Caron Collins and her husband made an interesting commitment on their 20th anniversary. That was to hike the entire Buckeye Trail, completing the trail by their 30th anniversary. In this feature, Caron describes the first hike of this 10 year adventure.

It has finally arrived. After a month of planning and anticipation, our exploration of the Buckeye Trail has begun.  As a 20th wedding anniversary present to ourselves, my husband and I plan on hiking the entire Buckeye Trail in weekend segments every two months and plan to complete it by our 30th wedding anniversary!

The day was a crisp, clear, sunny autumn day, temperatures ranging from 42 degrees in the early morning to about 67 degrees in the afternoon.  The sky was an unusual deep bold blue and the trees have just past their peak in colors.  We begun our adventure at our favorite hiking a bird-watching area, Conkles Hollow, north of Old Man's Cave and about 1 mile west of the Buckeye Trail.  We arrived, courtesy of a neighbor camper, Mike, who kindly dropped us off around 10:30 a.m.  After visiting Conkles Hollow gorge trail, we hiked up Big Pine Road to our "official starting point" of the BT: the entrance to the State Rapelling Area.  We honored the moment at noon with a self photo off the bridge across Big Pine Creek.

Rappelling enthusiasts were out in full force that day, including various Boy Scout troops and an urban assault team practicing emergency maneuvers. The trail followed Salt Peter Caves bridle trail around the rappelling area full off high sandstone cliffs and deep dark gorges. Blackbirds filled the surrounding tall trees and with a loud helicopter like wooosh took off at once upon hearing the crunch of our footsteps on the fallen dried leaves.

As we hiked along, one church sponsored Boy Scout troop stopped us and asked if we would like to try rappelling with them!  We hesitated and stammered but the old gentleman securing the numerous ropes persisted until we gave in agreed to try.  After a quick "crash" course (no pun intended) in the art of rappelling, we geared up and was ready to launch off the what seemed like a bottomless cliff.  Just before our jump, he informed us that this particular point was the highest rappelling spot in Ohio, Big Spring Hollow over 100 feet height with an overhang and a long free-fall area! EEEEKS!  What a thrill! I was petrified, especially at the start when just going off the top I lost my leg strength and my legs buckled in the rockface.  The crew gave me a pep talk and soon I was sliding down the rope into the most breathtaking gorge I have ever seen!  Wow...were we lucky to be hiking the BT that day!  Besides the wondrous beauty of Hocking Hills, the lovely people and the additional opportunities you chance on the way is even more beautiful!

The rest of the hike for the day was as breathtaking with marvelous sandstone structures that only nature and God could carve.  We hiked on through Old Man's Cave and onto Cedar Falls then back to our campsite at Top O The Caves, exhausted but awestruck on the adventure of the day."
 

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Last updated: September 8, 2001
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