Trek Magazine

Vol 1, No 1 Jun 10, 2019 $3.99
13 HOT SPOTS
11 NEXT ON YOUR
BUCKET LIST
26 BEGINNER’S GUIDE
TO ADVENTURE
19 DAY HIKING
CHECKLIST
28 AN EMERGENCY
GUIDE

Editor’s Letter 5
A letter from the editor to it’s readers.
Tips 7
How to plan the best day trip, how to utilize
your time, and what you have to do to have
a good time.
Calendar 9
These are the upcoming events in the area
and all their details
Hot Spots 13
These are the places that you MUST go
to in Pennsylvania the next time
you visit the beautiful state.
Hungry? 15
Here are some suggestions
as to what you should pack with
you or places close by you can go to eat.
Next on Your
Bucket List 11
This article includes how to best
explore Rickets Glenn. It include
trails, waterfall, when to visit, etc.
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Day Hiking Checklist 18
Heading out for a day of hiking? These items
should definitely be on your list to take with you.
Apparel 23
You wouldn’t want to be uncomfortable while
hiking through the woods, so here are a few
suggestions on the dos and don’ts of hiking.
Beginner’s Guide
to Adventure Travel 26
What are considered adventures and how to get
out of your comfort zones.
An Emergency Guide 28
When going out into the wilderness you should
always be aware of the risks, what could possibly
happen and how to react to the situation.
Opinion 30
Need another opinion? Here are a few places and
what other readers have to say about them and
their personal experiences.
Product Profile 32
The best materials and supplies needed
to be safe and efficient away in
the wilderness
Most Traveled 34
These are the top visited places in
Pennsylvania, and where they are located.
Location Review 37
Cherry Hill State Park, the perfect spot
to stargaze, novice or professional. Go
see for yourself.
3 | TREK

Editor in Chief Alyssa Daubenspeck
Creative Director
Senior Designer
Copy Editor
Breanna Duson
Gina Naseef
Olivia Durr
Production Manager
Allison Smith
How to reach us:
Subscription
Mail Trek magazine, PO Box 37870
Philadelphia, PA 50037-0870
Telephone 800-234-2000
Editorial
Email trekmag@gmail.com
TREK | 4

Dear Readers,
Why should you go and seek adventure? You live your life once and
it’s important to fill that time spent with happy moments. Adventure
is important because it is a way of learning and experiencing life. The
world has so much to offer, so don’t waste the life that was given to you.
In this issue of Trek, we explore everything you could possibly do in
Pennsylvania. It might seem like a boring state at first, but there are a
lot of interesting locations that are hidden within. All you have to do is
be willing to search for them.
We will start this issue off with the basics. How does one plan an
adventure? What is the best advice for going on adventure and having
a good time? Where does one start? These are great question, luckily
this issue covers all of them.
Our feature article, Next on Your Bucket List, hones in on a popular
exploration site in Pennsylvania, Ricketts Glenn. This is a hiker’s
dream, a waterfall lover’s fantasy, a camper’s chimera, etc. Anyone
can appreciate the beauty of this hidden gem.
To continue our exploration of the many things to go and see in
Pennsylvania, we show an infographic of the top hot spots and where
they rank. It shows where they are located, what they are best known
for and how far apart they are from each other just in case you were
up for a road trip. All is shown so you can get a good idea of what you
might be interested in and want to visit.
To wrap things up in Pennsylvania, we do a location review on, Cherry
Hill State Park. Located in Cloudersport, this PA hot spot is the ideal
location for any star lover. The park is known for having a wide open
field with clear skies perfectly ampt for your star gazing pleasure.
Us here at Trek hope you enjoy reading and encourage you to go
explore the state yourself.
Editor in Chief,
Alyssa Daubenspeck
5 | TREK

TREK | 6

Planning
Your
Perfect
Day Trip
By: Joe Whitson
Photography by: Tom Kuegler
TThe lowly day trip, often dismissed as the
least of adventures, has for too long been
undervalued. A well-planned and ambitious
day trip is more than a consolation prize; it’s an
adventure unto itself. In order to help you make
your day trip the amazing experience that it
should be, I’ve come up with 6 tips for planning
the perfect day trip.
1. Plan your route
I love just following the wind as much as the
next person and sometimes, not having a plan
can lead you to amazing discoveries. That being
said, many times you end up nowhere. Do some
research before you leave. Where do you want
to go? How long will it take? What is the most
scenic route? Are there places you want to stop
along the way? Even if the plan changes, knowing
a little about what you’re going to do cuts down
on decisions the day of.
2. Get up early
Did you know by 8:00 AM, the day is already a
third over? Don’t sleep your trip away! Get up
with the sun or, even better, get up before the
sun so that all that city driving is done in the
dark and you can catch the sunrise somewhere
awesome along the way.
3. Don’t be afraid of a long drive
There’s that waterfall you’ve wanted to check
out or that hidden beach, but it’s five hours away
and wow, ten hours of driving is way too long
for a day trip, right? Wrong. Follow the above
steps and book it to your destination. You’ll be
surprised at how much time you still have left.
Or make the ride the destination, hopping from
place to place and reaching the end at golden
hour. The ride back always seems faster than the
ride there.
4. Pack a lunch and go out for dinner
There are places in this world where restaurants
are few and far between, so be prepared and
bring your lunch. This will help maximize
those precious daylight hours and allow you
to eat at some beautiful picnic ground or
scenic lookout. When the sun sets, go
find some unique local join to wind
down for dinner before the
long drive-home.
5. Dress for
success
There is no bad
weather, only bad clothing.
6. Recruit friends
We all like a solo trip once in a while (unless, you
know, you’re one of those extroverts), but long
hours in the car and one of a kind
hikes are just more fun when
shared with friends.

TREK | 11
Adam and Chrissy’s Engagement
Photo Shoot at Ricketts Glenn

Exploring Ricketts Glenn
By: Jim Cheyney
Photography by: Sarah Joy
Tips and tricks of how to get the most
of your experience when visiting
Ricketts Glenn National Park.

TREK | 13
Hiking in Rickett’s
Glenn Nation al Park

Hiking the Falls Trail
in Ricketts Glen State
Park was at the top of
my Pennsylvania bucket
list for as long as I had one.
So, when I was planning
a trip to Northeastern
Pennsylvania during the fall,
I knew that a visit to Ricketts
Glen was in order Ricketts Glen
State Park is located mostly in
Luzerne County, Pennsylvania,
with small sections in Sullivan
County and Columbia Count. The park covers 13,000 acres of land and
features 26 miles of Ricketts Glen hiking trails, two lakes, and a great
camp ground. However, the highlight of the park is the Falls
Trail. Featuring 21 waterfalls, the Falls Trail in Ricketts Glen
State Park is one of the best hikes in all of Pennsylvania,
and, as perhaps the best hike in Ricketts Glen,
is the main reason many visit the park. Just keep
an eye out. The 7.2-mile trail has a reputation as
being super difficult and dangerous. Truthfully,
though, as long as you exercise common sense,
the trail really isn’t that bad. I was a bit worried
that my out-of-shape self would struggle with
the trail, but I found it to be much easier than
expected. That being said, the trail does feature
many steep drop offs, uneven stairs cut into the
rocks, and slippery conditions when wet. Proper
footwear is necessary when hiking the trail, in addition
to the usual precautions when hiking anywhere. If you are
thinking of hiking the Falls Trail during the winter season (roughly
mid-November to mid-April), the park requires hikers to have crampons,
ropes, and an ice ax, as well as to check in prior to starting. You can read
about my winter hiking at Ricketts Glen with Valley to Summit, a wilderness
adventure company that supplies all of the necessary gear. With 22 waterfalls
in the Ricketts Glen State Park, it would be impossible to cover them all in
one article. So, this is the first article in a four-part series. In this article, we’ll
talk about a few tips for visiting the park, my recommendation for how to hike
the trails, and other waterfalls in and near Ricketts Glen that are worth visiting.
First off, the best time to hike the Falls Trail in Ricketts Glen is on weekdays
when school is in session (April-May and September-October). If you visit
during the summer, on a weekend, or, even worse, on a summer weekend,
expect to share the trail with hundreds of other hikers. The traditional parking
area for the Falls Trail is along Route 118.
“Truthfully,
though, as long
as you exercise
common sense,
the trail really
isn’t that bad.”
Once you make the turn towards Ganoga Glen, the trail starts to get steep.
You’ll come to the first waterfall, Mohawk Falls, within a few minutes. From
here, you’ll pass the 10 waterfalls of Ganoga Glen within less than a mile of
walking. In many ways, it doesn’t even feel like you are hiking, as the waterfalls
are so close together that you’ll find yourself stopping every few minutes.
It’s along this glen that you’ll find Ganoga Falls. At 94-feet tall, this is the
tallest waterfall in the park and one of the tallest in Pennsylvania. After
passing the 10 waterfalls of Ganoga Glen, you’ll reach an area known as
Waters Meet. It is here that the streams of Kitchen Creek meet. This is a
great area to rest and just take in the beauty of Ricketts Glen State Park.
When you’re ready to go, you have two choices. If you cross the bridge, you
can head up Glen Leigh. However, first, head downstream towards Route
118 because three of the park’s best waterfalls are within the first half mile
of this trail. These three waterfalls are some of the most beautiful in the park
and definitely should not be skipped.
Once you’ve checked out these three waterfalls, head back upstream
to Waters Meet, and cross the bridge to head up Glen Leigh.
The path up Glen Leigh contains several bridges
Across the creek and alternates in a series of
relatively flat sections and steep climbs
around the waterfalls. On the mile-long
trek up Glen Leigh, you’ll pass eight
waterfalls, the tallest of which is the
60- foot Ozone Falls. I
found the waterfalls
of Glen Leigh to be
a bit less dramatic than Ganoga
Glen, but I’m really splitting hairs at this
point as they are all very beautiful. Waterfalls
are so close together that you’ll find yourself
stopping every few minutes.

33.6 Miles
Erie, PA
Open year-round – Free Admission, Group Discount
Senior Citizen Discount, Student Discount
128 Miles – 2 hrs 13 min
Mt Jewett, PA
Open every day of the year, sunrise to sunset
Visitor center and park office is open specific hours
visitors are prohibited from walking under the skywalk
53.1 Miles – 1 hr 15 min
Coudersport, PA
Park is open every day of the year – Campground is open a specific season
Night Sky Public Viewing Area is intended for short term star gazing
Overnight Astronomy Observation Field is open to registered users all night
Astronomers wishing to use the Astronomy Observation Field
are required to register and pay a user fee to participate
PRESQUE ISLE STATE PARK
3,200-acre sandy peninsula
that arches into Lake Erie
Surfing, scuba diving, biking, hunting,
in-line skating, and so much more!
Home to endangered species
KINZUA BRIDGE STATE PARK
Was the highest and longest viaduct in the world,
measuring 301 feet high and 2,053 feet long
The bridge stood for 121 years
The bridge partially collapsed under the
powerful winds of a tornado in 2003
Today it, has been reinvented as a sky walk
CHERRY HILL STATE PARK
About 60-85 nights a year lend themselves
to ideal stargazing conditions
Rated one of the 7 best places
on the planet for stargazing
The Susquehannock Trail passes nearby and
offers 85 miles of backpacking and hiking.
TREK | 34

55 min
Top 6 Places toVisit
in Pennsylvania
107 Miles – 2 hrs 9 min
Wellsboro, PA
Colton Point on the west rim and Leonard Harrison
The park is open every day of the year, sunrise to sunset
Day use areas open at dawn and close at dusk
Benton, PA
Park is open every day of the year
Day use areas close at dusk
The beach, overnight areas, etc. are
open specific seasons and hours
79 Miles – 1 hr 50 min
By: Lura Seavey
Kempton, PA
Fees support raptor conservation
Trails are closed Nov 26-27, Dec
1, & Dec, 8 for Deer Season
No pets on the Sanctuary
PENNSYLVANIA GRAND CANYON
Great location for biking
Stretches 50 miles and reaches
depths of 1,000 ft
A four-mile round trip trail that passes cascading
waterfalls on its way to the bottom of the gorge
RICKETT’S GLEN STATE PARK
There are 22 named waterfalls ranging
in heights from 10 to 94 feet
The park also includes a campground, a lake with
a swimming area, horse back riding trails, etc.
Open during the winter and you can
stay in one of their cabins on site
HAWK MOUNTAIN SANCTUARY
Is famous as the world’s first refuge for birds of prey
Scenic overlooks range from 1,300 to 1,500 ft
in elevation offering spectacular views
235 species of birds have been sighted
One of the most important features is the
“River of Rocks” formed in the last ice age
35 | TREK

4.
Cherry Hill
By: Joe Whitson
Experience a darkness so dark that it’s actually bright! Cherry Springs State Park is
perfect for photographers, campers, backpackers and more with it’s easy 1 mile trail and
access to over 550 miles of trails in the Susquehannock State Forest. This is the place to
experience the wilderness as it’s meant to be.
Cherry Springs State Park was my first ever
International Dark Sky Park and it stole my heart,
and I promise it will steal yours too.
The park itself is very quaint, but don’t let it’s
size deter you! The park is still as remote and wild
as it was nearly two centuries ago, and that’s nearly
impossible to find East of the Mississippi anymore.
The 82-acre park sits at around 2,300 feet above
sea level and is surrounded by the 262,000-acre
Susquehannock State Forest which has about 550
miles of trails to explore! The Cherry Springs
Interpretative Trail begins by the information kiosk
and features wayside exhibits on forests and forestry
practices. This 1 mile self-guided and easy trail
will open your eyes to the ways forests are and will
continue to be vital to human survival. Beside the
Cherry Springs Working Forest Interpretive Trail,
the Susquehannock Trail passes nearby and offers 85
miles of backpacking and hiking as well.
Other than hiking, picnicking, and camping, the
park is now most known for its dark skies. Its dark
skies make it a haven for astronomers and is one of
the best places on the eastern seaboard for
stargazing and the science of astronomy. A dark
night sky is a natural resource, just like plants,
waterways and wildlife. Recognizing that this unique
resource needed to be managed and protected, the
Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and
Natural Resources declared Cherry Springs State
Park the first Dark Sky Park in 2000 and was later
designated an International Dark Sky Park by the
International Dark-Sky Association in 2008.
Other than stargazing from the viewing field or
from the comfort of your tent, the park also offers
access to an Astronomy Observation Field. It offers
TREK | 37
an excellent 360 degree view of the night sky and
all of the lighting in the park has been shielded and
upgraded to protect night vision. The Astronomy
Observation Field does require you to register and
pay a user fee. The park bulletin board has the fee
schedule and is also where you will be able to
acquire a fee payment envelope. Just follow the
written instructions, posted fee schedule, and list
your location on the field so that you can be located
in an emergency, then deposit it in the fee tube. For
more information about the Astronomy Observation
Field I suggest checking out the park web-page on
the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and
Natural Resources’ website as it has separate
stipulations from the park itself. It’s also where you
can find any contact information for the park and
where you can make a reservation for a campsite in
the park’s 30-site campground. The campground is
open from the second week in April through
November and offers vault toilets, potable water,
picnic tables, a dump station, and more.
When going to Cherry Springs to star-gaze there
are some important things to remember though! It
takes a minimum of 15 minutes outside in the dark
for your eyes to adapt to the lack of light, so it’s
important to be careful not to look at any bright
lights. Cover your flashlight with red cellophane or
use a red lens - many headlamps have a red light
option built in. The best viewing time for dark skies
is during a new moon. And star maps and charts
will help you learn the position of constellations
at different times of the year, and the positions of
major stars and constellations, many of which can be
seen with the naked eye and are easy to print off and
take with you on your adventures!
2.
1.
WHAT TO BRING
1. Telescope
2. Red Flashlight
3. Headlamp
4. Star Map
5. Level
6. Binoculars
6.