Hocking HIlls Ash Cave Fire Tower now open

Mary

Dave and I hiked the Ash Cave to Cedar Falls trail yesterday evening, perfect day for a late afternoon/early evening hike. We saw exactly 2 people on the trail. Well, we saw them twice, once on the way out and once on the way back, but they were still just 2 people. The forest was absolutely lovely in the late day sun, and our tranquility was complete, except for those 2 people! By the way, this trail is 3 miles long, so a total of 6 to get back to the parking area.

We were thrilled to see that the Ash Cave Fire Tower is now open to climb. It’s located on this trail, but also accessible from a parking area at the corner of State Route 374 and Chapel Ridge Road. Built in 1934, the tower is 80 feet tall and you can see far and wide from the top. We were a little concerned about the fragility of some of the platforms at the end of each flight of steps. They appear to be the original wood. While most of the steps have been replaced, it’s obvious some of the platform boards are really, really old. In fact, on the first platform, two boards have fallen or been kicked off. I’ll report to Forestry today.

Marsh Hollow is now Hocking Hills Green Certified!

Mary

Marsh Hollow is very pleased to have been accepted into the Hocking Hills Green Certified program administered by the Hocking Hills Tourism Association. The program is a voluntary environmental program for the purpose of reducing the environmnetal impact of the Hocking Hills travel industry through communication, responsible resource management and stewardship.

While you can read about all of our commitments at www.hockinghillsgreen.com, I’d like to highlight the ones that are particularly important to me:

  • We have a longstanding recycling program to reduce materials going to landfills. What can our guests to do help? Bring refillable water bottles! We recycle way too many plastic water bottles. Our water is highly filtered and quite tasty.
  • All food and trash is stored properly to prevent access by wildlife. What can our guests do to help? Please don’t throw food waste into the woods (and 99% of our guests do not do this!).
  • Guests are encouraged to follow the principals of Leave No Trace. And this means pet waste, cigarette butts, etc. I’ve heard numerous comments from our guests about dog doo on the state park trails. Please!
  • We have worked very hard to make our cabin energy efficient. This year we installed new highly energy efficient windows throughout the cabin. What can our guests do to help? Close windows and doors while using heating and cooling equipment.

There is so much that all of us can do to keep the Hocking Hills the amazing natural wonder that it is. Find out more at Hocking Hills Green Certified.

Mary at Marsh Hollow

Laurelville Old Time Fireman’s Festival

Mary

TODAY THROUGH SATURDAY – 86th Annual Fireman’s Old Time Festival in Laurelville; entertainment, rides, fish fry, parade all in the streets of Laurelville

FRIDAY – Talent Show at 5:30pm; Black Water Run bluegrass band at 8pm; midway opens at 6:30pm.

SATURDAY – baby contest at 10am; kid’s big wheel race at noon; midway “matinee” from 1 to 5pm – all rides are one price; Queen’s Tea at 3pm; Adelphi Community Band at 4:30pm; Grand Parade at 6pm; Ohio’s most expensive cake auction at 9pm; square dancing at 9:45pm; Rt 56 & 180 in Laurelville.

We love the fish fry and will visit for multiple meals. And the local church ladies have a pie booth with the best pies ever. Buy by the slice or a whole pie.

Hocking Hills Trail Trolls start work on mountain biking trail

Mary

There’s a Trail Trolls Project Day on Saturday, June 27, 2009, and they’ll begin work on the NEW mountain biking trail in the Hocking Hills State Park! According to Naturalist Pat Quackenbush, the group will be clearing brush. The Trail Trolls welcome new members, so if you’re interested call 740-385-8003, ext. 213 to sign up. Although anyone interested in working on the biking trail can just show up at the family camp parking area near Old Man’s Cave at 9 a.m. Don’t forget your lunch.

The trail has been flagged and will run about 4 miles and will avoid the cliff areas. It will be challenging and is not intended for the beginning biker. The trail has 2 loops, with one being easier and the other being difficult – something for everyone.

Just one more reason to visit the Hocking Hills this year.

Mary at Marsh Hollow

Visit us on facebook

Mary

Marsh Hollow has a page on facebook now. I’ve been having a good time with the whole facebook thing (connecting with friends and family) and decided Marsh Hollow needed to be up to date too. Since the page is only 2 days old, there’s not much there, but hopefully we collect some fans and reviews. Click on the picture below to see what it’s all about.

Marsh Hollow
Marsh Hollow: Your Hocking Hills Vacation Log Cabin's Facebook Page

USA Today Recognizes Hocking Hills Tourism Assocation Program

Mary

Just got this message from Karen Raymore at the Hocking Hills Tourism Association:

Hocking Hills Tourism Association
May 22, 2009
Hi Folks,

Every year USA Today has an issue on the Friday of Memorial Day weekend that features an attraction in each state. For the second year in a row the Hocking Hills has been recognized in this issue. Last year it was the Canopy Tours and this year it is the Flip Ultra camcorder lending program.

Click on Ohio and check it out;
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/destinations/2009-05-21-free-summer-travel-map_N.htm

What a great way to kick off the 2009 family vacation season!

Karen Raymore, CDME
Executive Director
Hocking Hills Tourism Association
(740) 385-2750

Jimbo’s Bar & Diner, South Bloomingville, OH

Mary

Last Friday, Dave and I hiked the rim trail between Cedar Falls & Old Man’s Cave, which is a MUCH easier trail than the gorge route. Still there are some hills to climb. Anyway, we passed by Jimbo’s on the way home via Route 56 and had a very tasty dinner.

Jimbo’s caters to the motorcycle crowd, and is open Thursday through Sunday, in season. Since they now offer outdoor dining, we sat in the shelter for a few brews and their excellent “Hog Burger”. This is a pure pork, non-sausage, non-fatty, “burger” and it is very, very good. Jimbo himself took our order.

We are going to do another hike late this afternoon, and I might have to engineer our route home so that it goes past Jimbo’s again. On Fridays, it’s not busy, but I believe it gets hopping on Saturdays and Sundays.

Jimbo’s is located at 23356 State Route 56, South Bloomingville, OH‎.

Power OUT 2009

Mary

Like most of Hocking County, we lost power on Wednesday, January 28. While others came back on line day by day, our power was not restored until Monday, February 2 (by which time the damn groundhog had seen his shadow). We were pretty well able to deal with the loss of electric heat with our various woodburning appliances, a dependable kerosene heater, and propane gas stoves, but the lack of water – you need electricity to run the well pump – was the most difficult to handle. Especially when you’re trying to keep horses and goats watered. By Sunday, I was scooping water out of our creek, and trying NOT to worry about what our neighbors upstream were putting in.

So we survived, and kept very busy. In addition to all the fire-stoking and water carrying, we worked a puzzle, read a lot more than usual, and went out to breakfast and dinner every day but one. Fortunately, Laurelville had power so everything was open, except one day the library was closed. We’re grateful to the Ridge Inn for its excellent free wireless network (and we discovered their fabulous croissant french toast) and to the Village Cafe for filling our water carriers and for their tasty home fries.

But we’ve decided we are going to get a generator!