Thrills in Hocking Hills

Being an Eagle Scout, I have had some truly wondrous encounters with nature, as well as many experiences with camp food, not all of which have been great!  On long hiking or canoeing trips  into remote locations  the scenes of nature could be stunning, but the freeze dried food left my friends and I dreaming of pizza, pasta, and home cooked meals.

Shorter camping trips allowed for better eating.  Steak and peppers or pizza pita pockets wrapped in foil and cooked on the fire were hot and tasty,  I remember a wonderful peach cobbler emerging from a Dutch oven after being buried in hot campfire coals and for one lunch I had a grilled cheese and bacon sandwich that was so satisfying I have never been able to duplicate it.  Everything tastes better when you are camping!

During Amanda’s and my first camping trip together in Hocking Hills, Ohio we had several great outdoor experiences and meals.  After pitching camp and foraging for firewood for the night, we set out to see Ash Cave and to get some water from a local natural spring. The spring is just off the roadside a little  past Ash Cave.  This is where many locals go to get their drinking water which has been tested as 99.9% pure.  It trickles out of the rocks and is naturally chilled with a fresh mineral flavor; drinking it is an enjoyable experience that helps put us in touch with the environment.

Ash Cave is the highest of the caves and waterfalls in the area.  It gets it’s name from the ashes that were left behind by Native Americans and early settlers.  There is a short hike in and a trail around the rim.  It is beautiful to watch the cave reveal various forms as we move through the interior, above it, and around it.

Back at camp, we lit a fire to cook dinner.  We chopped potato, onion, bell peppers, and carrots, tossed them with salt and pepper, wrapped it in foil and threw it on the hot coals of the fire.  We did the same with ground beef seasoned with salt and Galena Street Spice blend from Penzey’s Spices.  After a short time on the coals, the packets came out of the fire and opened to reveal juicy, succulent meat and veggies!

The following day, we hiked from Old Man’s cave to Cedar Falls; a beautiful trail with lots to see on the way.  At Cedar falls we stopped to eat a delicious hiker’s lunch; we had worked up a hearty appetite!  We ate salami, bread, cheese, carrots, and apples: perfect! For dinner this night, we made breaded chicken thighs that were so easy and delicious, we have included the recipe!  Potatoes, onions, and corn cooked on the fire were the accompaniments.

Bisquick Chicken Shake (Feeds 3-4 people)
10 ea	Chicken thighs	1 Cup	Vegetable oil
1 Tbsp	Salt	1 cup	Bisquick
1 Tbsp	Penzy’s Northwood Seasoning (or other poultry seasoning)
-Season chicken with salt and Northwood Seasoning. -Add chicken and Bisquick to a plastic bag and shake. -Remove chicken from bag and pan fry in hot oil on medium heat until golden brown and cooked through. -Drain on paper towels, allow to rest for 5 minutes, and serve.
Source: ChefsOnTheRoad.com

Before we left Hocking Hills, we visited Conckel’s Hollow early in the morning.  We were the only ones there, and the lush beauty of this mystical valley blew us away.  Standing on a footbridge over the creek, we had a profound sense of oneness with the beautiful natural gardens, rocks, and streams.

Cooking and the outdoors are two things that Amanda and I truly enjoy, and during our first camping trip together, combining the two has been a wonderful combination!