Lake Perez Trail...

Join us this coming Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. for a relatively easy, three-mile hike along the Lake Perez Trail. This trail circumnavigates lovely Lake Perez, which sits next to PSU’s Shaver's Creek Environmental Center in the Stone Valley on the far side of Tussey Mountain.

Afterward our hike, Henry the Host with the Most is welcoming us to his backyard in Pine Grove Mills at the base of Tussey Mountain for a bonfire and bonhomie. This is a BYOB and bring-your-own-snacks after-hike gathering, but Henry and Dyna will be providing some authentic Filipino dishes. Address is 140 Sunday Drive in Pine Grove Mills; it's off S. Nixon Rd.

Lake Perez is named for Lawrence J. Perez (1907-1988), a Penn State professor of civil engineering and later Dean of the Engineering College at PSU. Professor Perez designed and planned the lake that was later named in his honor. Perez was also president of the State College Borough Council from 1960 to 1973 and served as acting mayor of State College in 1967 and 1968. He died in 1988 at the age of 81. Lake Perez is owned by PSU and offers canoe, kayak, paddle board, and boat rentals as well as fishing opportunities.

PSU also owns and operates the Shaver's Creek Environmental Center, which among its facilities boasts an aviary for raptors (birds of prey such as eagles, hawks, and owls). We will walk right past the center and aviary along the trail.

We will meet at the main parking lot on the lake, past the entrance to the Environmental Center.