Oct. 22 "Coached" Tree Identification Workshop and Picnic

"Coached" Tree Identification Workshop and Picnic

The Cumberland Woodland Owners Association (CWOA) is partnering with Penn State Mont Alto to present a tree identification workshop on Saturday, Oct. 22, 2016.  Workshop participants will meet on the PSU Mont Alto campus at 9:30am at Weisling Hall.  Signs will be posted.  Participants will split up into small groups (3-5 people) with a 2nd year forestry student assigned to each group.  The students will take their groups through a 20 station walk and coach them on specific tree identification.  With the closer teaching and opportunity to interact, participants can learn some of the finer points of tree id such as the difference between a red oak and scarlet oak.  20 plus tree species will be covered.  The CWOA is an organization of forestland owners and others interested in forestry issues in south central Pennsylvania.

The tree identification workshop is open to the public.  You do not have to be a member of the CWOA to attend.  There is no cost to attend the workshop but pre-registration is required.   To register, text, call or email Mike Waldron at 717-677-7317(H), 717-698-8046(cell), mdwald57@yahoo.com (email) by October 14 (email preferred).

The Penn State Mont Alto campus is approx. 1 mile north of downtown Mont Alto along Rt. 233.  At the main campus entrance, turn left, go over the bridge and the main parking lot is on the right.  Look for CWOA signs. Penn State Mont Alto directions are available online at:  http://montalto.psu.edu/Information/directions.htm.

The workshop will take about 2 hours to complete and will be followed by a picnic lunch at the pavilion of Mont Alto State Park.  (right next door to the campus)   CWOA MEMBERS - bring a side dish to share as we will host the Mont Alto students & staff.  Burgers, hot dogs, dinnerware and drinks will be provided.  

YOU MUST PRE-REGISTER FOR THIS EVENT !!   Text, call or email Mike Waldron at 717-677-7317(H), 717-698-8046,(cell), mdwald57@yahoo.com (email) by October 14 (email preferred).   There is no charge, but we will have a donation bucket for you to help defray the costs of the pavilion & lunch.

This event will be rain or shine.  IF the weather is very bad; we will make provisions to have a presentation inside with tree samples.  So, mark your calendar, make your reservation, bring note taking materials, dress for the weather and be ready to be sharpened in your tree id skills.  We may have to limit the group size, so register early.

Sept. 10 Bird Identification Meeting at Audubon’s Hawk Watch Lookout

Saturday, September 10, 10:00 A.M. CWOA Bird Identification Meeting at Audubon’s Hawk Watch Lookout at Waggoner’s Gap off PA Route 74, about 6 miles NW of Carlisle, Pa.  

Bird identification is the subject of the September 10, 10:00 A.M. meeting of the Cumberland Woodland Owners Association at Audubon’s Hawk Watch Lookout at Waggoner’s Gap off PA Route 74, about 6 miles NW of Carlisle, Pa.   A representative from the Audubon Society will speak on methods for bird identification in the field.  Bring binoculars, a cushion to sit on and warmer clothing than you think you might need.  There is very limited space for chairs of any sort and that space is claimed very early in the day.  We will meet at that location at 10:00 A.M. For more information about the meeting or the Cumberland Woodland Owners Association, contact Mike Waldron, 717-677-7317 (email:  mdwald57@yahoo.com).  Please be sure and park in the lot that is on the north (Perry County) side of the mountain.

Audubon Pennsylvania’s Hawk Watch Waggoner’s Gap Directions:  http://www.waggap.com/Directions.htm

The Waggoner’s Gap Hawk Watch can be reached by walking up a rock trail from the parking lot on the north side of the Kittatinny Ridge. The parking lot is off PA Route 74, about 6 miles NW of Carlisle, Pa. 

Directions to the parking lot

Amended directions to Hawk Watch Lookout - Wolf Bridge Rd is closed due to replacement

I have been informed by Chaz Smith that Wolf Bridge Rd is closed due to replacement of the bridge.  Chaz Smith’s recommends the following detour to take off of Rt.11S:  “The detour would take North Middlesex Rd, which is about halfway between the turnpike and 81. It is right across from the Petro truck stop, and there is an Arby's resturaunt on the corner. Go a couple hundred yards on North Middlesex Rd across the Conneduguinnett creek on the bridge, and then take the first left on Clemson Rd. This parallels the creek, and will T into Wolf Bridge Rd, where you would turn right, adn continue on with the other directions.”  At the stop sign at PA Rt.  34. Turn right and go .4 miles to a left turn on PA Rt.  944 W. Go 5 miles to a stop sign at the intersection with Pa Rt.  74. Turn right and go 2 miles up the mountain, being careful on the 90 degree turns. The parking lot is 200 yards beyond the crest on the right.

Here is a link to a map centered on that Arby's, it is easy to see the detour rout here.

https://www.bing.com/mapspreview?&ty=18&q=Arby%27s&ss=ypid.YN749x20690845&ppois=40.2337760925293_-77.1406326293945_Arby%27s_YN749x20690845~&cp=40.233776~-77.140633&v=2&sV=1

From the east: On I-81 S take the Middlesex exit (exit 52)  and turn right on Rt. 11S toward Carlisle. Go through the truckstops to the Carlisle turnpike exchange where we pick up all Pa Turnpike travelers. Continue south on Rt. 11 for 1.5 miles to a traffic light at Wolf Bridge Rd. Turn right. Follow Wolf Bridge Rd 2.5 miles to a stop sign at PA Rt.  34. Turn right and go .4 miles to a left turn on PA Rt.  944 W. Go 5 miles to a stop sign at the intersection with Pa Rt.  74. Turn right and go 2 miles up the mountain, being careful on the 90 degree turns. The parking lot is 200 yards beyond the crest on the right.

Trail to the lookouts

The trail leaves the oval parking lot at the right hand (uphill) side. After approx. 100 yards it splits, but both forks lead to the lookout. The right hand trail is less steep but longer. The lookout is an angled rock pile. Bring a cushion to sit on and warmer clothing than you think you might need. There is very limited space for chairs of any sort and that space is claimed very early in the day. There is a porta-potti in the parking lot. The parking lot is gated and unlocked by the counter for the day. The gate will remain locked over night and during inclement weather when no watch is being conducted.