Category Archives: Duncannon Outdoors Club

Get outside and learn about the nature surrounding us all.

Cattail Hike

: Cattail

: The Reservoir

: Walking the trail

: At the graveyard

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 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.

DOC Bird Hike At Wildwood

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: Walking along Wildwood

: Looking for birds.

: Taking a break.

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.

: Red Winged Blackbird

: Wood Thrush

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.

: Those are turtles piled on a log,

: This Canada Goose refused to move!

: The huge sycamore!

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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: Getting Ready to Explore

: Setting Up to Scope the Waterfowl

: Scoping The Birds

On 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.

Vernal Ponds and Jefferson Salamanders Hike

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: Vernal Pond

: Jefferson Salamander

: The Hikers

It was a great day, a little windy, but you couldn’t ask for better weather and trail conditions. We even got to hike on moss! Just the week before the trails were covered in snow and ice making footing very precarious. The vernal pond was not frozen over making observation easy with no sign that the Jefferson Salamander had been there. It has not been quite warm enough yet for them to migrate. We also stopped at the non-vernal pond and had a little discussion about toads and frogs. There was a little excitement on the way back when one of the puppies got loose, but the kids made a mad dash and caught the dog. Continue reading →

Berry Mountain Hike and Hypothermia

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: 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

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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.

Duncannon Outdoor Club Hike March 15th

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On Saturday, March 15th hike an average paced loop hike for 1.73 miles over easy terrain at the Joseph Ibberson Conservation Area. This is an easy hike for the whole family, ages 6 and older. Learn about the importance of vernal ponds and the migration of the Jefferson Salamander. Meet at the Duncannon Family Health Center at 51 Campus Business Way in Duncannon. Meeting time is 9:00 am. Call 834-9216 or email dtakach@duncannonatc.org to register. The conservation area is about 25 minutes from Duncannon .

Berry Mountain Hike Rescheduled

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The Berry Mountain Hike has been rescheduled for Sunday, March 2nd at 12:30 pm.

Hike up and down Berry Mountain (located locally) for a total of 3.6 miles on easy terrain at an average pace. Enjoy the view of the Susquehanna River and surrounding mountains. Learn about hypothermia and how to treat it. Meet at the Duncannon Family Health Center at 51 Campus Business Way in Duncannon. Call 834-9216 or email dtakach@duncannonatc.org to regester. Bring water and a snack. Wear orange.

DOC January Hike – The Great Horned Owl

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For the January DOC hike we went out onto the Takach property in search of a Great Horned Owl’s nest. (In February the owls are in the nest and will protect their nesting sites aggressively.) The hike leader had found an area where there were promising signs of an owl’s nest. Owl droppings on an old snag used for a lookout were evident as were droppings on a large hemlock with a nest at the top. Feathers were also found at the bottom of the trees. Unfortunately, it snowed the day after finding the site so the group was unable to reach the site due to hazardous footing on a very steep hill. We went looking elsewhere without success. We did create a nesting site by using white paint for the droppings; on the ground, on a snag (dead tree – the lookout) and another tree close by with a nest in it. Scattered pellets and various feathers around the trees put on the final touch.

All was not lost, we learned about the great owl and had the opportunity to dissect owl pellets at the Takach’s. Moles and voles seemed to be the prevalent prey ingested by the owls. Surprisingly, we found a bird skull and a snake skull, and yes, in answer to everyone’s question and observation of the skull, snakes do have tiny little teeth to help ingest prey. Continue reading →