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FOR OVER TWENTY YEARS
Our Mission: Inspire Stewardship of Pennsylvania's State Parks and Forests

Tucked Away in Parker Dam
Photo by Parker Dam State Park

Happy Friday, all! Looks like a pretty chilly weekend coming up here in the Valley of the Foot of the Turkey but we have had a couple of really glorious sunny days so I think it's a nice trade-off.

It would be hard to argue that the snow-covered cabin at Parker Dam State Park pictured above is likewise anything short of glorious. Don't you just want to be there? My handy-dandy calendar of interesting days tells us that next Tuesday the 26th is Plan Your Vacation Day and word is that if you are thinking state park camping (be it cabin, yurt, or campsite) it isn't a bad idea to starting making those thoughts serious ones. Visitation is still UP; reservations are first-come, first served and increasingly (still) scarce.

So short of being there, wouldn't the photo make a perfect jigsaw puzzle? Yep!

Pam Metzger
Membership Coordinator
Pennsylvania Parks & Forests Foundation

News of Note

Speaking of Parker Dam State Park, check out Eric's three (so far) instructional videos on cross-country skiing featuring the skills you would learn at one of the park's in-person classes. Stars: Inside and Out, Hills: Up and Down and Falling Down and Getting Up are the first with more to come.

As you take advantage of Plan Your Vacation Day, maybe the Pennsylvania State Parks & State Forests Passport would be of assistance? We had a press inquiry this week about the Seen 'Em All Challenge for those who visit all 121 parks and 20 forest districts. Great for all you goal-setters and box-tickers.

You'll find other good things like masks (perfect for a Valentine's Day gift - protect the one you love) and Social Distancing Professional t-shirts in the online store.

Pictures of the Week

The ruins of Kinzua Bridge are stunning in any season and under any circumstances but this (and several more) shared by Melany Alexis to the Hiking & Backpacking PA Book of Faces gives an eerie perspective.

While scoping out Facebook pages for parks I rarely include, I found this 2018 shot by Shawn Grenninger at Ravensburg State Park. It's simply too wonderful NOT to include. Check his page. You will find others.

I might be a week off but I think that under normal circumstances (which these definitely are not) this would be WinterFest weekend at Ohiopyle State Park. Sugarloaf sledding hill would be more crowded than this even!

The "Mis"Adventures of Moose, who certainly appears to enjoy his misadventures, visited Prompton State Park. This is one of a few lovely shots of this beautiful pup.

Where Are We?

I did discontinue the weekly locator map when events went away but maybe it should make a return for purposes of the Big Picture for Picture of the Week locations. Click for a larger view.

Take Five for Trivia

You'll recall, maybe, that last week's question was "How long is short term memory?" 30 seconds, my friends. Which we all agreed makes it a little easier to accept forgetting why we go to the basement half the time. I told Marci NOT to go down there. It's just a black hole where memory goes to die.

January is Winter Trails Month, celebrating winter activities of all sorts. The travel website OneTravel did a survey in May 2019 on relative popularity of hiking in all four seasons. Rank the order survey respondents placed Spring Summer Fall and Winter in their preferences for when to hit the trails.

Submit your answer.

In Closing

Want to read a poem? This is a timely one.

SUPPORT PPFF

Pennsylvania Parks & Forests Foundation (PPFF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization - contributions to which are tax deductible to the fullest extent permitted by law. The official registration and financial information of PPFF may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling, toll-free within Pennsylvania, to 800.732.0999. Registration does not imply endorsement.

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