The Conodoguinet Wetlands Walkway
When the Appalachian Trail in the Cumberland Valley was removed from the roads in the early 1990's, it was relocated to an area along the Conodoguinet Creek south and east of the Scott Farm. This portion was prone to flooding, especially in the spring. On several occasions, the trail was covered in water and hikers had to be diverted to a dangerous portion of Bernheisel Bridge Road. Throughout this time, the Club and its partners ATC and NPS were looking for a better solution.
In mid-July, 2005, Karen Lutz, ATC Mid-Atlantic Regional Director, informed CVATC that some significant funding was available in the current fiscal year for wetland projects. ATC would be able to fund materials for 500 to 550 feet of elevated walkway, but the project would need to be built that fall. The walkway would replace the aging and disintegrating puncheon across the wetland immediately south of the Bernheisel Bridge. This project would be a smaller-scale application of the same spiral pier technology that was used for the AT Pochuck Marsh walkway in New Jersey. A specialized machine screws the steel piers into the ground, and then a wooden walkway is built on them above any likely flood level.
CVATC called several special work days to work on this project, which was led by ATC's Mid Atlantic trail crew. After countless hours of toil, the project was almost completed on November 12, 2005. All that remained was to apply a sealant to the wooden walkway, which was done in early 2006. In addition to Club volunteers, ATC staff, and the Mid-Atlantic crew, important work was done by the Dickinson College Lacrosse Team and Outing Club.
In mid-July, 2005, Karen Lutz, ATC Mid-Atlantic Regional Director, informed CVATC that some significant funding was available in the current fiscal year for wetland projects. ATC would be able to fund materials for 500 to 550 feet of elevated walkway, but the project would need to be built that fall. The walkway would replace the aging and disintegrating puncheon across the wetland immediately south of the Bernheisel Bridge. This project would be a smaller-scale application of the same spiral pier technology that was used for the AT Pochuck Marsh walkway in New Jersey. A specialized machine screws the steel piers into the ground, and then a wooden walkway is built on them above any likely flood level.
CVATC called several special work days to work on this project, which was led by ATC's Mid Atlantic trail crew. After countless hours of toil, the project was almost completed on November 12, 2005. All that remained was to apply a sealant to the wooden walkway, which was done in early 2006. In addition to Club volunteers, ATC staff, and the Mid-Atlantic crew, important work was done by the Dickinson College Lacrosse Team and Outing Club.