SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — It's said April showers bring May flowers, but on Saturday, April snow showers brought out more than 200 volunteers armed with rakes, shovels, and saplings. They braved wintry conditions to help a local ski resort.
It might be springtime, but atop Montage Mountain Saturday morning, it was a winter wonderland. Volunteers who turned out in droves were not there to ski.
They made their way up and down the white snow-covered mountain to help make it greener thanks to a project called "GROW."
"We're planting trees!" nine-year-old Lake Ariel resident Avery Orloski exclaimed.
395 trees to be exact, most of them saplings. All to help Montage Mountain keep their slopes in tip-top shape for the seasons ahead and lend a helping hand to the environment. It's why Orloski volunteered.
"Owls live in trees, and squirrels and birds," Orloski said.
The reforestation helps prevent erosion and wind shear from wearing away the snowpack. Doing this allows the mountain to use less energy toward maintaining the snow and to lower the carbon footprint caused by mountain maintenance.
Fish fry benefitting volunteer fire company in Lackawanna County
"It's really a joy. I mean, it's nice seeing all the guests come out here. Even in this cold weather, just trying to keep it a nice, beautiful place," Michael Connor from Moosic said.
The Scranton Resort began planting trees in 2012 as part of a two-man effort.
Since then, it has grown into a beloved community project with thousands of trees, both big and small, planted here.
"These volunteers that are out here today are hardcore. The last couple years we had some light rains and they came out. They're very dedicated," Montage Mountain Ski and Snowboard School Director and GROW Co-Founder Mark Siekierka explained.
And despite less than ideal weather conditions, volunteers had no problem getting the trees into their new homes.
"Rake first, get the ground clear so you can see what you're doing. Then you use your shovel, get a hole, you only need to dig about 4 inches deep. Plant the sapling, cover to the top of the root-pack with dirt. Mulch around it, and then rocks uphill to keep the water from washing it away," Nazareth resident David Carey said.
Organizers tell 28/22 News the trees they chose, a mixture of spruce and pine, are durable trees, perfect for the exposed rocky conditions on the mountain, giving the saplings on a day like this a chance to thrive.
"The snow and the rain is going to be great for the seedlings because they won't dry out in the hot sun," Siekierka added.
For their hard work, volunteers received a GROW t-shirt, a free lunch, and some live music.
