2013 Duncannon A.T. Community Calendars Available

Did you attend Duncannon's June 2, 2012 Appalachian Trail Community designation festival? If so, or if you have an affinity for this historic trail town where the Appalachian Trail meets the Juniata and Susquehanna Rivers, check out the 2013 Calendar made available by Duncannon's A.T. Community Committee (DATC).   The day's events featured a variety of local hikes, educational programming, non-profit and artisan vendors, musical performances, the unveiling of the post-card art contest winners and the official designation ceremony.

Mail checks to 2 Ann St., Duncannon, PA 17020.  Make payable to DATC Advisory Committee.  For pick up in Duncannon, contact Mary "Trailangelmary" Parry at trailangelmary@gmail.com or call 717-834-4706.

Clark's Ferry Tavern excavation stirs up interest in Duncannon

Clark's Ferry Tavern. (Photo: SEDA-COG)

The Perry County Times recently reported excitement at the on-going excavation of the Clark’s Ferry Tavern in Duncannon.  Recently acquired by Duncannon Borough for eventual restoration, Clark’s Ferry Tavern is the oldest standing structure in town and served an important role in the area’s transportation history as the western landing of Clark’s Ferry.   Historical Society of Perry County members and volunteers began an educational excavation in September 2012 and have found artifacts ranging from arrowheads to a small gold pin.

Read the full report: Workers unearth history at historic Duncannon tavern

Duncannon, a designated Appalachian Trail Community and welcoming stop for A.T. thru-hikers, boast a number of heritage and scenic attractions that tell of its history as a river, canal, railroad and trail town at the base of the Kittatinny Ridge.  Learn more about some of these special places on Susquehanna Greenway Partnership’s River Towns description: Duncannon.   

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/

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

"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.

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.

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.