"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.