a walk in penn's woods

This weekend was the annual Walk In Penns Woods. It is a one-day commonwealth-wide event when Pennsylvanians walk in — and celebrate — Penn’s Woods! Forty-eight counties (of 67) are participating. Open houses and guided woods walks showcasing the multiple values and diverse uses of our state’s priceless forest resources are being held in rural, urban and suburban woods, state and national forests and parks, municipal watersheds, conserved areas, and on private lands.

I found about about this walk on Facebook. I thought I was on everyone's email list, but clearly I'm not. I hadn't even heard of the event till this popped up on my feed. When I checked the website this event is the closest to me, with Durham being between Hellertown and Riegelsville.

This year's walk guided walk took place on three private properties within Durham Township. they allowed 3 hours for a 1.5 mile hike. It took us four hours. The hike—it was not a walk— traversed former roads and paths through the old-growth forest and the blue heron rookery (group of nests) on Cooks Creek. That explained a lot about why we have so many blue herron in the area. However, the resident bald eagles are eating the young. They may solve the problem. I wonder. if they could develop a taste for spotted lantern flies.

Cooks Creek is one of the few streams in Bucks County designated as an "Exceptional Value" (EV) stream. It has native trout as well as the invasive brown trout.

Clearly this was an information hike, not a exercise hike. We stopped frequently and for large periods of time. Part of the reason it took 4 hours. We even did stream studies. Sarah, the guide, provided information about the forest, native plants and animals and the human history of the area. There was a lot of invasive plants on this walk, and the number of insects destroying the trees is mind-blowing. Someone else did the water ecology and stream studies. Steve, maybe?

I was glad I took my hiking stick. The trails were often very natural -- roots and rocks.

Miles/Steps:           my Fitbit said 4.5

Weather:                mid-50s, overcast, with showers

Wildlife:                  the water critters, a bald eagle, Herron nests

Bathrooms:             none