Happy Friday, everyone. How many times do these messages have to start with an apology for not being in touch "last week?" Well, apparently at least one more time! Travel and getting it together to do a newsletter are often incompatible and last week was definitely one of those instances. The final straw was when my keyboard decided it should put in three characters instead of just the one I was using. 

I decided that was a sign.

The masthead comes this week from Hiking & Backpacking PA and Ed Means who noted that his visit to the Loyalsock (Jacoby Falls and Rock Run) provided the perfect combination of "ice and flow." Nice photos for a click through to the post if you are a member of that private Book of Faces. 

We are very happy to make it official! Restoration of the Kintzer Building - the CCC Camp SP-17 dining hall  - at French Creek State Park is now complete and absolutely beautiful. 

You may recall it started out looking like this:

And now, thanks to a lot of hard work by park staff and the PA Outdoor Corps and the support of our donors like New Trail Brewing Company's whose French Creek State Park Beer proceeds went directly to this project, and friends just like you, it looks like this:

With those lovely refinished floors and bright clean walls, the building will last another 100 years and be available for educational programs (?) and events. 

Here's our look ahead. Here we are checking on next weekend and the one following with an eye to getting us back on track next week with two weeks of lead time. 

Check out the DCNR calendar for maple sugaring events ramping up now.

Don't forget to bookmark the PPFF Events Calendar and DCNR's own Calendar of Events so you don't miss a thing.

Blue boxes indicate photos and news and green boxes are the events.

Quote: Becky Hemsley Poetry, a truly lovely Facebook page I happened upon. 

Photo: Ed Harding. Marsh Creek State Park. The thaw before the big snow.