MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
Spring, 2024
Being a lover of everything outdoors, all the seasons give good cause to get outside and experience the wonder. For some during the winter, seasonal depression can weigh heavily on your spirit and mind. Going for a hike is a great way to get the endorphins flowing and to get some fresh, brisk air into the lungs. And not to mention, there are no bugs, no crowds, and extra and improved views with leafoff.
In our deciduous forest here in Pennsylvania, leafoff really does improve the ability to see things you have difficulty seeing in the summer. With major leaf coverage not occurring until May, there is plenty of great opportunities to catch up on some of those superb views.
Then comes spring! The rich soil of the Cumberland Valley produces a wonderful array of wildflowers. In the springtime, it is ephemerals that often raise their sleepy heads first. So, out on the Trail in early spring you can catch a glimpse of species like bloodroot, trilliums, hepaticas, woodland anemones, mayapples, Virginia bluebells, trout lily, Dutchman's breeches, and many others. Walk slowly and look down – the beauty of spring is at your feet.
Remember to take your camera! The photo contest is coming again this year, and we would love to see the beauty of the Trail through your eyes.
~Joe Frassetta
Spring, 2024
Being a lover of everything outdoors, all the seasons give good cause to get outside and experience the wonder. For some during the winter, seasonal depression can weigh heavily on your spirit and mind. Going for a hike is a great way to get the endorphins flowing and to get some fresh, brisk air into the lungs. And not to mention, there are no bugs, no crowds, and extra and improved views with leafoff.
In our deciduous forest here in Pennsylvania, leafoff really does improve the ability to see things you have difficulty seeing in the summer. With major leaf coverage not occurring until May, there is plenty of great opportunities to catch up on some of those superb views.
Then comes spring! The rich soil of the Cumberland Valley produces a wonderful array of wildflowers. In the springtime, it is ephemerals that often raise their sleepy heads first. So, out on the Trail in early spring you can catch a glimpse of species like bloodroot, trilliums, hepaticas, woodland anemones, mayapples, Virginia bluebells, trout lily, Dutchman's breeches, and many others. Walk slowly and look down – the beauty of spring is at your feet.
Remember to take your camera! The photo contest is coming again this year, and we would love to see the beauty of the Trail through your eyes.
~Joe Frassetta