Volume 21 Month 5 2015 Next Membership Meeting 6, 2015 6:30 PM at the Butler YMCA Grand Canyon Hike Slide Show John and Alice Stehle will present a slide show from their backpacking trip down the Grand Canyon in November of 2014. 10 family members and friends spent a day going down the Kaibab Trail, staying at Bright Angel Campground and Phantom Ranch, then taking two days to return via the Bright Angel Trail VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Glacier Ridge Trail Ultramarathon 9, 2015 We could use some BOC volunteers at the Moraine Preservation Fund GRT aid station along Rt. 528. Contact Carol Bickel at 724-794-3719 or cbickel@zoominternet.net if you can help out. Three shifts are available: 6-10 am, 9:45-3 or 2:45-5 pm Thanks to everyone who renewed their BOC membership for 2015! NCT April 19th Hike The NCT Butler Chapter April hike on SGL 95 from Branchton Road to Kohlmeyer Road attracted 8 hikers. Weather was nice at around 68 degrees, no rain, partly sunny, just right! We hiked about 2 miles, passing by Vulture Rock and ending where a break in an earthen dam prevents easy passage to the next road crossing. Three of our more nimble hikers scrambled down and across the washout to complete the trip to Kohlmeyer Road. After hiking back to our cars, some of us took Steve Smith up on his offer to come over to his place for grilled hot dogs and sausages. Afterwards he took us on a walk on his own trails. This picture was taken from Vulture Rock where the trail passes by. MARK YOUR CALENDARS! Membership ACTIVITY Meeting June 3, 2015 4:00 PM at Moraine Let s all meet at the Link Road overnight shelters in Moraine State Park at 4:00 pm for a staining work party! Bring a snack or dish to share at the picnic following at 6:30 pm. (Note: The July meeting will be back at the Butler YMCA.)
RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER: See events page for more details on these activities covered in the April issue: 2 - BOC Wildflower Hike 16 Ohiopyle Bike Ride DON T FORGET! BOC Group Camp Out July 10 & 11, 2015 Don t forget to sign up for the BOC group camp out July 10 & 11 at Moraine State Park! The group camping area at Five Points 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. Space is limited so please sign up at the monthly membership meeting! Stay Tuned Jan Berg, Carol Bickel, Dave Galbreath and Tammy Veloski recently completed a six day backpacking trip on the Appalachian Trail through the Great Smoky Mountains. We re hoping they share their experience hint hint. (Tammy, Jan & Carol above during a training hike.) Have material for the next monthly newsletter? We d love to read about a recent adventure or share plans for an upcoming event. Please email submissions to editor@butleroutdoorclub.org 2 weeks prior to month end so the newsletter can be compiled and shared prior to the next membership meeting. BOC Directory President Steve Bickel 724.794.3719 Vice-President Tammy Veloski painthorse_33@yahoo.com Secretary John Stehle 724.256.0674 Treasurer Carol Bickel 724.794.3719 Backpacking Steve Bickel 724.794.3719 Canoeing Joyce Appel 724.526.5407 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 724.776.0678 Skiing Paul Henry 724.347.3282 Trails Ron Rice 724.538.8475 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 www.butleroutdoorclub.org follow us on facebook at www.facebook.com/butleroutdoorclub
!!Annual Outdoor Extravaganza!! 22-25 Sponsored by Butler Outdoor Club (All activities take place or leave from Breakneck Campground located near McConnells Mill State and Moraine State Park) Details: www.outdoorextravaganza.org Online registration opens March 1 Early Bird Registration before April 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 - www.outdoorextravaganza.org Joyce Appel can be contacted directly with questions: Email up until April 5: joyceappel@windstream.net. After April 5, email or call (724) 526-5407. Joyce Outdoor Tips & Tricks Wool for warm weather? Yes! Today s merino wool duds wick and breath, don t itch like old fashioned wool, don t get clammy and don t hold odor like synthetics or cotton (a boon to you AND your traveling companions on a hot or long trip). Check out light tees, tanks, underwear and socks by companies like Icebreaker and Smartwool. Tip Since these clothes can be pricey, grab them on sale or clearance from online sites like Sierra Trading Post and always follow the laundering instructions. After all, why pay good money for a high-performance tee only your pet Chihuahua can wear after you ve tossed it in the dryer on high? Do you have a tip or advice concerning outdoor activities or gear that you d like to share with others? Please send your ideas to editor@butleroutdoorclub.com. For more information on the Holiday Valley Mudslide please visit the website at www.holidayvalley.com/mudslide For more information on the Bantam Jeep Festival please visit the website at www.bantamjeepfestival.com
2 6 16 22 25 Jul 10 11 BOC Sponsored Events 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 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. Join us as John and Alice Stehle present a slide show from their backpacking trip down the Grand Canyon in November of 2014. 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 Annual Outdoor Extravaganza Sponsored by Butler Outdoor Club (Near McConnells Mill State Park & Moraine State Park) www.outdoorextravaganza.org Activities leave from Breakneck Campground. Some activities take place there. Camping optional & Meals optional. KIDS FREE Members & Non-Members welcome. Friday Evening Weiner Roast/Picnic & Classic Indian Dance entertainment by Amethyst. Saturday, Sunday & Monday - Day Activities. Saturday Evening Pig Roast & Program "Gristmills of Western Pa." by Stan Malecki. Sunday Evening Entertainment around campfire, guitar & songs by Jim Sorenson. Various levels of hikes: As well as Hiking George Washington,1753 + Tour, Nature & Wildflower Walk, Bird Walk, Photo Hike, Backpack Simulation Hike, and Cemetery Hike. Various water trips: Canoe or Kayak on lakes & streams, Fishing Trip, Sailing, Windsurfing, Paddle boarding, Raft Trip, and Nautical Nature Boat Tour. Bike trips on bike trails. Workshops: Photography, Backpacking, Paper Embroidery, Outdoor Fitness, Camping Treats, Self Massage & Acupressure, Tai Chai, and Outdoor Bake Oven + Tour, Historical Excursion "Sample Border Rangers". Kids Activities: Mammals at the Mill, Kites & Other Crafts, Kids Hike, and Storytelling Body massages and Gear exchange / flea market throughout the weekend. Check out the website for details and registration. Something for all ages! www.outdoorextravaganza.org Questions:.joyceappel@windstream.net 724) 526-5407 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.
Apr Jun Apr 26 3 10 17 24 31 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: http://www.rachelcarsontrails.org/rct/challenge/rctc15/goaltraining 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 chain link 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
June 7 Jun 12 14 Jul 18 19 Hill, then Log Cabin hill, some road walking, then we finish in Springdale. Meet at Springdale High School 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 1/4 mile turn right on Butler Road. Follow this road until just before the first stop sign, turning left onto Henderson Road. In about 1/3 mile, turn right onto Marion Avenue and immediately turn right again into the parking lot. This Raachel Carson 18.6 mile hike was specifically chosen to be the final, longest and most difficult hike prior to the Challenge. We begin in Dorseyville, glide through Emmerling Park, head up and down Rich Hill, Lefever Hill, Log Cabin Hill, Murray Hill, Crawford Run hill, then undulate through Creighton and end at the Bull Creek Road checkpoint location near Tarentum. If you get through this, you can do it! Meet in 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. The A-100 Hiking Challenge The Allegheny National Forest Chapter of the North Country Trail Association will hold the annual Allegheny 100 Hiking Challenge on June 12th through 14th, 2015. The adventure covers a 100 mile stretch of the North Country National Scenic Trail in the Allegheny National Forest. Hikers will climb over rolling hills and pass through many beautiful stream valleys. For 2015, the hikers will travel north to south. The A-100 challenges hikers to traverse 100 miles, 75 miles, 50 miles or 25 miles in a 50 hour time period. This challenge is for anyone, regardless of skill level, who wants to test themselves against the trail. Pre-registration for the A-100 will open in March, 2015. For more information visit the NCTA website at http://northcountrytrail.org/get-involved/special-events/ or email anf@northcountrytrail.org You are cordially invited to the Gear & Cheer Music Festival - July 18 and 19, 2015 at Bradys Run County Park. The Ohio River Trail Council Festival is comprised of environmental, educational, government, heritage, trail and outdoor groups primarily from Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia but also Maryland and New York. Festival free events include kayaking, canoeing, and stand-up paddleboarding â demos and lessons provided. Arboretum trail tour, children's fishing derby, gear demonstrations, geocaching, hiking, orienteering, wildlife viewing, health focused programs, educational workshops and lectures, arts & crafts, and a live nine-hour music concert. Festival pay events include 5K run/walk, paddlesport races, cornhole tournament, road cycling, mountain biking, rock climbing wall, auctions, raffles, food, drink, wine and beer tasting. Directions - Please join the ORTC at the Lodge in Bradys Run County Park. The Park is Beaver County's largest, which consists of nearly 2000 acres. Bradys Run Park is located on Route 51, two miles north of Beaver, Pa within Brighton and Patterson Townships. GPS: 40.731316, -80.351837
Beautiful Snowy Owl spotted at Presque Isle by Dave Adams (shared via email by Dave Adams) Butler Outdoor Club PO Box 321 Harrisville, PA 16038