Blue Mountain Eagle Climbing Club

06/10/2026

Knotweed Bushwhack: Final Round

Join the fight against invasive species in Port Clinton! We had a great group help with the knotweed Saturday and Tuesday and got all but some knotweed along the river bank. We are looking for help on Round 3. This final bit will be with hand-tools and tarps to move cut knotweed away from the river.

When and where: Monday June 15th, 9 AM to 11 AM
Location: South Penn Street, Port Clinton at AT
Contact Jim Barnett with questions: [email protected]; (610) 944-1413
What to bring and wear: Long pants, closed-toe boots, sturdy work gloves (we have extra, if needed), and water and sunscreen. Equipment will be provided.

This work trip is coordinated by BMECC in an ATCCC partnership with: Schuylkill River Greenways, Berks/Schuylkill Penn State Master Watershed Stewards, and the Borough of Port Clinton.

No prior experience is needed. Come ready to clear the path for native growth!

06/10/2026

Did you know that Pennsylvania has the dubious distinction of being #1 in reported incidences of Lyme disease? There is a valuable free service for those of us who spend a lot of time outdoors; it could be especially helpful if you remove an attached tick.

This is a service that will do free testing of ticks sent to them: they tell you the type of tick, what bacteria it carried, how long it was attached, etc. The tick does not need to be alive or even whole; simply follow the instructions on their website for sending the tick to the research service. Here is their website:

https://www.ticklab.org/

06/10/2026

Hiking PA Trails: The Susquehannock Trail System (STS) in Potter County, northcentral PA. There are several ways of completing the STS, thus earning the Susquehannock Trail Club's (STC) Circuit Hiker Certificate: you can backpack the entire 84-mile trail at one time, which takes about a week, depending on your pace; walk it in seven point-to-point day-hikes; or do it in four long weekend hikes of three days each.

A third suggested weekend hike on the STC's website is the North Quad Hike, which begins and ends at Patterson State Park, a 25-mile loop. Here is a workable plan for the weekend:

Day One: Drive to Patterson State Park, then hike 3.3 miles to a great stream-side campsite.

Day Two: Hike 4 miles up Denton Hill to STS MM 0, then hike down the other side about 11 miles to the historic CCC Dynamite Magazine shelter. As you have been carrying your tent anyway for the first night, you may want to use it here as well. While the refurbished “D-Mag” (as it's known) sleeps a few people, its accommodations are nothing like the STS' other Adirondack-style shelters; however, there is a nice fire ring and campsite here.

Day Three: Go out to West Branch Road and turn right, going about a half mile to a camp at 1131 West Branch Road; then turn right again onto the West Branch Trail and head back seven-tenths of a mile to Patterson State Park for a day's total of 7 miles. If you want, you can eliminate the Day Three hike by leaving a car at the intersection of the STS with West Branch Road, or by getting a shuttle back to Patterson SP.

Source: https://stc-hike.org/suggested-hikes -0f24-4a7f-9ba4-7a7d44562d39

06/10/2026

Saturday, June 20 (10 AM-?): Take Your Family for a Hike! Grab the kids, lace up your hiking shoes, and join BMECC for Take Your Family for a Hike! at Rentschler Arboretum in Bernville. We'll kick things off at 10:00 AM with a family-friendly walk through the Arboretum, giving everyone a chance to enjoy the fresh air, explore the trails, and spend some relaxed time together outdoors. After the hike, you're welcome to stay and make a day of it; picnic lunches and blankets welcome!

To register please fill in the attached registration form : https://forms.gle/LnjmDvNpz9NE3LzPA

Hike Leader: Claire Cummings at [email protected]

BMECC's Take Your Family for a Hike! Saturday, June 20 at the Rentschler Arboretum (200 Arboretum Road, Bernville, PA 19506) Beginning at 10am - feel free to bring a picnic lunch and enjoy the day!

06/09/2026

Exploring Your PA State Parks: Trough Creek SP in south central Pennsylvania. Found along Great Trough Creek, with easy access from Trough Creek Drive (just before you cross the creek in Area 4), is Copperas Rock, a formation named for the coppery-yellow stain on the cliff surface at a bend in the stream. The color comes from ferrous sulfate that leaches from a nearby small pocket of coal; while it's one of the main pollutants that drains from abandoned mines, the quantity is too small to be harmful to the stream. It is believed that early settlers used it to mix it in with dye to make a color permanent in cloth.

While visiting Copperas Rock, you will find several picnic tables nearby where you can enjoy lunch or a snack as the stream flows softly by. Across the road is the Copperas Rock Trail, which connects with the Ledges and Rhododendron Trails.

06/08/2026

The “How" of Bear Canisters, by David Bailey (Part III)

In the January edition of the Eagle’s Flight newsletter, I discussed the "why" of bear canisters: to keep bears from being conditioned to human food, leading to unpleasant hiker and backpacker encounters with bears. This is the "why" behind the ATC’s adoption of a policy strongly recommending the use of bear canisters on any overnight along the AT, regardless of whether canisters are required by a local land manager or not.

With hiking season upon us, it’s time for the "how" of bear canisters. This article specifically discusses BearVault brand canisters, which is available through BMECC’s canister lending program. We will do so in a question-and-answer type format.

How do I open the canister?

Open the lid by swiveling it counter-clockwise until the black nubs on the lid stop against the blue plastic stopper on the canister. With your finger or thumb, push in on the black nub, or just above the nub on the textured area, and then guide the nub past the stopper. Repeat for the second nub. Grip your canister between your knees or feet for extra traction. If your fingers are feeling cold, sore, or weak, this process can be eased with a little trick: place a plastic card between the nub and the stopper, to help it glide past, or try using a spoon or pocket knife blade. Practice before camping!

How do I close the canister?

Put the lid on and make sure the threads align. Screw the lid on until it clicks over the two nubs to lock the canister – don’t over tighten. - BMECC Eagle's Flight Newsletter (Spring 2026)

06/08/2026

Tuesday, June 9 (9 AM - 12 PM): National Trails Day Cleanup Knotweed Bushwhack. Join the fight against invasive species in Port Clinton! We had a great group help with the knotweed this past Saturday and got about half of it done. We are looking for help on Round 2 to cut more down and move it away from the river.

THE MISSION: A multiyear plan to eradicate invasive knotweed. We are doing the June hacking of knotweed to prepare for fall treatments and future native plantings to restore and protect our beautiful local ecosystems of the Appalachian Trail and Schuylkill River.

Meet at South Penn Street, Port Clinton, on the AT. Contact Jim Barnett with questions at [email protected] or (610) 944-1413.
Wear long pants and closed-toe boots and bring sturdy work gloves (we have extra, if needed), water, and sunscreen; equipment will be provided.

This work trip is coordinated by BMECC in an ATCCC partnership with Schuylkill River Greenways, Berks/Schuylkill Penn State Master Watershed Stewards, and the borough of Port Clinton. No prior experience needed. Come ready to clear the path for native growth!

06/08/2026

Wednesday, June 10 (8 AM - 3 PM): Rentschler Arboretum Workday. Help prep our grounds and building for a busy weekend of events. No experience necessary. Bring gloves, water, snacks, tools provided. Contact [email protected]

06/08/2026

Saturday, June 13 (9-11 AM): Kestrel Banding. Hawk Mt. volunteers will band Kestrel chicks nesting on the grounds of Rentschler Arboretum.

06/05/2026

So, who owns the forests of Penn's Woods? Not surprisingly, much of it is owned privately - 70 percent, or 12 million acres - by 750,000 landowners; the rest - 5 million acres - is publicly held, either by federal, state, or local governments. Almost half of that - 2.2 million acres - is under the jurisdiction of the DCNR Bureau of Forestry, which sustainably manages our state forest system for the enjoyment of both current and future generations. As such, it is the largest single landholding in all of the Commonwealth.

Source: https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dcnr/conservation/forests-and-tree?fbclid=IwY2xjawSPb1lleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFYdU1IN21HRHhLdzlpcFRGc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHsishPoqbsu1N6ZBecVapbPpbWVwAIDpXmQxh7jchuN7ixDZ1y9MeEbRTaNj_aem_V7uYr8sr-F0_o2JxFfv9cw