My nephews Jay, 15, and Drew, 12, had some apprehension on the way to Earth-Water-Rock Outdoor Adventures.

The thought of rock climbing, then rappelling down a 100-foot-high cliff, seemed to them a bit off-putting, even though they’d be in good hands with an experienced guide and seasoned rock climber.

That would be Dylan Crawford, a seventh-grade science teacher at nearby Athens Middle School and founder of Earth-Water-Rock. Crawford beat us to the rendezvous point — a parking area one mile east of Conkle’s Hollow — and the boys bounded out of the car, eager to start their adventure on the steep hill across the road.

The area designated for rock climbing and rappelling is a 99-acre tract in Hocking State Forest. The terrain includes a mile of cliff, ranging up to 100 feet high, along with numerous slump blocks, cracks, chimneys and rock overhangs. Novices are encouraged to work with an experienced climber or rappeller and, because the area is made up of soft sandstone, the use of climbing aids such as pitons and chocks is strongly discouraged. Instead, top-roping is advised.

Crawford began with a lengthy safety talk, easily understood by the boys. In the past, he’s worked with climbers as young as 6, but he recommends they have a minimum age of 8 to 10, depending on the individual’s maturity.

Finishing his introductory safety spiel, Crawford outfitted us with helmets and harnesses. Then, with an adequate supply of water bottles in hand, we huffed and puffed our way up the steep hill to the first climbing site, a massive boulder.

“This area is great for beginners because there’s not a lot of hazards around,” Crawford said. “At the same time, there’s a lot of climbing options that can satisfy different levels of difficulty and experience,” he said.

Before beginning the climb, Crawford gave the boys instruction in movement such as bouldering — climbing around the rock while low to the ground to warm up — and showed them how to try out various foot and handholds. Once he saw they were ready, he constructed an anchor from a tree at the top of the cliff, then dropped the securely fastened rope to the ground.

What followed was a demonstration on baleying — the process of letting out the rope to the lead climber, or taking in rope for a follower — and of preventing rope from being paid out if the climber falls.

With the basic preliminaries over, the final step was to climb. Under Crawford’s close supervision both boys had enough confidence to reach the top, survey the heights from their perch, then work their way back down.

It was obvious that Crawford’s school experience gives him the patience and verbal skills to communicate with youngsters as well as adults.

He started climbing back in 1991, and soon afterwards joined Columbus Outdoor Pursuits, where he participated in climbing expeditions and sat in on instructional sessions. During an outing at famed Seneca Rocks in West Virginia, he began to rappel on a regular basis.

In 2004, he started Outdoor Adventures, an enterprise that includes guided kayak, canoe and backpacking trips in addition to rock climbing and rappelling outings in half and full day options.

Our outing ended with only Jay scrambling to the top of a nearby cliff with a group of other novices. There a rope was tied to his harness and he proudly rappelled down the side of the cliff. I was content to stand below, digital camera in hand, capturing his first-ever rappelling adventure.



IF YOU’RE GOING: For more information, rates and activity options offered by Earth-Water-Rock Outdoor Adventures, call (740) 664-5220 or log on to www.ewroutdoors.com.

For a place to stay, you can extend your outdoor adventures at Four Season Cabin Rentals, located at 14435 Nickel Plate Road in nearby Logan, Ohio. Hosts Lisa and Derrick Mills offer comfortable, two-bedroom accommodations with amenities like fully equipped kitchens, hot tubs, wood burning fireplaces and VCR with free movie rentals. For relaxation, ride a paddleboat on a nearby pond that’s stocked with pan fish and bass (poles and bait are available) or sit on the cabin deck and watch various bird species fly up to the feeders just feet away.

(Dave Zuchowski writes a weekly travel column for The News.)