In late September, the D&L Trail Tenders once again flocked to Walnutport for their annual picnic.  This is a chance to celebrate all of the hard work our volunteers do for the D&L Trail with some games, prizes, and great food.  We also take the opportunity to update all of the regional chapters about the work the D&L is doing around the Corridor and what each regional chapter has been up to.  This year we spent some time picking the tenders’ brains about ways to expand the volunteer program and promote the trail to new groups.

Chef Ed divvies out a bounty of culinary delights.

Special features of this year’s picnic included an impressive spread of culinary delights by Chef Ed.  In fact, the food is so good we might have to start calling the gathering something other than a “picnic” to do it justice.   The tenders also enjoyed Trail Tenders #1 ice cream, from Heavenly Hedgehog Ice Cream Shop in Bethlehem, a special flavor developed to honor the group.  And to think some trail groups have to settle for gorp!

Hungry Trail Tenders fill up on ice cream named in their honor!

The D&L Trail would look pretty shabby without our great volunteer group, and we want to thank all of the Trail Tenders for another great year!  We are always looking for new volunteers, so please consider joining us on the trail.

The Heavenly Hedgehog Ice Cream Company, 563 Main Street, Main Street Commons in Bethlehem, has a new flavor: Trail Tenders #1.

Shop owner Barbara Garrison concocted the new flavor from vanilla ice cream, strips of caramel, toasted coconut, crushed Whoppers, and peanuts. Trail Tenders #1 is available now in a limited quantity.

Barbara’s decision to honor the D&L Trail Tenders with an ice cream flavor stems from her admiration of the work they’ve been doing along the Lehigh Canal.

Ms. Garrison is also offering the Trail Tenders a space in front of her store during the annual Sidewalk Sale in downtown Bethlehem on April 24. If you are interested in learning about the Trail Tenders and volunteer opportunities along the canal or just want to enjoy a scoop, feel free to stop by.

Enjoy some Trail tenders #1 on this very warm Easter weekend. Bon appetite!

D&L Outreach Coordinator Dennis Scholl has worked with the Trail Tenders for two years to turn a stretch of river bank on Sand Island into a model native plant “garden.”  Read more and see pictures in today’s Morning Call.

The D&L Trail Tenders are gearing up for a big spring.  We are always thrilled to see new faces, so come out for any of the events listed below, support the trail, get a little dirty, and have a great time.  For the veteran tenders out there, get ready for another great season.

Lehigh Valley:

Sat., May 9: 9 a.m. – noon Meet at Lock 43 to clear honeysuckle from the Lehigh River side of trail.

Sat., May 16: 9 a.m. – noon Meet at Lock 43 to clear honeysuckle from the Lehigh River side of trail.

Wed., May 27: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. We will cut and drag honeysuckle and other brush to s city operated chipper/shredder.

Sat., May 30: 9 a.m. – noon Meet at Sand Island to prep area for National Trails Day event June 6. We need a large turnout for this cleanup.

For more information on Lehigh Valley events contact Dennis Scholl at dennis@delawareandlehigh.org.

Easton:

Sat., May 16: 9 a.m. – noon Meet at the canal boat in Hugh Moore Park to rake out the trail perimeter near the canal boat concession and plant grass seed. Please bring rakes.

For more information contact Charlie Supenis at charsupe@msn.com.

Northern Lehigh:

Sat., May 16: 9 a.m. – noon Meet at Slatington Trailhead to travel by car to Lock 25 in Walnuport. Tenders will begin clearing the overflow (bypass) channel at the lock. Please bring loppers and saws.

For more information contact Dean Hower at dean_the_bikeman@hotmail.com.

Carbon County:

Sat., May 16: 9 a.m. – noon Meet at Lehigh Canal Park in Parryville to continue cleanup of the Lock 13 area.

Sat., May 23: 9 a.m. – noon Site to be determined between Parryville and Weissport.

For more information contact Doug Makofka at doug@makofka.org.

Dates to Pencil In:

Sat. June 6:

10 a.m. – 1 p.m. “Travel the Towpath” National Trails Day event in Bethlehem. Contact Dennis Scholl, D&L: dennis@delawareandlehigh.org

9 a.m. – 1 p.m. National Trails Day event in Hugh Moore Park, Easton. Contact Rayne Schnabel, D&L: rayne@delawareandlehigh.org

10 a.m. – 12 p.m. National Trails Day event in Bucks County.  Contact Donna Boone, D&L: donna@delawareandlehigh.org

11 a.m. – 2 p.m. National Trails Day event in Hazelton.  Contact Bob Skulsky: civic@hazletonchamber.org

Friday, June 12: 10 a.m. Weissport Trailhead Dedication.  Contact Sandy Duda, D&L: sandra@delawareandlehigh.org

General questions about the D&L Trail Tenders can be addressed to Outreach Coordinator Dennis Scholl at Dennis@delawareandlehigh.org or 610-923-3548 (ext.225).

On Saturday, one of several Great Lehigh Canal Clean Ups took place at the Weissport Trailhead. Twenty people came out to clear invasives from the canal bank, pick up trash, and remove all sorts of debris. Most of the work was done south of Interchange Road, an area that has received less attention than the trailhead on the other side of the road but is an important access point to Parryville.

The clean up was truly a cooperative, community effort. The Carbon Service Corporation donated a dumpster to dispose of the collected trash and debris. The Borough of Jim Thorpe loaned a chipper-shredder and a skilled operator to grind up clippings. Members of Concerned Citizens of Weissport cooked hotdogs for the volunteers, which they washed down with bottled water donated by Aquafina. PennDOT provided safety vests, gloves, and garbage bags. Weissport even provided police coverage, pedestrian crossing signs, and orange safety cones!

Most important of all, this was the first organized event of the recently-formed Carbon County Trail Tenders. Under enthusiastic leadership and with lots of exciting trail developments in the county, this chapter should make significant progress in the next year. If you are interested in joining them, please contact chapter leader Doug Makofka at doug@makofka.org.