The snow it comes and the snow it goes, and then the snow it comes again! I hardly know what photo to pick for the masthead any more.

A super video of this year's Ohiopyle WinterFest was prepared and posted to Vimeo by Laurel Highlands Productions of Latrobe. It is tons of fun to watch and Educator Barb gives a well-deserved and sincere shout out to the Friends of Ohiopyle who, like all of our chapters, do such amazing things for and at the parks and forests, including help make this event happen.

As such things go, that video led me down a trail. And the next thing you know I was "savoring a winter hike" on the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail posted nearly a year ago by Dane Cramer, one of the LHHT stalwarts and stewards.

Taken as a pair (and shot within probably 15 miles of each other) these two videos are an inspiring look at the two sides of winter recreation. They might make you change your mind about getting out there in the cold. And join one of those friends groups, Stewards of Penn's Woods, or just pitch in with know-how and energy!

(And I am proud to note that I did, however, stop before I got too far afield and started bingeing on cat videos.)

In the end, there was no resisting the photograph from Greenwood Furnace State Park for the masthead. Since it is in an album with photos from the Friends' Snowfest Five-Miler back in January, I am guessing it was taken that day when, if memory serves, it was brutally cold. Bill and I do not even attempt to bike in weather like this, so good on ya, mate!

Pam Metzger
Membership Coordinator

News of note

The Friends of Canoe Creek chose their Mountain Pie Madness winning recipe. I know what it is because I read the meeting minutes. Oh, all right - you can know what it is too by visiting their Facebook page! Or better yet go to the event on March 3rd!

And might I suggest it might make a good photo subject if you were to enter the PPFF Parks & Forests Through the Seasons photo contest for 2019? Perhaps in the new "Intergenerational Joy" category? A picture of Grandpa and his Mountain Pie! The contest is now open for your entries at http://bit.ly/2019PPFFPhotoContest. We have a new submission process this year using our website instead of the Facebook page. We all know that change is difficult so please bear with us as we try this new system. We think it's going to be neat!

On now and through the weekend is the annual Great Backyard Bird Count. There's a nice statistical analysis on all the citizen science that happens with this event by Marcus Schneck on PennLive this week.

Check out this lovely little structure to the right. That's the new firewood sales shelter installed by the Friends of Worlds End - all stocked and ready for use on your next trip up to the Loyalsock!

At work and play in the parks and forests

As always with events this winter be sure and check with your park on the status of these events. 

North

Get a taste of Ice Fishing Basics at PARKER DAM STATE PARK on Saturday afternoon. Ice or no ice?

South

Coming in on the educational front is FORBES STATE FOREST with a Tree Pruning 101 class NEXT FRIDAY morning (the 22nd) at 10:00 AM. Giving you a bit of a heads-up on this one as registration is required.

East

On Sunday morning head over to WASHINGTON CROSSING HISTORIC PARK to celebrate George Washington's birthday. There will be cake. He will cut it with his sword. (No wonder the Friends of Washington Crossing won our educational award this year!)

West

OHIOPYLE STATE PARK offers its first veterans program of the year with a Moonlight Snowshoe on Saturday evening. Registration is required. Be in touch with Barb and tell her how good she looked on that video from WinterFest! 

Pennsylvania Wilds

It's time again for Fun in the Snow at Black Mo at BLACK MOSHANNON STATE PARK. It's always a good time whether it's 15 degrees or 50!

No matter what region of the commonwealth you want to visit, our website Events and the DCNR Calendar of Events are great sources for things to see and do. Bookmark them!

Picture of the week

Our picture this week comes from Kaitlyn O'Boyle on the Hiking & Backpacking Pennsylvania Book of Faces. Kaitlyn posts that she and her mother hiked to Pulpit Rock last Sunday to watch the sunrise. "We couldn't feel our fingers but it was worth it!" You go, girls!

Take five for trivia

Bonnie called it a brain buster and indeed it may have been. According to Marci, author of last week's buster, the state parks within and adjoining Bald Eagle State Forest number six and are: McCalls Dam, the Poes (Paddy and Valley), R.B. Winter, Reeds Gap, and Sand Bridge. Lots of little treasures in that list!

This week's question focuses on the Great Backyard Bird Count: As we participate in the GBBC in Pennsylvania (and indeed farther afield), we may experience an "irruption." What is an irruption?

Send in your answer and we'll enter your correct response into our monthly prize drawing. All correct answers each week will go into the hat and at the end of the month we'll draw one lucky winner. The more correct answers you submit in a month (up to four or the occasional five depending on the month), the more chances you'll have to win.

In closing

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.

Pennsylvania Parks & Forests Foundation is a proud member of EarthShare and 1% for the Planet and is a Gold GuideStar Participant.