In a sure sign of Spring, the Falls Trail at Ricketts Glen is fully open once again. Wise words from the park: Please make sure you wear proper footwear for the rugged terrain (hiking boots, not flip flops or sneakers), bring plenty of water, know and do not exceed your physical ability level, and plan your route so you end up back where you parked.

In a secondary sign, retiring the snowy me in the signature block for a snippet of my visit to the Tunnel Trail in Big Spring Picnic Area on the way home from the banquet a couple of years ago.

The masthead is from Corey Bires' visit to the Rothrock on March 29, a day he claimed felt more like Summer. I missed that one, apparently. Posted to the private Hiking & Backpacking PA Book of Faces, I had to snag his Juniata Cliffs selfie as a bonus here. Writes Corey, "thankfully my remote worked from this far away as I ran back and forth!" 

That's just too much fun not to be a jigsaw puzzle. Huzzah!

The Friends of Oil Creek shared some great news this week from the local Oil City Derrick, who sent a reporter out to cover the exploits of the Over the Hill Gang. The article salutes the trail volunteers' decades-long devotion to the Gerard Trail. 

(Photo of Howard Wurzbacher by Austin Gray, the reporter)

So I noticed belatedly that last week's picture that registration for the Happy Little Trees 5k has now closed managed to cut off the link to allow you to donate to the tree planting fund.

That effort never ends whether we're huffing and puffing through a 5k or not!

Add to the kitty at Tree Planting Fund. 

They're baaaaack! Pennsylvania State Park gift cards have made their return to the DCNR website. Available for purchase through ReserveAmerica, the gift certificates can be printed right at home. Click the pic for the webpage.