Category Archives: Announcements

General news announcements from DATC.

New Appalachian Trail Parking Lot

The Mountain Club of Maryland proposes to build a new parking lot near the Appalachian Trail in Duncannon, PA. This section of the trail is very popular due to the views at Hawk Rock. Currently hikers using the AT south of Duncannon have no official parking choices. Many people park at the borough recycling center and use an unofficial trail to access the AT. Others park near a bar (Tubby’s) a short distance from the proposed lot. The proposed lot will be located along Inn Road where the trail enters the woods and will accommodate 8 cars.

The proposed lot will be 75 feet long by 18 feet deep and it will accommodate approximately 8 cars, using straight in parking. Per ABA (Architectural Barriers Act) guidelines, one spot will be compliant with Accessibility standards. The surfacing material will be crushed stone. A barrier fence will be placed around the edges to prevent unwanted expansion and to prevent cars from going down the slope beyond the proposed parking area. In addition to the fence, all the material resulting from construction will be located around it. Vegetation adjacent to the site includes maple and locust trees, special attention will be paid to minimizing damage to existing vegetation. Drainage will be similar to existing conditions; native plants may be added to minimize the risk of erosion, with plant selection done in consultation with ATC (Appalachian Trail Conservancy) and/or NPS (National Park Service). An information kiosk will also be installed.

January 8th, 2014 DATC Meeting

The Duncannon Appalachian Trail Community Advisory Committee will hold its next meeting on Wednesday, January 8th at 6:30 PM in the Duncannon Christ Lutheran Church located at 115 Church Street. RSVP is not required but it’s greatly appreciated. Our agenda will focus on next year’s 2014 Duncannon A.T. Community Festival, the progress that our volunteers have made and further increasing meeting attendance among Duncannon residents.

THERE WILL BE FREE PIZZA AND SODA! Send in your RSVP to help us determine how much pizza we should buy. Special thanks to everyone who chipped in to help pay for this month’s pizza! In the past, the pizza was paid for by Trisha Sanders, Dennis Hurley, the DATC, Neal Brofee and Patrick Collins. Contact datc@duncannonatc.org if you or your group would like to contribute to the DATC Meeting Pizza Fund.

The church where we’re holding our meeting accepts any unwanted used clothes that are still in good shape. If you’ve been looking for a place to donate your old clothes that no longer fit after losing weight while hiking the trails, then this is a great opportunity to help the Duncannon community. All clothes are first offered to Duncannon residents and what is not claimed goes to Community Aid which is a reputable non profit organization.

Anyone who would like to be involved with the DATC, offer guidance or influence its policies is welcome to attend our meetings. You also might find a volunteer opportunity that suits you in any number of fields such as: planning our next 2014 DATC Festival, fundraising, supporting the Duncannon Outdoors Club, learning about Appalachian Trail maintenance and inspiring people to enjoy outdoor activities in the Duncannon area.
We look forward to seeing you there Sean.

Duncannon Outdoor Club January Hike

On Jan. 18^th join the DOC and learn about the Great Horned Owl. Bushwhack the Takach property for signs of the great bird. Afterwards, try your hand at dissecting STERILIZED owl pellets at the Cornerstone Christian Church. It is an average paced 2 mile hike on moderate terrain. Bring water and a snack. Dress accordingly and wear orange. Meet at 9:00 am. at the Duncannon Family Health Center. This hike is limited to 16 hikers and the cost is 6 dollars to cover the cost of the pellets. Call 834-9216 or email dtakach@duncannonatc.org to register.