Camping in Hocking Hills (Part 1)

About 3 hours south of our home, in Hocking County is some of the most naturally beautiful areas in all of the state. Hocking Hills was carved out by seas that predate human existence. There are caves, lakes, waterfalls, hills, massive trees, and trails that run through all of them. For Sarah's uncle's birthday the whole family went camping in Hocking Hills. Needless to say I got a substantial amount of pictures. Here is part one of our trip.

Friday

We left after Sarah got home from work on Friday around 7:00 pm or so. Our eta placed us at the campground at approximately 10:00 pm.

Speed limit was 70 before you freak out (five over is the acceptable limit).

Followed closely by Sarah (I had to leave early on Sunday for work so we had to drive separately).

After we finally got our tent set up we joined the party by the campfire.

Saturday

When I woke up in the morning to do some morning "duties" I found out that the restrooms were actually outhouses. Roughing it indeed. Nevertheless I pushed through and persevered.

The throne.

Some of our tents set up.

Breakfast time (Eggs, bacon, and donuts).

Minnie waking up in the tent.

After we all got up, ate, and some of us showered we drove down to the visitor center and headed on back to Old Man's Cave.

Sarah by the entrance sign.

The above sign may be hard to read, but basically it says that the cave was named after and old man named Richard Rowe. Richard was a hermit who came to the area in 1796 from Tennessee. He lived in the large cave for the remainder of his life, hunting and scavenging the hills and forest around him. When he died he was buried under the ledge of the main recess of the cave.

By the entrance of the Old Man's Cave trail there is a log cabin residing on the ledge. This cabin is a replica of one that was home to earlier residents Nathaniel and Pat Rayon. They came into the area in 1795 and when they died they were also buried in the or near the cave. Richard and these two brothers were neighbors in life and into the afterlife. For more information you  can check out the Hocking Hills website here.

The cabin replica at the top of the hill.

Into the abyss.

Old Man's Cave.

At the bottom there was an old stone bridge leading across the creek. this is where we met up with the rest of the group and continued the trip.

To be continued...