15th Annual Schuylkill River Sojourn

The 15th Annual Schuylkill River Sojourn got off to a great start on Saturday, with 112 people paddlers setting off from Schuylkill Haven Island Park. A total of 59 of them--a record number--will make the entire 112-mile, weeklong journey to Philadelphia. Here are some highlights from Day One of the sojourn:






Sojourners camp out in Schuylkill Haven

On Friday night, sojourners check in at Schuylkill Haven Island Park, and many camp overnight. This Friday, a longtime sojourn tradition was broken: that is, for the past 10 year, it has always rained during the pre-sojourn checkin. But for the 15th Annual Sojourn, we had sunny skies.





The Breaker Boys

The Sojourn includes entertainment and programming, with a different theme each year. This year's theme is ACivil War Odyssey. On Friday, the Breaker Boys entertained sojourners with Civil War Songs and stories.

Singing the National Anthem

Sojourners launched from Schuylkill Haven Island Park and began a new tradition, singing the National Anthem before the launch. Speaking at the launch were Sen. Dave Argall, Schuylkill County Commissioner Gary Hess, Schuylkill Haven Mayor Mike Devlin, and Schuylkill River Heritage Area Exec. Dir. Kurt Zwikl, all of whom wished the sojourners well.

It was a beautiful day to be on the water. With temperatures in the 90s, paddling on the river was the perfect way to spend the day.

Civil War Chaplain re-enactor Ron Long braved the heat, donning his wool overcoat while speaking to the sojourners at lunch about the important role played by chaplains throughout the Civil War.

A crowd gathered in Landingville along a bridge to watch the colorful flottilla of sojourners make their way down the river.

A popular spot on the sojourn, The Chutes, sends sojourners through fast moving water under an old railroad bridge.

Sojourners ended their day in Port Clinton, where they were served a delicious spaghetti dinner cooked by the Port Clinton Fire House. Afterwards, author Jim Corrigan gave a fascinating lecture to a full house on The Battle of the Crater, about a group of coal miners who used their skills to tunnel under the enemy.

Trail Worker Wins National Award for his Work on the Schuylkill River Trail and other PA Trails

Steve Pohowsky (L) with SRHA Exec. Dir. Kurt Zwikl

A Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) employee recently earned a 2013 National Trails Award from American Trails for his work improving trail user safety on several Pennsylvania trails, including the Schuylkill River Trail.

Stephen P. Pohowsky was recognized with a State Trail Worker Award after being nominated for the honor by Schuylkill River Heritage Area Trails Project Manager Robert Folwell. Pohowsky received the award at a recent PennDot meeting.

Pohowsky is a Bicycle/Pedestrian Coordinator and Safety Program Specialist for PennDOT District 5-0, which encompasses the counties of Berks, Schuylkill, Lehigh, Carbon, Northampton and Monroe. He received the award for "his extraordinary contribution to improving
trail user safety at state highway crossings within District 5-0."

His nomination form noted a number of accomplishments achieved since Pohowsky took his current position in 2006. "As the District Bicycle/Pedestrian Coordinator he has worked to address pedestrian and bicycle safety requests and concerns such as mid-block crosswalks, bicycles on freeways, and signage for the BicyclePA Route system. He also is responsible for all Shared Use Path Trail Crossing Agreements and trail crossing design reviews and has worked on the Saucon Rail Trail, Union Canal Trail, Schuylkill River Trail, D&L Trail, Palmer Township Trail, and several others. "

According to Folwell, Pohowksy is an avid trail user who uses "his trail riding experience as well as his extensive knowledge of PennDOT highway safety issues to effectively evaluate all trail crossing plans to determine what works best, and has developed model guidelines for District 5 that will save lives."

In accepting the award Pohowsky thanked the Schuylkill River Heritage Area and American Trails. He observed that he recognized a need for better communication between PennDOT and the trail building community, and had worked toward that improvement.

"We are fortunate to be located in an area of the State with a large expanse of both canal and rail trails thanks to the former anthracite coal industry.  These trails are not just a portal to our past, but also a pathway to our future.  As both the Bicycle/Pedestrian Coordinator and an avid trail user I’ve had the privilege of working closely with numerous forward thinking trail organizations.  Together we’ve made tremendous progress in trail crossing safety and development.  I look forward to continuing to work with our partners to make our trails a source of pride, an asset to their communities, and a fine example of what we can accomplish together." 

In addition to his work on the trail, Pohowsky also took this video of the Schuylkill River Trail Thun Section. 

10 Reasons to Sign Up for the Schuylkill River Sojourn

For every person who takes part in the annual seven-day, 112-mile Schuylkill River Sojourn, I'd estimate there are at least two people who tell us they've always wanted to try it, but just never have. This blog post is for them.  The sojourn takes place from June 1-7 this year. Here are 10 reasons to stop putting it off, and finally get on the water.

1. You don't have to be an expert paddler: Sure, we recommend you have some paddling experience, but beginners have done the trip without a hitch. Safety guides are there to help you, and most sojourners will give you tips if they think you could use a hand. Trust me, I'm a beginner and I benefit from expert advice every year.

2. You can do it alone: Don't have a paddling pal who can accompany you? No worries. There are usually anywhere from 70-100 paddlers on the water each day, and they are all moving along beside you. After a day of paddling you will have made at least one new friend and possibly a whole river full.



3. You don't have to do the whole trip: Not sure if you'll like it? Just sign up for one or two days. Chances are, you'll be back for more next year.

4. We take care of everything: First time sojourners often comment on how well organized the event is. All you do is show up with your kayak and gear. We lead the way, provide water and Gatorade at rest stops, give you three meals a day, arrange for entertaining and educational programs at lunch and dinner stops, transport your gear, shuttle you back to your car and provide a place for you to camp. Seriously, you don't have to do a thing. (Well, you do have to paddle.)

5. You'll gain a new perspective: If you've never paddled on the river, you'll be amazed at how peaceful and beautiful it is. Even as it passes through urban areas, it often feels like a wilderness. Besides, the Schuylkill River is a source of drinking water for 1.5 million people, and it has great history. Most of us pass by it without a thought. Once you've paddled it, you'll feel like you've finally gotten to know this body of water that you cross on bridges every day.

6. It's the perfect opportunity to try something new: Even if you paddle on the river all the time, chances are you haven't paddled the whole thing. This is the perfect chance to try a piece of it you've never experienced before. My recommendation? Sign up for the Wednesday paddle from Pottstown to Mont Clare, so you can float through a remnant of the Schuylkill Canal, and through the restored Lock 60. Or how about Friday, the final day of the sojourn, which takes you into Boathouse Row?

Betsy Quant of Canoe Susquehanna

7. Our guides are great: Every year the sojourn is led by Allan and Betsy Quant of Canoe Susquehanna. They make the trip fun and safe, advising the group of any potential obstacles every morning, and leading everyone around them throughout the day.







8. The food is great: We don't just give you a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for lunch and a hot dog for dinner. We partner up with other non-profits who provide hearty meals at each stop. Sojourners rave about the food.

9. You'll learn something: Each year, we have a program theme, with speakers and presentations at every stop. This year's theme is A Civil War Odyssey. We'll have re-enactors, Civil War music, a one-woman play and more to entertain and inform.




10. You'll have a wonderful time: If you only do one or two days of the sojourn, I recommend choosing a mid-week day. That way, you'll be out on the water, paddling under a blue sky, surrounded by beauty and enjoying the company of other paddlers. Meanwhile, your co-workers will be at work. This is a good feeling. Trust me, I've done it.

Register here.

Volunteers from Penn State Schuylkill Clean the Schuylkill River Trail in Landingville

About 14 volunteers came out to clean up the Schuylkill River Trail Bartram Section, near Landingville in Schuylkill County  last Saturday, in honor of Earth Day. While their numbers were small, the task they performed was not. Among the items they pulled out of the area surrounding the trail were: 90 tires, a refrigerator and other appliances, scrap metal, and piles of plastic bottles and other debris.

The Schuylkill River Heritage Area organized the cleanup with the assistance Penn State Schuylkill, the Schuylkill Headwaters Association, and RETTEW Associates Inc.’s Schuylkill Haven office.  Support was provided by the Black Rock Motorsports Club, whose members used winches to haul out the tires , and CJ’s Tires, in Orwigsburg, which graciously volunteered to accept the tires from the site. Clean It Supply, based out of Jeffersonville, also assisted with the cleanup effort by donating 150 56-gallon trash bags, while the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation donated vests, work gloves and an additional 100 trash bags.

The trail cleanup was held in conjunction with the Schuylkill Scrub, a watershed-wide event that takes place over several weeks every spring. The Schuylkill Scrub is an effort of many partners who share the common goal of cleaning roads, streams and park to prevent trash from making its way into drinking water sources.

The Landingville section of the Schuylkill River Trail was in particular need of attention. It was an easy dump site before the trail was built and has been the focus of clean-ups in the past. To give an idea of the magnitude of the problem, during an earlier cleanup 120 tires were removed. Schuylkill River Heritage Area Trails Project Manager Robert Folwell said more tires and other debris remain in that area, and additional cleanups will be held in the future.

In addition to the Landingville cleanup, volunteers were also out on the Thun Section of the Schuylkill River Trail, near Squirrel Hollow Road in Berks County. The Schuylkill River Trailkeepers and the Berks Bicycle Club cut back branches and pruned overgrowth in that area, getting the trail ready for spring trail users. See photos of that cleanup in The Mercury.

Reasons to Sign Up for the Schuylkill River Sojourn's Mid-Week Days

Photo by Dan Creighton

Every year it happens. The first few days of our annual week-long Schuylkill River Sojourn fill up as soon as registration opens, but registrations trickle in more slowly for the other days. The reason for this is simple: the first two days happen on the weekend.  And Monday, which also fills up quickly, includes an area of rapids that many paddlers enjoy. But, with only about 100 boats allowed on the water per day (for safety reasons) not everyone who wants to participate on those days can get in. However, Tuesday through Friday of the annual sojourn all offer great paddling opportunities and they are much easier to get into. Here are few reasons to sign up for days other than Saturday, Sunday and Monday for this year's 15th Annual Schuylkill River Sojourn, which takes place from June 1-7. As always the sojourn will begin in Schuylkill Haven and end at Philadelphia's Boathouse Row with participants paddling 14-18 miles per day, and choosing all or part of the trip. The program theme is A Civil War Odyssey.

 Tuesday June 4. (13.9 miles: Gibraltar to Pottstown)
If you have never done the sojourn before, and want to test out a day, this is the day to try. This is a somewhat shorter paddling day, with only 13.9 miles of paddling and a lot of beautiful scenery. Despite passing near some urban areas, when you're on the river you truly feel like you are in the wilderness. Paddlers in this area have reported seeing bald eagles and other interesting wildlife, including the swan pictured on the left. Another reason to consider Tuesday? We have great programming planned. The lunch stop at Historic Morlatton Village includes great food in a beautiful and historic setting. Schuylkill River Heritage Area Executive Director Kurt Zwikl will provide an interesting program on Abraham Lincoln's connection to the Schuylkill River Region. And the evening stop, at Riverfront Park in Pottstown, includes arguably the best dinner on the trip, catered by Bause Catering. The evening program will feature an entertaining and educational performance on Civil War buglers by History Alive's Rich Pawling.

Sojourners come through Lock 60

Wednesday June 5. (17.8 miles: Pottstown to Mont Clare Lock 60) Paddlers again encounter pleasant scenery and one of the highlights of the weeklong sojourn: they end at the restored Lock 60 on the former Schuylkill Canal. Lock 60 is the only operating lock remaining of the canal, and one of the only canal sections still watered. Sojourners end the day by "locking through" the lock (see photo on left) so they not only get to experience a bit of history, but some interesting paddling, as well. Wednesday's lunch setting is also enjoyable, at Victory Park, in Royersford, where the speaker will talk about the Griffin Gun, which was produced in Phoenixville and used by the Union Army during the Civil War. In the evening, paddlers can camp out near the canal, eat spaghetti dinner at nearby St. Micheal's Pavilion, and learn about the Underground Railroad in the region from presenter Chris Densmore, curator of Friend's Historical Library at Swarthmore College.

Thursday June 6. (14 miles: Mont Clare to West Conshohocken) This is a great day to paddle for several reasons. For one thing, it contains a nice mix of scenery. Paddlers begin the day in the canal and make their way into the river and through some wooded areas, then make a rest stop at Valley Forge National Historic Park. Later in the day they encounter some interesting bridges and urban settings. From a programming perspective, this is "General's Day" where both programs focus on Civil War generals. Lunch is at Upper Merion Boathouse, where Bruck Hocking, President of the W.S. Hancock Society will talk about Norristown native General Hancock. At dinner, in West Conshohocken, Professor Andy Waskie will give a living history performance of Gen. George Meade. Both presentations promise to be entertaining.

Friday June 7 (16 miles: West Conshohocken to Philadelphia). This may be the final day, but it's also one of the best days of the sojourn! Sojourners love having the opportunity to paddle with the Philadelphia skyline as their backdrop and alongside the iconic Boathouse Row. If you need another reason to paddle on Friday, lunch is at the historic Philadelphia Canoe Club, where you eat surrounding by some amazing antique boats. The final takeout is Lloyd Hall on Boathouse Row, but before that the sojourners always organize for everyone's favorite sojourn photo, the Sojourn Salute (see photo above).



Click here to register for any of the above days.

Preparing for the 15th Annual Schuylkill River Sojourn

2011 Sojourn photo by Dan Creighton

On April 1 we opened registration for the 15th Annual Schuylkill River Sojourn which will take place from Saturday June 1 through Friday June 7 this year. For the first time, we are providing a two-week registration period that is exclusive to full-trip registrants only. Those wishing to participate in only part of the trip can sign up beginning April 15. This is being done because of the increasing popularity of the first few days of the trip, which fill up so quickly (for safety reasons only 100 boats are permitted on the water each day) that full-trip hopefuls often miss out on the weekend.

Photo by Jeremy Quant

At the Schuylkill River Heritage Area, we've been organizing the sojourn for the past 15 years. The Schuylkill River Sojourn is a 112-mile, seven day guided paddle that begins each year in rural Schuylkill Haven and ends a week later at Philadelphia's Boathouse Row. Participants can register for as little as one day, or the entire trip. Typically, the first three days are the most popular--the first two because the occur on the weekend, and the third because it includes "Kelly's Rapids," a fun section of fast moving water.

2012 Sojourn Performance

Paddlers travel 14-18 miles per day, taking occasional  water breaks and stopping for lunch and overnight campsites at parks along the river. All lunch and evening stops feature musical entertainment or programs on such topics as local culture, history or the natural environment. This year's program theme is A Civil War
Odyssey. It will feature experts speaking on topics such as the Underground Railroad, the role of Schuylkill County Miners in the war, a bugling performance, and a discussion on the commemoration of the 150th Anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg by Gettysburg National Park Superintendent Bob Kirby. Click here to learn more about the daily itinerary and programs for 2013.

Each year, the sojourn's popularity grows.  A survey of 2012 sojourners found that over 90 percent of participants rated their overall experience on the sojourn as either good or excellent. What do people like
most about the sojourn? Camaraderie, fun, and days on the river. Here's what some of our sojourners from last year had to say about their experience:

• " I come away with a good feeling that there are wonderful, friendly people in the world!"
• " Learned a few river paddling techniques, made a lot of new friends, and had a fantastic time!"
• "Everyone who attended had high praise for the event and it was justified."
•    "I learned that an amazing group of river guides can take a nervous newbie and teach her to have a fabulous and safe time on the river." 

Visit our website to learn more about the sojourn's costs, deadlines, programs and more.

Thanking our Volunteers

Did you know that the Schuylkill River Heritage Area operates and maintains 28 miles of the Schuylkill River Trail in Berks and Schuylkill County? Because we are a non-profit organization, we rely heavily on volunteers who perform much of the maintenance that gets done along that part of the trail. In fact, we really couldn't keep the trail pruned, clean and obstruction free without them.

Last week, we thanked our volunteers with a dinner at our Pottstown headquarters. Thirty-five volunteers attended. They not only had the opportunity to eat a delicious meal and mingle with one another, they also heard trail updates and learned about some new trail-related initiatives.

Anesa Owen addresses the volunteers

Schuylkill River Heritage Area Executive Director Kurt Zwikl spoke about property acquisition and crime and security issues along the trail. Trails Project Manager Bob Folwell provided updates on 2013 trail projects and activities. Volunteer Coordinators Greg Marshall and Jason Stoudt, who organize workdays along different sections of the trail, announced upcoming work schedules.

Dinner attendees also got to meet our newest staff member, Vista Volunteer Anesa Owen. Anesa introduced herself and spoke about her duties as Trail Sustainability Coordinator. She also discussed the addition of Trail Ambassador Coordinator Dave Kline. While Kline was unable to attend the dinner, he will play an important role in coordinating those volunteers who are designated Trail Ambassadors.

The Schuylkill River Heritage Area has a total of 202 volunteers and 42 trail ambassadors. Volunteers are responsible for maintenance and upkeep. They may assist with litter cleanups, help remove downed trees, prune overgrowth, or other activities related to trail upkeep. Trail Ambassadors are volunteers who ride or walk the trail regularly and assist other trail users. They hand out maps and offer information about projects, trail distances and destinations near the trail. To find out more, visit our Volunteer web page.