Delaware Valley Chapter • Appalachian Mountain ClubDelaware Valley Chapter • Appalachian Mountain ClubSummer 2015 • Volume 53 • Number 3Summer 2015 • Volume 53 • Number 3Delaware Valley Chapter • Appalachian Mountain ClubSummer 2015 • Volume 53 • Number 3

Highland Trail advancesRecord leader trainingHappy 50th, Water Gap AreaPicnic 2015Leader Appreciation CampoutAMC at the PhilliesChapter WeekendTop leaders and hikersElectronic trip reports

Appalachian Mountain Club, Delaware Valley Chapter • www.amcdv.org • Summer 2015 Page 2

Chair Joan Aichele dvchair@amcdv.org 215-257-3372

Vice Chair Lois Rothenberger vicechair@amcdv.org 215-661-1073

Secretary Kathy Kindness secretary@amcdv.org

Treasurer Richard Einstein treasurer@amcdv.org 732-297-4103

Backpacking Cindy Crosser backpacking@amcdv.org 302-757-0604

Bicycling Tammy Brandon bicycling@amcdv.org

Communication Rich Wells communication@amcdv.org 908-521-0374

Conservation Susan Charkes conservation@amcdv.org 215-534-3537

Family Activities Cindy Friel family@amcdv.org 215-206-8022

Hiking Malcom Preece hiking@amcdv.org

Leadership Lennie Steinmetz leadership@amcdv.org 610-694-8677

Membership John Garner membership@amcdv.org 610-933-2630

Paddling Eric Pavlak paddling@amcdv.org 610-650-8926

L Smith Shelter Patrica Sacks shelter@amcdv.org 610-437-3227

Social Geri Chmiel social@amcdv.org 609-914-1540

Trails Phil Mulligan trails@amcdv.org 215-247-8658

Winter Activities Bill Steinmetz winter@amcdv.org 610-694-8677

Young Members June Gondi ym@amcdv.org

Lehigh Valley Phill Hunsberger lehigh-valley@amcdv.org 610-759-7067

Ombudsman Allen Male ombudsman@amcdv.org A detailed directory can be found on our web site, amcdv.org.

Editor: Eric PavlakBox 542, Oaks, PA 19456610-650-8926 e-mail: eric@outings.org

Copyright 2015 by the Delaware Valley Chapter,Appalachian Mountain Club

Appalachian Footnotes is published as a service to its members by the Dela-ware Valley Chapter of the Appalachian Mountain Club. Opinions expressed are those of the listed authors and do not necessarily refl ect those of the AMC. We are not responsible for errors or omissions, except to acknowledge them in a subsequent issue. The accuracy of prices, descriptions, availability and safety of all products and services advertised in this publication is solely the responsibility of the advertisers. The Editor welcomes and encourages submis-sions refl ecting all viewpoints for publication in the Newsletter but reserves the right to edit. Material may be submitted by e-mail at newsletter@amcdv.org.

Appalachian Footnotesthe magazine of the

Delaware Valley ChapterAppalachian Mountain Club

published using recycled electrons.

Membership Information Moving? Please remember to change your address and desired chapter affi liation by going to the AMC Member Center at www.outdoors.org/membercenter or calling AMC Member Services at 800-372-1758. This will correct your address for AMC Outdoors and for Footnotes. Address corrections cannot be made by the newsletter editor.

John Garner, Membership Chair 610-933-2630, membership@amcdv.org

Lehigh Valley area: Phill Hunsberger, 610-759-7067, lehigh-valley@amcdv.org

AMC Information Sources: Delaware Valley Chapter Web Site: amcdv.org DV Paddler’s Web Site: paddlenow.com Chapter e-mail: info@amcdv.org E-mail Hotline: hotline-requests@amcdv.org

AMC General Web Site: outdoors.org

Chapter Ombudsman Questions, complaints, concerns or comments about the Delaware Valley Chapter of AMC should be directed to Chapter Ombudsman, Allen Male at ombudsman@amcdv.org.

When you use Adobe Acrobat Reader to view this newsletter (rather than using a preview program):

Just click on any e-mail or web link. They all work!Click on the bookmark icon and you will get a clickable index!

Cover: AMC hikers descend a slope on a trip to the Ice Caves and Shingle Gully in the Shawangunk Mountains near Ellenville NY.Photo by Rich Pace.

Chapter Leaders' Hotline: stay in touchCommunication with our Chapter leaders is very important.

The main source for communicating with our leaders is our DV Leaders Hotline through Yahoo Groups.

If you are a DV Chapter leader and feel you are not currently receiving e-mails sent out over our Leaders Hotline it is possi-ble we do not have a current e-mail address for you. If you have changed your e-mail address within the past few years and have never notifi ed us about it, we need your current e-mail address.

Please contact our Communications Chair, Rich Wells at communication@amcdv.org with your current e-mail address and he will send you an “invite” to join our DV Leaders Yahoo Group. You must accept this invite to begin receiving e-mails through our Leaders Hotline. We cannot simply edit your e-mail address due to spam considerations. Please help us to keep the lines of communication working by staying current with your contact information.

Appalachian Mountain Club, Delaware Valley Chapter • www.amcdv.org • Summer 2015 Page 3

Highlands Trail Planning: AMC and the PA Highlands Trail Network (PHTN) Steering Committee have identifi ed and mapped a conceptual Highlands Trail route that traverses approximately 333 miles across the 13-county Pennsylvania Highlands region. Out of the total 333 mile conceptual PA Highlands Trail route, approximately 288 miles or 86 percent can be co-located on existing trails such as the D&L, Perkiomen, and Horse Shoe Trails.

There are approximately 45 miles of trail gaps that need to be closed to complete the Highlands Trail from the Delaware River to the Mary-land border, with the most signifi cant gap miles occurring in Bucks and Montgomery Counties. Of the 45 miles of trail gaps that have been identifi ed, over ten miles will be closed in the near future as design and construction projects are underway, including 3.5 miles of the planned Saucon Rail Trail extension into Bucks County, 4.7 miles of the Big Woods Trail in Berks and Chester Counties, and completion of the 14 mile-long Northwest Lancaster County River Trail in 2016.

New Highlands Liaison: We welcomed Adrian Noble as the new liaison between the Delaware Valley Chapter and the PA Highlands Trail Network Steering Committee. As a DV hike leader, Adrian has scouted the logging path network near Ringing Rocks with John Brun-ner. A DV Chapter Ringing Rocks hike is scheduled for June 6.

Bucks to build a new trail: Development of the northern route of the PA Highlands Trail took a leap forward last month when Bucks County announced it would build a 3.5 mile section of rail trail to advance completion of what will become a continuous 14-mile recre-ational trail that includes the Saucon Rail Trail and South Bethlehem Greenway in Northampton and Lehigh Counties.

This success comes after a sustained effort by AMC’s Mid-Atlantic staff to pitch our PHTN projects to the Bucks County Planning Com-mission and numerous visits to obtain resolutions of support for the project from Richland and Springfi eld Townships and Quakertown Borough, and three trips to Philadelphia to convince the rail corridor’s owner, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority to allow construction of the new section of rail trail.

We are concurrently working closely with the City of Bethlehem to close the gap between the Saucon Rail Trail and South Bethlehem Greenway and look forward to the day when there is a seamless trail connection between the downtowns of Bethlehem and Quakertown. This will also be a signifi cant advancement of the Highlands Trail as it will co-locate on all three sections of rail trail.

PHTN Signage and Stewardship Guidelines: This key document was completed and distributed to the PHTN Steering Committee for review. The Guide is intended for use by our trail partners as a fi rst step in determining an appropriate signage plan for each co-aligned trail that will be part of the Highlands Trail Network. The Guide also describes the history of the Pennsylvania Highlands Trail Network, the Highlands Trail logo and blaze, and interpretive signage oppor-tunities for natural and cultural resource themes representative of the Pennsylvania Highlands region.

Ringing Rocks Trail: Last summer we cleared a large number of blowdowns along the Ringing Rocks Trail and rerouted a section of the trail away from a seriously eroded area. This year we’re work-ing with partners including Bucks County Parks and Delaware Canal State Park to implement a PennDOT required road crossing on Rt. 32 (River Road) so that the Ringing Rocks Trail can connect down to the D&L Trail (canal towpath) as well as recently acquired county park-land on the river side of Rt. 32.

The Ringing Rocks Trail will become one of the premier hiking trails in Bucks County, particularly if we are successful in securing easements on adjacent private parcels to connect the historic network of logging paths along the wooded slopes of this area.

— John Brunner, Mid-Atlantic Recreation Planner, Appalachian Mountain Club

Erin McCormick of the Natural Lands Trust, and Adrian Noble, AMC's Highlands Trail representative, on the Ringing Rocks trail this spring.

Above: The Saucon Valley section of the trail. Below: Hikers on a chapter trip last fall on the Ringing Rocks trail. For more information, go to: http://pahighlands.org/

PA Highlands Trail advances, just 45 miles in gaps remain between MD and NJ

Appalachian Mountain Club, Delaware Valley Chapter • www.amcdv.org • Summer 2015 Page 4

By Lennie Steinmetz, Leadership Chair

The largest group in the history of the DV Chapter – that was the Outdoor Leadership Training “Class of 2015.” The 39 future leaders who took part in this year’s program seemed to agree that it was a worthwhile and fun weekend, and the experienced DV leaders who led the training session agreed that it was one of the best groups ever to take the course!

The AMC-DV’s annual Outdoor Leadership Train-ing course took place this year on the weekend of April 10-12 at the Envi-ronmental Education Center at Nocka-mixon State Park. This year’s trainees included seven par-ticipants who were taking advantage of the Young Members Scholarship offered for the fi rst time by the DV Chapter. Young members (age 18-29) who were interested in becom-ing activity leaders for the AMC-DV Chapter were provided a full scholarship for the 2015 Outdoor Leadership Training course if they agreed to lead at least two activities for the DV Chapter during 2015.

In addition, a one year AMC U-30 membership will be provided free of charge by the chapter for these new YM leaders, once they have successfully completed their required co-leads. The future YM leaders who attended were a particularly fun and interesting group, and we look forward to their future involvement in the DV Chapter.

The Class of 2015 included participants from throughout PA, NJ & DE, as well as two guests from the DC Chapter who were interested in taking part in the DV Chapter program so they could develop a similar program for their chapter. The participants’ interests in future activity leading included day hiking, backpack-ing, kayaking, bicycling, cross-country skiing, more trips in spe-cifi c geographical areas, more Young Members trips, more family trips, more easy-paced trips, and possible future trips in other countries (AMC Adventure Travel), so the chapter may be seeing a great variety of new trips on the schedule in the future.

One feature that was new for this year’s training was the Saturday night Leaders Dinner, which all DV Chapter leaders were invited to attend. Over 100 current and future leaders came together at the Pennridge Community Center in Silverdale on Saturday, April 11th to get acquainted, learn about several new programs in AMC of interest to leaders, and share ideas about expanding and improv-ing the DV Chapter activities schedule.

Record number take 2015 Outdoor Leadership Training CourseTutoring sessions on the use of the AMC Activities Database

system for entering trips online were provided in the Pennridge computer classroom for new and experienced leaders alike, and AMC Volunteer Relations Coordinator Susannah Hatch (from AMC’s Boston offi ce) provided information on new programs that would be coming online this spring. Most importantly, future lead-

ers had a chance to meet experienced DV Chapter leaders, learn from their experience, and make plans for doing the two co-leads that are required for them to become chapter leaders. Judging from the number of OLT 2015 graduates who have already completed their co-leads or are scheduled to do so by June, this time spent together was productive indeed!

Congratulations to the Class of 2015 graduates: Mark Becker, Matt Beckius, Sue Berg, Greg Bernet, Lynn Brass-Smith, Ken-neth Card, Dennis Chadwick, Lisa Chou, Ann Colliluori, Marek Crosser, Jeffrey DiFrancesco, Evan Ernest, Judy Farrell. Marina Gresham, Lizzie Grobbel, John Kerby-Miller, Jan King Jr, Lily Lin, Lisa Lombardo, Peni MacMeekin, Clara Masessa, Theresa McCartin, Cara Meglio, Margaret Moore, Robert Mraz, William Murray, Joseph Nanfara, Angela Oliveira, Christina Pisel, Larry Priori, Hannelore Rittinger, George Rockett, Haider Shamsuddin, Kenneth Shuck, Linda Stephens, Yongxuan Mike Tan, Patrick Toriello, Linda Watsula, and Leonard Wolf.

And many thanks to the trainers for this year’s course: Joan Aichele, Jeff Alpert, Terry Berntsen, Tammy Brandon, Susan Charkes, Cindy Crosser, Cindy Friel, John Garner, June Gondi, Aaron Gorban, Pete Jarrett, Mark Kern, Phil Mulligan, Rich Pace, Ron Phelps, Malcolm Preece. Bill Steinmetz, Lennie Steinmetz, and Rich Wells.

Our volunteer leaders are the heart of the DV Chapter, and we are fortunate indeed to have such a great group of experienced and incoming leaders in our ranks!

Appalachian Mountain Club, Delaware Valley Chapter • www.amcdv.org • Summer 2015 Page 5

By Cathy Reuscher, AMC Mid-Atlantic Policy Associate

This year, the National Park Service (NPS) celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. This milestone is an excellent opportunity for AMC trip leaders to offer 50th Anniversary activities, highlighting the park’s 100 miles of trails, the excellent paddling opportunities on the Dela-ware River, or AMC’s Mohican Outdoor Center.

AMC played a strong role in the park’s history. Established in 1965, the park’s early days were entangled in a controversial pro-posal to build a dam at Tocks Island in order to create a 40-mile long lake. AMC, along with a large coalition of conservation voices, opposed the project, and after years of public opposition, it was eventually voted down by the Delaware River Basin Commis-sion in 1975. The land previously acquired by the federal govern-ment was transferred to the National Park Service, and Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area became the 67,210-acre park it is today.

AMC has been always been strong advocate for the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, working alongside NPS to inventory and maintain the park’s many trail systems.

In addition to planning a number of events and programs to

celebrate the anniversary, the National Park Service has also announced the preparation of a foundation document to identify the park’s key values and planning and data needs going forward. Of the foundation document, Park Superintendent John Donahue says, “It has been 50 years, and the time is right to take a com-prehensive look at where we are today and where we're going in the future.” Among other promising planning opportunities, the document suggests studies on improving visitor access to the park, and a possible designation of Old Mine Road, Route 209 and River Road as a National Scenic Byway.

NPS is also in the early stages of preparing a Visitor Use Man-agement Plan and a Historic Properties Management Plan. Work-shops will be held this spring and fall so that the public can par-ticipate in the planning process.

For help planning and promoting 50th Anniversary activities in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, please con-tact Cathy Reuscher at creuscher@outdoors.org or 610-868-6903. For more information about upcoming events and programs to celebrate the anniversary of the park, please visit www.nps.gov/dewa/planyourvisit/events.htm. The fi nal Foundation Document is available at: http://www.nps.gov/dewa/learn/management/upload/DEWA_FD_lowres.pdf

Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area celebrates 50th anniversary

Come celebrate the summer with your AMC friends at historic Fort Washington State Park, Flourtown Day Use Area, just a few miles from the PA Turnpike, Exit 339. The Picnic gets underway starting at noon.

Free hamburgers, veggie burgers & hot dogs with fi xings will be served at 1 PM. Everyone is asked to bring a non-alcoholic beverage for yourself and your family and a side dish, a salad or dessert for enough to share.

Think Green: bring a reusable plate, utensils and drinking cup per person attending. No glassware. No alcohol is permitted in the state park.

Pre-picnic activities include a hike. Pickleball, volleyball, badminton, bag toss and special drawings will be going on throughout the day.

Self-guided local hikes around the park and Green Ribbon Trail. Well-behaved dogs are permitted in the state park, on a leash at all times

Please RSVP by Wednesday, June 10, by fi lling out a brief registration form. Just click here. Additional questions, call Geri at 609-914-1540, M-F, 9 AM-9 PM

Annual Chapter Picnic Sat., June 13, Ft. Washington SP, Flourtown Day Use Area

Appalachian Mountain Club, Delaware Valley Chapter • www.amcdv.org • Summer 2015 Page 6

Full reimbursement for Wilderness First Aid now available to DV Chapter leaders

The DV Chapter is pleased to announce an exciting new two-year pilot program for reimbursing chapter activity leaders who take the Wilderness First Aid course.

Any leader who leads trips within the 18-month period starting six months before, and up to one year following, the successful completion of the WFA course will be reimbursed: 50 percent of course fees for leading two trips, 75 percent for leading four, and 100 percent for leading six. Maximum reimbursement is $300. Two day or longer trips will count as two trips.

Course fees refers to registration and relevant lodging costs (for example, a two-day WFA training course by SOLO at Mohican Outdoor Center), and excludes travel and meal expenses unless such expenses are included in the registration fee.

Reimbursement allowances apply for all original, renewal and recertifi cation classes.

Leader appreciation event set for July 11-12Saturday, July 11-12, Leaders Picnic and Campout at

Tohickon Valley Park. Last year's event was such a success that we've decided to do it again in 2015. Come for dinner or bring your tent and spend the night.

Saturday, November 7, DV Chapter Annual Dinner. Lead-ers meeting will take place one hour before the dinner.

Lots of Mohican, Water Gap trailwork plannedAMC will be extremely active in the Delaware Water Gap

National Recreation Area (DWGNRA) this year, and Jonathan Martin, based at the Mohican Outdoor Center, will be taking the lead on our volunteer trail construction activities.

Our calendar will be full of weekend and week-long opportuni-ties throughout the summer for those of you interested in doing some work in this beautiful section of New Jersey. Jonathan has spent time leading crews in New Jersey, Maine and Washing-ton and is looking forward to working alongside our dedicated volunteers.

In addition to leading crews, one of Jonathan’s desires is to begin an adopt-a-trail program in the region. We can’t make it offi cial yet, but we’ll be sure to have an update in the next issue.

See below for a calendar of trail crew programming happening out of Mohican. If you have any questions for Jonathan or just want to introduce yourself, send him an e-mail, jmartin@outdoors.org, or give him a call at Mohican Outdoor Center, 908-362-5670.

Teen Crew Schedule Adult Crew ScheduleJuly 19 – 24 June 19 – 21July 26 – 31 July 12 – 17August 2 – 7 August 21 – 23August 9 – 14

Leadership Training will be offered this FallThe Delaware Valley Chapter offers a training course for out-

door activity leaders each year in the spring. In addition, we have established a reciprocal arrangement with the Connecticut Chapter so that DV Chapter members may attend the Connecticut Chap-ter’s leadership training course in the fall.

If you’d like to get started as an AMC activity leader as soon as possible, this is your chance! The course this year will be offered on the weekend of November 13-15, 2015 in Litchfi eld, Connecti-cut, (western Connecticut). We will try to coordinate carpools for DV Chapter members traveling to Connecticut for the course, about 3½ hours from Philadelphia.

The November course, like the DV Chapter’s spring course, covers many aspects of being a trip leader such as group dynam-ics, leadership styles and accident scene management, and is led by AMC volunteers and staff. DV Chapter members completing this course will be certifi ed as trip leaders upon completion of two successful co-leads on DV Chapter trips.

The cost for the weekend is $50 for members, $65 for non-mem-bers, including instruction, handouts, lodging and meals. For those leading at least two hikes for the DV Chapter within a year of the course, 50 percent of the course cost will be reimbursed.

For additional information on this course or on other leadership training opportunities available through the AMC, contact Lead-ership Chair Lennie Steinmetz at leadership@amcdv.org or phone her at 610-694-8677.

Red goes GreenVolunteer, get free Phillies game, free food

Don your AMC hat and enjoy an afternoon with AMC friends while helping collect recyclables at a Phillies home game against the Washington Nationals, Sunday, June 28 at 1 PM!

Gather at Citizen's Bank Park, South Philadelphia, where “Red Goes Green” volunteers collect plastic bottles and aluminum cans between innings from the fans through the seventh inning. Between innings enjoy the game and a free ball park meal while chatting with AMC friends.

To participate, you must be able to stand the entire game and walk up and down steps between innings. Children are encouraged and welcome to attend, but child volunteers between the ages of eight and 16 must be accompanied by one adult volunteer for every three children attending.

When registering, provide full names of all participants by Tuesday, June 23. E-mail is preferred and deadline is fi rm. Any participant not listed on the registration at game time will not be able to volunteer. Meeting place and additional details will be provided to registrants. To register, contact Katherine Kindness at secretary@amcdv.org.

There is no cost to participate, and a limited number of free parking passes are available. Taking public transportation and car pooling are encouraged.

Citizen science.Real environmental science you can do.Real conservation science!

Click here or see amcdv.org/conserv2.html

Appalachian Mountain Club, Delaware Valley Chapter • www.amcdv.org • Summer 2015 Page 7

HARRIMAN STATE PARK, New York – The Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) announced that it has signed an agree-ment with the Palisades Interstate Park Commission (PIPC) to open a new outdoor program center at Harriman State Park in summer 2016. AMC will invest more than $1 million to renovate a former youth camp on Breakneck Pond and offer group programs. Located only 30 miles from Manhattan, AMC’s program center will be ideal for close-by hiking, paddling, and camping.

“AMC is excited to enter into a long-term partnership with PIPC and New York State Parks to connect more people to the outdoors by combining the strength of these agencies with AMC’s expertise across outdoor recreation, conservation, youth engagement, and leadership training,” said John Judge, President and CEO of the Appalachian Mountain Club.

AMC’s outdoor program center at Harriman is part of the orga-nization’s broader commitment to expand its impact in the greater New York area. Numerous AMC groups will use the center, including AMC-led youth outdoor education and leadership pro-grams, as well as chapter-led programs open to the general public.

Building updates and outdoor recreation improvements will start this spring, with a focus on preserving the site’s undeveloped, wild character. As part of the agreement with PIPC, AMC will renovate existing group cabins, tent platforms, and three-sided shelters to offer a range of overnight experiences, in addition to building new remote camping sites. PIPC will make needed infra-structural improvements, including restoring utilities and water to the site. With accommodations for up to 140 people, the program center will also offer common space for outdoor programs, water-front access to 64-acre Breakneck Pond, and a dining hall with

self-service kitchen. AMC shuttle service connecting to nearby train stops will provide public transportation options.

“We are pleased to work with AMC as an organization that shares our goal of making the outdoors available to all people, and to see the Breakneck Pond camp once again used to serve youth,” said James Hall, Executive Director of PIPC.

AMC will also offer new Teen Volunteer Trails and Teen Wil-derness Adventures programs at the site, in addition to using the center as another location for AMC’s long-running Mountain Leadership School.

AMC chapters will make use of the site as well, offering a vari-ety of outdoor programs open to its members, volunteers, and the general public. “We are looking forward to working with AMC to not only introduce more people to the wonderful public resource at Harriman State Park, but also to develop the next generation of conservation stewards,” said Rose Harvey, Commissioner of New York State Parks.

Within the region, AMC operates the Mohican Outdoor Center in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area in New Jersey, along with publishing several popular hiking, paddling, and multi-sport guides for the Hudson Valley, Catskills, and Adirondacks.

Harriman State Park lies within the four-state Mid-Atlantic Highlands, a conservation focus area for AMC that includes a sec-tion of the Appalachian Trail. AMC was involved in the establish-ment of Sterling State Forest, which abuts Harriman. AMC works across the region on issues that include land protection, energy project siting, air quality, and trails stewardship and protection.

Chapter Weekend: Sept. 11-13, Ironmasters Mansion Pine Grove Furnace State ParkThis year our chapter will be hosting a fun fi lled weekend at the beautifully restored Ironmasters Mansion in Pine Grove Furnace

State Park. This gorgeous park is located in the South Mountain area of Cumberland County, PA, just south of Shippensburg, and is surrounded by the Michaux State Forest.

We will be offering lots of activities throughout the weekend including a 22-mile bike ride out and back on the Cumberland Valley Rail Trail. Different hiking options will be offered within the park including the recommended hike to Pole Steeple Vista for awesome views of Michaux State Forest, as well as hikes along the Appalachian Trail, which goes right by the mansion.

The mid-way point of the AT is near the mansion. Located within walking distance of the mansion is the general store where thru hikers stop to honor a long time tradition of eating a half-gallon of ice cream. Also nearby is the AT Museum, although it may not be open that weekend.

If you are into trout fi shing, try your luck in the stocked Mountain Creek and Laurel Lake. Weather permitting, we will enjoy Smores around the campfi re both Friday and Saturday evening. Bring your musical instruments for a sing along.

Lodging options will be bunk beds, several pull out sofas, a few additional spaces on the fl oor in meeting rooms and a few tenting spots in the front yard of the mansion. Think back to your college days of crashing anywhere for the weekend.

We will provide Friday and Saturday dinner, plus Saturday and Sunday breakfasts. Participants should bring their own trail lunches. To help keep the cost down we request that you bring snacks to share for the Friday and Saturday night social hours. All beverages throughout the weekend are BYOB. The cost for the weekend is $65 per person. Registration is required and space is limited to 40 people.

We will have more information and the link to the registration form on our chapter website: www.amcdv.org as we get closer to the dates. Bring your sense of humor and willingness to have a fabulous time with some of your fellow DV Chapter members.

AMC to operate new program center at Harriman State Park, in southeast NY

Appalachian Mountain Club, Delaware Valley Chapter • www.amcdv.org • Summer 2015 Page 8

1 Joan Aichele 878.79 2 John Garner 627.86 3 Bijal Shah 613.7 4 Jerry Taylor 507.65 5 Jane Richter 493.5 6 Russel Moyer 471.65 7 John Rogers 461.88 8 Barbara Blythe 447.9 9 Barry Mazer 414 10 Michael Spielman 411.1 11 Richard Einstein 396.25 12 Robin Jackson 363.3 12 Tom Sherwood 357.32 14 Donald Garrido 338.35 15 Susan Bickford-Martin 306.1 16 Joseph Nanfara 296.58 17 Denis McCartan 295.1 18 David Stein 292.5 19 Robert Wacker 278.95 20 Phil Mulligan 266.7 21 Jinfei Zhang 257.92 22 Jeffrey Schrager 253 23 Geraldine Chmiel 246 24 Jerald Srodes 243.35 25 Debbie Hinks 231.03 26 Paula Uhrin 229.95 27 Jason Kumpas 229.2 28 Rich Pace 225 29 Hilda Feusi 222.13 30 Rebecca Elston 217.2 31 Michelle Thompson 216.4 33 Christina Lawless 213.5 32 Michael Lawless 213.5 34 Jean Mollack 211.17 35 Nina (Jeanne) Riga 208 36 R. Phelps 206.4

37 Theresa Berntsen 204.23 38 John Rowen 203.45 39 Kathy Hughes 201.1 40 Al Jacobs 198.25 42 Jim Driscoll 196.4 41 Ann Colliluori 196.4 43 Larry Priori 193.7 44 Thomas Lawson 193.6 45 Susan Weida 191.73 46 Cliff Hence 190.5 47 Mark Mazer 185.45 48 Nancy Hence 184 49 Richard Hudson 183.75 50 Heather Daly 183 51 Donna Truesdell 178.95 52 Adrian Noble 175.31 53 Thomas Harrington 173.87 54 Jeanne Mantell 171.72 55 Ivan Winegar 171.6 56 Lois Rothenberger 168.9 57 Joe Swope 167.65 58 Midori Wakabayashi 164.9 59 Cyrille White 163.25 60 Patricia Slaughter 158.7 61 Carl Ganong 156.9 62 Ellen Berry 156.2 63 Sara Armstrong 155.15 64 George Wagner 155 65 Jin Xu 153.7 66 Paul Schott 153.21 67 George Rockett 151.2 68 Mary Jane Martin 150.1 69 Peter Jarrett 149.5 70 Robert Hileman 148.1 71 Tammy Brandon 144.13 72 Jennifer Bayley 143.12

73 George Gorman 138.6 74 Eleanor Conwell 135.32 75 Bud White 134.72 76 David L. Alexander 133.7 77 Lisa Miller 132.8 78 Linda Kellc 131.8 79 Allison Hudson 131.25 80 Joanne McDonald 130.15 82 Leslie Palmer 128.5 81 Elizabeth Fox 128.5 83 Frank Allen 125.8 84 Jeanna Nelis 125.27 85 Kathy Ciliberti 124 86 Lois A Hitt 120.77 87 Lennie Steinmetz 120.7 88 Jeffrey Lippincott 119.73 89 Barbara Wiemann 119.4 90 Marcia Comstock 118.5 91 David Forester 117.6 92 Ann Wolf 117 93 Dale Brandreth 116.3 94 Patricia Naismith 115 95 GIlbert Reilly 114.6 96 Joanie Schultz 113.63 97 Len Morawski 112.7 98 Ron Iannacone 112.2 99 Sharon Yates 111.43 100 Jill Augustine 111.4 101 Daisy DeMarco 110.5 102 Carol Kluchinski 108.5 103 Ann Ross 107.8 104 Michele Valerio 107.4 105 David Block 105.62 106 Sue Fatula 105.2 107 Joan Detyna 102.85 108 Joanne Bistany 99.35

Aichele, JoanArrison, JudyBergman, SueBernsten, TerryBickford-Martin, SueBlythe, BarbBrandon, TammyCatozzi, JimChalikian, JohnCharkes, SusanChmiel, GeriConwell, EleanorCrosser, CindyEinstein, RichEstes, PriscillaFox, ElizabethFox, PeterFriel, Cindy

Ganong, CarlGarner, JohnGarrido, DonGondi, JuneHence, CliffHence, NancyHudson, AllisonHudson, RickHunsberger, PhillJarrett. PeterKern, MarkKindle, IanKluchinski, CarolLawless, MichaelLawless, TinaLawson, ThomasLeibrock, SteveLippincott, Jeff

Loch, EdLoch, ChristineMale, AllenManes, MikeMasterson, MorganMazer, MarkMcCartan, DenisMilne, JohnMulligan, PhilNaismith, PatNoble, AdrianPace, RichPavlak, EricPercival, JenniferPhelps, RonReuscher, CathyRogers, JohnRoss, Ann

Rowen, JohnSacks, PatSawin, EdSchott, PaulSchwartz, AlSchwartz, DanSherwood, TomStein, DavidSteinmetz, BillSteinmetz, LennieUnderhill, EstherUnderhill, WaltValerio, MicheleWakabayashi, MidoriWells, RichWiemann, BarbWulfi ng, Paul

Top Leaders in 2014, with four or more leads

Hundred plus mile hikers for 2014

Appalachian Mountain Club, Delaware Valley Chapter • www.amcdv.org • Summer 2015 Page 9

Electronic trip reporting: you no longer need to mail forms!With our new on line trip report system, AMC-DV leaders can fi le trip reports electronically, instead of mailing them

to the appropriate activity chair.

You will need to:

1. Get a User ID and password. If you have not yet been sent a link to set up your User ID and password, or if you have forgotten your ID, please contact login-help@amcdv.org. This help mailbox is monitored by a volun-teer, so it may take a day or more to get a response, particularly on weekends. Please be patient!

2. Scan or photograph your trip sign in sheets. We just need the side with the signatures. The fi le format should be either PDF or JPEG. Click here for some very useful help with scanning or photographing your sign in release sheets. After you are done scanning, look at the fi le, and make sure that you could read it.

3. Fill out the trip report on line at http://amcdv.org/TripReport.php

When you report on line, here is what happens:

Click Here to go to the log in pagehttp://amcdv.org/TripReport.php

Sign in sheet plus on-line trip report..

This goes to the activity chair. You can get a copy e-mailed back to you if you check the appropriate box.

A copy automatically goes to our volunteer activity logger, who enters the trip and participant information. This is how we track miles hiked, rivers paddled, trails worked on, etc. This will be used for our new annual awards.

A copy automatically goes to AMC headquarters in Boston, where it is used for statistical purposes, and kept as a legal record.

Appalachian Mountain Club, Delaware Valley Chapter • www.amcdv.org • Summer 2015 Page 10

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Appalachian Mountain Club, Delaware Valley Chapter • www.amcdv.org • Summer 2015 Page 11

The Ridge Runner program on the Appalachian Trail enters its 23rd year in 2015. The Ridge Runner is a person hired to work on a section of the AT fi ve days a week, including weekends and holi-days between Memorial and Labor Days. His or her job is to meet and greet trail users, educate about Leave No Trace, and generally help preserve the trail experience for future generations.

Our chapter and the larger AMC have been directly involved in supporting this pro-gram in Pennsylvania for all of those years. The program has been coordinated by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) and the National Park Service, with a con-tinuing grant from the Pennsylvania Depart-ment of Conservation and Natural Resources.

The section of trail covered stretches 42 miles from Delaware Water Gap to Lehigh Furnace Gap and includes Wind Gap, Little Gap and Lehigh Gap in northeastern Pennsylvania, including the 16 miles of the trail maintained by the DV Chapter. There are two other ridge runner programs on the AT in Pennsylvania, one in the Cumberland Valley, and the other in southern PA near Michaux State Forest.

The Ridge Runner this year is Kevin Williams, from Southamp-ton PA, in Bucks County. Kevin thru-hiked the trail in 2012. The experience meant so much that he felt he wanted to give back.

As of June 1, Kevin has completed his fi rst two weeks on the job and is off to a great start. He has been hard at work helping to keep camping and parking areas clean, educating trail users, and work-ing on trail work projects with several maintaining clubs including ours. The nice weather on Memorial Day weekend brought a lot of local hikers out on the trail, joining the many section and thru hikers already making their way through this area.

The ATC has said that this may be a particularly busy year in this section because many thru-hikers have started at Harper’s Ferry, planning to hike north to Maine, then fl ip-fl op and do the southern portion of the trail later in the season. In the past, a large number of would-be thru-hikers have dropped out before getting to Pennsylvania, but this year more of those who started at Harp-er's Ferry are making it this far.

This has resulted in an increased usage at campsites and hostels in our area, with more hikers arriving earlier in the season than in the past.

If you'd like to keep updated on the Ridge Runner program and Kevin's experiences on the trail, “like” the program on Facebook at: https://goo.gl/Ct1Izq

Ridge Runner: keeping an eye on the ATthe program is now in its 23rd year

Oregon’s Central CascadesThe AMC's August Camp changes its location each year to take

advantage of hiking and canoeing opportunities throughout North America. Recent sites have included: Canadian Rockies, Central Cascades in Oregon, Yellowstone vicinity of Wyoming; the High Sierras in California; North Cascades in Washington, Mt. Rainier in Washington.

In 2015 August Camp is returning to the area of Santiam Pass in Oregon’s Central Cascades, near the Deschutes and Willamette National Forests and the Three Sisters and Mount Jefferson Wil-derness Areas.

Mt. Hood and Trillium Lake

August Camp, a full-service tent village for 64 campers each week, offers multiple hikes daily for all levels of ability, several overnights and a number of water-based activities. Car camping and backpacking, sightseeing excursions, river rafting, canoeing and kayaking may also be offered. Delicious home-cooked meals and trail lunches are provided; great camaraderie and nightly campfi res make for a memorable experience.

Dates: Saturday, July 18 to Saturday, August 15

Weeks 2 and 3 are now fi lled, but there is still some space avail-able for Weeks 1 and 4. Campers may sign up for one or two weeks, starting any Saturday.

Basics: Two-person tents with cotsFamily-style meals in dining tentTransportation provided between the Portland International Air-

port (PDX) and camp and to and from daily activitiesCapacity: 64 campers per weekOne Week: Member $900 , Non Member $950Two Weeks: Member, $1,750, Non Member $1,850

Registration and more information at:

http://augustcamp.org

Kevin Williams on the trail near Kirkridge Shelter at Fox Gap.

Appalachian Mountain Club, Delaware Valley Chapter • www.amcdv.org • Summer 2015 Page 12

AT trail work trip at Little Gap on May 31. This involved adding a wood puncheon across and a minor relocation around several wet areas on the trail caused by nearby construction of a road to Blue Mountain Ski area. This was the last of fi ve trips led this spring by Dan Schwartz on the 16 mile AT section maintained by the DV Chapter. Lennie Steinmetz photos.

DV Chapter volunteers led by Dan Schwartz (who took these photos,) built and installed a sign board at the Smith Gap trailhead, mid-way between Little Gap and Wind Gap on the AT, April 25.

First trailwork session of the year on April 12 on Mt. Misery in Valley Forge National Park, repairing drainage features. Trails Chair Phil Mulligan leads these monthly sessions.Eric Pavlak photos.

DV ChapterTrailworkVolunteers