A climb with Van Wagner in Jefferson County
- by Guest Contributor
- September 9, 2024
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By the Lumber Heritage Region
The subtle shift in seasons was tangible in the morning air as our group rendezvoused in State Gamelands 54 in Jefferson County, just off the road that leads to the site of the first school in the nation dedicated to training game wardens known as The Ross Leffler School of Conservation.
Originally a hunting camp built in the early 1900s, the school operated from 1938 until 1986 when the academy moved to Harrisburg. The nearby historic marker includes the school’s namesake, “It was named for Ross L. Leffler, a 30-year member of the Game Commission and Assistant Secretary of the Interior, appointed by President Eisenhower.”
The Game Commission takes part in silviculture and lands are managed as a renewable resource with habitat and wildlife management in mind. As the group hiked in to find the highest elevation, areas of controlled burns with a few years of regrowth were visible, an ancient forest management strategy is still effectively utilized today.
Van Wagner arrived, ready to make his 53rd tree climb as part of his mission to climb the tallest of trees at the highest elevation in each of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties. His goals include raising awareness about the importance of forests, the connection they hold to our heritage, and the jobs, habitat, and many other benefits that come from sustainable forest management practices today.
In his own words after his climb, Wagner said, “Our forests are a wonderful resource but they do require management.”
Attending his 53rd climb was a group of seven observers, including Lumber Heritage Region Executive Director, Holly Komonczi and Education & Outreach Administrator Rowan Crisp, Game Commission Regional Director Jesse Bish and Wildlife Habitat Group Supervisor Miles Laubacher, Penny Pifer Field Representative of State Senator Chris Dush, Mark Temple assisting Van, and Mark Lewis with his sweet and enthusiastic dog, aptly named Silva.
It was late morning when our group arrived at the site of highest elevation in the area. Looking around, though there were several towering trees to choose from, Wagner selected a tall oak that stood out. Mark Temple immediately set to assisting Wagner with his equipment and getting the throw line situated. Once all was in place and secure, the climb began.
With a certain care and swiftness, Wagner made his way into the canopy, pausing to take it all in and to get a few photos high above those of us still with our feet firmly on the forest floor.
The Lumber Heritage Region was honored to witness this climb and show our support for Van Wagner and the message he is working to share.
Wagner was immediately headed off to another climb later in the day, accompanied by the Game Commission, Temple, Lewis, and Silva. His 54th climb commenced in Clarion County, checking off another LHR county and PA Wilds region county from the list. Including the aforementioned climbs, Van has now climbed in at least 12 of the Lumber Heritage Region’s 15 counties.
To see more on each of these climbs, visit https://sites.google.com/view/
More can also be found on the YouTube channel, @vanwags.
If the name Van Wagner sounds familiar to you, yes, he is the well known musician. A man of many talents, Wagner is a celebrated educator, musician, writer, historian, arborist, and forester to name a few.
Thank you to the Game Commission for their participation, to the attendees for their support, and of course, to Van Wagner for allowing the Lumber Heritage Region to be a small part of his mission to climb the highest tree at the highest point in all 67 Pennsylvania counties.
About the Author:
The Lumber Heritage Region (LHR) is a 15-county region in North West/North Central Pennsylvania that accentuates the importance of the lumber industry for the past, present, and future. The goal of the heritage region is to market its assets to potential visitors, to serve as a resource to the PA hardwood industry, and to keep the economic impact of the region at the forefront. Established in 2001, LHR is a 501C3 organization that is dedicated to helping the region make an impact internationally. It is their mission to serve the region with technical, educational, and financial assistance through the coordination of networking and communication initiatives.
