Hemlocks to Hellbenders
Hemlocks to Hellbenders is an award-winnning podcast hosted by Christian Alexandersen highlighting Pennsylvania’s parks, forests and great outdoors.
Our episodes feature engaging conversations with park managers, forest rangers, scientists, educators, outdoor recreationalists, volunteers, officials and more that help you plan your next adventure in the Commonwealth's incredible parks and forests.
Episodes
75 episodes
Feeling posh? Try one of Pennsylvania's new state park glamping sites
For a long time, there’s been this mostly unspoken rule that “real” outdoor experiences have to be rugged. You’ve got to rough it, hike ten miles in the rain, sleep on the ground and eat beans from a can — or else it somehow doesn’t count. ...
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Season 3
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Episode 22
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43:47
Nolde Forest Environmental Education Center - How one tree led to a thriving outdoor classroom
In Pennsylvania, every state park has its purpose. Allegheny Islands shows people what undeveloped islands once looked like on the river. Colton Point features stunning views of the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon. And Pine Grove Furnace highlights t...
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Season 3
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Episode 21
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32:04
Under the surface of the Keystone State with geologist Russell Losco
One of the strangest things about getting older has been the shift in my interests. Despite being intensely curious as a kid, I never cared about nature growing up. I didn’t climb trees or capture bugs or explore creeks. But as I’ve...
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Season 3
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Episode 20
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1:05:32
Salt Springs State Park - Explore ancient hemlocks, waterfalls and wildflowers in NEPA
What is it that makes a state park special? It’s a question I’ve asked my self countless times since I began exploring Pennsylvania’s public lands in 2021. For some it’s deep, meaningful history to indigenous cultures, to early sett...
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Season 3
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Episode 19
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26:53
Uncovering the battles that scarred Pennsylvania's public lands with author Brady J. Crytzer
When people think about history, especially armed conflicts, many picture dusty textbooks, old maps and long-forgotten generals. But here in Pennsylvania, history isn’t just words on a page—it’s written into the very ground beneath our feet.
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Season 3
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Episode 18
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1:06:14
Connecting communities through conservation with the South Mountain Partnership
When you stand on the ridgeline of South Mountain and look out across the valleys, you see more than just trees and farmland. You see orchards stretching toward the horizon, you see trails that have carried travelers for centuries and you see s...
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Season 3
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Episode 18
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1:03:14
Hyner Run & Hyner View State Parks - Uncover adventure in the forest & in the clouds
When you stand at the edge of Hyner View State Park, it feels like Pennsylvania has stretched itself out just for you. Rolling mountains covered in endless green, the West Branch of the Susquehanna winding far below, and a sky so wide it makes ...
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Season 3
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Episode 18
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43:59
Hidden heroes of Pennsylvania’s bat conservation and rehabilitation efforts
As the sun dips below the tree line and the night sky takes over, a quiet but critical process begins above our heads. Tiny silhouettes flit through the dark, weaving between branches and barn rafters, doing the work of a thousand pesticides—si...
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Season 3
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Episode 17
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31:47
Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve - America's only native plant museum
While most of the places we feature on this podcast are either a state park or forest, this episode is about something a little different. Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve is not just a garden or a park. It’s a ...
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Season 3
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Episode 16
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1:04:41
Watching over the waters with the Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper
Stretching 444 miles from New York through Pennsylvania and into Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay the Susquehanna River is one of the oldest rivers in the world. And while it served generations as fertile hunting and fishing grounds and tr...
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Season 3
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Episode 15
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48:44
Shikellamy State Park - Where cultures and currents converge
High above the meeting point of two mighty rivers, where the Susquehanna splits into its North and West Branches, stands Shikellamy State Park. Perched on a forested bluff in central Pennsylvania, this park offers more than just scenic overlook...
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Season 3
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Episode 14
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30:35
Chasing Pennsylvania waterfalls with Uncovering PA's Jim Cheney
When it comes to rewarding outdoor experiences, there are few things that can compete with seeing a waterfall. There’s just so much to enjoy. The mesmerizing sight of water cascading over rocks, the soothing sound of its rhythmic splash and the...
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Season 3
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Episode 13
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33:47
Here's how Pennsylvania fights nearly 2,000 wildfires every year
Michaux State Forest is the place I spend the most time outdoors. Located about 30 miles from where I live, it’s where I hike and camp. It’s where I bring visitors to show off the South Mountain region. It’s where I breath in fresh air and expl...
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Season 3
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Episode 12
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48:09
Clear Creek State Forest - Endless adventures through unbroken wilderness
Tucked away in the rugged hills of northwestern Pennsylvania, Clear Creek State Forest offers a peaceful escape into one of the Commonwealth’s most scenic and secluded natural areas.Spread across thousands of acres, this forest is a have...
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Season 3
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Episode 11
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1:00:00
On Pennsylvania parks, forests and friendships with DCNR's Wes Robinson
I’ve known my guest Wes Robinson for more than a decade, beginning when we started at our new jobs together at PennLive/The Patriot News.When it comes to friends, I tend to seek out fun, critical thinkers. Someone that can challenge me a...
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Season 3
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Episode 10
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52:58
Point State Park - From military stronghold to Pittsburgh's downtown gem
Point State Park stands as the crowned jewel of downtown Pittsburgh. It is a lush, 36-acre greenspace nestled at the historic confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers, where the mighty Ohio River is born.Point State Park is a f...
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Season 3
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Episode 9
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45:26
Snacks solve everything and other backpacking tips with Tory Mather
Many of us find our love for the outdoors the same way – with a hike. A short jaunt into the woods that brings us in touch with nature. But soon, short hikes just won’t do. There’re too many people. Too many screaming kids. Too much car traffic...
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Season 3
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Episode 8
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1:15:21
Susquehannock State Park - Breathtaking views of the Lower Susquehanna River
The best part about having 124 state parks to explore in Pennsylvania is the variety. Each park is special in its own way. Each park offers a natural feature, a trail, a view, a piece of local history, or something that makes it stand out from ...
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Season 3
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Episode 7
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33:04
Grab your boots, bike and kayak! Take Huntingdon County's trails for your next adventure
In the heart of Central Pennsylvania lies a true outdoor recreation paradise. If you're looking for adventure, Huntingdon County delivers—hiking, biking, paddling, and breathtaking views at every turn. Whether you’re trekking throug...
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Season 3
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Episode 6
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49:11
Canoe Creek State Park - Where endangered bats thrive and industrial ruins remain
Tucked away just outside of Hollidaysburg, Canoe Creek State Park is underrated treasure. It’s got a little bit of everything to keep visitors busy, interested and engaged. It’s location also makes it the perfect homebase for weeken...
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Season 3
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Episode 5
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26:58
Rediscovering Pennsylvania's conservation legacy with author Allen Dieterich-Ward
For generations, Pennsylvanians have been at the forefront of conservation movements that have shaped the United States. Pennsylvanians like Gifford Pinchot, Joseph Rothrock, J Horace McFarland and Rachel Carson have had immeasurable impacts on...
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Season 3
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Episode 4
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1:30:40
Developing future foresters with the Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps
When taking a hike, people don’t often think about everything it takes to keep trails operational. The bridge building, the trail restoration, the habitat enhancement, the invasive species management and so on. The work often goes unseen. ...
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Season 3
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Episode 3
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54:42
Cook Forest State Park – Forest Cathedral of ancient trees offers peaceful retreat
It’s 1910 and Anthony Wayne Cook has just inherited his family’s land. Over the last 80 years, the Cook family had made their money off the land. It started with his grandfather John Cook - who purchased the land in 1828. He built a sawmill on ...
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Season 3
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Episode 2
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48:17
Ricketts Glen State Park - Experience Pennsylvania's premiere waterfall destination
In the 1930s, a beautiful forest in northeast Pennsylvania was set to become a national park. Which made sense. The area was special, even to those that purchased the land to timber it.In a time when forests across the Commonwealth were ...
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Season 3
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Episode 1
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27:49