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 explore the beauty of the Commonwealth. It’s my safe place away from the goings-on of Harrisburg.

But that safety was shattered in April 2025. I received text messages from friends telling me that Michaux was on fire. Then, news came that there were two fires. And they were spreading. With wind and no rain in the forecast it became evident that the situation could get bad quickly.

Over the following two weeks, I’d see photos and videos of the fires spreading across the forest I loved. Friends were evacuated from their homes. Roads were closed. Massive clouds of smoke billowed across the area. People were scared. The beautiful landscape I loved was on fire and there was nothing I could do but watch.

But thanks to incredibly brave firefighters and with a little help from the weather, the Thompson Hollow and Hammond Rocks fires were extinguished in 14 days. Over 150 fire companies from 10 Pennsylvania and Maryland counties battled the blaze. Approximately 2,700 acres were destroyed by the wildfires.

Luckily, no homes or private property was damaged and only two people suffered minor injuries.

And, predictably, a determination was made that the fires were human caused, like 99 percent of all wildfires.

Here’s the thing. While the situation was scary for many in the area – even for us 40 minutes from the fires – this is a common occurrence in Pennsylvania. There’s between 1,000 and 2,000 wildfires every year in Commonwealth. And the majority of those wildfires occur in the spring.

These fires so close to home was a sobering reminder of the ever-present danger of wildfires. With Michaux still charred from the fires, I wanted to know more about wildfires and the wildland firefighters that have to put them out.

On this episode, I speak with Mike Kern. Mike is the Chief Forest Fire Warden for the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

Be sure to support our 2025 sponsors:
Keystone Trails Association
Purple Lizard Maps
Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation
Sisters' Sunflowers

Support the show

Visit our website to learn more about the podcast, to purchase merch and to find out about our incredible sponsors. Follow us on Instagram and Meta to stay connected.

Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Matt Davis

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 haven for nature lovers, where trails wind through towering hardwoods, crystal-clear streams carve their way through valleys and wildlife flourishes in every direction.

Whether you're wandering through old-growth forests, casting a line in the Clarion River, or simply soaking in the stillness of the woods, Clear Creek invites you to slow down and reconnect with the wild beauty of Pennsylvania.

One of the forest’s most compelling features is its sense of solitude. Unlike some of the busier parks and forests in the state, Clear Creek often feels like a well-kept secret—offering quiet trails and remote backcountry campsites that let visitors truly immerse themselves in nature

Hikers can explore paths where they might stumble upon deer, wildflowers, or remnants of Pennsylvania’s logging past. And in autumn, the forest puts on a breathtaking show of fiery reds, oranges, and golds that reflect off the water and blanket the hillsides. But really, every season is spectacular in Clear Creek State Forest.

From kayaking and fishing to hunting and wildlife photography, there’s no shortage of ways to experience the land. More than just beautiful scenery, Clear Creek State Forest is a place to reunite—with nature, with yourself, or with loved ones.

For many, the real draw of Clear Creek lies in its unspoiled charm—a reminder that some of the best places in Pennsylvania are still those where the only sound is the wind through the trees and the rush of a mountain stream.

It’s the kind of place that reminds you why Pennsylvania is such a special place for outdoor recreation—a landscape shaped by time, preserved with care and waiting to be discovered.

On this episode, I speak with Miles Valchar. Miles is the timber management and outdoor recreation forester at Clear Creek State Forest.

Be sure to support our 2025 sponsors:
Keystone Trails Association
Purple Lizard Maps
Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation
Sisters' Sunflowers

Support the show

Visit our website to learn more about the podcast, to purchase merch and to find out about our incredible sponsors. Follow us on Instagram and Meta to stay connected.

Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Matt Davis

Support the show

Visit our website to learn more about the podcast, to purchase merch and to find out about our incredible sponsors. Follow us on Instagram and Meta to stay connected.

Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Matt Davis

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 and make me laugh. Someone who will get right to the line and roundly cross it. Someone who has a strong moral character and a diabolical sense of humor.

After I left journalism, I worked to bring Wes with me to the Pennsylvania Senate. He joined me at the Capitol for several years. We’d see each other at press conferences, events and at our semi-regular “journalism survivors guild” lunch.

Then in 2021, Wes took an amazing opportunity to become the press secretary for the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

During that same time, I decided to run a mile in all then 121 Pennsylvania State Parks. So, as I was discovering the outdoors, Wes was doing much of the same thing professionally.

Wes was one of only three people to joined me on my 121 In 21 Challenge. On a sweltering day in July, Wes ran one mile at seven state parks with me. It was yet another example of him being a great supporter and going the extra mile – so to speak – for a friend.

As I was developing this podcast in 2022, I knew its success depended on whether I could get guests. From the very beginning, Wes worked hard to make sure I was able to find guests that would highlight our amazing outdoor spaces.

Wes is the sort of person that loves seeing his friends succeed. And he’ll do as much as he can to introduce you to the right people, send the email to the right organization or bring you along to a networking event. Not to curry favors. Not to make himself look good. But to make you look good.

This podcast would not exist without Wes. His generosity, hard work and legitimacy in the outdoor space is the only reason I can make Hemlocks to Hellbenders.

So, what is this episode about? How awesome Wes is? A little. What work is going on at DCNR? Absolutely.

But it’s also about two friends whose journey of falling in love with the outdoors is connected. It’s about what can be done with the right people at the right time. And it’s about what we can all do to support each other and our wonderful public lands.

On this episode, I speak with Wes Robinson. Wes is the press secretary for the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and my very good friend.

Be sure to support our 2025 sponsors:
Keystone Trails Association
Purple Lizard Maps
Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation
Sisters' Sunflowers

Support the show

Visit our website to learn more about the podcast, to purchase merch and to find out about our incredible sponsors. Follow us on Instagram and Meta to stay connected.

Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Matt Davis