84-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, October 15, 1994
a fam
-And <**^lk|
Joyce Bnpp aHHI
“Do you realize,” I said,
admitting a sobering thought to
The Fanner, “that we’re the old
est people here?”
Not that there were many peo
ple around to begin with.
Towering around us were
thick stands of classic, Pennsyl
vania hardwood forest. Rocky
walls climbed steeply from the
streambed draining an increasing
ly narrow ravine. A well-worn
trail led the way through the
seemingly-endless stretch of
creekside hiking, occasionally
crossing the water’s sometimes
turbulent, sometimes placid
stretches. High overhead, blue
skies framed the far-away tops of
the trees and fingers of bright
sunshine poked through the
canopy of green.
What a wild, beautiful and
peaceful setting. In an hour of
hiking, we’d seen less than a
dozen fellow humans. And they
all appeared to be under about 22
years of age.
But where were the waterfalls
we’d heard about? After gentle,
uphill, climbing at a steady pace
on this trail for what was begin
ning to seem like forever, frankly,
I was getting impatient. Sure, this
medium-sized stream had three
and four-foot cascades tumbling
over rocks, but, gosh, there must
be more than this to warrant the
raves we’d heard.
Suddenly, we rounded a bend
and were given a choice, two
forks to the trail, splitting off in a
“Y.” One paralleled the stream
we’d been enjoying, the other
took a steep climb along a slightly
smaller one.
And a wooden sign-map
showed that along the loop
formed by the split trails were the
natural attractions of this isolated
mountain preserve: more than
twenty waterfalls ranging from
less than 20 feet of drop to the
highest —nearly 100 feet. There
were also warnings about slip
pery trails, steep dropoffs and
extreme danger posed by icy con
ditions.
On that May afternoon, there
was no ice; and early, dry condi
tions had rendered the streamflow
lower than usual for the season.
Still, the rugged climb along
increasingly steep ravine sides
was exhilarating and challenging,
laced with steps sometimes cut
into the rock and wet spots where
small springs oozed across the
narrow cliffside path.
Nothing we’d ever read or
heard prepared us for the awe
some, rugged beauty of the Glens
Natural Area, a national natural
landmark. The few-mile loop
along the series of waterfalls that
drop hundreds of feet down these
mountains took less time to hike
than the lengthy walk in from the
lower parking area. Each water
fall was beautiful, some more
majestic than others; the highest
one was breathtaking. Especially
from the edge of the trail along
the top. Looking down.
On the border of Sullivan and
Luzerne counties, Glens Natural
Area is part of Ricketts Glen State
Park, a secluded preserve in a
heavily-forested mountain area.
Though it has lakes and camping,
the weekday we hiked there few
people seemed to know it exist-
deo Dispels Misconceptions
About Agriculture
Vi
UNIVERSITY PARK, (Centre
Co.) Penn State’s College of
Agricultural Sciences has a new
tool to attract high school students
who may be more familiar with
microbiology than farming.
“Penn State Ag Sciences...
We’re more than you think!,” a
23-minute video, is aimed at high
school students, science teachers
and guidance counselors who may
not know the scope of agricultural
science. About a dozen under
graduates explain why they attend
Penn State’s College of Agricul
tural Sciences.
Dr. Marianne Houser, coordi
nator of undergraduate recruit
ment in the college, supervised
ed—the very sort of place we
seek out on those limited times
we can sneak away from the
farm.
This pristine, well-hidden glen
of waterfalls is accessible only by
foot—preferably clad in sturdy
hiking shoes or solid sneakers.
We trekked up, down and around
some eight miles of mountain that
afternoon in under four hours,
learning midway that the park’s
upper entrance is much closer to
the waterfalls trail. And we did
eventually pass on a steep section
of rocky path one couple obvi
ously older than we were, physi
cally-fit and probahfc each 70-
years-old-plus.
Crisp air, bright sunshine,
clear blue skies and colored
leaves scenery are all free and
never more gorgeous than now in
mid-October. And all around us
are beautiful, untouched places—
like Glens Natural Area —waiting
to be discovered, just by putting
one foot in front of the other.
Do yourself a favor. Take a
hike.
* HEALTH INSURANCE "I
. COSTS GETTING YOU DOWN?
GIVE US A CALL
AFFORDABLE MAJOR
MEDICAL PLANS
DEDUCTIBLES FROM $250-$2500
THE FINANCIAL SERVICES CO.
CALL FOR DETAILS AND A QUOTE
- 1-800-795-7334
GOOD FOOD OUTLET STORES
See Our Original Line Of Golden Barrel Products Plus All Kinds
Of Beans, Candies, Dried Fruit, Snack Mixes, Etc. At Reduced Prices
* BAKING MOLASSES * MAPLE SYRUP * FUNNEL CAKE MIX
* BARBADOS MOLASSES * PANCAKE A WAFFLE * PANCAKE A WAFFLE
* BLACKSTRAP SYRUPS MIX
MOLASSES * SORGHUM SYRUP A ASSORTMENT OF
* CORN SYRUPS * LIQUID A DRY SUGARS CANDIES
/ * HIGH FRUCTOSE * PANCAKE A WAFFLE A DRIED FRUIT
'a SYRUPS SYRUPS .A SNACK MIXES
W. A CANOLA OIL A BEANS
1 A COCONUT OIL A HONEY
J I I A CORN OIL A PEANUT BUTTER
\ A COTTONSEED OIL A BAUMAN APPLE
A OLIVE OIL BUTTERS
A PEANUT OIL A KAUFFMAN PRESERVES
A VEGETABLE OIL A SPRING GLEN RELISHES
A SHOO-FLY PIE MIX
Processors Of Syrups, Molasses,
Cooking Oils, Funnel Cake Mix,
Pancake ft Waffle Mix ft Shoofly Pie Mix
GOOD FOOD OUTLET
Located At Good Food, Inc.
W. Main St., Box 160, Honey Brook, PA 19344'
218-273-3776 1-800-327-4406
Located At L & S Sweeteners
368 E. Main St., Leola, PA 17540
717-656-3488 1-800-633-2676
- Wl2 UPS DAILY -
production, identified undergrad
uates and conducted the inter
views. “We wanted to present the
laboratories, classes, living envi
ronments and other aspects of col
lege life from the point of view of
the students,” says Houser.
Rebecca Sonnen, who graduat
ed with a degree in agricultural
science in 1993, narrates the
video. She begins by stopping
Penn Staters at random and asking
what they think agricultural sci
ence is about. Almost all answer
“just farming.” That misconcep
tion is shattered as the program
showcases opportunities in fields
ranging from agronomy to
wildlife science.
The video covers academic life
from enrolling to graduating and
starting a career. Students discuss
not only their majors, but also
their experiences with research
projects, internships and study
aboard programs, as well as
nonacademic activities.
The video was produced by
Agricultural Information Services
in the college. “We tried to tell the
personal stories of these stu
dents,” Says Elissa Morgan,
senior producer-director. “We
wanted viewers to know what it’s
really like to attend college here,
not just what programs or new
equipment we had.”
Gingerbread House Competition
Lebanon (Lebanon Co.)
North Mountain 4-H Club will
hold a Gingerbread House Com
petition at the Quality Inn, Leba
non, on November 18 and 19.
Seven categories are available
for individual, adults, children,
groups, and professionals. Contes
tants pay to enter. A first prize is
available in each category.
Profits will be distributed to the
If your local itoic
doea not have it,
SEND FOR
FREE
BROCHURE
One segment focuses on differ
ent housing options, including the
Freshman in Science and Engi
neering (FISE) special interest
residence hall, an agriculture hon
orary fraternity house and even
the student housing at the col
lege’s research farms.
Many of the students inter
viewed report that the college’s
close-knit and supportive nature
is a key to making their academic
experience a success. “Penn State
is a big place, but in the College
of Agricultural Sciences I can feel
like I’m home, “ said Robert Tor
res, a senior with a dual major in
agricultural science and philoso
phy.
The College of Agricultural
Sciences Alumni Society spon
sored duplication of the video.
Over 500 copies have been deliv
ered to extension agents, alumni,
Penn State admission officers and
select high schools.
To see the video or to obtain a
copy for your high school or
youth group, contact the Penn
State Cooperative Extension
office in your county or the
Office for Resident Education,
Penn State College o£ Agricultur
al Sciences. 101 Agricultural
Administration Building, Univer
sity Park, PA 16801; (814) 865-
7521.
educational computer fund for a
4-H member of the North Moun
tain Club who has leukemia and
cannot attend school and to the
Four Diamonds Program of the
Leukemia Society.
Pick up rules at the Lebanon
Extension office or send a self
addressed stamped envelope to
2120 Cornwall Rd., Suite 1, Leba
non. PA 17042-9777.
DOE’S PRIDE"
NATURAL GOAT MILK ]ls U
SOAP
• It’s especially GENTLE on your skin
•It’s NATURAL and PURE
• There's NO allergy-producing fragrance, dye, color or
preservative added
SEND FOR FREE INFORMATION or CALL TOLL FREE HOMIER
1-800-542-7180
HOME SOAP WORKS
P.O. Box 317, Millington, NJ 07948
(908)604-2170
SPECIALS FOR
OCTOBER
•• SPECIAL SALE **
ADRIATICO EXTRA virgin
OLIVE OIL
Regularly $17.98
NOW $12.95
GOLDEN BARREL FUNNEL CAKE MIX
2 Lb. Regularly $1.49
NOW $1.09
10% OFF ALL BAUMANS BUTTERS