Results matching “ohiopyle” from Explorer's Backpack

You might think camping is a pretty "green" activity, but this summer, Pennsylvania State Parks will teach campers how to enjoy the outdoors while leaving even less of a footprint on the environment.

A demonstration "green" campsite will be set up at state parks across the Commonwealth this summer as a weekend program for visitors. It features a tent and sleeping bag made from recycled materials, a fuel-efficient cook stove, an LED flashlight, solar charger and reusable batteries, reusable cook set, solar camp shower, non-toxic bug repellant, bear-proof food container, clothesline and reusable marshmallow sticks.

Here's the schedule:
July 17 to 20 -- Cowans Gap State Park (yay!) in Fulton County.
July 24 to 27 -- Ohiopyle State Park, Fayette County
July 30 to Aug. 3 -- Laurel Hill State Park, Somerset County
Aug. 7 to 10 -- Parker Dam State Park, Clearfield County
Aug. 14 to 17 -- Worlds End State Park, Sullivan County
Aug. 21 to 24 -- Hickory Run State Park, Carbon County.

And a few tips for green camping:
*Dispose of trash properly or take it with you when you leave.
*Recycle aluminum cans. Burning them in a campfire will release chemicals that pollute the air.
*Avoid dumping soapy water on plants because the soap could kill them.
*Use biodegradable camp suds for dishes and personal hygiene.
*Use reusable water bottles and dishes.
*Look for an already-established campsite, more than 200 feet from a water source. Stay off plants as much as possible.

YDR food writer Nicki Lefever and her husband, Nate, contemplated going on another cruise for their October vacation, but decided a camping trip was in order instead. Below is her report:

This weekend, friends and I rented a cottage near Ohiopyle State Park so we could do some things we discovered during our July camping trip there.

The ropes course at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort's adventure center was our first adventure. I can tell you firsthand that it's not for the faint of heart!

In the living section of today's paper, you'll see the results of our third annual summer photo contest.

In keeping with that theme, I thought I'd share one of my summer photos here. This one was taken during a weekend I spent in the town of Ohiopyle.

For more great photos, check out YDR photographer Bil Bowden's blog.

A couple of years ago, I wrote a story about pennies -- how some people think we ought to do away with the one-cent coin, while others feel strongly that we should keep it in circulation.

It was during research for that story that I learned there was a squished penny museum in Washington, D.C. (It's now closed)

Now and then, I'd smash a penny at one of those machines you find at touristy places, but it wasn't a must-have souvenir. Lately, I've been seeing more and more of the machines at places I've been visiting. HersheyPark, Ohiopyle State Park, Mount Gretna...

Normalville! Ha!

Makes me want to knock on the doors and interview the residents, maybe hang around town for a few days to see what normal looks like, you know?

And then there's the whole philosophical discussion of what is normal, anyway?

Seriously, if you need to check it out for yourself, it's in southwestern PA, not too far from Ohiopyle State Park. Let me know what life's like in Normalville! :)

To continue with the string of posts from my weekend in and around Ohiopyle State Park, I offer you this crazy example of man versus nature.

Two friends and I were enjoying the natural waterslides (more on that later) and swimming in the river when we saw

This sign above the restrooms in the Ohiopyle visitor's center (a former train station -- see photo below) had me totally perplexed.

As I waited my turn in line, I thought about it probably a little too much. How would flushing the toilets in the station restrooms be affected by whether the train was there or not:? Afraid that I wouldn't enjoy the rest of my afternoon without knowing the answer, I had to ask.

The answer wasn't pretty.

Spotted in the town of Ohiopyle this weekend. Strangely enough, it wasn't anywhere near a fire department or ambulance association or other emergency service provider location that I could tell. It seemed to be a residential alley.