Hemlocks to Hellbenders

Little Buffalo State Park - Activities, events and history bring visitors year-round to Perry County

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 [https://www.kta-hike.org/] Purple Lizard Maps [https://www.purplelizard.com/] Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation [https://paparksandforests.org/] Sisters' Sunflowers [https://www.sisterssunflowers.com/] Discover Clarion County [https://discoverclarioncounty.com/] Go Laurel Highlands  [https://www.golaurelhighlands.com/] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2110005/support] Visit our website [http://www.hemlockstohellbenders.com/]to learn more about the podcast, to purchase merch and to find out about our incredible sponsors. Follow us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/hemlockstohellbenders/] and Meta [https://www.facebook.com/hemlockstohellbenders]to stay connected.  Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen Music: Jon Sauer Graphics: Matt Davis

Appreciating the sound of silence with Quiet Parks International

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 [https://www.quietparks.org/] – 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 [https://www.kta-hike.org/] Purple Lizard Maps [https://www.purplelizard.com/] Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation [https://paparksandforests.org/] Sisters' Sunflowers [https://www.sisterssunflowers.com/] Discover Clarion County [https://discoverclarioncounty.com/] Go Laurel Highlands  [https://www.golaurelhighlands.com/] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2110005/support] Visit our website [http://www.hemlockstohellbenders.com/]to learn more about the podcast, to purchase merch and to find out about our incredible sponsors. Follow us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/hemlockstohellbenders/] and Meta [https://www.facebook.com/hemlockstohellbenders]to stay connected.  Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen Music: Jon Sauer Graphics: Matt Davis

The arduous task of creating a trail from scratch with Appalachian Dirt

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 [https://appalachiandirt.com/].  Be sure to support our 2026 sponsors: Keystone Trails Association [https://www.kta-hike.org/] Purple Lizard Maps [https://www.purplelizard.com/] Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation [https://paparksandforests.org/] Sisters' Sunflowers [https://www.sisterssunflowers.com/] Discover Clarion County [https://discoverclarioncounty.com/] Go Laurel Highlands  [https://www.golaurelhighlands.com/] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2110005/support] Visit our website [http://www.hemlockstohellbenders.com/]to learn more about the podcast, to purchase merch and to find out about our incredible sponsors. Follow us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/hemlockstohellbenders/] and Meta [https://www.facebook.com/hemlockstohellbenders]to stay connected.  Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen Music: Jon Sauer Graphics: Matt Davis

Upper Pine Bottom State Park - Don't blink or you'll miss it

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 [https://www.kta-hike.org/] Purple Lizard Maps [https://www.purplelizard.com/] Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation [https://paparksandforests.org/] Sisters' Sunflowers [https://www.sisterssunflowers.com/] Discover Clarion County [https://discoverclarioncounty.com/] Go Laurel Highlands  [https://www.golaurelhighlands.com/] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2110005/support] Visit our website [http://www.hemlockstohellbenders.com/]to learn more about the podcast, to purchase merch and to find out about our incredible sponsors. Follow us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/hemlockstohellbenders/] and Meta [https://www.facebook.com/hemlockstohellbenders]to stay connected.  Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen Music: Jon Sauer Graphics: Matt Davis

Little Pine State Park - Surrounded by mountains, filled with activities

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 [https://www.kta-hike.org/] Purple Lizard Maps [https://www.purplelizard.com/] Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation [https://paparksandforests.org/] Sisters' Sunflowers [https://www.sisterssunflowers.com/] Discover Clarion County [https://discoverclarioncounty.com/] Go Laurel Highlands  [https://www.golaurelhighlands.com/] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2110005/support] Visit our website [http://www.hemlockstohellbenders.com/]to learn more about the podcast, to purchase merch and to find out about our incredible sponsors. Follow us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/hemlockstohellbenders/] and Meta [https://www.facebook.com/hemlockstohellbenders]to stay connected.  Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen Music: Jon Sauer Graphics: Matt Davis