“You never know what you're going to uncover as you walk through, and the questions about its history always spark great conversation.”

Our host, Marci Mowery, sits down with Karli Naugle, who is the district forester of Buchanan State Forest, recently named the Pennsylvania Parks and Forest Foundation's Forest of the Year. She offers an insider's tour of a forest that has, until now, largely kept its charms to itself.

Karli's path to forestry began at home. Growing up beside Buchanan, she walked the back forty with her grandfather, who worked for PennDOT and advised her early that a state job was a life well spent. She eventually landed exactly that; though he passed just before she received the district forester title, a promotion she wished she could have shared with him.

Spread across three counties (Franklin, Fulton, and Bedford), Buchanan is a patchwork of ridgetop forests, each with its own character.

The Big Mountain Overlook commands views stretching from Maryland to Perry County. The Chaneysville area holds rare hard pine stands. The Silent Hill tract quietly accumulates some of the region's best snowfall and harbors a history that surprises most visitors: a CCC camp that later served as a prisoner-of-war facility, its story preserved in a downloadable history hike guide.

Karli’s team maintains around 206 miles of trails and approximately 62 primitive campsites. Volunteers have transformed old firebreak paths into proper switchback trails. Plans are underway for a dark-sky stargazing site, accessible hunting areas, and a wheelchair-friendly route to the Big Mountain Overlook.

Key Topics:

• What Makes Buchanan Unique (02:20)
• Named Forest of the Year (07:11)
• Challenges: Invasive Species and Wildfire (09:51)
• Balancing Conservation with Public Use (11:08)
• Planning a Visit: Tips for First-Timers (23:25)
• Cultural Resources and History Hikes (31:27)

Resources:

• Buchanan State Forest: https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dcnr/recreation/where-to-go/state-forests/find-a-forest/buchanan
• Bureau of Geologic Survey: https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dcnr/programs-and-services/about/bureaus-and-offices/geological-survey
• Buchanan State Forests Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BuchananStateForest
• Fulton Fall Folk Festival: https://fultoncountypa.com/fulton-fall-folk-festival/
• Standing Stone Trail: https://www.standingstonetrail.org/
• PA Healthy Lands Week: https://pahealthylandsweek.org/

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The Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation inspires stewardship of YOUR state parks and forests through volunteerism, education, recreation, and philanthropy.

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🎶 Podcast music provided by Evan Mongeau

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