Highest Point in Centre County. Climb #28 of 67 trees on 67 mountains in 67 counties.

Climb #28
Nov. 12, 2023
Centre County
40.73498, -78.33122
Elev: 2,626’
Sunday morning I picked up my son Luke from Penn State and headed for the highest point in Centre County PA. Luke is majoring in forestry at PSU. We met Jake Allegar and Kealy Daye. Jake is a master arborist and co-owner of Cutting Edge Tree Professionals. Kealy is an avid rock climber and long-time friend through Camp Krislund. We all rallied at the PA game lands just North of Tyrone and hiked to the highest point. The top of the mountain was recently clear cut and prescribe-burned. We found a few remaining trees and free-climbed them. Kealy tackled a Red Maple with Jake supporting from the ground. Luke and I went up a Red Oak. We could see Blair County to our South and West and Clearfield County to our North. My best guess is that the game commission is working to make this location ideal for our state bird, the Ruffed Grouse. Ruffed Grouse, and other native birds, have been decimated by the non-native West Nile Virus. Mosquitoes transmit the virus. Dry, upland, habitat like this should have fewer mosquitoes and is therefore ideal for trying to help grouse. On our way back to our vehicles we climbed a mature Red Oak just to get a “real climb” in. A few archery hunters passed us on the way out with puzzled yet supportive looks on their faces. They weren’t sure why we were there but they could tell it was for a good cause.

[@jaredfenstermacher4482]

As a famous auctioneer once said, “Well done, sir!”. I remember you saying you were going to do these. Good stuff. I’m sure you will finish in 2024!