Thursday July 4, 2024 - Trail Magic Picnic and Hike

Jul. 4th YES! Independence Day! We will do Trail Magic on JULY 4TH !

Sue U., Karen S. and Rich O. will organize.

Join us to honor Herb's June tradition of providing a "Trail Angels" picnic for “thru hikers” on the Appalachian Trail. For those of us who have attended, it has always been a special day. Each participant is asked to donate food/drink - please call Sue to confirm. Tell us what you can bring, Sue will have suggestions on items we need. Bring poles & hiking boots to take a hike, and a chair to relax.

1st Meeting place: 9:00A.M. @ Redner's parking lot, Rte. 61, Leesport. 

2nd Meetinbg place: 10:00A.M. @ The AT trailhead above Leaser Lake.

Directions: Directions to Trailhead from Redner’s in Leesport: Follow route 61 North to Hamburg. Go onto route 78 East at Hamburg. Take Exit 35 for Route PA-143. Travel 0.2 miles on exit ramp. Take left onto PA-143 North. Follow PA-143 North including King’s Highway to town of Wanamaker. Shortly past Wanamaker’s General Store, make a left onto Leaser Road Go approximately 2.2 miles on Leaser Road and it will join Blue Mountain Road. Go 0.7 miles on Blue Mountain Road (will be going up the mountain at this point). Continue until reach the Appalachian Trail Parking Lot on left side of road (address is 283 Fort Franklin Rd, Andreas, PA) – pull into parking lot. If you see signs for Fort Franklin Rd. and you go downhill, you have gone too far!

For more information and further directions, contact: Sue U. 484-948-5084, Karen S. 610-823-9023 and Rich O. 610-223-6952 

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!

Thursday June 27, 2024 - Wildwood Park, Harrisburg, PA

Approximately 4.5 miles - Moderate

Bev F. will lead this hike. The 3-mile loop has slight hills with blacktop and pathway mixed surfaces. There are also boardwalks through the marsh/wetlands (1.25 miles).

NOTE: The Park is surrounded by industry and major highways. This will not be a quiet walk in the woods but it's a very interesting place. We will see Art in the Wild while hiking. The works of art are composed of mostly natural materials to blend with Wildwood’s natural setting. The hike will start and end at the Olewine Nature Center. There are interesting exhibits and a wildlife observation deck.

MapQuest has the traveling time of an hour from Reading and 30 minutes from Fredericksburg.

First Meeting place: 9:30 A.M. at Fredericksburg Redner’s. 2975 US-22, Fredericksburg, PA 17026

Directions: Rte. 183 North to Interstate 78 West, exit Fredericksburg to Route 22. Redner’s is a mile or 2 on the right (next to Esther’s) 

2nd Meeting place: Visitor Center: 10:00 AM 100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg, PA 17110 

Directions: Interstate 78 to Interstate 81, Rt 22 East, R on Wildwood Park Dr which turns into Industrial Road, 1.2 miles Right on Wildwood Way.

OPTIONAL LUNCH: The Glass Lounge: Excellent Burgers, Online Menu has $11.00 (don't know if it's current) OR: The Front Street Diner, I've never been here and no prices on the website. Breakfast all day.

For more information or further directions, contact: Bev F. 610-603-6876 with any questions

Thursday June 20, 2024 - Horseshoe Trail Cleanup

This occurs on the section of the trail that our club periodically maintains. This section spans from Knauers to Adamstown; however, we may not cover all of it this time. Bring loppers and trimming tools, also work gloves, insect repellant, water and plenty of good humor. Wear long pants and a long sleeve shirt to avoid poison ivy. This is a good time to give back to the community some trail maintenance. Lunch is an option afterwards.

Meeting place: 9:30 A.M. at the Kenhorst Shopping Plaza, Rtes. 724 & 625, in the lot at Dairy Queen.

For more information and further directions, contact: Mark F. 484-824-2740 with questions

Thursday June 13, 2024 - Hopewell Lake to Scott's Run Lake and Return

3.5 to 4 miles - Easy

Kay W. will lead an easy hike from Hopewell Lake to Scott's Run Lake and return. Only one small hill. Call if the weather looks iffy.

Meeting place and time: 10:00 am at Hopewell Lake Boat Launch

For more information or further directions contact: Kay W. 610-796-7602

Thursday Dec 8, 2022 - Clarence Schock Memorial Park

BEV will do a hike in the Clarence Schock Memorial Park at Governor Dick (near Mt. Gretna). http://www.parkatgovernordick.org/home.html It will be a lollipop using trail 5 and 13; totaling about 4.5 miles; moderate hills, minimum rocks. There are Job Johnnies at both the beginning and midway through the hike. There is no hunting in this Park. The Environmental Center should be open. 

MEET: 10:00 A.M. at the Environmental Center at 3283 Pinch Road, Lebanon, PA17042. 40.237854, -76.460565

DIRECTIONS: Route 422W to 501South in Myerstown; Route 419S in Schaefferstown; Route 72S in Quentin and 117N shortly afterwards (note: you will be merging on Rte. 322/72 entering on the left and the exit is on the right very soon.) 2.2 miles turn left on Pinch Road (across from the Pizzeria immediately after the pull in parking section of Mt Gretna.), 1 mile to Environmental Center entrance on the left. Lunch option, there are picnic tables at the Environmental Center or we can discuss at the hike. 

TELEPHONE: Leader Bev at 4846650196 or cell 6106036876 with questions. 

NOTE: Hike will be cancelled if snow or temperatures below 20 degrees occur.

Dec 1, 2022 - Welsh Mountain Preserve

MARK G will lead a 4 miles hike of easy to moderate difficulty in the WELSH MOUNTAIN NATURE PRESERVE in the memory of Herb Van Horn. This hike will be in two parts. The first part will be an easy one half mile ADA loop ending back at the parking lot. The second part will continue for another 3.5 miles utilizing the blue trail mostly. The Lancaster Conservancy limits a non-registered group hike to 15 hikers or 5 vehicles parked at Preserve’s parking lot. Please pre-register for this hike by calling or emailing the hike leader. 

MEET: 10:00 A.M. @ Northeast corner of Clocktower Plaza in Morgantown, next to Zou’s Garden Restaurant. We will carpool to the Preserve’s parking lot. 

GPS ADDRESS: 2846 Main St, Morgantown, PA 19543 Coordinates: 40.15196599462299, -75.89901703619125 

DIRECTIONS FROM READING: Take US-422 East toward Pottstown. After 3 miles take an exit to I-176 South toward Morgantown. After 9.5 miles take exit 2 toward Clocktower Plaza. This exit will terminate at the intersection with PA-23. Go through the intersection for another 450 ft., take a right. The Clocktower Plaza is straight ahead. Park by Zou’s Garden Restaurant

NOTE: Inclement weather cancels this hike. 

TELEPHONE: Leader Mark G. - 484-467-8976, mgonchar@ieee.org to register or questions

Nov 24, 2022 - Elverson

JODY will lead an easy 3.75 mile hike in Elverson Borough. We will mainly be walking on sidewalks and macadam and gravel trails. Please wear orange for visibility. We will stroll through the Elverson cemetery and look at some of the old gravestones and then follow the bed of the Hogback Railroad, part of the Wilmington and Northern Railroad, to the Wildflower Trail, which leads to the new community of Blue Rock. Near the end of the walk, we will stop at Jody's house for light refreshments, and those who are interested may go next door to say Hi to Clyde. There is one long but not very steep hill.

MEET: 10:00 A.M. at the Livingood Park parking lot on Rte. 82 South.
(Google 117 South Chestnut Street, Elverson, PA 19520). Park in side lot. There is a porta potti at the back of this lot. Happy Thanksgiving Day. 

TELEPHONE: Leader Jody 610-400-4660 with questions or in case of wet weather, or severe wind chills, to be sure hike is still on.