http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA Travels and Journeys... Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:57:18 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 2006-2010 heather@heatherdugan.com (Heather Dugan) heather@heatherdugan.com (Heather Dugan) 1440 http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogNEW/wp-content/plugins/podpress/images/powered_by_podpress.jpg http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA 144 144 http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogNEW/?feed=podcast Footsteps Travels and Journeys... Travel, outdoors, adventure, Heather, Dugan, stories Heather Dugan Heather Dugan heather@heatherdugan.com no no http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2011/10/26/featured-photo-zebra-zzzs/ http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2011/10/26/featured-photo-zebra-zzzs/#comments Wed, 26 Oct 2011 12:07:29 +0000 Heather Dugan http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogNEW/?p=9449 http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2011/10/26/featured-photo-zebra-zzzs/feed/ 0 http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2011/10/05/featured-photo-baby-stripes/ http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2011/10/05/featured-photo-baby-stripes/#comments Wed, 05 Oct 2011 12:14:43 +0000 Heather Dugan http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogNEW/?p=9376 http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2011/10/05/featured-photo-baby-stripes/feed/ 2 http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2011/08/29/in-town-tourist-hockhocking-adena-bikeway/ http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2011/08/29/in-town-tourist-hockhocking-adena-bikeway/#comments Mon, 29 Aug 2011 12:54:58 +0000 Heather Dugan http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogNEW/?p=9049 http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2011/08/29/in-town-tourist-hockhocking-adena-bikeway/feed/ 0 0:01:28 ...Winding alongside the Hocking River through the Wayne National Forest was a great way to "reset" both mind and body. Rock outcroppings and verdant ravines, the remnants of an old canal basin, a train yard with relics of times past and the Ohio Un[...] ...Winding alongside the Hocking River through the Wayne National Forest was a great way to "reset" both mind and body. Rock outcroppings and verdant ravines, the remnants of an old canal basin, a train yard with relics of times past and the Ohio University campus in Athens were among the highlights... Cycling Heather Dugan no no http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2010/07/30/just-add-water/ http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2010/07/30/just-add-water/#comments Fri, 30 Jul 2010 17:27:31 +0000 Heather Dugan http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogNEW/?p=5559 http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2010/07/30/just-add-water/feed/ 5 0:01:11 ...Edging carefully up slate waterfalls and through canyon streams, swimming along the way in natural pools… those moist moments elevated extraordinary scenery into extraordinary experiences that grew us in new and delightfully freeing ways... ...Edging carefully up slate waterfalls and through canyon streams, swimming along the way in natural pools… those moist moments elevated extraordinary scenery into extraordinary experiences that grew us in new and delightfully freeing ways... Heather Dugan no no http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2010/01/26/in-town-tourist-rock-house/ http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2010/01/26/in-town-tourist-rock-house/#comments Tue, 26 Jan 2010 21:48:29 +0000 Heather Dugan http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogNEW/?p=3837 http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2010/01/26/in-town-tourist-rock-house/feed/ 5 0:00:57 Situated in the side of a sandstone cliff,  the Rock House has a colorful history stemming from its concealed location.  Horse thieves, murderers, bootleggers and Indians once crept through the 200 foot long recess.  Today visitors to the Hocking[...] Situated in the side of a sandstone cliff,  the Rock House has a colorful history stemming from its concealed location.  Horse thieves, murderers, bootleggers and Indians once crept through the 200 foot long recess.  Today visitors to the Hocking Hills near Logan, Ohio can walk the dark expanse that once protected both the criminal and the innocent alike. Hand carved shelves functioned as turpentine stills to area Indians who extracted sap from pitch pine wood by building fires atop the wood and a layer of sandstone.  Unsavory cave inhabitants in later years led to its local nickname:  Robbers’ Roost. Seven window-like openings in the Blackhand sandstone allow limited amounts of light into the cave (which is the only true cave in Hocking Hills State Park), but it took a camera flash to discover the vibrant reds and oranges of the Rock House’s interior. Caves, Hiking Heather Dugan no no http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2010/01/19/in-town-tourist-frozen-falls-in-hocking-hills/ http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2010/01/19/in-town-tourist-frozen-falls-in-hocking-hills/#comments Tue, 19 Jan 2010 18:54:11 +0000 Heather Dugan http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogNEW/?p=3783 http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2010/01/19/in-town-tourist-frozen-falls-in-hocking-hills/feed/ 11 0:00:28 Verdant ferns and mosses nipped at the frosted edges of receding snow.  For the moment winter was in steady retreat, sending occasional drips of icy meltwater to the back of the neck or tip of the nose from sandstone overhangs and swaying hemlock[...] Verdant ferns and mosses nipped at the frosted edges of receding snow.  For the moment winter was in steady retreat, sending occasional drips of icy meltwater to the back of the neck or tip of the nose from sandstone overhangs and swaying hemlock branches. We took advantage of warmer weather and a non-school day to hike in the Hocking Hills this week.  The temporary thaw didn’t extend to all sections of trail -we still did plenty of slipping and sliding, hanging onto rails and trees in spots to keep at least one foot in contact with the ground, but it was renewing to wander the woods without the shivers of the past few weeks.  And it was almost magical to see frozen falls transforming back into waterfalls again. Hiking Heather Dugan no no http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2009/02/24/in-town-tourist-ash-cave-hocking-hills-sp-ohio/ http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2009/02/24/in-town-tourist-ash-cave-hocking-hills-sp-ohio/#comments Tue, 24 Feb 2009 14:16:11 +0000 Heather Dugan http://www.heatherdugan.com/blog/in-town-tourists/in-town-tourist-ash-cave-hocking-hills-sp-ohio/ http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2009/02/24/in-town-tourist-ash-cave-hocking-hills-sp-ohio/feed/ 8 0:01:39   Hocking Hills State Park Visitor Information and Map   It’s never just a walk in the woods. Something happens with that click of the car door and in the steady walk away from instant transportation. The trail appears and th[...]   Hocking Hills State Park Visitor Information and Map   It’s never just a walk in the woods. Something happens with that click of the car door and in the steady walk away from instant transportation. The trail appears and the realignment begins. Footsteps along an unpaved, uncarpeted, unpredictable surface with all of your windows open to the elements. No climate control beyond zipping and unzipping your own jacket. No sound system adjustments but within your choice to converse or simply walk. Ash Cave in the Hocking Hills is named for the remnant ashes left by ancients who once sheltered within the enormous recess. A short paved trail under towering hemlocks provides easy access to the indented sandstone cliff. A waterfall either trickles or pours from high overhead, and sound is transformed in the huge hollowed space. The occasional crack of thawing ice, the whir of rock pigeons flying overhead, the plink of water droplets embedding into melting snow, voices of present day visitors and the echoes of human history…     The trail continues up and around the rim of the cave and back to the parking lot or further on to Cedar Falls as a link in the 1444 mile Buckeye Trail.     We hiked on through mud and glorious sunshine but finally turned back in favor of a better drained trail through Old Man’s Cave. A surprising fifty degree afternoon had thawed much of the ice and snow, saturating the ground. We didn’t mind the mud but opted for the trail that allowed us a faster pace and a longer afternoon…   Hocking Hills State Park Visitor Information and Map Hocking Hills State Park, Ohio Caves, gorges and waterfalls along 26 miles of hiking and riding trails. Canoeing, climbing/rappelling, camping and fishing. Overnight camping and cabin/lodge accommodations. “Yes” for pets (on leash). Address: 19852 State Route 664 S Logan, Ohio 43138 Park Office: 740-385-6842 Camping/Cottage Rental Office: 866-644-6727 Directions: Travel 45 miles southeast of Columbus on US-33. Bear right on OH-664. Visitor Center on left. Park Website View Larger Map Caves, Hiking Heather Dugan no no http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2009/02/19/the-fresh-air-factor/ http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2009/02/19/the-fresh-air-factor/#comments Thu, 19 Feb 2009 18:15:53 +0000 Heather Dugan http://www.heatherdugan.com/blog/in-town-tourists/the-fresh-air-factor/ http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2009/02/19/the-fresh-air-factor/feed/ 9 0:01:54 I spotted a couple of my neighbors circling the third floor track at my gym last night as I folded and unfolded myself in a merciless ab machine. The husband is a faithful power walker.  It’s been inspiring to watch him morph from beginner t[...] I spotted a couple of my neighbors circling the third floor track at my gym last night as I folded and unfolded myself in a merciless ab machine. The husband is a faithful power walker.  It’s been inspiring to watch him morph from beginner to buff over the past few years, blitzing by our yard most afternoons with ankle weights and a cheery wave. But, we hadn’t seen him in a while.  I’d started to worry in the vague sort of way I do when something seems “off.” He confessed that the extreme cold had kept him off our neighborhood streets for a full month.  Like me, he has integrated cardio machines into his regimen.  Like me though, he finds that they don’t fully measure up to outdoor exercise. Part of it is the ultimately limited range of motion on any machine.  The other factor is quite simply “fresh air.” An all-out stair machine work out can get my heart pounding -and my gym has a big screen movie room where a good flick can sustain the dedicated until closing credits.  Rather than risk running on outdoor ice (I’ve matured from reckless to reasonable), I’ve even run the indoor track (once) when I just had to stretch out some muscles.  But “fresh air” always wins… This Saturday will include a “whatever the weather” walk.  We’re getting more snow.  I don’t know yet if it will be good “running” snow -which would be wet enough for traction, but not so wet as to form snowballs under the heels – a hike in the woods sounds refreshing in any case.  Last November, we hiked from “Old Man’s Cave” to “Cedar Falls” in Hocking Hills State Park southeast of Columbus.  Icicles still dangled in the deepest shade, but quick climbs generated enough heat to pull of the gloves and unzip my jacket.  We had started out late in the day, so I had to curb my camera enthusiasm a little, but the deep breaths of trees and forest floor filled me completely.  And that’s the “fresh air” factor… Click here for more on Hocking Hills State Park Caves, Hiking Heather Dugan no no http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2008/02/29/a-winters-walk-hocking-hills-region-ohio-part-2/ http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2008/02/29/a-winters-walk-hocking-hills-region-ohio-part-2/#comments Fri, 29 Feb 2008 19:33:29 +0000 Heather Dugan http://heatherdugan.com/blog/photo/a-winters-walk-hocking-hills-region-ohio-part-2/ http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2008/02/29/a-winters-walk-hocking-hills-region-ohio-part-2/feed/ 10 0:01:04 My sister’s current tag line for virtually all text messages is “I can’t wait ‘til SPRING!” I know; I know… We’ve been well-wintered this year and have the damp piles of snow pants in our laundry rooms to prove it. Over-sized mugs leave the dishwas[...] My sister’s current tag line for virtually all text messages is “I can’t wait ‘til SPRING!” I know; I know… We’ve been well-wintered this year and have the damp piles of snow pants in our laundry rooms to prove it. Over-sized mugs leave the dishwasher only to be refilled with steaming hot chocolate or cider. Sleds and shovels lean at-the-ready against a garage wall, never quite making it back into their storage spaces. “Snow and Ice? Nice…” (Hocking Hills Region; Part One) But, it’s pretty… I’m reminded of the affectionate muttering I did when cleaning up disgusting baby messes… “It’s a good thing you’re so cute.” Ahhh, Winter… It’s a good thing you’re so lovely. Here are some more photos from last weekend’s trek through the Hocking Hills Region. Occasional slick spots were challenging on my surgically-enhanced ankle, but it was well worth the slipping and sliding. It didn’t take my breath away so much as make me grateful to breathe in Winter so deeply. Caves, Extremes, Hiking Heather Dugan no no http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2008/02/27/snow-and-ice-nice-hocking-hills-region-ohio/ http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2008/02/27/snow-and-ice-nice-hocking-hills-region-ohio/#comments Wed, 27 Feb 2008 11:53:33 +0000 Heather Dugan http://heatherdugan.com/blog/audio-mp3/snow-and-ice-nice-hocking-hills-region-ohio/ http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2008/02/27/snow-and-ice-nice-hocking-hills-region-ohio/feed/ 0 0:02:03 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[...] 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… “A Winter’s Walk” (Hocking Hills Region; Part 2) Caves, Extremes, Hiking, Kayak/Canoe Heather Dugan no no