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All BOC events are open to the public.
When participating in Butler Outdoor Club events, it is assumed that all participants are responsible for their own safety and of their dependents(such as children) at the event.
The facilitator is simply providing an opportunity for everyone to enjoy the event together and is not assuming responsibility or liability for the safety of the participants.
All travel is not part of the event and is done at your own risk. To be considered as participating in our events all leaders must fill out a waiver form and all participants must read and sign that form.
Outing Sign In Waiver | ||
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BOC Sponsored Events | ||
| Jan 27 29 | Second Wilderness Lodge Weekend I am taking reservations for Jan. 27-29. It will be the same price and conditions as the weekend of Jan.6-8. (If you booked for Jan. 6-8, I cannot move you to the last weekend. Those have already been reserved and paid for. However, if you want this last weekend also...here is your chance...but first come, first serve, and I say...they may go fast...so don't wait) Let me know asap. Wilderness Lodge has a downstairs and upstairs. Lower level has a bar, tv, couches, chairs and tables to socialize and play games. You are not allowed to bring your own bottle of liquor because of liquor law. Bottle prices are very reasonable at Wilderness Lodge. Upstairs has the sleeping rooms and small sitting room. A daily trail pass is purchased separately at next door building called "Nordic Center". They also rent skis. Singles - $78 Couples with another couple - $166 Private room for couple - $185 * This includes Sat. dinner Once you notify me, I will confirm that you have it and then you can send me a check. Joyce Appel 1899 State Route 268 East Brady, Pa. 16028 | |
| Feb 1 |
Our monthly meetings are 6:30 pm social hour, 7:30 pm announcements and 8:00 program on the first Wed. of each month usually at the Butler YMCA, 339 N. Washington, St. Butler, Pa. Each meeting includes outing announcements, a featured speaker and slide show or outdoor educational program and is open to the public. Our February monthly meeting will be held Wed Feb 1 at the Butler YMCA Please join us at 6:30 pm at the Butler YMCA, 339 N. Washington, St. Butler, Pa. Rick Carson will present a program his adventures as a chief park ranger. Rick grew-up in Butler and has a park and recreation degree from Slippery Rock U. and a criminal justice degree from I.U.P. He started his career with state parks in the summer of 1977 and currently for the DCNR is an instructor for firearms; use of force/ PR-24 baton; O.C. mace; water rescue; ice rescue; and boat operations. He is also a search and rescue manager. | |
| Feb 4 | GROUNDHOG DAY PICNIC Saturday, February 4 The annual BOC Groundhog Day picnic will be Saturday, February 4 at Jennings Environmental Center. We will meet at the pavilion on the prairie side to eat at 11:30 am. Bring a covered dish to share. Paperware and hot cocoa will be provided. Depending on the weather folks can hike, x-c ski, or snowshoe. Come early or stay after the picnic. | |
| Feb 19 | Winter Tracks Hike Take a look for winters signs of wildlife. Animals tell the stories of their lives by the tracks they leave. Learn how to gain insight into each character and the narrative of their travel with Dorothy Weisberg our naturalist. We will learn to identify different animal tracks and understand some of their motives by taking a tracking hike. So come discover what our woodland creatures have been up to. We will meet at the gated area to Davis hollow Marina on North shore road up from Union road at noon. This hike is snow dependent. About a 2.5 mile hike. | |
Other Area Outdoor EventsThese events are listed for public information and are not sponsored nor endorsed by the Butler Outdoor Club. We assume no liability for anything that happens if you participate in these activities. | ||
| Feb 5 | Rachel Carson Trails Conservancy winter hike on the Harmony Trail! Sunday Feb 05, 2012 from 10:30 am to 02:00 pm Join us on our annual 5-6 mile deep winter hike from the Harmony Trail to the Rachel Carson Trail! We’ll meet at the Beaver Shelter on Babcock Blvd. in North Park and carpool to the start at the Harmony trailhead on Rt. 910. Then we’ll follow the Harmony Trail to the Brooktree spur, to the Bluebird Trail, to the Braille Trail, to the North Ridge Trail, and end at the Rachel Carson Trail western trailhead. Moderate difficulty (some modest ascents and potentially tricky descents if snow/ice are present, otherwise gently rolling). Hot tea, cocoa, and treats afterwards. FREE and open to everyone (no need to sign up)! More details: http://www.rachelcarsontrails.org/Members/sgmentzer/wo2012 | |
| Feb 11 12 | Backpacking Saturday, February 11th and Sunday February 12th -- Proposed Scandia National Recreation Area, Allegheny National Forest Friends of Allegheny Wilderness and the Scandia Wilderness Committee invite you to join us on a winter backpacking trip into the proposed Scandia National Recreation Area, planned for the weekend of February 11th and 12th. This outing will give hikers a fine sense of wild, remote character of this eminently qualified prospective national recreation area. The hike will begin Saturday morning from the north side of the proposed area along the Roper Hollow Road, and we will hike south into the Hodge Run drainage from there. Participants should be prepared for off-trail hiking, and consider that there is possibility for deep snow at this time of the year. Saturday we will stop along the way to make camp, and hike out on Sunday. Hikers should bring their own food and equipment and be prepared for whatever weather conditions we may encounter. Contact: Friends of Allegheny Wilderness at ph 814-723-0620 info@pawild.org | |
| Feb 17 | Chocolate and Wine Event along Lake Erie from Erie to Silver Creek, NY. contact www.lakeeriewinecountry.org for info and tickets | |
| Feb 18 | Square Dance at Harrisville Fire hall 8-11:00. Contact Steve Bickel for more info at sbickel@zoominternet.net | |
| Feb 25 | Annual Cherry Pie Hike The Butler Chapter North Country Trail, along with Aaron Cowan and the History Department of Slippery Rock University, will be hosting the annual Cherry Pie Hike on Saturday, February 25, 2012 at the Old Stone House. The Old Stone House, an 1822 wayside inn is at the intersection of Routes 8, 173 and 528. See their website at www.oldstonehousepa.org. There will be three sessions, starting at 9:00, 11:00, and 1:00. Cherry Pie and coffee, tea and water will be served, compliments of the North Country Brewing Co ) in Slippery Rock. See their website at www.northcountrybrewing.com. At around 20 minutes after the start time of each session, Dr. Cohen and his assistants from the History Department will have a talk about the history of the area. After each talk, there will be an opportunity to take a hike along the North Country Trail, which is approximately in the area of the old Venango Trail which George Washington and Christopher Gist would have travelled in 1753. After each talk there will be choice of 2 hikes, a long hike of about 4 miles and a short hike around ½ mile. The short hike will leave from the Old Stone House passing the Foltz one-room school house and to the acid mine water treatment program run by Jennings Environmental Education Center, and then returning back to the Old Stone House. Hike should take less than an hour. The long hikers will first drive their cars over to the Jennings Center across Route 8, and meet their hike leader at the parking lot on the prairie (right / north) side to begin a 2 hour hike along the North Country Trail. Moving your vehicles across the road will free up the limited parking spaces at the Old Stone House for the next group. After the hike, many people like to head up to the North Country Brewing Co. at 141 S. Main Street, Slippery Rock PA for some fine food and drink. (Great beer and root beer!!!) Please contact John Stehle via email or phone to reserve a spot at the Old Stone House. Please indicate which program you would like to attend. Email: stehles@gmail.com Phone: 724-256-0674. | |
| Mar 25 | Raccoongaine III Sunday, March 25, 2012 Raccoon Creek State Park (30 miles West of Pittsburgh) 3 hour and 6 hour foot race "mini" rogaine (orienteering - scavenger hunt) In a rogaine-style format, individuals or teams have a fixed time (3 or 6 hours in this event) to visit as many checkpoints as possible; walking, running and resting as they see fit. The checkpoints are spread over a large area, and are pre-marked on a map issued shortly before the start of the event. Point values for visiting each control vary (and are specified in advance) depending on such factors as distance from the start/finish area, elevation, navigational complexity. Participants in a Rogaine come from diverse backgrounds: hikers, walkers, cross-country runners, trail runners, adventure racers, ultra runners, orienteers, hashers and family groups. Widely varying levels of competitive intensity are found, going from the casual stroller who wants a little variety added to the weekend hike to the serious athlete. Map reading skill is perhaps the most important technique needed. Route planning strategy is also very important since there won't be time to get all the controls, so the choice of which to try for is crucial in maximizing scores. Time: Event start at 11 a.m. on Sunday, March 25, 2011. The registration desk opens at 8:00 AM. Maps will be distributed at 9:00 AM. There is a mandatory meeting at 9:45 AM. at the start location for all participants. Organizers: Western Pennsylvania Orienteering Club - website www.wpoc.org Start/Finish area: Rec Hall in Raccoon Creek State Park. Located 30 miles West of Pittsburgh, near the town of Frankfort Springs. Rec Hall is located 1.3 miles west of the park headquarters which is on route 18. Directions: from Pittsburgh, take Parkway West (I-376) in direction towards the airport. Change to Route 22 West, and exit route 22 at Route 18. Follow Route 18 for 6 miles to the north to park headquarters, and follow signs and road for 1.3 miles West to Rec Hall. GPS coordinates: N 40 30.570, W 80 26.800 Provided Equipment: A special-purpose topographic map on a large sheet at a 1:15,000 scale and 5 meter contour interval with a clear plastic bag will be provided to each participant. In addition, to each team or solo competitor, a punch card and a set of control descriptions are also provided. Water is available at the base camp and at selected points marked on the map. Food will be available at end of event. Recommended equipment: compass, whistle, water bottle or camelbak, watch, snack food, sunscreen. Rules: No help from others is allowed during the race away from the base camp. If in a team, team members must stay within sight and speaking distance throughout the event. Portable GPS systems are allowed as long as the intention is to simply record the route taken for later analysis, discussion and sharing. Checkpoints: Each checkpoint is marked by an orange/white control, a triangular prism with sides approximately one foot square. The control flags will usually be visible from some distance, not intentionally concealed, but also not in view of trails or roads. There will be about 50 control points distributed in the state park area. Scoring: The point value of all control points visited is totaled. The late penalty will be 10 points for every minute late. Tie scores will be decided by the order of finishing times. If in a team, all members of the team must be present at the finish. Awards Categories: There are three age categories: Elite (age 20 and over), Masters (age 40 and over), and Super Veterans (age 55 and over). Within each of these categories are gender categories: Men, Women, and Mixed. You will be placed in the least competitive category that fits all team members. For example, a team of three women age 40, 44, and 57 would be in the Masters, Women category. Team members under age 20 are not considered in determining category unless all are under age 20; then the team is Elite. Fees: Entries postmarked by 3/15/2012 will pay a fee of $25 per person for the 6-hr events and $15 for the 3 hour event. After that date, the fees are $35 for the 6-hr event, and $25 for the 3-hr event. Race day registration is allowed. There is a $5 discount per person for members of WPOC on the 6-hour event and a $3 discount per person for members of WPOC on the 3-hour event. Limited to the first 150 people to register. Registration Details ( http://www.wpoc.org/raccoonregmethods.htm ) Registration List ( http://www.wpoc.org/registrationlist2012.htm ) This is where to look to see who is currently registered. To see photos from last year's Raccoongaine go to photos only To see stories, videos and routes from last year's event, check out the blog http://raccoongaine.blogspot.com/ There is a Yahoo group created for this event, for communication between entrants or potential entrants ahead of the meet (people looking for a partner, looking for a ride, etc.), and for a chance to compare notes on your performance and strategy after the meet. The web site is http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RaccoonGaine You can also find us on Facebook at "Raccoongaine" | |
| Apr 27 29 | KTA Spring Meeting & Hiking Weekend, Wellsboro, Tioga County info and signup at www.kta-hike.org | |
| May 29 Jun 3 | 2012 KTA TRAIL CREW Week #1 May 29-June 3, North Country Trail The Trail Crew will be working on general trail maintenance. Camp at Davis Hollow Cabin, a frontier cabin owned by Moraine State Park. John Stehle will be the crew leader, 724.256.0674 or stehles@gmail.com. | |
| Jul 20 22 | KTA Prowl the Sproul Hiking Weekend, Renovo, Clinton County | |
| Sep 8 | KTA Susquehanna Super Hike & Ultra Trail Run, York & Lancaster Counties | |
| Oct 12 14 | KTA Fall Meeting & Hiking Weekend, Clearfield, Clearfield County |
Last Updated on Jan 27, 2012
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