Duncannon A.T. Community proclamation caught on Video!

Thanks to Rose Jenkins for video-taping the Duncannon Appalachian Trail Community proclamation read by ATC’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Director, Karen Lutz, and Mayor of Duncannon Borough, Kraig Nace.   Watch below on YouTube.

Also be sure to check out Brian "Nimble" McPherson's Katahdin Song!   A special Duncannon version was performed at the designation event on June 2nd.

Susquenita Middle School Post Card Art Contest Winners

Post Card Design Winners from each grade on display at ATC's Mid-Atlantic Regional Office!

This past Saturday the A.T. Community designation ceremony was kicked off by Susquenita Middle School and Trail to Every Classroom teacher Paul Marth awarding the winners of the Post Card Art Contest from each grade!

The winners are (clockwise from top left): 

• Michaela Todaro - Grade 5
• Hanna Luzier - Grade 8
• Danielle Bentley - Grade 7
• Cali Beasom - Grade 6

Congratulations!!  Many other Middle School students submitted awesome designs as well that were on display this past Saturday at event central.  These post cards are available in downtown businesses and the post office in Duncannon for hikers and visitors to mail home - and for residents to enjoy.

Special thanks to Paul Marth for coordinating, Susquenita Middle School art teacher Abby Fisher, the Duncannon Appalachian Trail Community Advisory Committee for funding printing, and of course to all the amazingly talented students that submitted their designs!  This will hopefully be the beginning of an annual tradition in Duncannon that will also spread to Appalachian Trail Communities from Georgia to Maine. 

Event Photos from Sedentary Steve

Thanks to Trailangel Mary and lead photographer Annie Leiby for planning to have photographers stationed at all of the day’s events!  Can't wait to see some of the photo booth shots.  Steve Fehr, or “Sedentary Steve,” as he’s known in the Trail community, sent over a set of photos from the day’s events.  A few are posted below or visit his Picasa web album for a whole gallery.  Be sure to check out Sedentary Steve's "Tales from the Trail", a series of thru-hiker interviews he did in 2002.  It's great stuff!

Hikers heading to Hawk Rock (Photo: Steve Fehr)

New Mural by Muralists Carol & Alston Boyd (Photo: Steve Fehr)

Steve Saffier of PA Audubon (Photo: Steve Fehr)

Cumberland Street (Photo: Steve Fehr)

Portrait Artist on Cumberland St. (Photo: Steve Fehr)

Hikers at the Mountain Club of MD Tent (Photo: Steve Fehr)

Randy "Windtalker" Motz performs (Photo: Steve Fehr)

Trailangel Mary reads excerpt from Nat Geo (Photo: Steve Fehr)

A.T. Community designation ceremony (Photo: Steve Fehr)

Inaugural Duncannon A.T. Community a SUCCESS!

Congratulations to the entire Duncannon Appalachian Trail Community advisory committee and Trailangel Mary for a successful event this past Saturday!  

Photo by Sean O'Shell of TrailVistas.com. (Click for larger view)

Trail and Duncannon-enthusiasts turned out in droves on the beautiful day for morning hikes sponsored by area Trail clubs, information & retail vendors, live entertainment, and Trail-related programs.  A designation ceremony capped things off at 2:45pm when the Susquenita Middle School Post-Card Art Contest winners were awarded and speakers from the National Park Service, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Appalachian Trail Museum Society, Perry County Commission, PA State House of Representatives, and PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

Lancaster County Conservancy President & CEO, Ralph Goodno, informed attendees of the reasons we need to get our children and citizens out-of-doors and what we can do going forward to see this change.  Appalachian Trail Conservancy Mid-Atlantic Regional Director, Karen Lutz, and Duncannon Major, Kraig Nace followed with the reading of the A.T. Community Proclamation.  Thanks to Mayor Nace for serving as master of ceremonies.  Thanks again to ALL THE VOLUNTEERS that helped make this event a success.

A.T. Photo-Booth and Parking for Saturday's Event

See below map for available parking and shuttle stops on June 2^nd in Duncannon.  Street parking may be available as well. 

Click on image for larger view.

And Committee member Annie Leiby -- of A View of the Soul Photography -- will be hosting an Appalachian Trail photo-booth on Cumberland St. during the event!  See backdrop below.   Photos will be available for download for $5 after the event and proceeds will be donated to DATC.

Mountain Club of Maryland June 2nd Trail Maintenance Trip

Luke Johnson & Jerry Wright out on the Trail

The Mountain Club of Maryland (MCM) trail maintenance trip heading up Cove Mountain will meet at the Recycle Center on Saturday morning, June 2nd at 9:30am.  Join in to help out and learn about how the local clubs maintain the Appalachian Trail before the big event!  Contact Jerry Wright or Mike O'Connor with questions.

Susquenita High School sophomore, Luke Johnson, has been helping out with Duncannon Appalachian Trail Community efforts as part of his Senior Project since early 2012.  He spent a day out on the Trail helping out MCM Trail Maintainer Jerry Wright back in early May and has since been painting fresh blazes on the Cove Mountain section of the Trail.  Thanks to Luke and his mother Beth for all their help!  And to MCM for taking on such a worthy apprentice.

Muralists Carol & Alston Boyd signing Duncannon "Trails" Mural on June 2nd at 12pm

Muralists hard at work.   Photo by Mary Parry.

Before you hop on over to Cumberland street for the day’s festivities on June 2nd, stop by the site of the new Duncannon Trails mural at 12pm to see the muralists sign their nearly-completed work.  The mural is painted on the side of the Rt 11/15 retaining wall in Duncannon across the parking lot from Perry County Beer & Soda.  Muralist Carol Boyd and her son Alston will be working hard over the next few days, weather pending, to finish up as much as possible before Saturday’s event.  So excited to see the finished product!  The mural project has been coordinated by Trailangel Mary and a special thanks to PNC Bank for financial support, PennDOT District 8 for allowing DATC to use the wall, and Duncannon resident Brian Barlup for lending scaffolding.

Out on the Trail: Duncannon ready for big National Trails Day

Thanks to Rita Floriani, Blue Mountain Eagle Climbing Club member, for this awesome article in the Reading Eagle!  Only 2 days until the event!!  Visit www.duncannonappalachiantrailcommunity.com.

Source: ReadingEagle.com

Duncannon, PA -- All across America, a vast array of hikes and outdoor activities will be taking place this Saturday as the nation celebrates the American Hiking Society's 20th annual National Trails Day. The theme for this year's National Trails Day is "America's Largest Trailgating Party."

Perhaps one of the largest trail parties that will be held this day will be the one over in Duncannon, Perry County, as the borough residents join members of the Susquehanna Appalachian Trail Club, the Cumberland Valley Appalachian Trail Club, the Mountain Club of Maryland, long distance hikers and the hiking community at large, along with the members and staff of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, as they all come together to celebrate the borough of Duncannon being designated as an Appalachian Trail Community by the Conservancy.

Being designated an Appalachian Trail Community is an initiative by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy to get communities located near the Appalachian Trail involved in helping to protect the trail for future generations.

Located 12 miles north of Harrisburg on the western edge of the Susquehanna River, this tiny town of 1,334 people is well acquainted with Appalachian Trail hikers; more than a mile of the Appalachian Trail runs straight through the main streets of Duncannon.

The Appalachian Trail enters the south side of town where the trail descends off of Cove Mountain and into the Susquehanna water gap. Hawk Rock, a lookout high over the town, offers a view of Duncannon, the Susquehanna River and on the northern end of the town, a view of the Juniata River as it flows into the Susquehanna.

Hikers follow the standard 2-by-6-inch white-painted blazes of the Appalachian Trail off the mountain and across Sherman's Creek and the Little Juniata Creek. After walking under the underpass of Routes 11 and 15, hikers enter Duncannon on Market Street and reach the town square.

Double white-painted blazes on a corner phone pole direct the hiker to make a left turn onto Cumberland Street and then a right hand turn onto High Street. The hiker will follow High Street north for more than a mile until double blazes indicate a right turn and then a left.

The white blazes lead the hiker across the Route 849 Bridge over the Juniata River and immediately over the Clarks Ferry Bridge, which crosses the great Susquehanna River before leaving the gap and climbing Peter's Mountain on the eastern shore.

Rarely does a hiker enter the town of Duncannon and not take a break from the trail. In the main square there is a well known hiker stop, the Doyle Hotel, where hikers can purchase beverages not found on the Appalachian Trail. Hikers have access to a grocery store, a laundromat, restaurants and a post office.

The streets of Duncannon will be blocked off this Saturday for the festivities. Planned events include the following:

Hikes will be led up to Hawk Rock by the Susquehanna Trail Club and the Mountain Club of Maryland.

There will be a trail maintenance hike with the Mountain Club of Maryland.

The PA Game Commission will be leading a guided bird hike on Haldeman Island, which is usually closed to the public. Registration is required for the bird walk.

The Susquehanna Rovers Volksmarch Club will be leading 5K and 10K walks.

Blue Mountain Outfitters will be holding trips on the Susquehanna River.

The Duncannon Fire Company will be having a chicken barbecue. There will be music, vendor tables and outdoor-related presentations. Speakers at the main ceremony will be from the National Park Service, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, the Appalachian Trail Museum and a Perry County commissioner.

With a full day of activities, it looks like it's going to be one very big day for the little trail town of Duncannon.

Email Rita Floriani: weekend@readingeagle.com.

Thanks to Those Who Have Donated Prizes!

Albert Dragon, Avalanche and Gorilla Jim

Charlie “Linguini” Duane, Racing Light the Soft Power of a Day’s Walk

Gene Espy, The Trail of My Life, The Gene Espy Story

Jennifer “Odyssa” Pharr Davis, Becoming Odyssa

J.R. “Model T” Tate, “Walkin’ with Ghost Whisperers,” Lore & Legends of the Appalachian Trail

Larry Luxenberg, Walking the Appalachian Trail

Nature Nymph LLC, Gail Lowe, Instructional Backpacking Series, “Amateur to Ace”
Paralee "Trapper Lee" Dawson, Living a Dream: Laughter, Pain and Life on the Appalachian Trail

Randy “Windtalker” Motz & Georgia “Mom” Harris, Solemates and The Walk

Scott Wade, Big Trees of Pennsylvania Register

Terry “Bluebird” Croteau, Footpath My Ass!

The Barefoot Sister, Walking Home and Southbound

Ambrus Eniko, Jewelry

Annie Leiby, A View of the Soul Photography

Appalachian Trail Conservancy

Bass Pro Shop

Blue Mountain Outfitters

Brenda Benner, Perry County Commissioner

Country Wood Bird Houses and Toys, Mable Lopp

Dalton Liddick

Daniel G. Heacock, Mountain Bloom Honey

Darlene King, D. King Photography

“Fishin’ Fred” Orser

Gander Mountain

Ginny Reich, T.H.G. Studio

Gwen Lehman, Audubon PA

Hattie Snavely, Tastefully Simple

Jasmine Colbert, PCCA

Libby Goodhart, My Wife’s Barn

Mark "Koru" Vincent, Maori Koru Necklaces
Mary “Trailangelmary” Parry, ATC Membership

Mary “Welsh Nomad” Morgan

Nancy “Slim” Robinson

Perry County Chamber of Commerce
Sarah Jones, A.T. Poster Postcards
Sharon "Wonder" Hart, Jewelry

Sheldon P. Ott, Appalachian Primitives

Susquehanna River Trail Association

DATC on Youtube: Announcing Duncannon PA Appalachian Trail Festival June 2, 2012

Special thanks to Sean O'Shell for putting together this awesome video narrated by Trailangel Mary announcing Saturday's event!  

Duncannon's June 2nd event, Trailangel Mary and The Doyle Hotel featured on WITF's SmartTalk

This morning’s Memorial Day Weekend episode of WITF’s Radio Smart Talk hosted by Scott LaMar featured Jim Foster, President of Cumberland Valley Appalachian Trail Club and Curt Ashenfelter, Executive Director of Keystone Trails Association.   In addition to offering up a variety of information about hiking and local trails to explore, they mentioned exciting upcoming events on National Trails Day including Duncannon’s Appalachian Trail Community designation!

Follow the link below to hear Jim and Curt tell Smart Talk listeners about the upcoming event, the warm hospitality towards hikers in Duncannon and local Trail institutions in both Trailangel Mary and the famed Doyle Hotel.  

Hiking, barbeque tips, and Johnstown Flood novel author on Memorial Day Weekend Radio Smart Talk

SATC Hikes on June 2nd - Haldeman Island & Hawk Rock

Sign up for hikes hosted by Susquehanna Appalachian Trail Club as part of the Duncannon area's National Trails Day schedule - followed the the Duncannon Appalachian Trail Community designation festival!  The two hikes are: 

June 2, Saturday, 8:00AM 
Haldeman Island Birdwalk
P: Leisurely T: Easy L: 2 miles, 0 driving miles 

Join Scott Bills of the PA Game Commission on a guided Haldeman Island birding hike. Usually closed to the public, this 990-acre island is managed by the PA Game Commission for waterfowl and served as a rearing location for young eagles brought to PA from Canada as part of the eagle restoration area. Bring binoculars and wear light-colored clothing and hiking boots. This hike is part of Duncannon's National Trails Day hosted by local hiking clubs prior to the Borough's A.T. Community designation festival at noon. Must register with hike leader in advance. MEET at Haldeman Island parking area, accessible off PA 11/15 N just north and across from Ranch House Restaurant, Duncannon. Follow the driveway back to parking. Leader: Kim McKee, kmckee@appalachiantrail.org.



June 2, Saturday, 8:30AM 
Hawk Rock Hike for Duncannon A.T. Designation Day
P: Average T: Strenuous L: 8 miles, 0 driving miles 

Hike up to Hawk Rock as part of the Duncannon Appalachian Trail Community Designation celebration. This hike is for the intermediate to advanced hikers. We'll take the steep way up the A.T. to Hawk Rock. We'll continue on the A.T. for a few miles and turn down a steep side trail to a forest road that will take us back to Duncannon. MEET only at the Duncannon Recycling parking area at the end of Watershed Drive. Leader: Trisha Sanders, ilvprple31169@gmail.com.

See SATC's hike schedule for all hikes & activities in the coming months and see the Duncannon event web site for info on the remainder of the June 2nd hikes.  Hope to see some of you out on the Trail!

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!!

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!

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. 

Community, Trail, Conservation & Artisan Vendors signed on for June 2nd

Vendor scenes from Trail Days in Damascus, VA

The *almost* final list is in!  Representatives and displays from the following organizations and businesses will be set-up between 12-4pm on Cumberland St. for the Duncannon A.T. Community designation event.

Retail vendors all donated an item for raffle during the event - be sure to get your raffle tickets!  Duncannon Fire Company will also be selling their famous Chicken BBQ for those that worked up an appetite out on the trails.   

Lead photographer Annie Leiby will also be setting up an Appalachian Trail PhotoBooth display so you can snag that hiking action photo even if you couldn't make a morning hike.

Information Vendors:

• The American Chestnut Foundation
• Appalachian Music Conservancy
• Appalachian Trail Museum
• Appalachian Trail Conservancy
• Blue Mountain Outfitters
• Cornerstone Church
• Cumberland Valley Appalachian Trail Club
• Duncannon Church of God
• Duncannon Girl Scouts
• Family, Career, Community Leaders of America (selling Trail Mix!)
• Keystone Financial Management
• Keystone Trails Association
• Mary Ann Evans, Trail Pictures
• Members 1st Credit Union
• Mountain Club of Maryland, Trail Maintenance Display
• Norfolk Southern Corp.
• Potomac Appalachian Trail Club, North Chapter
• PNC Bank
• Ray Sterner - Duncannon Area 3D map display
• Sherman's Creek Conservation Association
• Susquehanna Appalachian Trail Club
• Susquehanna Greenway Partnership
• Susquehanna River Trail Association
• Women and their Woods
• York Hiking Club

Retail Vendors:

• A View of the Soul Photography
• Appalachian Primitives
• Country Wood Bird Houses and Toys
• Crafty Nana
• Mountain Bloom Honey
• Qualtech Resource Group, Inc. - Randy "Windtalker" Motz and Georgia "Mom" Harris
• My Wife's Barn
• Perry County Council of the Arts
• Tastefully Simple

Duncannon designation reference on The Doyle's Yelp.com review!

The designation event, already a hot topic on facebook, is still making the rounds in social media!   Visitors to The Doyle Hotel's Yelp.com page will see a rave review by a section hiker from Chester County, PA that wraps up with: 

"On the 2nd of June 2012, if I heard correctly, Duncannon will become an official Trail Town. I hope the Doyle gets recognition for the key role it plays in the constantly unfolding story of the Appalachian Trail."  Great to hear, Lee H. from Berwyn!  We love The Doyle, too.

Special thanks to event sponsor Orrstown Bank!

Special thanks to Orrstown Bank, the premiere sponsor of Duncannon's Appalachian Trail Community designation event taking place in the Borough on June 2nd between 12-4pm.  Community events like this would not be possible without the support of civic-minded local businesses.


Also, Event T-Shirts are now on sale at DATC Advisory Committee meetings, the Doyle Hotel, The Pub, Dugout Sports Bar, the A.T. Museum, Maria's Hair Salon and Salon Vigorous.  Get yours today!

Designation Event web site is live!

Thanks to design efforts by DATC's webmaster, Karen Reckert, and content provided by Mary Parry, the designation event web site is now live!  Check it out at: 

http://www.duncannonappalachiantrailcommunity.com/

A few pages are still under development but beyond event details there's also some great information including links to local hiker, paddler & hospitality services, a page on history of the Appalachian Trail, a Duncannon area A.T. photo gallery - and much more!  

Entertainers for Trail Celebration Listed / Duncannon Record

By Sarah Kramer, Staff Writer

Randy "Windtalker" Motz

February 9 -- The Duncannon Appalachian Trail Committee has compiled a list of performers who will entertain for a June 2 celebration commemorating Duncannon's becoming a member of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy.  

The celebration will begin with several hikes, as well as kayaking and canoeing and an afternoon of food, vendors and live music.

Event coordinator Mary Parry said Mark Lukens and Antonio Andrade, Brian "Nimble" McPherson and Morgan "Folksinger" Evans will be performing.

Randy "Windtalker" Motz, a 2006 Appalachian Trail thru-hiker, will present his unique style of contemporary Native American flute music, which he calls "Native Soundscapes."  Motz has played at festivals, coffee houses, wineries, schools, churches, private parties and other venues.

Newport local David Snyder will bring his band, The Disturbinators, to the celebration to play passionate blues music.  The group calls their music "not for the faint of heart or potatoes of the couch  variety," noting the band's loud, rhythmic sound is sure to get anyone moving.

For more information about the vent or performers, readers may contact Parry at 834-4706 or trailangelmary@gmail.com.