Next Membership meeting April 1, :30 PM at the Butler YMCA

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1 Volume 21 Month 4 il 2015 Next Membership meeting il 1, :30 PM at the Butler YMCA Skull Studies by Kathy Maloney Please join us il 1st for a presentation on skulls. Kathy Maloney will help us understand the structure of various animal skulls and how it relates to the animal's lifestyle. Is it a carnivore, an herbivore or an omnivore? Certain structures within a skull can help identify if the animal is young or old, male or female. Kathy will bring about 15 skulls for us to study. (Shutterfly, Tammy Veloski) March Butler Chapter NCT Hike Cottontail Rabbit Skull. Photograph. Skulls Unlimited International. Web. 21 March < BOC Dues Just a reminder that BOC membership dues for 2015 were due in March. Please fill out a membership application and pay our treasurer, Carol Bickel, at the il meeting or send a check along with a completed membership application to Carol at the following address: BUTLER OUTDOOR CLUB PO BOX 321 HARRISVILLE, PA On Sunday, March 22 nd John Stehle led 13 fellow hikers on a walk through the State Game Lands near Hilliards, PA. The walk was a 6 mile out and back from Leonard Road parking lot, west to Higgins Corners, and on to Kohlmeyer road. 2 hikers wore packs to condition themselves for the upcoming AT hike and all enjoyed the beautiful blue sky, friendly conversation and even some Star Trek trivia. There was still a bit of snow on the ground and some of the ponds we passed were iced over. We observed what appeared to be an old truck scale from a mine and stopped for a short break on the Kohlmeyer Road Bridge over the Slippery Rock Creek. On the way back the group took an alternate route over a small dam between two ponds. Our next hike will pick up on the next section to the east, from Kohlmeyer Road to Branchton Road, although we will start the hike at Branchton Road. It will be on Sunday, il 19, at 1:00.

2 BOC Route 422 Road Cleanup Earth Day, Wednesday il 22, 2015 The BOC adopts the 1 mile section of Route 422 from the Moraine State Park South Shore ramp to the bridge of Lake Arthur. Come out and show your love for your "mother" on her special day. Meet at 5:00 PM on the onramp, heading back on to 422 toward Butler. Bring gloves and orange vest, if you have them, but PennDOT issued items will be available. Virginia Bluebells. Photograph. Orchid Flowers. Web. 26 March < BOC Wildflower Hike 2, 2015 A BOC wildflower hike will be held from 10:00am to 1:00pm at Wolf Creek Narrows, rain or shine. Dress for weather. We may encounter short wet muddy sections of trail. Expect to see Trilliums, Jack in the Pulpit, Virginia Blue Bells and other spring flowers. Meet at the trailhead on Miller Rd just south of the bridge over Wolf Creek. From Slippery Rock Sheetz, go 2 short blocks west to Water Street, turn left (south) for about a mile. The trailhead will be on your left. It you d like, make plans with others to carpool from the large parking lot across from the Fire Station on Elm Street in Slippery Rock. Dave and Jean Adams and Warren Smith Update: Dolly Sods Wilderness Backpacking Trip 1-3, 2015 The Dolly Sods backpacking trip for the first weekend in is filled. If you didn't sign up and want to be on the waiting list contact Steve Bickel. Update: BOC 2 Bike Ride Rescheduled to BOC Ohiopyle Bike Ride meet 10am at the train station trailhead and ride up along the Yough River to Confluence and back. Optional stop in Confluence for snacks/lunch. Dave and Jean Adams BOC Directory President Steve Bickel Vice-President Tammy Veloski painthorse_33@yahoo.com Secretary John Stehle Treasurer Carol Bickel Backpacking Steve Bickel Canoeing Joyce Appel Database Tammy Veloski painthorse_33@yahoo.com Webmaster webmaster@butleroutdoorclub.com Editor Ray Aiken editor@butleroutdoorclub.org Hiking Steve Smith belsmith@embarqmail.com Membership Helen Coyne Skiing Paul Henry Trails Ron Rice Nature Study Dorothy Weisberg The purpose of the Butler Outdoor Club is to provide year-round outdoor activities for the enjoyment and fellowship of our members, while creating awareness, appreciation and conservation of the environment. Visit our club website for the latest event updates and club news at follow us on facebook at

3 Annual Outdoor Extravaganza Sponsored by Butler Outdoor Club (All activities take place or leave from Breakneck Campground located near McConnells Mill State and Moraine State Park) Details: Online registration opens March 1 Early Bird Registration before il 1-25% off Open to members and non-members. (Members come for less. Kids come for free.) We have lots of cool activities and evening entertainment planned for this year including: Hikes: Various lengths of hikes, Hiking George Washington, Nature Walks, Cemetery Hike, Photo Hike, and Simulation Backpack Hike. Bikes: Road bike trips and Rails to Trails trips. Water Activities: Various canoe/kayak paddle trips on lakes and streams, Raft Trip and two Fishing Trips, Standup Paddle Boarding and Wind Surfing, Nautical Nature Boat Tour on Lake Arthur, and Sailing. Workshops: Backpacking, Photography, Paper Embroidery, Outdoor Fitness, Tai Chai, Camping Treats, Outdoor Bake Oven, as well as Self Massage & Acupressure. Historical Excursions: Sample's Border Rangers, Hiking George Washington + Tour. Kids Activities: Mammals at the Mill, Kites & Other Crafts, Kids Hike, and Storytelling Programs: Weiner Roast / Picnic Friday Evening + program and music around campfire. Pig Roast Saturday Evening + Program "Gristmills of Western Pa.". Sunday Evening Program. Gear Exchange /Flea Market throughout the weekend. Camping and food optional. Details of the whole weekend and Registration can be found on the website - Joyce Appel can be contacted directly with questions: up until il 5: joyceappel@windstream.net. After il 5, or call (724) Joyce Finally! Spring has sprung! Now is the time to come out of hibernation, if you've been curled up on the couch (reading trail guides?) since November! Now is the time to meet new hiking partners and reunite with old trail buddies. Now is the time to celebrate the return of spring in the best way we hikers know how: by visiting our favorite footpaths! Now is the time to register for KTA's Spring Hiking Weekend! The Keystone Trails Association will host its annual Spring Meeting and Hiking Weekend from Friday, il 17 to Sunday, il 19, 2015, at Camp Swatara, in Bethel, Berks County, PA. In addition to hikes of all lengths and levels of difficulty organized by the Blue Mountain Eagle Climbing Club (BMECC), we will also have a hoedown with a four-piece band with a caller, Ken Saul and the Blue Mountain Ramblers, to celebrate the BMECC's 100th anniversary. We'll also have a maintainer's workshop, boating, minigolf, bonfire, climbing tower, and more! Click here to see our Hiking & Activity Schedule. For more information on the Bantam Jeep Festival please visit the website at

4 Mar BOC Sponsored Events Spring waterfowl observation day will be on Saturday, March 28, 2015; meet at 9:00am at the waterfowl observation platform on Old Route 422 at Moraine State Park. We will stay there for about an hour, and then move on up to the Route 528 Bridge. After that we will work the other access points to Lake Arthur along Route 528 and then over to the South Shore section of the park. This should take us to about 1:00. If there is any interest, the excursion could continue to the North Shore or even points north. John Stehle Our monthly meetings are 6:30 pm social, 7:00 pm announcements and program promptly after announcements on the first Wed. of each month usually at the Butler YMCA, 339 N. Washington, St. Butler, Pa. Each meeting includes outing announcements, a featured speaker and slideshow or outdoor educational program and is open to the public. Please join us il 1st for a presentation on skulls. Kathy Maloney will help us understand the structure of various animal skulls and how it relates to the animal's lifestyle. Is it a carnivore, a herbivore or an omnivore? Certain structures within a skull can help identify if the animal is young or old, male or female. Kathy will bring about 15 skulls for us to study. There will be a backpacking trip on the Appalachian Trail in Great Smokey Mountains National Park il We will begin at Fontana Dam Visitor Center and go to Rt. 441 near Gatlinburg, TN. There will be challenging climbs and descents, and we will be required to stay at shelters. If you are interested, please contact Jan at Meet on Sunday at 1 pm on Branchton Road, Hilliards, PA to participate in il s Monthly NCT Butler Chapter Hike. Watch your or the BOC website for specifics as that date approaches. Butler Outdoor Club Route 422 road cleanup will be on Earth Day, Wednesday il 22, 2015, 5:00 PM. The BOC adopts the 1 mile section of Route 422 from the Moraine State Park South Shore ramp to the bridge of Lake Arthur. Come out and show your love for your "mother" on her special day. Meet at the on-ramp, heading back on to 422 toward Butler. Bring gloves and orange vest, if you have them, but PennDot issued items will be available. This BOC Dolly Sods Backpacking trip is filled. If you didn't sign up and want to be on the waiting list contact Steve Bickel. The Dolly Sods Wilderness area in West Viriginia is arguably one of the most unique and beautiful hiking areas on the East Coast. The high plateaus are made up of wind carved sand stone, stunted red spruce, grassy meadows and sphagnum bogs. Mark your calendars for the BOC spring backpacking trip 1-3. Car camping nearby on Friday night will enable everyone to get on the trail early Saturday morning for a 12 mile loop to be hiked in two days. This could be the perfect time for beginners to try a relatively short hike and even experienced hikers will relish the spectacular scenery. Backpacking

5 groups are limited to ten hikers so sign up at the meeting or Steve Bickel at 2 16 Jul BOC wildflower hike 10:00am to 1:00pm at Wolf Creek Narrows, rain or shine. Dress for weather, may encounter short wet muddy sections of trail. Trilliums, jack in the pulpit, virginia blue bells and other spring flowers. Meet at the trailhead on Miller Rd just south of the bridge over Wolf Creek. From Slippery Rock Sheetz, go 2 short blocks west to Water Street, turn left (south) for about a mile, trailhead will be on your left. Dave and Jean Adams and Warren Smith BOC Ohiopyle Bike Ride meet 10am at the train station trailhead and ride up along the Yough River to Confluence and back. Optional stop in Conluence for snacks/lunch. Dave and Jean Adams BOC member camp out The group camping area at Five Points in Moraine State Park has been reserved for Friday, July 10 and Saturday, July 11 for all BOC members to enjoy two nights of free camping together. Non-members may also camp with a member for a $5 per person per night fee. The camping area is centrally located in the park so biking, kayaking, swimming, hiking or just plain chillin can be accommodated. Bring your own gear and food. Capacity is limited so sign up at the meeting to ensure your spot. Other Area Outdoor Activities and Events These events are listed for public information and are not sponsored nor endorsed by the Butler Outdoor Club. We assume no liability for anything that happens if you participate in these activities. Eight free weekly training hikes are intended to prepare you to take on the Rachel Carson Challenge on June 20 (also good training for the A100, backpack trips, etc.) These hikes not only help you build your endurance, but they also allow you to field test your gear. Your new shoes or pants may seem fine on your 10 mile hikes, but only when you approach 20 miles over hilly terrain do previously imperceptible problems become incapacitating. Everyone is welcome on these hikes; you do not need to be entered into the Challenge to participate. There is no need to notify the hike leader of your plan to attend. Simply show up on time. Please bring at least a quart of water (more if the temperature will be warm) and some energy snacks (e.g. Powerbar). Minimum unaccompanied age is 12. We will meet at the hike end point and carpool to the start point, leaving a sufficient number of cars behind to carry people back to the start when the hike is over. All hikes meet at 8 AM. Plan for later hikes to take up to 9 hours (7 hours for the hike plus up to 2 hours for sign-in, announcements, car shuttling, and so forth). The hikes are free. A suggested donation of $3 per person may be given to the hike leader on the day of the hike. For updates, maps and more info: This 7.7 mile Rachel Carson hike begins at Bull Creek Road near Tarentum with about a mile of uphill road hiking. Soon we hit Burtner Hill, one of the biggest and toughest hills on the Trail, followed by some easy, pleasant terrain and ending in

6 Harrison Hills Park. Meet at the Environmental Learning Center in Harrison Hills Park. Take Route 28 to exit 16, turn east (right if exiting northbound) at the end of the ramp, then right again at the T-intersection with Freeport Road. The park is about one mile down on the left. Take the left fork of the Park entrance road, then the next left and follow it up to the ELC. On this 8.9 mile Rachel Carson hike we start in Springdale and head up to Agan Park followed by some steep ups and downs - including Murray Hill and Crawford Run hill. We end with a sharp descent near Tarentum. Meet at the parking area at the intersection of Bull Creek Road and Ridge Road. Take Route 28 to Exit 14 (Tarentum). Turn north on Bull Creek Road for a very short distance, turn right on Ridge Road, then immediately turn into the parking area on the right. Rachel Carson 9.7 mile hike - Starting near Dorseyville, we work our way over to and through Emmerling Park, then hit Rich Hill, Lefever Hill, and Log Cabin hill. After some road walking, we end near the Springdale Veterans Association Hall in Springdale. Meet at the Springdale Veterans Association Hall parking lot in Springdale. Take Route 28 to Exit 12A (Pittsburgh Mills). At the end of the ramp, turn away from the mall on the main entrance road, then turn left onto Tawney Run Road. After about 1/2 mile turn right on Riddle Run Road. Follow this road until it ends at Freeport Road and turn right. The Springdale Veterans Association Hall entrance will be on your right in about 1/4 mile. Park on the far side of the lot (the gravel section). This Rachel Carson 13.4 mile hike begins in North Park and heads over to Emmerling Park, then up and over Rich Hill and Lefever Hill. We end at the Log Cabin Road checkpoint location. Meet at Log Cabin Road parking area. Take Route 28 to Exit 12. Turn right at the end of the ramp, then right at the stop sign onto Little Deer Creek Road (aka Russellton Road). Travel about 1.5 miles and turn right on Log Cabin Road. Park about 100 yards ahead on the right. This Rachel Carson 14.1 mile hike starts at the eastern terminus of the Rachel Carson Trail, a part of the trail which Challengers never see. We'll hike through Harrison Hills Park, past the Bobwhite Shelter, then over Burtner Hill and down Crawford Run hill to Creighton. (On this hike, we travel in the opposite direction of the Challenge because of parking limitations at the eastern terminus.) Meet at the parking area behind Sheetz in Creighton. Take Route 28 to Exit 13. At the bottom of the ramp, turn right and in about 30 feet turn right again into a gravel parking lot surrounded by a low chainlink fence. Rachel Carson 14.4 mile hike - We start in Dorseyville and head east, passing through Emmerling Park and up and down a plethora of hills including Rich Hill, Lefever Hill, Log Cabin hill, and impressively steep Murray Hill. We'll end in Creighton. Meet at the parking area behind Sheetz in Creighton. Take Route 28 to Exit 13. At the bottom of the ramp, turn right and in about 30 feet turn right again into a gravel parking lot surrounded by a low chainlink fence. On this Rachel Caarson 17.5 mile hike we'll cover the first half of this year's Challenge course. Starting in North Park, we march over to Emmerling Park, then up and over Rich Hill and Lefever Hill, then Log Cabin hill, some road walking, then we

7 Butler Outdoor Club Membership Form / / Mail to: Butler Outdoor Club, PO Box 321 Harrisville, PA Date Renewals are due March 1 each year. PLEASE PRINT Annual dues are $20 family, $15 individual plus $10 for news letter via US mail if desired. (circle applicable) Make checks payable to Butler Outdoor Club Send my newsletter via US mail (for an additional $10) or via e mail and trip updates via _ Y or N Name Age Sex Relationship Phone (H) Phone (W) Cell Phone e mail e mail 2 Privacy Policy: We do not distrubute membership lists to outside organizations. This information is for internal club use in mailing newsletters, brochures, questionnaires and for use by club officers and outing leaders. Address: Street or P.O. Box City State Zip+4 Name of person to notify in case of emergency Relationship Phone Number B a c k p a c k I w o u ld lik e t o p a r t ic ip a t e in t h e s e a c t iv it ie s. I w o u ld lik e t o h e lp in t h e s e a r e a s : R o a d B ik e T r a il B ik e C a n o e K a y a k S a il C a r a C a m p C a v e B ir d W a t c h N a t u r e E v e n t s C r o s s C o u n tr y S k i S n o w s h o e O r ie n t e e r T r a ilw o r k I c e S k a t in g D o w n H ill S k i M e m b e r s h ip N e w s le t t e r P ic n ic s M o n t h ly P r o g r a m L e a d O u t in g s O t h e r F u n d R a is in g S p e c ia l E v e n t s A n n u a l D in n e r S e t u p B e fo r e M e e t in g s Please read the following assumption of risk and liability waver very carefully. By signing this application you are agreeing to all provisions, implied or otherwise, of the waiver. IN CONSIDERATION of being permitted to join the Butler incur due to my participating in any way in any activities conducted by Outdoor Club and participate in its activities, BOC and/or any of its individual members whether caused by the I,, negligence of the releases or otherwise. 3. ASSUME FULL for myself, my personal representatives, heirs, and next of kin RESI'ONSIBILITY FOR AND RISK OF BODIIY INJURY, DEAI'H, hereby acknowledge, agree, and represent that I fully OR PROPERTY DAMAGE due to the negligence or releases or understand that most BOC activities, including but not limited otherwise while participating in any way in any activity conducted by to, white water, rock fall, avalanches, crevasses, exposure to BOC and/or any of its individual members. I further expressly agree severe weather, crowning, equipment failure, and the misuse that the foregoing release. waiver and indemnity agreement is intended of equipment by myself and others, could result in my to he as broad and inclusive as is permitted by the law of the suffering serious bodily injury and/or death and I HEREBY Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and if any portion thereof is invalid, it 1. RELEASE, WAIVE. DISCHARGE, AND COVENANT is agreed that the balance shall. not withstanding. continue in full legal NOT TO SUE. Butler Outdoor Club, its instructors and or force and effect. participants in any teaching activities, and/or of the individual I HERBY WARRANT THAT I HAVE READ AND VOLUNTARY officers or members of BOC (hereinafter collectively referred SIGNED THIS RELEASE AND WAIVER OF LIABILITY AND to as "releases" from all liability to me. my personal INDEMNITY AGREEMENT, AND FURTHER AGREE THAT NO representatives, assigns, heirs and next of kin for any and all ORAL REPRESENTATIONS, STATEMENTS OR INDUCEMENTS loss or damage, and any claims or demands therefore on APART FROM THE FORGOING AGREEMENT HAVE account of injury to my person or property or resulting in my BEEN MADE. death whether caused by the negligence of the releases or otherwise while participating in any activities conducted by / / BOC and/or any of its individual members. 2. AGREE TO Signature(s) (Assumption of risk must be signed) Date INDEMNIFY AND SAVE. AND HOLD HARMLESS the releases and each of them from any loss. liability, damage, or cost they may

8 Butler NCT Monthly Hike 3/22/15 (Shutterfly, Tammy Veloski) Butler Outdoor Club PO Box 321 Harrisville, PA 16038