PATC - North Chapter

......stewards of the Appalachian Trail

Contributed by PATC Blogger

“Give me a lever long enough, and I can move the world” (Archimedes)  or even more appropriate......"Better to slide it than roll it; better to roll it than carry it; and don’t carry it alone.   

As a relative 'newbie' to AT trail work in Pennsylvania, I...

Contributed by Andy Wolfe, PATC North Overseer of Rocky Knob Trail

Ever tend to take a bite of life that is more than you can handle......

...much like this Banded Water Snake that has a 'grasp' on a much larger BullFrog.   The bullfrog is fresh out of hibernation based on the dark color from algae.    The snake wasn't letting go and the frog appeared to be a bit more than he could chew. &...

Contributed by Andy Wolfe, Overseer of Rocky Knob Trail

The trails of Pennsylvania are well-known to be filled with 'toe bangers'....very rocky & with exposed roots.  So this rare photo.....

is a collectors item, being considered for a wall at the ATC museum in Pine Grove.  This section is a favorite of Helen Keller and Stevie Wonder since it can be traversed with your eyes closed or...

Contributed by Mary Clark, PATC North Overseer

The weekend of February 21-22 found six members of PATC’s North Chapter Yankee Clippers taking a wildland firefighting class in Mt. Holly Springs, PA. Sponsored by PA-DCNR, the class was organized by Michele Miller of ATC-MARO.  Instructors included Philip M. Bietsch, District #1/ Michaux State Fire Forester, as well as other DCNR staff.

Contributed by Ken May, PATC North AT Overseer

ISSUE: Do you have to relocate the trail when human traffic is the source of consistent, significant water damage ??   ANSWER:  Build A Turnpike !!!

In May 2009, the PA Work Trip was a major undertaking.....building a turnpike on a section of the AT between Old ...

Contributed by Rick Canter, MD District Manager

On Valentine’s Day, the South Mountaineers cleared their biggest tree in the 22-year history of the crew's history. 

Overseer Mike Trettel first reported a monster oak tree across the Cat Rock Trail near the junction with the Old Misery Trail in Cunningham Falls State Park o...

Yup.....the web now allows us to hike the AT without ever leaving the comfort of home.   You will particularly like this video since it depicts the AT from PenMar just past Pine Grove Furnace.......a view of the PA District that we maintain.   Daniel Hooven, an avid hiker from PA, created this tribute, which is a fabulous perspective of the trail, the shelters, the cabins & the beauty of the AT.  So if it is too cold for you to venture it this winter.... 

Borrowed from our sister Chapter website, South Shenandoah 

Now this is Trail Work.......sit back & do some virtual hiking with these videos of building the AT in the 1930s.   

They were created for the opening of the ATC museum in Pine Grove Furnace & are narrated by past President, Tom Johnson.

Contributed by the Rocky Knob Trail Overseers

Come and hike Rocky Knob Trail this winter. It's a great 4 mile State "loop trail" off the AT at Ridge Road and Birch Run Road in the Michaux State Forest.   The trail offers the winter hiker great views, vistas, and ascents and descents that will keep you warm and challenge your boots.  

Pictured are Overseers Jim Jengeleski and Gai...

The Pennsylvania ATC Specialty license plate is now available !!  Get Yours Today !!!

Personalization of the license plate is available with five letters or numbers in combination.   There is a one-time plate fee of $50, with an additional plate fee for any personalization.   A disabled symbol is also available. 

As a revenue sharing plate, $21 of t...

Contributed by Dave Trone, PATC North Chapter Treasurer - from PATC Newsletter, September 2003, by Chris Fee

Archimedes is said to have claimed that, given a lever long enough and a place to stand, he could move the world.  Members of the PATC North Chapter took him at his word two years ago when we....

....used a mighty timber to jack up one of the old Birch Run She...

Adopted from article by Tawnya Finney, a PATC Chapter Overseer for the Tumbling Run Shelters 

What is a classroom ??  Four walls in a building or can it be  in the woods on the AT ??  How can we expose others to the wonder we experience in nature hiking the trails ??

Tawnya Finney, one of the overseers of Tumbling Run Shelters, is a participant in Trail to E...

Contributed by Kathy Seiler, a PATC Chapter Overseer

Our appearance at Market Day in downtown Waynesboro (Oct 4) gave us much "face time" with the crowds - at first, a cloudy, damp and chilly start but later sunshine and clear skies increased foot traffic. Indeed, the giant map drew many over to explore, then chat w/ Curt and Tawnya Finney, Chris Firme or myself. 

We heard s...

Contributed by Andy Wolfe, a PATC North Chapter Overseer (and amateur photographer)

This juvenile Broad-Winged Hawk was photographed in early September near Pine Grove Furnace.   It's wing was broken probably chasing prey in close quarters or hit by a car in a dive across the road at night.   It was too tired and hungry not to allow me close with my lens. 

Contributed Anonymously

What was our biology teacher thinking…taking a dozen teenagers hiking on the AT, from Delaware Water Gap to Swatara Gap in the late summer of 1973 ?? I guess he knew we'd be creating memories which would last our lifetimes, and in some cases, beyond.

This one, I hope, will be turning in the eddies of my memory until it dries up completel...

Post anonymously contributed

Ever have a tree you need to fall in a specific direction & possibly cramped quarters ??   The following video could be considered for continuing education credit & provides some insight in the opportunities you could encounter......Enjoy !!! 

https//www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=1450767261845493

Post courtesy of Andy Wolfe, a PATC North Chapter overseer

If you have never climbed the escarpment on the 'blue trail' above Dead Woman's Hollow, you are missing out on a real cardiac carb burner.

Today with the temps in the 60s, the morning climb was comfortable yet raised the blood pressure and made our hearts remember our age.  The Anna Michener cabin has a new porch & it...

Courtesy of Andy Wolfe,  Rocky Knob Overseer from PATC North

Right now the woods in Michaux State forest are offering a great meal along the AT.  "Chicken Mushrooms" boiled and served with Ramen or Cream of Mushroom Soup are fantastic fare. And....no fear...there are no dangerous inedible fungus that look like Chicken of the Woods. They taste "just like chicken".   

Post courtesy of Jim Tabor, a PATC North Chapter Overseer from Monto Alto, PA

Rocky Mountain Shelter is celebrating its 25th year, built in 1989. Of the shelters on the 32-mile Pennsylvania AT section maintained by PATC North Chapter, it is the only shelter that is not right on the trail. It is downhill 3/10ths of a mile & the spring is 5/10ths of a mile below the shelter. The spring runs good all year long even in the driest part of the summer. Hikers wish it wa...

After a day of hiking, a picnic is always welcome !!!  Followed directly by story-telling about this & previous hikes.   As on June 29th, when North Chapter hosted 20 hikers at the AT museum.  Obviously they were hungry.....they consumed 35 hamburgers, 60 hot dogs, cole slaw, beans, brownies and drinks.

The event was organized by PATC North Chapter, the AT museum and the York County Trails grou...