Please stay on the trail at all times when visiting Hocking Hills
State Park! There are many areas off-trail that could be dangerous.
Cantwell Cliffs has many sharp drop-offs. Also, the fragile
ecosystem is home to rare species, and these habitats are protected
by diligent park rangers. For your safety, and for the good of the
environment, stay on the trail. Terrain rating was suggested by
rating system at clayjar.com.
To get to Cantwell Cliffs, take US-33 to OH-374 south, near the
town of Rockbridge. OH-374 will twist and wind through the hills
for about 5 miles before you see the park sign. Take a look at the
trail map before you leave, and find “Fat Woman’s Squeeze”. From
the parking area, the walk to the listed coordinates is short but
steep. GPS receivers tend to get poor readings around cliffs like
this but having seen a trail map, you should have no trouble
finding the Squeeze. Don’t forget to bring a tape measure.
You will need it to claim your find.
Fat Woman’s Squeeze is an example of a geologic feature called a
slump. A slump is the result of the force of gravity working
along a sloped land surface. In this formation, a vertical crack or
joint forms in the rock cliff. The crack eventually widens enough
to allow a large piece of rock, called a slump block, to
separate and slip down the slope. Fat Woman’s Squeeze is a narrow
space between a slump block and the cliff from which it
separated.
In geologic history, the stones of Cantwell Cliffs date back to
the Mississippian period. Called the Cuyahoga Formation, the rocks
formed around 355-350 million years ago. The Black Hand sandstone
that makes up much of the park is susceptible to erosion, so Buck
Run, the local stream, has carved out the cliffs and valley you
will see beyond the Squeeze. While glaciers that shaped much of the
rest of the state never covered the Hocking Hills State Park area,
they did influence the climate and vegetation of the gorge. As you
look down, you will see plant life which is generally found much
farther north. Although your logging requirements can be fulfilled
in a quick visit to the Squeeze, there is much more to be seen at
Cantwell Cliffs, so don’t stop here! Follow the trails and see
more
LOGGING REQUIREMENTS: According to Earthcache rules, in
order to claim the find, you must perform an educational task. So,
we ask that you measure the tightest part of the Squeeze. That is,
find the narrowest step going down the stairs through the squeeze,
and measure horizontally from cliff to slump block. We measured two
narrow stairs at the bottom of the Squeeze (i.e. not up by the
monster tree roots), and found them to be about equal width. Email
us with your results. Also, please take a photo of yourself and
your GPS squeezing through.
Logs not accompanied by email and photo within a reasonable
amount of time will be deleted per Earthcache rules. Please don’t
make us have to do that!
If you're a fan of Black Hand Sandstone formations, why not check
out another one at
Rockbridge? It's not far away, on the other side of US-33, and
you already have the required tape measure on hand!
References:
Ohio DNR
website
Camp, Mark J. 2006 Roadside Geology of Ohio. Missoula,
Montana: Mountain Press Publishing Company
http://www.hockinghills.com
Hocking
Hills Park website (Thanks to naturalist Pat Quackenbush for
allowing this Earthcache!)