Maybe it's just the heat but it's been a very quiet week here. Although we had a positively gorgeous day here last Saturday and I enjoyed a nice long, leisurely bike ride. 

I've been concentrating on building a new store for our website through Shopify. Does anyone out there have experience with it? Would love to have a chat about it as it offers some challenges. Or maybe it's just the heat!

From the Camping in Pennsylvania state parks,forests Book of Faces comes this memory from Paul Thompson of five days at Keystone State Park in 93-degree heat. 

Rose Rush's Donut Hole Trail report:

The trail was very remote and primitive, and as promised, we saw more bears than people! The biggest surprise for us was probably the lack of campsites, but we did what we could. This was an extremely rewarding experience especially since I felt very humbled after doing the Loyalsock Trail last summer. I’m looking forward to the next backpacking trip!

Thank you to everyone who gave advice when I asked a little over a month ago! And the guide book was so insightful. 

Here was our break down (7 days - 6 nights):

Day 1: Miles 0-14.4
Day 2: Miles 14.4-24.14 (was a struggle)
Day 3: Miles 24.14-38.7
Day 4: Miles 38.7-53.4
Day 5: Miles 53.4-67.3
Day 6: Miles 67.3-82.6
Day 7: Miles 82.6-94.17

We saw:

- 1 owl (first day)
- 7 rattle snakes (mostly day 2)
- 3 garter snakes
- 2 ringed neck snakes
- 8 bears (all today!! 6 babies and 2 mommas) ["today" being, apparently their final day, June 20]
- 1 ruffed grouse
- 1 american woodcock

Did you enjoy a Popsicle this week? Frozen fun since 1905! 

Not everyone is averse to the heat and humidity. What bright and busy summer visitor actually likes that warm, moist air?

Enter each week to increase your chances of a fabulous prize at the end of the month when I'll draw one entry from all correct answers received during the month.

Ready to talk about mid-July?

Don't forget to bookmark both the PPFF events calendar and the DCNR Calendar of Events so you don't miss anything you'd be sorry to miss!

Blue boxes show photos and news locations and purple are events. 

Quote: David T.W. McCord, "All About Fireflies All About," Far and Few: Rhymes of the Never Was and Always Is.

Photo: Peggy Butler, Secretary, PA Firefly Festival (this weekend in Tionesta)

The stars are all so far away
For creature-kind that hide by day
(For moth and mouse and toad and such)
The starlight doesn’t count for much.
And that is why a field at night
In May or June is plaintive, bright
With little lanterns sailing by,
Like stars across a mimic sky,
Just high enough – but not too high.