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FIRE ALERT!
With the current elevated fire danger across the Mid-Atlantic States hikers are asked to do their part to help protect the trails and forests by using extreme care with fire. AVOID THE USE OF GROUND FIRE, EVEN IN FIRE RINGS, and instead rely on your backpack stove for cooking. This eliminates the potential of leaving dangerous hot coals behind. Additionally, hikers are asked to REPORT ANY LARGE SMOKE COLUMNS OR APPARENTLY UNATTENDED FIRES PROMPTLY TO THE LOCAL 911 DISPATCH.
Check local conditions and alerts when planning your hike. Watch for and obey all trail closures. Follow instructions for alternate routes that may be identified during fires or fire-fighting activities. Temporary closures and detours are for your safety and will be lifted as soon as conditions permit.
Call for Volunteers!
Rausch Gap Shelter Restoration Project
(see slide show)
Meet Saturdays at 12:30 PM:
March: 17, 31
April: 28
June: 2
Meet Sundays at 9:00 AM:
March: 25
April:
15, 22
May: 6, 13, 20
June: 9, 24, 30
Work Trips on the Appalachian Trail
Meet Sundays at 8:30 AM
March 18
April 15
May 27
June 23
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Guidelines for Hikers:
• Advise the leader if you leave the group for any reason.
• Never disturb plants or animals.
• Leave your pets at home.
• Carry all trash back out with you. If you pack it in, pack it out.
• Do not smoke.
• Be responsible for your children.
• Cross roads in a group.
• When walking on roads, keep on the left side in single file.
• Stay behind the leader.
Guidelines for Leaders:
• Stay in front and have a co-leader at the rear and keep within sight as often as possible.
• Be familiar with the hike route and parking arrangements.
• Take a head count before, during, and after the hike.
• Be prompt, start on time.
• Carry a whistle.
• Call nature breaks during the hike.
• Call attention to points of interest when appropriate.
• Have maps or directions prepared for drivers, if necessary.
• Identify cars by ribbons or other means when in a convoy.
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Cautions and Disclaimers!
• Be safe! Always wear blaze orange during hunting season.
• Every attempt is made to assist and encourage hikers, but we cannot be responsible for the safety of them on the trail. Any rugged activity entails risk and we know each participant will rely on his own judgement and good sense to take care of himself. Know your limitations. Look after minors accompanying you. Children are welcome, but anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
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Blue Mountain Eagle Climbing Club Calendar of Events
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Time to join BMECC or renew for 2012: To join the club or to renew your membership, please print the membership form and mail it with a check to BMECC, P. O. Box 14982, Reading, PA 19612. If you have any questions about membership not answered on this form, please email membership@bmecc.org. Membership fees are: Individual ... $12.00; Family ... $15.00; Junior (17 & under) ... $3.00; or Life ... $300.00.
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 SPRING SCHEDULE
Wednesday, May 2: BMECC General Membership Meeting
Meet at 7:00PM at the Rentschler Arboretum. Kim McKee will be speaking about PA A.T. Act 24. She is the ATC Act 24 Coordinator and works out of the Boiling Springs office. Here is a link to summary information about PA A.T. Act 24: http://apptrailpa.org/act24.html. All members are welcome to join us at our regularly scheduled business meetings. Bring your questions, concerns and ideas.
Saturday, May 5: A.T. Shuttle Hike Boiling Springs to PA 34 (Hunters Run)
Meet at 8:15AM @ McDonald's Rt. 10 Morgantown. 10.6 mile hike rated moderate to difficult due to ups and downs. We'll shuttle to Boiling Springs and hike south on Appalachian Trail past Center Point Knob, Alec Kennedy Shelter, and junction with Mason Dixon Trail near Whiskey Spring. This hike has its ups and downs! Bring lunch and fluids. Eating stop afterwards always an option. ADVERSE WEATHER CANCELS. Leader: Scott Birchman (610-286-0991) atridgerun@msn.com .
Saturday, May 5: Canoe the Schuylkill from City Island, Schuylkill Haven, to Landingville
All canoe trips are for MEMBERS ONLY AND THEIR GUESTS. Must have canoeing experience and wear a water safety vest. Adverse weather and/or water level conditions will cancel. Call ahead for all information. Leader: George Shollenberger (717-933-4858).
Sunday, May 6: Rausch Gap Shelter Project
Meet at 9:00AM at the Rentschler Arboretum. Many hands make the work light! We will be dividing our efforts for this quarter between working on the log construction at the Arboretum and working to get the existing shelter site prepped for the new log work. See the details. Contact the leader for up-to-the-minute details on the project. Leader: Dave Crosby dogwhisperer1@netzero.com.
Sunday, May 6: Coventry Woods Hike
Meet at 2:00PM at the Fernbrook Access of Coventry Woods. Address for meeting point is 1954 St Peters Rd, Pottstown PA 19465. Enjoy a 5-6 mile hike on the trails at North Coventry Townships Coventry Woods, many of which date back to the charcoal production used to fuel the furnace of Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site. Leader: Jay Erb (610-970-2408) jayerb@yahoo.com.
Saturday, May 12 (rain date 5/26): Bike and Hike - Perkiomen Trail & Green Lane Park
Meet at 10:30AM at Green Lane Park. Parking area is at intersection of Snyder Rd and Deep Creek Rd in the Park. Bike 10 miles or 20 miles on the Trail - your choice! After the bike ride, enjoy your picnic lunch in the Park, then hike the easy 2.5 mile Orange Loop Trail. The parking area is adjacent to the park office, amenities, water fountain, playground, boat ramp, picnic area, Perkiomen Trail, and Orange Trail, so make a day of it! Bike trail is unpaved cinder or stone aggregate. Co-Leaders: Dory Peterson (610-301-4935) dpeterson@racc.edu and Dave Reitz (610-921-3303) dreitz44@yahoo.com.
Sunday, May 13: Happy Mother’s Day!
Sunday, May 13: Rausch Gap Shelter Project *** CANCELLED - Please spend Mothers Day with your mother, wife, or significant other ***
Meet at 9:00AM at the Rentschler Arboretum. Many hands make the work light! We will be dividing our efforts for this quarter between working on the log construction at the Arboretum and working to get the existing shelter site prepped for the new log work. See the details. Contact the leader for up-to-the-minute details on the project. Leader: Dave Crosby dogwhisperer1@netzero.com.
Saturday, May 19: Canoe the Little Schuylkill River from Adamstown to New Ringgold
All canoe trips are for MEMBERS ONLY AND THEIR GUESTS. Must have canoeing experience and wear a water safety vest. Adverse weather and/or water level conditions will cancel. Call ahead for all information. Leader: George Shollenberger (717-933-4858).
Saturday, May 19: Arboretum Work Day & Biological Diversity Celebration
Event is from 9:00AM to 12:00PM at the Rentschler Arboretum. Today is the International Day of Biological Diversity Celebration (official day May 22). Come out and help keep the earth healthy at Rentschler Arboretum by planting ground cover to help prevent erosion. Contact: Linda Enders (610-775-3004) lindaphred@yahoo.com.
Sunday, May 20: Rausch Gap Shelter Project
Meet at 9:00AM at the Rentschler Arboretum. Many hands make the work light! We will be dividing our efforts for this quarter between working on the log construction at the Arboretum and working to get the existing shelter site prepped for the new log work. See the details. Contact the leader for up-to-the-minute details on the project. Leader: Dave Crosby dogwhisperer1@netzero.com.
 Sunday, May 20: Nature ID Walk & The Art Of Seeing Things
Meet at 11:00AM at Blue Marsh, Justa Road Parking Lot. Easy/slow 3-hour walk through woods and fields of Blue Marsh Lake. We will try to ID anything that flies, crawls, or grows along the path. Bring binoculars & nature ID books. Rain cancels. Co-Leaders: Karl Gardner (610-987-3281) kargardner@aol.com & Dave Reitz (610-921-3303) dreitz44@yahoo.com.
Sunday-Friday, May 20-25: Wild and Wonderful West Virginia
Visit the Mountain State to explore the Northern part of Monongahela National Forest. We will visit Black Water Falls, Canaan Valley, Dolly Sods, and Spruce Knob - the highest point in West Virginia. Lodging options include cabins or rooms in a State Park Lodge. Contact leader for details. Leader: Margaret Fuoco (610-779-8393) margaretfuoco@verizon.net.
Sunday, May 27: Work Trip on Appalachian Trail
Meet at 8:30AM at Bethel Library, I-78 and Rt. 501. Enjoy the outdoors, and help with trail work. Bring lunch and fluids. Trail maintainers call leader if you need help on your section of trail. Leader: George Shollenberger (717-933-4858).
Saturday, June 2: Rausch Gap Shelter Project
Meet at 12:30PM at the Rentschler Arboretum. Many hands make the work light! See the details. Contact the leader for up-to-the-minute details on the project. Leader: Dave Crosby dogwhisperer1@netzero.com.
Saturday, June 2: Canoe the Little Schuylkill River from New Ringgold to Port Clinton
All canoe trips are for MEMBERS ONLY AND THEIR GUESTS. Must have canoeing experience and wear a water safety vest. Adverse weather and/or water level conditions will cancel. Call ahead for all information. Leader: George Shollenberger (717-933-4858).
Saturday, June 2: Duncannon PA Trail Town
Join in the celebration of the designation of the newest AT Trail Town, Duncannon, PA. For details go to www.appalachiantrail.org events.
Sunday, June 9: Rausch Gap Shelter Project
Meet at 12:30PM at the Rentschler Arboretum. Many hands make the work light! See the details. Contact the leader for up-to-the-minute details on the project. Leader: Dave Crosby dogwhisperer1@netzero.com.
Sunday, June 10: Reviving the Spring Outdoor Meeting & Hike
Hike, lunch, meeting, and program to be held at the Rentschler Arboretum outside of Bernville. Come out for all of the day, or part of the day. We hope this will be a yearly event as we had held in the 1970’s and 1980’s. Arboretum photos and memorabilia will be on display that day. The Arboretum Committee is hosting the day.
10:30AM Meet at the Rentschler Arboretum for a hike in the vicinity of the Arboretum property.
12:15PM Gather at the Arboretum for lunch. Club will provide drinks, hotdogs and hamburgers.
Please bring a covered dish to share – salad, dessert, or snack.
12:30PM Eat! Bring your lawn chair (we will stay indoors if inclement weather.)
1:30PM Short business meeting of Club (as per our new By-Laws.)
2:00PM Program by Griesemer Beekeeping (honey items will also be available for purchase)
and a talk and display on recycling.
Saturday, June 16: Canoe the Lower Swatara near Hummelstown
Explore a small cave and enjoy a rope swing and swim (optional). All canoe trips are for MEMBERS ONLY AND THEIR GUESTS. Must have canoeing experience and wear a water safety vest. Adverse weather and/or water level conditions will cancel. Call ahead for all information. Leader: George Shollenberger (717-933-4858).
Sunday, June 17: Happy Father’s Day!
Saturday, June 23: Work Trip on Appalachian Trail
Meet at 9:00AM at the Port Clinton Hiker Pavilion. We will work on the Trail. Wear work clothes, and bring gloves, lunch, and fluids. Adverse weather cancels. Leader: Scott Birchman (610-286-0991) or atridgerun@msn.com.
Sunday, June 24: Rausch Gap Shelter Project
Meet at 12:30PM at the Rentschler Arboretum. Many hands make the work light! See the details. Contact the leader for up-to-the-minute details on the project. Leader: Dave Crosby dogwhisperer1@netzero.com.
Sunday, June 24: Blue Mountain Charcoal Pits Hike in Port Clinton
Meet at 2:00PM at the base of the Conrad Weiser State Forest Road along Rt. 61 north. You will see the road on the right about 1/2 mile north of Port Clinton. Three-mile moderate hike. Check out charcoal pits from the 1700’s and the remains of a charcoal tender’s hut. Charcoal was made extensively during the American Revolution from trees atop the mountain. Leader: Porcupine Pat porcupinepat@yahoo.com (570.622.4124 x 113).
Sunday, June 30: Rausch Gap Shelter Project
Meet at 12:30PM at the Rentschler Arboretum. Many hands make the work light! See the details. Contact the leader for up-to-the-minute details on the project. Leader: Dave Crosby dogwhisperer1@netzero.com.
LOOKING AHEAD
75th Anniversary of the Bake Oven Knob Shelter – look for our celebration sometime in summer or fall
Saturday-Sunday, August 11-12: 75th Anniversary of the completion of the Appalachian Trail – Harper’s Ferry WV – ATC event |
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