Ohio’s Hocking Hills a paradise for hikers, nature lovers

Ohio’s Hocking Hills a paradise for hikers, nature lovers

The initially time I at any time visited southeastern Ohio, which capabilities element of the Appalachian Mountain chain, was 24 yrs back, and I immediately fell in like with this very unique location.

I was there in the latter portion of Oct for a distinctive muzzleloader deer hunt in the Shawnee Point out Forest with the late Dennis Knickerbocker, who was the editor for the Michigan Out-of-Doorways magazine, and a terrific person to share a campfire with.

The slide shades were in comprehensive bloom and we seasoned fantastically delicate temperature with blue skies, and the locals we achieved have been incredibly nice and helpful individuals who had a distinct Southern-model drawl.


The initially matter you explore in that place is that most every little thing is both up or down, generally at a 45-diploma angle, and the principal method of off-highway journey is by “shank’s mare” (on foot). The winding streets also characteristic a whole bunch of switchbacks.

Even so, I found that the moment you are on best of a mountain, it commonly options a rolling terrain which is a little bit simpler to navigate — that is, until finally you have to negotiate a single of the numerous steep gullies, which in that component of the place are identified as “hollows.”

I also discovered to stay away from some normally large, very thorny clumps of “greenbrier,” which has comprehensive vines that remind me of barbwire and can tear your outfits to shreds.

The most important method of deer hunting that Knickerbocker and I had been working with was however-searching on our possess, for which this spacious environment was excellent, and we obtained to take a look at and get pleasure from a lot of ground that way. A most memorable instant happened when I ventured into a deep hollow surrounded by steep, solid rock walls and made a decision to acquire a compass bearing.

This was the very first and only time I have at any time had a compass commence twirling all over like a stopwatch! Popular perception says it was brought on by minerals in the rock walls or some type of magnetic subject, but suitable when the compass was dropping its mind, a extremely chilling breeze instantly swept by means of the hollow. Evil spirits, perhaps?