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FOR OVER TWENTY YEARS
Our Mission: Inspire Stewardship of Pennsylvania's State Parks and Forests
Up the Steps and Into the Woods - Rothrock State Forest
Photo by Justin
As I was writing this yesterday evening word came of TWO wildfires underway in Ohiopyle State Park, one of our most popular and beautiful state parks. One fire was involving nearly 200 acres near the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail and the other of an as yet undisclosed size on the Dunbar side of the park. Photos and information shared by Frogs to Flowers Photography on Facebook are scary; as of this morning the fires are out but details are still sketchy. Rain overnight - a blessing for sure. This is a reminder that we are in high fire danger. Please exercise caution out there.
Today is Joseph T. Rothrock's 182nd birthday. Following nearly 20 years of agitation and advocacy on behalf of Pennsylvania's devastated forests, he was appointed the first Forestry Commissioner and became the de facto Father of Pennsylvania's forests system. We'll be celebrating an entire week devoted to him at the end of this month but today is a great day to Take 20 instead of just Five and place yourself in close proximity of a "wild" tree.
The masthead comes from a blog on the HammockForums.net telling the tale of Hammock Hiker Justin taking his 16 year old nephew on a 16-mile hike on the Ironstone Loop of the Rothrock State Forest. They saw the trees for which Rothrock himself worked so hard - and a whole lot of rocks, that also seem strangely to honor the man.
Pam Metzger
Membership Coordinator
Pennsylvania Parks & Forests Foundation
The Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation has long promoted the health, quality of life, and economic value of our community and state parks and forests. The pandemic reinforced what we knew—getting outdoors is good for us as well as the economies of surrounding communities.
You have also heard us discuss the need for investment in the repairs and upgrades to the built and natural infrastructure of our public lands—to the tune of $1 billion for state parks and forests (while community parks need an equal amount of money).
A chance exists to secure much needed funding for these needed repairs and upgrades through the American Rescue Plan.
The Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation applauds Senators John Gordner and Bob Mensch who recognize the valuable role parks and forests play as well as the needs they have. The Senators propose to dedicate $500 million of Pennsylvania’s share of the Federal American Rescue Plan for a Growing Greener III, a portion of which would address infrastructure needs in parks and forests.
While a bill has not yet been introduced, we encourage you to contact your elected officials to encourage them to support investment in park and forest infrastructure repair and maintenance through the American Rescue Plan (and perhaps the infrastructure funds also being discussed in Washington.) These funds would be a valuable addition to the Keystone Fund and the Environmental Stewardship Fund, the existing funds which address repair and upgrade needs, demand for which exceed these funds capacities.
Our parks and forests are being used in record numbers, with state parks alone seeing a 26% increase in use with over 45 million visitors in 2020.
When surveyed, Pennsylvanians support, time and time again, investment in maintaining the places we know and love. To learn more about park and forest needs, visit our website: ProtectOurParksAndForests.org.
Please lend your voice to supporting efforts to have parks and forests receive critical federal funding, an act that will not only conserve these places, but will stimulate jobs, protect the environment, and improve human health.
Visit our Take Action Centerfor a sample letter to send to your elected officials. A few blanks are included for you to personalize your relationship with your favorite places. Thank you.
News of Note
It is very exciting to see this post from the good folks of Laurel Hill State Park:
"If you were at the Laurel Hill beach yesterday, you may have noticed our staff setting up the bird houses pictured. These houses are designed specifically for Purple Martins, a migratory native songbird and the largest of all swallow species in North America. Purple Martins overwinter in South America, and migrate north during breeding season. That's approximately 5,000 miles for those journeying to Pennsylvania!
Purple Martins rely almost exclusively on humans for habitat, making them dependent upon us for their survival. They prefer housing to be constructed in an open area near water. At Laurel Hill, multi-compartment housing is set up at the beach area, and man-made gourds are hanging at the Scenic View overlook. We are hopeful that through these efforts, we may attract some Purple Martins scouting out a new place to call home for the season!"
Old timers here in Somerset County know that the Borough of Somerset has long hosted a purple martin house "uptown in the diamond" constructed to look like the iconic Somerset County Courthouse. It's been a long time since I've actually seen martins in residence, though, so it would be nice to have a house-warming party at the park.
Speaking of old timers, I had a reader request. Writes Jeffrey Frazier (author of Pennsylvania Fireside Tales):
"For almost 50 years I've been trying to find Sentinel Rock on Caledonia Mountain in Caledonia State Park of Franklin County. It probably no longer exists, but the attached photo from an article published on 08/21/1900 in the Gettysburg Compiler shows this landmark that was once one of the greatest natural human profiles that, in my opinion, could ever be found anywhere. There's a great Indian legend about it that I've published in my Pennsylvania Fireside Tales Volume 3, but every time I've tried to get help in finding it (and I've been up there at least half a dozen times), I've been led to what I call the great imposter (a single pillar of stone with a crude likeness on it that park rangers and others now call Sentinel Rock).
Old timers I spoke to said the original is hard as heck to find, and now, after so many years I doubt it still exists. The strange part is that it was once a featured landmark in the park, and since it's not anymore and park rangers know nothing about it, I suppose it no longer exists. Anyway, I was wondering if you or any of your readers might know anything about it?"
It's certainly a long-shot but no harm in asking the question!
Word came in of the passing this week of Edward Bellis of State College, a true trailblazer for the environmental movement. It was Dr. Bellis who introduced the first "ecology" course at Penn State back in 1957 before anyone even know what that word meant. Clean water became his primary focus, from controlling erosion to fostering habitat. We have all benefitted from Dr. Bellis's work and passion and take comfort knowing that his students and mentees continue the good work.
Pictures of the Week
Don't you just love bridges? Whether you are hiking down a shady trail, biking along a back country road, or even driving down a city lane a bridge is a picturesque sight. [With the possible exception of things like the Sunshine Skyway over Tampa Bay or the Mackinac Bridge in Michigan which are just terror-inducing.] Little spans like this one at Trough Creek State Park by the hikers of the Wandering Out Yonder blog are more smile-inducing.
I can't recall that I ever gave a photographer two pictures in the POW section but the Wandering Out Yonders also shared a couple of shots of the beautiful aqueduct built by Sicilian stone masons for the never-completed South Penn Railroad. I have searched long for a really good picture of the stonework and, bless their hearts, Shannon and Karen delivered! Check out the blog post for others.
Oh, my goodness, this is a great spring shot! All right, it was posted to the Book of Faces by Susquehannock State Park in April 2019 but when I found it, I knew it needed to be shared. And to be made into a jigsaw puzzle. Give the photo a click for stunning sky.
A "just because" photo taken by Christina Graham and posted to the Kayaking in PA Book of Faces. She was paddling along the Mahoning River near Hillsville, PA. That's the Clear Creek State Forest District. :)
Where Are We?
Click for a larger view.
Take Five for Trivia
Extra brownie points for the trivia players who actually DID consult a map to determine that if I took Route 422 west from Ebensburg, the first state park I would come to is Yellow Creek State Park. Reader Mikigo had first-hand knowledge - she fulfilled a phys ed requirement while an IUP student with a sailing course at Yellow Creek. Thus are lifelong water rats born!
This week I would like to know what that beautiful stone aqueduct has in common with two abandoned tunnels in the Buchanan State Forest.
Enter each week to increase your chances of a fabulous prize at the end of the month when I'll draw one entry from all correct answers received during the month.
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.
Word came in of the passing this week of 
