Across the Pennsylvania Wilds, legends like Bigfoot don’t live only in books or on postcards. They show up in small towns and wooded valleys, at festivals and scavenger hunts, and in stories passed along with a wink.

In the Pennsylvania Wilds, one story tied to storms is the long-told story of the Thunderbird—an enormous bird said to be connected to thunder, weather, and the movement of storms across wide open valleys.

I live in town. There are sidewalks and neighbors and familiar routines - there are also bears. Most of the time, we know they’re nearby not because we see them, but because of the evidence they leave behind.

That small span of lumber, tucked into the forest, made me think about the thought and effort behind places like this and the people who design, build, and maintain trails so others can move through them safely and thoughtfully. These moments in the Wilds don’t happen by accident; they’re shaped with intention.

Kayaking is a familiar rhythm across the PA Wilds. It’s a region shaped by miles of waterways, including two National Wild & Scenic Rivers that wind patiently through forests and valleys.

Back in December, I shared a preview of a new idea — using my drawings created for the PA Wilds Collaborative Series greeting cards as a starting point for storytelling, reflection, and imagination. Today, I’m officially beginning that series with one of the six defining landscapes of the PA Wilds: Dark Skies — where wonder begins the moment you look up.