Rausch Gap shelter rebuilt in 2012 by Blue Mountain Eagle Climbing Club

Completed Rausch Gap Shelter.  (Photo: BMECC.org)

The Blue Mountain Eagle Climbing Club's Winter 2013 President's Message notes the beautiful job that BMECC Shelter Chair, Dave Crosby, and numerous volunteers did on the rebuilding of the Rausch Gap Shelter. 

The Rausch Gap Shelter was built in 1973 within State Game Lands Tract #211 and is one of seven shelters maintained by Reading-based Blue Mountain Eagle Climbing Club.  The shelter was scheduled for a roof replacement this year but, upon starting the work, it was discovered that too many of the logs had rotted and needed to be replaced. As a result, a total rebuild project was undertaken.  A dedication ceremony was held in October 2012.  For more info on the project, volunteers involved, and a slideshow of the rebuild process, visit BMECC’s web site – Rausch Gap Work.

Duncannon A.T. Community volunteers participate in Appalachian Trail maintenance

From left to right: Martin Sussman, Jerry Wright, and Sean O'Shell

Report from Sean O'Shell, Vice President of the Duncannon A.T. Community Advisory Committee: 

 “I have been on two maintenance hikes with the Mountain Club of Maryland along the 8 mile section of the Appalachian Trail located on Cove Mountain just south of Duncannon PA. The first trip was part of standard scheduled autumn maintenance and the second trip was to clear the trail of fallen trees after Hurricane Sandy had passed through. I spent both days walking and talking with a Class 'C' sawyer (class 'C' is the best) who was very knowledgeable about the Appalachian Trail and the surrounding environment. I asked him to help me identify tree species and he was more than willing to comply. I can identify quite a few trees now just by looking at their bark, for example if a tree is big, has very rough textured bark and is on a mountain ridge in PA it's almost certainly a Chestnut Oak. The sawyer also took the time to explain various boundary markings, maintenance policies and AT history. The only thing I had to contribute to earn this privilege was to bring a pair of pruners so I could cut any vegetation encroaching on the trail and carry a backpack full of first-aid equipment in case anything went wrong along our hike. It was a honor and a pleasure to be one of the many volunteers who help maintain and take care of the Appalachian Trail, one of our greatest national resources.” 

The Duncannon Appalachian Trail Community hopes to recruit more volunteers from the greater Duncannon area to get involved in maintenance of the Appalachian Trail as partners with the local Trail Clubs including Mountain Club of Maryland, Susquehanna Appalachian TrailClub, Cumberland Valley Appalachian Trail Club, and York Hiking Club.  For more information contact DATC President Mary Parry at trailangelmary@gmail.com or go to our web page to learn more http://duncannonatc.org/

Findings from Statewide Survey shows overwhelming support for Conservation Funding

Source: http://www.plateshack.com/

Attention state legislators!  Results from a recent survey conducted by the Center for Survey Research at Penn State Harrisburg, The Nature Conservancy and The Trust for Public Land indicated overwhelming public support throughout the state for both continuing existing dedicated state funding for conservation as well as increasing state funding for land and water conservation, even if that means a small increase in taxes.

Read the full Executive Summary of the Survey Findings here.

Overall, the results of the survey show that Pennsylvania residents clearly value the state’s natural resources.

2012 a record Saw-whet Owl year at Little Gap!

As a follow-up to last week's post on the Saw-whet Owl project, Rick Wiltraut of DCNR's Jacobsburg Environment Education Center reports that they banded 435 Northern Saw-whet Owl's this fall up at Little Gap on the Ridge near Danielsville, PA.  This marks their best year yet!  

Learn more about the Center's Environmental Educational programming and be sure to keep tabs on construction of their new state-of-the-art facility.  

Upcoming events along the Kittatinny Ridge

Winter is an exciting time to explore the trails and nature centers of the Kittatinny Ridge and Corridor!   Mark your calendars and "Experience its Ridgeness" in early 2013.  A Happy New Year to all from the Kittatinny Coalition!

Jan. 1 ~ New Years Day Pinnacle Hike with BMECC
Hamburg Reservoir Parking Lot, Hamburg, PA
Meet at 9:00 AM at the Hamburg Reservoir Parking Lot for this 8 mile hike. We will hike the AT to Pulpit Rock before continuing to the Pinnacle. Start off the New Year by keeping your resolution to get out and hike. Bring water, snacks and lunch. We will spend some time at the lookouts to enjoy the views. For more information or to register with leader, visit Blue Mountain Eagle Climbing Club's Hike Schedule.

Jan. 5 ~ Shikellamy Trail to A.T. Clarks Valley Shuttle Hike with SATC
Clarks Valley Rd. A.T. Crossing, State Game Lands #211, PA
Beautiful uphill hike to A.T. and we will follow the A.T. back down to Clarks Valley Road. Wear blaze orange.  For more information or to register with leader, visit Susquehanna Appalachian Trail Club's hike schedule.

Jan. 12 ~ Exploring the World of Black Bears at Wildwood Park
Wildwood Lake Park, Harrisburg, PA
Are bears true hibernators? How much can they weigh? What do bears eat? Come and find out at the Creature Feature Story Time! Stories will be read aloud in a group setting where the world of the Black Bear comes to life. We will be looking at tracks, habitat, teeth, and scat throughout the morning. This program is suitable for children ages 3-6 and their parents.  For more information, visit Wildwood Lake Park's event calendar.

Jan. 15 ~ Tall Timber by Van Wagner, Lecture Series at Wildwood
Wildwood Lake Park, Harrisburg, PA
Songwriter, historian and Pennsylvania logger Van Wagner will present a program celebrating the past and present of Pennsylvania’s timber heritage. This program, sponsored by the Friends of Wildwood, covers how timber was harvested over the past several centuries and most importantly WHO harvested it. The program also focuses on the rafting days when millions of board feet of Pennsylvania Timber were assembled into various styles of rafts and piloted down streams and rivers.  For more information, visit Wildwood Lake Park's event calendar.

Jan. 19 ~ Woodpeckers of Jacobsburg
Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center, Wind Gap, PA
Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center has some of the best woodpecker habitat in the Lehigh Valley area.  Join us as we search the park for local species of woodpeckers like the elusive Pileated Woodpecker and Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.  For more information, visit the DCNR event listing.

Jan. 19 ~ Wild About Winter at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary
Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, Kempton, PA
Full day event includes free information about winter wildlife, a live raptor program, children's activity and winter walk.  For more information, visit Hawk Mountain Sanctuary's event schedule.

Duncannon A.T. Community Committee hosts coloring contest at Duncannon's Winterfest

Gigi Sylvester, Age 12

Duncannon’sAppalachian Trail Community Committee (DATC) held a coloring contest for Duncannon area children at the Borough’s recent WinterFest celebration.  Winners Abby Heckard, Age 11, and Gigi Sylvester, Age 12, colored vibrant recycling snail pictures while learning more about their Community's connections to the Appalachian National Scenic Trail.  Duncannon Borough is one of the few towns in Pennsylvania the Appalachian Trail travels directly through and DATC hosted a town-wide A.T. Community designation ceremony as part of a day-long Trails festival this past June.  DATC recently launched a new web site and is starting planning for another event in June 2013!  

Abby Heckard, Age 11

And who can forget the winners of the Susquenita Middle School "Trail to Every Classroom" Post-Card Art Contest this past June!  They're proudly on display in area businesses and in the Appalachian Trail Conservancy's Mid-Atlantic Regional Office.  See below photo.

Duncannon A.T. Community Post Card Art Contest

Saw-Whet Owls tracked at sites along the Kittatinny Ridge

Saw-Whet Owl (Source: Owling.com)

The Kittatinny Ridge and Corridor is home wildlife large and small, from black bears to bog turtles.  The Ridge's forests are prime habitat for nesting songbirds, provide resting places for migrant raptors, and host a diversity of other species.  One of the smallest bird species in North America, the Saw-Whet Owl, is the subject of author, scholer and naturalist, Scott Weidensaul's research with many sites along the Kittatinny involved in the ongoing project. 

Over the weekend the Reading Eagle reported on the research project's history and current monitoring efforts with banding sites strewn across the Ridge and eastern part of the state.  Learn more about the Saw-Whet Owl research in the article below and at Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art where Scott serves as coordinator of the Saw-Whet Owl project. 

Reading Eagle: Research tracks movement of tiny Saw-Whet Owls

Explore PA and the Kittatinny Corridor via DCNR's Interactive Map, now including Geology

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has added new state geologic information to the interactive geographic information systems map. There are layers of information on the map such as bedrock geology, earthquake locations and magnitude, and outstanding geologic features.

You can scroll over and pick specific locations to get more information about geology, state parks and forests, and recreational opportunities available throughout Pennsylvania. Other geologicinformation includes state park geologic guides, maximum elevations by county and glacial boundaries.  Information related to other local recreational amenities will soon be added.  Thanks to Susquehanna Appalachian Trail Club trail mail for the notification!

Historic Delaware Water Gap Borough undergoing Village Study

An Appalachian Trail hiker enters Delaware Water Gap.

Historic Delaware Water Gap Borough is one of the few communities in Pennsylvania along the Appalachian Trail passes directly through, a long time stop for hikers and visitors to the Poconos in general.  Situated at the base of the Kittatinny Ridge, the quaint village is named after the “magnificent natural wonder carved by the Delaware River.” 

The Borough is currently undergoing a Village Study made possible by a grant from Monroe County.  This planning process serves to engage various stakeholders within the community with goals of sustaining the traditional look and feel of the Borough, improving and ensuring continued safety for life and property, promoting appropriate community development and maintaining a high quality of life. 

The study area for this project will focus on the primary commercial corridor within the Borough which includes many businesses, services and community groups that serve Appalachian Trail hikers, including: Church of the Mountain Hostel, the Deer Head Inn, Edge of the Woods Outfitters (only outfitter along the A.T. in Pennsylvania!) and Village Farmer and Bakery (home of the famous Hot Dog & slice of Apple Pie special).    The steering committee hopes to incorporate elements of how Delaware Water Gap could position itself as a gateway for outdoor recreation to the Appalachian Trail, the Kittatinny Ridge, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area and various other valued natural and cultural assets that contribute to its unique sense of place and draw visitors.  We can’t wait to see the results!

"Coffee Trails" opens in Duncannon Borough, an Appalachian Trail Community

Coffee Trails, a “quaint and cozy coffee shop located off the Appalachian Trail,” recently opened up on Market St. in Duncannon Borough.  Stop in and check it out before or after your hike!

"Like the A.T., Coffee Trails strives to be a place for people of all backgrounds and ages to enjoy a relaxed, family friendly environment.  Always remember, the Appalachian Trail is just a sip away!"

The historic river town of Duncannon, situated at the confluence of the Susquehanna and Juniata Rivers and the Kittatinny Ridge "flyway," is treasured by the thousands of thru-hikers, section hikers, and river enthusiasts in Perry County, PA.  One of only a handful of small towns through which the Trail directly passes, Duncannon is well-known for its views from Hawk Rock as well as the locals' friendliness, hospitality and generosity of local residents.  Duncannon recently became Pennsylvania’s second designated Appalachian Trail Community due to the community's history of assisting/hosting hikers and local actions taken to promote and protect the A.T.  The Patriot News: Duncannon officials hope Appalachian Trail Community designation brings more people to historic town.

One of the goals of the A.T. Community program is to assist with sustainable economic development through tourism and outdoor recreation.  Visitors to the Appalachian Trail are often looking to grab some food and check out other area attractions before or after their hike.  Coffee Trails will be a great asset to Duncannon's main street in promoting the community as a destination for outdoor enthusiasts!  

Hunters take to the game lands of the Kittatinny Ridge on first-day of season

A Halifax resident catches her first buck in Dauphin County
Photo: Patriot News, PennLive.com. 

The vast network of State Game Lands and private properties along the wooded Kittatinny Ridge landscape provide ample opportunities for hunting, one of many recreational opportunities that brings visitors to the Ridge. 

The most remote/road-less area of the Appalachian Trail corridor in Pennsylvania is an area known as St. Anthony’s Wilderness (or State Game Lands #211) in Dauphin County.  The PatriotNews reported on first-day of deer season hunter experiences in St. Anthony’s Wilderness and other parts of the Ridge in the mid-state.  Apparently it was a little quieter than usual!

Some Central Pennsylvania first-day deer hunters find plenty ofspace, lots of quiet

The PA Game Commission is an important partner in the cooperative management system of the Appalachian Trail and the Trail corridor is protected by a patchwork of State Game Lands throughout the Commonwealth.  For more information about hunting in PA and licenses, visit the PA Game Commission’s web site. For more information on hunting regulations specifically along the Appalachian Trail, visit the “Hunting” section of Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s web site or call the Mid-Atlantic Regional Office at 717-258-5771.

"Trek across Blue Mountain tells wildlife story"

Source: Pottsville Mercury

A hike up and across the Blue Mountain landscape spanning Berks and Schuylkill  Counties reveals a woven web of wildlife, waterways, wooded slopes, old bridges, rail lines and stone walls.  Read this Pottsville Mercury account of a man and his dog that paints a picture of why his section of the Ridge and the Appalachian Trail is so spectacular.

Trek across Blue Mountain tells wildlife story - Pottsville Mercury

Upcoming events and hikes along the Kittatinny Ridge

Upcoming events along the Kittatinny Ridge.  Speakers, workshops and hikes, oh my!  Mark your calendars and Happy Thanksgiving to all.

 Nov. 20 ~ Peter's Mountain to Victoria Trail Hike with SATC
State Game Lands #211, Middle Paxton Township, PA
Meet at parking lot of junction PA-325 and PA-225 / Clark's Valley Road for car shuttle. Hike begins on Peter's Mountain PA-225 and ends at Victoria Trail along Clarks Valley Road. Lunch at Peters Mountain Shelter. For more information or to contact leader visit Susquehanna Appalachian Trail Club's hike schedule.

 Nov. 23, 24 & 25 ~ Buddy Boy Vineyard's First Anniversary Celebration
Buddy Boy Winery & Vineyard, Duncannon, PA
Perry County's Buddy Boy Winery & Vineyard, nestled into Cove Mountain below the Appalachian Trail near its Susquehanna River crossing, is celebrating its First Anniversary of its opening with a bang. Enjoy live music, local wines and freshly steamed lobster while gazing up at the forested ridge. For more information visit Buddy Boy Winery & Vineyard's web site.

 Nov. 29 ~ "Laughing & Learning on the Lehigh River" at LGNC
Lehigh Gap Nature Center, Slatington, PA
Lehigh Gap Nature Center 2012 Speaker Series: Jerry McAward is an American Canoe Association Instructor Trainer Educator and past chairman of ACA’s River Kayak Committee. He holds degrees in physical education/exercise
physiology and commercial recreation For more information or the full Speaker Series schedule, visit LGNC's Calendar.

 Dec. 1 ~ Hawk Mountain Sanctuary's Holiday Open House
Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, Kempton, PA
A full-day event to get you into the holiday spirit as well as outside! The annual holiday open house features complimentary hot cider and $1 soft pretzels, great gift ideas, an art exhibit by wildlife artist David Hughes, nature-themed activities and our signature live owl program. Special this year will be a Flying Squirrel program, and bald eagle video clips by John and Yoke DiGiorgio, authors of "The Nesting Diaries: The Triumphant Journey of Four Bald Eagle Chicks." For more information visit Hawk Mountain's event listing.

 Dec. 2 ~ Fort Dietrich Snyder and the Appalachian Trail
Rt. 183 Appalachian Trail crossing, Bethel, PA
Meet at 2:00 PM on Rt. 183 on top of the Blue Mountain for a family-friendly hike sponsored by Blue Mountain Eagle Climbing Club and led by Schuylkill County environmental educator, Porcupine Pat. This is an easy 3 mile interpretive hike to the monument for the fort location. See a natural spring along an abandoned farm pond and the group will continue to hike the Appalachian Trail. For more information visit BMECC hike schedule.

 Dec. 2 ~ Creating Natural Ornaments Workshop
Wildwood Lake Park, Harrisburg, PA
Children are invited to make holiday ornaments using pine cones, milkweed pods and other natural materials. Everything will be supplied to create a small work of art to decorate your home or tree. Just bring your creativity. For more information visit Wildwood Park's event schedule.

Susquehanna Appalachian Trail Club improves trail on on Stony Mountain

SATC volunteers construct a rock waterbar on the Appalachian Trail

This past weekend, volunteers from capital-area based Susquehanna Appalachian Trail Club (SATC) climbed Stony Mountain to improve trail along the route to the Stony Mountain fire tower where the A.T. meets the Horse-Shoe Trail.  SATC is one of thirty-one groups that maintain part of the 2,184-mile Appalachian Trail, maintaining 20 miles of trail between PA-225 in Dauphin County and Rausch Gap in Lebanon County.

From the trailmaster's report:

On some of our other work trips this year, we worked on improving trail conditions on Stony Mountain where the A.T. follows an old fire tower road for two miles up the mountain. On some of the steeper sections, we built rock waterbars and check dams to curb erosion and improve footing for trail users. On a November work trip we had a huge turnout to work on this section as we had new volunteers from the US Green Building Council for Central PA join us along with some volunteers from Day Hikers of Central PA, an online group.

Schuylkill County Trails Directory - Learn more about the Appalachian Trail in Schuylkill County!

In 2011, the Schuylkill Leadership Class of the Schuylkill County Chamber of Commerce selected a worthy project to to celebrate Schuylkill County’s Bicentennial Year.  The Leadership Class developed an online directory of information on the hiking, walking, and water trails throughout the County and class members visited these locations to gather the information and photographs on the linked pages.

Visit the Schuylkill County Trails Directory.

A great description of the Appalachian Trail section in Schuylkill County is included, telling the story the Trail's history, access points, scenic vistas and unique experiences.

In the process of completing the project, they gained an appreciation for the natural beauty and rich history of Schuylkill County, and they hope you enjoy visiting some of these trails as well.

Fall Views of Kittatinny Ridge and Appalachian Trail at Swatara Gap

The leaves are down and late Fall has settled in along the Appalachian Trail in Pennsylvania as it climbs, descends and meanders through the gaps and ridges of the Kittatinny Corridor.  Check out views from a recent trip to the Swatara Gap area of the A.T. in northern Lebanon County where the Trail emerges from St. Anthony's Wilderness/State Game Lands 211 and traverses beautiful open grasslands with views of the surrounding ridges as it heads towards Swatara State Park near Green Point Road.  

A little further north, the trail crosses the Waterville Bridge over Swatara Creek, passes under I-81 and finally climbs up onto the Kittatinny Ridge, or First Mountain.  Learn more about recent improvements at Swatara State Park including trail and parking area development and bridge construction: Swatara State Park construction nears end.

Waterville Bridge, Swatara State Park

Appalachian Trail just south of Green Point Rd.

Appalachian Trail approaching Pipefitters Field, view of Second Mountain

Pipefitters Field

Lehigh Valley Wild reports record number of Golden Eagles at Bake Oven Knob

Lehigh Valley Wild is a blog about outdoor recreation in the Lehigh Valley region, covering activities and updates across hunting, fishing, hiking, kayaking, geocacheing, bird and everything in between.  Guest blogger, Gary Bl0ckus, reported that hawkwatchers recently counted a record number of migrating Golden Eagles along the Kittatinny Ridge at Bake Oven Knob in Lehigh County.  Experts point to Hurricane Sandy as the likely cause of the migration phenomenon, but visit the Lehigh Valley Wild blog post to learn more!

Record number of Golden Eagles at Bake Oven Knob

The Appalachian Trail & Kittatinny Ridge Conservation Assistance Mini-Grant round has opened!

Boiling Springs, PA (November 1, 2012) – The Appalachian Trail Conservancy, along with Audubon Pennsylvania and the Kittatinny Coalition, is now accepting applications for the Appalachian Trail and Kittatinny Ridge ConservationAssistance Mini-Grant Program, until December 31, 2012, to help local municipalities and partnering non-profits preserve and promote local natural and cultural assets along the Kittatinny Ridge. In early 2013, $70,000 in grants will be awarded with a required 20% local match.

This program has been developed to work with communities to preserve and enhance the Appalachian Trail experience and Kittatinny Ridge landscape for future generations of Pennsylvania’s residents and visitors, using proven local strategies already used in communities along the Appalachian Trail in Pennsylvania. 

While priority will be given to plans for municipal conservation assessment or land use action, eligible projects can align with broader goals of successful conservation and trail-related awareness campaigns or planning and protection strategies. These can include ecologic and natural resources, scenic forested, agricultural or open area view sheds, heritage or cultural resources, and recreational trails.

“The Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s grant program emphasizes multi-partner collaborations and sound local land use planning.  It is a major goal of the Kittatinny Coalition to foster local stewardship and promotion of these assets and to encourage sustained public/private collaborations in the process,” stated Kim McKee, Act 24 Coordinator of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy.

The ATC and Audubon Pennsylvania co-lead the Kittatinny Coalition, an alliance of organizations, agencies and academic institutions working together to conserve the natural, scenic, cultural, and aesthetic resources of the Kittatinny Ridge and Corridor in the eastern part of Pennsylvania. The coalition identifies its key role as being a regional facilitator and leader in projects that preserve and promote the natural and cultural assets of the region.

Funds for the grants come from the National Park Service’s Appalachian Trail Park Office and are provided to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy through a cooperative agreement.

For more information or to download the application, visit www.kittatinnyridge.org/grants.

"Nothing like an October weekend at Hawk Mountain"

Hawk Mountain, perched right along the Kittatinny Ridge on the border of Berks and Schuylkill Counties, is one of the best places in northeastern North America to view the annual autumn hawk migration.  The 2,600 acre Sanctuary offers superb hiking in every season and the chance to see large numbers of hawks, eagles and falcons each autumn.  A must see for birders, outdoor enthusiasts and Appalachian Trail hikers visiting the Pennsylvania section.  Click on the image at right to see views of Hawk Mountain in Autumn courtesy of the Hawk Mountain Sanctuary facebook page.  

This post is to remind us of better weather days, but hope all remain safe and sound throughout Hurricane Sandy.

"Climate Change is Not a Spectator Sport!," Conversation with Dr. Diane Husic

Please join Manada Conservancy for a conversation about climate change, its impact in Pennsylvania, and the complexities of developing climate policy at the state, national and international levels. Also discussed will be ways that the public can move from spectators of the media and political debates on this issue to becoming active participants in helping scientists and policy makers better understand the environmental and social issues associated with the challenge of the 21st century.

Manada Conservancy's presenter is Diane Husic, PhD, Professor and chair of the Department of Biological Sciences at Moravian College and co-coordinator of the Kittatinny Science Summit. Moravian College is a credentialed civil society observer for the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change and Dr. Husic has attended the international U.N. COP meetings as an official delegate for the past three years. She is currently serving as a member of the state Climate Change Adaptation Steering Committee.

November 1, 2012 at 7:00 p.m.
Hershey Derry Township Historical Society
40 Northeast Drive, Hershey, PA

Fall Festival at Potter's Farm in Pine Grove this Saturday

For fall fun, head out to Potter's Farm near Pine Grove, PA for their Fall Festival this coming Saturday, Oct. 27 -- Hayrides, eco-house tours, free massages, art classes, pumpkin painting, and so much more!  Across the valley from the Kittatinny, Potters Farm is one of Schuylkill County's man farms committed to sustainable agriculture.

Stony Valley Spook Hike scheduled for Halloween

Lebanon Daily News reports:

Ever wonder if there was a catamount lurking in the shadows of Stony Valley, or if the haunting train whistles upon the wind could still be heard? This Halloween night is your chance.

Historian Brandy M. Watts Martin will return as the Stony Valley Spook Hike leader through the Susquehanna Appalachian Trail Club.  Watts Martin has been studying the mountains between the Susquehanna and Schuylkill rivers in State Game Lands No. 211 for the last 15 years.

The once annual spook hike was temporarily suspended while Watts Martin pursued her degree in American Studies from Penn State Harrisburg.   "For years people have been asking me when I will lead another spook hike," Watts Martin said in a news release. "I thought what a great way to spend Halloween this year telling the ghost stories everyone always loved. After all, it always makes it more interesting when they're true."

The 7-mile hike starts at 6:30 p.m. at the Western Rail-Trail parking lot along Gold Mine Road on Wednesday, Oct. 31. Hikers will travel along the abandoned Schuylkill & Susquehanna Railroad in the dark to the Rausch Gap Cemetery, where the hike breaks to hear tales of ghosts and ghouls, murderers and mischief-makers along the abandoned railroad. Participants should bring a flashlight, extra batteries and a drink.

In case of inclement weather, the hike will be canceled.  For more information about the Stony Valley Spook Hike, check out Watts Martin's website at www.StonyValley.com.

Cumberland County presenting draft Land Partnerships Plan

LandPartnerships is a countywide strategy designed to improve and enhance the quality of life in Cumberland County through: farmland preservation, natural resource protection and parks, trails and greenways.  These plans are important policy statements at the County and local level that reinforce efforts that preserve and enhance significant landscapes such as the Kittatinny Ridge and Corridor.

In April 2012, the Cumberland County Planning Department embarked on an 8-10 month effort to update the Plan in order to develop new recommendations for the next 5 years. The planning process includes a variety of opportunities for the public to provide input including a citizen survey and public meetings.  Two upcoming public meetings are planned to review and receive input on the draft Land Partnerships Plan.

Wednesday, October 24, 2012 

Southampton Township Municipal Building

200 Airport Road, Shippensburg, PA

Monday, November 5, 2012

Lower Allen Township Municipal Building

2233 Gettysburg Road, Camp Hill, PA

For more information visit: Cumberland County Land Partnerships Plan 2012