Chasing Lizards: How to Plan a Spontaneous Family Outing
Every trip has its ups and downs, no matter how much planning you put into it, so why not take advantage of an unexpected opportunity to get outside with your kiddos! No matter what lizard they choose, there will always be lessons learned and memories made.
How to Read A Purple Lizard Map
So you have one, or maybe ten Purple Lizard Maps. But how do you read them in order to make your own adventure? We've listed some quick hints below, to help you on your way to a successful adventure with your Lizard Map!
The Icebox Incident: A Lesson in Deciding When to Go Home or Keep Going
As winter makes one last stand with a few more inches of snow and some blustery winds, we sit back to reflect on lessons learned from this season's outdoor adventures. One of these lessons is the methodology of deciding whether or not to cut a trip short. We experienced this scenario in real time during a two-day (planned as a three-day) weekend backpacking trip on the Black Forest Trail near Slate Run, Pennsylvania.
Gearing Up For A Winter Adventure
Winter is a fantastic time for fun in the outdoors, but small mistakes can add up to big problems for explorers who aren't prepared for winter weather.
Choose Your Own Adventure with Lizard Adventure Lists
Lizard Adventure Lists are a great tool for diving deep into your Lizard Map: include brief descriptions of the trails organized in three sections: Trails, Special Designated Areas & Destinations, and State Parks, to help you explore all your Lizard Maps have to offer!
Making the Ohiopyle-Laurel Highlands Lizard Map: Notes from the Field
Every map we make presents new challenges and the Ohiopyle-Laurel Highlands Lizard Map was no exception. About 7 months after we started field work, the Ohiopyle-Laurel Highlands Lizard Map was published. We really like this map, it opens up a lot of territory and will help people see the area in a way they haven't been able to. Put away your GPS, grab the Lizard Map and get out there to see what lies on the backroads of the Laurel Highlands!
Off-The-Grid Cartography: Making Maps In Monongahela National Forest
We take our mapmaking pretty so seriously over here at Purple Lizard Maps, that we often hike and bike most of the trails found on our maps. We also drive 98% of the roads that are found on our maps. For our most recent project, we truly went overboard by renting an off-the-grid cabin in the middle of Monongahela National Forest for a full week of recon fieldwork. Learn all about our adventures and discoveries below!
Holiday Reflections from Purple Lizard
Spending time outdoors is fundamental for human happiness, health and well-being. As our modern lives present constant opportunities for distraction you realize that as we unplug from our screens and plug into the outdoors we are creating a powerful connection for ourselves, our communities and our planet. Your commitment to spending time in our beautiful public lands and enjoying real-world experiences is what makes our work special. Thank you for being a part of that connection and for sharing your love of the outdoors with Purple Lizard.
Our Latest Mapping Tool: the BH Easy Motion Rebel eBike
We have a new tool in our mapping kit, and it's quickly becoming our favorite. BH Easy Motion Bicycles asked us to test one of their Mountain e-bikes this season. We didn't know anything about e-bikes, but we use several types of bicycles in our field work, so this was a perfect opportunity to learn about this new ride in the world of cycling.
Bikepacking in Tiadaghton State Forest, Pennsylvania
As part of my training to attempt the Tour Divide mountain bike race in June, I planned on riding 215 miles from my home in Centre County, PA to several vistas overlooking the Pine Creek Gorge in the Tiadaghton State Forest, camping along the way. Combined with about 15,000 feet of climbing, this trip would closely match typical days on the Tour Divide.
A Hiker and Biker Guide to Hunting Season: How to Stay Safe (and still enjoy public land!)
As fall arrives, the weather cools, the bugs and the obvious presence of snakes diminish, and outdoor enthusiasts flock to the woods on the weekends to enjoy beautiful environments. In some areas of Pennsylvania, certain hunting seasons officially begin in September. While there are several publications to sift through regarding hunting regulations, we know you probably won't go out of your way to read those. Once fall arrives, it's a good idea to assume hunters will be sharing the woods with you while you are engaged in your outdoor adventures (except on Sundays!). Since Purple Lizard Maps wants everyone to enjoy the woods and safely, we thought a quick public service announcement regarding general risk mitigation practices during hunting season might be helpful.
A Perfect Hike In Black Moshannon, PA: Moss-Hanne Trail
Black Moshannon State Park is 3,394 acres of forests and wetlands within the more than 43,000 acres of the Moshannon State Forest. The Moss-Hanne Trail is a year-round favorite that is open to hikers and cross-country skiers, but summer is the perfect time to try it for the first time! The linear trail is yellow blazed and includes helpful signage and mile markers, reminding hikers how far they've gone and the distances ahead
Rothrock's Newest Trail in Central Pennsylvania
2017: PFBC land just adjacent to Rothrock State Forest has a new trail, and it is ready for you to hike, run, bike, or even horseback ride!