Kayak Fishing by
William Shetler
LHU Outing Club by
Danielle Tepper
Waiting to Return by
Zach Fishel
Wilderness Warning
by Kyle Essick
Hike of the Month:
Fishing Creek by D.J.
Scott

The
Hemlock
Volume 1, Issue 3 (May 2008)

"In wildness is the preservation of the

world." --Henry David Thoreau

Review of Last Child in
the Woods by Melissa
It's Spring! (Photograph courtesy of Chico Cannady)
Novak

The annual
explosion of color
Haikus by Emily Smith
after the long, gray
winter is upon us
Upcoming Events
and provides an
A Reader Responds
appropriate context
to offer one final
Hemlock 1.1 (March
issue of The Hemlock
2008)
for this year. The
Hemlock 1.2 (April
theme of this issue is
2008)
students writing
about the outdoors. So many students responded to the April
Environmental Focus
Hemlock and indicated that they'd like to contribute that we
Group
decided to turn this issue over to them.
We'd like to thank everyone who has contributed to the efforts
of the Environmental Focus Group this year--the most exciting
part of this initiative has been the cooperation that has
developed among the administration, faculty of all disciplines,
students, staff, and members of the Lock Haven
community. From the beginning, we had hoped that this effort
would unite diverse groups to work towards common goals

and this is exactly what has happened. If you would like to
help with our projects next year or if you have any comments,
please contact Bob Myers. Get out and enjoy the Pennsylvania
summer!
Celebration of Pennsylvania Culture
One project we are considering for next Fall, is a universitywide celebration of the history, culture, and environment of
Pennsylvania. The event would focus on all aspects of life in
Pennsylvania and connect what we do at the university with the
life of the larger community. We're envisioning such things as
student and faculty presentations on environmental, social, and
historical topics; artistic celebrations of the region; and displays
of Pennsylvania foods, sports (especially wrestling!), and
cultural life. If you would like to be part of this, please contact
Bob Myers with your ideas.
Kayak Paddle Fishing
--William Shetler (LHU Exploratory Studies Major)
It seems we never have enough time for all fun things we want
to do. Thinking about this one day, I realized I could combine
two of my favorite hobbies, fishing and kayaking. People have
asked me why I would choose to fish from a kayak rather than a
regular boat. For me, it’s really all about simplicity and
portability. I can hit the water fairly quickly and find those
sweet fishing holes that you would never find with a larger
boat.
This type of
fishing may
seem a bit
daunting at
first, and it
can be quite a
juggling act
trying to
control the
kayak and
cast your line

out. Why bother then? Well, if you enjoy spending time
outside or on the water, then this is precisely why you should
try this activity. To put it in perspective, close your eyes and
envision the sun rising from behind a mountain, slight wickers
of it reflecting in the water. Hurriedly you paddle upstream,
wanting to get in that perfect fishing spot. As you start to tire,
the cool morning air, filled with the sounds of chirping birds
and the gurgling of the water relaxes you, despite your arms
being tired from all the paddling. In my own personal
experiences, nature has blessed me with some wonderful sights
when fishing out of my kayak. I’ve sat and watched deer,
playing in a calm pool. I’ve seen the beauty and gracefulness of
a blue heron in flight. This large bird followed my progress on a
small stream (maybe watching for a chance for an easy
meal). Another time, how I wished I had a camera to capture
the moment when I saw a bald eagle land in a tree just above
me. The eagle, the symbol of our national pride, sat within a
few short feet of me as I floated silently beneath its perch. I’ve
had similar experiences seeing wildlife during other outdoor
activities, but none compare with the serenity and solace
afforded me in my kayak.
Take some time, think about what you like to do and how you
approach it. There really is no right or wrong about combining
activities, but one should exercise plenty of common sense and
safety consciousness. There are many resources available to
help and guide you in just about any activity. Tips, tricks, and
some great ideas can be found easily via the online information
highway. Good luck and be safe!

LHU Outing Club
--Danielle Tepper (LHU Communication Media Major)
LHUP has a
variety of
clubs. Some
are geared
toward specific
interests or
fields of study,
others are
related to
music or sports.
A club that
might appeal to
readers of The Hemlock is LHUP's Outing Club.
The first collegiate Outing Club was formed in 1909 at
Dartmouth College. Since then outing clubs have spread to
other colleges and universities nationwide, offering a multitude
of activities. Here at Lock Haven, students have the
opportunity to go backpacking, hiking, camping, kayaking,
caving, whitewater rafting, horseback riding, and so much
more. Each year, Outing Club is given a generous amount of
money by the SCC, which we spend on trips.
Trips that took place this year included backpacking, car
camping trips to places like Ricketts Glen State Park and
Bilger’s Rocks, a kayaking roll clinic in Zimmerli pool, a day
spent on LHU’s high ropes course, day hikes to places like
White Rocks, ice skating in State College, snowtubing at
Sawmill, and many others. The club also gets together for movie
nights to watch Planet Earth and other outdoor-related films,
and occasionally gathers for games and dinner.
By far the most popular trip of the year is the Appalachian
Wildwaters trip to West Virginia. A weekend of camping and
whitewater rafting attracts a lot of people, some of which aren’t
even members but heard about the trip through friends.
Normally after that trip, those people become official members.

“I hadn’t gone on many trips until that point because I didn’t
really know anyone in the club, but I had such a blast on that
trip and made so many new friends that got much more
involved as the year continued,” said sophomore Jen Alles, “I
felt silly for not going on trips before that; everyone is so
friendly!”
According to DJ Scott, president of the club for the past two
years, “The best part about the club is that anyone can do it.
There’s something for everyone and you don’t need any
experience. Just take the initiative to get involved and you’ll
definitely have fun.” The club is practically completely studentrun; the officers take care of putting together all the trips, they
run the meetings, and figure out all the details with the help of
fellow members. Together, the officers and members enjoy the
environment and all it has to offer.
The members are students who love to spend time outside, and
the club gives them a chance to
attempt things they wouldn’t
normally do. “I think it’s important
for people to just get out every
once in a while and enjoy the
outdoors; it breaks down the daily
routine and gets you motivated to
do other things,” said Scott, “Not
only that, it’s a great chance to
meet new people.” “I love to do
things outdoors, but others always
had to help me set up and do
things for me, like starting fires or
setting up tents. With Outing Club,
I learned how to do those things on
my own. Now I can go camping
anytime!” said senior Elizabeth
McMaster. Sophomore Ashley
Miller said, “Being from the city, I never really got to experience
the natural things like camping and hiking. In Outing Club, I
get to do that and hang out with people, now my friends, who

like it too. It’s a blast.”
The club is concerned not only with having fun in the outdoors,
but protecting it as well. The club’s advisor, Paula Kistler, said,
“I made Clinton County my permanent home after graduation
from LHU because I recognized and love the beauty that
Clinton County offers. I am willing to support any student of
LHU in their love of the area. The Outing Club not only
appreciates the resources available, they work to better those
resources.” Some of the members are former Scouts, while
others are just aware of conservation efforts and ways to protect
the environment.
The club members are very diverse; they all come from different
areas of PA; some are from out of state; and all come from
different backgrounds and have different preferences when it
comes to having fun outside. “We’ve even had a few
international students check it out, although it’s uncommon,”
said Scott. Treasurer of the club Jennie Benoist explained how
members of Outing Club are incredibly accepting of people;
“It’s just amazing what happens while on trips together; people
may come to meetings and sit with their ‘cliques’ but once
everyone is out in that atmosphere together, those cliques break
down and everyone simply melts into one very large group of
friends.” Keith Nelson, junior and Vice President agreed, “It’s a
great opportunity for students to build character and get to
know each other.”
If you're interested in joining the club next Fall, look for
advertisements around campus or contact club President DJ
Scott or Secretary Danielle Tepper. Upcoming trips are
announced at meetings.
Waiting to Return
--Zach Fishel (LHU English Major)
Sleeping on the floor left my back in a curvature that, without
coffee, will leave me unable to walk for quite some time. I grab
my brother's foot as I slowly gather my vision. Plodding down
the steps my brother quickly follows in a mismatched

camouflage suit with a crooked annoying orange hat shining in
our gas lantern like some vulgar pumpkin. I spill coffee all over
the table as my brother is
muttering about needing
more sleep and how
nothing else is awake. We
sit on the porch smoking
stale cigarettes, shotguns in
hand waiting. A tequila
sunrise begins to chase off
the last blinking stars as we
tread across intricately
woven patterns of frost.
The soft damp leaves
silence our primitive
shuffling, and as the
pungent earth fills our
heads a transformation
occurs. Suddenly, archaic fires dance across our faces as we
huddle in fear of the storms in some estranged abandoned cave.
Lightly armed we trek for days after our only source of food.
Surviving on bare essentials, fighting the elements together we
ford through endless swamps doing our best to avoid sinking
amongst the shrieking willows. We scale endless cliff sides
competing against red-tailed hawks as we try to keep their
standards in reach. The most terrifying trap is the brier thickets
that cling to our pant legs as blackberry bushes burn into our
flesh. Grape vines lay like snares to forever swallow us among
gnarled birches.
Mid-day approaches and I can't remember a better lunch than
our smashed ham and cheese sandwiches and a quick gulp
from one of the thousand playful brooks racing through the
hollow. We tread onward around the sleeping giants and torn
jagged skyline of trees reaching out like crooked teeth. As we
return home, with vests full of squirrel and a lone grouse, we
look back to the trail with deep respect and admiration. Lost
between the present and an ancient home.

A Wilderness Warning
--Kyle Essick (LHU English Major)
There is something about the wild that always eats at our
hearts. A certain element that evokes a sense of desire and
longing to be embraced by the ruggedness. Perhaps it is the
untamed nature of it all, broken down into the most simple
components. There is no hustle and bustle, no daily grind. This
is the world in its natural state, and it can affect the mind like a
drug. A certain romance is felt, one that plays with the heart,
promising beautiful gifts and experiences. However, if you are
unaccustomed to the trials of the land, you will soon find
yourself damned. If you are ill-prepared for the long stretches of
solitude and silence, then you might experience a psychological
war. There is the “honeymoon” phase: when first entering a
path, the freshness of the situation makes your heart leap with
excitement. Everything appears to be new and exciting. Soon,
much sooner than you think however, is the time of silence and
depression, comforted only by the sound of your trudging feet.
Digging at you like a knife, left with nothing but your thoughts.
Each day facing nothing but your secrets, regrets, and journeys
in life not yet undertaken. You will have no one to comfort you,
and there will be no television to supplant your boredom. How
will you respond to this period? This is when your adventure
can be made or broken. This is when you must dig inside of
yourself and decide whether this is something you are able to
finish. So, a warning to those who fantasize about the beauty of
the wilderness; think before you attempt a foray into the bush.
When you are by yourself will you be able to handle the
awkward silences and never-ending progression down the
path? Can you stand the sound of your trudging feet day-in and
day-out? Can you leave behind the creature comforts that you
are so accustomed to? If so, then join us…..follow us down that
road less traveled.

"Hike" of the Month--Paddling Fishing Creek
--D. J. Scott (LHU Secondary Education Science Major)
For a great local
canoe and kayak
run, check out
Fishing
Creek. The
creek itself runs
through Mill
Hall, Lock
Haven, and
Castanea, but
you spend the
majority of this
two-hour trip in peaceful wilderness seclusion. You will most
definitely enjoy yourself as you see this area from a perspective
that most people never get to experience.
The put-in spot is the Ax Factory Dam at the Mill Hall Fishing
Creek Access Port off Route 64 (from Walmart, turn right onto
150 South/Hogan Blvd. Go .3 miles and, after crossing the
bridge, turn left onto 64 South. Go 1.4 miles and turn left onto
Nittany Valley Drive). The take-out (where you'll want to leave
your other vehicle) is the PA Fish and Boat Launch Ramp in
Castanea (Take the Castanea/LHU exit from 220 North; at the
bottom of the ramp turn right towards Castanea; take the first
right, and then the first right onto the gravel road that leads to
the ramp).
After the put-in at Mill Hall, you go through a small boulder
garden, which is a great place to work on catching eddies. Then
you pass through the heart of Mill Hall. You almost always gets
some raised eyebrows from passing cars. As you continue, be
aware of two trouble spots. The area directly after the country
club has a tree on river left which isn’t very friendly. To avoid
it, go under the right bridge abutment. The other area of
concern comes after the confluence of Fishing Creek with Bald
Eagle Creek-- a series of small islands that are little more then

patches of driftwood and small trees. They look really nice, but
they end up making a maze with plenty of strainer-filled deadends. From personal experience, be safe and stay towards the
middle of the creek.
Spring is best time to go, or right after a hard rain, because
Fishing Creek is fairly shallow. For a quick reference, check the
water level at the old bridge pier across from the car dealership
on Rt 64. The water should be at either covering the pier or just
under it. Also, as the name suggests, the creek is a very popular
trout stream, so remember to share the waters and respect other
users.
Book Review: Richard Louv's Last Child in the Woods
--Melissa Novak (LHU
Recreation Management
Major)
Recently I just finished
reading Last Child in the
Woods by Richard Louv. The
book confronts the notion
that, in recent years, children
lack a vitally important
relationship with
nature. Louv presents
organized facts based on
research and life
experience. He avoids
persuading readers and
instead familiarizes them to
the issue in a “here is what is
happening” format. I prefer
to develop my own
conclusion after collecting information which is why I remained
enthralled with the book. Last Child in the Woods educates and
affirms the need to strengthen the relationship between nature
and humanity. Last Child in the Woods was an easy read, and it
addressed a lot of issues which affect me. The text reminded

me of a weeklong special on CNN hosted by Anderson Cooper.
Too often I find myself concerned with the immediate, which is
the next objective to a goal at work, or what needs to be pulled
out of the freezer for dinner, or organizing a group camping
trip. It is easy to forget about what is going on in the offices
downtown with zoning policies or building plans, or within
educational organizations. Last Child in the Woods serves as
another wakeup call in a way of reminding me that there is a lot
more going on than what is for dinner.
Each new year is a surprise to us. We find that we had virtually
forgotten the note of each bird, and when we hear it again, it is
remembered like a dream, reminding us of a previous state of
existence…The voice of nature is always encouraging. –Henry David
Thoreau
Two Haikus
--Emily Smith (LHU English Major)
1
Wasp scales the stonework,
snail-stretching against a gasp;
a wheeze of snowflakes.

2
Feathers dead on red,
the cardinal loses ground
against the mortar.

Upcoming Events
May 2nd-4th. Renova Heritage Days. Throughout the weekend
there will be music in several venues, and in Heritage Park
there will be an encampment of Sheshequin Buckskinners,
living historians who recreate life in North America from 17001840.
May 24th. 1-2 p.m. The Woolrich Company Store (39
Boardman Drive, Woolrich, PA) will feature the "Get Out More
Team" from Backpacker Magazine. The team will provide
information on the gear and skills you need to get started in
backpacking.

Our Readers Respond
Since reading your first issue of The Hemlock, I have made
myself pickup one piece litter each morning on my way from
the car (behind Glennon) to my office in Price. The corridor
between Bentley and the upper dorms is always strewn with
litter from the Dining Hall. My other deed is to find classrooms
in Sloan (and there are many) that are left empty with the lights
on. I have been turning those off when I find them. --Jack
Schmidt (LHU Music Professor)
Interesting Websites
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PennEnvironment. A statewide, citizen-based
environmental advocacy organization.
The Pennsylvania Chapter of the Sierra Club. A place to
learn about issues affecting the environment of
Pennsylvania.
Clinton County Historical Society. The society's
headquarters are the Heisey Museum (326 E. Water
Street).
Little Pine State Park. A great state park that is 35
minutes from Lock Haven (directions).
R. B. Winter State Park. Another fantastic state park that
is 45 minutes from Lock Haven (directions).

The Environmental Focus Group
Bob Myers (chair), Md. Khalequzzaman, Lenny Long, Jeff Walsh, Danielle
Tolton, John Crossen, Sandra Barney, David White, Tom Ormond. The
committee is charged with promoting and supporting activities, experiences,
and structures that encourage students, faculty, and staff to develop a
stronger sense of place for Lock Haven University and central
Pennsylvania. Such a sense of place involves a stewardship of natural
resources (environmentalism), meaningful outdoor experiences, and
appreciation for the heritage of the region.