http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogNEW Travels and Journeys... Wed, 08 Sep 2010 02:00:26 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 2006-2010 heather@heatherdugan.com (Heather Dugan) heather@heatherdugan.com (Heather Dugan) posts 1440 http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogNEW/wp-content/plugins/podpress/images/powered_by_podpress.jpg http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogNEW 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/blogNEW/2010/01/26/in-town-tourist-rock-house/ http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogNEW/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/blogNEW/2010/01/26/in-town-tourist-rock-house/feed/ 5 0:57 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 ... 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. Ancient Cultures, Caves, Hiking, Hocking Hills State Park, Ohio Heather Dugan no no http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogNEW/2009/04/17/rivers-above-and-rivers-below/ http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogNEW/2009/04/17/rivers-above-and-rivers-below/#comments Fri, 17 Apr 2009 16:55:45 +0000 Heather Dugan http://www.heatherdugan.com/blog/taking-the-kids/rivers-above-and-rivers-below/ http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogNEW/2009/04/17/rivers-above-and-rivers-below/feed/ 10 1:48 The weather forecast called for rain. Lots of it. ~And we drove through five hours of a steady downpour to get to our ... 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. Each time we ventured underground at Mammoth Cave National Park, we knew exactly what to expect: Slightly damp and 54 degrees Fahrenheit. Above ground, we never knew. Our first afternoon we started hiking the River Bluff trail in a drizzle. By the time we gained view of the Green River though, the rain had slowed to occasional drips that added a pleasing glisten to the striking colors of the woods. "Green" varied from almost white lichen to springy yellow-green moss to edgy shades tinged with black. Stone and tree accentuated one another with contrasting grays and browns, and a spread of fall leaves framed insistent spring flowers. We found ourselves adding one more trail, and then another, until we'd covered most of the terrain surrounding the Visitor Center area. Highlights included misted views of the meandering Green River and of a one time steamboat landing that had delivered visitors to Mammoth Cave in the early 1900's. We also found hints of the grandeur below: The icy blue green waters of the subterranean River Styx that spilled free of the cave into a nestled pool before flowing on to the Green River. And the Mammoth Dome Sink, one of many unremarkable looking bowl-shaped depressions that funnel surface water into the caves below. We wondered who might be walking far below us on a cave trail; it was a strange sensation to know a labyrinth lay just below our feet. Mammoth Cave National Park Map and Visitor Information 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 1 Adult/3 Children, Caves, Hiking, Kentucky, Mammoth Cave National Park Heather Dugan no no http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogNEW/2009/04/07/duck-down-and-think-thin/ http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogNEW/2009/04/07/duck-down-and-think-thin/#comments Tue, 07 Apr 2009 18:00:51 +0000 Heather Dugan http://www.heatherdugan.com/blog/taking-the-kids/duck-down-and-think-thin/ http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogNEW/2009/04/07/duck-down-and-think-thin/feed/ 7 2:17 Our recent trip to Mammoth Cave National Park left me with a deepened respect for the job of a park ranger. Part professor and ... 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 Psst!! That "Blogging Sisterhood Award" in the right sidebar is new! Donna Hull of "My Itchy Travel Feet" graciously passed it on to me this week, and it is my honor to name Cate, the "Caffeinated Traveler", as the next award recipient. A New Zealand native, Cate has spent the past six years working and exploring her way around Asia. She excels at sharing details that truly make the reader a part of her journey and always includes some terrific photos! 1 Adult/3 Children, Caves, Hiking, Kentucky, Mammoth Cave National Park Heather Dugan no no http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogNEW/2009/04/03/underground-in-kentucky-mammoth-cave-national-park/ http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogNEW/2009/04/03/underground-in-kentucky-mammoth-cave-national-park/#comments Fri, 03 Apr 2009 17:56:03 +0000 Heather Dugan http://www.heatherdugan.com/blog/taking-the-kids/underground-in-kentucky-mammoth-cave-national-park/ http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogNEW/2009/04/03/underground-in-kentucky-mammoth-cave-national-park/feed/ 13 2:33 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 ... 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 1 Adult/3 Children, Caves, Hiking, Kentucky, Mammoth Cave National Park Heather Dugan no no http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogNEW/2009/03/28/it-grew-mammoth-cave-national-park-kentucky/ http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogNEW/2009/03/28/it-grew-mammoth-cave-national-park-kentucky/#comments Sat, 28 Mar 2009 19:13:54 +0000 Heather Dugan http://www.heatherdugan.com/blog/taking-the-kids/it-grew-mammoth-cave-national-park-kentucky/ http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogNEW/2009/03/28/it-grew-mammoth-cave-national-park-kentucky/feed/ 12 1:11 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 ... 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 1 Adult/3 Children, Caves, Hiking, Kentucky, Mammoth Cave National Park Heather Dugan no no http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogNEW/2009/02/24/in-town-tourist-ash-cave-hocking-hills-sp-ohio/ http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogNEW/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/blogNEW/2009/02/24/in-town-tourist-ash-cave-hocking-hills-sp-ohio/feed/ 7 1:39   Hocking Hills State Park Visitor Information and Map   It's never just a walk in the woods. Something happens with that click of ...   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, Hocking Hills State Park, Ohio Heather Dugan no no http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogNEW/2009/02/19/the-fresh-air-factor/ http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogNEW/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/blogNEW/2009/02/19/the-fresh-air-factor/feed/ 9 1:54 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 ... 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 -Southeastern Ohio, Caves, Hiking, Hocking Hills State Park, Ohio, Running/Health & Fitness Heather Dugan no no http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogNEW/2008/02/29/a-winters-walk-hocking-hills-region-ohio-part-2/ http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogNEW/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/blogNEW/2008/02/29/a-winters-walk-hocking-hills-region-ohio-part-2/feed/ 10 1:04 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 ... 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, Hocking Hills State Park, Ohio Heather Dugan no no http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogNEW/2008/02/27/snow-and-ice-nice-hocking-hills-region-ohio/ http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogNEW/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/blogNEW/2008/02/27/snow-and-ice-nice-hocking-hills-region-ohio/feed/ 0 2:03 Hibernation is not a real option for most mammals, although many attempt it in one form or another as a “winter dodge”. Cooking endless ... 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, Hocking Hills State Park, Kayak/Canoe, Ohio Heather Dugan no no http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogNEW/2007/08/28/crawling-through-caves/ http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogNEW/2007/08/28/crawling-through-caves/#comments Wed, 29 Aug 2007 00:33:39 +0000 Heather Dugan http://heatherdugan.com/blog/general-interest/crawling-through-caves/ http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogNEW/2007/08/28/crawling-through-caves/feed/ 0