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                  The Mason Dixon Trail  System                         

  last updated 06/28/2009

 

The next meeting and hike are on Saturday, June 27, 2009, in Perryville, Maryland.

See the details,

 

See our updated Photos Page.

Hike 25 miles on both the Mason Dixon and Conestoga Trails

 on September 12 on the Susquehanna Super Hike.

 

You need advance permission from York County to camp overnight at Apollo Park.

 

We are getting permission to cross a piece of land that the Archaeological Conservancy has just acquired with state help. The M-DTS is  donating money toward the cost of the land. If anyone else wishes to contribute, scroll down to information about the Susquehannock village  site at its web page.

Read more about it here.  Please mention the trail in your correspondence.

 

For other news, including the marathon runner on the trail, click here

Student Essay About the Trail

Get your MDTS T-Shirt

Trail work on Thursdays

An Article about running the Trail

 

The Mason Dixon Trail connects the Appalachian Trail with the Brandywine Trail.  This 193 mile long trail starts at Whiskey Springs, on the Appalachian Trail, in Cumberland County, PA and heads east towards the Susquehanna River, passing through Pinchot State Park en route. The trail then follows the west bank of the Susquehanna south to Havre de Grace in Maryland. Across the river, the M-DT continues east, passes through Elk Neck State Forest, then on to Iron Hill Park  in Delaware, north along the Christina River and White Clay Creek to the White Clay Creek  Preserve. The trail then heads northeast to its eastern terminus at Chadds Ford, PA on the banks of the Brandywine River.

 

 

The members of the Mason Dixon Trail System, Inc. hope that you enjoy your hikes on the trail. Volunteers from several states have constructed and are maintaining it. Our organization is aging and needs to mentor a new generation to run the organization. Unless we get some new active members we are in danger of losing the trail. Please consider helping. We need officers in the organization as well as trail maintainers. We meet four  times a year at the convenience of the officers. Maintainers work at their own pace.  For more information, contact James Hooper at (717) 252-3784 or Ron Gray at (717) 244-8040 or ronaldgray (at) comcast.net. We do need help.

 

 

 

 

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     June 27 Hike and Meeting  
 

The Morning Hike

We will hike a proposed seven mile rerouting of the Mason-Dixon Trail from Belvedere Road to Perryville.   Participants will meet by 9:00 a.m. at the Perryville Middle School (MDT Map 7: w-e at mile 2 where the “P” marks the large parking lot), and will car pool to the starting point on Logistics Way off of Belvedere Road, north of Rte 40.  
 

The relocation includes sidewalks in the town of Perryville, greenways near the Susquehanna River, pathways through fields and woods, and sections along roadways.  We will pass by Furnace Bay Golf Course and historic Principio Furnace, and climb to the top of Foy’s Hill for grand views of the surrounding countryside.  This relocation, if approved, will appear in our updated map set that is due out within the year.  It replaces the dangerous section of railroad walking described in the current Map 7. 
 

Directions to the Perryville Middle School Parking Lot:  Heading west or east on I-95 take the exit south to Perryville on Rte 222 South.  (This is the first exit after crossing the Susquehanna from the west and the last exit on I-95 from the east before I-95 crosses the Susquehanna.)  Stay on Rte 222 about a mile and when you cross the major intersection with Rte 40, the Middle School Parking lot will be immediately on your left (Rte 222 becomes Aiken Avenue when it crosses Rte 40).   
 

The Quarterly Meeting

The quarterly board and members meeting will start 2:00 p.m. in the yard and garden area of the historic Rodgers Tavern at the west end of Broad Street (#259) in Perryville, overlooking the Susquehanna River.  Following the directions above to Perryville Middle School, one reaches Rodgers Tavern by continuing on Rte 222 south (Aiken Avenue) to where it ends at Main Street, and turning right on Main Street.  The Tavern, clearly signed, will be a short distance on your right.     
 

In the case of bad weather, the meeting will convene at 2:00 p.m. in the meeting room of the public library in North East, Maryland. From I-95 take exit 100 (North East/Rising Sun) in Cecil County.  Go south on Rte. 272 , and cross Route 40 (south of Rte 40 Rte 272 becomes N. Mauldin Street).  Shortly after crossing over some tracks and the road divides, stay on Rte 272 by bearing right onto Main St and in a short block turn right again onto Rte. 7 (Cecil Ave). The North East Library comes very quickly on the left.  There is a parking lot on the left side of Cecil Ave. just past Race St.  Cecil County members, especially, please come!   
 

 

 

 

News

 

A runner takes on the Mason Dixon Trail

 

Dupont donates land along Mason Dixon Trail in Newark DE.

Click below:

 

Trail work on Thursdays

High Point Article in York Daily Record.

Major Lancaster County Conservancy Update

York Daily Record Article from April 15, 2007

 

 

 

Scenic Wrightsville Area

The Site of Hike and Meeting

Sunday, March 22


For the hike we will meet at 9 am at the Wrightsville boat launch (Map 3: W-E, ca. mi. 14.7; E-W, mi. 2.1) to hike about seven miles to the big parking lot on Long Level just short of Fishing Creek.  Points of interest on the way include the Murphy's Hollow to High Point relocation, two proposed new relocations, and the Devils Hole section. It will involve some bushwhacking. The Meeting at 2:00 p.m. will be at the Hooper Farm.
 

Directions to the Wrightsville Boat Launch

Map 3 marks the location of the boat launch with a P


 

From Lancaster:

Go west on Rt. 30. Take the Columbia Exit (on the east side of the Susquehanna River) and turn left toward Columbia.  Turn right at second light onto Rte 462 and the Wrightsville-Columbia Bridge.  Proceed across the bridge and turn right at end of bridge and then right again under the bridge on to Rte 624. The parking area for the boat launch will be on your left by the river boat launch.

From York:

Go east on Rte 30.  Take the Wrightsville exit (that comes before the Susquehanna River), and go right.  Go down to the light. Turn left onto Rte 462.  Just before the bridge turn left and go down under the bridge on to Rt. 624 . The parking area will be immediately on your left by the water.


Directions to the Hooper Farm:
For those going to the meeting: Follow the appropriate directions above to Wrightsville and Rte. 624. Stay on Rte. 624 past the boat launch parking area, go beyond the quarry, and up the hill. Turn right onto Hilt Rd (Map 3: w-e, mi. 15.9).  At the next intersection, Hilt Rd becomes Trinity Church Rd.  Proceed down Trinity Church Road to the second road, Kline Run.  Turn right, go past the winery entrance, and proceed down until Kline Road takes a hard right.  On the left is the entrance to the Hooper farm. (Mail Box has 309 on it).  Turn left into the farm. 

If anyone has problems call Jim or Joyce at 717/252-3784 or 717/951-6808 (cell)


 

 

 

 

Susquehanna Heritage Park is becoming a place to go, an official said.
By TERESA ANN BOECKEL
Daily Record/Sunday News
Article Launched: 06/13/2008 06:31:28 AM EDT


Park supporters will acquire two more historical pieces of land for the Susquehanna Heritage Park in eastern York County, thanks to a $1.4 million grant from the state.

The money will be used to buy about 15 acres of the Oscar Leibhart site, which is part of one the last-known villages of the Susquehannock Indians. The archaeological site in Lower Windsor Township is on the National Register of Historic Places.

The funds also will buy a 44-acre parcel known as the Wilton Riverside Lands, which includes a portion of the Mason-Dixon Trail. It is in Hellam Township.

Park supporters received the grant from the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources because John and Kathryn Zimmerman donated their Pleasant Garden home last year to the Lancaster-York Heritage Region.

Pleasant Garden, which also will be part of the park, was used as a match to receive the state funding, which will be spent to preserve the other two properties, said Mark Platts, president of the Lancaster-York Heritage Region.

Destination concept

DCNR Secretary Michael DiBerardinis presented a check to Farm & Natural Lands Trust Board President Michael Goodling during a news conference Thursday afternoon at Highpoint Scenic Vista and Recreation Area.

Highpoint is a county-owned parcel, which will be part of the Susquehanna Heritage Park. The park will involve multiple sites with various owners.

Jackie Kramer, former executive director of the Farm Advertisement & Natural Lands Trust, said the destination concept for the park is starting to come together.

People can kayak on the river. They can hike the Mason-Dixon Trail. They can go to historical sites.

"It's going to be a place to go," she said.

The owners of the properties being preserved -- County Line Quarry of the Wilton Riverside Lands and Grove Enterprise LLC of the Oscar Leibhart site -- were willing to preserve the land after being approached about it, park supporters said.

The additions will preserve nearly 60 acres.

The Oscar Leibhart site will be turned over to the Archaeological Conservancy. Who will own the Wilton Riverside Lands has yet to be determined, Platts said.

Park supporters are working with Safe Harbor Power & Light, owners of Klines Run Park, to build a visitors education center at the park, Platts said.

It would teach people about the history of the river and native peoples.

Jim Hooper, president of the Mason-Dixon Trail System, said he thinks it's important to preserve land now.

He used to live in Washington, D.C., and, years ago, the beltway was the boundary between the suburbs and the countryside. It's not that way anymore.

"If we aren't careful, all of York County will be the same way," he said.

OFFICIAL VISITS

Michael DiBerardinis, secretary of the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, spent two days touring the Susquehanna River in York and Lancaster counties.

His trip included kayaking on the river, taking a hike at Lock 12 Recreation Park and talking with officials about their plans for land along the Susquehanna.

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"PP&L is in the process of giving 3200 acres of land to a consortium lead by the Lancaster County Conservancy. It involves land along the Susquehanna in both Lancaster and York Counties. They also gave $5M for an endowment to maintain the land. The Mason-Dixon Trail is on the York County Land and the Conestoga Trail is on the Lancaster County Land.

See www.lancasterconservancy.org/news.htm
 

 

 

 

 

Leading the trail

From the York Daily Record/Sunday News

Volunteers moved part of the nature walk off Route 624 onto safer land.
By TERESA MCMINN
For the Daily Record/Sunday News
York Daily Record/Sunday News
 

HOW TO HELP

Dec 1, 2005 — A small group of seniors Wednesday said opening their hearts, giving their time and digging in the dirt keeps them appearing and feeling young. The volunteers, all of whom are retired, worked to clear about a mile of path for a hiking trail to be moved to a safer location.

 

They moved the portion of the 193-mile Mason-Dixon Trail off a dangerous part of Route 624 near Wrightsville. Now it crosses properties owned by Safe Harbor Water Power Corp. and County Line Quarry, which run along the Susquehanna River.

 

Jim Hooper, vice president of Mason-Dixon Trail System, and several other volunteers a few months ago used chainsaws and a Pulaski ax - a combination ax and hoe - to clear growth and vines on the side of a hill for the trail. "I'm excited to get it off the main road," said Hooper, who has been a trail volunteer for 28 years. The Mason-Dixon Trail, a public hiking path, crosses Delaware and Maryland, follows the western shore of the Susquehanna River, extends through Gifford Pinchot State Park and connects to the Appalachian Trail. It was built with member financing and contributions by volunteers who also maintain it.

 

The York Hiking Club has helped maintain the Appalachian Trail since 1948. The group monitors 40 miles of trail between Route 30 and Norman Wood bridges. A group of retired club volunteers meets weekly on relocation projects such as Wednesday's Wrightsville-area project. Volunteers don't need special skills or experience to help with trail projects.

 

"There's no government funding in this at all," Hooper said. "We need volunteers all of the time. ... We're finding younger (adults) don't join the club until they are in their 50s." York Township residents and club members Allen and Lore Britton, both in their 70s, have been volunteering for trail projects for more than three decades. "I love it," Allen said. "If I didn't do it, who is going to do it? If I like the trails, I've got to maintain them." He said people who work and walk on hiking trails are healthy for many reasons. "Everybody I know as a hiker has a youthful attitude," he said. "People who do volunteer work are healthier." Freysville resident Ron Gray, 62, is also a club member. He's hooked on trail work. "It's kind of in my blood," he said. Hooper and his wife, Joyce, met while working on hiking trails about five years ago. A lot of people have no idea of the pleasure of a hike through the land that we have," Joyce said. "It's very healthy, and you go home feeling very tired and relaxed. I find nature soothes the soul and clears your mind."

 

HOW TO HELP

Volunteers are needed to do trail work including trail building, cutting brush back from the trail, cutting blown-down trees, blazing the trail and maintaining bulletin boards.

For more information: yhc.trails @ worldnet.att.net, http://www.appalachiantrail.org, http://www.masondixontrail.org.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trail Work
The York Hiking Club is having weekly trail work hikes  on
Thursdays.  Most of the work hikes are on the Mason-Dixon Trail
System.  Contact Jim Hooper 717/252-3784  if you are interested in
joining the group.

 

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