Work Parties

Brian Stouffer, Mountain Ambassador, and Chad Bell, MNC Director, led an extremely large group of 54 volunteers from Omega Phi Alpha and Sigma Nu.

Follow along with the group on the Mt. Nittany trail map by Purple Lizard Maps.

The entire group started up the Blue trail to the rock pile at Station 10.  From Station 10 the group split up. The group led by Chad went to Nittany Mall and Tom Smyth overlooks. They widened the trails, cut undergrowth, and cleared 3 downed trees as well as 2 hangers. The other group led by Brian, continued to the Little Flat and Penns Valley overlooks trimming branches, cutting the undergrowth and clearing saplings. The two groups then met up traveled the White trail from Station 6 to Station 5 and then Station 3 at the Mike Lynch Overlook.  Along the way, the team cleared 2 downed trees across the trail.

The Conservancy extends their thanks to both Sigma Nu and Omega Phi Alpha for their support of the Mountain.

Clearing a downed tree from the trail

Removing undergrowth at Little Flat Overlook

Work Party at the Tom Smyth Overlook

Entire group at the Mike Lynch Overlook

The Fresh START at Penn State program provided 21 freshmen and 2 upper-class students as volunteers for the Mountain on Aug 30. MNC Directors Bob Andronici and Eric Loop led the Fresh START volunteers. The group replaced 7 – 8 water bars on the White trail did trail widening on the Blue trail by cutting back brush. Finally they also replaced a large water control rock at the Mike Lynch Overlook.

The Conservancy would like to thank PSU Fresh Start for their work to keep the Mountain green and growing.

Part of the PSU Fresh Start Volunteer group

Volunteers from HRG Inc., the State College located Engineering Firm, did amazing work at the Mike Lynch Overlook the last weekend of June 2014. They found 1 foot of silt at bottom of Lynch that, along with heavy water and rain, had pushed a big water stop log over the edge of Lynch resulting in major washout at the bottom section of the overlook. Major repair involved moving a few heavy big logs into place and tying them down in and above ground rebar spikes.

The Conservancy would like to thank Chad Bell, MNC Director, and his fellow volunteers from Herbert, Rowland & Grubic, Inc. for all their work.

Reset original Water Bar / Seating

Digging in the accumulated silt for new barriers

Thanks to HRG Inc. volunteers

Completed job. Well Done and Thanks!

On Sunday, May 25, the State College Young Professionals and 3twenty9  volunteered to work on Mt. Nittany.  The Conservancy thanks these folks for their time and effort in support of the Mountain.

Left to right: Wendy Vinhage, Jacque Weaver, Steve Ryder, Troy Weston, Melissa Hombosky

Left-to-Right, Bob Frick from MNC, Rosie (dog), Troy Weston, Bob Andronici from MNC, Melissa Hombosky, Steve Ryder, Chad Bell from MNC, Jacque Weaver, Wendy Vinhage.

On Sunday, April 13, the service organizations Circle K and Alpha Phi Omega volunteered to work on Mt. Nittany.  We met at 11:30, hiked to the top of the Mountain, picked up trash, removed some blow-downs and cleared sight lines at the Boalsburg, Little Flat, and Penns Valley overlooks.  Circle K had two volunteers, and Alpha Phi Omega had eight.  The Conservancy thanks these young men and women for their time and effort.

Circle K and Alpha Phi Omega

On cold, windy day MNC Board members Eric Loop, Doug Wion and Chad Bell led an energetic groups of volunteers from The Bridge Initiative.

The entire group hiked the BLUE trail to Station 10, the rock pile at the top. From there, Eric took half and  proceeded east while doing trail trimming, picking up of trash and clearing branches from there to Station 9, the Tom Smyth overlook.

Doug and Chad took the other half and continued along the WHITE trail across the top to Station 11, the Northwest overlook. The group trimmed trails, picked up trash, cleaned up camp sites and cleared roughly 12 hangers/widowmakers and downed logs across the trail. Doug pointed out invasive species along the way that was eradicated. We then stopped at Lynch overlook for photos and proceeded down.

We’d like to thanks TBI for all their hard work. They were a pleasure to work with.

Group at the trailhead

Clearing downed trees at the Tom Smyth overlook

Trimming branches to widen the White trail

Group photo at Lynch overlook

Volunteers from the Penn State Lion Ambassadors and Circle K arrived on a gorgeous early November Sunday to do trail maintenance on the Mountain.

Work accomplished included:

• Cleared additional leaner’s on the Blue Trail between Stations 1 and 10 and Stations 10 to 6.
• Widened some of the Blue trail between Stations 6 and 7.
• Cleared a group of low growing Oak trees at the Little Flat Overlook (Station 7).

Mt. Nittany, Sunday Nov 3, 2013

Bob Andronici Trail Boss

Bob Andronici and Vince Verbeke

Bob Andronici giving volunteers their marching orders and safety instructions

Penn State Lion Ambassadors ready to go up the Mountain.

Circle K rep (who took up the chainsaw on a backpack) and Laurie Verbeke ready to go as well

Stone sculpture at the Lynch Overlook.

Lion Ambassadors clearing the view at the Station 7, Flat Rock Overlook.

Clearing away the scrub oak that was blocking the view

Almost there…

A clear view at the Flat Rock Overlook

Thanks to the “Blue” Team!

The Conservancy would like to send a huge THANK YOU to all the volunteers who came to help on Mt. Nittany during the annual Day of Caring.

Over 20 total volunteers from the following companies donated their time and efforts on the 3rd.

• Keller Williams Advantage
• Wells Fargo
• Columbia Gas
• HRG, Inc.
• Earth and Mineral Science (EMS) PSU
• Ohio Logistics

Work accomplished included:

• Multiple trail widening efforts were accomplished
• Many leaners removed on total trail system
• 10 big waterbars and a bench installed on Blue between 1 and 10

Columbia Gas

Earth and Mineral Science (EMS) PSU & Keller Williams Advantage

HRG, Inc.

Keller Williams Advantage

Keller Williams Advantage

Hans Huber from Keller Williams Advantage

Volunteers from the Alpha Phi Omega Co Ed Service Fraternity and the Gamma Sigma Sigma Service Sorority came to help on the Mountain.

Work accomplished included:

• Cleared 2 big leaner’s on Blue Trail between Stations 1 and 10.
• Installed 3 water bars in same area.
• Widened some of White trail between Stations 10 and 2.

Alpha Phi Omega Co Ed Service Fraternity

Gamma Sigma Sigma Service Sorority

Huge Shout-Out to the Young Professionals of State College for there work on the Mountain. It was a hot, muggy last day of June for a work party. But as you can see below, team work was the order of the day.

State College Young Professionals volunteer on the Mountain June 30, 2013

This is what was accomplished:

• Removed three downed trees obstructing the White trail from Station #2 to Station #10.
• Repositioned a large log that had broken loose at the Lynch Overlook and put rock stoppers in front of it and 3 other big logs that needed reinforcement.
• Replaced 10-12 water bars that had washed out or deteriorated due to heavy rains.

If you see or know a member of the group, please extend another Thank You to them for us!

State College Young Professions were a strong and effective group.

A work party led by Bob Andronici took AccuWeather volunteers on a trail widening project between Stations 6, 7 and 8 on the back side of the Mountain.

The AccuWeather group joined us in our ongoing efforts to maintain trails on the Mountain in part to honor the memory of their late friend and co-worker Ken Reeves. Ken was a Past President and Director Emeritus of the Mount Nittany Conservancy board.

Left to Right: Lee Ann Candor, Jim Candor, Bob Larson, Bernie Rayno, Steve Smith

MNC Board member Bob Andronici explaining the work plan

Bob and Lee Ann were glad for the warm November day.

Bernie and Steve clearing brush away from the overgrown trail.

Jim and Lee Ann working hard.

Bob had to break out the bow saw for this small oak.

Steve using “More Power”.

Left to Right: Bob Larson, Jim Candor, and Lee Ann Candor.

Left to Right: Bernie Rayno and Steve Smith.

Lion Ambassadors and the Paws Of Friendship worked on our trails this past Sunday, November 4, 2012. Led by MNC board members Bob Andronici and Vince Verbeke, the day’s objective was to travel the entire length of the Blue Trail loop (4.8 miles) and the White Trail loop (3.7 miles) and remove any downed trees across trails or other “widow maker” trees that were leaning dangerously over the trails. Aided by Blake Gall who cleared the far end of the Blue Trail, the groups were able to remove over 30 trees from the trails.

The “Blue Team” led by Bob who went up the Blue Trail from Station 1 to Station 10 and then came back along the front side of Mt. Nittany from Station 10 to Station 11 and then to Station 2 had the most work to accomplish. This was where Sandy’s winds did the most damage.

A BIG THANK YOU to both groups for coming to volunteer!

November 4 Work Crew.

Paws Of Friendship.

Lion Ambassadors.

The “Blue Team” led by Bob Andronici.

L’ambs Stopped to Water and Apply Fertilizer to Lynch Plantings.

L’ambs Stopped to Water and Apply Fertilizer to Lynch Plantings.

Over the past year the Mount Nittany Conservancy has been working , along with a number of volunteer groups, to control erosion at the Mike Lynch Overlook. To recap:

• Lynch Erosion – Sept 16, 2011
• Lion Ambassadors closes trail, starts new stepping system and creates new access trail
• Penn State Wrestling Team installed last of the stepping system

Over the past few weeks, in a bit of whirlwind, input was sought and received on replanting the closed portion of trail at the Overlook while we could still put plants in the ground this Fall. Success was achieved this past weekend as native shrubs were established. The Conservancy would like to thank:

Jim Sellmer, Penn State Assistant Professor of Ornamental Horticulture. Jim provided us with a list of native shrubs and herbaceous species that could be used on Mt. Nittany. He also gave us the name of the Octoraro Native Plant Nursery as a good source for small container plants.

Jim MacKenzie from the Octoraro Native Plant Nursery of Kirkwood, PA. Once we contacted Jim, he was happy to work with us. In his email he said, “As proud and loyal Penn Stater’s my partner and I are willing to donate the woody plants for this project.” Since they also had a truck coming to the area last week, an order could be shipped and planted this Fall. Jim also gave us the name of the North Creek Nurseries, Inc. for the herbaceous species that we wanted to establish.

Claudia West from North Creek Nurseries, Inc. of Landenburg, PA. Claudia came right on board with the project. Through North Creek we now have an order of herbaceous plants set for May 2013 planting.

Steve Bogash, Penn State Regional Horticulture Educator. Steve was able to give us valuable tips on how to establish the shrubs from Octoraro. He also recommended that we enclose the area with plastic netting to prevent deer damage. Steve told us that Kenncove Farm Fencing Supplies sold a better grade of plastic fencing.

Kenncove Farm Fencing Supplies of Blairsville, PA. When contacted, they quickly shipped an order of 6 feet Plastic Net fencing to be in State College in time for the work weekend.

Penn State Alpha Phi Omega – Alpha Beta Chapter. Even though this co-ed service fraternity had just helped out on the Mountain the previous weekend, on just days’ notice they sent 5 members to help plant the shrubs and enclose the area with fencing.

Blake Gall, MNC board member. Blake was the delivery man par excellence. From his home on the Oak Hall side of Mt. Nittany and with his four-wheel ATV and trailer, Blake made several trips to bring up the shrubs, tools, and water we needed to make the project happen. He will continue to bring up water to the work zone to help establish the shrubs.

Laurie Verbeke. As “Volunteer of the Day” Laurie was our resident expert for plant placement and planting of the 28 of the 30 shrubs provided by the Octoraro Native Plant Nursery that we were able to squeeze into the designated area.

October 20 Work Crew.

Volunteer Leadership. Laurie Verbeke shows Vince the proper way to prepare a shrub.

Downhill View. Water jugs with small pinholes will allow slow and steady moisture to reach the shrubs.

Uphill View. You have a clear view of black netting enclosure.

Thanks Again to Alpha Phi Omega!

Three varieties of shrubs were provided by the Octoraro Native Plant Nursery.

• Witch-hazel
• Spicebush
• American cranberrybush viburnum

North Creek Nurseries, Inc. will be sending us four herbaceous species in the Spring.

• Eastern woodfern
• Christmas fern
• Wild ginger
• Bristleleaf sedge

Saturday October 13 over 30 student volunteers arrived at the trailhead to help with trail maintenance on Mt Nittany. Two student groups, Penn State Alpha Phi Omega – Alpha Beta Chapter and Circle K at Penn State University Park, who brought along fellow Circle K members from Shippensburg University as well, did several maintenance tasks on both the White and Blue trails on the Oak Hall side of the Mountain.

On the White trail from Station 6 moving up slope for about .25 mile toward Station 10, 21 water bars were put in place. In addition, on the Blue trail starting at Station 6 and working toward Station 7, another group cleared back the small oaks and scrub that make this portion of the trail a bit tight to traverse over the summer (map).

It was a great day to work… cool and sunny. We’d like to thank all the volunteers for an outstanding job and their support of Mt. Nittany.

Alpha Phi Omega – Alpha Beta Members.

Circle K working on water bars.

Circle K with a completed water bar.