Cross county skiing along the Allegheny Front trail · Photo by Gary Thornbloom 
Walkin’ Jim visiting the Rainbow Trail · Photo by Gary Thornbloom 
Juniata River trip · Photo by Helena Kotala 
Some hiking, biking, and nature outings include camping · Photo by Heidi Johnson |
From the Outings Chair: Moshannon Group outings for 2012 are now being organized. I try to lead about a trip each month. Most of the trips have been to areas in southern Centre, Huntingdon, and Blair Counties because that is the area I'm familiar with. I'm looking for volunteers to lead a trip or two in the upcoming year. If you'd like to lead a Moshannon Group outing on your favorite trail or to your special area, please let me know so that I can put it on the Outings schedule. Just send me the date of your hike, the time, the meeting place, and a 1 to 3 sentence description. Thanks in advance! Stan Kotala Moshannon Group OutingsAll outings are open to the public as well as Moshannon Group members. If you have ideas for places you would like visit with the Moshannon Group or if you want to lead a trip yourself, contact Outings Chair Stan Kotala by email or at 814-946-8840. All participants on Sierra Club outings are required to sign a standard liability waiver. You may wish to read the Liability Waiver and/or the Sign-In Waiver before you choose to participate on an outing. For a printed version, contact the Sierra Club Outings Department at 415-977-5528. Upcoming Outings: Mark Your Calendars2012 OutingsSaturday, April 14 — Courtship Flight of the Timberdoodle: Canoe Creek State Park has a variety of wetlands and old fields that provide ideal habitat for woodcock. Observe the fascinating and unique courtship flight of the male “timberdoodle” — a true harbinger of spring. Meet at Canoe Creek State Park Pavilion 1 at 7:30 p.m. Contact Dr. Stan Kotala by email or at 814-946-8840 for more details. [SERVICE OUTING] Sunday, April 22 — Sunday Trillium Hike on the Lower Trail: Join Deb Tencer to see the repeat performance of thousands of red and yellow trilliums and Dutchman’s-breeches that cover the hillside along a section of the Lower Trail. Meet at the Water Street flea market at 11 a.m. The hike is only 2 miles and is quite easy. Afterward, please join us to go for pizza! Contact Deb at naturehikergal@gmail.com for more info. [SERVICE OUTING] Saturday, April 28 — Save the Frogs Day: In an effort to raise awareness of the plight of amphibians, the scientific community has declared Saturday, April 28 as “Save The Frogs Day.” On this day we encourage the appreciation and celebration of amphibians. Join Moshannon Group Endangered Species and Wildlife Chairman Dr. Stan Kotala for a short educational program about frogs and toads, followed by a brief evening stroll looking for amphibians along the Lower Trail. Meet at the Lower Trail Mt. Etna Trailhead pavilion at 7:30 p.m. (Lower Trail Map). Contact Dr. Stan Kotala by email or at 814-946-8840 for more details. Saturday, May 5 – Sunday, May 6 — Marsh and Pine Creek Outing (Overnight): The Moshannon Group is partnering with the Canoe Club of Centre County (CCofCC) to offer an overnite canoe/camp along Pine Creek. Canoe from Ansonia to Slate Run with hiking and camping. Contact Ron Johnson by email or at 814-355-5434 for further details. Iternary Day 1: Canoe 17 miles (4–6 hours + hike stops) from Ansonia to Blackwell and then to Hoffman Farm campground just south of Blackwell. Camping at Hoffman Campground is free and has already been reserved for this outing. Camping gear can be self-transported through the gorge for those wanting to do this or shuttled (via canoe) from Blackwell to campground. As Pine Creek parallels both the rail trail and 414, setting up a shuttle for Day 2 is very convenient. Saturday, May 5 — Wildflowers and Warblers at Blue Knob State Park: Mike and Laura Jackson will lead a field trip to Blue Knob State Park to view spring wildflowers and migrating warblers. Meet at Chappell’s Field in Blue Knob State Park at 8 a.m. The 3-hour walk will be on Sawmill Trail, which is easy, but rocky in places. Questions? contact the Jacksons at mljackson2@embarqmail.com. Sunday, May 6 — Spring Mushroom Walk along The Lower Trail: Join Bill Russell, author of Field Guide to the Wild Mushrooms of Pennsylvania and the Mid-Atlantic, along with Karen Croyle. The Lower Trail is heavily collected for morels, but many other interesting mushrooms are fruiting at this time of year. We might find a few morels as well. The 4-mile hike will take about 3 hours. Meet at the Water Street entrance to the Lower Trail (near the intersection of U.S. Route 22 and SR 453) at noon. Contact Deb Tencer at naturehikergal@gmail.com for more info. Saturday, May 12 — Annual Terry Wentz Memorial Hike: Four-mile moderate hike on Moore’s Hill Trail honoring former Canoe Creek State Park manager, the late Terry Wentz, who served on the Juniata Valley Audubon board of directors for more than a decade. Meet at the Canoe Creek State Park Environmental Education Center at 2 p.m. For more information, contact trip leader Dr. Stan Kotala by email or at 814-946-8840 for more details. Saturday, May 19 — Spring Wildflower Walk at Bell’s Gap Run: Join Marcia Bonta for a walk in State Gameland 108 at Bell’s Gap Run to observe spring wildflowers. Meet in the parking lot for the Bellwood Rails to Trails at 10 a.m., then drive halfway up the mountain to a parking lot on the left. The walk is a gentle climb that leads past a variety of wildflowers on the left cliffs as well as some rare ferns. It’s also a good place for spring warblers and other birds because we are looking down at large trees and the stream. Bring a trail lunch and a beverage to enjoy at the top of the hollow. For more info contact Marcia at marciabonta@hotmail.com.
[SERVICE OUTING] Sunday, June 10 — Mountain Laurel Hike in Brush Mountains Woodlands: Join Deb Tencer to hike The Nature Conservancy’s property known as the Brush Mountain Woodlands to admire the massive amounts of Mountain Laurel, along with other flora and fauna specific to this dry, rocky area. At 11 a.m., meet at Panera Bread in Logantown Centre, Altoona, to carpool. For more info, Contact Deb at naturehikergal@gmail.com. Spring Creek Canyon Opens to the Public
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Moshannon Group NewsPennsylvania Chapter of the Sierra Clubserving Bedford, Blair, Cameron, Centre, Clearfield, Elk, Huntingdon, Jefferson, Juniata, McKean, and Mifflin counties |
Service outings help maintain trails in Moshannon Country · Photo by Gary Thornbloom
2008 Spring Creek Cleanup Day · Photo by Heidi Johnson
