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FOR TWENTY YEARS
Our Mission: Inspire Stewardship of Pennsylvania's State Parks and Forests
Mo' Rain at Moraine
Chris Condello
And we are STILL leaping this weekend, aren't we? We'll spring our clocks ahead overnight Saturday/Sunday and officially call winter "over" when we all really do know better.
In the meantime, Chris Condello's masthead shot is oh, so very March! I'll let him tell it: "It was wet and muddy, and I questioned even going out in the first place... But the walk up this trail, with nothing but the sound of the rain on the leaves, was pretty incredible."
Pam Metzger
Membership Coordinator
Pennsylvania Parks & Forests Foundation
News of Note
Sincere congratulations are extended to Ruth Rode, the Mother of the Loyalsock Trail (see below) surprised recently by the Friends of Worlds End with a bench just for her. She is a warm and generous lady, however, and I am sure she wouldn't mind if you take a rest on it when next you visit the park.
Reading the Facebook post, you'll find that Ruth shed tears of gratitude at the comments everyone's been sharing about how much she's done for the park and Pennsylvania's outdoors and so now, of course, I'm crying too.
Also a cause for tears is the growing threat of spotted lanternfly bringing the number of quarantined counties in Pennsylvania to 26. The Department of Agriculture is understandably more than just a little concerned about the insect which possesses such a deadly beauty.
They talk a lot about grapes, hops, and hardwoods. I am slightly freaked out about peaches as well. Can you imagine a summer without Chambersburg peaches? No. Let's kill this thing, please. (This from someone who believes firmly in "live and let live.")
(Check out the spotted lanternfly headband the Department of Ag has for download on their website so your kids - or you, I am definitely not judging - can wear something fun on your next trek into the woods.)
While scouring for photos, I came upon a post on Hiking & Backpacking Pennsylvania from proud grandma Marialise. Here's grandson Sky, who is her hiking buddy in spite of autism and cerebral palsy and braces on both legs and one wrist. She asked the community for suggestions on good places in the Harrisburg area to take him because she is happy to say he loves the outdoors. You better believe tons of great ideas were shared.
More than one person commented, "this makes my heart happy." You and us all!
Plogging is, you may have read, a Swedish invention combining Picking upLitter and Jogging.
Funny name aside, the Lancaster Ploggers are working on 50 plogs in Lancaster City for the 50th anniversary - and that's no laughing matter!
#EarthDay50PA
Pictures of the Week
Click each photo to see the original. Thanks to all the photographers and state park and forest fans who share their joy in these wonderful places. Share yours anywhere with #PPFFTakeFive.
This post lays to rest once and for all what seems to be an ongoing discussion - is it Adams Falls, Adams Fall, or Adam Falls? Asked and answered! Anyway you name it, it's a wonderful walk.
Close to our hearts, the Loyalsock Trail in Loyalsock State Forest/Worlds End State Park is really quintessential Pennsylvania.
The Charles Lewis Natural Area in Gallitzin State Forest is where Becky Thimons found this rock formation. You could too!
Beth Van Horn got some more terrific - and atmospheric - shots from Memorial Lake State Park this week and shared them to Exploring PA Parks & Forests.
At Work and Play in the Parks and Forests
As we begin to really gear up for Earth Day, you might consider getting some practice volunteering (or getting acquainted with volunteers) this weekend. The Friends of Ohiopyle and Ridley Creek are out on the first Saturday of every month. A lot of chapters are getting their schedules ready so stay tuned.
You might find yourself able to help out with an impromptu clean-up like the Friends of Trough Creek & Warriors Path performed on Pavilion #2 this week. A little raking, a little leaf blowing, a little booming out of the fireplace and voila! Picnic ready!
Be sure to check for any registration requirements (there are some on occasion).
A LOOK AHEAD TO EVENTS COMING UP
These and other fun events and fulfilling volunteer opportunities can be found on the PPFF events calendar and DCNR Calendar of Events. Bookmark them and you'll never miss the boat (or hike or festival).
Take Five for Trivia
The final February question asked about the interesting theory as to how Kettle Creek (for which the state park is named) got its name. Legend has it "that Kettle Creek was named for kettle cooking that occurred on a large boulder in the West Branch [of the Susquehanna]. Their theory describes how Native Americans would pour water into the depressions on the boulder’s surface and then toss heated stones into the water to heat their kettles." (The Cultural Landscape: Kettle Creek Watershed Assessment, Kettle Creek Watershed Association - an interesting read on the entire history/background of this region.)
That seems reasonable; I would posit also it might also refer to a glacial remnant. According to our friends at Wikipedia, "A kettle (kettle hole, pothole) is a depression/hole in an outwash plain formed by retreating glaciers or draining floodwaters." I'd definitely need the geology types to weigh in and tell me that I'm completely off base and that part of PA was in no way glacial. Until that happens, kettle cooking it is!
Congratulations to our February winner, Mifflinburg Sarah, randomly drawn from the month's trivia answers.
If March roars in like a lion it's supposed to "go out like a lamb." Name another bit of March weather folklore.
Send your answer to me and I'll enter you into the month's random drawing for a goodie from the prize closet if you answer correctly. Enter each week for more chances to win.
Where Are We?
Places boxed in red are from photos and calendar listings; the white boxes illustrate the "upcoming" events. Click the map to make it larger and more legible.
Pennsylvania Parks & Forests Foundation (PPFF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization - contributions to which are tax deductible to the fullest extent permitted by law. The official registration and financial information of PPFF may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling, toll-free within Pennsylvania, to 800.732.0999. Registration does not imply endorsement.
Sincere congratulations are extended to Ruth Rode, the Mother of the Loyalsock Trail (see below) 
More events came 
As we begin to really gear up for Earth Day, you might consider getting some practice volunteering (or getting acquainted with volunteers) this weekend. The Friends of Ohiopyle and Ridley Creek are out on the first Saturday of every month. A lot of chapters are getting their schedules ready so stay tuned.
