When John Hook and his wife have some extra time to kill on a Sunday, their first instinct isn't to lie on the couch watching TV. It's to climb Mt. Nittany. And when John asks his wife what she'd like to do on her birthday, the answer is simple: climb Mt. Nittany. But John's love of the mountain goes beyond climbing it. He is also Director Emeritus of the Mt. Nittany Conservancy. The organization's origins go back to the 1940s when rumors spread that a timber company was going to purchase hundreds of acres of land that make up Mt. Nittany. To prevent this from happening, members of the Penn State Lion's Paw Alumni Association bought 500 acres of Mt. Nittany land. To continue these efforts, the Mt. Nittany Conservancy was formed in 1981. This fund helps the Mount Nittany Conservancy conserve over 800 acres on Mt. Nittany for all to see and enjoy. With nearly 9 miles of volunteer-maintained trails and scenic views, Mt. Nittany offers a unique setting for local recreation. Conservation of Mt. Nittany for future generations is our primary concern.