This past weekend I ventured southeast to the Hocking Hills area of Ohio. Conkle’s Hollow is a gorge in Hocking Hills with a 2-mile trail around its rim, and a half-mile wheelchair-accessible trail into the gorge itself. I took both.
I went on a sunny day with temperatures in the forties, but there was still snow on the valley floor, and icicles dangled from every cliff. As the rocks warmed, every few minutes I heard a group of icicles break loose and crash into the valley. Once, I saw this happen from below. The geology of the area creates amazing undercut cliffs and caves.
There were lots of warning signs, I think geared toward locals who had never been high enough to see over a tree. After a short, steep climb, the rim trail was mostly flat, with many scenic overlooks.
I realized this weekend that the highest point in Ohio is about fifteen minutes from my work. Look for some mountaineering photos soon!