With endless places to explore in central Pennsylvania we decided to hike at one of our beautiful state parks. When Amy isn’t drooling over strange geology she ogles over strange weather events. So today I dove deep into the maps to find her both.

In 1985 a rare massive f5 tornado whirled through this area destroying the forest that we hike through today. The destruction caused that day is still on display, but a forest that has experienced this kind of devastation soon opens up to new life and rejuvenation. The tree trunks that litter that forest floor are ten times larger than the offspring they left behind to replace them. The aptly named “Trail of New Giants” makes perfect sense now, but I imagine the signs will need to be changed in another hundred years. I love the idea that this protected area will some day provide my grandkids with a trail to Giant Giants. The trail took us up to a view of the lake which looked so inviting we literally ran down the mountain and decided we had enough energy left to circumnavigate the lake.

Below the dam there exists an epic stream crossing that is a child’s dream. It was fun to see which path each child took as they ran back and forth from bank to bank each time choosing a riskier path. When Maple found herself repeatedly stranded, her brothers always quickly arrived to the rescue and helped her find the route. A challenge that could have ended in disaster but instead, much like the forest, brought growth. Working together is important for our family if we plan to continue pushing our limits in nature, and to see them instinctually ensure her safety and happiness made me realize again how much nature is our coparent.