Hiking by the light of the New Moon, and sheep!
January 23, 2012 by admin · Leave a Comment
On Sunday, January 22nd, Trip Leader Sara Walfoort and Assistant Leaders Sherry Buckham and Kirill Kiselyov joined seven other night owls on a New Moon Hike around Round Hill Park in Elizabeth, PA. The sky was devoid of clouds and any visible moon, but a number of twinkling stars and planets accompanied the group on the hike. Sara and Kirill, aided by smartphone technology, pointed out some of the showiest constellations.
XC Ski season starts off with snow!
December 21, 2011 by admin · Leave a Comment
Chunky snowflakes flew through the air Sunday morning, as the Cross Country Ski Intro and Hike group assembled at Laurel Ridge State Park. Weather in the Laurel Highlands is notoriously fickle; the trails were swampy mud puddles a mere 24hrs earlier and the forecast called for more of the same dreariness.
Therefore, the participants, leader Joe Triebsch, and assistant Erik Kulich were pleasantly surprised when they found themselves surrounded by a winter wonderland and nearly 6 inches of snow.
Seven Priorities of Wilderness Survival
November 29, 2011 by admin · 2 Comments
The sun is setting. You are lost. Not only are you scared and alone, you don’t know when, or if, help will arrive. Do you have the skills necessary to make it out of the wilderness alive? Thanks to leader Erik Kulick and assistants Pat Demko and Larry Gioia, eight outdoor enthusiasts had the opportunity to increase their odds of surviving this potentially tragic situation by attending the Advanced Wilderness Survival weekend on November 19th-20th.
The Dog Days Aren’t Over
November 29, 2011 by admin · Leave a Comment
Fifty-six legs (twelve people and eight of their best friends) trekked through the Laurel Highlands in the Blue Hole Division of Forbes State Forest on Sunday, November 13. The group met volunteer leaders Liz Taylor and Bill Grove at a local service station in Champion, PA and then convoyed to the trailhead. A short fifteen minute drive later, and the nature-crazed animals were able to escape their vehicles to explore the forest (the dogs were happy to stretch their legs as well).
Welcome Spotfin Shiner!
November 15, 2011 by admin · Leave a Comment
Last week was the final hurrah for lunch time fishermen (and women!) as our 2011 TriAnglers season came to close. TriAnglers is a weekly fishing group that meets Wednesdays, May through October over the lunch hour for fishing along the North Shore.
Photo compliments of http://fish.dnr.cornell.edu/nyfish/fish.html
55˚and Sunny in the Laurel Highlands!
The only thing better than Joel and Alice Johnston’s vegetable stew is enjoying said stew after an afternoon of hiking in perfect autumn weather. On November 5th, one week after the dreaded “s” word (snow) hit the east coast, 15 participants got lucky with 55˚ temperatures and bluebird skies in the Laurel Highlands. Needless to say the Autumn Cookout Hike & Fire Circle was a hit!
Hiking the Hollow’s Tragic Past
November 1, 2011 by admin · Leave a Comment
It was a bright and perfect autumn day on October 22nd as twenty hikers dared to enter Dead Man’s Hollow to learn of its shadowy past over the course of a six-mile trek. Fearless trip leader Ken Limmer and Allegheny Land Trust steward/historian Stephen Bosnyak (also known as “Mr. Dead Man’s Hollow”) led the pack out of the sunshine and onto the shaded forest trail.
First Climb Fears
October 27, 2011 by admin · Leave a Comment
“So, who wants to go first?”
It was time for our first rappel on a recent beginner rock climbing trip and Alex, our Exkursion Outfitters climbing guide, glanced around the group. Eleven participants greeted him with blank stares and nervous laughter –no one was quite ready to take the plunge.
Happy Hour on the Water
October 21, 2011 by admin · Leave a Comment
Thank goodness it’s Friday! Nine paddlers celebrated the end of another work week on the Allegheny River last Friday. Ominous skies threatened rain in the morning and early afternoon, but trip leader Rich Ferro refused to lose hope. By 5 o’clock, the clouds had lost their shadows and a cool breeze allowed for a beautiful evening on the water.
1/2 Day Hike at North Park
October 14, 2011 by admin · Leave a Comment
North Park was alive with activity on Saturday, October 8th. Runners, bikers, and hikers took advantage of the beautiful October morning with smiles on their faces. Venture Outdoors hikers joined in the celebration of fall: almost thirty participants gathered in the chilly air for a 1/2 Day Hike and to get some exercise while enjoying the park’s autumn-kissed trees.
