Details - Maps, plantlists, etc. A few Pictures from the trip. And some more pictures.
Each person should have a map so we can study plant communities together. People who want the long handout for the trip are certainly welcome to print it. I put a table of contents in the handout’s beginning to help people pick and choose what they might wish to print for themselves.
- The Biodiversity workbook for our Saturday biodiversity walk is at:
https://gushare.georgetown.edu/xythoswfs/webui/_xy-5698700_1-t_KnPgwL56
- Our plant communities map is at
https://gushare.georgetown.edu/xythoswfs/webui/_xy-5698701_1-t_QZ6qxgZ4The key to the map is at the end of the handout (workbook) or can be found here.
- The various stops on the trip.
- A map of parking and trails at TRP is here.
- Pictures from Turkey Run two days after the trip.
- Victoria Batista's pictures from the April 11 turkey Run trip:
Directions: Proceed to Harrisburg, PA via I-83 (Baltimore Area) or I-270 and Route 15 (D.C. area). Take Route 22-322 about 7 miles north to the town of Dauphin – exit into town about 1000 feet – and gather in front of small shopping area on left.
Meeting Time: 10 a.m.
Bring: Lunch, water, and footwear for some moist but rocky terrain.
Contact: If you are late or lost, call Lou Aronica's cell phone 703-597-3711 to hook up.
Rob Soreng also sent location of a campground where he and Nancy are planning to camp:
Swatara State Park
N40 32.414 W76 27.788 NE pt.
N40 29.839 W76 31.980 SE pt. on Gold Mine Run rd.
ca 23 to 28 mi ENE of Duncannon, just off and N of hwy 81
This trip could be a one day or an 2-day overnight trip, depending on folks' interest. There's a nice place to stay and eat nearby for overnighters:
Doyle Hotel in Duncannon, PA http://www.doylehotel.com (717)834-6789. The place caters especially to AT hikers and has nice rooms for $25 a night.
Someone recommended: “ The Stardust Motel on Rte 15 in Duncannon, 717-834-4433, is also a good choice. Not quite as cheap as Doyle Hotel, but very reasonable and you get your own bathroom.”
10 AM meeting time
Directions: From the Capital Beltway (495), take Indian Head Highway (Rt. 210) south approximately 22 miles to the Rt. 227 (Livingston Road) intersection at Bryans Road (at the intersection and not surprisingly, a McDonald's and Burger King will be on your right and a builders' supply will be on left - don't take PG County versions of Livingston Road many miles before this intersection!). Turn left at Rt. 227 and almost immediately look for entrance on right to "Banquet Parking" behind Fire House, just past gas station and adjacent to Fire House entrance. We'll park and meet towards back of "Banquet Parking" lot at 10:00 am.
Wear waterproof footware!!
- Mattawoman Watershed Society
- MNPS Mattawoman Creek Photo Gallery
- Chesapeake Bay Foundation's Mattawoman Creek Page - details problems with the proposed Cross County Connector and its impact on the area.
Go to http://dcnr.state.pa.us/FORESTRY/oldgrowth
Find the cluster of D4, D3, and D5 in lower center of PA map and click on each to see photos and descriptions of different field trip sites that are in very close proximity to each other, including one to a black spruce mountain peatland - Bear Meadows Natural Area (D4).
Full details are here.
Summer Solstice Walk at Chapman Forest South
Jointly sponsored by MNPS, VNPS, and the Botanical Society of Washington
The south tributary of Chapman Forest South is a pristine, spring-fed stream that begins as a series of Magnolia Bogs and seeps and flows through steep, forested ravines to Mattawoman Creek. We will walk along the floodplain of this stream from near its convergence with Mattawoman Creek upstream to a large series of wet meadows formed by beaver dams. This is a wild and pristine area with a great diversity of wildlife (migratory fish spawn in the stream and evidence of bobcat has been observed, among many others). In addition to discovering new things, we should see the state-rare Deciduous Holly (Ilex decidua) and Camphorweed (Pluchea camphorata); extensive fern belts and clubmoss colonies and many species of ferns, including Adder's Tongue; numerous wildflowers and species of Carex; and a diversity of trees and shrubs. Most of the vegetation here is typical of the Coastal Plain, but some of the stream passes through beds of calcareous marine sands and marl, which give rise to a distinctive flora with montane elements.
Moderate though lengthy walk on fairly level ground.
Bring lunch, water, and good shoes. Some wet ground or occasional very shallow stream crossing may be encountered. Afterwards, a group of us will meet at Chinese restaurant in Bryans Road shopping center for dinner.
Directions: From the Capital Beltway (495), take Indian Head Highway (Rt. 210) south approximately 15 miles to the Rt. 227 intersection at Bryans Road (at the intersection and not surprisingly, a McDonald's and Burger King will be on your right and a builders supply will be on left - don't take PG County versions of Rt. 227 many miles before this intersection!). Turn left at Rt. 227 and proceed south for approximately 3-4 miles. Slow down as road begins to descend down big hill to Mattawoman Creek (Lamont's will be on left about here) and be prepared to turn right just after stream crossing at Buteaux Crossing and before abandoned railroad tracks. Parking area will be on right at railroad tracks. We'll meet in parking lot.