Hibernation is not a real option for most mammals, although many attempt it in one form or another as a “winter dodge”. Cooking endless pots of chicken soup and making serious indentations in the TV sofa, many wait for the weatherman’s OK to venture out for much more than work and essential errands. “It’s not the cold; it’s the lack of daylight!” -a frozen variation on Ohio’s summertime conversation staple: “It’s not the heat; it’s the humidity!”
But if you huddle indoors to wait for spring, the chill still does its glacial creep up your front walkway… It seems more effective to simply add the extra layers of clothing and head outside to face winter’s blast (even if it does take an extra ten minutes by February because half the winter wear has been borrowed, lost, or is stylishly displayed on the front-yard snowman, and some of us still prefer the dignity of matched gloves).
We drove south on Saturday. Not for sunshine but for more ice. The Hocking Hills Region, stretching westward from Logan, Ohio, features national forest land, nine state parks, four nature preserves and a metro park.
Punctuated with caves, gorges, and waterfalls, it is unglaciated Ohio at its best. Over the years, I’ve canoed, kayaked, hiked, swam and camped in the Hills. Many bike, hunt, fish, ride horses, and rappel there as well. The Hocking Hills Region swarms with hikers and outdoor enthusiasts in the fall and channels a considerable flow of tourists through the spring and summer months as well. In the winter, though, it’s blessedly quiet on the trails.
It was slow-going over refrozen ice in some spots last weekend but the walls of dangling icicles were spectacular. I’m including some photos from Old Man’s Cave, one-time home of a hermit, as well as one of a barn that caught my eye as we traveled back roads that made the journey as lovely as the ultimate destination. I’ll post some more favorite photos from last weekend in a couple of days…
very nice ,love the photos.t
Thanks Todd,
Knew you’d like the photos… I think the barn’s my favorite.
Hi Heather,
Thank you for visiting http://deansguide.wordpress.com through mybloglog.
You have a wonderful home page. I would like to hear your voice over work but it is too early to crank up the volume right now.
I also noticed you are a writer. I would like to let you know about an author, Susan Hanshaw, who is my partner in my personal development firm inner architect.
Susan is writing a book “Inner Architect” and in support of our marketing efforts we are sponsoring the “Apprentice Contest” Here are the values we offer:
1. Free Copy of Chapters 1 and 2 of the new book.
2. New Video Series “Becoming An Inner Architect”
3. “The Apprentice” contest
We ask people to request copies of the Chapters and then write their thoughts on Susan’s work, provide a critique, and or describe an important time in your life where “change” has taken place and how you arrived at that change.
The winner of our contest will receive a free copy of Susan’s soon to be completed book, $50 Nordstrom Gift Card, and an article written about your site and placed on deansguide and innerarchitect blogs.
To Receive Chapters 1 and 2 as well as to sign up for our contest please go to the following link with sign-up info at the bottom of the article dated Feb 28th:
http://deansguide.wordpress.com/2008/02/28/inner-architects-how-to-build-the-life-you-were-designed-to-live-new-video-series-contest-book/
I currently receive in excess of 350 readers and 400 page views per day so there is some opportunity to move your messages to a whole new audience.
I appreciate your musings and I will become more familiar with your work.
Thank you,
Dean Guadagni and Susan Hanshaw
inner architect
Thank you Dean; I’ll be interested to read Susan’s material!