Author Archives: Deb Takach

About Deb Takach

Debra Takach is a retired teacher who volunteers much of her time for worthy causes. She is an avid hiker and professional story teller. She is CPR AED Wilderness Remote First Aid Certified and has had Hike Leadership Training.

Dog Friendly Hike – Learn About Ticks and Lyme Disease

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On Sat., Sept. 13th the Duncannon Outdoor Club will be bushwhacking 2 miles over moderate to easy terrain at an average pace on the Takach property outside of Duncannon. This is a dog friendly hike. Dogs must be friendly toward other dogs and people. This hike will be limited to 10 dogs with no more than 2 dogs per hiker. You do not have to have a dog to attend this hike. All hikers are welcome. We will be learning about ticks and Lyme disease. Wear long pants and bring water. This hike is appropriate for hikers ages 8 and up. Call 395-2462 or email dtakach@duncannonatc.org to register. We will be meeting at the Duncannon Family Health Center to carpool at 9:00 am.

Cattail Hike

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Prior to our hike we got to examine the cattail and discuss how it can benefit us. Then we proceeded on the 3 mile cross country course behind the Susquenita High School. It is a well kept and well marked trail due to the efforts of Coach Rick Knepp and his helpers. While a moderate hike, some of the hills proved strenuous, especially the hill referred to as the “Demoralizer”, it would prove challenging for a runner as well as a hiker.

Why did Euell Gibbons call the cattail “The Supermarket Plant of the Swamps”? It gets its name because some part of it is edible year round. Parts of the plant have other uses too besides gracing your table.

In the spring the inner core of the first shoots can be used like celery. When the shoots are 2 feet high you can pull out the soft white core eat it raw, boiled, or in salads. The roots can be made into flour which will be discussed in more detail later in this article. Continue reading →

DOC August Hike – Cattails

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On Sat., Aug. 16th the Duncannon Outdoor Club (DOC) will be hiking at the Susquenita High School 3 mile cross country course, through a wooded area. This is an average paced hiked on easy to moderate terrain with some short, steep hills. We will be learning about the Cattail and why it is called the Supermarket Plant of the Swamps. Meet at the Susquenita High School parking lot closest to the entrance of the building at 9:00 am. Call 395-2462 to register or email dtakach@duncannonatc.org. Hope to see you there!

DOC June Scavenger Hunt

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DOC LogoThe DOC scavenger hunt at the Cornerstone Christian Church Trails was a lot of fun! Participants carried clipboards holding a checklist of various items one would see while hiking. While some things were real; like the birds, butterfly, nests, and leaves, some items were strategically placed for the children to find and check off their list. There was the giant yellow spider on a trail sign, a turtle on a bench, a frog on the ground, a feather in the grass, the big red ladybug, a cobra, and a fish in the creek. We all missed the bat hanging from a tree! It was a fun time for all.

Join us for the July DOC Scavenger Hike at Wildwood Nature Center where all the items on our list will be for real!

Duncannon Outdoor Club Scavenger Hike at Wildwood

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On Sat., July 19th the Duncannon Outdoor Club (DOC) will be at the Wildwood Nature Center. Join us for an average paced 3 mile hike over easy terrain, as we search for items to check off of our scavenger cards. It is a hike for the whole family; provided children can walk the distance. Bring water, a snack, and binoculars if you have them. Meet at the Cornerstone Christian Church in Duncannon at 9:00 am. to carpool or meet at the Nature Center entrance by the bathrooms at 9:30 am. Call 834-9216 or email dtakach@duncannonatc.org to register.

DOC June Scavenger Hunt Family Hike

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On Sat., June 21st the Duncannon Outdoor Club (DOC) will be hiking at the Cornerstone Trails.  This is a slower paced 1.14 mile hike through woods and fields mostly on wide paths.  It is a hike for the whole family, especially for children ages 5 and up.  Try and find as many things as you can to check off your scavenger list.  Meet at the Cornerstone Christian Church in Duncannon at 9:00 am.  Call 834-9216 or email dtakach@duncannonatc.org to register.  Afterward attend the Duncannon Appalachian Trail Festival (Duncannon Blast) from noon to 4:00 pm on High Street in Duncannon.

May Pink Lady Slipper Hike

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DOC LogoThe DOC May hike was a smashing success!  We got to see a lot of Pink Lady Slippers that had not been present just the weekend before.  It must have been all of the rain we had.  The cross-country course behind the Susquenita High School was very well marked and maintained.

We did get to see a lot more than the Pink Lady Slippers.  There were massive fields of mushrooms along the wood-chipped path.  Then we hiked up a short hill to the reservoir where we saw the spillway and clear water.  Not long after that we came upon the old grave yard with tombstones dating to the 1800’s.  It was a very nice hike through a very nice area of woods and streams.

Prior to the hike we took a few moments to discuss the illusive flower, the Pink Lady Slipper also called the Moccasin Flower, Two Leaved Lady’s Slipper, and Stemless Lady’s Slipper.  It is a rare and beautiful flower belonging to the orchid family.  They take years to grow and are often picked by unknowledgeable individuals who are unaware that a special fungus is needed for the seed to germinate.  The seed is without its own food source and  needs a fungus, in the Rhizoctonia Genus, to break open the seed which then attaches itself to the fungus.  The seed feeds off the fungus until the leaves are grown and the plant can produce its own food  Although this seems a parasitic relationship, the Pink Lady Slipper returns the favor once the plant makes its own food.  Then the fungus lives off of the Pink Lady Slipper.  So coming full circle the relationship can be termed symbiotic,

In some states the flower is endangered and in others it is threatened.  In PA the Showy Lady Slipper is threatened and the Pink Lady slipper is rare and unusual.  The Pink Lady Slipper has two leaves coming up from the ground, a long stem and a pink flower at the end of the stem. The Showy Lady Slipper looks similar to the Pink, but has 3 white pedals on top of the slipper.

The Pink Lady Slipper can be found in pine forests, where it can be seen in large colonies, but it also grows in deciduous woods.  It prefers acidic and well-drained soil.  It can live up to 20 years and relies on bees for pollination,

If you find this flower please let it be.  Then it will be present for future generations,

Note: A “thank you” to SeanO for the wonderful pictures.

DOC May Hike – Pink Lady Slippers

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On Sun., May 18th the Duncannon Outdoor Club (DOC) will be hiking at the Susquenita High School 3 mile cross country course, through a wooded area. This is an average paced hiked on easy to moderate terrain with some short, steep hills. We will be searching for Pink Lady Slippers, a rare forest flower. Bring water and a snack. Meet at the Susquenita High School parking lot closest to the entrance of the building at 9:00 am. Call 834-9216 to register or email dtakach@duncannonatc.org. Hope to see you there!

DOC Bird Hike At Wildwood

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It was a lovely day for a hike, especially one for scouting birds. Our goal was to locate the migrating  Red Winged Blackbirds, Bluebirds, and Wood Thrushes as they returned for breeding.

The male Red Winged Blackbirds were everywhere. We did not see any females so they probably had yet to arrive. There were no Bluebirds evident around the bluebird houses, but we know they have arrived, since they have been viewed elsewhere. No sign of Wood Thrushes yet, but they have frequented Wildwood in past springs and summers.

We did see Egrets, Canada Geese, a snake, a dead raccoon that looked like it was sleeping, a Blue Jay, Red-Bellied Woodpecker, a Thrasher and many, many turtles!  Then there was the huge sycamore that was estimated to be at least 100 years old!

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March 23rd Haldeman Island Hike

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DOC LogoOn March 23rd the Duncannon Outdoor Club and Duncannon Appalachian Trail Community held another Haldeman Island hike with the great leadership of the knowledgeable Scott Bills, state games representative.  We have received many emails commending Mr.  Bills for his vast knowledge of waterfowl and other bird species.  It was a great learning experience, viewing 16 of the 20 species of waterfowl found on the island.

We also were honored with the presence of a male and female bald eagle on their massive nest.  Upon arrival we had a flock of Tundra Swan fly in formation overhead honking their way North to Canada.  Scott pointed out how gracefully a swan lands in the water.  There was hardly a ripple upon landing.

We hope to schedule another such event in the future, since we had such a great turnout and actually had to turn people away.  If you wish to be notified of another such event email dtakach@duncannonatc.org and your email address will be added to the Duncannon Outdoor Club email list to received hike notifications.