Hi, my name is Felicia Davis, and I am the new Family & Community Programs Specialist for Venture Outdoors. As a Pittsburgh native, I have always loved our beautiful parks and mountains. Growing up, I had the pleasure (or should I say displeasure?) of living in one of the flattest cities I’ve ever seen: Buffalo, New York. I swear I never missed a mountain more! Afterwards, I also lived in one of the stickiest cities (if you think the ‘Burgh has bad humidity, no way!) St. Louis, MO. It was after that experience that I realized that I would live the rest of my days in the beautifully green and mountainous Pittsburgh!

As a child, I loved going outside.  There was a wooded area behind our house that we used to hike (we lived on a hillside) and play in.  When I would get in trouble—which wouldn’t be often, scout’s honor!—staying in the house was a punishment. Today, our kids are captivated by Playstation 3, Xbox 360, the Internet and all other modern technology, but I’ve spent the last two years in collaboration with the Kingsley Association trying to get more kids outside with the Run, Fun, Fitness & Adventure Camp. I’ve also spent the last five years being an advocate for families through my involvement with the Pittsburgh Board of Education’s Early Childhood Program Policy Council and various other organizations.

Over the last so many years, I’m not going to say how many, I’ve been an off-and-on professional student. However, after five years straight in college and receiving a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Relations and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Chatham University, what does Felicia want to do? I want to help families and communities have access to information and programming in our city. I want to get families out the house and outside exploring together what this city has to offer. That’s why I am honored to become a member of the Venture Outdoors family. I literally woke up early on my first day like it was Christmas, that’s how excited I was!

When I was introduced to Venture Outdoors last summer at a meeting, I was delighted by the work they were trying to do in the community. During a Family Fun Night event at the Kingsley Association, there was bike bowling in the gym and kayaking in the pool (yes, the pool!).  I was in awe. I attended one of the Family Festivals with my children and we loved it! I went home that night, became a member and started marking up my flyer with the events that we were going to attend next! And I can’t wait to go kayaking.

As the Family & Community Program Specialist, I aim to help families become more aware of the great programs that we offer at Venture Outdoors. I want to provide them with an experience that makes them do the same thing I did—run home to see what my family and Venture Outdoors can do together next, or what we can do outside!

Photo from the Aliquippa Apiary Hike in August

Read the full article here:www.pittsburghlive.com.

And of course she is right! We’ve got several educational adventures planned in the next couple of weeks.

Find the next one on our Activities Calendar. Sign up for the Geology of the Montour Trail Bike Ride by clicking here. Enter GEOLOGY09 at Checkout for 30% Off.

The story touts the trail’s amenities that we all know and love like even terrain, beautiful views and exciting tunnels, but also speaks to the economic opportunities for towns along the trail and the money to be made when over 700,000 people travel the passage.

Read the article at, www.usatoday.com/travel/destinations/affordableamerica/2009-10-08-great-allegheny-passage_N.htm

While your there check out the Venture Outdoors link along the left side. Our Fall Foliage Bike Tour is out there riding the Great Allegheny Passage right now!

Environmental Protection Significance:
The Curry property is part of a large contiguous forested area that is very wild and remote. It harbors qualities of an interior forest that provides undisturbed habitat for many native animal and plant species and natural communities, some of which are dependent on a large, unfragmented forest ecosystem. The green salamander, which is listed as a PA Threatened species, is found in very few places in the state with a distribution limited to certain rock outcroppings in the southern portion of Fayette County. This species is known to occur on the Curry property and it might also live within the impact area of the proposed mine. The Allegheny woodrat, also listed as PA Threatened, inhabits similar habitat, but requires more area for foraging. Direct disturbance to habitat, removal of the nearby forest canopy or changes in hydrology will likely adversely affect these species. Development near and upslope of green salamander sites in Maryland have recently been implicated in the extirpation of more than one salamander colony.

This large, contiguous forested area of which the Curry property is at the heart of, has been the focus on large scale land protection for over 50 years by entities that include the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, PA Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources and the PA Game Commission. This property is part of the Youghiogheny River Landscape Conservation Area. It was given this designation by the Western PA Conservancy in the Fayette County Natural Heritage Inventory (WPC, 2000) because this river gorge contains a number of Biological Diversity Areas and because it is a large, contiguous forest that has retained much of it’s natural character and includes habitats for plants and animals that are recognized as state and/or federal species of special concern and natural communities that support exceptional native diversity. The site of the proposed Curry Mine is adjacent to the Youghiogheny River Biological Diversity Area which is the most significant biological site in the county and region and, arguably one of the most important sites in the state. Eleven species of plants and one species of animal of conservation concern are identified for this river corridor. The larger Landscape Conservation Area, which includes the river corridor, harbors an additional 5 plant species, 2 animal species, 2 reptiles, 3 habitats and 3 geologic features all of special concern and designated as such by the PA Natural Heritage Program and potentially on or adjacent to the Curry Mine site.

The Yough River Gorge and its immediate watershed “feature a biologically diverse, minimally fragmented, forested corridor of striking beauty and great importance to the natural heritage of the county, Pennsylvania and the eastern United States (Fayette County Natural Heritage Inventory, WPC, 2000). The proposed mine site is adjacent to Ohiopyle State Park which is considered a ‘crown jewel’ as natural resources in Pa and the region are concerned.

Stream Designation & NPDES Permit
Currently, the unnamed tributaries to the Yough River that are included in the proposed mining area are designated Warm Water Fisheries (WWF) by the PA Department of Environmental Protection. This designation allows these streams to be impacted by the mining operation with no protections. A number of knowledgeable individuals contend that this designation is completely inaccurate and designation should minimally be High Quality – Cold Water Fishery based on the simple fact that these streams, based on their size, harbor diverse aquatic life (determined by DEP), have intact headwaters where forest canopy is completely intact.

If justification for WWF is based on the lack of population size or low species richness (total number of species) of macroinvertebrates sampled, then the result should not be to give the a lesser designation. The population and richness criteria are based on what would be found in a higher order stream that is designated HQ-CWF. These unnamed tribs are smaller and do not have the capacity to support larger populations…it is that simple. DEP is comparing apples to oranges in their designation process and should be revisiting the quality of these unnamed tribs and basing their designations on criteria that are more appropriate for these smaller order streams. It can probably be argued that these streams are Exceptional Value by their very nature.

This site proposes to divert water out of the Morgan Run and Johnson Run watersheds (both are designated as High Quality Cold Water Fisheries) through the use of diversion ditches which will control the direction of surface water. As a result, these streams, which are designated as High Quality Cold Water Fisheries (HQ-CWF), will be warmer as less warmer generally results in warmer water. This is not an appropriate use of streams that are designated HQ-CWF’s.

Deforestation and lack of riparian buffers will contribute to deterioration in water quality in these streams.

Chestnut Ridge Trout Unlimited is attempting to remediate Morgan Run from mine drainage, and recently received a Growing Greener grant from the PA DEP to install a passive treatment system. Further degradation in a stream that CRTU is attempting to remediate using hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of taxpayer funds would be extremely counterproductive. Morgan Run is not currently reaching its HQ-CWF designation due to mining in the headwaters of the watershed; this is the area where CRTU is planning to construct a treatment system.

Should this system of diversion ditches break down or become overwhelmed due to a high precipitation event, the potential exists for untreated water to be discharged into Morgan and Johnson Run.

Recreation Significance:
Contrary to what the DEP spokesperson stated at the Wednesday, April 16 DEP Public Meeting, the area of the proposed Curry Mine is a highly utilized recreational area. The Great Allegheny Passage Bike Trail runs just below (elevationally) the proposed mine site and will be impacted, minimally, by noise and dust during mining operations. State Game Lands #51 shares a boundary with the site and is utilized for hunting, climbing and hiking in all seasons of the year. The popular Craelick Rocks rock climbing area is within 1000 feet of the proposed mine site. This recreation destination is a premier rock climbing site. Blue hole, a popular swimming spot on Morgan Run is within 1000 feet of the proposed mine site. Morgan Run is becoming a highly sought after, class V whitewater run by kayakers from all over the region.

Notable Area Destinations and Economic Impacts of Recreation:

Fallingwater – 2.5 miles from mine site
Kentuck Knob – 4.3 miles from mine site
Great Allegheny Passage Bike Trail –1000 feet from mine site
Craelick Rocks – less than 1000 feet from mine site
Blue Hole – less than 1000 feet from mine site
Ohiopyle State Park and State Gamelands #51 are directly adjacent to the proposed mine site

Ohiopyle State Park, the largest tourist attraction in the county, attracts between 1.3 and 1.9 million visitors per year. Visitors regularly fill Uniontown hotels during the summer months.

The portion of the Great Allegheny Passage that is adjacent to this proposed mine hosts approximately 200,000 visitors per year. The economic impact of the Great Allegheny Passage should not be underestimated as it generated $12 million in direct spending in the year 2008. Ohiopyle is the most popular destination from which to access the trail.

Traffic & Invasive Species
This project, due to the amount of traffic (20 tri-axle truckloads per day for 21 months) into and out of the site as well as the amount of disturbed area, has the potential to introduce many invasive species that could cause harm to the threatened or endangered species.

-invasive species thrive in areas that have recently been disturbed

-invasive species are often introduced to areas through roadways and by piggybacking on equipment

-because the proposed mine area is bordered by contiguous forest the danger of introduction of invasives is certainly a potential problem

-there is currently no protocol (i.e. plan to clean equipment before entrance to site) from the mining company to address these issues.

ACTION…

Public Hearing Wednesday, June 10, 2009
10:00 AM
Fayette County Public Service Building, 22 East Main Street, Uniontown, Pennsylvania.

Letters to the Editor Can be submitted regarding the proposed Curry mine and the impacts it will have on public safety, the natural environment, and recreation in the area. The two local papers are below the Herald Standard (Uniontown) and the Daily Courier (Connellsville).

Herald Standard
300 word limit
Include name, address and phone for verification
hsletters@heraldstandard.com
Herald Standard
8-18 E. Church Street
Uniontown PA 15401
fax: 724 439 7559

Daily Courier
200 word limit
Include name, address and phone for verification
rabramowitz@tribweb.com
Daily Courier
PO Box 864
Connellsville PA 15425

Venture Outdoors has long identified the lack of minority participation in the outdoors as a problem, not just in Western Pennsylvania, but nationwide.

Now, with help from a $30,000 grant from L.L. Bean, the nonprofit group believes it may have found a solution with its Family and Community Programs Initiative.

“No one has successfully connected minority communities with the outdoors. No one’s figured that out,” said Sean Brady, assistant executive director of Venture Outdoors. “If this thing works out, it could have applications all over the United States.”

Venture Outdoors is a nonprofit formed in 2001 to help get Western Pennsylvanians involved in the many outdoor recreation opportunities that exist in the region.

Last summer, the group implemented a diversity outdoors pilot program, taking climbing walls, bikes and GPS units to urban community festivals in neighborhoods such as the Hill District, East Liberty and the North Side. The goal, Brady said, was to provide a sampling of activities to an underserved population that is often hindered from accessing the outdoors either by economic restraints or a simple lack of exposure.

“It gave folks a little taste and gave them an opportunity to try outdoor recreation,” Brady said.

That project was so successful that they began planning on expanding next summer to offer dedicated, family-oriented monthly festivals in urban parks, on bus lines and at other accessible locations. They also plan to give out free Venture Outdoors activity passes and memberships.

“The real focus is going to be getting families to come out and try these activities, see how much fun they are and see why all these crazy white people do these things,” Brady said. “The real goal is to develop active, outdoor lifestyles.”

L.L. Bean, which is opening its only store west of the Allegheny Mountains at Ross Park Mall on Nov. 21, heard of Venture Outdoors while laying the groundwork for the new location, Brady said. The outdoors retailer learned of the initiative and offered Venture Outdoors the grant. Venture Outdoors is ultimately hoping to raise $200,000 for the three-year initiative.

“(L.L. Bean) has given us start-up funding for the program,” Brady said. “The neat thing about it is L.L. Bean has always had a focus on families and community, so it’s a natural fit for us to work together.”

The new L.L. Bean store will be open 24 hours a day during the grand-opening weekend, with refreshments, live music and giveaways for late shoppers beginning at 11 p.m.

Slopes hope for Thanksgiving

Despite temperatures climbing back up late this week, Hidden Valley and Seven Springs are still hoping for drops low enough to start making snow and open for Thanksgiving weekend. Hidden Valley did get to test its new snowmaking machines Monday night, thanks to a few hours of good snowmaking conditions. If the resort is able to open for Thanksgiving, it will offer free ski tickets in November. Although neither resort is boasting snow accumulation yet, the Laurel Highlands have received dustings in recent weeks.

Karen Price can be reached at kprice@tribweb.com or 412-320-7980.

It’s decision time for bicyclists, especially those who commute to work or school.

Do they outfit themselves and their bikes for cold weather riding or store their wheels for the winter?

The days of riding in T-shirts and shorts are gone. As the temperatures drop, the number of layers bicyclists need to wear to stay warm goes up.

To get a cross-section of advice on cold weather bicycling, I spoke to Peter Greninger of REI on the South Side, Barry Jeffries of Dirty Harry’s Bicycles in Verona, Bob McKinney of Iron City Bikes in Oakland, Kevin Peters of Trek bike shop in Shadyside and Brad Smith, a retired meteorologist who owns Confluence Cyclery in southern Somerset County.

Here’s a summary of their advice.

Bicyclists should wear a skull cap under their helmets to prevent heat loss. The thickness of the cap depends on how cold it is. The helmet vents, wide open during hot weather, should be closed or covered with tape. If the tape reflects light, so much the better.

A balaclava, which covers the head, ears and neck and has an opening for the eyes and nose, is ideal for cold weather. It typically is made of wool, though some may be made of acrylic, cotton or fleece. If it becomes too warm, the scarf portion in many models can be rolled up into the hat .

Balaclava is named after the Crimean town of Balaklava in eastern Europe. During the Crimean War, many of the British troops weren’t used to the extremely cold winter conditions. The residents of the town hand knitted what they called “ski masks” and sent them to the soldiers.

Two pairs of eyeglasses — one with a clear lens for riding at night and one with a dark tint for bright snowy mornings — will help to reduce glare and protect the eyes from ultraviolet rays and debris. A pair of goggles is a good idea on windy days and when the temperature drops into the single digits.

The layering concept that applies to other sports holds true for cold weather biking. And some of the same clothing used for downhill and cross-country skiing and snowshoeing can be worn for the sport.

A complete set of long underwear that wicks away moisture from the body is the first layer. A vest with a mesh back for ventilation or a thermal jersey goes on next. It can be covered with a fleece top and then a brightly colored jacket with ventilation zippers under the armpits.
Not riding?

A pair of fleece-lined tights with zippers at the ankles goes on next. Look for tights that are articulated for movement and have front panels that are windproof and waterproof.

A fleece gaitor protects the neck and can be pulled up to cover the mouth and nose. A full face mask will prevent frostbite when the temperatures plummet.

Full-finger gloves that are windproof and waterproof are a must. Look for a pair that come with a set of liners and/or have a zippered opening on the top to insert a set of hand warmers. Avoid mittens. They’re awkward, especially when trying to switch gears and/or use the hand brakes.

Neoprene booties that fit over biking shoes will help to keep your feet warm. Some booties are thicker than others and some have varying thicknesses of insulation. Wear wool socks. Foot warmers also will keep your toes toasty.

If your bike doesn’t have a set of full coverage stainless steel fenders, get them. They’ll keep cold rain and slushy snow from striping your back and splashing your front. Rearview mirrors mounted on the handlebars are a good idea.

In addition to brightly-colored, eye-catching clothing, you’ll need a good headlight and a good tailight. The goal is to see and be seen. Motorists don’t expect to see bicyclists during the winter, so get their attention before they get yours.

Be especially alert if there is a bus strike and thousands of former transit riders have to drive themselves to work. They may not be used to sharing the road with bicyclists.

Wet weather decreases the life of brake pads. Inspect them every week.

Use tires with a good tread.

Keep your chain clean and lubricated.

Obey all traffic laws.

Carry a repair kit with you — under the seat, in a pannier or in a fanny pack. Learn how to change a flat. You don’t want to have to fix your first flat at night in below-freezing, finger-numbing weather. Carry extra clothes if you have room for them.

If you don’t have suitable clothing for winter riding, you can outfit yourself for about $450, said Dirty Harry’s Jeffries.

“The hardest part about riding in cold weather is getting out the door,” said Greninger of REI. “If you can force yourself to get dressed and get on your bike, you won’t regret it.”

Confluence Cyclery’s Smith, a biochemist who earned a master’s degree in meteorology and oceanography during his 24-year career with the U.S. Navy, said bicyclists have to be aware of the windchill factor, especially on days when there is no wind.

For example, bicyclists who maintain a modest pace of 10 miles per hour in 30 degree weather have to be prepared for a windchill of 21 degrees. If they aren’t properly covered up, they could suffer frostbite in 30 minutes. See chart, below.

Smith, who owns and operates the shop with his wife Maureen, said there are times when cold weather riding can be a funny experience.

He recalled a rail-trail ride a few years ago with longtime friends Ray Beimel of Elk County and Chris Doran of Cumberland County. They camped out and awoke to a thin cover of snow. They had breakfast, got on their bikes and were riding on the Pine Creek Trail near Ansonia in the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania when they encountered a squall of snow pellets.

Snow pellets are formed when a snowflake melts about halfway to the ground and then refreezes, The pellets were bouncing off their clothing. Smith, who was riding beside Beimel, started laughing as he watched the pellets ricochet off their clothing. His riding companions joined in the laughter.

“The squall didn’t last too long,” Smith said. “We were properly dressed for the weather and had a good time”

And that’s what winter biking is all about.

“In [L.L. Bean's] efforts to establish a store in Pittsburgh, they did research here to find out about the area and found us,” said Sean Brady, assistant executive director of Venture Outdoors. “In our discussions with them, we discussed the Family and Community Programs Initiative and they thought it very closely matched their corporate goals here.”

Read the entire article.

“The 7 p.m. program titled “In Celebration of Wild Places: Connecting People to Nature,” is co-sponsored by Venture Outdoors, the Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild, Pitt’s Center for Minority Health, Three Rivers Birding Club, Recreational Equipment Inc. and the National Aviary.”

Click here to read the entire article