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PODCAST

Hemlocks to Hellbenders

Christian Alexandersen

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.

society & culture places & travel

All Episodes

54:42

Developing future foresters with the Pennsylvania...

Hemlocks to Hellbenders ·

2025/01/29

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. And if you don’t spend much time thinking about the work that takes place, even less time is spent thinking about the people that do the work. The image of burly guys in flannel with hardhats and chainsaws come to mind. Rough and tough individuals who w...

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48:17

Cook Forest State Park – Forest Cathedral of ancient...

Hemlocks to Hellbenders ·

2025/01/15

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 the property to process the timber he was harvesting from the forest. Andrew Cook – Anthony’s father - would go on to build three sawmills, one flouring mill, one planning mill, a boat scaffold, several dwellings and a store on the property. While ...

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27:49

Ricketts Glen State Park - Experience Pennsylvania's...

Hemlocks to Hellbenders ·

2025/01/01

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 being clear cut to feed the growing nation of raw materials, this forest received some reprieve. As a result, 300-year-old trees were allowed to continue to grow – providing the forest with mature trees and the viewing public with examples of ancient forests.T...

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1:27

Hemlocks to Hellbenders Season 3 Trailer

Hemlocks to Hellbenders ·

2024/12/25

Welcome, fellow explorers. My name is Christian Alexandersen and I’m the host of Hemlocks to Hellbenders, a podcast highlighting Pennsylvania’s parks, forests and great outdoors.We have an incredible lineup of parks, forests, guests and topics that we will be exploring during our third season in 2025. Park and forest managers, outdoor educators, historians, authors, conservationists and recreationalists are just some of the guests that will be sharing their passion and expertise with us this ...

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49:15

A progress report on Pennsylvania's three newest...

Hemlocks to Hellbenders ·

2024/11/20

In September of 2022 before leaving office, then Gov. Tom Wolf announced the creation of three new state parks. Susquehanna Riverlands in York County, Big Elk Creek in Chester County and Vosburg Neck in Wyoming County. While these new state parks were quickly opened following the announcement, they have not taken their final form. Before they can be completed – or really before they even start – these parks must go through a rigorous master planning process with numerous phases. The...

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49:36

Allegheny National Forest - A half-million acres of...

Hemlocks to Hellbenders ·

2024/11/06

In the early 20th Century, Americans had become alarmed at the disappearing forests in the eastern United States. Whether through private land purchases, deforestation, mining or other activities, the beautiful forests of the east were vanishing.Where once stood primeval forests of giant eastern hemlocks now stood stumps. As a result, wildfires spread through these devastated lands. Waterways were polluted. And little of Penn’s Woods remained. Thankfully, lawmakers listened to the alarm ...

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97:22

Things that go bump in Penn's Woods with the Ghost...

Hemlocks to Hellbenders ·

2024/10/23

Send us a textOn this – the Halloween episode – of the podcast, we’re going to be exploring the many tales of ghosts, creatures, hauntings, cryptid sightings, unexplained phenomenon, legends and folk tales that have a history in Pennsylvania’s parks and forests.From the ghost sightings at Greenwood Furnace State Park to the Kecksburg UFO incident in Forbes State Forest, we’re going to be hearing stories and sometimes first-hand accounts of frightening events from over the years. These s...

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51:53

Hickory Run State Park - Journey through prehistoric...

Hemlocks to Hellbenders ·

2024/10/09

Send us a textThose visiting Hickory Run State Park in the Pocono Mountains should expect to see something they’ve never see before. In the northeast corner of the park, formed by millions of years of glacial movement is the Boulder Field. At 400 feet by 1,800 feet, this vast, rocky landscape is a geological marvel. The field is made up of tightly packed sandstone boulders, ranging in size from small stones to massive rocks that weigh several tons. Some of the boulders are 26 feet long.T...

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55:54

Discover the wonderful world of mushrooms with the...

Hemlocks to Hellbenders ·

2024/09/25

Send us a textThere’s just something about mushrooms that so are cool. I can’t really explain it. They come in all shapes, sizes, and colors, often looking like they belong in a fairy tale or another planet.They transform any landscape with their mysterious, almost magical appearance. They are not plants or animals but belong to a fascinating kingdom of their own. They thrive in the most unexpected places. They can taste delicious or they can kill you.They’re just awesome. But developing a ho...

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59:20

Breaking trails and building community with the...

Hemlocks to Hellbenders ·

2024/09/11

Send us a textThis episode is sponsored by the Keystone Trails Association.Most people never know how much volunteer work goes into their favorite hiking trail. Countless hours are spent breaking trails, cutting back brush, moving rocks, building steps, preventing water erosion and blazing trails.Then, after the trail is built, even more hours are spent maintaining it. When wind knocks down trees, they need to be cleared out. When invasive species develop, they need to be removed. When the pa...

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77:54

Timber! Harvesting history at the Pennsylvania Lumber...

Hemlocks to Hellbenders ·

2024/08/28

Send us a Text Message.For thousands of years, the land that would become Pennsylvania was dominated by dense, ancient forests that stretched as far as the eye could see. Towering trees such as white oaks, chestnuts and hemlocks formed a vast green canopy that covered hundreds of miles.The forests were such an integral part of this landscape that it was named Pennsylvania by King Carles the Second. Penn – in honor of Sir William Penn – and Sylvania - from the Latin silva meaning woods. Penn’s...

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31:34

Poe Paddy and Poe Valley State Parks - Uncover rugged...

Hemlocks to Hellbenders ·

2024/08/14

Send us a Text Message.The vast majority of Pennsylvania’s state parks are easy to drive to. That’s one of the reasons our parks are so accessible to residents and visitors. They’re located on paved roads and can often be found just a few minutes from a highway. But then there are parks that are not so easy to get to. They’re the ones that can only be explored using gravel roads. Leaving the smooth pavement behind and venturing onto gravel roads is like stepping into a different world, e...

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58:52

Forbes State Forest - Endless outdoor adventures in...

Hemlocks to Hellbenders ·

2024/07/31

Send us a Text Message.To list all of the features of Forbes State Forest would be pointless. That’s because it has so much to offer so many people. You want trails, it’s got it. You want overlooks, its got it. You want waterfalls, it’s got it. Forbes State Forest has some of the best land in Pennsylvania for everything from mountain biking and hiking to ATV riding and wildlife watching.The forest is comprised of 15 tracts totaling almost 59,000 acres in Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands. You c...

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35:49

Moraine State Park - From ruined to reclaimed in less...

Hemlocks to Hellbenders ·

2024/07/17

Send us a Text Message.Standing on the shore of Lake Arthur in Moraine State Park, you’d never think the area was the site of massive deforestation, coal mining and gas drilling practices that scarred the landscape for decades. But it is. In the 1800s, farmers cleared the forests and drained the swamps that would one day be Moraine State Park. Materials such as sand, gravel, limestone, clay and shale were mined and sold off. Later, oil and gas well were drilled. When they ran dray, they ...

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56:26

Beltzville State Park - Beach, boating and beyond in...

Hemlocks to Hellbenders ·

2024/07/03

Send us a Text Message.There are few sights I enjoy as much as people having fun in Pennsylvania state parks. Children playing tag and hide-and-go-seek. Adults telling stories around a picnic table. Friends catching up while grilling. And never have I see so many people having such a good time, then on Memorial Day weekend at Beltsville State Park. Upon entering the park - located in the southern foothills of the Pocono Mountains – it was evident that this was a popular park. By midday, the p...

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37:39

How fireflies light up Pennsylvania's night skies...

Hemlocks to Hellbenders ·

2024/06/19

Send us a Text Message.The arrival of fireflies has always represented summer to me. They've meant barbeques. They meant fireworks. They meant being a kid. I’ve heard from so many people about the memories they have connected to lightening bugs. Exploring the woods with grandparents who have long passed. 4th of July parties with their friends. A first kiss. A break up. Family camping trips.I don’t know what it is about lightning bugs – the state insect of Pennsylvania – but people have ...

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48:11

Presque Isle State Park - Pennsylvania's Great Lake...

Hemlocks to Hellbenders ·

2024/06/05

Send us a Text Message.Last year, nearly four million people visited Presque Isle State Park in Erie- making it the most visited state park in Pennsylvania. And anyone whose ever visited this wonderful park understands why. There’s no other park like Presque Isle in the Commonwealth. It is totally unique and incredibly special. But what makes Presque Isle so unique? It all starts with the location. Presque Isle is a sandy peninsula that arches from the downtown area into Lake ...

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22:29

Michaux State Forest - Exploring Pennsylvania’s...

Hemlocks to Hellbenders ·

2024/05/22

Send us a Text Message.Spanning 85,000 acres across three Central Pennsylvania counties, Michaux State Forest is a sanctuary of lush woodlands, crystal-clear streams and a rich tapestry of history and wildlife. Considered Pennsylvania’s “cradle of forestry,” Michaux State Forest is nestled in the Appalachian Mountains, giving visitors a bevy of settings to explore all year long. Whether you’re an avid hiker, a history buff, or simply someone who finds solace in the serenity of nature, Mi...

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33:43

Benjamin Rush State Park - Cultivating community...

Hemlocks to Hellbenders ·

2024/05/08

Send us a Text Message.The definition of a garden is a small piece of ground used to grow vegetables, fruit, herbs or flowers. But it’s much more than that. It’s a community meeting place. It’s an outdoor classroom. It’s an organic food market. It’s a sustainable hobby. And it’s a place to make lifelong friendships. Ask anyone whose spent time in a community garden and they will tell you how important they are. For themselves. Their families. Their neighbors. And their communities.As th...

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79:06

Getting hooked on fishing with the Pennsylvania Fish...

Hemlocks to Hellbenders ·

2024/04/24

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