"Frozen Film" Shoot Hocking Hills Park, Feb 2011

[daleeman]

Hocking Hills has a rich history. A unique geological area of Ohio formed by glaciers centuries before and honed to a perfect beauty by water, wind and sun.

This is a discovery thread to gauge the interest in gathering for a very cold, probable snowy shoot in the Hocking Hills Park Area. Initial thoughts are to rent out Fox Glove Retreat, it actually sleeps 16 people, large and spacious w/ kitchen, baths, bedrooms, hot tub for washing prints of course. http://www.foxglovelodge.com/

First thought was to wrap it into the weekend before Valentine’s Day Feb 11-13 2011. Some real advanced commitment might be needed to make this happen and to split the cost of this place, but it would give us a shared are for viewing prints, group cooking, and a base camp for excursions to places like Rock House (my favorite) , Ash Cave, Old Man’s Cave, Rock Bridge and many waterfalls. http://www.hockinghills.com/parks.html

We could also have some other date and or find separate cabins, hotel rooms or frigid ground pounding camping. Logan Ohio is 12 miles north of the area for hotels but there are close to 375+ cabins for rent in the Hocking area. More information here. http://www.hockinghills.com/index.html Look at lodging.

State Park website is here:
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So, we have some time. I’ll see about posting some of my photos from past trips there to entice one and all to join us. If we truly have enough interest we can go for a large gathering place like Fox Glove but we would need advanced reservations in place with deposit.

Until then lets adapt to the cold and mourn the loss of summer and meet in Detroit !!!

Sue and Lee

 

[jp80874]

Sue & Lee,

Dolly and I are very interested. Have to check dates and understand financial commitment, but we are strongly interested.

John

 

[daleeman]

Sue & Lee,

Dolly and I are very interested. Have to check dates and understand financial commitment, but we are strongly interested.

John

Free Snow Cones the Entire Weekend to all who participate.

 

[Jeff Bannow]

Free Snow Cones the Entire Weekend to all who participate.

Sweet! I'm in then!

We would be interested as well pending details.

 

[daleeman]

The Inn at Cedar Falls

This is a wonderful option. This might be a nice place to base from, I've always wanted to stay here it has a stellar reputation.

http://innatcedarfalls.com/

The Inn at Cedar Falls has many accommodations, large gathering areas, an onsite restaurant (bit pricy) beautiful grounds and for the yuppie in all of us… its own spa treatment area. Good option.

Catch anyone fancy?

 

[daleeman]

Hocking Hills State Cabins

Hocking Hills has many state run cabins. These typically are $ 95 a night plus tax. They can sleep up to 6 people. The two bedrooms bath and living room kitchen area are nice, a bit 1970ish, but nice. There is also a screened in porch too. Between cabins 11 and 12 there is a fire ring and a pay phone. (Cells do not work in them there hills) Many trips to these cabins have happened over the years. The website says this about the cabins. One thing they do not say is there that the lodge is usually locked all winter. So no in park state restaurant.
 40 gas-heated, air-conditioned, family housekeeping cottages sleep up to six persons
 Each cottage has two bedrooms (one twin bed, one with two singles)
 Living room
 Bath with a shower
 Gas-burning fireplace
 Complete kitchen including microwave (pots, pans, cups, etc)
 Dining area
 Screened porch
 Free access to the swimming pool near the dining lodge for registered guests (right in Feb uh huh)

This might be the most cost conscious option and provide privacy and enough room in the kitchen living room area for people to gather to talk too. You have a real kitchen to prepare meals, coffee etc in, so that can save a lot.

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I’d suggest if we choose this option that we pair up, or get your own cabin but we stick together and reserve each one ourselves by phone.

Lee

 

[Jeff Bannow]

We're up for whatever, although cheap sounds good to me. Since the sun will set pretty early, having a place to gather and chat seems pretty important.

 

[daleeman]

Best Food in Them There Hills

After a long day of shooting one may wish to go to the best food in the area if they did not cook int their own cabin. Hands down it is this place.

http://www.oldedutch.com/

One can graze till they burst. Its a 12 mile zig zag drive up and out of the park, with an antique store next to it a walmart down the street and such. I believe there is a Hotel or two up there. More to follow.

 

[daleeman]

We're up for whatever, although cheap sounds good to me. Since the sun will set pretty early, having a place to gather and chat seems pretty important.

Jeff,
Your so right, the sun will set quick in the hills. Myself and many of my family have done the state cabins before, and having gathered in neighbors cabins many times. My daugher and I used to go every December for her birthday. Gathering about the fire ring with a 12 foot high wall of flame brings people out to socialize.

 

[Jeff Bannow]

Jeff,
Your so right, the sun will set quick in the hills. Myself and many of my family have done the state cabins before, and having gathered in neighbors cabins many times. My daugher and I used to go every December for her birthday. Gathering about the fire ring with a 12 foot high wall of flame brings people out to socialize.

Sounds good to me!

 

[winger]

I've heard great things about Hocking Hills and would love to shoot there (in any season). I won't know for awhile if I'd be able to make it for this gathering, but I sorta think that weekend is likely to be bad for me. Don't change it on my account 'cause I have no idea if I'd be able to make it any other weekend anyway. But I really want to! Hope you guys have fun!

 

[daleeman]

TIPI Camping in February

Now here’s an option, one might consider

http://www.atbouldersedge.com/tipinew.htm

A TIPI in winter is an option although I doubt you get me in the solar shower in Feb. Maybe back when I was 19 years old and invincible.

 

[CGross]

Lee, I am definitely interested. Not to far from me. I'll keep an eye this thread.

 

[htimsdj]

This sounds like fun. We are going down to Hocking Hills in a few weeks for a long weekend, so I can scope it out and gather some ideas.

Jeff

 

[TSSPro]

Man, that sounds like a fun trip. My South Carolina self wouldnt know what to do with all that snow, but I have never been against cold weather camping. I suppose that I will have to get accustomed fairly quickly since I made the move up to Illinois recently. I wish that I could make it. I know that I would have a hard time justifying the 8+hr drive.

 

[daleeman]

I've heard great things about Hocking Hills and would love to shoot there (in any season). I won't know for awhile if I'd be able to make it for this gathering, but I sorta think that weekend is likely to be bad for me. Don't change it on my account 'cause I have no idea if I'd be able to make it any other weekend anyway. But I really want to! Hope you guys have fun!

Bethe,
We hope you can come. We have not met yet, but hope to in Hocking Hills. Very challenging since it will be a winter trip.
Lee

 

[daleeman]

Lee, I am definitely interested. Not to far from me. I'll keep an eye this thread.

Certainly will enjoy you joining us. When you say not too far, where are you based?

We are in Dayton and have made day trips into Hocking Hills besides staying there for a weekend. If we leave at 5 AM ;-) we can be there at 8:00 or 8:30 easy when the light starts to show between the hills We will leave to drive home about 4 PM or so when the light slides behind some of the hills, depends where you are and what hill is is in your way. Lot of time in the car but always worth it.

Lee

 

[CGross]

Certainly will enjoy you joining us. When you say not too far, where are you based?

We are in Dayton and have made day trips into Hocking Hills besides staying there for a weekend. If we leave at 5 AM ;-) we can be there at 8:00 or 8:30 easy when the light starts to show between the hills We will leave to drive home about 4 PM or so when the light slides behind some of the hills, depends where you are and what hill is is in your way. Lot of time in the car but always worth it.

Lee

Hi Lee, we briefly met up at John's the time before the the last outing.

I am just east of Cincinnati. Hocking has been on my radar for quite some time but just haven't made it there yet. Trying to do a fall trip. If you end up getting something on your schedule let me know.

Cody

 

[daleeman]

This sounds like fun. We are going down to Hocking Hills in a few weeks for a long weekend, so I can scope it out and gather some ideas.

Jeff

Hi Jeff,

I remembered you said you were going there soon. How exciting. Scout the area and give us your assessment. I thought you mentioned you were staying in Logan, is that right? Let us know what you think.

Love to see what you capture out in the area. Seems like you may be lucky enough to be there in high fall time frame.
~Lee~

 

[daleeman]

Hi Lee, we briefly met up at John's the time before the the last outing.

I am just east of Cincinnati. Hocking has been on my radar for quite some time but just haven't made it there yet. Trying to do a fall trip. If you end up getting something on your schedule let me know.

Cody

Certainly will Cody, all this buzz about the area has me looking at the calendar and looking for a time to drive down there to do a day trip. I'm going to try to go down on 10/16 for the day. Might see you then.
Lee

 

[daleeman]

Safety First in Cold Weather Outings

I plan to publish a number of post on staying safe when outside for some time. I should be able to combine all these tips into a single document to forward to people just before we start out to the Frozen Film shoot.

We all need to think about a few things in this order:
• Be Safe, Watch Over Your Body in Cold Weather
• Be Safe and Watch Over Your Hiking Partner (Always Hike in Groups of 2 or More)
• Be Safe and Watch Out for Your Equipment
• Bring Back Master Pieces

The University of Iowa Hospitals& Clinics published these tips. Web link below.

Winter weather can be nasty and two of the meanest winter culprits are hypothermia and frostbite. Hypothermia--When your body is unable to maintain a core temperature of 95 degrees F, you begin to shiver, your speech slurs, your breathing slows, your skin is cold and pale, your coordination suffers, and you are lethargic and apathetic. Young children, the elderly, and the ill are the most vulnerable.

Wet, damp clothing, an uncovered head, and inadequate clothing can contribute to hypothermia. Other conditions that make an individual susceptible include excessive consumption of alcohol, cardiovascular disease, and an underactive thyroid.

To treat hypothermia, bring the person out of the cold. Remove wet clothing and replace it with warm, dry clothing. Wrap the person in blankets. Call 911 for emergency assistance. Provide a warm drink--do not give the person alcohol.

"Persons pulled from icy water should lay still, be dried and covered. Movement of the extremities can cause cold blood to return to the heart, resulting in a life-threatening change in cardiac rhythm," says Eric W. Dickson, M.D., director of the Emergency Medicine Program at UI Hospitals and Clinics.

Frostbite--Skin on fingers, toes, earlobes, cheeks, and noses are the most vulnerable to prolonged exposure to freezing temperatures, wet clothes, and forceful winds. Blood vessels near the surface of the skin constrict to preserve internal body heat, reducing blood flow to the skin. The result is frostbite. Frostbite ranges from white or yellowish skin accompanied by itching or burning sensations, numbness, and in the most severe cases, blistering.

To treat frostbite, bring the person out of the cold. Remove wet or constricting clothing, including jewelry. Call 911 for emergency assistance. DO NOT rub frostbitten areas or apply direct heat.

Unknown. (2005) Take Precautions to Protect Yourself in Cold Weather. University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Retrieved on September 30 2010. Accessed from http://www.uihealthcare.com/news/news/2005/01/03chill.html

 

[daleeman]

Hotel Headquarters

Greetings all.
After looking at a great number of different cabins, B&B and other locations Sue and I have chosen to stay at the Baymont Hotel just about at the intersection of Rt 33 and Rt 664.
Baymont Inn and Suites Logan
12819 State Route 664 South
Logan, OH 43138 US
Phone: 740-385-1700
Fax:740-385-9288

The hotel has nice amenities and is reasonably priced. Deciding factors were
Plowed Roads (33 and 664) Depending on heavy show.
Close location to medical facilities
Restaurants in the area
Web access, ( I am in an online class at that time)
Free breakfasts
Indoor pool and hot tub
Trippe AAA discounts
Easy location to leave from and head home on Sunday.

Logan is 12 miles to the north of Old Mans Cave. Considering the probable weather it will be more than a 20 minute drive, no chance of getting up to highway speeds on Rt 664. Add snow and slow down, way down, but it is close enough to stage from. They do have meeting rooms. I will looks see if we can squat in them without charge.

Hope you can join us. Spread the word.

Lee

 

[daleeman]

Greetings all.
After looking at a great number of different cabins, B&B and other locations Sue and I have chosen to stay at the .......

UPDATE: "New Frozen Film HQ"

While Sue and I were down there on 11/12 & 13 we did a walk through of the Baymont and the Holiday Inn as well. Upon looking at the common areas like the lobby pools and more and the size of the room we decided to change our stay to:

Holiday Inn.
Hocking Hills-logan
12916 Grey St,
Logan,OHIO
United States 43138
Hotel Front Desk : 740-385-7700

The rooms were just about 50% bigger as far as we could see. They all had mini frig and microwave, coffee pots as did the Baymont rooms but just bigger, well lit and larger lobby area to gather. The breakfasts were Much Better at the H.I. too. Holiday Inn has a "same day by 6pm" cancelation policy, Baymond has a 24hr prior cancelation policy, so if you change your mind the day of, you pay the piper.

This is not to discount the hundreds of cabins avaiable in the area with hot tubs and full kitchens. We just do not have a 4x4 vehicle to take on some of the "driveways" if not plowed (We are looking for a snowy trip).

We had a great time. We went to Old Mans Cave, Lower Falls, Rock House (My Favorite) and we also visited something new for me, Natural Bridge. Not part of Hocking Hills State Park, but a very nice much like Natural Bridge KY. Really loved the Natural Bridge.

Look for photos in my next post, not as fast as I used to be... I'll place a link to my smugmug account.

Stay Cool, See You in the Snow.
Lee

 

[daleeman]

Images of Hocking Hills

You can find some of the images Sue and I took just this last weekend.
http://leegephart.smugmug.com/Art

See you in the snow.

Lee

 

[Jeff Bannow]

Looks like the area has lots of potential. Looking forward to the trip.