This appearance of constancy and invulnerability is simply an illusion, however. On January 7, 1998 heavy winter rains triggered a devastating flash flood that reshaped the gorge with shocking speed. Rushing waters scoured the foundations of three stone bridges that have withstood other heavy rains and violent weather since their construction by the Works Progress Administration in the 1930s.

Seven sturdy wooden plank bridges, some of which were supported by steel I-beams, were ripped from their anchors and tossed downstream. Trees were toppled, carried away with the torrent and dumped in piles. Ledges along the rim gave way, creating sheer vertical faces. The well-worn hiking trail through the gorge was erased.

Work began immediately after the flood to blaze an alternative trail for the 33rd annual Hocking Hills winter hike, which was held as scheduled just ten days after the flood. Traditionally, the winter hike route took participants on a three-mile trek through the gorge and on to Cedar Falls. A little used trail above the gorge provided a new route and gave hikers a rim-top perspective on the Old Man's Cave gorge, along with an opportunity to discover lovely Rose Lake.

Through the spring and summer of 1998, this alternate trail was improved and expanded to become today's 3.2-mile Gorge Overlook Trail. A new wooden staircase was constructed in fall of 1998 to provide a convenient link from the Gorge Overlook Trail to the base of Cedar Falls.

Work within the gorge involved replacing and repairing bridges while rebuilding portions of the trail bed. Throughout the planning, engineering design and construction phases, portions of the gorge trail remained open, and temporary wooden bridges were built atop the damaged stone arches spanning the creek at the entrance to Old Man's Cave and at Lower Falls to assure safe passage for hikers.

All along, care was taken to maintain the delicate balance between protecting the vulnerable landscape and allowing access to one of Ohio's best loved scenic treasures. The logistics of carrying out the debris of the flood (including twisted steel beams, wooden planks, chunks of concrete and downed trees), and bringing tons of new building materials into the steep gorge with its fragile ecosystem dictated minimal reliance on heavy equipment, and lots of hard labor.

Bit by bit, though, the delicate task was completed and ten new bridges, including a stepping stone bridge, were constructed in the gorge. In addition, two existing stone arch bridges were repaired, an attractive new suspension bridge was built at Cedar Falls, and one of the temporary wooden bridges in the gorge was relocated to a permanent home at Rose Lake. The design and construction methods took into account the dynamics of swiftly moving water, and have resulted in a trail and bridge system that can better withstand the stresses of a future 100-year storm event.

It is a humbling experience to witness nature's immediate and forceful dismantling of manmade structures that have lasted for generations. The great Old Man's Cave flood has provided us with an unexpected opportunity to better understand the mechanics of these powerful natural forces, as well as the ecosystem?s powers of recovery. These lessons can help us improve our own efforts to recover from the unexpected and adapt to change, just as these Hills of Hocking have changed and adapted since the beginning of time.

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