Ohiopyle Offers Kayak 101

Clinic begins July 31, 2010

During this two day, one night course you will learn the basics of flat and white water kayaking. The price includes all instruction, food, equipment rental and a tent site. Price for workshop is $150. Pre-registration is required.

If you've ever wanted to give Kayaking a try but were nervous about getting your feet wet with the sport, this is a great opportunity to join other beginners in a beautiful setting to learn a new sport. Day one's instruction will be done on the lake at Laurel Hill, where participants will get acclimated with their kayak, and learn the basics needed for this sport. Having the opportunity to learn in a lake rather than the river allows you to practice what you feel comfortable with, w/o having to worry about contending with a current pulling you downstream. Once participants complete this day of training, the evening will be spent with a fabulous dinner (I myself will be attending this clinic and am pretty excited to hear what's going on for dinner!) and new friends.

The following day, we will be putting our new skills to the test as we put in on the Middle Yough and work our way downstream. The Middle Yough section of the trip is NOT put in at Confluence, so this portion of the trip is meant to allow new boaters to use their new skills on the river, but it's not going to be a 5 hour test. This portion of the river is mainly flat water that moves quickly, with some small rapids along the way. The perfect way to introduce yourself to river running!

To sign up or for more information contact Barbara or Clyde at eeohiopyle@qcol.net or 724-329-0986.

See you on the Yough! =)

9th Annual Beer & Gear Fest
June 19, 2010
3:30-7PM
$15 / entry. Must have photo ID

Friends of Ohiopyle will be participating in this event selling soft pretzels and will also be featuring our Trail Town ice cream flavor, which has yet to be named. Come out and support FOO and Wilderness Voyagers!

This yearly event takes place across the tracks at Wilderness Voyagers. Participants must be over 21 and ID will be checked prior to entering the event. For your entrance fee, you recieve a pub glass to take with you and you have the opportunity to try beer from several different breweries and can sample as many as you like. Various recreational vendors will be present as well. Participants as of right now include:

Beer & Brewers from:

• East End Brewing
• Erie Brewing
• North Country Brewing
• Vodoo Brewing
• Rivertowne Pourhouse
• Rock Bottom Brewing
• Otto's
• Penn Brewing
• Mountain State Bewery
• Full Pint Brewery

Beers From:

• Victory Hop Devil
• Stoudts
• Great Lakes Brewing
• Otter Creek
• Dog Fish

Gear From:

• Wave Sport Kayaks
• Pyranha Kayaks
• Werner Paddles
• IR
• Vasque
• MSR
• Thermarest
• Marmot
• Mountain Hardwear
• ORVIS

For more detailed information, please go to:
http://www.wilderness-voyageurs.com/beerandgear.html

This Saturday, June 5, 2010, is National Trails Day. This is The American Hiking Society's signature trail awareness program. This date strives to inspire the public and trail enthusiasts nationwide to seek out their favorite trails to discover, learn about, and celebrate trails while participating in educational exhibits, trail dedications, gear demonstrations, instructional workshops and trail work projects.

Please consider joining Friends of Ohiopyle this Saturday morning at 9 am for our monthly trail date. We are building a mountain bike trail up to Sugarloaf Knob in honor of Kim Oriole. Kim left this world this past November after a courageous battle with cancer. Kim loved the outdoors and Ohiopyle; and despite her health, she continued to volunteer with us. Please join us in creating this trail for someone who has been such a positive influence to each of us in FOO and to help expand an already growing network of trails within the park.

We meet at 9 am at the park office.

Bring work gloves and drinks for yourself. We will provide lunch. And of course we will have National Trail's day stuff to give away!

All other tools will be provided.

To read more about National Trails Day, click on the link below:

http://www.americanhiking.org/uploadedFiles/Events/National_Trails_Day/National%20Trails%20Day_2010. pdf

This Saturday, May 29th, various greenhouses and nurseries, along with Friends of Ohiopyle will be at the Main Falls Area from 12-5 selling native plants and seeds that are ideal for home gardening. Along with perennials and seeds, trees are also going to be available for purchase.

Native plants are not only beautiful; they typically require little work in maintaining their beauty and they often attract birds and butterflies. Many of these plants return each year and add lots of color for the entire growing season. Buying local not only allows you to find great, healthy plants, you get the opportunity to get advice from locals who know all about these plants and can give you a lot of insight on working with them.

I’ve personally started my own native garden around my home last summer. Not only are native plants simple to maintain, they come back every year, look awesome, attract birds, butterflies and humming birds and get me lots of compliments! And since they're native, they don't need watered too often, b/c they've adjusted to the crazy Western PA weather.

Hope y’all stop by! In the least, it’s going to be a great weekend, so come out and enjoy the weather, people and scenery and visit us at the FOO booth.

When: Saturday, May 29, 2010

Where: Main Falls Area, Ohiopyle State Park

Here are some helpful links with info about native plants:

http://www.pawildflower.org/04_links/links2.htm

http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/wildplant/sixbasics.aspx

http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/wildplant/nativeplant.aspx

We've spent a decent bit of time trying to fight off this invasive plant. Characterized by its garlic smell and small clusters of white flowers, this plant is one of the first signs of spring in our area. Garlic mustard grows pretty much anywhere it can, and is a major issue at Ohiopyle. Last Saturday's Trail Date was spent with volunteers pulling and bagging Garlic Mustard along the Great Gorge Trail and along the road leading from Cucumber Falls to Thorpe Knob.

Below is a link for an article in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette about this invasive species.

Project Weedwhack works on the removal of this species. If you have the time, please consider joining us for one of our weed whack events. Please click on the 'Projects' link on the left side of this page and then on "Invasive Species Removal" for more info.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10133/1057 605-57.stm

Did you know.....?

Each garlic mustard plant produces hundreds of seeds each year.

One garlic mustard plant continues to grow year after year. Each year, the plant regrows, becoming stronger and larger, and produces more seeds.

Seeds deposited in the soil by a garlic mustard plant can stay active for up to seven years. This seed bank is part of why this plant spreads as rapidly as it does.

Once garlic mustard has been pulled, it must be removed from the area. Garlic mustard has enough stored energy to continue to grow and produce its seeds even after it has been pulled.

2010 Calendars are available:

$5.00 for members and $7.00 for non-members.