Raystown Field Station

We're Here!

We had a terrific time at the Raystown Field Station making Maple Syrup. We learned about this great weekend opportunity with our dear friends, Tom, Michelle, Duncan and Kelsey. We stayed in one of the newly built lodges that will house students in the fall. They were equipped with all of our needs and only steps away from the Bud Shuster Dining Hall (we were living and playing in a government pork project...and was it fun!). These weren't just ordinary lodges, they are eco-friendly and gave us a bird's eye view of eco-living.

Eco-friendly lodges with eco-friendly reminders to add to the compost pile. The hallway was tiled and the lodge was heated by the tile floors. While it was a bit cool the first night, we increased the radiant heat and had a most comfortable slumber the second night of our visit.


Danek and Duncan enjoying some free time in the lodge.

What a wonderful view to wake up to as we saw our first site of the surrounding landscape at daybreak. This was Danek's view.

This was the view of the lake from our deck. While it was a bit on the cold side, we couldn't help but enjoy the view from our location.

Tom and Joe pouring over the map and planning their assault on the sugar maples!

Breakfast at Shuster Hall. Can't you see them here in a few years when they are really at college?

The Grove Farmhouse is where most alumni and family stayed. At $5 a night it is a great bargain and quite cozy.


First we had to get a demonstration on how they wanted the sugar water collected. Ice was in most buckets and was to be thrown to the ground (since the ice was generally pure water and not the sugar water). Ice on the ground became a tell-tale sign as which buckets were already emptied.

Heading down the trail to the maple trees that were waiting for us.

The tractor provided a central collection site for the sugar water.

Everyone got their buckets off of the tractor.

Evelyn and Kelsey teamed up and quickly collected the sugar water.

Kelsey was lucky...she brought her pack mule for hauling her tree seeping loot. She named this one "Dad".

Kelsey's other assistant (who she also trained to cook for her) she named "mom". We just call her Michelle.

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The Kelsinator...how could you resist doing hard labor for her???

Danek...slightly overexposed, but one happy kid!


Becky with her proud haul. She kept asking for a straw...we're not sure why.

The kids loved hanging out on the tank.

Oh cool! The tractor's stuck! I'm sure with all of the college educated day laborers we'll have it rolling down over the embankment in no time!


Another shot of the day laborers. The shift supervisors are on the right side in this shot.

We tapped a poison sumac and convinced Becky to try some...hee hee!

This is where all of the magic happens, the sugar shack.

The inside of the sugar shack.



We learned how the sugar water was moved from one part to another through a labyrinth of channels. Each section was boiled longer and the sugar water became more concentrated and, at the end, became darker and more like syrup. The water comes out of the tree at about 3% concentration and the syrup winds up at 66%. That's a lot of boiling!

Now we are cooking!

The steam is only ever so slightly sticky. That's one good reason you shouldn't try this at home.

Much of this would be burned in stoking the fire for the sugaring process.

While the sugar water was turning into syrup, Kelsey learned how to determine how to tap a Maple Tree. She did great!

On Day 2 we headed to Trough Creek State Park. We were in awe of the icicles hanging over the creek.

We were quite surprised when some of the icicles fell while we were there. Of course one thing led to another and we made a few fall too.




On to the trail! Unfortunately, it was closed so we didn't get any farther than the bridge. We will have to return with Tom and Michelle on our next visit.


On to the ice cave! Which, surprisingly enough, did not have much ice! Later in spring, will be a better time, even early summer when all of the mountain ice has melted and runs down into this cool cave.
We said goodbye to our friends. Thanks for all of the fun. We are so glad you invited us!



We went on to visit Pulpit Rock to hide a letterbox. These formations were lots of fun to climb around.