Hey Dub!

“You gonna send em to me or what? lol”

“how many Hey Dub threads are there? This has to be like the tenth.”

“She's new, she doesn't know better to start a new thread instead of using an old one ;-)

Honestly I forgot...but I'm gonna send StormBringer some food on the AT tomorrow or Monday, I'll put them with the box so I remember!”

“You forgot??? Man, that's a lousy excuse! You're supposed to say your dad died or your mom's sick and you couldn't get to the post office or something ;)”

“LOL, unlike the Sponge I don't have to make up lame excuses that contradict each other. I just forgot!”

“I keep getting sidetracked; this is from earlier tonight, but hey, you've got mail...”

“dub's been too busy trollin'”

“Hey Dub.. beings that you are in Ohio..

What would you list as the top 3-5 places on the must see list for hikers.. in the Ohio area.. within a days drive..”

“damn TD, you using another playa to score points for you. Why don't you just give her Dub's email ;)”

“dang.. was it THAT transparent?..

lol..”

“but ya.. I clicked that link first.. I hear about Zalecki a lot..

but figured your first hand account would be invaluable.”

“Don't wander too far off the trail at Zaleski though -- I've never seen so much poison ivy just randomly and rampantly growing throughout the forest...”

“Stupid internet, I had this long detailed post and internet explorer died and lost it all.

Anyway, the Big Z isn't all that. It's very hilly, not too scenic, and way way overcrowded, especially on weekends. It would be my last backpacking destination in Ohio.

Depending on if I was doing a 2-3 day trip I would either do Archers Fork or Vesuvius. Archers fork is about 10 miles and is great for an overnighter. Lots of scenerey, rugged yet well kept trail, lots of caves and little areas to explore. If you're headed in late on a Friday I'd do Vesuvius and hike counter-clockwise a couple miles in to the Pine forest. You can camp anywhere, this area is nice as the trees are huge, ground is soft, and water near by. If you hike a few more miles and up a hill there's a nice meadow to camp. Second day just camp wherever you feel like. There are also lots of side trails to explore.

Shawnee would be my second pick. It's a big trail but you can split it up to smaller hikes.

If you're gonna be in the area for awhile and want something more scenic, I think Dolly Sods (5 hours from Columbus) is the most scenic park in the region. I would pick that area over any, but if you want something close in Ohio I'd do those.

If you're wanting to day hike head to Hocking Hills and see Old Man's cave. Conkles Hollow in the park is a must see as well as Ash Cave. I'd also recommend Clifton Gorge State Park as well, it's beautiful and has a short dayhike, but not as much to see as Hocking Hills.

If you need anything else, just email me! Pictures of some of the trails I listed are on my webpage, but most of them I took before I went digital so they haven't made it up yet.”

“Zaleski's biggest problem is that it is a few miles from Athens. During "camping season" the kids from OU hike into the first campsite and party. I've also seen some people drive up to that campsite on the north end to drop their equipment off, and then slack pack from the TH. That being said, Zaleski can be pretty nice during the off-season. When I was last there in the fall the portion of the trail through the turkey managmenet area had been re-reouted to offer more views of surrounding rock formations and caves. The beaver pond on the southern end of the trail was almost to the trail in some spots. Also, the back campsite is on a ridge that has some nice views of the surrounding area when the leaves are off the trees. Or an open canopy in the camp sites when the skies are clear. My biggest complaint has alway's been the last section of trail when hiking counter clockwise. It crosses the same damn creek about 20 times and offers up only a few places where there are some rock formations. Now if they could just re-route that portion of trail.”

“lol...somehow i just stumbled across this thread. td thanks for researching for me.hyway thanks for looking out for me;). dub and silent j it is good to see other ohioans on here would love to get some more advice on the local here.”

“You can drive up to all the campsites at the Big Z I think and then slack pack. I always leave my pack by the road on my way back and pick it up when I get my car.

Do you know TD woolcap? Are you just now getting into bacpacking? Just moved to the area?”

“Sounds like woolcap needs to sign up for the Dolly Sods trip if she survives my trip to the Smokies in a couple of weeks.”

“Dolly Sods is friggin' awesome.”

“what about woolcap, is she friggin' awesome too?”

“I let ya know after I find out how much she whines when she is climbing up a long 3500' pull..”

“you have to wait till then;) i think im friggin awesome.”

“Yeah, they have roads running up to all the water tanks at the campsites. When I was there during hunting season there were some hunters actually camped on the trail since the hike to the campsite was apparently too daunting. I ran into some people early the next morning that were stealth camping as well. Just a hint, if you can't get up at the crack of dawn then you shouldn't be stealth camping.”

“Dub good to see you post again. you made it home ok?”

“Things are going really well for me. I just got a promotion at work and I will have a M-F 8-5 schedule starting Nov 1. I am really excited as I have had to bail on a ton of trips in the past year because I have had to work weekends. It's a total blessing to not have to work 7pm-7am 3-5 days a week. Since I won't be working 12 hour shifts anymore I think I'll be less tired and have more time to come back and chat with my TT friends. I hope all is well with you and your family Maple, I miss you guys and can't wait to see you again...Blair Witch III? I'm prepared for winter this time ;-) No more Mr. Freezing Dub. Take care.”

“Blair Witch III?
when where??

working 12 to 8 sucks to. i never see my family. it was very good to see you the other night! major congrads!!”

“I saw Squilax make a few posts about BWIII...not sure if he's arranging it this year or Scorch but I'll definately be there...I love winter backpacking now that I have proper gear.

I may sound dumb...but where did you see me the other night? And yes, midnight shift sucks! I needed it for a year as I just got out of college and needed the shift diff...but man, it wears on you after awhile...I've been trying to get another schedule for two months.”

“haha dub phantomsoul you are all the same after a few drinks sorry i am a tad buzzed. but anywho it is good to see you post again. it has been awhile right??

school? for what???”

“hey Dub - are you interested in a WV trip? - Cranberry Wilderness first weekend in May?”

“I would be interested, but I'm not supposed to backpack on my leg until June...still can't walk up stairs on it with just my weight...no way I could walk up a mountain with a pack on.”

“oh well I was hoping you were further along healing up - take it easy and work on your rehab (yeah I know that is a contradiction but well wishes anyways)”

“I'm farther ahead than the doctors thought I'd be, but not enough for backpacking or hiking yet. I would love to get out in WV though...it's killing me...0 bag nights this year. March is usually a big month for me...but zilch. Maybe next time.”

“Hey Dub! How is your leg?”

“yo Dub... 2 questions/
Have you seen the Lions Head Rock Trail #544 Dolly Sods?

Will you be with us on Roaring Plains Trip?”

“Yo, I may have seen that trail unless it is a new one. I thought I'd done every trail there but that one doesn't ring a bell, is it close to bear rocks?

I won't be doing any trips for awhile, baby is due soon. Hope to get out in Nov sometime.”

“Baby soon....well congrats man.....post some pics when baby arrives.
I was reading some old books on Dolly Sods I have with detailed information on old trail systems throughout the Sods and Roaring plains area. I am in the planning on trekking some of the old pathways no longer trekked. Lions head is not one of those trails but is on recent maps as trail #544 and the rock out cropping looks like a Lions head as mentioned in one of my books.

Again Congrats on your soon to be experience on being a dad... later old man....”

“...is the baby here yet?????”

“Still waiting.”

“ok...I'll be patient........maybe.....”