Category Archives: Outdoor Opportunities

Get outdoors with people in the Duncannon community.

DOC Hike – Where Have All The Monarchs Gone?

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The DOC hikers met on September 26th, Family Hiking Day, to learn about Monarchs and then head out for a hike.  Prior to the hike, they were given the opportunity to design their own backpack which came with a first aid kit.  Materials were provided by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and were greatly appreciated.  Items left over were handed out at the Little Buffalo Festival of the Arts where they were a great hit!

Also, prior to hitting the trails hikers learned about the Monarch Butterflies, why the butterflies are disappearing and what people could do to help.  Information presented to the group can be obtained at Where Have All the Monarchs Gone?

The DOC hikers headed up Hawk Rock for one of three options:  hike up and back, hike up along the ridge and to the blue trail and back on Reservoir Road, or hike up to the blue trail to the old furnace stack on Reservoir Road and back.  Most of the hikers chose option one, but we did have a few that took the last option to the furnace stack.  It was a beautiful day and the view was fantastic!  Thanks to Sean O. for leading the longer hike.

Information on the furnace stack can be found at The Duncannon Smoke Stack.

DOC Moon Light Hike – Where Have All The Little Brown Bats Gone?

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Little Brown Bat

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On October 24th join the DOC for a moon lit hike up Peter’s Mountain.  The 4 mile hike will be on moderate to strenuous terrain at an average pace.  Learn about the Little Brown Bat and why 98% of them have expired in Pennsylvania and other states.  Bring headlamps or flashlights.  Meet at the Clarks Ferry AT parking lot (40.395767,-77.00871) at 6:30 pm.  Call 395-2462 or email dtakach@duncannonatc.org to register.

 

Where Have All The Monarchs Gone?

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 DOC LogoWhere have all the Monarchs gone?  Join the Duncannon Outdoor Club on Family Hiking Day, Saturday, September 26th to find out the answer. This hike will offer three possible options. Option one is a hike up to Hawk Rock for 2 miles out and back on moderate to strenuous terrain, at an average pace. The second option will continue from the top of Hawk Rock on the ridge to the blue trail, back on reservoir road for a loop hike. This will be an 8 mile hike. If the group so chooses there is a third option of continuing from the blue trail on the reservoir road to the old furnace stack and back on Reservoir Road for a ten mile loop hike. Meet at 9:00am at the Hawk Rock AT Trailhead by Tubby’s Restaurant in Duncannon. To Register call 717-395-2462 or email dtakach@ducannonatc.org.

DOC Turtle Hike at Wildwood Park

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DOC LogoOn August 15th, the Duncannon Outdoor Club lead an educational hike around the lake at Wildwood Park & Nature Center. Hike leader Deb Takach told us all about the local turtles and where we would most likely find them. It was an educational and pleasant day spent walking around a scenic environment with good people. All in all, it was a nice experience for friends, family, and outdoor enthusiasts. Be sure to join us for our next hike.

Duncannon AT Festival Hikes for 2015

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Hike Trails of DuncannonGet acquainted with Duncannon area trails on Saturday June 20th. On the morning of our upcoming Duncannon Appalachian Trail Festival there will be hikes hosted by local outdoor enthusiasts who want to show you the amazing beauty that can be found in and around Duncannon, PA. Don’t miss these great opportunities to learn about some of Central PA’s most interesting outdoor resources while spending time with people in your community. Get to know Duncannon!

  • PA Game Commission LogoEasy – 8:00 to 11:30 – Haldeman Island: In cooperation with the PA Game Commission, this is a leisurely 2.5 mile hike touring the abundant wildlife of Haldeman Island. Located near the confluence of the Susquehanna and Juniata rivers, access to Haldeman Island is usually restricted to provide sanctuary for a wide variety of native Pennsylvania birds, including the iconic Bald Eagle. Sign up early for this rare chance to enjoy an excellent hike lead by the extremely knowledgeable and informative retired PA Game Commission Land Management Group Supervisor, Scott Bills. This hike is limited to 25 people. Please contact DATC (haldeman-hike@duncannonatc.org) to register. Parking SymbolWhere to park.
  • Duncannon Outdoor Club LogoSuper Easy – 9:00 to 10:30 – Scavenger Hunt at Cornerstone Christian Church Trails – Sponsored by the Duncannon Outdoor Club. This is a slower paced 1.14 mile easy-terrain hike through woods and fields on mostly wide paths. It is a hike for the whole family, especially young 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 Duncannon at 9:00 am. Call 395-2462 or email dtakach@duncannonatc.org to register. Parking SymbolWhere to park.
  • SATC-LogoChallenging – 10:00 to 12:15 – Peters Mountain to Clarks Ferry Shelter – Sponsored by the Susquehanna Appalachian Trail Club, this is a moderately paced 4.3 mile hike with a semi-strenuous 900 foot climb up the end of Peters Mountain. We’ll meet at the Park-n-Ride lot near the Clarks Ferry Bridge on Rt. 147, head up the Appalachian Trail to the Clarks Ferry Shelter for a nice break, go back down the mountain on the blue-blazed Susquehanna Trail and then head back to our cars. As we hike this trail we’ll stop to take in picturesque views of Duncannon, the valley surrounding Dauphin, and the Juniata and Susquehanna river junction. You must contact the hike leader (kbalaban@duncannonatc.org) to register for this hike. Parking SymbolWhere to park.
  • Day Hikersa of Central PA - Meetup LogoDifficult – 7:30 to 1:00 – Hawk Rock & Duncannon Tower Loop – Sponsored by the Day Hikers of Central PA, this is a brisk paced 11 mile hike over strenuous terrain with a 700 foot climb in the first mile. We will start and finish the hike at Tubby’s Nightclub and hike on the AT to Hawk Rock. Then we will go down a steep descent and visit the ruins of a lumber mill in the Duncannon Watershed that features a magnificent 50-foot high stone and brick tower (“The Stack”) that is still standing. Hiking poles will be helpful. You must contact the hike leader (dennis-hike@duncannonatc.org) at least two days before this hike to register. Parking SymbolWhere to park.

 We look forward to seeing you on the trail!

DOC June Scavenger Hike

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DOC LogoOn Sat., June 20th 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 395-2462 or email dtakach@duncannonatc.org to register.  Afterward attend the Duncannon Appalachian Trail Festival from noon to 4:00 pm on High Street in Duncannon.

DOC May Canoe Trip

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DOC LogoOn Sat., May 9th join the DOC on a canoe trip from Blue Mountain Outfitters (BMO) to West Fairview for an opportunity to observe the egrets, cormorants, and herons raise their young on Wade Island.  This trip will be under the guidance of the BMO with a cost of $29.40 per person for a group of 10 or more.  Less than 10 will be $31.80 per person.  Call 395-2462 or email dtakach@duncannonatc.org to register.  We will meet at the Duncannon Family Health Center to carpool at 9:30 am. or alternately at BMO at 10:00 am.  Canoes and all equipment will be provided. RSVP by May 2nd.

Leave No Trace

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Looking North from Duncannon's Hawk Rock on a misty morning.If you have ventured into the wilderness to bask in the beauty of nature or if you have visited a local park to enjoy some time outside, then you are in good company. According to U.S. Census Bureau data for the year 2011, a little over 90 million people over the age of 16 (about 38% of the over-16 U.S. population) participated in outdoor related activities such as hunting, fishing or wildlife watching and even more to the point, 4 million of those people are in Pennsylvania and sharing the same resources as you (94). When you combine those numbers with 2011 National Park Service data stating that there were 278,939,216 recreational visits to national parks, it is easy to see that a massive amount of people are heading to the great outdoors for a little rest and relaxation.

People are drawn to places of outdoor recreation as a means of escaping the negative aspects of high-density living found throughout modern society. Unfortunately, as more people in densely populated areas visit the natural resources in their nearby geographic locations, the problems associated with elevated population levels such as traffic, waste disposal, criminal activities and noise pollution are tagging along for the journey. It’s not that there is a shortage of wilderness in the United States – there are 1.45 million acres of state game land in PA alone (Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 14) – but as you approach more populated regions, the number of outdoor recreational areas rapidly decreases while the amount of people visiting them increases. This puts undo stress on our popular getaway locations and the people who visit them.

Fortunately there is a simple common-sense strategy to combat the overuse of shared outdoor recreational resources. It’s called the “Leave No Trace” program and it has seven key concepts to make the time you spend in a natural setting more enjoyable for you and those who follow in your footsteps.

7Principles1) Plan Ahead and Prepare
2) Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
3) Dispose of Waste Properly
4) Leave What You Find
5) Minimize Campfire Impacts
6) Respect Wildlife
7) Be Considerate of Other Visitors

Plan Ahead and Prepare: Being prepared and planning ahead are the best ways to keep out of trouble or emergency situations so taking time to learn about the area you plan to visit and the rules that govern it is always beneficial. Dress appropriately and carry the supplies necessary for whatever adventure you might take. If you think ahead, you are less likely to find yourself in a compromising position like the unfortunate boater who got lost in the middle of the Canadian wilderness and had to chop down four utility poles, disrupting power to hundreds of people, so the power company would investigate and find him (Stranded Man).

Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces: The reason you should travel on durable surfaces Continue reading →

Boyd’s Hike – Black Bears

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It was a cold start to a great day. We had 9 brave hikers who weathered the 19 degree temperatures, including one hiker who lives in California! We began our hike on the East Loop Trail. Once on the steep power line connector trail we followed Janie Trail where we ran into problems. It was too icy for those without Yak Traks or Micro Spikes, so we had to go off trail to reach the top of the mountain. While we broke a “Leave No Trace” policy, the priority was the safety of the hikers. We had planned on hooking up with the Coach Trail, Creek Trail and return on the Pond Trail, but icy conditions required we cut the hike short. We ended staying on Janie Trail, intersecting Lower Springs Trail and following it back to the parking lot.

Prior to starting the hike we had a brief presentation on Black Bears in the education pavilion. It started with the “true – false” test below. Try taking it yourself and see how well you do before reading on for the answers.

QUESTIONS:

  1. Two species of black bears live in the wild in PA – the grizzly bear and the black bear.
  2. The main food of the black bear is meat.
  3. The best way to keep away from black bears is to climb a tree.
  4. Scientist determine the age of a black bear by counting the rings on a bear’s tooth.
  5. Black bears can be black, brown, and even cinnamon color.
  6. In PA bear cubs are born in April.
  7. Black bear cubs usually weigh around 5 lbs. when they are born,
  8. Black bears are true hibernators.
  9. Black bears return to the same den year after year.
  10. Black bears will not den near people.
  11. Black bears can go almost six months without eating, drinking, or excreting.
  12. Black bears will climb trees to take a rest during the day.
  13. Because of their large size black bears are slow.
  14. Feeding black bears in the wild is unlawful.
  15. Black bear populations in PA are low because of lack of habitat.

Whew! Did you make it through all those questions? Let’s see how well you did. Now for the answers…. Continue reading →

DOC January Hike

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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.