http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA Travels and Journeys... Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:41:18 +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/2011/05/08/crawling-through-caves/ http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2011/05/08/crawling-through-caves/#comments Sun, 08 May 2011 11:17:39 +0000 Heather Dugan http://heatherdugan.com/blog/general-interest/crawling-through-caves/ http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2011/05/08/crawling-through-caves/feed/ 11 http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2011/04/25/road-ends-in-water-mammoth-cave-np-ky/ http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2011/04/25/road-ends-in-water-mammoth-cave-np-ky/#comments Mon, 25 Apr 2011 11:17:46 +0000 Heather Dugan http://www.heatherdugan.com/blog/taking-the-kids/road-ends-in-water-mammoth-cave-np-ky/ http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2011/04/25/road-ends-in-water-mammoth-cave-np-ky/feed/ 14 0:00:54 ...It appeared as a sliver of asphalt, flanked by a Porta John and an operator's booth. As it putttered toward us, it gave physicality to the Irish Blessing: "May the road rise to meet you..." ...It appeared as a sliver of asphalt, flanked by a Porta John and an operator's booth. As it putttered toward us, it gave physicality to the Irish Blessing: "May the road rise to meet you..." Caves Heather Dugan no no http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2011/03/07/rivers-above-and-rivers-below/ http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2011/03/07/rivers-above-and-rivers-below/#comments Mon, 07 Mar 2011 05:05:45 +0000 Heather Dugan http://www.heatherdugan.com/blog/taking-the-kids/rivers-above-and-rivers-below/ http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2011/03/07/rivers-above-and-rivers-below/feed/ 14 0:01:48 The weather forecast called for rain. Lots of it. And we drove through five hours of a steady downpour to get to our drenched destination! Not the ideal start for a spring break get-away, maybe, but when you're headed underground anyway, weather be[...] The weather forecast called for rain. Lots of it. And we drove through five hours of a steady downpour to get to our drenched destination! Not the ideal start for a spring break get-away, maybe, but when you're headed underground anyway, weather becomes an irrelevant and incidental detail... Caves, Hiking Heather Dugan no no http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2010/12/10/mammoth-adventures/ http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2010/12/10/mammoth-adventures/#comments Fri, 10 Dec 2010 05:01:52 +0000 Heather Dugan http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogNEW/?p=7400 http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2010/12/10/mammoth-adventures/feed/ 6 0:02:33 Spring break usually sends us scrambling for some sunshine. This year we headed for the extreme opposite, a cave. Not your usual cavern in a cliff, however, Mammoth Cave National Park is the longest cave system in the world. Measured at 367 miles[...] Spring break usually sends us scrambling for some sunshine. This year we headed for the extreme opposite, a cave. Not your usual cavern in a cliff, however, Mammoth Cave National Park is the longest cave system in the world. Measured at 367 miles so far, its boundaries extend a little further with each year's explorations... Caves 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/2009/05/22/mammoth-cave-national-park-tips-and-facts/ http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2009/05/22/mammoth-cave-national-park-tips-and-facts/#comments Fri, 22 May 2009 22:49:33 +0000 Heather Dugan http://www.heatherdugan.com/blog/taking-the-kids/mammoth-cave-national-park-tips-and-facts/ http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2009/05/22/mammoth-cave-national-park-tips-and-facts/feed/ 13 0:01:46 Mammoth Cave Tips and Facts: Daily/Monthly/Yearly Mammoth Cave Weather Forecast: 54 degrees Fahrenheit with 87% humidity. Bring a jacket in the summer; lose the heavy coat in the winter months!  A shirt, pants and single removable layer work best.[...] Mammoth Cave Tips and Facts: Daily/Monthly/Yearly Mammoth Cave Weather Forecast: 54 degrees Fahrenheit with 87% humidity. Bring a jacket in the summer; lose the heavy coat in the winter months!  A shirt, pants and single removable layer work best. Size: 367 miles so far… Admission: Park entrance is free, but the cave can only be accessed via a purchased tour.  There are many options to suit all ages and abilities.  For the adventurous over the age of 16, there is an all-day caving adventure! Do Bring: Flashlight and camera Do Not Bring: Camera case/backpack/purse or tripod. Call ahead. Available tours vary by season and can fill up during peak periods.  Reserve on-line for peace of mind if you know your schedule ahead of your visit. Camp in the park or try the Hampton Inn in Horse Cave to the north (less crowded and rated slightly higher than the Cave City accommodations).  There are few restaurants in the area(!), but there are the usual fast food places available in Cave City just outside the park.  We carried out from Cracker Barrel and Subway. The Camp Convenience store near the visitor center had gas for $.20 less than anywhere outside the park. We chose the Historic Tour and the Grand Avenue Tour and enjoyed both very much.  The Grand Avenue Tour featured an underground lunch and some more strenuous climbs and descents. It’s more than an amazing and enormous cave.  Hike the trails, canoe/kayak the rivers.   Bike the Mammoth Cave Railroad Bike & Hike Trail (bike rentals available at park hotel).  There are two public ferry crossings in the park and both are free. More on Mammoth Cave National Park Caves, Cycling, Hiking, Kayak/Canoe, Kentucky Heather Dugan no no http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2009/04/07/duck-down-and-think-thin/ http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2009/04/07/duck-down-and-think-thin/#comments Tue, 07 Apr 2009 17:00:51 +0000 Heather Dugan http://www.heatherdugan.com/blog/taking-the-kids/duck-down-and-think-thin/ http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2009/04/07/duck-down-and-think-thin/feed/ 10 0:02:17 Our recent trip to Mammoth Cave National Park left me with a deepened respect for the job of a park ranger. Part professor and part coach with additional measures of management finesse, security awareness and survival skills – the cave guid[...] Our recent trip to Mammoth Cave National Park left me with a deepened respect for the job of a park ranger. Part professor and part coach with additional measures of management finesse, security awareness and survival skills – the cave guides are highly qualified and capable individuals. They seem to hold a deep appreciation for their unique venue and the opportunity it gives them to educate and grow that same appreciation in park visitors. “Ranger John” led us on the Historic tour which originated on Level 2 of the five level cave system*. After passing through the “Rotunda” and site of an early Methodist church, he pointed up to the first and oldest level of the cave at a spot called “Booth’s Amphitheater,” explaining that Edwin Booth (brother of the infamous John Wilkes) had once delivered a monologue to cave visitors there. We descended to Level 3 and wound through the twists and turns eroded by ancient water into what is now called “Fat Man’s Misery”. Mammoth Cave National Park Map and Visitor Information As we stooped and bent to fit through the canyon passage, Matt remarked on his relief that it wasn’t “Batman’s Misery” as he had originally heard. We would (thankfully!) see only one bat on this hike, attached high above us amongst the dramatic columns of the “Ruins of Karnak”. In the “River Hall” on Level 4, Ranger John told us that while the last major flood to this area had occurred in the early 2000′s, visitors are sometimes unnerved to hear the River Styx coursing through Level 5 when water levels are high. He then proceeded to share the “4 Rules of Safe Caving” for those of us who view dark unknown spaces as worthy of exploration. The 4 Rules of Safe Caving: 4) Never explore with less than 4 people in the group. This allows one to stay with an injured party while two go for help. 3) Always take 3 sources of light. A long-lasting LED flashlight is recommended as well as a lighter or candle that can provide heat and indicate air flow. 2) Always tell someone where you are going and when you expect to return. 1) If you get lost in the dark sit down where you are and stay put. *Five levels have been verified. Any additional levels are underwater at this geological time. For more on Mammoth Cave National Park, select “Mammoth Cave” under “National Parks” or “Kentucky” in Post Categories (right sidebar). Mammoth Cave National Park Map and Visitor Information The largest cave system in the world; 367 miles so far…! Miles of trails both above and below ground. Hiking, biking, kayak/canoe, horseback riding, hunting/fishing, camping… “Yes” for pets (not in Cave; kennel available within park) Park Fees: None for park entry. Cave tours range from $5 – $48.00 with discounts for youth and senior citizens. Mailing Address: P.O. Box 7; Mammoth Cave, KY 42259 Phone: 270-758-2180 Directions: Travel south on I-65 from Louisville, KY. Take Mammoth Cave/Cave City exit 53 and follow the signs to Mammoth Cave NP. Park Website View Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky in a larger map Caves, Hiking Heather Dugan no no http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2009/04/03/underground-in-kentucky-mammoth-cave-national-park/ http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2009/04/03/underground-in-kentucky-mammoth-cave-national-park/#comments Fri, 03 Apr 2009 16:56:03 +0000 Heather Dugan http://www.heatherdugan.com/blog/taking-the-kids/underground-in-kentucky-mammoth-cave-national-park/ http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2009/04/03/underground-in-kentucky-mammoth-cave-national-park/feed/ 14 0:02:33 Spring break usually sends us scrambling for some sunshine. This year we headed for the extreme opposite, a cave. Not your usual cavern in a cliff, however, Mammoth Cave National Park is the longest cave system in the world. Measured at 367 mile[...] Spring break usually sends us scrambling for some sunshine. This year we headed for the extreme opposite, a cave. Not your usual cavern in a cliff, however, Mammoth Cave National Park is the longest cave system in the world. Measured at 367 miles so far, its boundaries extend a little further with each year’s explorations. While entrance to the park is free, admittance into the cave requires a purchased tour with a park ranger guide. In a labyrinth of Mammoth Cave’s magnitude, no one wanders alone. Every twisting turn reveals new geology with passages and crevices opening in multiple directions. Standing in one place and doing a slow spin around can reveal just as many surprises. On our Grand Avenue tour, we hiked for four and a half hours climbing up and down to an eventual depth of 267 feet. It’s rated a “difficult” route with 670 stairs and hills that climb (and fall) more than 60 feet in places. The surface can be slick and the light is kept as dim as possible in an effort to maintain the cave’s natural conditions. Algae doesn’t require much light to grow and compromise the natural rock surfaces in these moist conditions. Mammoth Cave National Park Map and Visitor Information Passages varied from cavernous rooms and climbs that reminded me of the “National Treasure” and “Indiana Jones” movies to narrowed trails that felt similar to Utah’s slot canyons -but with eventual ceilings this time. My mind was in a constant state of “wow”. Midway through our adventure, the group stopped for an optional lunch in the Snowball Room named for the globular knobs on its ceiling. Once snow white, the orbs were discolored long ago by the oil lamps of early visitors. Side passages still contain unspoiled formations. It was slightly surreal, sipping hot soup at a picnic table far beneath the rolling Kentucky woods we’d hiked the previous day. Our guide on the Grand Avenue tour, Jerry Bransford, is the great-great grandson of one of the original slave guides, Mat. Cave history includes tales from the previous four generations of Jerry’s own family. Riveting. He shined a flashlight on a tribute to Mat’s brother Nick, written with candle smoke more than 150 years ago.The spectacular geology of Mammoth Cave was no real surprise; the stories of slaves and kings and Archaic Indians were unexpected, fascinating and will be shared in a future posting. *Ultra low lighting and a “no tripod/monopod rule made photography a challenge! My human “duopod” Matt lent his head and shoulder when necessary to steady my camera. Mammoth Cave National Park Map and Visitor Information The largest cave system in the world; 367 miles so far…! Miles of trails both above and below ground. Hiking, biking, kayak/canoe, horseback riding, hunting/fishing, camping… “Yes” for pets (not in Cave; kennel available within park) Park Fees: None for park entry. Cave tours range from $5 – $48.00 with discounts for youth and senior citizens. Mailing Address: P.O. Box 7; Mammoth Cave, KY 42259 Phone: 270-758-2180 Directions: Travel south on I-65 from Louisville, KY. Take Mammoth Cave/Cave City exit 53 and follow the signs to Mammoth Cave NP. Park Website View Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky in a larger map Caves, Hiking Heather Dugan no no http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2009/03/28/it-grew-mammoth-cave-national-park-kentucky/ http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2009/03/28/it-grew-mammoth-cave-national-park-kentucky/#comments Sat, 28 Mar 2009 18:13:54 +0000 Heather Dugan http://www.heatherdugan.com/blog/taking-the-kids/it-grew-mammoth-cave-national-park-kentucky/ http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2009/03/28/it-grew-mammoth-cave-national-park-kentucky/feed/ 12 0:01:11 Mammoth Cave National Park Map and Visitor Information The washer and dryer have been humming along all morning, one of the measures of a truly great vacation. We were limited to a shorter get-away this time but found a great adventure within a [...] Mammoth Cave National Park Map and Visitor Information The washer and dryer have been humming along all morning, one of the measures of a truly great vacation. We were limited to a shorter get-away this time but found a great adventure within a mere five hour drive from Columbus: Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky. My childhood memories of the cave area lacked the wonderful details we discovered this time around. ~And this is perhaps the first time that a place was actually larger than I remembered. Massive-sized memories of our elementary schools or family home backyards usually shrink a few sizes upon a revisit, seldom measuring up to the vision captured in our youth. Not this time. Mammoth Cave had actually grown since my last visit. More correctly, the discovered areas of the cave have grown now to a remarkable three hundred sixty seven miles, around ten of which are available to tour with a park ranger. We hiked six or seven of those hidden miles.We also enjoyed hiking the above ground terrain of Mammoth Cave National Park. Even the rain seemed to accommodate us, occurring mostly during the times we were underground, making Mammoth Cave an ideal non-weather dependent get-away! Mammoth Cave National Park Map and Visitor Information The largest cave system in the world; 367 miles so far…! Miles of trails both above and below ground. Hiking, biking, kayak/canoe, horseback riding, hunting/fishing, camping… “Yes” for pets (not in Cave; kennel available within park) Park Fees: None for park entry. Cave tours range from $5 – $48.00 with discounts for youth and senior citizens. Mailing Address: P.O. Box 7; Mammoth Cave, KY 42259 Phone: 270-758-2180 Directions: Travel south on I-65 from Louisville, KY. Take Mammoth Cave/Cave City exit 53 and follow the signs to Mammoth Cave NP. Park Website View Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky in a larger map Caves, 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