Hemlocks to Hellbenders: Recent Episodes
Christian Alexandersen
Hemlocks to Hellbenders is a podcast hosted by Christian Alexandersen exploring Pennsylvania’s parks, forests and great outdoors.
There’s no law or policy that requires Pennsylvania to keep creating new state parks. Over the history of the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources – and its various other names through the years – new state parks have been added and subtracted.
There have been times when we added dozens of new state parks. Under Dr. Maurice K. Goddard, the Department of Parks and Forests – as it was called then - added 45 new state parks and 130,000 acres of land between 1955 and 1979. Dr. Goddard proposed building a state park within 25 miles of every resident of Pennsylvania.
But growth to the state park system slowed down in the 1980s and 90s. The commonwealth entered a phase of improvement – focusing more on upgrading facilities than adding many more parks.
We’ve also been in possession of a number of state parks that we eventually relinquished control to another entity. Such as Valley Forge, Independence Mall, Fort Necessity and Brandywine Battlefield.
That’s the thing. Depending on state leadership, availability of funds, the economy, political priorities, availability of lands and which governor is in charge, there is no guarantee that we will get new state parks.
So when we get a new state park, it’s important that we celebrate. Enter Laural Caverns State Park – Pennsylvania’s 125th state park and its first subterranean park.
What started out as a tourist attraction in the southwestern part of the state, is now a state park giving visitors a chance to explore 4 miles of underground passageways. Laurel Caverns is the largest sandstone cave in the world and one of the world’s steepest caves.
Guided tours provide visitors with the opportunity to walk or crawl through incredible geologic features. Most of the passage ceilings in the underground labyrinth are between ten and twenty feet high and many as high as 50 feet.
This makes it the largest cave in Pennsylvania. And it now belongs to the people of Pennsylvania. How amazing is that?!
On this episode I speak with Corie Eckman. Carie is the manager Laurel Caverns State Park.
Be sure to support our 2026 sponsors:Keystone Trails Association
Purple Lizard Maps
Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation
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Support the show
Visit our website to learn more about the podcast, to purchase merch and to find out about our incredible sponsors. Follow us on Instagram and Meta to stay connected.
Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Matt Davis
CORRECTION: The Loyalsock Trail and the Old Loggers Path is maintained by the Alpine Club of Williamsport.
When people find out that I’ve visited every state park, I often get asked the same question. What’s my favorite? And consistently I give the same answer, Worlds End State Park.
It’s an easy answer for me since I fell in love with the park the first time I walked into the s-shaped gorge to see it surrounded by tree-covered mountains and boulders. But when it comes to state forests, I haven’t always had an answer. And that’s because I just haven’t spent enough time in them to give an educated answer.
That was until 2024. In September of that year, I went on a Slack Pack with the Keystone Trails Association. Slack Packs allow you to get dropped off and picked up at the trial every day while leaving the majority of your gear and meals back at the campsite. Hence, having a slack pack.
Over the course of few days, we hiked about 20 miles on the Loyalsock Trail through Loyalsock State Forest. The state forest – which surrounds Worlds End – provided me with everything I wanted. Mountains. Views. Waterfalls. Big beautiful tress.
It was the most time I’d ever spent in a Pennsylvania state forest. And, still, the best time.
I contend that if you can’t find something unique or special or breathtaking over Loyalsock State Forest’s nearly 115,000 acres, then buddy, you ain’t trying. Loyalsock simply has it all. And all of it is splendid.
From the cool rushing waters of Loyalsock Creek, to the beautiful nightsky at High Knob Astronomy Area, there is a lot to take in on the forest. And since it covers three counties in northcentral Pennsylvania, you will have plenty of opportunities to explore new places and find new things to fall in love with.
On this episode, I speak with Eric Probert to the podcast. Eric is the district manager at Loyalsock State Forest.
Be sure to support our 2026 sponsors:Keystone Trails Association
Purple Lizard Maps
Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation
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Visit our website to learn more about the podcast, to purchase merch and to find out about our incredible sponsors. Follow us on Instagram and Meta to stay connected.
Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Matt Davis
What’s the best gift you’ve been given? It’s a tough question. I’ve been fortunate to have received a lot of great gifts over the years. The minibike from my parents. The engraved knife from my brother. The souvenir medal from my wife. And countless others.
They’re awesome and they each hold a special place in my heart.
But when I learned of the recent gift that the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania received, it stopped me in my tracks. In 2026, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources announced it had been given and has added Bilgers Rocks to the Moshannon State Forest.
Some of you may be thinking, “Who cares about a bunch of dusty old rocks. That’s not a great gift.” But listen here, you have no idea how amazing this place is. It’s the definition of a hidden gem.
Bilgers Rocks is centered around a multi-acre rock formation that brings visitors through a stunning rock city. With little in the way of handrails and safety features, you can walk through towering sandstone blocks, crawl in rock rooms, squeeze between ancient boulders and explore carvings from visitors past.
I was in awe the first time I stood on top of and in between these giant walls of rock. It feels like you’re exploring a prehistoric city. Like you’re Indiana Jones searching for treasure. It’s otherworldly and outstanding. And now, a part of our state forest system.
So, before we get to the interviews, I want to thank the Bilgers Rocks Association -- for its dedication to preservation, for its steadfast stewardship and for its one-of-a-kind gift.
Knowing that Bilgers Rocks will be protected for generations of Pennsylvanians to come makes me and many others so happy. Thank you, so much.
On this episode, I speak with John Hecker, Gary Gilmore and Mariah Dunsmore to the podcast. John is the District Manager of the Moshannon State Forest and Gary and Mariah are with the Bilgers Rocks Association.
Be sure to support our 2026 sponsors:Keystone Trails Association
Purple Lizard Maps
Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation
Sisters' Sunflowers
Discover Clarion County
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Support the show
Visit our website to learn more about the podcast, to purchase merch and to find out about our incredible sponsors. Follow us on Instagram and Meta to stay connected.
Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Matt Davis
For every Pennsylvanian that grew up stomping through creeks, wandering through the woods and exploring our magnificent forests, there’s many more that are just discovering the outdoors.
Maybe they grew up in a city. Or they mostly played sports. Or their families didn’t have an outdoor background. But now, they’ve found the beauty and splendor of our wonderful public lands.
That’s so great to see. New people from different backgrounds finding joy in the outdoors. However, not everyone is automatically comfortable in the outdoors. Maybe they’re afraid of bears or snakes or strangers or getting lost.
They don’t know where they can learn in a welcoming environment and how to develop community. And they don’t know where to start.
That’s where Centred Outdoors comes in. Based in Central Pennsylvania, Centered Outdoors invites everyone, of every age, background, or fitness level, to explore and enjoy outdoor recreation destinations throughout Centre and surrounding counties.
They host various programs and activities that cost nothing to participate in and are always open to the public. Whether you’re brand new or a seasoned hiker, there’s always a place for you at a Centred Outdoors event.
And their events include everything from guided hikes and yoga to campfire gatherings and art workshops. There really is something for everyone at Centred Outdoors.
I am always jealous of the people that live in and around Centre County, because they have access to these awesome activities and programs. It’s just a little too far from me here in Cumberland County to go up every weekend. And that’s about how often I wish I could participate in their events.
But even if you don’t live in Central Pennsylvania, the activities and programs hosted by Centred Outdoors are worth the trip. And the region will definitely keep you busy if you decided to do so.
On this episode, I speak with Olivia Stas to the podcast. Olivia is the program coordinator for Centred Outdoors.
Be sure to support our 2026 sponsors:Keystone Trails Association
Purple Lizard Maps
Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation
Sisters' Sunflowers
Discover Clarion County
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Support the show
Visit our website to learn more about the podcast, to purchase merch and to find out about our incredible sponsors. Follow us on Instagram and Meta to stay connected.
Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Matt Davis
The more time I’ve spent outdoors, the more I’ve learned about the threats our trees face here in Pennsylvania. It seems like every other day I’m finding out about a new disease or invasive plant or insect that’s come to our shores and is devastating our trees.
It’s sad to see our forests choked by kudzu vines. To see our trees impacted by the emerald ash borer, spongy moth and hemlock woolly adelgid. To see the once mighty American Chestnut tree wiped out by blight.
And lets not forget about other issues like over foresting, wildfires and climate change. All taking a bite from our forests. One tree at a time.
We will never have the forests that our ancestors would have seen. Old growth trees are limited to a few areas in the Commonwealth. And development has sliced most of our forests into bite-sized pieces.
But that doesn’t mean we just give up. No way.
A dedicated group of scientists and foresters are working to address these issues, protect our forests and stay ahead of the future threats that may try to take even more trees from our landscape.
They are testing out new methods and processes that could save the trees that we have and, hopefully, prevent more species from being taken from us. But it’s not easy work. They are constantly having to adapt to new threats present in an ever-connected world.
It’s incredibly important work. Anyone who cares for the outdoors – whether you’re a hunter or a hiker – needs to know about what each of us can do to address these threats on our property and help these scientists protect our forests.
On this episode, I speak with Rosa Yoo. Rosa is a Forest Health Manager with the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Bureau of Forestry.
Be sure to support our 2026 sponsors:Keystone Trails Association
Purple Lizard Maps
Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation
Sisters' Sunflowers
Discover Clarion County
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Support the show
Visit our website to learn more about the podcast, to purchase merch and to find out about our incredible sponsors. Follow us on Instagram and Meta to stay connected.
Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Matt Davis
Little Buffalo State Park is the place that kicked off my love for Pennsylvania’s state parks. I’ve told this story many times, but I’ll do it quickly here right now.
In 2020, my wife Abby and I were looking for something to do after brunch. The world was beginning to open up during the COVID 19 pandemic and we didn’t want to spend any more time cooped up in our house.
So, we went for a drive through Perry County and happened upon Little Buffalo State Park. On this beautiful day we were treated to majestic scenery. The trees and mountains reflecting off Holman Lake.
In a time of such uncertainty, it felt like heaven. Like – for a moment – we were the only ones being treated to this spectacular nature. My unexpected visit to Little Buffalo that afternoon would lead me onto my journey where I would run a mile in all 121 state parks in Pennsylvania in 2021.
And after 224 days, the last park in that journey was Little Buffalo. It was only fitting. That #121In21 Challenge led me to volunteering for outdoor organizations, serving on boards and committees, speaking to groups, starting this podcast and advocating for public lands. It all started with Little Buffalo State Park.
We’ll be going deep into the park on this episode - from its historic buildings and hiking opportunities, to its yearly events and popular community pool.
On this episode, I speak with Jim Eckert and Mindy Wilt. Jim is the manager and Mindy is the educator at Little Buffalo State Park.
Be sure to support our 2026 sponsors:Keystone Trails Association
Purple Lizard Maps
Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation
Sisters' Sunflowers
Discover Clarion County
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Support the show
Visit our website to learn more about the podcast, to purchase merch and to find out about our incredible sponsors. Follow us on Instagram and Meta to stay connected.
Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Matt Davis
What does it mean for a place to be truly quiet? It’s a question I’ve been pondering over the last several months following a webinar from the Keystone Trails Association and Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation.
They had a discussion with Quiet Parks International – a nonprofit committed to saving quiet for the benefit of all life. Saving the quiet. What does that mean?
Quiet’s not something I’ve ever thought much about. Growing up with my loud family, noisy traffic, ringing cell phones and roaring air conditioning, quiet was never an option.
But, I’ve certainly experienced quiet on hiking trails. Right? Wrong. There’s always some sort of noise. If it’s not airplanes above or nearby cars and trucks, it’s a speaker from a selfish hiker or the hum of a factory or data center.
Man, I don’t think I’ve ever experienced real quiet. But what does it matter? How bad can a little noise be. Actually, it can be really bad.
It can lead to hearing loss, stress, anxiety, sleep disturbance, cardiovascular damage and more. But not only does noise affect us, it can affect the wildlife around us. Noise can disrupt wildlife behavior, migration patterns and communication.
So what can we do and where can we go to experience quiet? Is it even possible?
That’s what this episode’s guest is trying to find out.
On this episode, I speak with Matthew Mikkelsen. Matt is an award-winning sound designer, field recordist, filmmaker, conservationist and chairperson for Quiet Parks International’s Board of Directors.
Be sure to support our 2026 sponsors:Keystone Trails Association
Purple Lizard Maps
Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation
Sisters' Sunflowers
Discover Clarion County
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Support the show
Visit our website to learn more about the podcast, to purchase merch and to find out about our incredible sponsors. Follow us on Instagram and Meta to stay connected.
Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Matt Davis
There’s a lot of thoughts that float through our minds when we’re out on the trails hiking. Am I in the right career? Is that snake poisonous? Look at that beautiful view! Did I leave the oven on? I need a bathroom, quick!
Whatever we’re thinking about – whether it’s the joy we feel on a hike or working through some of our problems – it tends to center on ourselves. Our problems. Our joy. Our experience. Our views.
The very thing below our feet – the trail – tends to be forgotten almost entirely. Little if any attention is paid to the magnificent pathway under our boots that’s allowing us to have these thoughts and experiences.
We don’t think about how it was built, who built it, when it was built or who paid for it. The trail is there, so we hike it. The end. But, that’s nowhere near the end.
The story of any trail is fascinating. From conception to completion it takes years even decades to finish. First, comes the idea - typically from a dedicated group of Pennsylvanians that want a trail in their community. That idea is followed by countless public hearings, community discussions and planning meetings. All the while they’re working to get approvals from everyone from the railroad to the bureau of forests.
It’s a long, long process. And expensive. Groups spend years trying to raise money through donations and grants. And even if the money is raised and the approvals are given, then you gotta build the bloody thing.
It’s honestly amazing that we even have trails. The amount of work it takes for everyone – from the organizing group to the hands-on builder – is spectacular. It’s mind boggling.
So much so, that I wanted to learn how trails are built here in Pennsylvania. How does one shape an unbroken forest into a beautiful trail? How long does it take? How much does it cost?
Luckily, I got to see first-hand how natural surface trails are made as a member of the PA Trails Advisory Committee. I met this episode’s guest riding a machine, cutting a brand new trail in Rothrock State Forest. It was an experience that reshaped my thinking on trails and made me appreciate how much work goes into the trails we hike.
On this episode, I speak with Zachary Adams. Zach is the founder of Appalachian Dirt.
Be sure to support our 2026 sponsors:Keystone Trails Association
Purple Lizard Maps
Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation
Sisters' Sunflowers
Discover Clarion County
Go Laurel Highlands
Support the show
Visit our website to learn more about the podcast, to purchase merch and to find out about our incredible sponsors. Follow us on Instagram and Meta to stay connected.
Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Matt Davis
Driving down Route 44 from Lycoming County to Montgomery County, you may be able to spot a brief break in the trees and rhododendrons. It’s so quick that if you blink, you’ll miss it.
But if you slow down, you’ll see that it’s one of the smallest state parks in all of Pennsylvania. As you pull into the gravel parking lot, you’ll notice a few things. You’ll see a couple picnic tables, a few signs and a quiet stream. Look all the way to the left and then all the way to the right. That’s it. That is Upper Pine Bottom State Park.
When I first visited the park in 2021, while I was running a mile in all then 121 state parks, a park ranger at Little Pine State Park asked if I was visiting Upper Pine Bottom next. “You’re going to run a mile at Upper Pine Bottom?” he asked with a smile. I answered, “Yeah, why?” And he just laughed and said “good luck.”
When I got to the park a few minutes later, I got the joke. This park is tiny. Not small. Tiny. A gentleman was fishing when I first arrived to run my mile. As it was 90-plus degrees, I took off my shirt and started running laps in the small parking lot to get my necessary mile.
The older man, seeing some crazy un-shirted man jogging laps, just packed up his gear and left. Leaving with a story he may still be telling to this day. I know I do.
So, why do an episode on this park if it’s so small. Because I firmly believe that all of our state parks matter. They may not all be great. But they all matter. Also, what better park to feature for our April Fools episode. I wanted to make this episode as short as the park is small.
On this episode, I speak with Haley Redmond. Haley is the manager of the Little Pine State Park Complex.
Be sure to support our 2025 sponsors:Keystone Trails Association
Purple Lizard Maps
Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation
Sisters' Sunflowers
Discover Clarion County
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Support the show
Visit our website to learn more about the podcast, to purchase merch and to find out about our incredible sponsors. Follow us on Instagram and Meta to stay connected.
Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Matt Davis
If you’ve ever stood beside a cold mountain stream at first light — mist rising off the water, hemlocks towering overhead and the gentle sound of moving water— then you already understand the magic of Little Pine State Park.
Tucked deep in the rugged country of north-central Pennsylvania, this park is where brook trout still thrive, where the mountains become majestic green waves and where a simple weekend can feel like a full reset. Don’t we all deserve that?
At its heart flows Little Pine Creek, which eventually winds its way toward the legendary waters of Pine Creek and the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon. The warm and coldwaters of Little Pine Creek and Little Pine Lake make the park the perfect place to catch trout, smallmouth bass, pickerel, sunfishes, catfishes and perch.
But Little Pine is more than just a fishing destination. It’s a story of conservation, of Civilian Conservation Corps craftsmanship, of reclaimed forests and carefully managed waters.
It’s a place where families pitch tents beneath the stars, where kayaks glide across the lake and where generations return year after year to reconnect with something slower, steadier and deeply Pennsylvanian.
Heading into the valley, there’s just so much for visitors to explore. You can delve into the area’s fascinating history of native cultures, discover how conservation efforts rebuilt ancient forests, find out about the vast network of trails in and outside of the park and learn about the ways you can enjoy a day on the water.
Little Pine State Park is a quiet treasure. A special place. Completely surrounded by Tiadaghton State Forest, Little Pine offers the escape many of us crave.
If you ignored the modern roads, buildings and signs, it’s easy to see what this place looked like 200 years ago. A big, beautiful tract of forest that gets more wonderful every minute you spend in it.
Where your nostrils are filled with the sweet smell of the woods and not with car exhausts. Where your ears are filled with songbirds and not honking horns. Where you can get away but still feel right at home.
On this episode, I speak with Haley Redmond to the podcast. Haley is the manager of the Little Pine State Park Complex.
Be sure to support our 2025 sponsors:Keystone Trails Association
Purple Lizard Maps
Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation
Sisters' Sunflowers
Discover Clarion County
Go Laurel Highlands
Support the show
Visit our website to learn more about the podcast, to purchase merch and to find out about our incredible sponsors. Follow us on Instagram and Meta to stay connected.
Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Matt Davis
It’s December 26th, 1776. Gen. George Washington has just successfully gotten 2,400 men from the Continental Army across the Delaware River from Pennsylvania into New Jersey.
The first year of the American Revolution has been a difficult one. The young United States has had few victories battling the highly skilled British army and their paid German mercenaries, the Hessians.
Washington has retreated from New York after sustaining significant losses during the Battle of Long Island. Morale is low. Supplies even lower. Men are deserting. And it seems like the American Experiment is doomed before it’s really gotten started.
It is bitterly cold. In fact, the other detachments of 3,000 American troops never make it across the freezing river. Washington’s troops that did make it across the dangerous river crossing arrived several hours later than planned. The element of surprise might be lost.
But none of that matters at this moment. At this moment, Washington is in Trenton leading his troops on a surprise attack. Then, the first shots ring out as the Americans caught the Hessians off guard.
The Battle of Trenton was not a grand, orderly clash of polished armies. It was desperate, freezing, chaotic and brutally human.
While the battle itself lasted less than an hour, the victory at Trenton revived the Revolution. It proved the Continental Army could beat professional soldiers. It convinced many whose enlistments were about to expire to stay.
More than a battle, it was a turning point — a moment when a failing rebellion felt, for the first time in months, like it might survive.
Now, while there’s plenty of state parks in Pennsylvania that highlight important history, people, communities, industries, resources, flora, fauna, animals and more. There aren’t many that highlight one specific event.
Washington Crossing Historic Park does just that. This episode will go into detail about this all-important surprise attack, but we’ll also delve into much more than just that one moment in time.
As much as this park is meant to celebrate the brave actions of the Continental Army during the American Revolution, it also serves as a wonderful river-side escape for those looking to spend time outside.
On this episode, I speak with Kimberly McCarty. Kim is the museum curator at Washington Crossing Historic Park.
Be sure to support our 2025 sponsors:Keystone Trails Association
Purple Lizard Maps
Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation
Sisters' Sunflowers
Discover Clarion County
Go Laurel Highlands
Support the show
Visit our website to learn more about the podcast, to purchase merch and to find out about our incredible sponsors. Follow us on Instagram and Meta to stay connected.
Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Matt Davis
When I was on my journey of running one mile in all-then 121 Pennsylvania state parks in 2021, I took notes after every run. It was an effort to make sure I would remember my experiences. I’d take notes like, I spotted a fox here. Or I fell there. Or I want to hike the full trail here.
But one of the most important pieces of information I recorded was my overall feeling of the park. It’s difficult to get a sense of a natural landscape in just one mile, often running half a mile one way and then running half a mile back the same way. But some places just stand out and beg to be explored some more.
Here’s what I wrote about Trough Creek State Park on March 13, 2021. “Well, this place is incredible. I have to come back.” It only takes a few seconds at Trough Creek to realize it’s special. And that it deserves more time to be explored.
You even get that sense by just driving through the park. Traveling through the scenic gorge along the Great Trough Creek you see signs for Balanced Rock, Rainbow Falls, Ice Mine, Copperas Rocks, Paradise Furnace Cemetery and the suspension bridge.
Your mind can’t help but get excited by the idea of what the heck all these things are and how you can go see them. For outdoors people it feels like entering a theme park. What ride do I go on first?
And with so many of these wonderful features, you’d expect it to be huge. Some place you’d need a week to explore. But that isn’t the case. At less than 600 acres with only 12 miles of hiking trails, you can see most if not all of it in a weekend.
But this isn’t a one and done sort of park. Once you visit Trough Creek, it sinks its hooks into you. Its trails, its views, it’s features beckon you for many more visits.
Despite the fact that Trough Creek is more than two hours from me, I’ve been there multiple times while passing other great state parks along the way. It is just that damn cool. And no matter how many times I’ve been there, I want to keep going back.
And that’s about the biggest complement I can give to a state park.
On this episode, I speak with Michael Garbinsky. Michael is the environmental education specialist at Trough Creek State Park.
Be sure to support our 2025 sponsors:Keystone Trails Association
Purple Lizard Maps
Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation
Sisters' Sunflowers
Discover Clarion County
Go Laurel Highlands
Support the show
Support the show
Visit our website to learn more about the podcast, to purchase merch and to find out about our incredible sponsors. Follow us on Instagram and Meta to stay connected.
Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Matt Davis
Pymatuning State Park is big in every sense of the word. It is the largest state park in Pennsylvania. Its Pymatuning Reservoir is the largest lake in Pennsylvania. And it’s one of the most visited state parks with more than three and a half million visitors a year.
But just because it has these big qualities does not mean you’ll be unable to find your own peaceful spot at Pymatuning. For every space taken up by a family BBQing, there are nooks and crannies that allow you to explore the park that straddles the Ohio and Pennsylvania state lines.
And while there are plenty of great ways to discover the park on land, like by hiking or biking or even playing disc golf, this park needs to be explored by the water. The park’s crowning jewel is it’s 17,088-acre reservoir.
The Reservoir plays the perfect host for sailboats, motorboats, kayaks, canoes and paddleboards. The park has three marinas and three concession areas where you can rent a boat for the day. There’re also numerous boat launches located in both Ohio and Pennsylvania to get you on to the water safely.
While in the water, you have the opportunity to explore the stunning beauty that this park has to offer. You can cast out lines and fish all day or simply paddle between the numerous islands.
I can just imagine waking up early, and getting my kayak on the water. Silently paddling between islands as I take in the sounds of the birds and swaying trees around me. A perfect peaceful paddle.
And you may be thinking at this point, “Christian, why haven’t you talked about the most well-known feature of Pymatuning State Park? Where the ducks walk on the backs of fish.” Don’t worry, we’re getting there.
On this episode, I speak with Jared McGary. Jared is the environmental education specialist at Pymatuning State Park.
Be sure to support our 2025 sponsors:Keystone Trails Association
Purple Lizard Maps
Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation
Sisters' Sunflowers
Discover Clarion County
Go Laurel Highlands
Support the show
Visit our website to learn more about the podcast, to purchase merch and to find out about our incredible sponsors. Follow us on Instagram and Meta to stay connected.
Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Matt Davis
The story of the United States of America cannot be told without Pennsylvania. Independence Hall. The Declaration of Independence. Philadelphia. The Liberty Bell. Benjamin Franklin. George Washington’s Crossing of the Delaware. The Battle of Brandywine. And Valley Forge.
Pennsylvania is called the Keystone State because it refers to the central stone in an arch that holds all other stones in place, symbolizing strength and stability. Pennsylvania was the hub of political and economic activity during the colonial period and played a pivotal role in American history.
Pennsylvania – it’s people, its industries, its thinkers, it’s revolutionaries, its influence, it’s morals and its resources – serve as the bedrock of these United States. And throughout this year, we are going to be celebrating our place in history as part of the 250th Anniversary of the United States.
The semiquincentennial – as it’s known – will be celebrated in the original 13 colonies as well as throughout the entire country. But, you know, we’re here to talk about Pennsylvania.
While so much of our colonial history took place in and around Philadelphia, America 250 PA will be highlighting the incredible contributions of all of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties. From Lancasters farmers to Pittsburgh’s factory workers. From the fisherman in Erie to the coal miners of Lehigh Valley.
I’m a history lover, I don’t hide this fact. Give me a book or documentary series about the American Revolution or Civil War and I’m a happy camper. But you don’t have to be a history buff to care about this year’s historic celebrations.
This upcoming celebration serves as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn about the founding of this amazing Commonwealth and country. There’s going to be concerts, fireworks, educational programs, lecture series, family events, volunteer opportunities and so much more.
On this episode, I speak with Matt Darragh. Matt is the Chief of Staff for America250PA.
Be sure to support our 2025 sponsors:Keystone Trails Association
Purple Lizard Maps
Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation
Sisters' Sunflowers
Discover Clarion County
Go Laurel Highlands
Support the show
Visit our website to learn more about the podcast, to purchase merch and to find out about our incredible sponsors. Follow us on Instagram and Meta to stay connected.
Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Matt Davis
Hundreds of years ago, a group of Native Americans living along the lower Susquehanna River made an indelible mark on the valley. At what is now known as Safe Harbor, they made hundreds of carvings into the rocks found in the middle of the river.
Animals, bird and animal tracks, directional symbols, teaching or storytelling images, humans and anthropomorphic images, spiritual symbols and geometric and abstract designs were painstakingly carved into the boulder strewn landscape of the river. From the banks of the river, the sites look like any of the rocks found in the river. But up close, these stunning petroglyphs offer a window into a fascinating culture that we still know very little about.
Despite Native Americans being driven from their homes, villages and hunting grounds. Despite countless floods. Despite dam construction. Despite pollution. Despite industry. And despite man’s constant need to exert his will over the river, these magnificent petroglyphs remain.
Big Indian Rock. Little Indian Rock. Circle Rock. Turkey Track Rock. Eagle Rock and Conestoga Rock.
Right in the middle of the Susquehanna River, as they have for hundreds of years. These sites are sacred spaces for Native Americans. The Safe Harbor Petroglyphs are a rare, direct connection to Indigenous peoples who lived along the Susquehanna River long before European contact.
For many Native communities, these carvings are not just historical artifacts but living cultural expressions—messages left by ancestors that carry spiritual meaning. Their location along the river, a vital life-giving force, further reinforces their sacred nature as places of reverence, storytelling and ancestral presence.
And unlike many pieces of indigenous rock art, they are accessible to the public. But that accessibility comes with a responsibility.
These carvings are irreplaceable cultural and spiritual expressions created by Indigenous peoples, and even small actions—touching the rock, climbing on it, or disturbing the surrounding area—can cause permanent damage.
Visitors also have a responsibility to listen and learn. Approaching the petroglyphs with humility means acknowledging that this site holds meaning far deeper than what we may fully understand, and that it represents living cultures whose histories and voices have too often been ignored or erased.
On this episode, I speak with Paul Nevin. Paul is recognized as the leading authority of rock art of the lower Susquehanna River and is the author of the “A Guide to the Safe Harbor Petroglyphs.”
Be sure to support our 2025 sponsors:
Keystone Trails Association
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Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation
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Discover Clarion County
Go Laurel Highlands
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Visit our website to learn more about the podcast, to purchase merch and to find out about our incredible sponsors. Follow us on Instagram and Meta to stay connected.
Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Matt Davis
Welcome, fellow explorers. My name is Christian Alexandersen and I’m the host of Hemlocks to Hellbenders, a podcast highlighting Pennsylvania’s parks, forests and great outdoors.
Season four of Hemlocks to Hellbenders is shaping up to be our most exciting yet and I can’t wait to take you along for the journey in 2026. We’ll be exploring some of Pennsylvania’s most incredible parks and forests with the people who know them best: park and forest managers, outdoor educators, historians, authors, conservationists and volunteers who are deeply passionate about this place we call home.
This season, conversations will range from outdoor recreation and backpacking to conservation, wildlife and plant management, Indigenous history, volunteerism, and the stories of the people who shaped Pennsylvania’s landscapes.
If exploring wild places, learning their stories, and planning your next adventure excites you, you’re in the right place. Together, we’ll dig into hidden gems and help you experience Pennsylvania’s public lands in a deeper, more meaningful way.
I launched Hemlocks to Hellbenders in 2023 to inspire people to spend more time in Pennsylvania’s parks and forests, to stand up for their protection, and to help make the outdoors a more welcoming place for everyone. I hope you’ll join us in that mission.
I’m excited to be bringing back four advertisers for the 2026 season; the Keystone Trails Association, Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation, Purple Lizard Maps and Sisters' Sunflowers. And I’m thrilled to announce two new supporters of the podcast, Discover Clarion County and Go Laurel Highlands.
Our fourth season kicks off on Jan. 7 with an episode on the Native American rock carvings found in Safe Harbor on the Susquehanna River. I look forward to sharing our new guests and episodes with you in 2026.
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Visit our website to learn more about the podcast, to purchase merch and to find out about our incredible sponsors. Follow us on Instagram and Meta to stay connected.
Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Matt Davis
For a long time, there’s been this mostly unspoken rule that “real” outdoor experiences have to be rugged. You’ve got to rough it, hike ten miles in the rain, sleep on the ground and eat beans from a can — or else it somehow doesn’t count.
Luckily, that’s changing. More and more people are discovering that you don’t have to give up comfort to connect with the outdoors. Here in Pennsylvania – especially in state parks - that change has been evident. Instead of only offering tent sites, state parks have cottages, cabins, yurts and other accommodations. Many offer amenities like stoves, refrigerators, microwaves, tables and chairs.
No longer are you forced to pack up everything you own for a weekend in the woods. You can book a comfortable accommodation AND still be in nature. However, these upgraded accommodations still have rubbed people the wrong way.
It isn’t “real’ camping. What does that even mean anyway? Real camping? Does it mean sleeping on the ground. Waking up with a sore back and condensation in the tent. Cold and miserable. No thanks.
It’s that sort of attitude that I despise in the outdoors. You’re not a real hiker unless. You’re not a real hunter unless. You’re not really camping unless. It’s such a pointless and divisive way of thinking.
Thankfully, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources does not think that way. They are more considered with getting people outdoors and meeting them where they are in their outdoor recreation journey. As opposed to bending them to their will.
That’s why I was so excited when they announced in 2025 that they were partnering with Timberline Glamping Company to bring glamping to seven Pennsylvania state parks in 2026. The public would have the chance to reserve one of the 54 fully outfitted sites —no gear needed.
Glamping will be available in Pymatuning, Hills Creek, Promised Land, Hickory Run, French Creek, Codorus and Laurel Hill State Parks.
Timberline will provide the beds, heat, air conditioning, coffee maker, linens, pillows and comfortable accommodations. All you have to bring is an open mind and a sense of adventure.
These wonderful glamping spots are creating space for everyone to experience the magic of nature in their own way. By making the outdoors accessible for everyone- from people who don’t own camping gear to those physically unable to sleep in a tent - glamping is opening doors, breaking down barriers and reimagining what it means to “get outside.”
Because nature belongs to all of us — whether you’re sleeping under the stars or under a heated canopy.
On this episode I speak with Nathan and Rebeka Self, founders of Timberline Glamping Company, and Kaitlyn Gundersen-Thorpe, manager of the French Creek State Park Complex.
Be sure to support our 2025 sponsors:
Keystone Trails Association
Purple Lizard Maps
Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation
Sisters' Sunflowers
Support the show
Visit our website to learn more about the podcast, to purchase merch and to find out about our incredible sponsors. Follow us on Instagram and Meta to stay connected.
Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Matt Davis
In Pennsylvania, every state park has its purpose. Allegheny Islands shows people what undeveloped islands once looked like on the river. Colton Point features stunning views of the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon. And Pine Grove Furnace highlights the iron making industry crucial to Pennsylvania and America’s growth.
But are there any places set aside for learning and study. As it turns out, there is. One such place is Nolde Forest Environmental Education Center.
Located in Berks County, Nolde Forest was established as the first environmental education center operated by DCNR’s Bureau of State Parks in the 1970s. It is dedicated to helping visitors and community members develop sound environmental ethics based upon science.
The park has provided a wide variety of nature-based educational programs for students, teachers, organizations and families. Students take part in guided, hands-on activities that let them explore unique ecosystems and deepen their awareness, appreciation and understanding of the natural environment.
Nolde Forest also functions as an outdoor laboratory for biologists, college students and natural resource professionals conducting a wide range of environmental studies and research projects. Topics that have been studied in the park include everything from water quality and songbirds to small mammals and reptiles.
But I know what you’re thinking, “Christian, bubbie, I’m not a child or a scientist. Is there anything for me there?” Don’t worry, I got you, player.
As much as Nolde Forest is about serious study and learning, it also about recreation. The park has hiking trails, historic structures, ponds, streams and more to explore.
On this episode, I speak with Brent Erb. Brent is the center manager at Nolde Forest Environmental Education Center.
Be sure to support our 2025 sponsors:
Keystone Trails Association
Purple Lizard Maps
Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation
Sisters' Sunflowers
Support the show
Visit our website to learn more about the podcast, to purchase merch and to find out about our incredible sponsors. Follow us on Instagram and Meta to stay connected.
Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Matt Davis
One of the strangest things about getting older has been the shift in my interests. Despite being intensely curious as a kid, I never cared about nature growing up. I didn’t climb trees or capture bugs or explore creeks.
But as I’ve gotten older all that’s changed. Which has made me feel like I’m constantly catching up to those that spent their early lives trekking through the woods, paddling on rivers and exploring the natural world.
I often think to myself, “Am I too old to start learning how to identify trees? What’s the point of birding if it’s going to take me 20 years to catch up? Is it sad that I do a podcast about nature while still knowing so little about it?” A little imposter syndrome mixed in there, of course.
Luckily, my positive self-talk tamps those thoughts down long enough to embrace my curiosity. And since I’ve spent so much time outside, I’ve found more subjects I want to learn about. One of those topics is geology.
Who else can relate to walking around and finding a cool looking rock or fossil and thinking, “I wonder what this is?” I know I do it all the time.
You can’t spend much time in Pennsylvania without running into examples of incredible geology. From the Appalachian and Allegheny Mountains to the Susquehanna and Delaware Rivers, Pennsylvania is packed with geologic features.
State parks like Leonard Harrison, Ricketts Glen, Worlds End, McConnells Mill and Hickory Run are just a few state lands that have unique rocks, boulders, minerals, fossils and cliffs on full, beautiful display. Quartz, slate, shale, limestone, sandstone and marble are woven throughout the Commonwealth.
And they can be found, literally, everywhere. Under our feet and above our heads. On the sides of the road and in the middle of forests. Rocks are just cool. But, as I’ve said, I don’t know very much about them. So I wanted to interview someone who did.
On this episode I speak with Russell Losco. Russ is a soil scientist & geologist adjunct professor at West Chester University and the host of the PCPG's A Poorly Sorted but Well Rounded Series.
Be sure to support our 2025 sponsors:
Keystone Trails Association
Purple Lizard Maps
Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation
Sisters' Sunflowers
Support the show
Visit our website to learn more about the podcast, to purchase merch and to find out about our incredible sponsors. Follow us on Instagram and Meta to stay connected.
Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Matt Davis
What is it that makes a state park special? It’s a question I’ve asked my self countless times since I began exploring Pennsylvania’s public lands in 2021.
For some it’s deep, meaningful history to indigenous cultures, to early settlers or even to industry. For others its beautiful features like waterfalls, old growth forests and scenic vistas. And for many it’s the landscapes that allow them to hike, bike, paddle, birdwatch, hunt, fish and more.
For me, I’ve found that parks I deem special share a lot of these components. I want some history. I want something beautiful to look at. And I want a park that provides me with the opportunity to explore and discover.
One of those places for me is Salt Springs State Park. Located less than 10 miles from the New York border, Salt Springs State Park is special. Now, I can’t guarantee YOU will find it special, but I think it’s pretty damn cool.
Here’s a quick list of some of thing things I think are special that we’ll delve further into this episode. It’s got an old growth forest, three waterfalls, meadows, historic buildings, pre-colonial and early-American history, fascinatin geology, hiking trails, camping and so much more.
But best of all, it’s in the middle of nowhere. So your hikes won’t be disturbed by road noise and it’s likely you wont find a crowded park. Wouldn’t that be nice for a change.
Salt Springs State Park is special and it should be near the top of your list if it’s not already. Yes, it’s a bit of a drive depending on where you live, but the best places are always worth the extra time it takes to get there.
On this episode, I speak with Lee Dillon. Lee is the manager of the Lackawanna State Park Complex which includes Salt Springs State Park.
Be sure to support our 2025 sponsors:
Keystone Trails Association
Purple Lizard Maps
Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation
Sisters' Sunflowers
Support the show
Visit our website to learn more about the podcast, to purchase merch and to find out about our incredible sponsors. Follow us on Instagram and Meta to stay connected.
Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Matt Davis
When people think about history, especially armed conflicts, many picture dusty textbooks, old maps and long-forgotten generals. But here in Pennsylvania, history isn’t just words on a page—it’s written into the very ground beneath our feet.
From the rolling hills of Gettysburg, where the fate of a nation turned in just three days, to the banks of the Brandywine, where the Revolutionary War nearly lost its footing, to the quiet frontier where settlers clashed in the Whiskey Rebellion—Pennsylvania has been a crossroads for some of the most important struggles in American history.
In fact, you can’t tell the history of America without looking at the battles that scarred Pennsylvania’s landscape. When hatchets, arrows, bullets, swords and cannons left thousands of dead bodies on what was once was peaceful forests and fields.
It’s also true that you can’t tell the stories of Pennsylvania’s parks, forests and public lands without looking at the battles that shaped our history. Places like Point State Park, Washington Crossing State Park and Fort Necessity National Battlefield are just a couple of the public lands that we can enjoy and appreciate today.
Not to mention places like Colonel Denning State Park, Francis Slocum State Park and Ricketts Glen State Park which are named after influential service members and survivors of battles. The very parks we visit, trails we hike and sites we explore have meaning. And it’s important that we know about these hallowed grounds.
Now I understand that history is not for everyone. But I think it’s all in how you learn about it. History isn’t just about battle lines, troop movements and bloody war stories. It’s so much more than that.
It’s about ordinary people—farmers, shopkeepers, immigrants, and families—whose lives were upended by battles happening in their backyards. It’s about how communities responded to chaos, how a landscape carried on the memory of those lost and how the echoes of cannon fire shaped the Pennsylvania we live in today.
So even if you don’t think you’re a “history person,” stick around. Because the battles that happened here aren’t just about the past—they’re about understanding the public lands we have right now.
On this episode, I speak with Brady Crytzer. Brady teaches history at Robert Morris University and is the author of several books about Pennsylvania history.
Be sure to support our 2025 sponsors:
Keystone Trails Association
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Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation
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Support the show
Visit our website to learn more about the podcast, to purchase merch and to find out about our incredible sponsors. Follow us on Instagram and Meta to stay connected.
Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Matt Davis
When you stand on the ridgeline of South Mountain and look out across the valleys, you see more than just trees and farmland. You see orchards stretching toward the horizon, you see trails that have carried travelers for centuries and you see small, thriving towns that grew out of rocky soil.
This beautiful ridgeline is the northern terminus of the Blue Ridge Mountains, a billion-year old mountain range that stretches 550 miles across eight states.
South Mountain isn’t just a line on a map—it’s the beating heart of south-central Pennsylvania. But here’s the thing: landscapes like this don’t stay special on their own. They face pressures from development, from climate change, from people loving them a little too much—or sometimes not enough.
That’s where the South Mountain Partnership comes in. The organization serves as a public-private partnership between the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. Over time, it’s grown into an alliance of citizens, businesses, non-profits, academic institutions, and local, state and federal government agencies and officials collaborating to envision and secure a sustainable future for the South Mountain landscape.
This unique coalition is working together to protect not just the forests and farms, but the culture, the history and the very sense of place that makes South Mountain what it is. Because when you talk about protecting a landscape, you’re really talking about protecting people’s lives, their heritage and their future.
And in South Mountain, all those things are tightly bound together.
On this episode, I speak with Katie Hess and Julia Chain. Katie is the director and Julia is the program manager at the South Mountain Partnership.
Be sure to support our 2025 sponsors:
Keystone Trails Association
Purple Lizard Maps
Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation
Sisters' Sunflowers
Support the show
Visit our website to learn more about the podcast, to purchase merch and to find out about our incredible sponsors. Follow us on Instagram and Meta to stay connected.
Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Matt Davis
When you stand at the edge of Hyner View State Park, it feels like Pennsylvania has stretched itself out just for you. Rolling mountains covered in endless green, the West Branch of the Susquehanna winding far below, and a sky so wide it makes you want to take flight.
In fact, people do—Hyner View is one of the state’s most famous hang-gliding spots, where the bold launch themselves into the open air. I’ve been fortunate enough to see gliders taking off from the park’s summit and it is a sight to behold.
While the Hyner View is beautiful no matter the time of year, in autumn it becomes a colorful masterpiece. The endless ridges fade into the horizon and are set ablaze with fiery reds, glowing oranges and warm golds, as if the mountains themselves are smoldering. From the overlook, you can watch the Susquehanna carve its way through the valley below.
Hyner View provides my favorite view in all of the Commonwealth. If I’m within an hour of the park, I must stop just to take in the breathtaking view of the Pennsylvania Wilds.
But Hyner isn’t just about the view. Just a few miles down the road, Hyner Run State Park offers a quieter, more grounded escape. The park feels like one of those secret spots you stumble upon and instantly want to keep to yourself. Tucked in a narrow valley, the park wrapped in trees make you feel protected from the world outside its boundaries.
A cool mountain stream winds through the valley, drawing families to its swimming pool in summer and anglers to its trout-filled waters in spring. Trails climb from the valley floor into the surrounding forest, offering quiet paths where deer slip through the underbrush and birdsong replaces the hum of traffic.
Hyner Run is a place where camping, hiking, and simple stillness come together. Together, these two parks tell a story of contrast—one that lifts you into the sky, and another that brings you back to the forest.
On this episode, I speak with Ian Loewen. Ian is the environmental education specialist for Hyner Run and Hyner View State Parks.
Be sure to support our 2025 sponsors:
Keystone Trails Association
Purple Lizard Maps
Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation
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Support the show
Visit our website to learn more about the podcast, to purchase merch and to find out about our incredible sponsors. Follow us on Instagram and Meta to stay connected.
Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Matt Davis
As the sun dips below the tree line and the night sky takes over, a quiet but critical process begins above our heads. Tiny silhouettes flit through the dark, weaving between branches and barn rafters, doing the work of a thousand pesticides—silently, efficiently and for free.
These are Pennsylvania’s bats, and despite their bad reputation in folklore and films, they’re some of the hardest-working—and most misunderstood—members of our ecosystem.
Bats matter more than most people realize. These nocturnal mammals play a critical role in keeping our environment balanced. They eat thousands of insects every night—mosquitoes, moths, beetles and other crop-damaging pests—saving farmers millions of dollars and helping reduce the need for chemical pesticides.
While bats may be stealthy in the sky, their struggles are becoming increasingly visible on the ground. Populations have plummeted in recent years due to threats like habitat loss, climate change and —perhaps most devastating of all—White-nose Syndrome, a deadly fungal disease that’s wiped-out entire colonies across the Northeast.
Though these creatures are vital, there aren’t a ton of local people and organizations working to protect these essential creatures in Pennsylvania. There are even fewer helping bats that have been injured or impacted.
That’s where Pennsylvania Bat Conservation and Rehabilitation steps in.
They provide rescue and rehabilitation support for bats that are brought to their facility. Their staff and volunteers have committed much of their lives to helping re-introduce bats back into the wild. Once reintroduced, these bats can continue their incredible work in nature.
But caring for bats can be a difficult and costly endeavor. There are few grants available and finding volunteers to help with such misunderstood creatures can be challenging. So that means we must do whatever we can to help Pennsylvania Bat Rescue and Rehabilitation.
Donations. Sponsorships. Volunteers. Anything we can do to help.
In fact, I am pledging a $100 donation to the organization to help with their important work. This money comes from podcast sticker and magnet purchases listeners have made over the last couple of years. So please, do what you can.
On this episode I speak with Stephanie Stronsick. Stephanie is the founder and director of Pennsylvania Bat Conservation and Rehabilitation.
Be sure to support our 2025 sponsors:
Keystone Trails Association
Purple Lizard Maps
Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation
Sisters' Sunflowers
Support the show
Visit our website to learn more about the podcast, to purchase merch and to find out about our incredible sponsors. Follow us on Instagram and Meta to stay connected.
Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Matt Davis
While most of the places we feature on this podcast are either a state park or forest, this episode is about something a little different. Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve is not just a garden or a park. It’s a sanctuary. A living, breathing tribute to Pennsylvania’s native plants and the ecosystems they support.
Founded in the early 1930s, Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve is the nation’s only accredited native plant museum. Today, it boasts over 700 native plant species—each one telling its own story of survival, adaptation and connection.
This isn't your average wildflower walk. When you step onto the trails here, you're transported through time and terrain—from spring ephemerals peeking through forest floors to late summer blooms lighting up sunny meadows. The preserve’s landscape is as diverse as its mission is vital: to inspire the appreciation and use of native plants by serving as a sanctuary, nursery and educational center.
The preserve’s role in education and community outreach is unquestionable. It serves as a living classroom for children and adults alike, fostering curiosity and stewardship in the next generation of conservation-minded Pennsylvanians.
For many, a visit to Bowman’s Hill is the start of a lifelong love affair with native plants and the wild places they represent.
So whether you're a seasoned botanist, a backyard gardener, or someone who just enjoys a peaceful walk in the woods, Bowman’s Hill is for you. Because in a world that often feels loud, fast, and disconnected, Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve offers something rare: a chance to slow down, reconnect, and rediscover the extraordinary beauty in the plants that have always been here.
On this episode, I spoke with Peter Couchman. Peter is the executive director of Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve.
Be sure to support our 2025 sponsors:
Keystone Trails Association
Purple Lizard Maps
Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation
Sisters' Sunflowers
Support the show
Visit our website to learn more about the podcast, to purchase merch and to find out about our incredible sponsors. Follow us on Instagram and Meta to stay connected.
Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Matt Davis
Stretching 444 miles from New York through Pennsylvania and into Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay the Susquehanna River is one of the oldest rivers in the world.
And while it served generations as fertile hunting and fishing grounds and trade and transportation routes, it took American industries a couple hundred or so years to nearly destroy it. Like always, it took a dedicated group of people to speak up and make changes that would save the river.
One of the voices speaking on behalf of the river belongs to the Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper—an advocate, a watchdog and a tireless defender of one of the most important watersheds in the United States.
The volunteer organization protects and promotes the Susquehanna River, its tributaries and the aquatic ecosystem it supports across an 11,000-square-mile watershed defined by the North and West branches of the river.
Their passion for clean water and public engagement is reshaping how communities interact with their local waterways.
What sets the Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper apart isn’t just advocacy—it’s education. Their floating classroom program, citizen science initiatives, and water quality monitoring efforts are all about empowering people to become stewards of their environment. Because protecting a river starts with understanding it.
The Susquehanna River faces a number of continued threats; from outdated infrastructure and agricultural runoff to industrial discharges and invasive species. These aren't distant, abstract problems—they're real challenges that affect real people.
And the Riverkeeper are on the frontlines, combining data, public pressure and policy to push for meaningful change. But this work isn’t all warnings and water samples. It's also about joy—about reconnecting people with their rivers, creeks and lakes.
On this episode, I speak with John Zaktansky. John is the executive director of the Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper.
Be sure to support our 2025 sponsors:
Keystone Trails Association
Purple Lizard Maps
Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation
Sisters' Sunflowers
Support the show
Visit our website to learn more about the podcast, to purchase merch and to find out about our incredible sponsors. Follow us on Instagram and Meta to stay connected.
Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Matt Davis
High above the meeting point of two mighty rivers, where the Susquehanna splits into its North and West Branches, stands Shikellamy State Park. Perched on a forested bluff in central Pennsylvania, this park offers more than just scenic overlooks. It’s a gateway to the natural beauty, cultural history and outdoor adventure of the Susquehanna River Valley.
Shikellamy State Park is a place where geography and heritage intersect. The story of the park and the story of the Native American tribes that called it home are forever intertwined. In the 1700s, the Haudenosaunee Confederacy took control of the surrounding area.
Nearby Shamokin – whose name means “the Place of Eels” - was one of the most important Indigenous cities in Pennsylvania during that time. The resident Haudenosaunee welcomed tribes including the Conestoga, Conoy, Nanticoke, Tuscarora, Lenape and the Shawnee displaced by settlers.
The French and Indian War, the American Revolution and the purchase of the land by Commonwealth of Pennsylvania forced many of the Indigenous people in Pennsylvania to move west or north.
The park – which is made of up two separate sections – held numerous purposes over the years. It was an air strip, homestead, farm, “pleasure ground,” amusement center and hotel before becoming a state park in 1962.
Shikellamy State Park’s two distinct areas is the marina along the river in Sunbury, and the scenic overlook high on the bluff in Northumberland. Each area offers a different experience—from peaceful boating and fishing on the Susquehanna to breathtaking vistas of the valley below. It's a rare park that invites you both to explore water-level wilderness and to rise above it all for a bird’s-eye view.
Shikellamy’s unique location has made it a hub for both recreation and reflection—a place where families come to picnic, hikers go to find solitude, and birders gather to catch sight of bald eagles soaring over the river.
But Shikellamy isn't just about quiet beauty—it’s about connection. The park sits at the crossroads of culture, drawing in people from nearby towns and beyond. Whether it’s for community events, wildlife watching at the overlook, or simply taking a moment to breathe in the valley air, visitors come here to feel grounded.
There’s a rhythm to this park—seasonal, historical, natural. Spring floods give way to summer sun, and autumn paints the hills in brilliant reds and golds. And in every season, Shikellamy offers a chance to see the world from a new perspective—both literally and figuratively.
On this episode, I speak with Ben Bender. Ben is the park manager of the Shikellamy State Park complex.
Be sure to support our 2025 sponsors:
Keystone Trails Association
Purple Lizard Maps
Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation
Sisters' Sunflowers
Support the show
Visit our website to learn more about the podcast, to purchase merch and to find out about our incredible sponsors. Follow us on Instagram and Meta to stay connected.
Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Matt Davis
When it comes to rewarding outdoor experiences, there are few things that can compete with seeing a waterfall. There’s just so much to enjoy. The mesmerizing sight of water cascading over rocks, the soothing sound of its rhythmic splash and the refreshing touch of mist in the air.
No matter if the waterfall is five stories or five feet, they’re a wonderful sight in nature.
And luckily, Pennsylvania has a lot of beautiful waterfalls. We’ve got all sorts here. We got big ones, small ones, ones that can be found all year long, ones that only be seen after a big rain. Ones that roar like freight trains and ones that tinkle like wind chimes.
We have waterfalls all over the Commonwealth. From Cucumber Falls in Fayette County to Ganoga Falls in Luzerne County. You can see waterfalls easily from your car or hike miles into the forest to explore them away from the crowds. We have something for everyone. And while TLC famously told us not to go chasing waterfalls, I implore you to.
But having so many options can be dauting for some. Where do I start? Where should I visit first? When is the best season to see them?
I don’t know. So I decided to find someone who did. And we could not have gotten a better guest for an episode on our majestic waterfalls than this episode’s expert.
On this episode, I speak with Jim Cheney. Jim is the creator of Uncovering PA and the author of “Waterfalls of Pennsylvania.”
Be sure to support our 2025 sponsors:
Keystone Trails Association
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Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation
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Support the show
Visit our website to learn more about the podcast, to purchase merch and to find out about our incredible sponsors. Follow us on Instagram and Meta to stay connected.
Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Matt Davis
Michaux State Forest is the place I spend the most time outdoors. Located about 30 miles from where I live, it’s where I hike and camp. It’s where I bring visitors to show off the South Mountain region. It’s where I breath in fresh air and explore the beauty of the Commonwealth. It’s my safe place away from the goings-on of Harrisburg.
But that safety was shattered in April 2025. I received text messages from friends telling me that Michaux was on fire. Then, news came that there were two fires. And they were spreading. With wind and no rain in the forecast it became evident that the situation could get bad quickly.
Over the following two weeks, I’d see photos and videos of the fires spreading across the forest I loved. Friends were evacuated from their homes. Roads were closed. Massive clouds of smoke billowed across the area. People were scared. The beautiful landscape I loved was on fire and there was nothing I could do but watch.
But thanks to incredibly brave firefighters and with a little help from the weather, the Thompson Hollow and Hammond Rocks fires were extinguished in 14 days. Over 150 fire companies from 10 Pennsylvania and Maryland counties battled the blaze. Approximately 2,700 acres were destroyed by the wildfires.
Luckily, no homes or private property was damaged and only two people suffered minor injuries.
And, predictably, a determination was made that the fires were human caused, like 99 percent of all wildfires.
Here’s the thing. While the situation was scary for many in the area – even for us 40 minutes from the fires – this is a common occurrence in Pennsylvania. There’s between 1,000 and 2,000 wildfires every year in Commonwealth. And the majority of those wildfires occur in the spring.
These fires so close to home was a sobering reminder of the ever-present danger of wildfires. With Michaux still charred from the fires, I wanted to know more about wildfires and the wildland firefighters that have to put them out.
On this episode, I speak with Mike Kern. Mike is the Chief Forest Fire Warden for the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
Be sure to support our 2025 sponsors:
Keystone Trails Association
Purple Lizard Maps
Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation
Sisters' Sunflowers
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Visit our website to learn more about the podcast, to purchase merch and to find out about our incredible sponsors. Follow us on Instagram and Meta to stay connected.
Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Matt Davis
Tucked away in the rugged hills of northwestern Pennsylvania, Clear Creek State Forest offers a peaceful escape into one of the Commonwealth’s most scenic and secluded natural areas.
Spread across thousands of acres, this forest is a haven for nature lovers, where trails wind through towering hardwoods, crystal-clear streams carve their way through valleys and wildlife flourishes in every direction.
Whether you're wandering through old-growth forests, casting a line in the Clarion River, or simply soaking in the stillness of the woods, Clear Creek invites you to slow down and reconnect with the wild beauty of Pennsylvania.
One of the forest’s most compelling features is its sense of solitude. Unlike some of the busier parks and forests in the state, Clear Creek often feels like a well-kept secret—offering quiet trails and remote backcountry campsites that let visitors truly immerse themselves in nature
Hikers can explore paths where they might stumble upon deer, wildflowers, or remnants of Pennsylvania’s logging past. And in autumn, the forest puts on a breathtaking show of fiery reds, oranges, and golds that reflect off the water and blanket the hillsides. But really, every season is spectacular in Clear Creek State Forest.
From kayaking and fishing to hunting and wildlife photography, there’s no shortage of ways to experience the land. More than just beautiful scenery, Clear Creek State Forest is a place to reunite—with nature, with yourself, or with loved ones.
For many, the real draw of Clear Creek lies in its unspoiled charm—a reminder that some of the best places in Pennsylvania are still those where the only sound is the wind through the trees and the rush of a mountain stream.
It’s the kind of place that reminds you why Pennsylvania is such a special place for outdoor recreation—a landscape shaped by time, preserved with care and waiting to be discovered.
On this episode, I speak with Miles Valchar. Miles is the timber management and outdoor recreation forester at Clear Creek State Forest.
Be sure to support our 2025 sponsors:
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Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation
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Visit our website to learn more about the podcast, to purchase merch and to find out about our incredible sponsors. Follow us on Instagram and Meta to stay connected.
Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Matt Davis
Support the show
Visit our website to learn more about the podcast, to purchase merch and to find out about our incredible sponsors. Follow us on Instagram and Meta to stay connected.
Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Matt Davis
I’ve known my guest Wes Robinson for more than a decade, beginning when we started at our new jobs together at PennLive/The Patriot News.
When it comes to friends, I tend to seek out fun, critical thinkers. Someone that can challenge me and make me laugh. Someone who will get right to the line and roundly cross it. Someone who has a strong moral character and a diabolical sense of humor.
After I left journalism, I worked to bring Wes with me to the Pennsylvania Senate. He joined me at the Capitol for several years. We’d see each other at press conferences, events and at our semi-regular “journalism survivors guild” lunch.
Then in 2021, Wes took an amazing opportunity to become the press secretary for the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
During that same time, I decided to run a mile in all then 121 Pennsylvania State Parks. So, as I was discovering the outdoors, Wes was doing much of the same thing professionally.
Wes was one of only three people to joined me on my 121 In 21 Challenge. On a sweltering day in July, Wes ran one mile at seven state parks with me. It was yet another example of him being a great supporter and going the extra mile – so to speak – for a friend.
As I was developing this podcast in 2022, I knew its success depended on whether I could get guests. From the very beginning, Wes worked hard to make sure I was able to find guests that would highlight our amazing outdoor spaces.
Wes is the sort of person that loves seeing his friends succeed. And he’ll do as much as he can to introduce you to the right people, send the email to the right organization or bring you along to a networking event. Not to curry favors. Not to make himself look good. But to make you look good.
This podcast would not exist without Wes. His generosity, hard work and legitimacy in the outdoor space is the only reason I can make Hemlocks to Hellbenders.
So, what is this episode about? How awesome Wes is? A little. What work is going on at DCNR? Absolutely.
But it’s also about two friends whose journey of falling in love with the outdoors is connected. It’s about what can be done with the right people at the right time. And it’s about what we can all do to support each other and our wonderful public lands.
On this episode, I speak with Wes Robinson. Wes is the press secretary for the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and my very good friend.
Be sure to support our 2025 sponsors:
Keystone Trails Association
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Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation
Sisters' Sunflowers
Support the show
Visit our website to learn more about the podcast, to purchase merch and to find out about our incredible sponsors. Follow us on Instagram and Meta to stay connected.
Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Matt Davis
Point State Park stands as the crowned jewel of downtown Pittsburgh. It is a lush, 36-acre greenspace nestled at the historic confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers, where the mighty Ohio River is born.
Point State Park is a focal point for community gatherings, festivals and celebrations. It provides sweeping views of the city’s skyline and serves as a tranquil urban escape.
The Point has become the place you bring your out of town parents to. The place you see on TV during all home games for the Pirates and Steelers. The place you see from atop of the iconic Duquesne Incline.
But it hasn’t always been that way.
Before it was Point State Park, it was known as the Forks of the Ohio River and served as a critical military strong hold for the French, British, Native American and American militaries. Fort Prince George, Fort Duquesene and Fort Pitt were all – at one time or another – located where the state park stands.
Overtime the Point developed into a thriving industrial zone, a place dedicated to supplying resources for the growing United States of America.
But by the 1930s, the area had deteriorated into a commercial slum. City and state officials stepped up and completely changed the property.
More than just a park, the Point is a testament to Pittsburgh’s ability to reinvent itself while honoring its roots and is a powerful symbol of Pittsburgh’s resilience, history and natural beauty.
As the gateway to the city and the heart of its downtown, Point State Park doesn’t just represent Pittsburgh—it is Pittsburgh.
On this episode, I speak with Jack Lachendro. Jack is the Environmental Education Specialist at Point State Park.
Be sure to support our 2025 sponsors:
Keystone Trails Association
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Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation
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Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Matt Davis
Many of us find our love for the outdoors the same way – with a hike. A short jaunt into the woods that brings us in touch with nature. But soon, short hikes just won’t do. There’re too many people. Too many screaming kids. Too much car traffic.
So, the only logical next step is to take longer hikes. 2 miles turns into 5 miles, turns into 10 miles. The peaceful solitude of the woods, the rewarding views from a summit and the sense of accomplishment after completing a trail all contribute to a growing desire to spend even more time immersed in nature.
As that passion grows, the idea of longer backpacking trips becomes more appealing. The ability to stay in the wilderness overnight offers a deeper connection to the outdoors.
Gone are the easy hikes. Now you’re planning multi-day journeys that require you to learn additional skills. You learn how to read maps. You develop a sleeping system. You figure out how to poop outside.
Soon, you’re watching ultralight gear videos on YouTube and drooling over maps of the Appalachian Trail. All of your clothes are hiking clothes and full transformation to granola gang is complete.
For some, the progression from day hiker to backpacker is a natural one. But for many, myself included, it can be intimidating. Going from hiking around a lake to hiking for several days is a difficult hurdle – mentally and physically.
But where do I start? What gear do I need? What hikes should I try? How can I go from a day hiker to a backpacker safely?
Well since I’m still a backpacking noob, I decided to talk to the person that was once in my hiking shoes.
On this episode, I speak with Tory Mather. Tory is the voice behind the My Trails Are Many blog and @ToryTalksTrails accounts on social media.
Be sure to support our 2025 sponsors:
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Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Matt Davis
The best part about having 124 state parks to explore in Pennsylvania is the variety. Each park is special in its own way. Each park offers a natural feature, a trail, a view, a piece of local history, or something that makes it stand out from others.
You’ve got the old growth forests at Cook Forest State Park. The waterfalls at Ricketts Glen State Park. The fly fishing at Poe Paddy State Park. Every single park offers a bit of variety. A bit of magic. A bit of splendor. A bit of something special that makes every visit to a state park worthwhile.
So, what makes Susquehannock State Park special? What is the bit of magic they do better than any of the other state parks?
For me, it’s the breathtaking panoramic views of the Lower Susquehanna River. The Susquehannock State Park Complex is made up of three separate properties, each offering incredible views of the river.
From the overlooks, you can take in the river as it winds through steep, forested hills and dramatic cliffs. These overlooks provide stunning vantage points where you can gaze out over the wide expanse of water, dotted with rocky islands and framed by lush greenery.
On a clear day, you might catch a glimpse of bald eagles and hawks soaring overhead or boats gliding along the river below. The mix of dense woodlands, open meadows, and the ever-changing colors of the river make this park the perfect place to enjoy the magnificence of the Commonwealth.
Don’t get me wrong, I love every state park. But Susquehannock State Park has that little something extra. That little shimmer of gold. That little magic that makes the park special in its own wonderful way. And I’m thrilled to share that with you, right now.
On this episode, I speak with Kelly Ford. Kelly is the Environmental Education Specialist at Susquehannock State Park Complex.
Be sure to support our 2025 sponsors:
Keystone Trails Association
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Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation
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Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Matt Davis
In the heart of Central Pennsylvania lies a true outdoor recreation paradise. If you're looking for adventure, Huntingdon County delivers—hiking, biking, paddling, and breathtaking views at every turn.
Whether you’re trekking through Rothrock State Forest, paddling on Raystown Lake or taking in the stunning views from the Standing Stone Trail, there’s no shortage of ways to explore the wild beauty of this region.
Huntingdon County is home to a vast network of trails that cater to every kind of adventurer. Looking for a challenging hike with wonderful overlooks? You’ll want to check out the Thousand Steps, a historic and leg-burning climb that rewards hikers with unforgettable views. Prefer a scenic and relaxing ride?
The Allegrippis Trails at Raystown Lake are considered some of the best mountain biking trails on the East Coast. And if you’re someone who enjoys time on the water, the Juniata River offers miles of beautiful shoreline, perfect for kayaking, fishing, or just soaking in nature.
On this episode, sponsored by the Huntingdon County Visitors Bureau, we’ll talk with trail experts and outdoor enthusiasts who know this landscape inside and out.
They’ll share the best spots to explore, the history behind some of these iconic trails, and why Huntingdon County has become a must-visit destination for hikers, bikers, paddlers, and nature lovers alike.
In fact, they’re hosting the Keystone Trail Association’s Spring Hiking Weekend from April 25 to 27 at Lake Raystown Resort. The weekend will showcase local hikes, environmental stewardship activities, bike rides, guest speakers, dog-friendly activities and more.
So whether you’re looking for a new trail to conquer, a weekend getaway packed with adventure, or just some inspiration to get outside, stick around—because we’re about to dive deep into all the outdoor recreation Huntingdon County has to offer.
On this episode, I speak with Matt Price and George Conrad. Matt is the executive director of the Huntingdon County Visitors Bureau. George is the president of the Standing Stone Trail Club.
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Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Matt Davis
Tucked away just outside of Hollidaysburg, Canoe Creek State Park is underrated treasure. It’s got a little bit of everything to keep visitors busy, interested and engaged.
It’s location also makes it the perfect homebase for weekends visiting Altoona, Holidaysburg and so much more.
I’m looking forward to getting back to Canoe Creek State Park with friends to explore even more of the Ridge and Valley Province of southern Pennsylvania.
On this episode, I speak with Heidi Mullendore. Heidi is the environmental education specialist at Canoe Creek State Park.
Be sure to support our 2025 sponsors:
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Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation
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Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Matt Davis
For generations, Pennsylvanians have been at the forefront of conservation movements that have shaped the United States. Pennsylvanians like Gifford Pinchot, Joseph Rothrock, J Horace McFarland and Rachel Carson have had immeasurable impacts on our natural world.
They’ve helped protect our forests, create state parks, beautify our cities and warn against the devastating affects of pesticides. Others like Ralph Brock and Mira Lloyd Dock have often been left out of the history books, due to discrimination. But finally, they voices and work are being raised up.
From the indigenous tribes that inhabited the lands we now call Pennsylvania, to the activists that helped pass the environmental rights amendment to our constitution, Pennsylvania has a long and storied history of conservation.
I find that the more time I spend outside enjoying our incredible public lands, the more I want to learn more about our history of conservation. But where’s a good place to start? Where can I learn a lot without getting bogged down in timelines and jargon.
For me, there’s been no better guidebook, than Allen Dieterich-Ward’s "Cradle of Conservation: An Environmental History of Pennsylvania."
Released in 2024, this book is a comprehensive study of Pennsylvania’s environmental history in less than 150 pages. This concise book unpacks the people, policies and pivotal moments that turned Pennsylvania into a leader in conservation. Whether you're a history buff, a nature lover, or just someone who enjoys a good story about the great outdoors, this book is for you.
On this episode, I speak with Allen Dieterich-Ward. Allen is a professor of history and director of The Graduate School at Shippensburg University and the author of Cradle of Conservation.
Be sure to support our 2025 sponsors:
Keystone Trails Association
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Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation
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Support the show
Visit our website to learn more about the podcast, to purchase merch and to find out about our incredible sponsors. Follow us on Instagram and Meta to stay connected.
Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Matt Davis
When taking a hike, people don’t often think about everything it takes to keep trails operational. The bridge building, the trail restoration, the habitat enhancement, the invasive species management and so on. The work often goes unseen.
And if you don’t spend much time thinking about the work that takes place, even less time is spent thinking about the people that do the work. The image of burly guys in flannel with hardhats and chainsaws come to mind. Rough and tough individuals who would have been lumberjacks or coal miners in previous generations. Now, wearing safety orange they tend to the land for the benefit of all Pennsylvanians.
Yeah. That’s just not the case. While many of those guys and gals are still out there performing the work, often time projects are being done by kids. Well not kids, kids but young adults ages 15 to 25.
Members of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps take on projects across dozens of state parks and forests every year through programs lasting 6 weeks to nine months. Mentored by older individuals, these crews complete tens of thousands of hours of work on improvement projects while also receiving training and education and developing team building and career opportunities.
The Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps was created by DCNR Sec. Cindy Adams Dunn to connect youth and young adults with job opportunities relating to the outdoors and the environment.
On this episode, we’re going to be exploring the work they do, their service to the Commonwealth and the careers that come from working in the Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps.
On this episode, I speak with Michael Piaskowski. Mike is the manger of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps.
Be sure to support our 2025 sponsors:
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Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Matt Davis
It’s 1910 and Anthony Wayne Cook has just inherited his family’s land. Over the last 80 years, the Cook family had made their money off the land. It started with his grandfather John Cook - who purchased the land in 1828. He built a sawmill on the property to process the timber he was harvesting from the forest.
Andrew Cook – Anthony’s father - would go on to build three sawmills, one flouring mill, one planning mill, a boat scaffold, several dwellings and a store on the property. While much of the beautiful landscape had been forested, some of the most stunning examples of ancient forests remained.
Andrew passes away in 1891 and now it’s Anthony’s turn to take over the family business. But he had plans of his own. Anthony Cook wanted to preserve the 300-year-old towering hemlocks on his land for future generations. He wanted everyone to sit at the alter of the so-called “Forest Cathedral.”
Over the next 16 years, Anthony Cook and others campaigned to preserve this magnificent landscape. In the 1920s, the Cook Forest Association was formed to save the few areas of surviving old growth timber.
Endorsed by national natural resource groups and Governor Gifford Pinchot, the association raised $200,000, which helped the commonwealth purchase 6,055 acres from A. Cook Sons Company in 1927 for $640,000.
Cook Forest became the first Pennsylvania state park acquired to preserve a natural area and was later designated a National Natural Landmark.
Now, we have the Cook Forest State Park. with its 11 different old growth forest areas. It’s been called “The Best Old-Growth Forest” in America.
On this episode, I speak with Dale Luthringer. Dale is the environmental educational specialist at Cook Forest State Park.
Be sure to support our 2025 sponsors:
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Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Matt Davis
In the 1930s, a beautiful forest in northeast Pennsylvania was set to become a national park. Which made sense. The area was special, even to those that purchased the land to timber it.
In a time when forests across the Commonwealth were being clear cut to feed the growing nation of raw materials, this forest received some reprieve. As a result, 300-year-old trees were allowed to continue to grow – providing the forest with mature trees and the viewing public with examples of ancient forests.
These magnificent trees stood 100-feet tall with diameters of almost four feet. But between these arboreal giants hid a collection of natural wonders found nowhere else in Pennsylvania.
Two creek branches cut through deep gorges creating a series of unbelievable waterfalls. These waterfalls united and flowed through a glen among massive pines, hemlocks and oaks.
Unfortunately, World War II brought an end to the plan to make it a national park. However, thousands of acres were purchased in the 1940s to preserve this incredible landscape and its otherworldly glens.
In 1969, the glens became a registered National Natural Landmark and was later made a State Park Natural Area in 1993. We now know this property as Ricketts Glen State Park.
Ricketts Glen reminds me of a quote I once heard. "And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul." That’s how many feel when they visit this special place. That is, if the park isn’t filled with other people trying to do the same thing.
On this episode, I speak with Scott Wilson. Scott is the manager of the Ricketts Glen State Park.
Be sure to support our 2025 sponsors:
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Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation
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Support the show
Visit our website to learn more about the podcast, to purchase merch and to find out about our incredible sponsors. Follow us on Instagram and Meta to stay connected.
Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Matt Davis
Welcome, fellow explorers. My name is Christian Alexandersen and I’m the host of Hemlocks to Hellbenders, a podcast highlighting Pennsylvania’s parks, forests and great outdoors.
We have an incredible lineup of parks, forests, guests and topics that we will be exploring during our third season in 2025. Park and forest managers, outdoor educators, historians, authors, conservationists and recreationalists are just some of the guests that will be sharing their passion and expertise with us this season.
The topics that’ll be discussed cover a wide range of areas including outdoor recreation, conservation, historical figures, indigenous peoples, backpacking, plant and wildlife management, volunteerism and so much more.
If you love discovering Pennsylvania’s wonderful natural habitats, this is the podcast for you. We’ll help you plan trips and find hidden gems throughout Pennsylvania’s stunning public lands.
I created Hemlocks to Hellbenders in 2023 to inspire listeners to spend time in Pennsylvania’s parks and forests, to advocate for their preservation and to make the outdoors a more welcoming place for everyone. We hope you’ll join us in that mission.
I’m also excited to announce that we have four sponsors for our third season – the Keystone Trails Association, Purple Lizard, the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundations and Sisters’ Sunflowers. You’re going to be learning about their awesome services and products throughout the year.
Our third season kicks off on Jan. 1 with an episode on Ricketts Glen State Park – Pennsylvania’s waterfall oasis. I look forward to sharing our new guests and episodes with you in 2025.
Support the show
Visit our website to learn more about the podcast, to purchase merch and to find out about our incredible sponsors. Follow us on Instagram and Meta to stay connected.
Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Matt Davis
In September of 2022 before leaving office, then Gov. Tom Wolf announced the creation of three new state parks. Susquehanna Riverlands in York County, Big Elk Creek in Chester County and Vosburg Neck in Wyoming County.
While these new state parks were quickly opened following the announcement, they have not taken their final form. Before they can be completed – or really before they even start – these parks must go through a rigorous master planning process with numerous phases.
There’s the planning phase, the design phase, the engineering phase and the construction phase. But in between those phases and additional processes, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources must seek public input, hold public forums and receive feedback from various stakeholders.
The opening of the state parks to the public was the easy part. But, now’s the hard part. The amount of questions that must be answered and properly addressed can be stagging.
Our season finale is meant to let listeners know when the various phases will be complete, what sort of activities and camping options will be available and what the future holds for our three newest parks. And for this large task I wanted to go straight to the source.
On this episode, I speak with John Hallas. John is Director of Pennsylvania’s Bureau of State Parks.
Be sure to support our 2024 sponsors:
Keystone Trails Association
Purple Lizard Maps
Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation
Support the show
Visit our website to learn more about the podcast, to purchase merch and to find out about our incredible sponsors. Follow us on Instagram and Meta to stay connected.
Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Matt Davis
In the early 20th Century, Americans had become alarmed at the disappearing forests in the eastern United States. Whether through private land purchases, deforestation, mining or other activities, the beautiful forests of the east were vanishing.
Where once stood primeval forests of giant eastern hemlocks now stood stumps. As a result, wildfires spread through these devastated lands. Waterways were polluted. And little of Penn’s Woods remained.
Thankfully, lawmakers listened to the alarm bells of conservationists and in 1911 passed the Weeks Act. Name after Massachusetts Congressman John Weeks, the legislation allowed the use of federal funding to purchase forest land for conservation in the eastern United States.
The legislation – which was signed into law by President Howard Taft -- is one of the most successful land conservation efforts in United States history. And, it was thanks to this law that we have the Allegheny National Forest.
Created in 1923, the Allegheny National Forest spans over half a million acres in northwestern Pennsylvania. The sheer size of the forest is incredible. At just over 800 square miles, the national forest is over three quarters the land size of Rhode Island. 77.5 percent, actually.
This spectacular piece of public land offers a sanctuary for outdoor adventurers, wildlife lovers and history buffs alike. Whether you’re seeking the thrill of hiking over 200 miles of trails, the serenity of fishing in pristine lakes or the majesty of the towering trees and diverse wildlife, this forest has something for everyone.
On this episode, I speak with Jamie Feikles. Jamie is the Recreation Program Manager at Allegheny National Forest.
Be sure to support our 2024 sponsors:
Keystone Trails Association
Purple Lizard Maps
Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation
Support the show
Visit our website to learn more about the podcast, to purchase merch and to find out about our incredible sponsors. Follow us on Instagram and Meta to stay connected.
Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Matt Davis
On this – the Halloween episode – of the podcast, we’re going to be exploring the many tales of ghosts, creatures, hauntings, cryptid sightings, unexplained phenomenon, legends and folk tales that have a history in Pennsylvania’s parks and forests.
From the ghost sightings at Greenwood Furnace State Park to the Kecksburg UFO incident in Forbes State Forest, we’re going to be hearing stories and sometimes first-hand accounts of frightening events from over the years.
These sorts of stories have always held a special place in my heart. When I was a bored teenager looking to escape my dull suburban hometown, I’d load up my car with friends at night and go exploring. The latest copy of Weird New Jersey in hand, we’d go to cemeteries, abandoned hospitals and all manner of supposedly haunted places looking for something, anything, that would scare us.
That tradition – known as legend tripping – is as popular today as it was when I was growing up 20 years ago. Teenagers – and plenty of adults - are looking to stories of the past to fill their lives with a little bit of mystery. And in a place as big and as diverse as Pennsylvania, there’s plenty stories that’ll make your hair stand up.
Whether you're a skeptic or a believer, these tales will leave you questioning the boundaries of reality and wondering what might be hiding just out of sight, right here in Pennsylvania.
Our guides for this journey are Brendon Perry and Nic Pennsylvania, hosts of The Ghost Furnace Podcast.
Be sure to support our 2024 sponsors:
Keystone Trails Association
Purple Lizard Maps
Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation
Support the show
Visit our website to learn more about the podcast, to purchase merch and to find out about our incredible sponsors. Follow us on Instagram and Meta to stay connected.
Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Matt Davis
Those visiting Hickory Run State Park in the Pocono Mountains should expect to see something they’ve never see before. In the northeast corner of the park, formed by millions of years of glacial movement is the Boulder Field.
At 400 feet by 1,800 feet, this vast, rocky landscape is a geological marvel. The field is made up of tightly packed sandstone boulders, ranging in size from small stones to massive rocks that weigh several tons. Some of the boulders are 26 feet long.
The Boulder Field’s appearance is striking because of its flatness and the absence of vegetation over the large area. It looks like something you’d on the moon or some distant planet.
The site was formed over 20,000 years ago during the last Ice Age, when repeated freeze-thaw cycles caused the sandstone to fracture and break apart, leaving behind this stunning rocky expanse.
Because of its preserved state, the Boulder Field offers a rare glimpse into the geological processes that shaped northeastern Pennsylvania. This National Natural Landmark begs to be explored by those visiting the park.
On this episode, I speak with Megan Fedor and Jake Smith. Megan and Jake are environmental education specialists at Hickory Run State Park.
Be sure to support our 2024 sponsors:
Keystone Trails Association
Purple Lizard Maps
Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation
Support the show
Visit our website to learn more about the podcast, to purchase merch and to find out about our incredible sponsors. Follow us on Instagram and Meta to stay connected.
Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Matt Davis
There’s just something about mushrooms that so are cool. I can’t really explain it. They come in all shapes, sizes, and colors, often looking like they belong in a fairy tale or another planet.
They transform any landscape with their mysterious, almost magical appearance. They are not plants or animals but belong to a fascinating kingdom of their own. They thrive in the most unexpected places. They can taste delicious or they can kill you.
They’re just awesome. But developing a hobby in mycology can seem a bit daunting for a beginner. There are thousands of mushroom species, and many look similar, making it difficult to identify them accurately. Some edible mushrooms have toxic look-alikes, so learning the differences requires careful study.
Luckily, there are groups out there to welcome beginners to this great hobby. The Philadelphia Mycology Club is one such group. Founded in 2018, the club includes a diverse group of novice and experienced mycophiles.
On this episode, I speak with Sam Bucciarelli. Sam is the president of the Philadelphia Mycology Club.
Be sure to support our 2024 sponsors:
Keystone Trails Association
Purple Lizard Maps
Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation
Support the show
Visit our website to learn more about the podcast, to purchase merch and to find out about our incredible sponsors. Follow us on Instagram and Meta to stay connected.
Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Matt Davis
This episode is sponsored by the Keystone Trails Association.
Most people never know how much volunteer work goes into their favorite hiking trail. Countless hours are spent breaking trails, cutting back brush, moving rocks, building steps, preventing water erosion and blazing trails.
Then, after the trail is built, even more hours are spent maintaining it. When wind knocks down trees, they need to be cleared out. When invasive species develop, they need to be removed. When the painted blazes fade, they need to be repainted. Hundreds of hours can go into a single trail.
Now imagine, being responsible for maintaining hundreds of miles of trails throughout Pennsylvania. That’s what the Keystone Trails Association does.
Since 1956, KTA has worked hard to provide, protect, preserve and promote recreational hiking trails and hiking opportunities in Pennsylvania. The volunteer-directed public service organization is made up of a federation of membership organizations and individuals.
2024 marks the 40th year of the organization’s Trail Care Program. This incredible program helps maintain Pennsylvania’s extensive system of hiking trails. They maintain trails like the Mid-State Trail, Chuck Keiper Trail, Allegheny Front Trail, Loyalsock Trail, Standing Stone Trail and a portion Appalachian Trail.
But KTA is much more than just a trail maintenance club, it also serves as the statewide voice of the hiking trail community and trail advocate in the state capital.
KTA also hosts a number of amazing events that include trail races, hiking weekends, first aid classes, backpacking trips, webinars, guided hikes and much more.
I’m most excited about their upcoming Keystone Hiking and Outdoor Weekend from Oct. 18 to 20th in the Susquehanna Riverlands. During this three-day event, participants will have the opportunity to go on hikes, take classes, tour the Susquehanna, learn from outdoor experts, backpack and so much more.
This exciting weekend gives participants the chance to explore, learn and connect in a stunning landscape.
I’ll be hosting a trivia and smores event at 8pm on Oct. 18th at the Susquehannock State Park Ballfield Pavilion. Come test out your knowledge of Pennsylvania’s parks, forests, trails and waterways or just grab a smore!
Be sure to visit KTA-hike.org to register and sign up for individual events.
On this episode, I speak with Brook Lenker and Haley Feaster. Brook is the executive director and Haley is the manager of communications and development at KTA.
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Visit our website to learn more about the podcast, to purchase merch and to find out about our incredible sponsors. Follow us on Instagram and Meta to stay connected.
Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Matt Davis
For thousands of years, the land that would become Pennsylvania was dominated by dense, ancient forests that stretched as far as the eye could see. Towering trees such as white oaks, chestnuts and hemlocks formed a vast green canopy that covered hundreds of miles.
The forests were such an integral part of this landscape that it was named Pennsylvania by King Carles the Second. Penn – in honor of Sir William Penn – and Sylvania - from the Latin silva meaning woods. Penn’s Woods.
But as the Commonwealth grew and the United State developed as a nation, those spectacular trees would become one of Pennsylvania’s greatest resources.
And after decades of clear cutting millions of acres of forests, only a few hundred acres of old growth forests remained by the early 1900s. Pennsylvania's natural landscape was devastated. Wildfires spread across the land. Riverbanks were eroded and flooding occurred. Our land – effectively destroyed.
Something needed to be done. Scientists, conservationists and state officials created strategies to develop and protect forests for future generations. It took the planting of millions of trees, passing legislation and a combined effort of local, state and federal government to bring us to where we are today – a vibrant, thriving Pennsylvania ecosystem.
The story of Pennsylvania’s natural landscape is one of abundance, exploitation and then rebirth. And I have never seen that story told better than by the Pennsylvania Lumber Museum.
Located in Ulysses, this awesome museum is dedicated to preserving the history and heritage of Pennsylvania's lumber industry. It's a place where history comes alive through hands-on exhibits, live demonstrations, and a deep dive into the lives of the people who worked in one of Pennsylvania’s most significant industries.
On this episode, I speak with Josh Roth. Josh is the site administrator for the Pennsylvania Lumber Museum.
Be sure to check out and support our sponsors for the 2024 season:
Keystone Trails Association
KTA is dedicated to providing, preserving, protecting and promoting recreational hiking trails and hiking opportunities in Pennsylvania. Use code "HELLBENDERS" to receive $5 off a yearly membership.
Purple Lizard Maps
Purveyors of incredibly detailed, highly curated, and waterproof trail maps of Pennsylvania's state forests. Find them at your local outfitters, bike shops, and bookstores or visit PurpleLizard.com.
Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation
The Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation began in 1999 as a statewide nonprofit organization to provide a voice for the Commonwealth’s 124 state parks and 2.2 million acres of forest land. They rally volunteers, raise funds, and advocate for these precious lands. Join the movement at PAParksandForests.org to preserve and enjoy our outdoor treasures.
Support the show
Visit our website to learn more about the podcast, to purchase merch and to find out about our incredible sponsors. Follow us on Instagram and Meta to stay connected.
Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Matt Davis
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The vast majority of Pennsylvania’s state parks are easy to drive to. That’s one of the reasons our parks are so accessible to residents and visitors. They’re located on paved roads and can often be found just a few minutes from a highway.
But then there are parks that are not so easy to get to. They’re the ones that can only be explored using gravel roads. Leaving the smooth pavement behind and venturing onto gravel roads is like stepping into a different world, especially when heading toward the hidden gems of state parks.
And on this episode, our adventure begins in Centre County. Gravel roads lead to the heart of two state parks in particular – Poe Paddy and Poe Valley State Parks. The rugged terrain and sometimes challenging gravel roads reveal these secluded spots that paved roads simply can't reach.
To the north is Poe Paddy State Park, a trout angler’s paradise. To the south is Poe Valley State Park, a rugged mountain getaway.
Their close proximity giving visitors a chance to explore two great parks in a day. Time spent at one of Poe Paddy’s Adirondack shelters or Poe Valley’s cabins will serve as a homebase for a memorable weekend in the woods for anyone willing to take these gravel roads. Away from crowds. Away from the noise. And away from paved roads.
On this episode, I spoke with Joshua Bruce and Kylie Orndorf. Josh is the park manager and Kylie is the environmental education specialist at Poe Paddy and Poe Valley State Parks.
Be sure to check out and support our sponsors for the 2024 season:
Keystone Trails Association
KTA is dedicated to providing, preserving, protecting and promoting recreational hiking trails and hiking opportunities in Pennsylvania. Use code "HELLBENDERS" to receive $5 off a yearly membership.
Purple Lizard Maps
Purveyors of incredibly detailed, highly curated, and waterproof trail maps of Pennsylvania's state forests. Find them at your local outfitters, bike shops, and bookstores or visit PurpleLizard.com.
Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation
The Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation began in 1999 as a statewide nonprofit organization to provide a voice for the Commonwealth’s 124 state parks and 2.2 million acres of forest land. They rally volunteers, raise funds, and advocate for these precious lands. Join the movement at PAParksandForests.org to preserve and enjoy our outdoor treasures.
Support the Show.
Support the Show.
Visit our website to listen to the podcast, download free outdoor kids' activities, learn more about our public lands and to purchase merch. Follow us on Instagram and Meta to stay connected.
You can support the podcast by clicking “Support this show” in the podcast description to provide a monthly donation.
Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Matt Davis
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To list all of the features of Forbes State Forest would be pointless. That’s because it has so much to offer so many people. You want trails, it’s got it. You want overlooks, its got it. You want waterfalls, it’s got it. Forbes State Forest has some of the best land in Pennsylvania for everything from mountain biking and hiking to ATV riding and wildlife watching.
The forest is comprised of 15 tracts totaling almost 59,000 acres in Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands. You could spend decades exploring this wonderful forest and still discover new things every single day. Forbes State Forest is just special. Plain and simple.
The abundance of forest land over such a large portion of southwest Pennsylvania provides visitors with so many options. Maybe today I’ll check out Mt. Davis, the highest point in Pennsylvania. Or maybe I’ll see the wildflower blooms. Or perhaps I’ll explore the remnants of two Civilian Conservation Corps. Camps.
On any visit, you’ll find it difficult to pick any one thing you like most about Forbes State Forest. There’s just too many.
On this episode, I speak with Rachael Mahony. Rachael is the Environmental Education Specialist for Forbes State Forest.
Be sure to check out and support our sponsors for the 2024 season:
Keystone Trails Association
KTA is dedicated to providing, preserving, protecting and promoting recreational hiking trails and hiking opportunities in Pennsylvania. Use code "HELLBENDERS" to receive $5 off a yearly membership.
Purple Lizard Maps
Purveyors of incredibly detailed, highly curated, and waterproof trail maps of Pennsylvania's state forests. Find them at your local outfitters, bike shops, and bookstores or visit PurpleLizard.com.
Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation
The Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation began in 1999 as a statewide nonprofit organization to provide a voice for the Commonwealth’s 124 state parks and 2.2 million acres of forest land. They rally volunteers, raise funds, and advocate for these precious lands. Join the movement at PAParksandForests.org to preserve and enjoy our outdoor treasures.
Support the Show.
Visit our website to listen to the podcast, download free outdoor kids' activities, learn more about our public lands and to purchase merch. Follow us on Instagram and Meta to stay connected.
You can support the podcast by clicking “Support this show” in the podcast description to provide a monthly donation.
Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Matt Davis
Send us a Text Message.
Standing on the shore of Lake Arthur in Moraine State Park, you’d never think the area was the site of massive deforestation, coal mining and gas drilling practices that scarred the landscape for decades. But it is.
In the 1800s, farmers cleared the forests and drained the swamps that would one day be Moraine State Park. Materials such as sand, gravel, limestone, clay and shale were mined and sold off. Later, oil and gas well were drilled. When they ran dray, they were abandoned.
As a result of these efforts, much of the park area lost its topsoil and many streams were polluted with abandoned mine drainage. Luckily, someone came to help.
Dr. Frank Preston formed the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy to purchase land to recreate the glacial landscape and preserve open space. The former Pennsylvania departments of Forests and Waters and Mines and Mineral Industries helped to reclaim the mistreated land.
To look at it now, you would have never thought that this stunning 16,725-acre park was in such bad shape less than 100 years ago.
On this episode, I interview Brian Flores. Brian is the Assistant Park Manager at Moraine State Park.
Be sure to check out and support our sponsors for the 2024 season:
Keystone Trails Association
KTA is dedicated to providing, preserving, protecting and promoting recreational hiking trails and hiking opportunities in Pennsylvania. Use code "HELLBENDERS" to receive $5 off a yearly membership.
Purple Lizard Maps
Purveyors of incredibly detailed, highly curated, and waterproof trail maps of Pennsylvania's state forests. Find them at your local outfitters, bike shops, and bookstores or visit PurpleLizard.com.
Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation
The Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation began in 1999 as a statewide nonprofit organization to provide a voice for the Commonwealth’s 124 state parks and 2.2 million acres of forest land. They rally volunteers, raise funds, and advocate for these precious lands. Join the movement at PAParksandForests.org to preserve and enjoy our outdoor treasures.
Support the Show.
Visit our website to listen to the podcast, download free outdoor kids' activities, learn more about our public lands and to purchase merch. Follow us on Instagram and Meta to stay connected.
You can support the podcast by clicking “Support this show” in the podcast description to provide a monthly donation.
Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Matt Davis
Send us a Text Message.
There are few sights I enjoy as much as people having fun in Pennsylvania state parks. Children playing tag and hide-and-go-seek. Adults telling stories around a picnic table. Friends catching up while grilling.
And never have I see so many people having such a good time, then on Memorial Day weekend at Beltsville State Park.
Upon entering the park - located in the southern foothills of the Pocono Mountains – it was evident that this was a popular park. By midday, the parking lots leading to Beltzville Lake were nearly packed.
Thousands of people had set up spots with their families and friends. My afternoon at Beltzville reminded me of my summers spent on the Jersey Shore..
The wonderful, sights, sounds and smells instantly brought me back. Friends were playing dominos. Families shared the most amazing food. And kids were building sandcastles on the beach. In Beltsville Lake, boaters and jet skiers cruised around while soaking up the beautiful weather.
And while the lake and beach are the focal points of this energetic park, it’s got plenty for those looking to explore. Beltzville has trails for hiking and mountain biking, thousands of areas for birding and wildlife watching, a scenic covered bridge and so much more.
On this episode I speak with Diane Szwajkowski. Diane is the Chair of the Friends of Beltzville State Park.
Be sure to check out and support our sponsors for the 2024 season:
Keystone Trails Association
KTA is dedicated to providing, preserving, protecting and promoting recreational hiking trails and hiking opportunities in Pennsylvania. Use code "HELLBENDERS" to receive $5 off a yearly membership.
Purple Lizard Maps
Purveyors of incredibly detailed, highly curated, and waterproof trail maps of Pennsylvania's state forests. Find them at your local outfitters, bike shops, and bookstores or visit PurpleLizard.com.
Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation
The Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation began in 1999 as a statewide nonprofit organization to provide a voice for the Commonwealth’s 124 state parks and 2.2 million acres of forest land. They rally volunteers, raise funds, and advocate for these precious lands. Join the movement at PAParksandForests.org to preserve and enjoy our outdoor treasures.
Support the Show.
Visit our website to listen to the podcast, download free outdoor kids' activities, learn more about our public lands and to purchase merch. Follow us on Instagram and Meta to stay connected.
You can support the podcast by clicking “Support this show” in the podcast description to provide a monthly donation.
Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Matt Davis
Send us a Text Message.
The arrival of fireflies has always represented summer to me. They've meant barbeques. They meant fireworks. They meant being a kid.
I’ve heard from so many people about the memories they have connected to lightening bugs. Exploring the woods with grandparents who have long passed. 4th of July parties with their friends. A first kiss. A break up. Family camping trips.
I don’t know what it is about lightning bugs – the state insect of Pennsylvania – but people have a connection to them. Cultures around the world have stories and myths surrounding these stunning creatures.
So I invite you on this episode, to think about your own connection with lightning bugs.
What comes to your mind when you picture them? Where does it bring you back to? When are you transported to?
On this episode, I speak with Dr. Sarah Lower. Dr. Lower is an Assistant Professor of Biology at Bucknell University.
Be sure to check out and support our sponsors for the 2024 season:
Keystone Trails Association
KTA is dedicated to providing, preserving, protecting and promoting recreational hiking trails and hiking opportunities in Pennsylvania. Use code "HELLBENDERS" to receive $5 off a yearly membership.
Purple Lizard Maps
Purveyors of incredibly detailed, highly curated, and waterproof trail maps of Pennsylvania's state forests. Find them at your local outfitters, bike shops, and bookstores or visit PurpleLizard.com.
Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation
The Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation began in 1999 as a statewide nonprofit organization to provide a voice for the Commonwealth’s 124 state parks and 2.2 million acres of forest land. They rally volunteers, raise funds, and advocate for these precious lands. Join the movement at PAParksandForests.org to preserve and enjoy our outdoor treasures.
Support the Show.
Visit our website to listen to the podcast, download free outdoor kids' activities, learn more about our public lands and to purchase merch. Follow us on Instagram and Meta to stay connected.
You can support the podcast by clicking “Support this show” in the podcast description to provide a monthly donation.
Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Matt Davis
Send us a Text Message.
Last year, nearly four million people visited Presque Isle State Park in Erie- making it the most visited state park in Pennsylvania. And anyone whose ever visited this wonderful park understands why.
There’s no other park like Presque Isle in the Commonwealth. It is totally unique and incredibly special. But what makes Presque Isle so unique?
It all starts with the location. Presque Isle is a sandy peninsula that arches from the downtown area into Lake Erie. As Pennsylvania’s only “seashore,” Presque Isle offers visitors a beautiful coastline.
This coastline provides access to features and activities that you can’t do in most other state parks in Pennsylvania. The park is home to 11 beaches – open daily from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day. And it’s home to two light houses.
And before you even enter the park, you’re welcomed by the Tom Ridge Environmental Education Center. This state-of-the-art facility tells the story of the park, its flora and fauna, the lake and local history.
- We wanted to let you know that this episode experienced some technical audio difficulties. While the sound quality isn't up to our usual standards, the content is just as engaging and insightful as ever. We hope you'll still tune in and enjoy the episode. Thank you for your understanding and continued support. *
On this episode, I interview Ray Bierbower. Ray is the Environmental Education Specialist at Presque Isle State Park.
Be sure to check out and support our sponsors for the 2024 season:
Keystone Trails Association
KTA is dedicated to providing, preserving, protecting and promoting recreational hiking trails and hiking opportunities in Pennsylvania. Use code "HELLBENDERS" to receive $5 off a yearly membership.
Purple Lizard Maps
Purveyors of incredibly detailed, highly curated, and waterproof trail maps of Pennsylvania's state forests. Find them at your local outfitters, bike shops, and bookstores or visit PurpleLizard.com.
Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation
The Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation began in 1999 as a statewide nonprofit organization to provide a voice for the Commonwealth’s 124 state parks and 2.2 million acres of forest land. They rally volunteers, raise funds, and advocate for these precious lands. Join the movement at PAParksandForests.org to preserve and enjoy our outdoor treasures.
Support the Show.
Visit our website to listen to the podcast, download free outdoor kids' activities, learn more about our public lands and to purchase merch. Follow us on Instagram and Meta to stay connected.
You can support the podcast by clicking “Support this show” in the podcast description to provide a monthly donation.
Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Matt Davis
Send us a Text Message.
Spanning 85,000 acres across three Central Pennsylvania counties, Michaux State Forest is a sanctuary of lush woodlands, crystal-clear streams and a rich tapestry of history and wildlife. Considered Pennsylvania’s “cradle of forestry,” Michaux State Forest is nestled in the Appalachian Mountains, giving visitors a bevy of settings to explore all year long.
Whether you’re an avid hiker, a history buff, or simply someone who finds solace in the serenity of nature, Michaux has something for you. This forest isn’t just a beautiful backdrop; it’s a living, breathing piece of our natural heritage.
The forest features four natural areas that highlight Michaux’s woodlands, animal habitats, bodies of water and so much more
Michaux is home to diverse forests of oak species as well as red maple, black birch, black gum, hickory, pine and tuliptree.
It makes sense that these wonderfully varied forests are named after pioneering botanist André Michaux. The area that bears his name – and was the site of the first forestry school – are celebrated because of it’s natural diversity and beauty.
On this episode, I speak with Suzanne Hartley. Suzanne is the Environmental Education Specialist at Michaux State Forest.
Support the Show.
Visit our website to listen to the podcast, download free outdoor kids' activities, learn more about our public lands and to purchase merch. Follow us on Instagram and Meta to stay connected.
You can support the podcast by clicking “Support this show” in the podcast description to provide a monthly donation.
Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Matt Davis
Send us a Text Message.
The definition of a garden is a small piece of ground used to grow vegetables, fruit, herbs or flowers. But it’s much more than that. It’s a community meeting place. It’s an outdoor classroom. It’s an organic food market. It’s a sustainable hobby. And it’s a place to make lifelong friendships.
Ask anyone whose spent time in a community garden and they will tell you how important they are. For themselves. Their families. Their neighbors. And their communities.
As the only state park inside the city limits of Philadelphia, the Benjamin Rush State Park and its celebrated community garden are institutions that are loved an appreciated – not just for the space it provides but the community garden it contains.
Located in the North East section of Philadelphia, the park offers much needed open space in this busy area.
We have two guests for this episode that we’re going to be speaking to separately. First is Kaitlyn Gundersen-Thorpe, park manager for Benjamin Rush State Park. Second is Ron Huber, president of the Benjamin Rush Garden Association.
Be sure to check out and support our sponsors for the 2024 season:
Keystone Trails Association
KTA is dedicated to providing, preserving, protecting and promoting recreational hiking trails and hiking opportunities in Pennsylvania. Use code "HELLBENDERS" to receive $5 off a yearly membership.
Purple Lizard Maps
Purveyors of incredibly detailed, highly curated, and waterproof trail maps of Pennsylvania's state forests. Find them at your local outfitters, bike shops, and bookstores or visit PurpleLizard.com.
Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation
The Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation began in 1999 as a statewide nonprofit organization to provide a voice for the Commonwealth’s 124 state parks and 2.2 million acres of forest land. They rally volunteers, raise funds, and advocate for these precious lands. Join the movement at PAParksandForests.org to preserve and enjoy our outdoor treasures.
Support the Show.
Visit our website to listen to the podcast, download free outdoor kids' activities, learn more about our public lands and to purchase merch. Follow us on Instagram and Meta to stay connected.
You can support the podcast by clicking “Support this show” in the podcast description to provide a monthly donation.
Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Matt Davis
In the soft light of dawn, a lone figure stands by the water's edge, casting a line into the stillness. The morning mist hangs low, obscuring the surface as they patiently wait, listening to the quiet sounds of nature stirring awake.
With a steady hand, they feel the tug of a Pennsylvania brook trout beneath the surface. Engaging in a brief but furious struggle, the angler emerges victorious.
After having won the match, the fisherman releases the trout back into the cold waters. A simple yet satisfying start to the day.
This episode is about the art – that’s right, I said art -- of fishing. Every year, hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians look forward to the opening of trout season – which takes place on the first Saturday of April.
Believe it or not, Pennsylvania has the second largest number of waterways in the country –only behind Alaska. We have more than 86,000 miles of rivers and streams in the Commonwealth. As a result, Pennsylvania has a long and storied legacy of fishing that dates back before European settlers came here.
But you might be thinking, listen here park boy, I don’t fish and I’m not interested in fishing. Don’t fret my sweet listener. We’re going to be talking plenty about waterway conservation, habitat restoration and much more that will keep you learning and interested.
On this episode, we spoke with Mike Parker. Mike is the Communications Director of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.
Be sure to check out and support our sponsors for the 2024 season:
Keystone Trails Association
KTA is dedicated to providing, preserving, protecting and promoting recreational hiking trails and hiking opportunities in Pennsylvania. Use code "HELLBENDERS" to receive $5 off a yearly membership.
Purple Lizard Maps
Purveyors of incredibly detailed, highly curated, and waterproof trail maps of Pennsylvania's state forests. Find them at your local outfitters, bike shops, and bookstores or visit PurpleLizard.com.
Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation
The Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation began in 1999 as a statewide nonprofit organization to provide a voice for the Commonwealth’s 124 state parks and 2.2 million acres of forest land. They rally volunteers, raise funds, and advocate for these precious lands. Join the movement at PAParksandForests.org to preserve and enjoy our outdoor treasures.
Support the show
Visit our website to listen to the podcast, download free outdoor kids' activities, learn more about our public lands and to purchase merch. Follow us on Instagram and Meta to stay connected.
You can support the podcast by clicking “Support this show” in the podcast description to provide a monthly donation.
Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Matt Davis
As Pennsylvanians head outdoors in record numbers, it’s imperative that we all learn how best to protect our environment. From backpackers and hikers to rock climbers and mountain bikers, it’s all our responsibilities to preserve the beauty of our natural spaces in and outside of the Commonwealth.
And, there’s no better guide, no better set of principles and no better philosophy that every adventurer should embrace than Leave No Trace.
Leave No Trace is more than just a set of guidelines; it's a mindset, a commitment to minimizing our impact on the environment while enjoying the great outdoors. Understanding and practicing Leave No Trace principles is crucial for nature lovers of all experience levels – from amateurs to grizzled veterans.
On this episode, we spoke with Ben Lawhon. Ben served as the Director of Education and Research at Leave No Trace for over 20 years and is now the Executive Director of Sawtooth Outdoor Education.
Be sure to check out and support our sponsors for the 2024 season:
Keystone Trails Association
KTA is dedicated to providing, preserving, protecting and promoting recreational hiking trails and hiking opportunities in Pennsylvania. Use code "HELLBENDERS" to receive $5 off a yearly membership.
Purple Lizard Maps
Purveyors of incredibly detailed, highly curated, and waterproof trail maps of Pennsylvania's state forests. Find them at your local outfitters, bike shops, and bookstores or visit PurpleLizard.com.
Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation
The Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation began in 1999 as a statewide nonprofit organization to provide a voice for the Commonwealth’s 124 state parks and 2.2 million acres of forest land. They rally volunteers, raise funds, and advocate for these precious lands. Join the movement at PAParksandForests.org to preserve and enjoy our outdoor treasures.
Support the show
Visit our website to listen to the podcast, download free outdoor kids' activities, learn more about our public lands and to purchase merch. Follow us on Instagram and Meta to stay connected.
You can support the podcast by clicking “Support this show” in the podcast description to provide a monthly donation.
Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Matt Davis
On April 8, 2024 Pennsylvanians will have the opportunity to see something special. Something that’s not been seen in our commonwealth since January 1925. – nearly 100 years ago. From about 3:15 to 3:20 the moon will pass between the Earth and the sun, blocking the sun’s light.
A total solar eclipse. This eclipse will cross 15 states in North America – including Pennsylvania - from the Southwest to the Northeast. While this awe-inspiring event will be visible in much of Pennsylvania, the most spectacular view will be in the eclipse’s path of totality.
The path is the track of the moon’s shadow across the Earth’s surface. In the eclipse’s path of totality, visitors will see the sun totally eclipsed by the moon. This path will cross a portion of northwest Pennsylvania, including Erie, Crawford, Warren, and Mercer counties.
For Pennsylvanians who find themselves outside of the path of totality, they will see a partial solar eclipse. Similar to what Pennsylvanians saw during the 2017 eclipse.
On this episode, I speak with Susan Schenck to the podcast. Susan is the Environments Education Specialist at Cherry Springs State Park.
Be sure to check out and support our sponsors for the 2024 season:
Keystone Trails Association
KTA is dedicated to providing, preserving, protecting and promoting recreational hiking trails and hiking opportunities in Pennsylvania. Use code "HELLBENDERS" to receive $5 off a yearly membership.
Purple Lizard Maps
Purveyors of incredibly detailed, highly curated, and waterproof trail maps of Pennsylvania's state forests. Find them at your local outfitters, bike shops, and bookstores or visit PurpleLizard.com.
Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation
The Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation began in 1999 as a statewide nonprofit organization to provide a voice for the Commonwealth’s 124 state parks and 2.2 million acres of forest land. They rally volunteers, raise funds, and advocate for these precious lands. Join the movement at PAParksandForests.org to preserve and enjoy our outdoor treasures.
Support the show
Visit our website to listen to the podcast, download free outdoor kids' activities, learn more about our public lands and to purchase merch. Follow us on Instagram and Meta to stay connected.
You can support the podcast by clicking “Support this show” in the podcast description to provide a monthly donation.
Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Matt Davis
It’s difficult for me to pick what I like most about Black Moshannon State Park. It’s a struggle I face every time I recommend this wonderful park to friends - which is often.
I’ll go from talking about the incredible camping and cabin opportunities to swooning about the park’s lake and bog. Then I get going about the abundance of wildlife. And then the hiking trails. And then the hunting and fishing. Then I realize 30 minutes have gone by and the person I’ve been talking to stopped caring about 25 minutes ago.
Black Moshannon truly has something for everyone. Despite it being about two hours from where I live, I’ve probably spent more time in Black Moshannon than any other park. And I keep being pulled back there year after year. And every time I think I’ve seen everything.
Every time I think I’ve experienced everything Black Mo has to offer, it reveals another secret. And I think it will for you too.
On this episode, I spoke with Michelle McCloskey. Michelle is the environmental education specialist at Black Moshannon State Park.
Be sure to check out and support our sponsors for the 2024 season:
Keystone Trails Association
KTA is dedicated to providing, preserving, protecting and promoting recreational hiking trails and hiking opportunities in Pennsylvania. Use code "HELLBENDERS" to receive $5 off a yearly membership.
Purple Lizard Maps
Purveyors of incredibly detailed, highly curated, and waterproof trail maps of Pennsylvania's state forests. Find them at your local outfitters, bike shops, and bookstores or visit PurpleLizard.com.
Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation
The Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation began in 1999 as a statewide nonprofit organization to provide a voice for the Commonwealth’s 124 state parks and 2.2 million acres of forest land. They rally volunteers, raise funds, and advocate for these precious lands. Join the movement at PAParksandForests.org to preserve and enjoy our outdoor treasures.
Support the show
Visit our website to listen to the podcast, download free outdoor kids' activities, learn more about our public lands and to purchase merch. Follow us on Instagram and Meta to stay connected.
You can support the podcast by clicking “Support this show” in the podcast description to provide a monthly donation.
Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Matt Davis
It’s the spring of 1858. Colonel Edwin Drake from New York is hired by the Seneca Oil Company to investigate suspected oil deposits in Titusville, Pennsylvania. While the existence of petroleum oil was known, there no considerable market for the material.
After months of work, Drake had little to show for his efforts. Undeterred, Drake took out a $500 loan to continue his operation. Then, on August 27th 1859, Drake changed the world. While drilling on an island in Oil Creek at a depth of 69.5 feet, he had struck oil.
The words - “They’ve struck oil!” – roared through the valley as crowds gathered to see the crude oil being hand pumped to the surface and into a bathtub. The Drake Well was the first commercial oil well in the United States. It led to the world’s first oil boom
This monumental discovery would play a pivotal role in the birth of the American oil industry. The rural wooded area surrounding Oil Creek would go on to be used for searching for black gold that would fuel the industrial revolution.
160-plus years after the discovery of oil, the property is now known as Oil Creek State Park. The park is a living museum, preserving the remnants of historic oil derricks, drill sites, and the remains of the industry that forever altered the course of American history.
On this episode I speak with David Hallman. David is the Park Manager of Oil Creek State Park.
Be sure to check out and support our sponsors for the 2024 season:
Keystone Trails Association
KTA is dedicated to providing, preserving, protecting and promoting recreational hiking trails and hiking opportunities in Pennsylvania. Use code "HELLBENDERS" to receive $5 off a yearly membership.
Purple Lizard Maps
Purveyors of incredibly detailed, highly curated, and waterproof trail maps of Pennsylvania's state forests. Find them at your local outfitters, bike shops, and bookstores or visit PurpleLizard.com.
Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation
The Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation began in 1999 as a statewide nonprofit organization to provide a voice for the Commonwealth’s 124 state parks and 2.2 million acres of forest land. They rally volunteers, raise funds, and advocate for these precious lands. Join the movement at PAParksandForests.org to preserve and enjoy our outdoor treasures.
Support the show
Visit our website to listen to the podcast, download free outdoor kids' activities, learn more about our public lands and to purchase merch. Follow us on Instagram and Meta to stay connected.
You can support the podcast by clicking “Support this show” in the podcast description to provide a monthly donation.
Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Matt Davis
Whether you’re hiking ancient forests or picnicking in an urban park, birds are all around us. From the common pigeon on a Philly stoop to a bald eagle soaring above the Susquehanna River, the avian world is vast in Pennsylvania.
Birding is the observation of birds in their natural habitats. Often seen as a hobby for old fogies, the activity has gotten a boost of interest and young blood as a result of the pandemic. When we were required to self-isolate and avoid travel, people found birding as a way to explore the natural world in their own backyards.
With binoculars in hand and with an acute ear, Pennsylvania birders have the opportunity to identify hundreds of bird species without every traveling outside of the Commonwealth. From Philadelphia to Pittsburgh, new birders are exploring our shared outdoor spaces.
This growing hobby now has roots in places and communities that have not been represented in the past. Black and brown, LGBTQIA plus and impaired communities are forming their own birding groups, clubs and organizations.
They are showing that birding is a hobby for everyone, everywhere
And for this episode, I’m thrilled to speak to one of those people that are making birding and the outdoors more inclusive and accessible for all Pennsylvanians. No matter your race, background, sexuality, physical ability, income or experience.
On this episode, I speak with Jason Hall. Jason is Philadelphia-based birder and founder of the In Color Birding Club in Philadelphia.
Be sure to check out and support our sponsors for the 2024 season:
Keystone Trails Association
KTA is dedicated to providing, preserving, protecting and promoting recreational hiking trails and hiking opportunities in Pennsylvania. Use code "HELLBENDERS" to receive $5 off a yearly membership.
Purple Lizard Maps
Purveyors of incredibly detailed, highly curated, and waterproof trail maps of Pennsylvania's state forests. Find them at your local outfitters, bike shops, and bookstores or visit PurpleLizard.com.
Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation
The Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation began in 1999 as a statewide nonprofit organization to provide a voice for the Commonwealth’s 124 state parks and 2.2 million acres of forest land. They rally volunteers, raise funds, and advocate for these precious lands. Join the movement at PAParksandForests.org to preserve and enjoy our outdoor treasures.
Common Loon & Ruffed Grouse Sound Credit: NPS & MSU Acoustic Atlas/Jennifer Jerrett
Warbling Viero Sound Credit: NPS/Jennifer Jerrett
Support the show
Visit our website to listen to the podcast, download free outdoor kids' activities, learn more about our public lands and to purchase merch. Follow us on Instagram and Meta to stay connected.
You can support the podcast by clicking “Support this show” in the podcast description to provide a monthly donation.
Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Matt Davis
When it comes to our parks and forests, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources can only do so much. There’s too much trail maintenance, invasive species removal, education programs and other things that must be done to complete it all
That’s where the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation steps in. Since 1999, the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation has acted as the official non-profit partner of the Commonwealth’s state parks and forests
Over the course of decades, the Foundation has built an impressive volunteer base, funded innovative programs in education and recreation, worked with conservation partners and spoken out in support of our public lands.
After running a mile in all 121 state parks in 2021, the Parks and Forests Foundation was the first organization I reached out to to start volunteering. I wanted to give back to the park system that opened my eyes to the incredible beauty I experienced.
I’ve now been volunteering with the organization for over two years, and I cannot recommend it enough. Our participation in the natural world cannot only be take, take, take. We must give back. We must be engaged stewards of our environment.
Spend one less weekend hiking or camping and spend it giving back. I promise you, you won’t regret it. As has been proven to me time and time again, time spent in service, is time well spent.
On this episode, I speak with Marci Mowery. Marci is the President of the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation.
Be sure to check out and support our sponsors for the 2024 season:
Keystone Trails Association
KTA is dedicated to providing, preserving, protecting and promoting recreational hiking trails and hiking opportunities in Pennsylvania. Use code "HELLBENDERS" to receive $5 off a yearly membership.
Purple Lizard Maps
Purveyors of incredibly detailed, highly curated, and waterproof trail maps of Pennsylvania's state forests. Find them at your local outfitters, bike shops, and bookstores or visit PurpleLizard.com.
Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation
The Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation began in 1999 as a statewide nonprofit organization to provide a voice for the Commonwealth’s 124 state parks and 2.2 million acres of forest land. They rally volunteers, raise funds, and advocate for these precious lands. Join the movement at PAParksandForests.org to preserve and enjoy our outdoor treasures.
Support the show
Visit our website to listen to the podcast, download free outdoor kids' activities, learn more about our public lands and to purchase merch. Follow us on Instagram and Meta to stay connected.
You can support the podcast by clicking “Support this show” in the podcast description to provide a monthly donation.
Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Matt Davis
Nestled in the heart of Pennsylvania’s coal region, Delaware Canal State Park stands as a testament to the intertwining of history and nature.
Stretching almost 59 miles from Easton to Bristol along the Delaware River, this park is made up of a tapestry of landscapes that begs to be explored by foot, bike and boat.
You can spend a lifetime exploring this unique park, and still discover something new every day.
On this episode, I speak with Gabie Lent. Gabie is the Environmental Education Specialist at Delaware Canal and Ralph Stover State Parks.
Be sure to check out and support our sponsors for the 2024 season:
Keystone Trails Association
KTA is dedicated to providing, preserving, protecting and promoting recreational hiking trails and hiking opportunities in Pennsylvania. Use code "HELLBENDERS" to receive $5 off a yearly membership.
Purple Lizard Maps
Purveyors of incredibly detailed, highly curated, and waterproof trail maps of Pennsylvania's state forests. Find them at your local outfitters, bike shops, and bookstores or visit PurpleLizard.com.
Support the show
Visit our website to listen to the podcast, download free outdoor kids' activities, learn more about our public lands and to purchase merch. Follow us on Instagram and Meta to stay connected.
You can support the podcast by clicking “Support this show” in the podcast description to provide a monthly donation.
Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Matt Davis
Located in Potter County, Cherry Springs State Park is home to some of the darkest night skies on the East Coast. Astronomers and stargazers from all over the country flock to this small park just to look up at the stars.
The darkness of the area and the clarity found in the sky makes Chery Springs perhaps the last best refuge of the natural night sky. Like any other resource, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has worked hard to preserve the views above Cherry Springs designating it the Commonwealth’s first Dark Sky Park.
The International Dark-Sky Association named it the second "International Dark Sky Park.”
And the views. They are simply divine. On clear nights, you can see the heavenly bodies circling above. Laying on a blanket in the park’s Night Sky Public Viewing Area, you can watch shooting stars, meteor showers and the Milky Way pass overhead.
In a country and Commonwealth riddled with light pollution, it’s a special place to see special things.
On this episode, we speak with Park Manager Ben Stone to learn all about this spectacular park.
Photo courtesy of Curt Weinhold
Visit his website for more examples of his wonderful photography
Be sure to check out and support our sponsors for the 2024 season:
Keystone Trails Association
KTA is dedicated to providing, preserving, protecting and promoting recreational hiking trails and hiking opportunities in Pennsylvania. Use code "HELLBENDERS" to receive $5 off a yearly membership.
Purple Lizard Maps
Purveyors of incredibly detailed, highly curated, and waterproof trail maps of Pennsylvania's state forests. Find them at your local outfitters, bike shops, and bookstores or visit PurpleLizard.com.
Support the show
Visit our website to listen to the podcast, download free outdoor kids' activities, learn more about our public lands and to purchase merch. Follow us on Instagram and Meta to stay connected.
You can support the podcast by clicking “Support this show” in the podcast description to provide a monthly donation.
Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Matt Davis
We’re building on the success of our first season with even more great guests and great stories for our second season in 2024. This season we’re going to be hearing from park and forest managers, conservationists, biologists, environmental educators, volunteers and lots more.
Experts in their fields will be speaking to us about our public lands, conservation efforts, wildlife management, outdoor recreation and lots more.
The aim of the podcast is to shine a spotlight on the stunning parks and forests we have in Pennsylvania and inspire people to become stewards of our public lands. Let us help you fall in love them, then join us in protecting them.
I’m also excited to announce that we have two sponsors for our second season – the Keystone Trails Association and Purple Lizard. You’re going to be learning about their awesome services and products throughout the year.
Our second season kicks off on Jan. 3 with an episode on Cherry Springs State Park – Pennsylvania’s first dark sky park. I look forward to sharing our new guests and episodes with you in 2024.
Support the show
Visit our website to listen to the podcast, download free outdoor kids' activities, learn more about our public lands and to purchase merch. Follow us on Instagram and Meta to stay connected.
You can support the podcast by clicking “Support this show” in the podcast description to provide a monthly donation.
Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Matt Davis
The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is a gigantic operation. As the largest public landowner in the Commonwealth, DCNR manages millions of acres of land – including 124 state parks and 20 state forests.
But it doesn’t end there. DCNR also manages everything on those millions of acres. There’s the buildings, education centers, campgrounds, museums, playgrounds, cabins, yurts, pools, lakes and parking lots. And then there’s the hiking trails, bike paths, kayak launches, ATV trails, overlooks and vistas.
The list goes on and on and on.
With a staff of nearly 1,400 full-time and 1,300 seasonal employees, DCNR must cover day-to-day operations of these lands and facilities while also planning for the next 20 to 50 years. It’s an incredible amount of work that seems almost impossible address.
Luckily, we have someone leading the way.
On the finale of our first season, I speak with Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn. Cindy is the Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
We kick off our first episode of the second season on January 3. I hope you’ll join us again.
Support the show
Visit our website to listen to the podcast, download free outdoor kids' activities, learn more about our public lands and to purchase merch. Follow us on Instagram and Meta to stay connected.
You can support the podcast by clicking “Support this show” in the podcast description to provide a monthly donation.
Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Matt Davis
When a hunter enters a forest with their bow or gun, there’s a good chance they won’t get a deer. So, you would expect those few that are able to successful hunt a deer to keep the meat for themselves.
To feed their families and fill their freezers with the venison they harvested. But that’s not the case.
Every year, hundreds of thousands of pounds of venison are donated to Hunters Sharing the Harvest. This nonprofit processes and distributes donated deer meat from hunters to local food banks and charitable organizations in urban and rural communities to the benefit of hungry men, women and families throughout the Commonwealth.
What started out as a small nonprofit program in Pennsylvania, has evolved into the preferred nationally recognized model other states now replicate. It’s a success story built on kindness, generosity, charity and volunteerism.
On this episode, I speak with Randy Ferguson. Randy is the executive director of Hunters Sharing the Harvest.
Support the show
Visit our website to listen to the podcast, download free outdoor kids' activities, learn more about our public lands and to purchase merch. Follow us on Instagram and Meta to stay connected.
You can support the podcast by clicking “Support this show” in the podcast description to provide a monthly donation.
Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Matt Davis
Throughout this season we’ve featured parks on an individual basis. My thinking has been that every park should have its own episode, letting each park shine on its own. But what if there are parks that are so connected to one another that they shouldn’t be separated?
That brings us to Tuscarora and Locust Lake State Parks.
They are both managed by the same park manager. They are both supported by the same volunteer group. And, they’re located in the same county, less than 10 miles apart.
To speak about Tuscarora State Park is to speak about Locust Lake State Park. And vice versa. So, I figured, we should feature them both in the same episode while giving them their own individual sections.
On this episode, I speak with Jennifer Holman. Jennifer is with the Friends of Tuscarora and Locust Lake State Parks.
Support the show
Visit our website to listen to the podcast, download free outdoor kids' activities, learn more about our public lands and to purchase merch. Follow us on Instagram and Meta to stay connected.
You can support the podcast by clicking “Support this show” in the podcast description to provide a monthly donation.
Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Matt Davis
Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center is not what you would call a bucket list park. It doesn’t have the activities like Ohiopyle, or the waterfalls like Ricketts Glen or the scenic vistas like Leonard Harrison or Colton Point.
Those are the parks you have to make reservations months in advance for. They are tourist destinations. Jacobsburg is not.
And that’s the best part. It is a quiet, unassuming park that has beautiful features and an interesting history that is often overlooked. Making it a treasure for the locals and a hidden gem to those who venture out to eastern Pennsylvania.
On this episode, I speak with Robert Neitz. Rob is the manager of the Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center.
Support the show
Visit our website to listen to the podcast, download free outdoor kids' activities, learn more about our public lands and to purchase merch. Follow us on Instagram and Meta to stay connected.
You can support the podcast by clicking “Support this show” in the podcast description to provide a monthly donation.
Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Matt Davis
Created in 2007, the Old Growth Forest Network works to identify and protect one forest in each county of the United States.
As of the recording of this episode, the Old Growth Forest Network has worked with local, state and federal agencies to identify and protect 28 ancient forests in Pennsylvania with more on the way. They can be found in parks, forests, natural areas, wildlife preserves and nature reserves.
While the Old Growth Forest Network is working hard to identify and protect more ancient forests – these remarkable places remain under threat. Private landowners and timber companies are in possession of more old growth forests than the public. Without conservation, their destruction is almost guaranteed. But with your help, the organization can save an old growth forest in all 67 Pennsylvania counties. Will you help?
On this episode, I speak with Sarah Adloo and Brian Kane. Sarah is the executive director and Brian is the outreach coordinator & Mid-Atlantic regional manager for the Old Growth Forest Network.
Support the show
Visit our website to listen to the podcast, download free outdoor kids' activities, learn more about our public lands and to purchase merch. Follow us on Instagram and Meta to stay connected.
You can support the podcast by clicking “Support this show” in the podcast description to provide a monthly donation.
Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Matt Davis
Nathaniel Hawthorne once wrote that “I cannot endure to waste anything so precious as autumnal sunshine by staying in the house." I get it, Nate.
There’s nothing I look forward to quite as much as fall. It’s sweater weather. It’s apple picking. It’s campfires and smores. It’s pumpkin spiced lattes. And it is, without a doubt, the most beautiful season.
And what makes the fall so damn beautiful? The colors. Beginning in late September, green forests become a menagerie of colors. In Pennsylvania, every hill, every mountain, and every forest is alight with the most spectacular yellows, oranges and reds.
I plan my fall weekends months in advance. Cramming in as many trips and hikes as I can to see such wonderful scenery. But planning those trips can be tricky. You always want to plan a big hiking weekend or leaf peeping trip at what’s called “peak season” – which is when the leaves look their best and brightest. A week early and you’ll see something nice, but not incredible. A week late and you’ll see empty trees and dead leaves.
But who makes those forecasts? Who in Pennsylvania knows when and where the leaves will be changing at any given time across hundreds of miles of varied terrain?
On this episode, I speak with Ryan Reed - a natural resource program specialist with the Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry.
Support the show
Visit our website to listen to the podcast, download free outdoor kids' activities, learn more about our public lands and to purchase merch. Follow us on Instagram and Meta to stay connected.
You can support the podcast by clicking “Support this show” in the podcast description to provide a monthly donation.
Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Matt Davis
Every year, the distinctive sound of elk bugling can be heard in the Elk State Forest. That high-pitched sound comes from male elk that bugle during the breeding season to attract potential mates and to establish dominance.
It’s the sound of these bugles and the sight of these majestic creatures that brings more than half a million visitors to northcentral Pennsylvania every year. Specifically, to Elk State Forest.
And while Elk State Forest is a secluded area most of the year, is inundated with people from the late summer through the fall that are in search of the largest free-roaming elk herd in the northeastern United States. The sight of a herd is special moment to remember. If you can beat the crowds.
On this episode, I speak with Joe Kellert. Joe is the district forester for Elk State Forest.
Elk audio from NPS/Jennifer Jerrett
Be sure to visit my website to get to notified about upcoming episodes. Also, follow us on Instagram and on Facebook for more information about what is coming up next. You can support the podcast by buying merch or donating on our website.
Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Uncle Traveling Matt's Random Expedition
“What does it mean to have a diverse outdoors community?” It’s a question outdoor companies, organizations and groups are asking themselves in an effort to make nature more inclusive for people from all backgrounds, genders, abilities and ethnicities.
But while they’re trying to find an answer, America’s Black and Brown communities are exploring the outdoors. On hiking trails, rock walls, waterways and bike paths, they are discovering and --often times – rediscovering their love for the natural world.
Groups are forming that seek to inspire, connect and engage their communities in the outdoors. One such group is Latino Outdoors Philadelphia. Part of a larger national organization, Latino Outdoors Philly brings together people to help create a world where all Latino communities enjoy nature as a safe, inclusive and welcoming place.
On this episode, I'm joined by Julie Pasión. Julie is the Program Coordinator for Latino Outdoors Philadelphia.
Be sure to visit my website to get to notified about upcoming episodes. Also, follow us on Instagram and on Facebook for more information about what is coming up next. You can support the podcast by buying merch or donating on our website.
Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Uncle Traveling Matt's Random Expedition
We're doing something a little different in this episode of the podcast. Part story, part interview, I’m going to be telling you about my very fun, weird and muddy experience at Allegheny Islands State Park.
In 2021, I ran a mile at all (then) 121 Pennsylvania state parks in 224 days. While there were plenty of memorable experiences, nothing was quite like my "run" on the Allegheny Islands. That's because the islands have no land access and are completely undeveloped.
On this episode, I speak with my good friend Adam Bricker - who joined me for 25 park runs during my so-called 121 In '21 Challenge. I talk about what it was like "running" on a muddy beach in the Allegheny River, while Adam tells us about the adventure from his perspective.
Be sure to visit my website to get to notified about upcoming episodes. Also, follow us on Instagram and on Facebook for more information about what is coming up next. You can support the podcast by buying merch or providing a donation here.
Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Uncle Traveling Matt's Random Expedition
Every year, 3 million people hike the Appalachian National Scenic Trail that spans 14 states and runs more than 2,190 miles. The famed AT is said to be the longest hiking trail in the world. And it’s right here in our backyard.
About 230 miles of the AT are in Pennsylvania – including the halfway point at Pine Grove Furnace State Park. But who maintains the trail? Who builds and repairs the shelters for thru-hikers? Who takes the time to clear brush, chop downed trees and get rid of invasive species?
Volunteers. Thousands and thousands of volunteers with families and jobs spend countless hours every year maintaining the trail, dwellings and more.
Since the inception of the AT, the Blue Mountain Eagle Climbing Club in Reading has been heavily involved. The club has helped build and maintain their rocky and rugged 65-mile section of the Appalachian Trail and its cabins, shelters, monuments and rest stops between Lehigh and Susquehanna Rivers for nearly 100 years.
On this episode, I am joined by David Bailey to the podcast. David is the former president of the Blue Mountain Eagle Climbing Club and current chairman of the club’s Trails Committee.
Be sure to visit my website to get to notified about upcoming episodes. Also, follow us on Instagram and on Facebook for more information about what is coming up next.
Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Uncle Traveling Matt's Random Expedition
When thinking about Pennsylvania's natural beauty, most think of our forests. Miles away from a clear cell phone signal, interstates and, especially, cities. But they shouldn't.
There’s natural beauty all over the Commonwealth, including in and around Pennsylvania’s biggest city – Philadelphia.
That was my biggest takeaway from reading the book Wild Philly. The book shines a much-needed light on the amazing nature you can see, hear and touch in the Philadelphia area. It highlights and celebrates the natural splendor that can be found all around the city of brotherly love.
Wild Philly discusses the history of the region, provides information on the plants, trees and animals that can be found and recommends where you can explore the great outdoors in the greater Philadelphia area.
On this episode, I am joined by Mike Weilbacher. Mike is the author of Wild Philly and the former longtime Executive Director of the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education.
You can purchase Wild Philly wherever books are sold, including here.
Be sure to visit my website to get to notified about upcoming episodes. Also, follow us on Instagram and on Facebook for more information about what is coming up next.
Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Uncle Traveling Matt's Random Expedition
Not everyone explores our parks and forests on trails or on the water. Some do it 80-feet above ground attached with only a rope and harness.
These Pennsylvanians are in search of rock. They want boulders and outcroppings. They want cliffs and crags.
They want places with crimps and sidepulls and pockets and pinches. They want to climb no matter if its sport, trad, top roping or bouldering.
They are Pennsylvania’s growing population of rock climbers.
While there’s countless places for hikers and boaters in our state park system, that’s not the case for climbers.
Of the 124 state parks, only three allow rock climbing as an approved activity. Ohiopyle and McConnells Mill State Parks in the west and Ralph Stover State Park in the east.
On this episode, I am joined by Dana Caracciolo and Mike Varlotta. Dana is with the Eastern Pennsylvania Alliance of Climbers. Mike is with the Southwestern Pennsylvania Climbers Coalition.
Be sure to visit my website to get to notified about upcoming episodes. Also, follow us on Instagram and on Facebook for more information about what is coming up next.
Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Uncle Traveling Matt's Random Expedition
Every time you go for a hike, hire a rafting guide, purchase a fishing license or rent a cabin, you are participating in outdoor recreation – an industry that brings $14 billion annually to Pennsylvania’s economy.
But, outdoor recreation is more than the things you buy or the activities you participate in.
It’s an industry that includes national, state and local government agencies. It includes businesses, nonprofits, communities, volunteers, hobbyists and much more. It is an industry that is growing. And one that’s finally receiving some much-needed attention.
On this episode I am joined by Nathan Reigner. Since 2021, Nathan has served as Pennsylvania’s first Director of Outdoor Recreation. Click here to learn more about Nathan.
Be sure to visit my website to get find out more about the podcast. Also, follow us on Instagram and on Facebook for more information about what is coming up next.
Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Uncle Traveling Matt's Random Expedition
In Pennsylvania, it’s hard to throw a pinecone without hitting a hunter or fisherman. There are hundreds of thousands of hunters and fisherman in the Keystone State.
But, there's another breed of outdoor sportsmen that are often forgotten about. They hunt their prey not with rods and reels or bows and guns but with traps.
On this episode, we're going to be talking about Pennsylvania’s furtakers. What they trap, why they trap and the state of the hobby here in Pennsylvania.
I am joined on this episode by Dan Lynch. Dan is a retired Wildlife Education Supervisor with the Pennsylvania Game Commission and 20-plus-year member of the Pennsylvania Trappers Association.
Be sure to visit my website to get to notified about upcoming episodes. Also, follow us on Instagram and on Facebook for more information about what is coming up next.
Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Uncle Traveling Matt's Random Expedition
On this episode, we'll be talking about one man’s journey to climb the tallest tree at the highest point in all 67 Pennsylvania counties. A feat that has never been done and probably never been attempted.
I am joined on this podcast by Van Wagner. Van is a teacher, musician and certified forester that is attempting this incredible challenge.
You can visit Van's website here and his YouTube channel here to follow along with his journey.
Be sure to visit my website to get to notified about upcoming episodes. Also, follow us on Instagram and on Facebook for more information about what is coming up next.
Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Uncle Traveling Matt's Random Expedition
On this episode, we’re going to be talking about Worlds End State Park. Considered by many as their favorite state park in Pennsylvania, Worlds End State Park is a rugged and beautiful 780-acre park located in Sullivan County.
The park is situated in a narrow S-shaped valley of the Loyalsock Creek. It is surrounded by Loyalsock State Forest, and offers visitors diverse recreational opportunities within an expanse of public land in the Endless Mountains.
I am joined on this episode by Park Manager Chad McKenrick. Chad tells us about the geological history of the park, provides some trail and vista recommendations and lets us know what he would do if he only had a weekend to explore Worlds End.
Be sure to visit my website to get to notified about upcoming episodes. Also, follow us on Instagram and on Facebook for more information about what is coming up next.
Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Uncle Traveling Matt's Random Expedition
It can be so stressful planning the perfect trip to a Pennsylvania state park or forest. You have to figure out transportation, accommodations, food and activities. And snacks! Can't forget the snacks.
It is overwhelming. Especially, if you're planning the trip alone. But don't worry, we're here to help. This episode is all about how to plan the perfect park trip.
On this episode I am joined by Emily Scalzo. Emily is Pennsylvania-based blogger and travel planner. She develops hiking guides, trip itineraries and getaway ideas for clients. You can follow her on Instagram and book travel planning services on her website.
Be sure to visit my website to get to notified about upcoming episodes. Also, follow us on Instagram and on Facebook for more information about what is coming up next.
Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Uncle Traveling Matt's Random Expedition
On this episode we’re going to be talking about Ohiopyle State Park. Located in the beautiful Laurel Highlands, Ohiopyle State Park is the sort of place you take people you want to impress.
The park has something for everybody. It’s got waterfalls, It’s got views. It’s got boundless outdoor activities. And it is set in one of the Commonwealth’s most incredible natural landscapes.
I am joined by park employees Patrick Martin and Barbara Wallace. They talk about what the park has to offer visitors, how best to explore the park and tips to make your visit the best it can be (hint: get gas before you get to Ohiopyle).
Be sure to visit my website to get to notified about upcoming episodes. Also, follow us on Instagram and on Facebook for more information about what is coming up next.
Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Uncle Traveling Matt's Random Expedition
On this episode, we’re going to be talking about the Pennsylvania Game Commission and the serious threat Chronic Wasting Disease poses to our wildlife.
I am joined on this episode by Todd Pride. Todd is a member of Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Board of Commissioners, founder of Legacy Land & Water Partners and lead coach with the Mid-Atlantic Youth Anglers and Outdoor Partners. Todd has the distinction of being the first African American appointed to the board.
Todd speaks with us about the purpose and goals of the PA Game Commission and tells us about Chronic Wasting Disease. This serious illness can have a devastating impact on Pennsylvania’s wildlife – particularly white-tailed deer.
Learn more about CWD by visiting the PA Game Commission website.
Be sure to visit my website to get to notified about upcoming episodes. Also, follow us on Instagram and on Facebook for more information about what is coming up next.
Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Uncle Traveling Matt's Random Expedition
On this episode, we’re going to be talking about a Pennsylvania icon that goes by many names. Snot otter, lasagna lizard, devil dog, mud devil, Allegheny alligator. That’s right, this episode is all about the Eastern Hellbender.
I am joined on this episode by Dr. Peter Petokas. Peter is a research associate with the Clean Water Institute at Lycoming College. He breaks down all the important information about this mysterious amphibian, including how it survives, where it lives and what we can do to help restore the Hellbender population in Pennsylvania.
If you'd like to learn more about Peter's work with Hellbenders, visit his website at www.cryptobranchid.org.
Be sure to visit my website to get to notified about upcoming episodes. Also, follow us on Instagram and on Facebook for more information about what is coming up next.
Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Uncle Traveling Matt's Random Expedition
In honor of President’s Day, this episode is on James Buchanan – our 15th President of the United States and up until recently the only president from Pennsylvania.
The first part of the podcast will focus Buchanan’s Birthplace State Park. I speak with DCNR's Beth Garner to learn about what to do, what to see and how best to experience the park.
The second part of the podcast will focus solely on the man long-dubbed “the worst president in history.” We’ll hear from Pat Clarke, director of President James Buchanan's Wheatland. He tells us about his life as a legislator, diplomat, president and gentleman farmer.
Be sure to visit my website to get to notified about upcoming episodes. Also, follow us on Instagram and on Facebook for more information about what is coming up next.
Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Uncle Traveling Matt's Random Expedition
On this episode we’re going to be talking about Pine Grove Furnace State Park. Nestled in the northern tip of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Pine Grove Furnace combines a beautiful outdoor setting with fascinating history.
Pine Grove Furnace has a lot to offer visitors. Amazing events, trails, two swimming lakes, historical reenactments, a museum and even the Appalachian Trail.
I interview Andre Weltman, who is the chairman of the Friends of Pine Grove Furnace State Park. He has an absolute wealth of knowledge about the park. Andre goes through the history of the park, suggests activities and everything the park has to offer.
Be sure to visit my website to sign up for my newsletter and get to notified about upcoming episodes.
Also, follow us on Instagram and on Facebook for more information about what is coming up next.
Hosting, production and editing: Instagram.com/crawriter
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Instagram.com/uncletravelingmatts
This episode of Hemlocks to Hellbenders focuses on Leonard Harrison State Park! Leonard Harrison is a 585 acre park located in Tioga County. It is best known by its other moniker, the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon.
I am interviewing Tim Morey for this episode. Tim is a Natural Resources Program Specialist with the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. He's worked at Leonard Harrison for more than 20 seasons.
Tim tells us about the park, suggests activities for visitors and gives up some insider tips to make your trip the best it can be.
Be sure to visit my website to sign up for my newsletter and get to notified about upcoming episodes.
Also, follow us on Instagram and on Facebook for more information about what is coming up next.
Hosting, production and editing: Instagram.com/crawriter
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Instagram.com/uncletravelingmatts
Welcome, fellow explorers. My name is Christian Alexandersen and this is Hemlocks to Hellbenders. A podcast highlighting Pennsylvania parks, forests and great outdoors.
I’m excited you’ve decided to join me on an exploration of all things natural and wonderful about Pennsylvania’s public lands. That doesn’t just include our parks and forests. We’re going to be learning about our incredible landscapes, plants, trees, animals, waterways and so much more.
I’m going to be speaking with experts in their fields to find out more about the Commonwealth’s magnificent natural resources. You’ll be hearing from park rangers, educators, conservationists, biologists and volunteers.
Be sure to visit my website to sign up for my newsletter and get to notified about upcoming episodes.
Also, follow us on Instagram and on Facebook for more information about what is coming up next.
Hosting, production and editing: Instagram.com/crawriter
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Instagram.com/uncletravelingmatts
Welcome, fellow explorers. My name is Christian Alexandersen and this is Hemlocks to Hellbenders. A podcast highlighting Pennsylvania parks, forests and great outdoors.
I’m excited you’ve decided to join me on an exploration of all things natural and wonderful about Pennsylvania’s public lands. That doesn’t just include our parks and forests. We’re going to be learning about our incredible landscapes, plants, trees, animals, waterways and so much more.
I’m going to be speaking with experts in their fields to find out more about the Commonwealth’s magnificent natural resources. You’ll be hearing from park rangers, educators, conservationists, biologists and volunteers.
Be sure to visit our website www.hemlockstohellbenders.com and follow us on Instagram (instagram.com/hemlockstohellbenders) and Facebook (facebook.com/hemlockstohellbenders) for more information about upcoming episodes.