Plan for Joint MNPS/PNPS/BSW Central PA Field Trips
May 29-31, 2009
MNPS Contact Kirsten Johnson Cell Phone: 201-970-4222
PNPS Contact Debra Grim Cell Phone: 814-321-8846
Dress appropriately, and take precautions for ticks. Please do not wear shorts.
Make your own arrangements for overnight. Bring your own lunch both days.
Friday May 29.
2:00 PM.
Early arrivals meet at Shaver's Creek Environmental Center to botanize and learn about the efforts led by Eric Burkhart to rejuvenate the natural vegetation. Website: http://www.outreach.psu.edu/shaverscreek/index-home-page.html
Directions: 3400 Discovery Road, Petersburg, PA.
The Center is 12 miles south of State College, about halfway between State College and Huntingdon. From Rte 26, turn west onto Charter Oak Rd, in the direction of Mooresville. Continue 1.8 miles until you see a blue road sign pointing to the East Entrance of Stone Valley Recreation Area to Shaver's Creek. A large, stone sign on Charter Oak Rd just past the entrance welcomes you to Stone Valley & Shaver's Creek. Turn left onto Red Rose Rd into the East Entrance to Stone Valley & Shaver's Creek Env’tal Center. Travel approximately one-quarter mile to a fork in the road. Bear right onto Discovery Road, through the wooden archway. Follow the signs to the parking areas. Trails from the parking areas lead to the Center.
Saturday May 30.
9am-12pm
Martin Gap (Rocky Ridge Natural Area). Leader: Eric Burkhart of PNPS
Directions: Debra Grim of PNPS will lead from the Rodeway Inn, 1040 N. Atherton St, State College, starting at 8:15. We will carpool.
For those who want to get there on their own: From State College, follow Rte 26 South to Pine Grove Mills. Turn left at the light to stay on Rte 26. Drive 9 miles to McAlevy’s Fort, where you turn right, and then left, to stay on Rte 26. Continue 4.1 miles. Turn left on Martin’s Gap Road. Drive 1 mile, cross a bridge, and turn right onto a dirt road. Enter Rothrock State Forest, passing a shale pit and 2 cabins. Keep right at the fork (0.9 mi. from the bridge) and follow Frew Rd 0.5 mi. Park at the gated road on the left where the orange-blazed Link Trail crosses Frew Rd.
12pm-2pm
Alan Seeger Natural Area. Leader: Eric Burkhart
Picnic lunch and short walk in the old-growth hemlock forest.
Website: http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/Forestry/oldgrowth/alanseeger.aspx
Directions: East of State College on US Rt 322, turn south on Bear Meadows Road at the sign for Tussey Mountain Ski Resort. Alan Seeger Natural area is 6 miles south along this road, one mile past the Detweiler Run Natural Area. When you reach Stone Creek Road, turn left (east) for one-quarter mile across a small bridge and into the Alan Seeger parking lot.
2pm-5pm
Bear Meadows Natural Area -- Remnant boreal bog. Leader: Eric Burkhart
Website: http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/FORESTRY/oldgrowth/bearmeadows.aspx
Directions: Four miles south of Boalsburg, in Centre County, off US Rt 322. Turn south at the Tussey Mountain Ski Resort and follow Bear Meadows Road to the Natural area. Also accessible from the south at Detweiler Run Natural Area.
7pm
Dinner in State College. Location TBD. Possibilities:
Otto's Pub and Brewery
http://www.ottospubandbrewery.com/
The Tavern
Sunday May 31.
Breakfast. Waffle Shop in State College. http://www.originalwaffleshop.net/
9:30 am - ?.
Fisherman's Paradise. Leader: Harry Henderson of PNPS
The PNPS newsletter plant listing for this site was the inspiration for this weekend trip. http://www.pawildflower.org/01_articles/Notes_2008_Q3.pdf
Directions: To get to Fisherman's Paradise, south of Bellefonte and north of Rt. 220, turn west off Rt. 150 onto Rishel's (SR 3004) and then, at the "T," turn left onto Spring Creek Road (SR 3001), which dead-ends in a parking lot at Stackhouse.