Gamma Sigma Sigma’s Tau Chapter and Circle K beat the weather that rolled into State College today. Several new water bars were placed on the White trail on the way to Station 2.
More work at the Lynch Overlook was planned but the day was cut short due to the incoming thunderstorms. Thanks to all the volunteers for their help today!
Gamma Sigma Sigma members on the trail.
Gamma Sigma Sigma members placing rocks around a water bar.
The Conservancy will host its 3rd Annual Mt. Nittany Night Wine Tasting event on Friday, September 28, 2012 from 6-8 p.m. at the Mount Nittany Winery. This year we expect to offer specific food pairings from local caterers to go with the winery’s vintages. As always, we will have a short program culminating with the presentation of our Friend of the Mountain award. Tickets are $30 per person. Proceeds benefit conservation of the Lynch Overlook. Thanks to our sponsors Mount Nittany Vineyard, Mt. Niittany Inn, Nittany Lion Inn, and Nittany Bank.
For quite some the Conservancy has been concerned with the increased erosion at the famous Mike Lynch Overlook. Last fall a work party of Lion Ambassadors installed installing a new stepping system along the right side of the Lynch Overlook. They also laid in a new switchback access trail to the Lynch Overlook.
Today another group of volunteers (Penn State Division of Development and Alumni Relations Summer Interns) completed another key phase of the Conservancy efforts to help minimize erosion at Lynch.
We have now closed the short piece of trail that descended to Lynch as you can see from the below photos. To access the Lynch we encourage all hikers to proceed straight on at the Mike Lynch Overlook Plaque and Memorial Rock. After 50 feet you will find a new right hand turn to take you back to the Overlook.
Hikers will see new signs that indicate that the trail is closed to prevent erosion. Please follow the new signs to reach the Overlook. We appreciate your support of the new trail to allow the old trail to recover.
MNC Vice President Bob Andronici with paint to mark the new trails. Bob where hikers need to go straight on to reach the new switchback.
The sign at the new switchback directs hikers to turn back to the right to access the Lynch Overlook. For hikers that want to keep going around the Mountain, they can continue straight on as well.
Close-up of the direction sign back to the Lynch Overlook.
Looking down the switchback trail to Lynch.
As you look up from the Overlook, you can see another Trail Closed sign as well as limbs and logs that are currently blocking the trail.
Close-up of the Trail Closed to Correct Erosion with the symbol that you should not go straight on.
The two new signs at the top with the original trail down to the Overlook shown blocked.
@PSUDDARInterns from Left to Right: Adam Miller, Morgan Delaware, Christopher Porcelli, Cory Trimm, Gary McMillen, Elizabeth Hellman, and Leslie Dalton.
Off the Mountain, three new Viewing Stations have been installed at locations around the valley, in addition to the existing station at the Bryce Jordan Center, which was recently remodeled. Stations at Mt. Nittany Middle School, the Penn State Arboretum, and inside Lubrano Park now all provide outstanding views of the Mountain. Our thanks go out to the numerous local governing agencies that have worked diligently to make these Stations a reality.
Additional viewing stations are in the works for the Oak Hall Regional Park and Tudek Park. The stations include information on the history and conservation of the Mountain and a photo from that location at the time the station was created.
Each Viewing Station includes:
brief history of the Lion’s Paw Alumni Association (the group who first worked to protect the Mountain from lumbering and other development threats) and the formation of the MNC
how Mt. Nittany is used for recreation purposes
the etymology behind the word Nittany
pictures and a trail map of Mt. Nittany from the current location of the viewer
Images of the updated Bryce Jordan Center Viewing Station as well as the new Penn State Arboretum and the Lubrano Park Viewing Stations are below.
Earlier this year Ken Reeves was unexpectedly taken from us. Ken’s wife, family and many friends are still in our thoughts.
Ken Reeves
Ken was an integral part of the founding of the Mount Nittany Conservancy in 1981. He served as our third President and was deeply involved in the organization as a Board member and Emeritus Board member ever since.
Ken’s love for the Mountain, his vision for its preservation and conservation, and his knowledge about all that surrounds it, has been an inspiration for all of us who have the honor of serving the Mountain. It was our privilege to have known and worked with Kenny and his guidance and friendship will be greatly missed.
To help keep his memory alive, the Lions Paw classes of 2007 and 2008 collected donations to the Mt. Nittany Conservancy in memory of Ken. But they also decided to create a geocache on the Mountain for him. The cache includes the following placard about Ken and what he meant to the Mountain.
In addition, since Kenny was all about the weather, a weather instrument is included in the cache. This will allow visitors to record date, year, barometric reading and temperature in the log book. We’re sure that Kenny would find that pretty cool!
As of today, three folks have logged their visit to the cache. Here is the first to find entry:
I’m pleased and honored to be FTF on this wonderful memorial cache. Beautifully done–I loved the contents of the cache, so appropriate. This was my first ever FTF, so I did a little happy dance up there on Mt. Nittany 🙂
We encourage anyone who plans to hike the Mountain that Ken loved so much to make this another “must complete” item on their Life List.
Fifteen scouts from Cub Scout Pack 67 joined together on a beautiful spring afternoon to complete a Leave No Trace service project and learn more about frontcountry guidelines. Scouts and family members met at the trailhead to talk about the basic rules to follow when hiking, especially sticking to the trails and with your buddy, respecting other visitors, and trashing all trash. We chose to hike the popular White Trail to the Mike Lynch Overlook and keep an eye out for trail issues, litter, and campfire sites.
The Mount Nittany Conservancy would like to thank all the scouts from Cub Scout Pack 67 and their leaders for their efforts.
On the walk up the mountain, we found several types of litter from cigarette butts and old gum to broken bottles, cans, and paper wrappers. About .1 mile from the Mike Lynch Overlook, we stopped to clean up two old campfire sites.
The group picked up a lot of broken glass, paper and foil wrappers, and several pieces of burnt fire wood. At the second fire site (located about 50 ft. to the SE of the first), there is a leaning tree that has a large cut mark toward the bottom.
After cleaning these two sites, we hiked the last part of the trail to the Mike Lynch Overlook. We found more small pieces of litter and a plastic bottle at the Overlook. We noted that as you step down to the lower part of the Overlook, one of the logs is showing signs of wear and the dirt is very loose there creating a hole between the ground and log.
Finally, we stopped to take a break and enjoy the beautiful view of Happy Valley –which was extremely clear that day. We listened to the quiet sounds of nature. Before we left, the boys took a picture with some of the bags of trash we collected. We collected about 13 gallons of trash on that .7 mile trail. And we have educated a new group of people on the importance of Leave No Trace and respecting the environment.
In early April, MNC Past President Vince Verbeke notices that Google Maps had added a portion of the White trail to the Mike Lynch Overlook. Using the “Report a problem” option, Vince contacted Google and asked if they could add the remainder of the White and the Blue trails. And so they have!
Here is an image from April 24, 2012. We still need to add the various trail points and a few segments of the trails are slightly off. But we are working to report these to Google and get them updated.
This year’s unusually warm winter brought extra sunshine, and along with it, the early arrival of tick season. According to the Centers for Disease Control, 12 diseases are transmitted by some types of ticks — including Lyme disease. Use these tips to reduce the risk of tick bites while maximizing your outdoor summer fun.
“Ticks can ride home on clothing and pets, and attach to a person later, so carefully check your animal companions, coats and backpacks after visiting high-risk areas.”
Members and friends of the Conservancy recently received in the mail our December newsletter. A link to the newsletter is below.
The following is an excerpt from the lead story on the Lynch Overlook.
MNC is deeply concerned about the current state of the iconic Mike Lynch Overlook on Mt Nittany. Due to increasing numbers of hikers, along with our wet weather this year, the soil at the Overlook is becoming increasingly eroded.
You can help support our efforts to stabilize the Overlook by becoming a Friend of the Mountain.
John Hook, MNC President, was interviewed by the Centre County’s Government & Educational Access Network (C-NET) as part of their “Around the County” series.
John discusses the history of the Conservancy and updates everyone on current MNC projects.
Circle K members once again volunteered on the Mountain yesterday. They arrived early (9 AM) and were treated to Sweet Art Bakery cinnamon rolls. (Thanks Laurie!)
The group helped out with two goals for the day. First, they were tasked to cover all 8 1/2 miles of trails to cleanup from the early season snow of the previous weekend. 3 groups walked around both the White and Blue trails to make this happen.
Second, one group travelled all the way to the Tom Smyth Overlook (Station 9).
Here they installed a memorial rock to our 2011 Friend of the Mountain awardee and long time volunteer Tom Smyth. The board has recognized Tom by renaming the Nittany Mall overlook in his honor. Smyth has led numerous efforts to preserve and conserve many of Mt. Nittany’s attributes, most recently helping the Conservancy fend off the 2008-2009 gypsy moth outbreak.The plaque reads:
The Tom Smyth Overlook
This Mountain is more lush and its
trails more inviting thanks to the
patient work and quiet leadership
of its friend Tom Smyth.
Presented by the Mount Nittany Conservancy
2011
Here we see Circle K members before moving the rock to its permanent location. The Smyth Overlook in the background.
Led by Lauren Johnson, Philanthropy Chair of the Penn State Lion Ambassadors, we split this group into two work parties and worked on installing a new stepping system at the Lynch Overlook as well as clearing back trails on the Mountain.
From left to right: Gary McMillen, Kyle Johnson, Lauren Johnson, Sunita Ruparelia, Kelly Glavin, Matt Mahalik, and Kerry O’Donnell.
Below is the start of a new set of steps down the left side of the Lynch Overlook. This will provide easier access to the base of the Overlook. 13 steps were put in place by the Lion Ambassadors group working at Lynch.
The first hikers to use them was a group of blind/low vision hikers. It was just a humbling experience to witness their arrival at the Overlook with their helpers.
Below is the start of the new access to the Overlook (which will open in Spring 2012). 15 waterbars were placed on what will be the new access trail.
More than 50 people gathered to celebrate the second annual Mount Nittany Night on Friday, September 30, at the Mount Nittany Vineyard & Winery.
The event raised nearly $3,000 to support new erosion suppression efforts at the Mike Lynch Overlook.
Guests sampled delicious wines and appetizers, and, during its 30th anniversary, the board honored the significant contributions of long-time Mountain steward Tom Smyth with its second Friend of the Mountain award. The award honors a person or group based on contributions of talent, time, and resources on behalf of the Mountain. Earlier, the board had recognized Smyth by renaming the Nittany Mall overlook in his honor. Smyth has led numerous efforts to preserve and conserve many of Mt. Nittany’s attributes, most recently helping the Conservancy fend off the 2008-2009 gypsy moth outbreak.
Donations to Mount Nittany Night increased by more than 50 percent over last year. The funds will go to provide significant erosion prevention measures that are sorely needed to protect the Lynch Overlook-the most-frequented destination on the Mountain. New water bars using wood harvested from the Mountain and a redirected trail will be put in place during the coming year.
The Mount Nittany Conservancy is deeply concerned about the current state of the iconic Mike Lynch Overlook on Mt Nittany. Due to increasing number of hikers, along with our wet weather this year, the soil at the Overlook is becoming increasingly eroded.
You can help support our efforts to stabilize the Overlook by becoming a Friend of the Mountain. You can also attend our second annual Mount Nittany Night to be held Friday, September 30, from 6 to 8 p.m.
Evidence of the erosion can be seen in the below photos. While the Conservancy and volunteer groups have worked to place water bars (logs that cut across the overlook to re-direct water), more actions are needed. In order to make this happen, we do need your support!
As you approach the Lynch Overlook
Looking down at Lynch from first water bar (notice the erosion around the tree roots)
Wide swath of use on the right side of descent to Lynch Overlook
Evidence of erosion as seen from right side of Lynch Overlook
Looking back up at the left side of descent
View of the Lynch Overlook from the left side of the descent
If you live and work in Happy Valley, you can gaze out upon Mount Nittany every day. Mount Nittany is our Plymouth Rock, our Old Faithful, our Gibraltar. The moment we see her, we know we are home.
Yet, Mount Nittany is more than an iconic geographic feature. It is also a place to hike and explore. In order to tell that story, the Mount Nittany Conservancy is reaching out to the community with a planned series of interpretive stations throughout the valley.
The “front yard” of the Mount Nittany Middle School received the first of these Viewing Stations this summer. The Stations are designed to be attractive, educational, and informational. Each Viewing Station will include:
brief history of the Lion’s Paw Alumni Association (the group who first worked to protect the Mountain from lumbering and other development threats) and the formation of the Mount Nittany Conservancy
how Mount Nittany is used for recreation purposes
the etymology behind the word Nittany
pictures and a trail map of Mount Nittany from the current location of the viewer
Images of the Mount Nittany Elementary School Viewing Station are below. We hope that everyone can take the time to visit the site and see the final product. Your support of the Mount Nittany Conservancy is what makes this new outreach effort possible. Thank you! And a special tip of the hat to Ameron Construction for installing the Mount Nittany Elementary School Viewing Station.
John Hook, MNC President, was interviewed by the Centre County’s Government & Educational Access Network (C-NET) as part of their “Around the County” series.
