PRE-CONFERENCE TRIPS

Pre-conference field trips will be held on Thursday October 1. See the trip descriptions below. Additional information about these pre-conference trips is available on the Conference Web Map.

1 Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour

Leader:

David McGovern

Time:

1:00 to 3:00

Meeting Location:

1 Bald Mountain Road, S ABINGTN TWP, PA 18411

Follow the signs to the mine tour when you enter McDade Park. Parking is free in the lots provided.

Number of Attendees:

Safety Gear:

Hard hat

Things to Bring:

Long sleeves, sweatshirt, or light jacket recommended. Temperature will be 50-55 degrees and damp.

Difficulty:

Moderate: The total length of the planned loop hike is approximately 6 miles over easy to moderately difficult terrain. Pace will be variable; at a minimum, it will be a leisurely 1-2 mph to provide enough time to stop and observe. Be sure that you are physically able to complete the hike.

Cost:

$12, will be paid by attendee at the door.

Description:

Descend slowly into the earth on a bright yellow portal bus as you enter the old Slope #190. Watch the sky slowly disappear. Soon you will reach "the foot." Once you’re underground 300 feet below the surface, explore an actual Anthracite mine originally opened in 1860. Accompany your knowledgeable tour guide in the winding gangways and rock tunnel to see three different Anthracite coal veins. Pass by the Mule Boy and the Nipper and look upwards into the Monkey Vein and the Dead Chute. Listen as your tour guide explains and demonstrates the fascinating methods used to extract the coal and the heroic efforts involved by workers in the history of deep mining.

2 The Shades of Death Trail and Hickory Run Boulder Field

Leader:

Bill Kochanov

Time:

10:00 to 4:00

Meeting Location:

Hickory Run State Park, PA Route 534, Jim Thorpe

We will meet in the parking lot at: 41.024556, -75.709785

Number of Attendees:

Safety Gear:

None

Things to Bring:

Snack; Lunch; Water; Walking sticks; Binoculars; Hiking boots. It is not a long hike. Items selected are not required, it is just stuff I usually carry when I go hiking. Flip flops are not a good choice for footware. A hat would also be useful. As with all activities, being safe is number one. If one has underlying health issues, do not forget your meds, inhaler, epi-pen, sugar back up, or whatever you may require to manage your particular condition. As it is unlikely that we will encounter large creatures of a destructive nature, one cannot discount nagging insects; bug spray if you wish. I'll have a first aid kit if a boulder should happen to bite.

Difficulty:

Cost:

Free

Description:

Unlike last years death march in the Hammersley wilderness, we will hike the Shades of Death Trail, roughly 3 miles total, along scenic Sand Spring Run. After the hike we will travel to the Hickory Run Boulder Field, to ponder in awe of this periglacial wonder of PA. Time permitting, we will hit up Manning's Farm Dairy (just outside of Wilkes-Barre) for ice cream.