Areas like Hocking Hills will almost require you to have things such as good trekking poles, a decent day pack, high-quality, well-fitting footwear and the proper clothing for the season. Undertaking a trek in an area such as the one around Conkle’s Hollow will test your skills, your preparedness and your gear. If you do undertake it, make sure you are proficient with your skills and equipment, and be aware of their limitations as well as their functionality.
This time of year, it is especially important to think of the environment when doing any outdoor activity. Things like sunscreen, protective clothing, bug spray and good sunglasses can make or break your hike. Making sure you are properly hydrated and taking along some additional water and trail food will also add to your comfort as well as keep your energy up. Additionally, with all of the weather we have had over the past few months, make sure you plan ahead. Some areas in Mohican have still closed as of a few weeks ago due to trails being blocked by storm debris.
Late summer can be a busy and stressful time for everyone, so taking a weekend or even just a day to get away can be refreshing and invigorating. I feel it helps a lot to take a little break away from the “always on the go” life we sometimes live. Even if it's just a walk through your neighborhood on a cool evening, or a mile or two on the Kokosing Gap Trail, take time to get out and enjoy what late summer in Central Ohio has to offer. Countless wildlife species are beginning to make their preparations for the coming cooler weather, and insects and plants are often at their peak, so the sights and sounds of just a simple walk on the bike trail can still help to give us a little time to reflect and unwind. As school, and work, and sports, and everything that makes our lives as fun as they are comes together this time of year, make a little time for yourself to get into the outdoors, do it safely, and enjoy your time outside.
