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© 2024 Hemlocks to Hellbenders
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Hemlocks to Hellbenders is a podcast hosted by Christian Alexandersen highlighting Pennsylvania’s parks, forests and great outdoors. We speak with park managers, forest rangers, scientists, educators, outdoor recreationists, volunteers, officials and more to learn about the Commonwealth's incredible public land.
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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. The...
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 ...
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 storie...
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 Fie...
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 mycolog...
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 f...
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...
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 ...
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 expl...
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 res...
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 ...
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. C...
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...
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....
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 insid...
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 sa...
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...
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...
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 cari...
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...
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