10/14/2025
Consider volunteering for the Slate Run Sportsmen’s Save-A-Hemlock work day in cooperation with the DCNR’s Bureau of Forestry. As you know, this effort, though small in scale, will hopefully prove to be significant in terms of brining the Hemlocks, the stately sentinels of the forest, back to good health.
Following are the arrangements for the work day:
We are scheduled to work on November 13th and possibly the 14th if necessary.
We will work near the S-Curve section along Slate Run Road down between the adjacent Black Forest Trail and Slate Run (the stream). I will estimate that total walking distance for one work day to be perhaps a mile or so. However, that is just an estimate.
Because of the limited parking at the S-curve, please consider parking in the DCNR Pine Creek access parking lot on the east side of the bridge over Slate Run and car pooling to the S-Curve. I ask that each of you work out car pooling arrangements among yourselves.
The work day for us volunteers will run from approximately 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Please consider bringing a water bottle, canteen, etc. along as we work. Also, feel free to bring any wholesome, prepackaged snacks that you may need.
Bureau of Forestry’s Forest Tree Health Specialist, Sara Johnson and three or four of her associates will train us and lead us throughout the tree treatment activity.
We should each dress for the weather. I suggest, and it’s only a suggestion, that you consider wearing clothing treated with an anti-tick agent such as permethrin. Also consider spraying exposed skin with an anti-tick ingredient such as picardin, deet, natural oils like Texas cedar wood, etc. Again, that is just a suggestion! Just be sure to use the products as instructed. Certainly, the decision to use anti-tick substances is yours and you must know of your body’s reaction prior to using any anti-tick substance! I hike the trails and streams along Slate Run a lot and always use a combination of permethrin, picardin, and a natural tick spray that I make myself from natural oils.
Of course, there is the possibility of encountering a snake or animal, although most snakes should be denned up by then. It will be archery deer season, so wearing some orange is advisable. Keep in mind that we will be working fairly close to one another other, so there will be enough noise and disturbances that wildlife and hunters will most likely steer clear.
Clothing should include long sleeves, long pants, comfortable hiking boots, thick socks, hats, work gloves, etc. We will be walking and working off-trails into areas that may contain thick underbrush.
We will be divided into six teams of two individuals each. One person will have a 4-foot section of rebar to poke holes around the hemlock trees. The second team member will carry a plastic tub of CoreTect tablets that will be placed in each hole. Though CoreTect is not said to be harmful, please bring a few pairs of rubber or nitrile gloves.
If we have the six teams of two, we should be able to treat 100 trees or more in a single day.
We are counting on your help!
Please feel free to phone me in advance of the work day(s) if you have questions. If you know of others who wish to help, please bring them along an share this message.
Thank You!
John Pastorek
(724) 316-0667
