Participants in a recent hike at Ricketts Glen State Park include, from left, Cathy Harriman and Barb Meyers, both of Muncy Valley; Melody Derr of Coal Township, Diane Fritz and Jordan Fritz of Avoca, Julio Rubio and Silvia Ramos of Long Island, N.Y., and Tony and Sue Omeis of Bellefonte.
Mary Therese Biebel | Times Leader
Area state parks have resumed organized group events
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Environmental Education specialist Rhiannon Summers explains the next leg of a 3.5 mile hike on Thursday morning at Ricketts Glen State Park.
Mary Therese Biebel | Times Leader
The Midway Crevasse, which the hikers are approaching, is a narrow passage between two large blocks of Pocono sandstone. Hike leader and environmental education specialist Rhiannon Summers explained how a glacier, followed by the freezing and thawing of water that infiltrated cracks and fissures,led to the present position of the rock formation.
Mary Therese Biebel | Times Leader
The hikers appear very small when they are at the bottom of the F.L Ricketts Falls and the camera is at the top.
Mary Therese Biebel | Times Leader
Hikers enjoy a view of the Onandago Falls, one of 24 named waterfalls at Ricketts Glen State Park, where organized group activities have resumed with coronavirus mitigation practices such as the wearing of masks in place.
Mary Therese Biebel | Times Leader
People often associate Ricketts Glen State Park with the steep Falls Trail, but other trails on top of the mountain, such as the Highland Trail and Bear Walk Trail, are fairly flat.
Mary Therese Biebel | Times Leader
The ‘glens’ of Ricketts Glen State Park are deep, shady valleys. Here, the hikers descend one of the glens, taking a shortcut to see two waterfalls.
Mary Therese Biebel | Times Leader
For Diane and Jordan Fritz of Avoca, it was the mother and daughter’s first visit to Ricketts Glen State Park.
For Silvia Ramos, who traveled all the way from Long Island, N.Y., Thursday morning, it was her first hike. As in first hike, ever.
And, for some of the other eight participants, a 3.5-mile adventure led by environmental education specialist Rhiannon Summers, was the first time they wore a mask for a walk in the woods.
With coronavirus mitigation practices now in place at Pennsylvania state parks, group events such as naturalist-led hikes, yoga on the beach, sunset paddles and programs that teach about trees and wildlife, have resumed.
And nature lovers are overjoyed.
“I’m always looking for a hike, but don’t want to go alone,” said Barb Meyer, who traveled about 20 miles from Muncy Valley with her friend Cathy Harriman to attend Thursday’s hike.
“I made a decision a couple years ago to get outdoors more,” said Melody Derr, of Coal Township, who added she appreciates being able to venture into a forested area with a group large enough to scare away bears and with a leader who knows the area.
When she’s on her own, Derr said with a laugh, “Just finding the parking lot, I get lost.”
Tony and Sue Omeis, who made the trip from Bellefonte to visit the popular Ricketts Glen, said they had been keeping their eyes open for distinctive plants in the area.
“It would be interesting to see a lady slipper, even if it’s not in flower,” said Tony Omeis, who is retired from managing a greenhouse at Penn State University. “I’ve been surprised at the amount of trillium.”
“We saw blueberries, and some were even ripe. And jack-in-the-pulpit,” Sue Omeis said, adding they’d also seen flowers taht looked like mountain laurel but were very pink.
“And very low?” Summers said, indicating a knee-high size. “That’s sheep’s laurel.”
Soon the group started its hike, which Summers promised would be “an enjoyable hike, not an endurance hike,” and the pace was relaxed enough to pause and listen to birds.
“That’s a hermit thrush,” Summers said at one point. “Its song is so cool. It can sing two notes at the same time and they harmonize with each other.”
The environmental educator also stopped to talk about the park’s history and geology, including the difference between “wedding-cake” waterfalls and “bridal-veil” falls.
“The whole falls area is continually eroding upstream, very slowly,” Summers said.
During the two-hour walk the group spotted red efts on the Highland Trail and were careful not to step on the tiny salamanders; chatted along the Bear Walk Trail about how large bears can grow —though they didn’t see any bruins — and posed happily for photographs near the F. L. Ricketts Falls and the Ondandago Falls, two of the 24 named waterfalls in the park.
Park visitors will have a chance to sign up for a similar 3.5 hike Discovering Ricketts Hike on the Highland Trail and Bear Walk Trail that will take place 3 to 5 p.m. July 11. The meeting spot is in Beach Lot #2 by the bulletin board closest to the road. You must bring a mask to attend the program, and registration is required by emailing Rhiannon Summers at [email protected] or calling 570-477-7780.
Other upcoming events include a Bird Walk with Doug Gross, retired PA Game Commission biologist and eBird coordinator, who will guide the walk from 8 a.m. to noon July 9. Meet at the Park Office in Ricketts Glen State Park. Good boots are recommended for walking. Please bring your own bug spray and binoculars. You must bring a mask to attend this program. Registration required by emailing Rhiannon Summers at [email protected] or calling 570-477-7780.
A Sunset Paddle along Lake Jean is planned for 7 to 9 p..m. July 11. Park and meet at the Western Boat Launch on Lake Jean. You must have previous kayak experience to participate. Bring your own boat, life vest, and equipment. You also must bring a mask to attend this program. Registration required by emailing Rhiannon Summers at [email protected] or calling 570-477-7780.