Hill 34 Friends and Neighbors

01/09/2026

🌕Looks like we are all going to get ”Mooned” BIG time tonight. 😂

Tonight is the the year’s first full moon — the Wolf Moon — will rise, and it’s also a supermoon, meaning it’ll look a bit larger and noticeably brighter than usual.

Now as if that weren’t enough, you’ll also notice a bright glow in the sky not to far from the moon and that will be Jupiter.

So if the skies stay clear, tonight is a great excuse to step outside, look up, and start the year off with getting mooned. 🌕✨

01/04/2026

How's reclamation look to folks? Not in this weather, just in general.

02/05/2025

Rachel rocks!

05/25/2023

Clever!

02/26/2023

10/16/2022

Anybody have information to share on strip mining permit/operation off Horn Rd?

06/23/2022

I wish this was better news - but it is bad news. The initial permit, which excluded one toxic holding pond and haulage road to Camp Dr. was eliminated and the perimeter of mining area decreased. BUT they were included in the renewal. I don't know how this happens. Geologist reports from initial process showed the initial plan was not safe enough for Spruce Run. I have a call in to DEP (David Thomas, 814-472-1900. Direct line 814-472-1881.) you migjt want to check with them.

06/04/2022

If anyone cares to share info here, we would like to know what is going on around the perimeter of the mine. They should be reclaiming by now? I think they are, but I can't see anything. It's important to keep an eye on reclamation. Any comments, suggestions, or information to share? I can report some good news. Spruce Run is still clear and wild brookies are still reproducing. They declined and almost disappeared (from my small vantage point) after the 2019 event. It was troubling to see the damage from two major rain events - major deluge in July of 2019, and the remnants of Hurricane Ida. Big rocks and boulders were carried downstream. Some so big I bet they weighed more than a lot of cars. Tore up the banks. Flooded over, washed out vegetation. I think the proposed (but removed based on our challenge) holding pond probably would have topped out and dumped toxic water downhill to the stream. It doesn't exist, so it couldn't. I am thankful for that.
I'm wondering what other people are noticing and if they have any suggestions or concerns?

04/10/2022

I am happy to say the creek looks good and trout seem healthy.

10/20/2021

Any updates, comments, opinions re: reclamation phase??

10/06/2021

Good news. Spruce Run water looks good, and the trout are definitely reproducing.

09/08/2021

Just checking in. Spruce Run here rose and roared with the rain from Ida last week. Didn't appear anything bad or different from strip operation. I'm looking for feedback as the operation should be shifting to reclamation. Ideas? Comments? Any thoughts welcome.