Up close with Pat Quackenbush; Hocking Hills Naturalist / ghost hunter

Hocking Hills is full of wonderful creatures...

Pat's dance moves

Not the least of which is its Naturalist Supervisor, Pat Quakenbush, who was recently honored by the Hocking Hills Tourism Association with the Keith Fox Award, which was established in 2014 to recognize extraordinary tourism leadership.

I had the chance to sit down with Pat last spring and chat about deep gorges, horned devils, vampires, prohibition, baseball bats, epic pirate battles, and since Pat moonlights as a professional ghost-hunter, we even delved into the truly unnatural.     
 

The old man in the cave at Hocking Hills

 Richard Rowe and the Old Man's Cave

 Old Man’s Cave is a well-known name in the Hocking Hills of southeastern Ohio. A favorite hiking destination, Old Man’s Cave Ohio is arguably the most popular of the six areas at Hocking Hills State Park. A mile-long gorge at Old Man’s Cave displays a variety of geologic features, including waterfalls, sandstone cliffs and rock formations with names like the Devil’s Bathtub, Sphinx Head, Eagle Rock and Whale in the Wall.  Old Man’s Cave is also home to the 149-foot-tall hemlock that’s said to be the tallest tree in Ohio.

The name Old Man’s Cave refers to the rock shelter that was once the home of Richard Rowe, a 19th-century hermit who is said to be buried beneath a cave ledge on the premises.

The Rowe family lived in the Cumberland Mountains in eastern Tennessee, before beginning their journey to the Hocking Hills State Park area.   

Living on the edge: A geological primer of Hocking Hills

Rock Bridge, Hocking Hills

The Hocking Hills region is a stunning anomaly.  Chockablock full of magnificent gorges and waterfalls, outlandish cliff sides, rock formations, and rare plants and animals that would require a hundred miles of travel just to find another one like it.  You see, the Hocking Hills region is unique because it always seems to find itself perched right on the edge.


The actual rock itself, is a type of sandstone, made up of different particles that were once floating along in rivers and streams.  As those rivers and streams entered a shallow sea, they slowed down, and the particles began to settle to the bottom.   Back then the Hocking Hills area had more of a coastal feel to it, right on the edge of a large body of water.  To be fair, this was a while back.  In fact we’re talking before dinosaurs!  Over time, that sediment compressed and developed in layers of rock several hundred feet thick. 

Hocking Hills alternative: Lake Hope

Millions of visitors traipse through the Hocking Hills each year.  Word on the street is that the state park camp ground books up months in advance.  Fear not, there is a hidden gem tucked in about 20 miles southeast of Hocking Hills, surrounded on all sides by over 26,000 acres of state forest land.  Complete with a pristine lake, a great BBQ joint, world class mountain biking, camping, hiking, and a wealth of history.  Lake Hope State Park might be a worthwhile backup spot.     

Shopping in the Hocking Hills

Sure we have majestic cliffs, rushing waterfalls, and towering cedars, but then what?  Well, shopping is a time honored part of any vacation!  We’re here to help.  You won’t find any malls or Pier 1 Imports, and with the exception of Wal-Mart, no local shopping destinations you’ll recognize from back home.  However, you will find plenty of handmade items, rustic and country décor, antiques, crafts, outdoor gear and such. 

We’ve put together 3 shopping specific day trip excursions with clickable headings that give round trip driving directions from Canal Winchester. 

Bald Eagles: by the numbers

4 seasons in a row, a nesting pair of bald eagles has raised young near our campgrounds.

4 pounds is the Bald Eagle’s maximum lifting weight.

8 feet is the maximum wingspan of Bald Eagles.

35 days from egg laying to egg hatching.

35 MPH is a Bald Eagles maximum level flight speed.

417 is the lowest recorded number of nesting pairs, in 1963.

2000 pounds is the weight of large Bald Eagles nests. 

How deep is the Hocking River?

Well that depends on how much water is in the Hocking River, as well as where in the river you happen to be when you ask that question! 

Fortunately, the United States Geological Survey provides that answer.  The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) started keeping tabs on how much water is in rivers in 1889.  The first river was the Rio Grande in New Mexico to help determine if there was adequate water for irrigation purposes to encourage new development and western expansion. Since then the program has grown.  The USGS currently operates over 7,000 stream gauging stations nationwide. 

Winter Driving Tips

Many visitors to the Hocking Hills comments on the hilly curvy nature of many of its roads.  For the locals, well, it’s just the way home.  To visitors, particularly in in “off-season” conditions, these roads can seem quite treacherous!

We’re here to help. 

In the hills, portions of the road are in deeper shade, possibly getting water run-off from cliff sides, and can remain frozen after the rest of the road way seems okay.  Alternately many of the roads up on the ridges experience drift, with portions of the road in front of you simply disappearing for a moment under a light blanket of drifting snow. 

Here are our top 5 winter driving tips, direct from the Hocking Hills “locals”!

Planning a camping trip to the Hocking Hills

Great idea!  The Hocking Hills is the perfect Ohio destination for families, couples, reunions, and groups.  A day trip or a weekend getaway, the hills are sure to please!

 DRIVING FROM COLUMBUS:

Route 33 is regularly patrolled.  The speed limit is 60 mph from Columbus to just south of the Speedway and McDonalds in Carrol, where it goes to 70 mph for about 15 miles before dropping back down to 60 mph.  Further down 33 is a Sunoco and Subway on the right at the entrance road to Clear Creek Metro Park.   A few miles further on the left is a GoMart gas station and deli near the entrance to Canopy Tours.

After the rest area the speed limit goes back up to 70 mph.  The route 664 round-a-bouts finished in 2014 have been dressed out and are fully operational.  They are nothing more than yielding intersections usually without the need to come to a full stop.  The signage is pretty clear, just treat them like mini on ramps, yielding as you adjust your speed to flow into any traffic around the circles towards your destination.    

Why traffic circles in Hocking Hills?

CAMPING:

Plan ahead!  During peak season, deciding just to drive down on Friday evening to get a camp site in the Hocking Hills is typically an unsuccessful strategy.  The State Park campgrounds books way in advance.  Most all other campgrounds in the area do fill up on in-season weekends.   

 In addition to the campgrounds right in the Hocking Hills area proper, don’t forget to check out Burr Oak or Lake Hope, both great state park camping in the surrounding area.  Also, free primitive camping is allowed in nearby Wayne National Forest, called dispersed camping. 

The Logan Wal-Mart  is open 24 hours should you have forgotten that critical piece of gear.

 For more info try the Hocking hills Welcome Center at 1-800-HOCKING

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We offer primitive camping and camper cabin rentals right here at our livery in the heart of the Hocking Hills!  Primitive sites are $32 up to four people with a 2 night minimum on weekends. Learn more here

Canoeing the Hocking River is a great way to get a new perspective on the beauty of the Hocking Hills.  We offer 5 and 7 mile trips that allow time f to get in something else, or if you want, take all day, relax and enjoy!  Info on river trips.    

NOTE:  You are always welcome to just stop by here at Fox’s Canoe Livery for a little “old fashion chin-wagging” as well as maps, brochures, tips and recommendations.