Check out the Trail Names of the 2014 thru-hikers! This sortable and searchable list from the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) shows all 896 registered thru-hikers who finished walking the entire Appalachian Trail (AT) in 2014:
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When you are hiking and someone is coming toward you on the trail, who yields? What does leave no trace mean? Join the DOC on Sat., Feb. 21st to learn the answers and more interesting information on these topics.
We will then hike an average paced 2 mile hike over moderate to strenuous terrain. We will be hiking up Hawk Rock if weather conditions permit to a great view. If the trail is too treacherous with ice, we will alternately hike the Takach property in Duncannon over moderate terrain. Meet at 9:00 am. at the Hawk Rock Appalachian trail head across from Tubby’s restaurant. Alternate meeting location will be at the Duncannon Family Health Center at 9:00 am. Call 395-2462 or email dtakach@duncannonatc.org to register.
What do you do when you cross paths with a black bear? Do black bears really hibernate? Join the DOC on Sat., Jan. 17th to learn the answers and more interesting information on the common black bear.
We will then hike an average paced 5 mile hike over moderate to strenuous terrain. We will be hiking at Boyd’s Tree Farm. There are two short climbs. If there is snow or ice, do not forget your micro spikes if you have them. Wear orange. Meet at 9:00 am at the Duncannon Family Health Center to carpool or at Boyd’s at 9:30 am. Call 395-2462 or email dtakach@duncannonatc.org to register.
On Sat., Dec. 20th join the Duncannon Outdoor Club for a night out at the Little Buffalo State Park Christmas Trails. This event is for the whole family, especially the little ones. Learn about where common animals go in the winter, and then walk the quarter mile trail lit with lights and decorated with many Christmas displays. Stop at the North Pole to visit Santa and stop by for cookies and hot chocolate on the way. We will meet at the Duncannon Family Health Center at 7:00 pm. to carpool. Call 717-395-2462 or email dtakach@duncannonatc.org to register. Bring some money since donations are requested and a small fee may be asked for the hot chocolate and cookies. Hope to see you there!
On Sat., Dec. 6th join the Duncannon Outdoor Club as we help the workers at Little Buffalo State Park decorate for their Christmas Trails to be held Dec. 17th through the 23rd. They are in need of volunteers to make this event a wonderful experience for all. If interested in volunteering call 717-395-2462 or email dtakach@duncannonatc.org. We will be helping from 1:00 to 4:00 pm, We will meet at the Duncannon Family Health Center at 12:30 to carpool or at the park office at 1:00. Please consider lending a hand for this free community service,
On Sat., Nov. 15th join the Duncannon Outdoor Club (DOC) for a day at Hawk Mountain. Learn about and observe raptors as they migrate. We will then go on an average paced approximate 6 mile hike over rocky, rough and moderate terrain with two lookouts for a beautiful view. There is a strenuous climb at the end of the trail we are going to be on, River Rock Trail. Bring binoculars, water, a snack and lunch. Cost is $6.40 if there are more than 10 people 13 years and older. Otherwise, cost is $8.00 per person. Meet at the Duncannon Family Health Center at 7:30 am. to carpool. Alternately meet at the Kmart parking lot in Summerdale at 8:00 am. Please reimburse drivers 10 cents to the mile for gas. Distance is 59 miles. Call 717-395-2462 or email dtakach@duncannonatc.org to register. Wear orange.
On Sat., Oct. 18th join the Duncannon Outdoor Club (DOC) for a day at one of the most beautiful state parks in PA. We will be spending the day at Ricketts Glen State Park, known for its 24 pristine falls ranging from 9 foot to 94 ft. We will be learning about the history of Ricketts Glen and hiking safety from park naturalist, Judy Adamic. Then we will hike over moderate to strenuous terrain at an average pace as we walk a total of 3.2 miles down the falls trail and back up again. It is known as the most magnificent hike in the state and one of the top hikes in the East. Pack a lunch, plenty of water and your cameras. Wear hiking boots as the trails by the falls are wet and slippery. This is an all-day event in that the ride there will be approximately 2 hours one way. Meet at 8:00 am at the Duncannon Family Health Center to carpool. Please reimburse drivers 10 cents per mile for gas. Call 395-2462 or email dtakach@duncannonatc.org to register.
THE JUNE DATC FESTIVAL: The DATC Festival went pretty well. We probably had about twice as many people in attendance than we did last year, we had a lot more volunteers, vendors were happier, and everyone seemed to like the location on High Street. I would say it was a successful collaboration between the Appalachian Trail and the Duncannon community. We polled the vendors after the festival and we received overwhelmingly positive responses with almost all saying they would return for next year. We still have plenty of room to grow and look forward to your cooperation and participation next year on Saturday, June 20th.
HAWK ROCK VANDALISM: Some time during Friday, August 1st, a lovestruck loser decided to proclaim his love by setting up a table and chairs at Hawk Rock, painting about 30 red hearts along the Appalachian Trail, painting graffiti on a large rock a third of the way up the mountain, and spray painting a love message across all of Hawk Rock. You can read more about it here. We also happen to have a pictue of a guy who might know something about it.
HAWK ROCK CLEANUP – PART 1: On Sunday, August 24th, the DATC, the Mountain Club of Maryland and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy joined together to remove a large amount of the new graffiti and some of the old stuff too. Hawk Rock is looking better than it has in years but our work is not done yet.
HAWK ROCK CLEANUP – PART 2: We have scheduled another cleanup day for this coming Sunday September 14th, and we are asking volunteers to carry water and help with some light trail maintenance. We will be at the Duncannon Recycling Center between 10AM and 2PM and you are welcome to come out and help us or just bring some water jugs and get to know us. Either way, Continue reading
You, too, could be this cool!
We have scheduled another round of cleaning for Hawk Rock and the Appalachian Trail on Sunday, September 14, 2014 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m at the Duncannon Recycling Center near Little Boston Road. We need a lot of volunteers to carry 20 gallons of water one third of the way up the mountain (to clean a large rock there) and get another 20 gallons all of the way up to Hawk Rock near the top of the mountain.
We’re asking you to bring as many filled or empty water containers as possible. We need 1 gallon jugs, 2 liter bottles and 5 gallon buckets. People with backpacks can carry the 2 liter bottles, people without backpacks can carry 1 gallon jugs, and the 5 gallon buckets can be used to store water near the graffiti removal locations. Everyone is encouraged to bring water containers even if they can’t carry them up themselves. Anyone can help, it’s as easy or as challenging as you’d like to make it. Continue reading
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.