Category Archives: Announcements

General news announcements from DATC.

DATC Newsletter – May 2014

NEW FESTIVAL LOCATION: The DATC Festival (Duncannon Blast) has moved around the corner from our previous Cumberland Street location due to a traffic detour. We’ll still be right next to the fire company but now we’re on High Street between Cumberland and Ann streets. You can zoom in to the DATC Festival map for a detailed look.

FESTIVAL INFORMATION: Saturday, June 21st, prepare for a great day with friends and family. The festival is coming together quite well thanks to the efforts of our wonderful volunteers and generous contributors. Six different clubs are sponsoring hikes in the Duncannon area on the morning of the festival so pick one that’s right for you and enjoy Duncannon’s unique natural resources. We have about 50 vendors composed of hiking clubs, local businesses, public service groups, arts, crafts and food vendors. There will be family-friendly live musical entertainment during the festival, thanks to the Appalachian Music Conservancy. We’ll have Smokey the Bear to raise fire prevention awareness and a variety of presentations throughout the afternoon covering topics such as backpacking, live raptors, photography, Perry County history, birds of Duncannon and veterans hiking the Appalachian Trail. Vendors have donated over $500 worth of prizes to be raffled off to lucky festival attendees, get one free ticket and be sure to buy more to increase your odds of winning. Thanks to the Susquenita Middle School, we’ll be giving out super-cool laser engraved commemorative tokens to anyone donating $5 or more to the DATC. We’re expecting a large turnout so we’ve provided multiple parking locations throughout the town as well as regular on-street parking, please be courteous and park only in designated areas or where it is legally permitted. This festival couldn’t happen without great people like yourself so bring your friends, family and associates to the 3rd annual Duncannon A.T. Festival to show your support for the Appalachian Trail! Continue reading →

BuildASign.com – DATC Festival Friend

Leave a reply

Thanks to The Giving Program at BuildASign.com the Duncannon Appalachian Trail Community (DATC) will be able to afford some great new banners to help promote our community and advertise our upcoming 3rd Annual DATC Festival. BuildASign’s Giving Program empowers people and organizations dedicated to keeping their communities strong by awarding in-kind gifts in the form of discounts and total donations of their products. Due to their generosity, we will be able to purchase the following banners at greatly reduced prices.

This 10x3 banner will be used on our display booth when promoting the DATC at events.

This 10×3 banner will be used on our display booth when promoting the DATC at outdoor events.

This banner will be placed at various locations throughout Duncannon prior to the festival.

This 8×4 banner will be placed at various locations throughout Duncannon prior to the festival.

This banner will be hung across Market Street prior to the festival.

This 16×4 banner will be hung across Market Street prior to the festival.

Thanks BuildASign.com, we couldn’t have created such great banners without your help!

Red 102.3 – DATC Festival Friend

Leave a reply

The Duncannon Appalachian Trail Community (DATC) will be advertising our upcoming June 21, 2014 festival on Red 102.3 during the weeks leading up to the event. Listen to this cool radio promotion and be sure to tell us what you think. We’d love to hear from you!

Be sure to tune in to Red 102.3, Central PA’s home for New Country and The Legends, to check it out.

Your Ideal Printer – DATC Festival Friend

1 Reply

Your Ideal Printer of New Bloomfield, PA has donated hundreds of free brochures to help get the word out about the 2014 Duncannon A.T. Festival. If you ever get a chance, please stop by and show your appreciation for this great local business. Contact them at 96 Ridge Road, New Bloomfield, PA 17068, 717-567-7577 to order your next print job or visit their Newport and Lancaster locations.

Click to view Brochure

DOC May Hike – Pink Lady Slippers

Leave a reply

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!

Free Food for Thru-Hikers in Duncannon

2 Replies

Salad, Spaghetti, Brownie & Ice Cream

2014, June 4, 11, 18, 25 and July 2, 9, 16, 23, 30: If you’re thru-hiking the AT and you’d like some FREE food while in Duncannon during the months of June or July, be sure to stop by the Duncannon Christ Lutheran Church on Wednesdays between 5 and 7 PM for some great home cooking. Salad, spaghetti, brownies and ice cream are always on the menu but there’s a chance food made from one of these mouth-watering recipes might be available: Sauerkraut Soup, Party Mashed Potatoes, Easy Stir Fry, Pumpkin Cheese Tarts, Apple Dumpling Bake, Bread Custard Pudding, Orzo Dessert, or maybe even New York Cheesecake!

The Appalachian Trail runs along High Street and the church is conveniently located one block west off the trail near the intersection of High and Plum streets. Be sure to stop in even if you’re not hungry and say hello to the good people of Duncannon. They want to help lift your spirits and you can do the same for them just by taking a minute to share your time and trail experiences.

This generous outreach to thru-hikers is being lead by Pastor Beth Martini who is a strong supporter of the AT, the Duncannon Appalachian Trail Community and the residents of Duncannon. If you live in the Duncannon area and you would like to help thru-hikers enjoy a hearty meal, please contact the church at 834-3140 or pastor@clcduncannon.org.

Duncannon Outdoor Club April 19th Hike

Leave a reply

On Sat., April 19th the Duncannon Outdoor Club will be hiking at the Wildwood Nature Center in search of Red-winged Blackbirds, Bluebirds and Wood Thrushes. The hike will be an average paced three mile loop on easy terrain. Bring water, a snack, and binoculars. We will meet at the Duncannon Family Health Center to carpool. Call 834-9216 or email dtakach@duncannonatc.org to register. Children are invited to attend provided they can go the distance and are accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Berry Mountain Hike and Hypothermia

Leave a reply

: At the Bottom

: At the Top

: View From The Top

: The Susquehanna River

Well, we finally had our Berry Mountain hike after canceling once, having no place to park and another winter storm threatening another cancellation. A few days prior to the hike I checked out the trailhead parking which was under 3 feet of snow. There were two men there plowing the road, so I batted my big brown eyes explaining my dilemma. They were wonderful and plowed the parking lot for us. That just left the threatening weather forecast to deal with. I said a little prayer and the storm never came. So the hike was a go!

We had a total of 10 hikers to start, but one missed us at the trailhead, ran, and caught up with us at the top in time to see the beautiful view and take in the surprise that was mentioned on Meet Up.

Once on the mountaintop we took a few moments to discuss hypothermia, a body temperature below 95 degrees F. The most important thing to know about hypothermia is how to prevent it in the first place. Continue reading →

Another Haldeman Island Waterfowl Hike

1 Reply

The DOC and DATC are hosting another Haldeman Island Waterfowl Hike to be led by Scott Bills, a Land Management Group Supervisor with the PA Game Commission, on March 23rd from 8 AM to 12 PM. Everyone is invited to attend, but we especially encourage people with children to enjoy this fun and highly educational opportunity.

This hike will primarily focus on migrating waterfowl and as many as 20 species could be spotted on both the island and the river. Dress appropriately for the weather, wear one extra layer for the wind, and wear neutral colors to help keep our presence muted. We encourage you to bring binoculars, spotting scopes, cameras , and bird guides. The length of the walk is but a few miles on level ground. Appropriate footwear would be warm boots.

DATC Logo Haldeman Island is located off 11/15 at the confluence of the Susquehanna and Juniata Rivers. Parking coordinates are: 40.427407 -77.004258. Access is usually restricted to provide sanctuary for a wide variety of birds including the iconic Bald Eagle so don’t miss out on a rare chance to experience and learn about this wonderful Duncannon area natural resource. There are only 30 spots so hurry and register while there is still time. Call 834-9216 or email dtakach@duncannonatc.org to register. Hope to see you there.