The Yoders Go Outside to Get Away From it All
By Jeff Falk
Camp life is about recreation, physical activity, tradition and family and friends. But more than that, there’s something very spiritual, something metaphysical associated with a cabin in the woods.
Humans seem to be drawn to the mountains in a very primitive, connective way. Surrounded by nature, the experiences there seem to have the power to recharge our batteries and rekindle our souls.
For 21 years, Harold and Jane Yoder have owned a cabin in Tioga County, PA. While the Elizabethtown residents initially purchased the 10-acre property for the sole purpose of providing Harold with a place to hunt, the cabin has evolved into something much more than that.
The Yoders try to visit their cabin as often as they can. The three-and-a-half-hour drive north transports them to an environment that’s entirely different from the one where they live in Lancaster County.
“Here (in Elizabethtown) there’s a lot of people around,” said Jane. “Going to the cabin feels like it’s a different world. You can see the mountain ridge. There are two creeks. I like to bird watch and identify birds. We see bear and a lot of deer.”
“There’s so much quiet and peace,” she continued. “I feel like there’s more to do at the cabin that’s more rewarding. I just feel very much alive at the cabin. I have more purpose being in nature. Work isn’t work; it’s fun. We don’t need a clock at the cabin.”
“It’s a great place to get away from the real world and forget about work,” said Harold. “It’s a different place. It’s nice to get that break, relax and enjoy the outdoors. When we go up there, you can stay up as late as you want and get up as late as you want. It’s less stressful. We can work at things at our own pace.”
The Yoders’ cabin is located about 15 miles northwest of Wellsboro, not far from Pennsylvania’s Grand Canyon, state game lands and state parks. Although Jane doesn’t hunt, she and Harold do some fishing together.
“There’s probably some quality hunting areas around here (in Lancaster County), but I don’t have access to it,” said Harold. “There is very good hunting up there. I get a lot of deer there and see bear and turkey. I love seeing animals in the woods.”
“I started hunting as a kid,” Harold continued. “I learned from my dad and followed in his footsteps. My brother, my dad and I had a tradition of hunting rabbits on Thanksgiving. I still use the same rifle I had when I was 14. I’m into it. But I’m not into it as much as I’d like to be because I’m still working.”
“My husband was always looking for places to go hunting,” said Jane. “We just got the idea, ‘Let’s look for our own cabin.’ The closer to Lancaster County it was, the more expensive it was, so we kept going further north. At that time, we didn’t even know about Wellsboro or the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon. It borders on state game lands, but I wanted it to be more than a hunting camp.”
“I think it’s great fishing,” added Jane. “There are five lakes, and the Pine Creek is close to where we are. There’s a stream not far from our cabin. It’s an excellent area for outdoor enthusiasts.”
The Tioga-Potter County area - the so-called Northern Tier - also offers visitors biking opportunities, sightseeing options and seasonal events. Simply doing nothing is also an accepted activity.
“Sometimes when Harold and I go, we split wood, we take walks and we go to Wellsboro,” said Jane. “We spend a lot of time at the cabin around the fire and making food over the fire. Sometimes we’ll take a ride at night and go spotting deer. It’s just a relaxing time, but we do a lot of work too.”
“We also enjoy star gazing at Cherry Springs (State Park),” said Harold. “We do some hiking with friends around the (Pennsylvania) Grand Canyon. And, of course, swimming at some of the state parks. I do enjoy fishing in Tioga County with my one grandson, and the fall foliage is gorgeous.”
Jane and Harold have been married for 45 years. They have two married sons and seven grandchildren.
“My one grandson already enjoys hunting,” said Harold. “I love taking him out with me. It is important. It’s a tradition. I’d like to see some of the other grandkids get into it. It makes me proud when I see them get a deer.”
“I view it as a combination. It’s both a hunting cabin and a place for recreation,” Harold continued. “Sometimes it’s a hunting cabin. But other times it’s just fun. It’s about friends and family. It’s sitting around the campfire telling stories.”
“Our grandkids love it; they always want to go again,” said Jane. “We like it because they’re not on electronics. We just play outside. We play badminton. They sleep outside and ride four-wheelers. When you’re up at the cabin, the outdoors kind of entertains them. It’s good family time. The grandsons like sitting around the fire, and there’s good conversation.”
Tourism is one of the top industries in Tioga and Potter counties and plays a key role in the local economy. There are many residents of central Pennsylvania who own or rent property in the area.
“You feel closer to God when you’re up there,” said Harold. “I love the trees and the mountains and the lakes. I grew up with more of it than is (in Elizabethtown). (The cabin in Tioga County) is all the things you don’t have here. You don’t have as many people around. There are more open spaces up there.”
“We’re both believers (in Jesus), and nature reminds us what the Lord has given us,” said Jane. “We look at everything we have here in Elizabethtown and up in the mountains, and we’re grateful. We really enjoy the solitude. When you’re in Lancaster, you see cars, buildings and pavements. When you’re in the mountains, you see God’s creations.”
For additional information on Potter and Tioga counties, go to www.visitpottertioga.com.
Humans seem to be drawn to the mountains in a very primitive, connective way. Surrounded by nature, the experiences there seem to have the power to recharge our batteries and rekindle our souls.
For 21 years, Harold and Jane Yoder have owned a cabin in Tioga County, PA. While the Elizabethtown residents initially purchased the 10-acre property for the sole purpose of providing Harold with a place to hunt, the cabin has evolved into something much more than that.
The Yoders try to visit their cabin as often as they can. The three-and-a-half-hour drive north transports them to an environment that’s entirely different from the one where they live in Lancaster County.
“Here (in Elizabethtown) there’s a lot of people around,” said Jane. “Going to the cabin feels like it’s a different world. You can see the mountain ridge. There are two creeks. I like to bird watch and identify birds. We see bear and a lot of deer.”
“There’s so much quiet and peace,” she continued. “I feel like there’s more to do at the cabin that’s more rewarding. I just feel very much alive at the cabin. I have more purpose being in nature. Work isn’t work; it’s fun. We don’t need a clock at the cabin.”
“It’s a great place to get away from the real world and forget about work,” said Harold. “It’s a different place. It’s nice to get that break, relax and enjoy the outdoors. When we go up there, you can stay up as late as you want and get up as late as you want. It’s less stressful. We can work at things at our own pace.”
The Yoders’ cabin is located about 15 miles northwest of Wellsboro, not far from Pennsylvania’s Grand Canyon, state game lands and state parks. Although Jane doesn’t hunt, she and Harold do some fishing together.
“There’s probably some quality hunting areas around here (in Lancaster County), but I don’t have access to it,” said Harold. “There is very good hunting up there. I get a lot of deer there and see bear and turkey. I love seeing animals in the woods.”
“I started hunting as a kid,” Harold continued. “I learned from my dad and followed in his footsteps. My brother, my dad and I had a tradition of hunting rabbits on Thanksgiving. I still use the same rifle I had when I was 14. I’m into it. But I’m not into it as much as I’d like to be because I’m still working.”
“My husband was always looking for places to go hunting,” said Jane. “We just got the idea, ‘Let’s look for our own cabin.’ The closer to Lancaster County it was, the more expensive it was, so we kept going further north. At that time, we didn’t even know about Wellsboro or the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon. It borders on state game lands, but I wanted it to be more than a hunting camp.”
“I think it’s great fishing,” added Jane. “There are five lakes, and the Pine Creek is close to where we are. There’s a stream not far from our cabin. It’s an excellent area for outdoor enthusiasts.”
The Tioga-Potter County area - the so-called Northern Tier - also offers visitors biking opportunities, sightseeing options and seasonal events. Simply doing nothing is also an accepted activity.
“Sometimes when Harold and I go, we split wood, we take walks and we go to Wellsboro,” said Jane. “We spend a lot of time at the cabin around the fire and making food over the fire. Sometimes we’ll take a ride at night and go spotting deer. It’s just a relaxing time, but we do a lot of work too.”
“We also enjoy star gazing at Cherry Springs (State Park),” said Harold. “We do some hiking with friends around the (Pennsylvania) Grand Canyon. And, of course, swimming at some of the state parks. I do enjoy fishing in Tioga County with my one grandson, and the fall foliage is gorgeous.”
Jane and Harold have been married for 45 years. They have two married sons and seven grandchildren.
“My one grandson already enjoys hunting,” said Harold. “I love taking him out with me. It is important. It’s a tradition. I’d like to see some of the other grandkids get into it. It makes me proud when I see them get a deer.”
“I view it as a combination. It’s both a hunting cabin and a place for recreation,” Harold continued. “Sometimes it’s a hunting cabin. But other times it’s just fun. It’s about friends and family. It’s sitting around the campfire telling stories.”
“Our grandkids love it; they always want to go again,” said Jane. “We like it because they’re not on electronics. We just play outside. We play badminton. They sleep outside and ride four-wheelers. When you’re up at the cabin, the outdoors kind of entertains them. It’s good family time. The grandsons like sitting around the fire, and there’s good conversation.”
Tourism is one of the top industries in Tioga and Potter counties and plays a key role in the local economy. There are many residents of central Pennsylvania who own or rent property in the area.
“You feel closer to God when you’re up there,” said Harold. “I love the trees and the mountains and the lakes. I grew up with more of it than is (in Elizabethtown). (The cabin in Tioga County) is all the things you don’t have here. You don’t have as many people around. There are more open spaces up there.”
“We’re both believers (in Jesus), and nature reminds us what the Lord has given us,” said Jane. “We look at everything we have here in Elizabethtown and up in the mountains, and we’re grateful. We really enjoy the solitude. When you’re in Lancaster, you see cars, buildings and pavements. When you’re in the mountains, you see God’s creations.”
For additional information on Potter and Tioga counties, go to www.visitpottertioga.com.
