PRE-CONFERENCE TRIPS

The six-mile hike will be through a portion of the Hammersley Wild Area, part of the Susquehannock State Forest, to experience what has been labeled as the largest roadless area in Pennsylvania, to view typical and unique plant and animal communities, particularly the stands of old growth hemlock and white pine. This is a wildlife area, black bear, white-tailed deer and wild turkey are most commonly seen, but there may be other, more secretive critters that are a bit harder to see, yes, snakes are also on the list. Many varieties of edible, some really bad tasting, as well as poisonous mushrooms will be in season. There will be attendees with some degree of mushroom lore to point them out. We will be back in time for happy hour, unless we get stuck at an ice cream stand on the ride back. “The Hammersley is perhaps the only place in the state where you could be more than five miles from any road. Getting lost here could have serious consequences.” (Hammersley Wild Area Trail Brochure, DCNR, June 24, 2021)

We will meet in Port Allegany, formerly a major producer of architectural glass block. In Port Allegany we will observe buildings of the Allegheny Modernism architectural style, which include particularly well-crafted sandstone walls and influences of Frank Lloyd Wright's Organic Architecture. Lunch will be at our own account in a restaurant. In the afternoon, we will visit Lynn Hall, a sandstone architectural gem built by Walter Hall and his son, architect Raymond Viner Hall. Walter was the chief contractor and master stonemason of Fallingwater, Wright's stone masterpiece of organic design. Walter Hall's exceptional understanding of stone properties enabled him to construct the innovative cantilevered design of Fallingwater, and we'll examine how this same expertise manifests at Lynn Hall. The property features stone quarried from the hillside behind the structure from the Devonian-Mississippian transition, creating a perfect case study in the use of local materials in architectural expression. At the abandoned quarry in a wooded glen behind Lynn Hall, geologists will have the opportunity to examine the formation firsthand and understand how the properties of this specific stone influenced the architectural possibilities of the building. We'll compare how Wright and Hall's architectural approaches were shaped by their understanding of local geology and how the unglaciated landscape setting of Lynn Hall connects to Wright's philosophy at Taliesin in Wisconsin's Driftless Area, demonstrating how geological understanding influenced architectural innovation in both locations. Lynn Hall is an Airbnb, and participants may choose to stay there before the field trip (https://www.lynnhallpa.com/). There is an optional independent stop on the drive from Port Allegany to Williamsport at the iconic Barbour Rock Trail Overlook of Pine Creek Gorge, which is known as Pennsylvania's Grand Canyon. The hiking trail to the overlook forms a 1-mile loop.

The museum chronicles the history of north central Pennsylvania, from American Indian occupation through 21st century industry and life. Exhibits include an American Indian gallery, a Fine and Decorative Arts gallery, the Shempp Model Train exhibit with over 300 toy trains, period rooms depicting life from the 1700s through the 1900s, and much more.

Sugar Valley is an Ordovician anticlinal valley; we will discuss Sugar Valley geology then visit approximately 8 locations, including several springs, sinkholes, cave entrances, and a karst window. Observed karst hydrology, cave geology, and dye tracing results will be discussed. This trip will not involve caving. There will be restrooms and a covered lunch pavilion. Lunch will be at 1PM, plan accordingly. There are no services in the valley.