The (Not so) Rural Pennsylvanian

  • The Lovely Cumberland Valley

    Nestled between South Mountain and the Blue Mountain ridge line lies the Cumberland Valley, an area known for fertile farms, world famous fly fishing, and an annual classic car show. I explored the farm country in the northern part of the valley.

    The farms are nestled into the backdrop of South Mountain.
    Love the goats in the small pasture.
    Best cow shot of the day.

    The Valley is not all about farms, however …

    The Williams Grove Speedway.
    I don’t know what this house used to be, but it looked like a great renovation job.
    The ducks and geese at LeTort Spring Run Park in downtown Carlisle.
    A Mallard couple out for a walk.

  • A Visit to Powdermill Nature Reserve

    On my way to Linn Run State Park, I came across the Powdermill Nature Reserve of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. The Museum is in Pittsburgh, but the Powdermill Reserve is in a beautiful area of the Laurel Highlands. The reserve’s website can be found here.

    Welcome to Powdermill Nature Reserve.

     Powdermill Nature Reserve is a field station and laboratory where researchers do long-term studies of natural populations in western Pennsylvania. It is a great place for outdoor fun and education.

    You can explore the beautiful woodlands around the reserve via the hiking tails. You can also visit the nature center, which features exhibits that highlight local wildlife, a room of beautiful mounted specimens, an indoor stream, a fish tank, and a “marsh machine” that uses a living plants to purify waste water.

    The reserve does permit hunting on a limited basis through a annual lottery for 100 permits. Due to some inclement weather and limited time, I confined myself to the visitor center on this trip.

    This is an interesting paludarium style fish tank. Forgive the glare from the very bright back light.
    Check out the fish in this tank.
    The really cool stream tank – I think my little buddy wants to be fed.
    .A description of the “marsh machine” that treats the center’s waste water.
    Here is a view of the marsh machine.

  • Even More State Parks

    Southwestern Pennsylvania is a great area for state parks. In my last post, I explored the state parks with “laurel” in their names (due to the fact they are on or around the long ridge line known as Laurel Mountain). Today we’ll add a few more in the area.

    Starting in Bedford County, I exited the turnpike at Bedford and soon found myself a Shawnee State Park. This park has a large lake, campground, beach, disc golf, hiking, fishing and other amenities.

    Boats at Shawnee State Park

    The following day I went to check out Kooser State Park. This one also has a lake with fishing, hiking and picnicking. There is also a very nice small cabin colony there.

    A peek at Kooser State Park.

    On my way to Laurel Summit State Park, I passed through Linn Run State Park. This a beautiful, forested park follows along the course of Linn Run. It is adjacent to the Forbes State forest. It offers stream fishing, hiking, picnicking and has a beautiful cabin colony for overnight stays. Admas Falls on Linn Run is a favorite scenic spot and has a picnic table available.

    Falls on Linn Run

  • Fall Has Finally Arrived

    It looks like the much delayed Autumn color has finally arrived to Chester County this year. I just hope the season isn’t brief. Here is a sample of some of this year’s color.

    A corn field seems to be on fire in Glenmoore.

     

    It looks like this is what was growing on those stumps in the previous picture. This and another tree were next in line with the stumps but had not yet been cut.

     

    A beautiful farm in Coventryville. I always love the star on the barn.

     

    Another radiant fall cornfield and treetops.

     

    Scotts Run in French Creek State Park. It’s apparently a red and orange free zone.

     

    The barn at the Mansion at Hibernia Park.

  • The Bridges of Columbia County

    Pennsylvania has 219 covered bridges, the most of any state in the US. The bridges were covered to protect the wooden structural supports and allow them to last longer. The also provided shelter for pedestrians and vehicles in bad weather. Columbia County has one of the largest concentrations of covered bridges in Pennsylvania. I photographed some of them on a recent trip.

     

    The Rupert covered bridge. I like the juxtaposition of the train line and the old covered bridge.

     

    A marked bike trail crosses the bridge.

     

    I love the bridges with windows.

     

    The train bridge adjacent to the Rupert covered bridge.

     

    The Wanich covered bridge.

     

    The Creasyville covered bridge.

     

    The Patterson covered bridge with some detail.

     

     

     

  • A View from the Rim

    This is the view from the Fireline Trail at Hickory Run State Park of the Lehigh River and an old bridge support. This view from the rim of the Lehigh Gorge is a fairly accessible half mile walk from a road. It should also provide a nice sunset view.

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