Mt.
Nittany Night Grows in Second Year
-
Oct 10, 2011
|
More
than 50 people gathered
to celebrate the second
annual Mount Nittany Night
on Friday, September 30,
at the Mount Nittany Vineyard
& Winery.
The
event raised nearly $3,000
to support new erosion suppression
efforts at the Mike Lynch
Overlook.
|
|
MNC
thanks these event sponsors:
|
Guests
sampled delicious wines and appetizers,
and, during its 30th anniversary,
the board honored the significant
contributions of long-time Mountain
steward Tom Smyth with its second
Friend of the Mountain award. The
award honors a person or group based
on contributions of talent, time,
and resources on behalf of the Mountain.
Earlier, the board had recognized
Smyth by renaming the Nittany Mall
overlook in his honor. Smyth has
led numerous efforts to preserve
and conserve many of Mt. Nittany's
attributes, most recently helping
the Conservancy fend off the 2008-2009
gypsy moth outbreak.
.jpg)
Tom
Smyth, 2011 Friend of the Mountain
Awardee
Donations
to Mount Nittany Night increased
by more than 50 percent over last
year. The funds will go to provide
significant erosion prevention measures
that are sorely needed to protect
the Lynch Overlook-the most-frequented
destination on the Mountain. New
water bars using wood harvested
from the Mountain and a redirected
trail will be put in place during
the coming year.
For
more information, visit www.mtnittany.org
or send email to: info@MtNittany.org.
For
more pictures of the event, click
here.
Lynch
Erosion -
Sept 16, 2011
MNC
is deeply concerned about the current
state of the iconic Mike
Lynch Overlook on Mt Nittany.
Due to increasing number of hikers,
along with our wet weather this
year, the soil at the Overlook is
becoming increasingly eroded.
You
can help support our efforts to
stabilize the Overlook by becoming
a Friend
of the Mountain. You can also
attend our second annual Mount Nittany
Night to be held Friday, September
30, from 6 to 8 p.m. To learn more
and make your reservation, go here.
Or just download the Mount
Nittany Night Reservation Form.
Evidence
of the erosion can be seen in the
below photos. While the Conservancy
and volunteer groups have worked
to place water bars (logs that cut
across the overlook to re-direct
water), more actions are needed.
In order to make this happen, we
do need your support!
As
you approach the Lynch Overlook
%20Looking%20down%20at%20Lynch.JPG)
Looking
down at Lynch from first water bar
(notice the erosion around the tree
roots)
%20looking%20down%20from%201st%20waterbar%20at%20Overlook.JPG)
Wide
swath of use on the right side of
descent to Lynch Overlook
Evidence
of erosion as seen from right side
of Lynch Overlook
%20From%20the%20Right%20Side.JPG)
View
of the Lynch Overlook from the left
side of the descent
%20Left%20side%20as%20you%20descend.JPG)
Looking
back up at the right side of descent
%20From%20Station%203%20looking%20at%202%20new%20water%20bars.JPG)
Looking
back up at the left side of descent
%20From%20Station%203%20looking%20up%20to%20the%20left%20side%20of%20descent.JPG)
Circle
K Attacks -
Sept 4, 2011
Led
by Graham Ginder, this intrepid
group from Penn State Circle K worked
on clearing back trails and installing
water bars at the Lynch Overlook.
Thanks
go out to Graham and Ben Szoch,
Steven Candito, Lisa Boudeman, Erin
Kitzmiller, Scott James, Julia Kelsey,
Michelle Morelli, Lindsay Manson,
Mary Jo Dubina, Jorathan Duffy,
Micth Clarke, and John Larimer.

Also
pictured above are MNC board members
Gary Gentzler and Bob Andronici.
Mount
Nittany Night at Mount Nittany Vineyard
& Winery -
Sept 30, 2011
Our
second annual Mount Nittany Night
will be held Friday, September 30,
from 6 to 8 p.m. Held at the Mount
Nittany Vineyard & Winery
in Linden Hall, the event will feature
delicious wines and appetizers,
good company and the presentation
of our second Friend of the Mountain
Award.
Tickets
are $30 apiece, and all proceeds
will benefit the Mountain.
For
coverage of last year's Mount Nittany
Night, click here.
To purchase tickets, email event
organizer Erich May at <erichmay@yahoo.com>
by September 26.

Mt.
Nittany Viewing Station
at the Mt. Nittany Elementary School
If
you live and work in Happy Valley,
you can gaze out upon Mt. Nittany
every day. As described on our Facebook
page, Mt. Nittany is our Plymouth
Rock, our Old Faithful, our Gibraltar.
The moment we see her, we know we
are home.
But
Mt. Nittany is more than an iconic
geographic feature, it is also a
place to hike and explore. In order
to tell that story, the Mount Nittany
Conservancy (MNC) is reaching out
to the community with a planned
series of interpretive stations
throughout the valley.
The
"front yard" of the Mt.
Nittany Middle School received the
first of these viewing stations
this summer. The stations are designed
to be attractive, educational, and
informational. Each
viewing station will include:
-
brief
history of the Lion's Paw Alumni
Association (the group who first
worked to protect the Mountain
from lumbering and other development
threats) and the formation of
the MNC
-
how
Mt. Nittany is used for recreation
purposes
-
the
etymology behind the word Nittany
-
pictures
and a trail map of Mt. Nittany
from the current location of
the viewer
Images
of the Mt. Nittany Elementary School
viewing station are below. We hope
that everyone can take the time
to visit the site and see the final
product. Your support
of the Conservancy is what makes
this new outreach effort possible.
Thank you! And a special tip of
the hat to Ameron Construction for
installing the viewing station.




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Version (open in new window)
Mountain
Cleanup -
Aug 13, 2011
Volunteers
from South Hills School of Business
and Technology recently spent 5
hours on the Mountain picking up
trash and removing fire rings. Our
THANKS go out to:
Rachel
Breon
Donny Houtz
Brian Cox
Ryan Gallaher
Jonathan Inhoof



Mt.
Nittany Guided
Hike - July 3, 2011
A
small group of enthusiastic hikers
(Carol, Renee, Cathy, and Cory)
went up Mt. Nittany with MNC board
member Vince Verbeke on Sunday,
July 3rd. They were led up the Mountain
to the Mike Lynch Overlook. Then
the group continued on along the
Blue Trail to the Mount Nittany
Middle School/Boalsburg Overlook,
then to the Deeded Square Inches
site. Along the way, they heard
from the "The
Legend of the Valley" as
well stories about Lions Paw and
Conservancy history.
Each
of the hikers who joined the guided
hike commented on what a great idea
this was. We agree and plan to do
more. To keep up with plans for
future hikes, you can follow us
on Facebook.


The
Conservancy has established this
series of seasonal guided hikes
in memory of Director Emeritus
Pat Farrell, who frequented the
mountain and traditionally climbed
each New Year's Day. Since 1981,
Mount Nittany Conservancy has
worked to conserve more than 825
acres of Mt. Nittany, the Centre
Region's most prominent landmark.
It maintains more than ten miles
of hiking trails and eleven overlooks
on the mountain for visitors to
enjoy.
Conservancy
to Host Guided Hikes of Mt. Nittany
- June 1, 2011
The
Mount Nittany Conservancy will begin
a series of seasonal guided hikes
with an Independence weekend
hike on Sunday, July 3 at 10 a.m.
The hikes are free and open to the
public.
The
leader for this inaugural guided
hike will be the Conservancys
immediate past president, Vince
Verbeke. Vince will lead hikers
to the Mike Lynch Overlook and back.
We expect the hike to take about
90 minutes. Those wishing to attend
should meet at the main trailhead
at the end of Mt. Nittany Road in
Lemont fifteen minutes before the
hike begins.
The
Conservancy has established this
series of seasonal guided hikes
in memory of Director Emeritus
Pat Farrell, who frequented
the mountain and traditionally climbed
each New Year's Day. A guided hike
is planned for New Year's Day 2012,
and a fall and spring date will
be announced as well.
Since
1981, Mount Nittany Conservancy
has worked to conserve more than
825 acres of Mt. Nittany, the Centre
Regions most prominent landmark.
It maintains more than ten miles
of hiking trails and eleven overlooks
on the mountain for visitors to
enjoy.
No
reservations are required! We hope
to see you at 10 a.m. on July 3rd.
You can contact Vince via email
if you have any questions, vcv1@psu.edu.
Penn
State Homecoming 2011 logo - April
25, 2011
During
halftime of the Blue-White game,
the Homecoming 2011 logo was revealed.
We really think that you'll love
it since it includes something we
all care very deeply about.

The
Centre County Community Foundation
Looks at MNC - April 20, 2011
"Most
people think of Sunday as a day
of rest and relaxation. But when
John Hook and his wife have some
extra time to kill on a Sunday,
their first instinct isnt
to lie on the couch watching TV.
Its to climb Mt. Nittany.
And when John asks his wife what
shed like to do on her birthday,
the answer is simple: climb Mt.
Nittany."
To
read the rest of the CCCF blog post,
check out:
http://centrecountycf.wordpress.com/2011/04/20/mt-nittany-conservancy-looks-to-protect-preserve-iconic-feature-of-centre-county/
Circle
K Works on the Mountain - March
19, 2011
A
strong team of 10 Circle K members,
http://www.clubs.psu.edu/up/circlek/,
did yeoman's work on the Mountain
yesterday.
The
group helped remove several fire
pits, removed downed trees across
from trails, picked up trash, and
put in place a large log to help
stabilize the soil at the Mike Lynch
Overlook.
Note:
Fires are not permitted on lands
owned or managed by MNC. See Safety
Notes.) Please pass the word
along to other who love and use
the trails on Mt. Nittany.
Ready
to head up the Mountain

Safely
removing a fire pit
(Fires
are not permitted on lands MNC manage)

Let's
bury the fire and not use them here

Replacing
a water bar at the Lynch Overlook

November
2010 Mount Nittany News
Members
and friends of the Conservancy recently
received in the mail our Fall newsletter
from the Conservancy. A link to
the newsletter is below.
The
following are excerpts from the
Grand Reopening Promotes Safety,
New Wayfinding System Aims To Keep
Hikers On The Right Path article.
On
an absolutely gorgeous spring
day, the Mount Nittany Conservancy
hosted a Grand Reopening of Mt.
Nittanys blue and white
trails to celebrate installation
of a new wayfinding system as
well as a new trailhead map and
brochures, purchased with a tourism
grant through the Central Pennsylvania
Convention and Visitors Bureau.
The
wayfinding system is a series
of sign posts placed at key intersections
to keep
hikers from getting lost. Twelve
wayfinding markers located at
important intersections and additional
signs will allow hikers to more
easily see where they are and
how to get back.
November
2010 Mt Nittany News (PDF)
Please
consider clicking the Support Us
link and offering a donation as
well in order that you too can receive
future hard copy newsletters.
Slide
Show of the Seasons
Members
and friends of the Conservancy recently
received in the mail our Fall newsletter
from the Conservancy. A link to
the newsletter is below.
The
Conservancy commissioned Penn State
grad Doug Bauman's photos, and director
Bob Frick helped create the following
slide show of the seasons on the
Mountain The soundtrack was donated
by local bluegrass group Murphy's
Junction. The song, New York to
Knoxville, was composed by Gwen
Stimely. Slideshow programming was
done by Penn State grad Julio Negron.
Note: The show may take as long
as a minute to load. We appreciate
your patience. The slide show is
worth the wait!

Click
Here to View Slide Show
StateCollege.com
Looks at Impact of Hikers on Mt.
Nittany
Adam
Smeltz from StateCollege.com
interviewed Mount Nittany Conservancy
board members for a compelling look
at the increased impact that hikers
are having on the Mountain.
Read
his article here:
http://www.statecollege.com/news/local-news/conservancy-more-hikers-apparently-flocking-to-mount-nittany-617041/
To
take a look back at 2010 highlights,
you can check out these links:
Nov
2010 MNC Board Meeting
- Nov 22, 2010
The
Mount Nittany Conservancy board meets
four times a year. Meetings are held
on Sunday mornings from 9-11 AM at
the Centre
Region COG Bldg. All are welcome.
For a list of 2011 meeting dates,
send an email to info@mtnittany.org.
We'd
like to welcome and THANK the following
board members for agreeing to serve
as officers for the upcoming term.
Special thanks to John and Doug for
stepping into officer roles.
2011
- 2012 Officer Team
Left
to Right: John Hook, President; Doug
Wion, Secretary; Bob Andronici, Vice
President; Blake Gall, Treasurer

Too
see more pictures, please go here:
http://www.mtnittany.org/News_2010_11_22.htm
Mike
Lynch Overlook Plaque
- Nov 17, 2010
In
1981 the Lion's Paw Alumni Association
formed the Mount Nittany Conservancy
to acquire additional land with community
and Penn State alumni support. As
the Conservancy reaches its 30th Anniversary
in 2011, we are honoring those leaders
that paved the way for our present
as well as the future that we write
each day.
Mike
Lynch: Linchpin of Mount Nittanys
First Stewardship was published
in the June 2007 Mt Nittany News.
It states in part:
This
much is clear: before there was
a conservancy, another body was
steward of the mountain, and his
name was Mike Lynch. He loved
that mountain, recalled John
Black, a 1962 graduate of Penn State.
He was synonymous with the
mountain.
Mike
was a frequent climber of Mount
Nittany, even before Lions
Paw bought its tract in 1946. Later,
Mike would serve as chair of Lions
Paws Mountain Committee. In
that capacityand he held the
post for decadesMike would
organize mountain cleanups.
Mike
was awarded the prestigious Lions
Paw Medal in 1980, for, among other
things, his constant glorification
of Dear Old State, and his
reverent watch over Mt. Nittany.
In the pamphlet written for the
occasion, Mike described his work
on Lions Paws Mountain
Committee: Our main objective
there is to keep Mount Nittany free
from construction and ruin, so that
old grads can see the symbol of
Penn State like it was when they
were in school.
On
November 7. 2010, a large group of
Lion Ambassadors volunteers assisted
the Conservancy with a number of trail
projects. One group of Ambassadors
(Vinnie Amendolare, Brian Edling,
Gary McMillen, Katie Perugini) were
asked to be the ones to install a
memorial rock with an inset plaque
in honor of Mike Lynch.
The
plaque reads:
| |
The
Mike Lynch Overlook
Dedicated to the memory of
Michael Lynch,
whose reverent watch over
this Mountain
helped keep it a pristine
landmark and a
proud symbol of Penn State.
Presented by
the Mount Nittany Conservancy
2010
|
|
The
memorial is on the left side of the
trail as you approach the Lynch Overlook.
It was placed to allow visitors to
read the dedication to Mike and catch
a first glimpse of the view to the
valley floor below.
You
can help us keep Mike's passion and
dream alive for a green Mt. Nittany
by visiting our Support
Us page.
Lion
Ambassador Team
Left
to Right: Gary McMillen, Vinnie Amendolare,
Katie Perugini, Brian Edling

Plaque
Close-up

Too
see more pictures, please go here:
http://www.mtnittany.org/News_2010_11_17.htm
In
Memorial - Patricia "Pat"
Farrell - Nov 5, 2010
|
Our
former President, Pat Farrell,
passed away Thursday, Nov. 4,
2010, from complications of
Parkinson's Disease.
Pat
served on the Mount Nittany
Conservancy board from 1998
- 2007 and as our President
from 2004 - 2005. As noted by
Bill Jaffe, MNC Director Emeritus
and former MNC President, "Pat
was a special person, who did
much for MNC during a difficult
period."
Pat
was a lifelong volunteer, to
highlight just two of Pat's
many accomplishments:
|
 |
In
1975, Pat was the spokesperson for
a group that convinced the Penn State
Board of Trustees to revise the Alma
Mater to use "childhood's gate"
rather than "boyhood's gate"
and "Dear old State" rather
then "into men." Pat was
also an active member in the State
College Mortar Board Alumni group.
Brenda Frawley Walsh, President of
the group, said "One of our most
remarkable State College Mortar Board
alumnae members has left a lasting
legacy that death cannot take away.
I am personally grateful that we have
included a tribute to Pat's leadership
in our Mortar Board Initiation ceremony.
By changing the Penn State Alma Mater
to reflect author Fred Pattee's original
intentions Pat quietly honored women
at her beloved alma mater. When we
conclude our annual Mortar Board Initiation
ceremony with the Alma Mater we will
always honor Pat, as well."
In
1998, Pat was named by Penn State
their Renaissance
Honoree in recognition of a lifetime
of service to the Penn State and State
College communities.
The Centre
Daily Times Cliff White wrote
an article entitled "Leader
Farrell left a lasting legacy on the
region." In the article,
MNC Director Emeritus and Penn State
trustee Anne Riley is quoted as saying:
She
would climb Mount Nittany every
New Years Day, according to
Riley. She loved the mountains,
Riley said. She used to say,
Hills are our friends.
She mean that jokingly, of course,
especially when she was crossing
the Rockies on her bike. But she
loved a challenge, and I think that
statement could be a great metaphor
to describe her life.
You
can read the full article as here
as a PDF.
Pat's
obituary from the Centre Daily Times
can be viewed here
as a PDF.
Mere
words nor a few pages of text can
capture Pat's life, so we won't try.
We can be sure that she would want
us to move onward and upward. Her
love of Mt. Nittany must be with us
now. Her spirit has joined so many
others like Bill
Ulerich and Mike
Lynch who keep a silent watch
from the Mountain down on Penn State
in the valley below.
"Hills
are our friends."
Paternoville's
"Sweet Tooth" - Oct 29,
2010
|
Since
Paternoville
students are the rabid Penn
State supporters of this generation,
the Mount Nittany Conservancy
(MNC) board wanted them to be
aware of who actually is protecting
the Mountain that they look
out upon from the tents and
chairs.
To
get their attention, we showed
up on Oct 28th during Penn State
- Michigan game with with a
little something sweet ... cookies
with the image of Mt. Nittany
on them!
As
we gave out the early Halloween
treats (to the very appreciative
Paternoville residents), we
Here were the points we raided
with them.
|
 |
- MNC
is an all-volunteer board that
maintains the trails and protects
Mt. Nittany
- MNC
was founded in 1981, so 2011 is
our 30th anniversary!
- We
need student and community support
to keep the Mountain "green
and growing"
- Visit
the website, http://www.mtnittany.org,
to learn more
- Pass
the message along to others. Ask
them "Who 'owns' and protects
Mt. Nittany?"
We
had a great team of 10 people passing
out the Mt. Nittany cookies that included
student helpers, Friends of the Mountain,
and MNC Board Members. We also passed
out our brochure,
A Symbol of our Pride,
as well as a brief fact sheet about
the Conservancy.
We
did have a few extra cookies, so we
headed off to the HUB to spread the
word even further. And if you're reading
this, please do the same. Mt. Nittany
is OUR Mountain. We need to be
here to conserve it for future generations,
30 years and counting so far.
Update:
StateCollege.com
had a photographer at Paternoville
as well (we had clued them in beforehand).
You can see more picture here. Paternoville
Campers Pass Time with Cookies and
Trashcan Football. We have a close-up
of one of Nathan A. Smith photos on
our Mountain
Pics page as well.
Note:
The cookies (and they were excellent)
were purchased locally from the Sweet
Tooth Bakery & Cafe of State
College.
MNC
Volunteers Ready to Go!

MNC
President Vince Verbeke & Paternoville
VP John Tecce

We
Arrive Bearing COOKIES!

Wake
Up Please...

Paternoville
Residents Doing Schoolwork (Yes, Really)

Thank
You Thank You

Mt.
Nittany on YouTube Fall 2010
- Oct 22, 2010
We
noticed these videos posted to YouTube
during the month of October 2010.
We're reposting here for the enjoyment
of all of the Mountain's friends and
supporters.
Update:
Too see the videos, one from the Penn
State Women's Gymnastics team, please
go here:
http://www.mtnittany.org/News_2010_10_22.htm
1st
Mount Nittany Night - A Rousing Success!
- Oct 2, 2010
|
Donors,
neighbors and board members
enjoyed the first annual Mount
Nittany Night on Friday, October
1, at the Mount Nittany Vineyard
& Winery.
During
the fundraising event, guests
sampled delicious wines and
appetizers, and the board honored
the significant contributions
of neighbor Wilhelm Kogelmann.
|
|
MNC
thanks these event sponsors:
|
As
the Conservancy approaches our 30th
anniversary in 2011, a new tradition
was started with the establishment
of a Friend of the Mountain award.
The
award will honor a person or group
based on their contributions of talent,
time, and resources on behalf of the
Mountain.
Wilhelm
(Willy) Kogelmann was the Mount Nittany
Conservancy's unanimous first choice
to receive the inaugural 2010 Friend
of the Mountain Award for Outstanding
Contributions to Mt. Nittany. Willy
was there as the Mount Nittany Conservancy
was first formed. His lands on Mount
Nittany were one of the first acquired
by the fledgling group in 1985.
MNC
President Vince Verbeke presents Willy
with his own piece of the Mountain
below.

Left-right:
Willy Kogelmann, 2010 Friend of the
Mountain Awardee; Vince Verbeke MNC
President.
Left-right:
MNC Directors Erich May and Jeff Deitrich;
Mount Nittany Night Co-chairs
Additional
photos from the evening can be found
here.
Mount
Nittany Night at Mount Nittany Vineyard
& Winery -
Oct 1, 2010
You
are cordially invited to the first-ever
Mount Nittany Night! to support the
conservation of Mount Nittany.
Friday,
October 1
6 to 8 p.m.
at Mount
Nittany Vineyard & Winery
Join
us for a special presentation
and to sample the vineyard's wines
and light refreshments
Cost:
$30 per person
Please
RSVP your reservations by September
27 via e-mail to
Erich May <erichmay@yahoo.com>
Grand
Reopening Photos
- May 21, 2010
We
have more grand reopening photos to
share here.
Central
Region Emergency Strike Team (CREST)
- May 17, 2010
The
Mount Nittany Conservancy hosted a
grand reopening of Mt. Nittany's blue
and white trails to celebrate installation
of a new wayfinding
system as well as a new trailhead
map and brochures, purchased with
a tourism grant through the Central
Pennsylvania Convention and Visitors
Bureau.
The
Central Region Emergency Strike Team
(CREST) was on hand at the grand reopening
providing information to hikers. To
learn more about CREST, go to their
website:
http://www.teamcrest.org
CREST
at the Grand Reopening
Ribbon Cutting

Certified
search and rescue personnel from CREST:
From L to R - Eric Prescott and K-9
Shasta, Dr. Clifford Neal, DO, Rosemarie
Stover, Tracy Reagan, Nikki Hamilton,
Kathleen Neal, Jennifer Williams,
Mark Milliron
CREST
Information Booth and Vehicle

CREST
Members meet and greet the public
and show one of their rescue vehicles
and equipment: In photo: Tracy Reagan,
Megan Gilbert, Mark Milliron, Jennifer
Williams, Kathleen Neal and Eric Prescott
Getting
Information on Safety

Grand
Reopening of Mt. Nittany - May 16,
2010
On
an absolutely gorgeous spring day,
the Mount Nittany Conservancy hosted
a grand reopening of Mt. Nittany's
blue and white trails to celebrate
installation of a new wayfinding
system as well as a new trailhead
map and brochures, purchased with
a tourism grant through the Central
Pennsylvania Convention and Visitors
Bureau.
The
Central
Region Emergency Strike Team (CREST)
was on hand at the reopening providing
information on hiking safey and much
more.
MNC
Secretary John Hook was on
hand to provide a Welcome Tailgate
for grand reopening visitors with
hamburgers and hot dogs. MNC Board
Member Jon Brooks trekked to
the Mike Lynch Overlook and told the
story of the Overlook to hikers. Jeff
Deitrich, MNC Board Member, organized
the ribbon cutting and with help from
other MNC Board members in attendance
(Erich May, John Mentzell,
Tom Smyth, and Doug Wion)
passed out free magnets, the new brochures,
and answered questions about the Conservancy.
Several MNC Director Emeritus were
also on hand for the celebratory day
(Ben Bronstein, Bill Jaffe,
Ralph Mumma, and Ken Reeves).
The
wayfinding system is a series of sign
posts placed at key intersections
to keep hikers from getting lost.
Twelve wayfinding markers located
at important intersections and additional
signs will allow hikers to more easily
see where they are and how to get
back. Read more about the project
and the people and groups involved
here.
CentreDailiy.com
and State College.com covered the
event as well. Be sure to click the
pictures on both sites to see pictures
on the event and the new trail signs.
MNC
Board Member Jon Brooks has
pictures on Picasa. A reporter from
WJAC-TV was there to cover the event.
You see her filming hikers looking
over one of the new wayfinder signs.
Grand
Reopening Ribbon
Cutting

Left-right: Jeff Deitrich, MNC Board
Member, Cory Trimm, Penn State Circle
K, Dave Fryer, College Township, Blake
Gall, MNC Board Member, Willy Kogelmann,
Mountain Neighbor, Gary, Gentzler,
MNC Board Member, Nathaniel Gray,
Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, Jon Brooks,
MNC Board Member.
MIssing from the photo are MNC Board
Members Bob Andronici, Bob Frick,
Tim White as well as Eli Zigon from
Phi Mu Delta fraternity.
Key
Contributors to the Project

Left-right:
Dave Fryer, College Township, Blake
Gall, MNC Board Member, Willy Kogelmann,
Mountain Neighbor, Gary, Gentzler,
MNC Board Member.
Dedication
by MNC President

MNC
President, Vince Verbeke, dedicates
the new wayfinding system, as well
as new trailhead map and brochures
for the Mount Nittany Conservancy
at Grand Reopening of Mt. Nittany
on May 16, 2010.
Here
is the text of Pesident Verbeke's
remarks:
In
1945, the Lion's Paw Alumni Association
saved 525 acres from lumbering with
a fundraising campaign among its few
hundred members. However, encroachment
on the Mountain continued. In 1981
, the Association formed the Mount
Nittany Conservancy to acquire additional
land. With community and alumni support,
Mount Nittany Conservancy has obtained,
through purchase or donation, more
than 300 acres that faced detrimental
uses. Today, the Conservancy manages
both Lions Paw and Conservancy lands.
We
continue to build and maintain trails
and overlooks, conduct clean-up projects,
and spray for gypsy moths when they
threaten the trees of our beloved
Mt. Nittany, most recently in 2008
and 2009.
To
read from the mission of the Conservancy,
we desire to acquire and conserve
lands on and around Mount Nittany,
a symbol of Penn State and the source
of its legends. To benefit the public,
the Mount Nittany Conservancy practices
conservation, protection, and management
of these lands as historic, scenic,
recreational and environmental resources.
On
Labor Day 2008 a State College woman
and her three children - ages 6, 4,
and 2 - were reported lost on Mt.
Nittany at about 9 p.m. It was almost
2 a.m. on Tuesday by the time State
College police, assisted by a search
team from Central Region Emergency
Strike Team (CREST) found them - uninjured
but lost - on the backside of the
Mountain and off the marked trails.
The
Conservancy took this as a call to
action. We want the Mountain to be
safe and enjoyable for all.
We
stand here today, May 16 2010, to
dedicate twelve wayfinding markers
located at important intersections
along with additional signs that identify
false trails to prevent the 2008 Labor
Day incident as well.
One
note about safety, don't underestimate
Mt. Nittany. It's a tough mountain
with a steep ascent to the Mike Lynch
Overlook, know your physical limits.
As with any hike, you should take
have additional clothing, food, water,
and if starting a hike at the end
of the day, flashlights.
Finally,
before there was a Conservancy, another
body was steward of the mountain,
and his name was Mike Lynch. A native
of Somerset County, Mike was a student
body president at Penn State. Mike
was a frequent climber of Mount Nittany,
even before Lion's Paw bought its
tract in 1946. Later, Mike would serve
as chair of Lions Paw's Mountain Committee.
In that capacity-and he held the post
for decades-Mike would organize mountain
cleanups.
Mike
was also a poet. To honor Mike (and
I can feel him over our shoulders
now smiling) I'd like to read his
poem entitled Our Mountain.
Across
the silent valley stands our Mountain
old and strong,
Part of our college heritage in story
and in song.
Through
all the natural seasons, we watch
her change her face,
Shedding the white of winter to green
with gentle grace.
In
the heat of the summer, she grows
new leaves and wood,
In the golden glow of autumn, her
beauty is understood.
What
is it about this Mountain, with rugged
rocks and rills,
That gives we Penn Staters a thousand
prideful thrills.
It's
a sense of belonging to a school that's
part of us,
In the annals of our lives, we mark
it as a plus.
Today,
we pledge our loyalty to our Mountain
and Old State,
By doing this, we join our founders,
strong and great.
Today,
walk the trails of Mt. Nittany as
if for the first time. Enjoy Mt. Nittany
and its vistas over these valleys.
Treasure it. Help us to conserve it.
Why?
Because, Mt. Nittany is OUR Mountain.
To
learn more about the Conservancy (and
see a trails map), download our brochure
"A Symbol of our Pride"
here:
MNC_Brochure.pdf
(3.1 Mb)
Grand
Reopening of Mt. Nittany Set for May
16
Mount
Nittany Conservancy will host a grand
reopening of Mt. Nittany's blue and
white trails to celebrate installation
of a new wayfinding
system on Sunday, May 16 from
noon to 4 p.m. beginning at the trailhead
on Mt. Nittany Road in Lemont.
The
wayfinding system is a series of sign
posts placed at key intersections
to keep hikers from getting lost.
About two years ago, several hikers
did get lost on the mountain and were
rescued well after dark, so the Conservancy
decided to make the improvements.
Twelve wayfinding markers located
at important intersections and additional
signs will allow hikers to more easily
see where they are and how to get
back.
A
new trailhead map and brochures, purchased
with a tourism grant through the Central
Pennsylvania Convention and Visitors
Bureau, will be in place as well.
Both contain updated trail distances
as well as GPS coordinates at twelve
points along the trails.
The
new signs, purchased in cooperation
with the Central Region Emergency
Strike Team (CREST), have been designed
to blend in with the surrounding environment
as much as possible to keep the landscape
beautiful.
The
event is on Penn State's graduation
weekend, so students and family members
in town are welcome to join the community
to hike the trails. Students will
have one last chance to check off
a climb of Mt. Nittany from their
to-do lists. A brief ribbon cutting
ceremony will be held at noon, and
volunteers will be stationed at several
points along the trail to help explain
the history of the mountain and the
goals of the conservancy. The first
200 hikers will receive a free gift
courtesy of the Mount Nittany Conservancy.
To
learn more about the Conservancy (and
see a trails map), download our brochure
"A Symbol of our Pride"
here:
MNC_Brochure.pdf
(3.1 Mb)
November
2009 Mount Nittany News
Members
and friends of the Conservancy recently
received in the mail our Fall newsletter
from the Conservancy. A link to the
newsletter is below.
The
following are excerpts from the Trail
Signs and Maps to Help Hikers by MNC
Director Jeff Deitrich.
Visitors
to the Mountain this fall began
to see the fruits of a long-awaited
project that will help them navigate
for years to come. MNC began installing
a wayfinding system of trail signs
at critical intersections and points
on the paths.
While
this project has been in mind for
many years, reports of people becoming
lost on the Mountain have increased
in recent years. MNC decided it
was time to move forward after it
found new models of metal signs
that are extremely resistant to
vandalism.
November
2009 Mt Nittany News (PDF)
Please
consider clicking the Support Us link
and offering a donation as well in
order that you too can receive future
hard copy newsletters.
Penn
State Circle K does
Mountain Clean-up
On
Sunday, Spetember 6, a group of student
volunteers from Circle K spent the
day doing some great work on the hiking
trails of Mt. Nittany.


PA
Land Conservation Conference/Confluence
2009
On
May 7 - 9, MNC President Vince verbeke
attended the 7th Annual Pennsylvania
Land Conservation Conference/Confluence
2009 co-hosted by the Pennsylvania
Land Trust Association and the
Chesapeake
Bay Foundation.
http://www.landandwater.org/conf09index.html
The
conference them was Working Together
to Protect Our Land, Water & Communities.
He
reports that he is still trying to
process everything that he heard and
learned over the three days of the
conference. He said, "This was
my first true immersion into the preservation
and conversation areas. It's amazing
what others are doing across the Commonwealth."
Vince
also reports that "Most importantly,
I've met others who we can know reach
out to and ask for help as we go forward
with plans to work with our Mountain
neighbors on conservation easements.
For example, I had the chance to meet
and talk with Bill Hilshey from Clearwater
Conservancy and Norm Lathbury
from the Centre
County Farmland Trust.
I
also met Paul Lumia and Rick Koval
from the North Branch Land Trust as
well, http://www.nblt.org/index.html.
They have a long, and detailed, page
on their site about easements, http://www.nblt.org/easements.html."
MNC
also had an information table setup
at the Conference as well.

State
College City-Serve does Mountain Clean-up
Can
we serve you now?
This
is the rallying cry of a group of
dedicated volunteers from the State
College City-Serve project, http://www.sc-cityserve.org.
On Sunday, April 27, a group of City-Serve
volunteers spent the day picking up
trash and removing debris from the
hiking trails on Mt. Nittany.
The
17 volunteers split into 4 teams that
covered all nine-miles of hiking trails
and a couple miles of four-wheel drive
roads on Mt. Nittany. They picked
up garbage, re-blazed faded blue and
white trail markings, and did trail
maintenance such as cutting dead-falls
that were the obstructing the trails.
They also picked up trash from the
parking lot and the upper part of
road leading to Mt. Nittany hiking
trail parking lot.
Matthew
McKinney, the project team leader,
sent us the following picture with
this statement.
I've
attached one photograph of the trash
collected off the Mountain, 4-wheel
drive road and parking lot. It's disconcerting
and I wish there was a way to educate,
enforce and regulate littering - but
I am glad we live in a community that's
fortunate enough to have such a great
place for hiking! I will email some
actual work photographs as they filter
in to me and again, thank you for
the opportunity to serve!
Trash
Collected on the Mountain

Please,
with the picture of the above garbage
left on the Mountian in full view,
if you do take the opportunity to
use the Mountain, please note that
we have a Carry in, Carry Out Trash
Policy; NO trash receptacles are located
along the trails!
Enjoy
the trails. Leave What You Find! Take
OUT what you bring in!
To
learn more about City-Serve, please
watch these promotional videos.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWuSzjyyGgU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmbHKueNO5c&NR=1
To
see additional Trail Cleanup Pictures
from City-Serve, click here.
November
2008 Mount Nittany News
Members
and friend of the Conservancy recently
received in the mail our Fall newsletter
from the Conservancy. A link to the
newsletter is below.
The
following are excerpts from Vince
Verbeke's Presidents message.
The
MNC Board would like to thank everyone
who supported our drive to pay for
aerial spraying in Spring 2008 to
combat the gypsy moths.
As
we had hoped, the spray was effective
in minimizing defoliation. A more
detailed report on the current status
of the Mountain can be found later
in the newsletter. However, we do
have areas on the Mountain that
should be sprayed again in 2009.
So
we ask that you renew your annual
Friends of Mt. Nittany
commitment once
again. Wed also like all of
our Friends to tell one other person
about the Conservancy and its goals.
November
2008 Mt Nittany News (PDF)
Please
consider clicking the Support Us link
and offering a donation as well in
order that you too can receive future
hard copy newsletters.
Follow
Mt. Nittany Updates via Twitter
Do
you Twitter? If yes, you can follow
our MtNIttany
Twitter account for news and notes
from the Conservancy.
http://twitter.com/MtNittany
Need
to learn more about Twitter? See Twitter
in Plain English.
College
Township has our Thanks and a Piece
of the Mountain
When
the Conservancy's 825 acres was included
in the 2008 PA Bureau of Forestry
spraying program, we needed time to
raise the $13,005 to cover the cost.
College
Township stepped up to advance
the funds before the county payment
deadline of mid-December until the
Conservancy was able to raise the
funds. The MNC Board of Directors
would like to express our sincere
appreciation for their generosity.
After the successful completion of
our Spring
Challenge Grant Campaign, we were
able to reimburse the College Township
Council.
At
the June 19, 2008 College Township
Council meeting, the Conservancy presented
David Fryer, Township Council Chair
with a framed Mt. Nittany Life Estate
deed in thanks for the support.

Left to right is Adam Brumbaugh,
Township Manager/Secretary; David
Fryer, Township Council Chair;
MNC Board member Erich May;
MNC Board member Jeff Dietrich.
Donors
during the Spring Challenge Grant
Campaign
The
MNC Board of Directors would like
to express our sincere appreciation
for the $5,000 Challenge Grant from
the Centre County Community Foundation
www.centrecountycf.org
and to report our success in meeting
that challenge.
We
were fortunate that the spraying was
completed in mid-May for the entire
mountain, and we are optimistic that
the effectiveness of the spray will
minimize defoliation. Since we were
included in the County/State spraying
program, our cost for spraying our
825 acres was $13,005. The $5,000
Challenge Grant provided by CCCF was
a key part of MNC being able to meet
that cost.
Overall,
community and alumni interest in protecting
the trees on Mt. Nittany from gypsy
moth damage was very high. This level
of interest was also reflected in
media coverage about the Gypsy Moth
threat, and Mt. Nittany provided a
well-known reference that would perhaps
host a "Perfect Storm" of
damage by these insects. Our fundraising
efforts focused on the need to keep
our Mountain green by meeting the
Challenge Grant from CCCF.
The
"official" months to match
the Challenge Grant were April and
May. Thanks to the support of our
Friends $6,630 was donated during
these months.
The
remaining funds have supported our
communications efforts and have been
designated to beginning a reserve
fund for future preservation of the
Mountain.
See
the Honor Roll of Donors who have
supported our efforts during the Challenge
Grant. You can become a Friend
of the Conservancy or purchase
a deed at any time.
| James
Anderson |
William
A. Jaffe |
| Dennis
& Margaret Anspach |
Kevin
Jud, Philadelphia PA |
| Appalachian
Outdoors |
Mel
S. Klein |
| Richard
Betts |
Edward
H. Klevans |
Patrick
M. Bisbey
|
Ned
J. Kocher |
| Bill
& Angela Boor |
Daniel
Land |
| Emory
Brown |
John
and Gretchen Leathers |
| E.
Alan Cameron |
Herberta
M. Lundegren |
| Andrew
Carson |
Samuel
J. Malizia |
| Tom
M. Cavalier |
Vincent
L. Marino |
| Karen
Hargleroad Clautice |
Patricia
E. McMullen |
| Michael
Cooper |
Ralph
Mumma |
| Charles
Culnane |
Sue
Obal |
| Carl
and Martha Deitrich |
Allan
and Bobbie Ostar |
| Donald
Devorris |
David
M. Pellnitz |
| Melbourne
DeYoung |
PSU
Interfraternity Council |
| Robert
Dix |
Paul
Pilgram |
| Kevin
Donlon |
Ralph
E. Pilgram |
| Martin
Duff |
James
W. Powers |
| David
W. Dulabon |
Joseph
Rahalewich |
| John
Dutton |
Alexander
H. Raye |
| Harry
J. Endres |
Catherine
Rein |
| Barry
W. Fisher |
Mary
Jane Roelofs |
| Robert
M. Fisher |
Vincent
Tedesco |
| Stuart
Forth |
Theodore
C. Schmidt |
| Robert
E. Fry |
Richard
S. Schweiker |
| Gary
& Ralphine Gentzler |
Daniel
& Roseann Sieminski |
| Carolyn
Grundy |
Garen
Smith |
| William
T. Grundy |
Richard
Verity |
| Michael
F. Hamel |
S.
Jeanine Vermillion |
| Martin
L. Heavner |
John
& Annabelle Wenzke |
| Thad
L. Hecht |
John & Kathleen Winter |
| Robert
S. Hodder Jr. |
Robert
S. Zakos Jr. |
| William
& Wendy Hudson |
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Blue
& White Society and Circle K work
on the Mountain
The
Blue
& White Society and the Circle
K organization from Penn State's
University
Park campus worked on the Mountain
on May 6, 2008. The group did an OUTSTANDING
job. They repaired water bars and
steps, and they positioned a very
large new log seat at the popular
Mike Lynch Overlook at the top of
the Mountain.
Blue
& White Society members included:
- Amy
Weixel, Director of Community
Service
- Lucy
Ruetiman, Treasurer
- Caity
Rogowski. Director of Public Relations
- Noelle
Smith, Director of Membership
- Dan
Foxx, Attendance Chair
Circle
K members included:
Challenge
Grant Announced to benefit Mt. Nittany
The
Centre County Community Foundation
www.centrecountycf.org has announced
a $5,000 Challenge Grant to the Mount
Nittany Conservancy www.mtnittany.org
to assist with short-term and long-term
conservation efforts, including the
spraying of naturally occurring bacteria
for Gypsy Moths this spring. Spraying
the Mountain in May is expected to
cost $13,000, but the Conservancy
is also preparing for spraying and
continued conservation efforts in
future years. The Challenge Grant
will be dependent upon the Conservancy
also raising $5,000 in donations during
April and May, and the Conservancy
is set to launch a fund raising campaign
to meet the challenge.
Recent surveys have shown that Mt.
Nittany is the region's most recognizable
landmark. The Mount Nittany Conservancy
was formed in 1981 to preserve and
maintain 825 acres on Mt. Nittany,
including the lands owned by the Lions
Paw Alumni Association. The Centre
County Community Foundation, founded
in 1981 by Judge R. Paul Campbell,
is a collection of over 125 individual
endowments dedicated to improving
the quality of life by their support
of a variety of charitable objectives.
Tax-deductible donations to the Mount
Nittany Conservancy may be made online
at www.mtnittany.org,
or checks made out to the Mount Nittany
Conservancy may be mailed to their
clearinghouse at P.O. Box 7007, Albert
Lea, MN 56007-8007.
November
2007 Mount Nittany News - Nov 30,
2007
Members
and friend of the Conservancy recently
received in the mail our Fall newsletter
from the Conservancy. A link to the
newsletter is below.
The
following is an excerpt from Ron Woodhead's
Presidents message.
We
are all very fortunate that concerned
alumni and community members have
worked to acquire and protect Mt.
Nittany over the past 60 plus years.
The Conservancy now asks your assistance
to continue those efforts. We are
asking everyone who has enjoyed
viewing or hiking Mt. Nittany to
please support the future of Mt.
Nittany by:
- making
a generous, tax-deductible donation,
- joining
each year as a Friend
of Mt. Nittany, and
- purchasing
one or more Life Estate Deeds
to honor family and friends.
Thank
you for helping the Conservancy
to keep Mt. Nittany green forever.
November
2007 Mt Nittamy News (PDF)
Please
consider clicking the Support Us link
and offering a donation as well in
order that you too can receive future
hard copy newsletters.
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