When winter rolls into southeastern Ohio most people would grab
their favorite quilt, crack open a good book and curl up in
front of a good fire. However each January in Hocking Hills
State Park brings on the biggest event of the year, the annual
“Winter Hike” that runs the six mile trek from Old Man’s Cave to
Ash cave.
Started in 1965 by the then Chief Naturalist for the Ohio division
of Parks and Recreation, Norv Hall, the first hike included some
80 people that braved the cold and wind to see the many
beautiful ice formations and frozen waterfalls. One very famous
individual known as Emma Rowena Caldwell (Grandma Gatewood)
graced that first winter hike and went on to help lead the
winter hike over the next 13 years. Grandma Gatewood born in
1887 is famous for being the first person to walk the entire
Appalachian Trail at the age of 70 years! She often proclaimed
that her favorite trail was the trail that went from Old Man’s
Cave to Ash Cave and as such this trail was latter renamed the
“Grandma Gatewood Trail” in her honor.