Conservations
Groups Links
Other
groups that promote conservation include:
The Changing Forest on Mt. Nittany
MNC
Board member Tom Smyth descibes how the
forest has both matured and changed over
the past 50 years.
"On
a recent sunny Sunday afternoon cars were
parked down around the bend on ML Nittany
Road and the trails were filled with hikers.
As I headed up the Hal White Trail the folks
coming down seemed happy and several remarked
on what a beautiful hike it is and how good
the trails are. And, they were right. That
got me to thinking about how different the
hike was when I first went up in 1955 as
a young faculty member, an advisor to the
Penn State Outing Club (PSOC). Then, the
only trails were apparently old logging
chutes that came steeply down the fall line.
The mountain had been clear cut early in
the 20th century so the forest consisted
of saplings and small pole timber, mostly
sprouts from old stumps, and some seedlings
that had been released by the lumbering.
There was a very small view at what has
since been named the Mike Lynch Overlook.
The hike provided a good physical workout;
we climbed Mt. Nittany "because it
is there", not for the beauty of the
forest or excellent views."
Read
the full article here: The
Changing Forest on Mt. Nittany
Trail
Preservation
The
loose sand and shale soils on the steep slopes
are easily damaged and eroded. Thus, the mountain
is limited to foot travel only, as bicycles, motorized
vehicles and horses cause irreparable trail damage.
Old, discontinued trails running straight up and
down the slopes should not
be used. The same goes for creating new trails
on the mountain.
We
are proud to belong to the Leave
No Trace Organization that advocates outdoor
ethics for visitors to use. We adhere to the seven
(7) Leave No Trace principles:
1. Plan
Ahead and Prepare
2.
Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
3.
Dispose of Waste Properly
4.
Leave What You Find
5.
Minimize Campfire Impacts
6.
Respect Wildlife
7.
Be Considerate of Other Visitors
Please note that due to safety concerns, campfires
and overnight camping are prohibited on all
lands owned or managed by the Mount Nittany Conservancy.
Please note that we have a Carry in, Carry Out
Trash Policy; NO trash
receptacles are located along the trails!
Wildlife
Conservation
With
the help of our visitors, we hope to help conserve
and preserve our local wildlife. The Mount Nittany
Trail is great for year-round wildlife viewing;
everything from song birds and birds of prey,
to white tail deer and the like.
Some
guidelines to follow while on the trail that will
help to enable you to view wildlife include:
. 
