MEMBERSHIP: Once again it's time to check the upper right hand corner of your mailing label. If the date is 2011, your membership subscription expires with this issue. Sending your dues to the treasurer promptly with more than one years' worth, reduces paperwork, making it much easier on the officers. As a bonus you will be assured of not missing any schedules in the mail
BATONA TRAIL REROUTE: A 4.7 mile section of the Batona Trail is not a wilderness trail as envisioned by the builders, but rather a road behind a housing development. Originally this section was the only way to have the trail go through the area from Route 72 to Route 532. In 2003 The New Jersey Conservation Foundation purchased a 9400 acre cranberry farm, renaming it The Franklin Parker Preserve. The above mentioned Batona Trail section runs parallel to the preserve. The NJCF has built many trails making a reroute of the Batona Trail possible. They are now in the process of completing the finishing touches so that the Batona Trail will be off this road and in a truly wilderness setting. This will also extend the trail an additional 2.5 miles. On March 25th we will have an inaugural hike on this section of the trail. Save this date for the celebration. Our sincere appreciation to the NJCF is expressed for making this possible.
HUNTING: The hunting season is upon us again. Fortunately for the hiking community, Sunday hunting is not allowed in Pennsylvania (however, there are moves afoot to change this.) Nevertheless, it is wise to wear orange when hiking during the season on any day of the week.
KEYSTONE TRAILS ASSOCIATION: The Spring meeting was held in West Chester with a number of Batona members leading hikes for this event. The next Spring meeting will be on April 27-29, 2012 in Wellsboro. Wellsboro is a small "cute" town near the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon. The KTA Website (www.kta-hike.org) will have all the necessity information and is a good source of what is happening concerning Pennsylvania trails.
APPALACHIAN TRAIL CONSERVANCY: A good time was had by all who attended the conference last July in Virginia. These conferences are held every second year along the AT. The 2013 Biennial Conference will be in Cullowhee, NC from July 19 - 26, 2013. There is now ample time to consider attending.
GERMANTOWN & REX (G & R) TRAIN SCHEDULES. The SEPTA Chestnut Hill West train arrives on Sundays at 7:19, 8:49, 10:19, 11:49 AM. Walk up the ramp, turn left onto Germantown Avenue, walk 1.5 blocks to Rex and cross Germantown to meet the group. The Chestnut Hill East arrives hourly starting at 8:17 AM. Walk out of the station and turn left onto Bethlehem Pike and walk two blocks up the hill to Germantown Avenue. Cross Bethlehem Pike and walk one block to Rex. Check www.septa.org for any schedule changes.