Mini A.T. Race prizes for June 2nd event

DATC has been collecting door prizes and prizes for mini-Appalachian Trail race participants at the June 2nd designation event.  Donations thus far have been collected from Perry County Chamber of Commerce, Gander Mountain and Appalachian Trail Conservancy.  ATC's prizes just arrived at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Office today including a few t-shirts, tote bags and day-pack!  See photo at right.  Two of the Appalachian Trail Community street signs (pictured at right) will be presented to the Borough at the June 2nd designation ceremony as well!!

Norfolk Southern Enola Yard Diesel Shop employees pitch in to clean out River Arches

Photos by Mary Parry

Norfolk Southern Corporation’s spring volunteer day brought employees from the Enola Yard Diesel Shop to the Borough of Duncannon this past Saturday, May 12^th with enthusiasm and a back-hoe to help improve access points to the Susquehanna River in the downtown area.   The railroad helpers pitched in with assistance from Borough workers and community volunteers to help scrape sediment, even out the floor and clear brush and debris from under the railroad arches.  They were finishing up just as the first batch of paddlers marched their boats down Ann St. to put-in under the arch on the beautiful day.

The idea for this effort came from Susquehanna Appalachian Trail Club President Karen Balaban and was coordinated with assistance from the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and DATC as a lead-in to the upcoming Appalachian Trail Community^TM designation event.  The arch-ways receive heavy use from recreational paddlers and pedestrians accessing scenic views of the broad river and surrounding forested ridges.  The Norfolk Southern group’s collaborative efforts with the local community will maximize resources towards improving public safety for pedestrian access following damage from last year’s flooding, helping prevent future erosion, and enhancing the appearance of the river access points.

 “Many of our employees live in Perry County and recognize this rail line for the beautiful scenery of the Susquehanna Water Gaps,” said NSCorp. Enola Diesel Shop Senior General Foreman, Archie Glace.  “We’re happy to help improve local access to the river under our tracks and strengthen ties with the communities where our people live and work.”

For more awesome photos taken by Trailangel Mary, view the facebook photo album here!

Smokey the Bear attending the June 2nd event!

Smokey the Bear - forest fire safety guru, mascot of the U.S. Forest Service, and all around fine individual - has confirmed his attendance at Duncannon's Appalachian Trail Community designation festival on June 2nd!  Come visit him on Cumberland St. between noon and 4pm.

We're sure glad he's coming in light of the recent wildfires in Tuscarora State Forest and up on Peter's Mountain.   Learn more about Smokey and his message at SmokeyBear.com and be sure to visit Smokey's special kids section with lots of games, stories and fun!  

Special thanks to the DCNR Bureau of Forestry regional Fire Warden for helping bring Smokey to our event!

Susquehanna Rovers Volksmarch Club to lead 5K & 10K walks on June 2nd

As part of Saturday morning National Trails Day activities in advance of the designation event, on June 2nd the Susquehanna Rovers Volksmarch Club will be leading 5k and 10k (3.1 and 6.2 miles respectively) self-guided walks along the Appalachian Trail through Duncannon (maps and directions will be provided). 

Start/Finish location is at the Senior Center, located in the Asbury Methodist Church, 27 North High Street, Duncannon. Start times are from 8:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. with all walkers to be finished by 4:00 p.m. Walks are free to non-IVA-AVA participants and are suitable for all ages with hike rating of 1A. Register at the Start location. Pre-registration is not necessary. For further information, contact Charlie Johnson at chuck@debndoug.com

The Susquehanna Rovers are a group of people in Central PA and surrounding areas who share a love of the outdoors and an interest in walking.  Rovers range in age from babies in backpacks to folks in their 80's, and they come from all walks of life.

Susquehanna Rovers are part of a worldwide network of similar clubs, all of whom host and take part in volkssporting events.  "Volkssport" means people's sport.  There are four main sports - walking, biking, swimming and cross country skiing.  Walks, or volksmarches, are the most popular type of event.

DATC is very excited to have the Rovers joining the day's events!!

Designation announced on Patriot News blog

Marcus Schneck of The Patriot News reports:  

Duncannon to be named an official Appalachian TrailCommunity

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy will designate Duncannon, Pennsylvania, as the newest Appalachian Trail Community on Saturday, June 2, in conjunction with National Trails Day.

The designation festival, which is titled "Saving Our Community from Nature Deficit Disorder, begins at noon.

It will include workshops, presentations, sponsored hikes with local trail groups, live music, vendors and a raffle and sponsored hikes with local trail groups, to be followed by a ceremony at 2:45 p.m.

According to ATC, the designation is coming to Duncannon because the community works collaboratively to bring awareness to the AT and to their respective community highlighting the trail as a national resource and international icon.  During the ceremony the ATC and town leaders will speak with a proclamation signing and an unveiling of new community signs.  

"Each year, municipal leaders, members of the Boy and Girl Scouts, Trail Angels, local citizens, and members of the school community take a great deal of pride in making Duncannon part of the trail by offering a unique experience for those passing through a community nestled along the sparkling Susquehanna River. It is indeed an honor to be one of a small number of towns through which the Trail directly passes," wrote Daniel Sheats, superintendent of schools, in his letter supporting the community designation.

The festival also will announce the winners of a fourth grade postcard art contest, which will be made available for sale at local businesses.

The Appalachian Trail Community designation is a new program of the ATC, the nonprofit responsible for management and protection of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail. Launched in 2010, this program recognizes communities for their part in promoting awareness of the AT as an important local and national asset.

Designation as an Appalachian Trail Community is aimed to engage community residents, trail visitors and stewards; thank communities for their decades of service to hikers; aAct as a catalyst for sustainable economic development; aid municipalities and regional areas with conservation planning initiatives; and promote the trail as a community resource and asset

"The Appalachian Trail Conservancy is proud to celebrate communities that are helping to protect and promote the Appalachian Trail," said Julie Judkins, community program manager for the ATC. "These new partnerships will increase local stewardship of public lands, support community initiatives for sustainable economic development and conservation planning as well as support healthy lifestyles for community citizens."

A Duncannon Appalachian Trail Community Advisory Committee was formed to process the community's application, and will continue to work on behalf of the outdoor recreation and natural assets in the area.

The committee is also planning improved river access and downtown beautification through their support of Apple Tree Alley, a proposed site plan that would transform the underused old railroad right-of-way corridor into a new space for community use and serve as the route of the AT in Duncannon, guiding hikers through a town park to connect them with amenities, river access points and businesses.

"Each hiker experiences not only a piece of America as they stroll Duncannon's sidewalks, but also senses the welcoming atmosphere innate to the neighborhood," said Karen Balaban, president of the Susquehanna Appalachian Trail Club.

The ATC was founded in 1925 by volunteers and federal officials working to build a continuous footpath along the Appalachian Mountains.

The AT runs about 2,180 miles from Maine to Georgia, making it one of the longest, continuously marked footpathes in the world.

Volunteers typically donate more than 220,000 hours each year on trail-related work and about 2 to 3 million visitors walk a portion of the AT each year.  This year also marks the 75th anniversary of the completion of the AT. 

Potential Economic Benefits of Apple Tree Alleywalk

The Apple Tree Alleywalk project will be on the agenda at the upcoming Borough Council meeting on May 15th at 7pm.  Show your support for this innovative trail/greenway project that would be both a great asset to residents and an attraction for visitors.  More info on the potential economic benefits of Apple Tree Alley  below or learn more about the economic impacts of Trails in Damascus, Virginia.

Volunteers needed to help with Duncannon Trails Mural!

Mural art by Carol Boyd

A group is meeting this eve at 6pm in the Perry County Beer Lot to start washing the PA-11/15 retaining wall slated for an upcoming mural that will feature a map of trails in the greater Duncannon area with natural features drawn artistically.  Muralist Carol Boyd will be coordinating the effort.  Head out there to help out if you can!

The next DATC meeting will be held Monday, May 7th at 6:30pm at the Borough Office on N. High St.  More upcoming dates include: 

• May 6th - Mountain Club of MD trail maintenance on Cove Mountain
• May 10th - Making it Happen New Business Seminar at Penn Twp Building
• May 12th - Norfolk Southern Employee workday cleaning out River Arches
• May 15th - May Borough Council meeting, Apple Tree Alley on the agenda