Thursday Apr 9, 2020 - Port Clinton Towpath - CANCELED

CANCELLED

BEV will lead a hike on the Port Clinton Towpath Trail and through the village of Port Clinton. Originally established in 1824 as a path that was used to tow canal boats along the Schuylkill Navigation Canal, this trail includes the remains of four locks. The trail is listed as moderate difficulty. There are stream crossings and a small section with rocks; sturdy hiking shoes and poles are recommended. Also bug spray, if the weather has warmed. This will basically be an in and out hike, we will not be going back on the road. We will then go to the Port Clinton AT pavilion, passing The Port Clinton Historical and Transportation Museum (perhaps it will be open). Also, a possibility of visiting the Peanut Shop. Optional lunch at the Port Clinton Hotel.
NOTE; Extreme rain or snow or windy with temperature below 25 will cancel this hike.

MEET: 9:45 AM at the South East corner of Hamburg Walmart parking lot (Away from Walmart and towards Rte. 61).There will be a short shuttle to the starting point, the restrooms are only open seasonally.

Trailhead 10:00 AM go north on Route 61, left on Broad Street in Port Clinton (at the Union House) go over the river and turn left on South Street. Park in the grass at the ball field fence or along Pine Street. (Follow the signs for Train Rides).

TELEPHONE: Leader BEV cell: 610 603-6876 with questions.

Thursday Apr 2, 2020 - Blue Marsh

EUGENIA & ELAYNE will lead a 4 mile BLUE MARSH HIKE. This is an in and out hike involving a couple of long hills. Please wear orange. If it rains, hike will be cancelled. Optional lunch afterwards to be determined.

MEET: 10:00 AM Start will be at the 83 Union Canal Paddle Launch. It is a large gravel parking area. It is located on Route 183 5 miles from the Blue Marsh restaurant and on the left just before you get into Bernville. Also, just before Heidelburg Road.

TELEPHONE: Leaders Eugenia 484-557-7854 or Elayne 610-401-3677 with questions.

Thursday Mar 26, 2020 - Scott's Run Lake

HERB has planned and will lead a 4-5 mile round trip early spring hike in the Scott's Run Lake area. We will walk through several large group camping areas, visit the fire tower and return to our cars using the Horseshoe Trail and back roads. If the sap is running, we will visit a sugar bush. There are some rocky areas and a hill to keep us in shape. Deep snow or icy roads cancels this walk. Lunch afterwards is an option.

MEET; 10:00 A.M. at the Scott's Run Lake parking lot off Scott's Run Road in French Creek S.P.

TELEPHONE; Leader Herb 484-252-9493c with questions.

Thursday Mar 19, 2020 - Birdsboro Watershed

LES will lead a 5 to 6 mile hike in the Birdsboro Watershed. This hike enters a section visited very infrequently since the trails are visible only at this time of year and become impassible during the growing season. There will be some tough hills and rutted trails.

MEET: 10:00 AM at the parking area on Hay Creek Rd. (former Route 82), north of Geigertown, .8 mile north of where Mullen Hollow Rd ends at Hay Creek Rd.
GPS: 2 Elk Trail Lane, Birdsboro, then stay on Hay Creek Rd another .1 mile.

DIRECTIONS: From the traffic light in Gibraltar at the Turkey Hill, travel east on Route 724, take the first right turn at the sign for Hillcrest Hall Bingo (about 1.2 miles), cross railroad tracks, turn left on Old River Rd, then almost immediately right onto Rock Hollow Rd. Drive 2.8 miles on Rock Hollow, cross Cocalico Rd, then drive another 1.1 miles to the first stop sign at Hay Creek Rd. Turn left and drive .7 miles to the parking area.

TELEPHONE: Leader Les 610-323-1703 with questions

HAPPY 1st DAY OF SPRING!

Thursday Mar 12, 2020 - Jonestown

BEV will lead a hike through the village of Jonestown, Lebanon County and then check out another newly opened section of the Lebanon Valley Rail to Trail. Distance 5 miles. There will be one hill when walking through the town. Our hike on the trail will be out and back..

TELEPHONE: Hike Leader: Bev cell: 610 603-6876 with questions.

MEET 1: Leaving: Blue Marsh parking lot off Route 183 and Old Church Road @ 9:30 AM..
MEET 2: Arriving @ George H. Kaufman Jonestown Community Park, 295 South Mill Street Jonestown, PA 17038 at 10:00 AM..

Heavy rain, heavy snow or temperatures below 20 with winds will cancel hike.

Thursday, Mar 5, 2020 - Adamstown/Stoudtsburg Village

GERRY & WILLIE will lead the Adamstown/Stoudtsburg Village hike of about 4 easy miles. We will explore the Village Lake and shops, then hike the trail into town and to the park, visiting a little store and return. (Restrooms are available in the market). Optional lunch afterwards.

MEET 10:00 AM in the Village lot. DIRECTIONS: From Rte.222 south take Rte.272 past Adamstown shops to Stoudtsburg Road, turn right and go past buildings, then left on Village Drive and park in the upper end away from the buildings.

TELEPHONE: Leaders Gerry or Willie 610-678-5245 with questions.

Thursday Feb 27, 2020 - Birdsboro

DONNA will lead the Birdsboro Watershed Hike- 5-6 miles + 1 long steep hill. Weather permitting we will walk up Hay Creek & Mullen Hollow Roads to pick up the Horseshoe Trail hill and then down to circumvent the scenic reservoir. Snowy or icy roads cancels this hike.

MEET: 10:00 AM at GPS: 2 Elk Trail Lane Birdsboro -you need to drive .1 mile further than that to park, but that is the closest address. Parking lot is on Hay Creek Road / Old Rte. 82.

TELEPHONE: Leader Donna 484-797-4224 cell with questions.

Thursday Feb 20, 2020 - Antietam Lake Area

LES will lead a 5 to 5.5 mile hilly road hike in the Antietam Lake area. Along the way, there will be a detour to the old Spies Church cemetery. There will also be a reminder of the Germania Band. What is its connection to present day Berks?

MEET-1: 9:45 AM Angora Rd parking lot, on the horseshoe bend next to Antietam Lake
MEET-2: 10:00 AM Seidel Rd parking lot at Hinnershitz basin

TELEPHONE: Leader Les - 610-323-1703 with questions.

Thursday Feb 13, 2020 - Port Clinton Towpath

BEV leads a hike on the Port Clinton Towpath Trail and through the village of Port Clinton. Originally established in 1824 as a path that was used to tow canal boats along the Schuylkill Navigation Canal, this trail includes the remains of four locks. The trail is listed as moderate difficulty. There are stream crossings and a small section with rocks; sturdy hiking shoes and poles are recommended. Also bug spray. We will then go to the Port Clinton AT pavilion, passing The Port Clinton Historical and Transportation Museum (perhaps it will be open). Possibility of visiting the Peanut Shop, also. If there has been major rain, we will need to do the Bartram Trail instead. Extreme rain or snow or windy with temperature below 25 will cancel hike. Optional lunch at either the Port Clinton Hotel or 3Cs.

MEET: 9:45 AM at the South East corner of Hamburg Walmart parking lot (Away from Walmart and towards Rt 61). There will be a short shuttle to the starting point due to limited parking at the trailhead. The restrooms are only open seasonally.

LEADER: BEV cell: 610 603-6876

Thursday Feb 6, 2020 - Blue Marsh

LES will lead a 5 mile loop hike at BLUE MARSH using Sterner’s Hill Road and the main Blue Marsh trail. This will be a hilly hike with trails of varying quality. Snow or ice cancels. Opt. lunch.

MEET 1: 9:45 AM at the State Hill boat ramp on Brownsville Rd, .5 mile west of State Hill Rd (Ganleys). Meet at the top of the hill. Do not go down to the lake.
MEET 2: 10:00 AM Parking lot at the end of Highland Rd.

TELEPHONE: Leader Les 610-323-1703 with questions.

Thursday Jan 30, 2020 - Schuylkill River Trail

DONNA will lead a shuttle hike of 5-6 miles walking along Schuylkill River Trail in the Birdsboro/Douglassville area. You may see red tailed hawks and/or bald eagles when we cross the river on the bridge and we’ll also have 2 crossings of route 724. Some hills, but mainly flat trail.

MEET 9:45 AM at Morlatton Village and park in lot across from White Horse tavern: 31 Old Philadelphia Pike, Douglassville, PA for group shuttle to park behind Matthew Brooks Building, near Schuylkill River trailhead for our walk back to Morlatton Village. If we want, we can also walk around Morlatton village and go to rivers edge. The bathrooms are not open behind Fork and Ale, so we'll have to use nature breaks. Optional lunch, eat afterwards at a cute new place that we can walk or drive to from Matthew Brooks Building parking for breakfast or lunch: Uncle Jacks Corner, 101 W First Street, Birdsboro has plenty of parking next door. Voted Best Lunch award for 2019, but my breakfast was good too!

NOTE: Snow & freezing temperatures or icy roads cancels. Rain at start time shortens hike and it may become in and out, or whatever we decide.

TELEPHONE: Leader Donna 610-385-6862 with questions.