News Releases
New Rock Climbing/Rappelling Map Available
by Mary Reed
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ATHENS, Ohio (May 27, 2009) For the first time, a printable route map is available for the Hocking State Forest Rock Climbing and Rappelling Area, in Ohio’s Hocking Hills region. The downloadable pdf, available online at www.getoutzine.com; includes approach trails, main crags and route ratings.
“Every year, Get Out! Magazine produces a few new maps and we make our selection based on the need for a map”, Get Out! Editor Mary Reed said. “In the case of the Hocking State Forest Rock Climbing and Rappelling Area, this was an area of high need.”
About 2.5 million people visit the Hocking Hills region every year; a portion of those are climbers and rappellers who use the popular state forest for toproping sandstone routes and rappelling off of cliffs that reach over 100 feet high in some areas. Bouldering routes have been developed at a fast rate in recent years.
The 99-acre area is popular mostly with climbers from Ohio. “People who thumb their noses at the area haven’t spent much time there”, says local climber Brian Still, “We local guys haven’t gotten bored yet.”
The map is an overview of the main crags, and was reviewed by the Ohio Division of Forestry. Reed hopes that with the input of climbers, it can grow into a comprehensive map of bouldering problems and individual climbs, including some new sport routes that have gone up.
“We’ve invited climbers to contact us with their input on the map”, Reed said, noting that in a heavily used area with no guide, a lot of competing names have popped up for routes. “A comprehensive climbing map would be a great resource.”
The map is available for free download at http://www.getoutzine.com/files/HHRCRA.pdf. Get Out! is the online
magazine of outdoor adventure in the Ohio River region, covering
Penn., Ohio, W. Va., Kentucky and Indiana.
Contact:
Mary Reed
Editor, getoutzine.com
www.getoutzine.com
740-594-5279
Created: Jun. 23, 2009
Last updated: Jun. 23, 2009
