First-ever Route Map is Online for Hocking Hills Climbing Area, Ohio

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 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.

Mary Reed
Editor, getoutzine.com
www.getoutzine.com
740-594-5279