By: Arthur Veilleux, Rewild NJ Movement Member
A recent trip to Tioga State Forest in Pennsylvania helped strengthen my connection to nature, while also deepening my willingness to accept loss and practice grief.
Tioga, meaning “the meeting of two waters,” is a 160,000-acre woodland of old-growth forest, maturing woods, and recently cleared sections where
timber is harvested. Parts of the state forest also contain privately held land, and in some areas the marks of fracking can be seen.
I arrived in a misty rain. Days of steady precipitation had raised the water levels throughout the creeks, streams, and springs. I was headed deep into
the forest to a single-use campsite that had only recently received its first fire ring and picnic table. My Mazda scraped along the uneven roads. When I parked at the Canada Run site, named for the swift-flowing creek just yards away, I was delighted to spot my favorite woodland creature: the red eft. I took it as a good omen. Birds chirped while I set up camp.
The following mornings greeted me with Sun as the temperature slowly rose. I spent my days hiking the many trails in the area, enjoying the quiet of the forest and paying attention to the environment around me. Spring had filled the trees with new leaves, and the ephemeral understory was in bloom. Along the creek banks, beech trees showed the dark banding on
their leaves caused by nematodes that will eventually kill their hosts.
Hiking in Tioga is mostly uphill or downhill, with occasional vistas overlooking the surrounding mountains. In protected areas, ancient hemlocks and white pines rise more than a hundred feet overhead.
Standing beneath their branches, breathing in the cool shade, inspires both awe and humility. Elsewhere, the skeletal outlines of dead ash trees dominate the view. The emerald ash borer is expected to cause the near-
total loss of this species, though seeds are being preserved in hopes of future restoration.
Late afternoons and evenings were spent back at camp, reading and reflecting beside the fire. There is so much in the natural world to appreciate, protect, and remain connected to. Yet change is inevitable, and
nothing lasts forever. Accepting this feels like important work, both personally and for the broader rewilding community: learning to grieve without losing our sense of purpose, joy, or commitment to the living world.
Check out this story & more on the Community Blog! Get notified for every new post. Subscribe Today!
We are Preserving the Wild Spirit of New Jersey. Get notified of every new post. Subscribe Today!
Help to Rewild NJ. Join our Community today.
Learn More & Connect
Email: rewildnjcc@gmail.com
Follow us on social media @rewildnjcc.
Donate
Rewild New Jersey Community Cooperative (RNJCC) is completely volunteer based and self-funded. Contribute to support our launch, development, and overhead costs!
Rewild New Jersey Community Cooperative (RNJCC) 