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I awoke early this Saturday morning . . . about 4 am. After a couple of cups of coffee and a bowl of oatmeal, I sat down to read the paper and watch the morning news. Our local weather forecaster called for a sunny day, although crisp with a temperature in the mid-20s. I had been considering a brief hike at a local metro park after the sun rose, but I started thinking . . . . hmmm maybe a trip to Hocking County would be a good idea. So, I pulled together some hiking gear and my camera equipment and headed off for the hour-long drive to the Hocking Hills.

My goal heading down to Old Man’s Cave on this beautiful December morning was to photograph the waterfalls in the area. Heavy rains for a number of days earlier in the week would ensure that the water would be flowing. As I started my hike, I was not disappointed. In fact, because of the rushing waters stirring up silt and sediments, some of the colors in the pools at the base of the waterfalls were something I had never experienced before; the turquoise color reminded me of the rain forests of British Columbia, Oregon or Hawaii, rather than southern Ohio. So, off I went and had a wonderful and productive day.

Near Cedar Falls, Hidden Falls is typically just a trickle. But the heavy rains early in the week provided for a striking image. The large boulders, hemlocks and ferns give the illusion that you might be in Oregon, British Columbia or other locations on the west coast.