Black Hand Gorge

On a lazy river in Ohio, you wouldn’t expect to find as much adventure as this paddle brings over and over again. Kayaking through the Black Hand Gorge has become a traditional Winter excursion for our local group of paddlers. It started when the leader of the Ohio River Rats needed to get on the water for his two paddles for the month of January. He had been making a point of getting on the water at least two times a month, every month, for over a decade. And when you set a date for a group of paddlers, you try to stick to that commitment. Especially when everyone is feeling cooped up for the cold winter months and anxious for warmer weather. Most of these paddlers are whitewater paddlers that stick to easier rivers during the colder months just to get their fix. So the first year, a little snowstorm expected during a Class 1 paddle didn’t stop anyone from coming. We were dressed for immersion, so heavy snow was no issue. And it only added to the beauty of the gorge.

When paddling with a group down a river, between pointing out scenery and wildlife, there is almost always a constant banter of some sort. It comes naturally, and it’s one of the reasons we paddle in groups. But what caught me for a section of this particular run was that it was quiet. Everyone floated quietly and serenely, just listening to nothing but the sound of falling snow in the gorge that surrounded them.

It was a beautiful day.

So the following year, when things had changed a bit in this particular group, I wanted to see what it had in store. The leader of the previous years trip had by this point passed away from quick health issues. But the Ohio River Rats banded together and is still carrying on his two paddles a month tradition. We think he would be proud. And this year’s adventure did not disappoint.

This time a three day cold spell had caused some rivers to freeze completely over very quickly. But some scouting of the Licking River in Ohio showed it mostly open. And it was warming up above freezing finally. From the Put-In there was a free channel as far as you could see. And from the Take-out the same. We knew what might lay ahead, but put onto the water in a spectacular fashion.

Knowing the risks of going under any ice, balanced with an understanding that the water in the section is barely moving and the skill levels are all the paddlers involved. We all had a healthy caution, as well as understanding dangers to avoid. Some times were more serious than others, but sometimes we just got to laugh, as we beached our kayaks onto ice chunks and rode the ice downriver.

But all that fun did have to come to an exhausting halt in the river. Carefully getting up and on top of the ice dam that had formed in the river, we started our 2 mile drag back to the vehicles.

We strapped up and started the hike, generally following each others footsteps for confidence on the ice. At sections that seemed that the ice was thinner, we took extra precaution and straddled our kayaks so when our feet punched through the ice, we were still sitting on our kayaks floating out of the water. And this proved successful a couple times. Using ropes or paddles to pull people up and onto the ice a couple times, we quickly came to the realization that in and out of the kayaks was harder than just staying out and hiking.

Up to the bike trail we went. But still, hiking a converted rail trail in a snow covered gorge while pulling a sled was a pretty great time. Though we were definitely happy to see the cars by the time we got there!

So year two of the Ohio River Rats Blackhand Gorge winter trip proved to be just as pretty and just as adventurous. And I find that adventure and beauty almost always correlate in a similar fashion. Otherwise mundane places can take on a whole new environment with just a minor weather or environmental change. And when this happens, it always reminds me that I am just a human here appreciating these seasons change.