An ICY Visit to Hocking Hills State Park, Ohio

Us at the base of ASH CAVE FALLS,  Hocking Hills State Park, Ohio 3/10/14

This past Friday I published photos from George's Birthday trip to Ohio.  If you missed that post,  click HERE.   Today I'll show you more photos from our wonderful trip to the Hocking Hills State Park,  near Logan,  Ohio  (from 3/9 - 3/12). 

The photo above was us standing in front of the HUGE ice mound at the base of Ash Cave Falls.  Below are more ---so be sure and click on the photos for enlargements.

ASH CAVE FALLS  (90 feet) at Hocking Hills State Park, 3/10/14

We love this waterfall.  Its setting in that huge cave is just AWESOME.  We had seen this waterfall twice before --but this is the most water we have ever seen coming over the falls.  Pretty,  isn't it??? (You can see how huge this area is when looking at the person (in the red shirt) standing there on the right.)

Here's another photo showing ASH CAVE. 

This girl LOVES sitting on a rock (Ash Cave)--while hubby takes more photos with his tripod.

Us at Ash Cave Falls,  Hocking Hills State Park, 3/10/14

Neither George nor I are 'tiny' people---but standing in front of that huge waterfall and cave certainly made us look tiny here...

Me---standing in front of LOWER FALLS,  Old Man's Cave, Hocking HIlls State Park, 3/10/14

On Friday,  I showed a photo of George and me in front of LOWER FALLS,  at Old Man's Cave in Hocking Hills State Park.  At that time,  I mentioned what a hard time we had finding a way to get down to see this beautiful waterfall.

SO---today,  I will show you the way we had to come in order to get down here and back up!!!!!  Fun fun...

Tunnel where we went in order to get down to Lower Falls

Here is the tunnel we went through...  Luckily,  there was no ice inside here --but it was dark in there!!

George at the other end of that dark tunnel

The ICY trail in order to get down to Lower Falls

The cliffs around us---as we worked our way DOWN to the bottom of the gorge

The ICY stairs we had to take

This  was the scariest part of that climb down/up... The steps were icy ---but luckily,  we had some handrails to hang onto!!!!!! 

A neat photo I took showing the bottom of LOWER FALLS

We  did make it down (and back up) without falling!  We were lucky since there weren't many other ways one could take in order to get there.  (We needed cleats in order to manipulate most of the ice at Old Man's Cave.)

George near some huge icicles at Conkles Hallow,  Hocking Hills State Park, 2/11/14

The next day we went to the Conkles Hollow area---where we saw 3 waterfalls... I'll let George share the photos of the waterfalls we saw there.  I did post one of them (Lost Falls) in Friday's blog.

FINALLY,  some snow to stand on!!!!!   We didn't see much snow this trip--but when we did see snow or MUD,  I didn't complain at all.  Anything is better than ICE to walk on!!

More Rock-Sitting   (I can do that well!!!! ha)

While at Conkles Hollow,  I rested my aching knee (which I had hurt the day before)--while George hiked farther in order to get more great photos.

Lunch at a picnic table near the Conkles Hollow area

Give me a banana and some peanut butter --and I have a great lunch anyday!!!!!

Icicles and pretty rock colors at the ROCK HOUSE area,  Hocking Hills State Park, 3/11/14

Next we went to the ROCK HOUSE area of Hocking Hills State Park.  This is where there is another neat cave ---and where the rock colors are TERRIFIC.

Looking into the cave from outside (Rock House area)

Here's a photo showing the area where we could get inside the cave at the Rock House on 3/11/14.

Inside the ROCK HOUSE (cave) at Hocking Hills State Park, 3/11/14

Inside,  we thought we'd be able to get AWAY from the ice ---but there was ice inside also.   See it on the right?????

Me inside of the Rock House

We could hear the Pigeons 'cooing' above us in the cave--but couldn't see them.

Us at the ROCK HOUSE,  Hocking Hills State Park, Ohio, 3/11/14

I'll close with one more photo of the two of us taken at the ROCK HOUSE area.  Hocking Hills is a gorgeous state park and we enjoyed it despite the ICE.  IF you ever get to Ohio,  check out this park.  It is divided into several areas:  Old Man's Cave (the most popular area);  Cedar Falls;  Ash Cave;  Conkles Hollow; Rock House;  and Cantwell Cliffs.  Our favorite areas this trip were: Ash Cave,  Old Man's Cave,  Conkles Hollow and Rock House....

I'll try to post again on Friday,  the 21st IF I have time... Hope you have a great week. We are very busy beavers around here this month.  Happy St. Patrick's Day today!!!!  Wear your GREEN --so you won't get pinched!!!!!!

Hugs,

Emoticons

An ICY Waterfall Birthday Trip

George in front of some of the massive ICICLES at OLD MAN'S CAVE at Hocking Hills, 3/10/14

As most of you know,  my Sweetheart  (GEORGE ADAMS) had a birthday on Sunday, March 9.  In order to celebrate that birthday,  we took a trip north to one of our favorite state parks,  Hocking Hills near Logan, Ohio.  WELL---we knew we might see some snow in that area since we all have had such a wickedly cold winter.  What we didn't anticipate was seeing ALL ICE (almost no snow --but tons of ICE)...  Unbelievable---but gorgeous (even though trying to walk on it was dangerous)....

BUT--my goal was for George to get to see water coming over the 8 waterfalls in that area which we saw... (We had been to Hocking Hills twice before and loved the area --but when we were there,  there was VERY little water coming over the falls.)  We did accomplish that goal --plus much more!!!!

Today and Monday,  I will share with you some birthday photos of my Cutie Pie,  and also a few of the many photos we took while there this week.  Be sure to click on the photos to see enlargements.

George standing in front of the huge ice mound at the bottom of ASH CAVE FALLS, 3/10/14

The Ash Cave area of Hocking Hills State Park was our favorite place to visit this time.  The water coming over that 90 feet high waterfall was fantastic!!!!!

The trails were TOTAL ICE at Old Man's Cave (looks like snow --but it was all-ice) --and dangerous! (Snow would have been alot prettier --and not nearly as dangerous... Oh Well!)

Here is a photo of the Birthday Boy trying to walk on the ice in order to get photos.  We both FELL once --and I was the unlucky one,  twisting my right knee!!!!!  Fun Fun...  However,  I didn't allow that pain to get me down--but was MUCH more careful the rest of the trip!

Our weather when we were there this week was AWESOME --and quite warm, despite all of the ice still down in the gorges and shady areas at the state park.

The next day (3/11/14) --when we visited CONKLES HOLLOW

This is another of our favorite areas of that state park.   This year though,  George got some fantastic photos of 3 different waterfalls there... We had never ever seen ONE DROP of water coming over  2 or the 3 falls before ---so this time,  it was GREAT seeing those waterfalls...

One of George's awesome waterfall photos at CONKLES HOLLOW

This is one of 3 beautiful waterfalls at CONKLES HOLLOW (3/11/14).  This one is named Lost Falls and is inside a small cave at the end of the Conkles Hollow trail.

George inside the cave at ROCK HOUSE,  Hocking Hills State Park, 3/11/14

Another area of this state park which we enjoyed was the Rock House area.  We love being inside that cave since the colors are so gorgeous.  However,  we couldn't even get away from the ICE even inside the cave ---since there was ice inside also!!!! ha

George's birthday cake this year was a Strawberry Cream Cheese Cake  (YUM)

You will have to pretend that there were 72 candles on this cake!!!!!   (I didn't want to burn the room down!!!! ha)

A happy man getting ready to make a WISH!!!!

And he HUFFED and he PUFFED ---and managed to blow out all 72 candles!!!!  (What a Guy!)

Cards are always special on birthdays.  This one was from his sister!

And this one was from his 'bride'..... 

Us at Lower Falls at OLD MAN'S CAVE (3/10/14)

I'll close with one of my favorite places at Old Man's Cave,  LOWER FALLS.  We were thrilled to see so much water coming over this waterfalls this time.  BUT--you wouldn't believe how hard it was for us to find a way to get down here to see this waterfall.... We had to go through a tunnel --and down some ICY steps in order to get here... BUT--we made it!!!!!! (Pictures of that climb down that area later)....

All in all,  it was a fabulous trip --and one we will be talking about FOREVER.   I wanted it to be a great 'waterfall' trip for George for his birthday --and that definitely happened...

Hope you had a wonderful week.  I'll share more photos from his adventure on Monday.  Have a fantastic weekend.

Hugs,

Emoticons

Someone I know and LOVE has a Birthday on Sunday!

At Petit Jean State Park (2/24/14)--with the Arkansas River in the background

Today,  I am featuring my Sweetheart --who has a birthday on Sunday (March 9)...  Shhhh!!!  Don't tell George that I told you that he's going to be 72 years young on Sunday!!!!!  He's SO much older than I am you know!!!!  (I won't turn 72 'til August... Tee hee).....  BUT--we both think of ourselves as young kids ---even though the aches and pains certainly tell us sometimes that we can't do things we used to be able to do! But---we still TRY!  ha

This blog post today consists of more of our pictures from last week's trip to Mt. Nebo in Arkansas.  As you can imagine,  I always enjoy taking LOTS of pictures of my Honey Pie!  Hope you enjoy the photos today!  Be sure to click on them for enlargements.

At Rock House Cave at Petit Jean State Park,  2/24/14

At Bear Cave at Petit Jean State Park, 2/24/14

At Mt. Magazine State Park,  at Signal Hill,  2/26/14

At Mt. Magazine State Park, at one of the overlooks  (on a VERY cold day), 2/26/14

At Turtle Rocks at Petit Jean State Park, 2/27/14

MY HERO----holding up a huge boulder so that I could walk under it!!!!!   (har har) ....On the Cedar Falls trail,  Petit Jean State Park, 2/27/14

At Cedar Falls,  Petit Jean State Park, Arkansas 2/27/14

 

A fantastic photo of 90 ft high Cedar Falls,  Petit Jean State Park,  taken by my Sweetie Pie with his tripod and special filters.... Awesome,  isn't it?   (2/27/14)

Late in the afternoon at our wonderful cabin at Mt. Nebo State Park, Arkansas,  2/27/14

She says "THANK YOU" for loving ME --and bringing me here (cabin at Mt. Nebo State Park, Arkansas, 2/27/14)

Hope you enjoyed seeing more photos from Arkansas... Now --would you please go to  George's blog (click HERE)---and wish him a very Happy Birthday!!!!   THANKS!

We are going to be celebrating this next week---so here comes another Blogging Break for me!!!!  I want to spend every second of every day with him!  I'll either post an update on Friday the 14th,  or Monday the 17th  to let you know about all of the UPCOMING FUN we will have this next week!!!!!

Have a wonderful week... Love and HUGS to you ALL,  and thanks for being patient with us this month!!!  We are just scheduled to the BRIM!

Hugs,

Emoticons