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HOCKING HILLS, Ohio
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Ever since Mimi Morrison was a little girl,
The weekend of Oct. 11-13, Morrison will host a group to the Hocking Hills region, south of Columbus, Ohio, which is home to nine state parks and more than 9,000 acres of state forest land. Participants will stay in a beautiful hand-built cabin, enjoy three nutritious meals per day and bask in Mother Nature. "When I started this business, I realized just how out of balance we really are," Morrison says. "These retreats get people to connect to the earth." Participants have ranged from groups of nurses and teachers to mothers and daughters, groups of friends and solo travelers. No outdoor-travel experience is necessary. "That's the beauty of it all," she says. "If you've never stepped foot in a kayak it's fine. And we don't hike to just cover miles. We walk to observe and see and to become inspired. "When Jill Greenfield from South Lyon participated in a Hocking Hills adventure last January, she couldn't get over the beauty of the area. "Lots of trees, hills, and the hikes are customized to satisfy both the beginner and more advanced hiker," says Greenfield, a physical therapist who works in Novi. "The cabin where we stayed was cozy and rustic." For next weekend's outing, "There is no need to bring anything other than personal items and a small pack to carry lunch and water in for a Saturday hike," Morrison says. "Sometimes we do readings or meditate. It's great to be away from your problems, and it's all healing. By the end of the trips, people who didn't know each other before are fast friends."
Why women only? "Women are a little more reserved than men when it comes to going outdoors and doing things by themselves. These trips give women the opportunity to come into a safe environment with other women and experience the earth."
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crickets, grasshoppers and pretty vistas have been her best friends. "We've always sort of 'lived' outdoors," says the 55-year-old Morrison, whose family camped and canoed often. Eight years ago, Morrison, of Athens, Ohio, transformed her love of nature into a full-time business--"Touch the Earth Adventures," which features excursions for women only. She guides groups into the hills of southern Ohio or along the shores of the Carolinas, on foot and in kayaks.
