Times Leader
THIS WEEK: OCT. 6 to 12, 2006
Fall Frolic: A Woman’s Retreat Weekend with canoeing, crafts, hiking, discussions, de-stressing in a candle-lighted labyrinth and more activities for mind, body and spirit. Endless Mountains Nature Center, 265 Vosburg Neck Road, off Route 6, Tunkhannock. Begins tonight with dinner and continues through lunch on Sunday; $195 includes meals, shared accommodations and most activities. Registration: 836-7202 or emnconline.org.
Harvest Moon Hike. Enjoy a moonlit walk while exploring the folklore and superstitions of the harvest moon with naturalist Jon Beam. Montour Environmental Preserve, off Route 54 near Washingtonville. Tonight, 7 to 8:30; 437-3131.
North Branch Triathlon with a four-mile run, five-mile canoe paddle and 15.3-mile bike ride. Saturday with registration 7 to 8:15 a.m. at the WCC Building, 121 Main St., Wyalusing, and triathlon start at 9 a.m. Call 746-4922 or wyalusing.net.
Morning Bird Walk with birding expert Joe DeMarco. Endless Mountains Nature Center, 265 Vosburg Neck Road, off Route 6, Tunkhannock. Saturday at 8 a.m. Free; 836-7202 or emnconline. org.
Back Mountain Trail Bike Ride, along the 2.2-mile trail from Trucksville to Luzerne, then looping around Kingston, Edwardsville, Kirby Park and Forty Fort, then back to Trucksville. Meet in the parking lot of the Trucksville Fire Hall, Carverton Road and Route 309. Saturday at 9 a.m. Information: email handleys.net.
Nature Photography, a guided tour of Hillside Farms with photographer Steve Franco, who gives tips on nature photography. Hillside Farms, 65 Hillside Road, Trucksville. Saturday, 9 a.m. to noon; $25 includes film and processing or a CD of digital images along with a light lunch. Call 696-2881.
Grey Towers Landscape Tour with horticulturist Elizabeth Hawke, who provides an inside look at the landscape design of the 1886 French Chateauesque mansion. Grey Towers National Historic Site, off Route 6, Milford. Saturday at 1 p.m.; 296-9630.
The Wonders of Migration. Learn why many animals take to the skies and waters in search of warmer climates. Susquehanna Riverlands, Route 11, Berwick. Saturday, 1:30 to 3 p.m. Free. Call 542-2306.
Lost Trail Hike at Glen Onoko, 8.5 difficult miles. Meet at the Sears Automotive Store, Wyoming Valley Mall, Wilkes-Barre Township. Sunday at 9:45 a.m. Sponsored by the Susquehanna Trailers Hiking Club; 825-7200.
Pumpkin Float, annual canoe/kayak river trip from Sugar Run to Laceyville. Endless Mountains Outfitters, Route 287, Sugar Run. Sunday at 10 a.m. Held in conjunction with the North Branch Arts and Music Festival. Reservations: 746-9140.
Walk and Cruise for Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy. McDade Park, off Keyser Avenue, Scranton. Sunday with registration at noon followed by the walk at 1 p.m.; $10. With food, DJ music, raffles and Chinese auction. Call 876-4034.
Sunday Stroll and Harvest Lunch, a moderate one-mile walk through the natural preserve followed by a lunch made from seasonal produce. Lacawac Sanctuary, off Ledgedale Road near Lake Wallenpaupack. Sunday at 1 p.m.; $10; 689-9494.
Birding at Frances Slocum State Park. Meet in the parking lot of the Environmental Education Center and Boat Rental, off Mount Olivet Road, Kingston Township. Bring binoculars. Oct. 14 at 8:30 a.m. Free; 675-9900.
Woodland Way Trail Hike, 1.8-mile easy trek to view fall foliage. Meet at the wooden bridge in the Environmental Education Center parking lot at Nescopeck State Park, 1137 Honey Hole Road, Drums. Oct. 14 at 9 a.m.; 403-2006.
Landscaping for a Healthy Environment, a seminar sponsored by the Penn State Cooperative Extension. Included: streamside buffers, installing rain gardens to capture runoff, plants tolerant of drought or rain deluges, pesticides and fertilizers. Luzerne Borough Fire Hall, 65 Tener St., Luzerne. Oct. 14, 9 a.m. to noon. Free. Reservations: 825-1701.
Alzheimer’s Association Annual Memory Walk. Kirby Park, Wilkes-Barre. Oct. 14 with registration at 9 a.m. and walk at 10 a.m. Information: 822-9915 or alz.org.
Luzerne County Heart Walk to benefit the American Heart Association. Sallie Mae Servicing Corporation, Hanover Industrial Park, 220 Lasley Ave., Hanover Township. Oct. 14 with pre-event activities at 9 a.m. and walk at 10 a.m.; 822-6247.
Tapestry of Colors Hike, 5.5-mile trek on the Crow and Tuscarora Lake trails to the top of the dam for a spectacular view of the surrounding fall foliage. Tuscarora State Park, two miles west of Tamaqua off Route 309, Barnesville. Oct. 14 at 11 a.m. Registration: 467-2506.
Fireline Vista Trail Hike, a moderate one-mile walk to the vista overlooking the Lehigh River. Meet at the Fireline/Skyline Trailhead, off Route 534 at Hickory Run State Park in White Haven. Oct. 14 at 1 p.m.; 403-2006.
Tree Giants of the Neck. Examine some of the largest trees in the area along the old canal tow path at Endless Mountains Nature Center, 265 Vosburg Neck Road, off Route 6, Tunkhannock. Oct. 14, 1 to 2:30 p.m. Call 836-7202 or emnconline.org.
Mysteries of Migration, a presentation by Dr. Jerry Skinner on the how and why of migration with a closer look at some of the migrating animals. Salt Springs State Park, Silver Creek Road, off Route 29, Franklin Forks. Oct. 14, 2 to 4 p.m.; 967-7275.
Pine Trail and Hemlock Mountain Hike, 10 strenuous miles. Meet at the Park & Ride, Route 309 at Blackman Street, Wilkes-Barre. Bring lunch and water. Oct. 15 at 7:45 a.m. Sponsored by the Susquehanna Trailers Hiking Club; 283-1312.
Fall Bike Tour, eight-mile trip along the rail trail at Lehigh Gorge State Park from White Haven to Rockport. Oct. 15 at 9 a.m. Registration and information: 403-2006.
Campbell’s Ledge Hike, three steep miles to the pond at the top of the ledge in Coxton. Meet at the Greater Scranton YMCA, 706 N. Blakely St., Dunmore. Oct. 15 at 9:15 a.m.; $5. Call 343-5144 or hikingjane.com.
Hike at Choke Creek, six moderate miles with mostly rolling terrain on the Choke Creek Nature Trail in the Lackawanna State Forest. Bring lunch and water. Meet at the Commuter Parking Area, Route 315 at Oak Street, Pittston. Oct. 15 at 10 a.m. Sponsored by the Sierra Club; 819-2147.
Woodbourne Forest Trail Hike, four easy miles. Meet at the PNC Bank, 325 Memorial Highway, Dallas. Oct. 15 at 11:45 a.m. Sponsored by the Susquehanna Trailers Hiking Club; 655-4979.
The Colors of Autumn, a walk through the Wetlands Nature Area to learn about the different trees that grow along the Susquehanna River. Wetlands Cottage, Susquehanna Riverlands, Route 11, Berwick. Oct. 15, 1:30 to 3 p.m.; 542-2306.
Get Movin’ Hike, a moderately paced four-mile hike to learn about the natural history of the park. Salt Springs State Park, Silver Creek Road, off Route 29, Franklin Forks. Oct. 15, 2 to 4:30 p.m.; 967-7275.
Fall Foliage Canoeing, paddling around the inlet of Tuscarora Lake to explore the plants and animals that live there. Tusacarora State Park, two miles west of Tamaqua off Route 309, Barnesville. Oct. 15 at 4 p.m. Registration: 467-2506.
Senior Citizen Walk, two easy-to-moderate miles through Highpoint State Park for a 360-degree view over the Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey mountains. Meet at the Greater Scranton YMCA, 706 N. Blakely St., Dunmore. Oct. 18 at 9 a.m.; 343-5144 or hikingjane.com.
Exploring Audubon’s Lehigh. Drive the 50-mile Auto Tour route retracing the footsteps of famous ornithologist John James Audubon as he traveled the Lehigh River Valley in 1829. Oct. 21, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Meet at the yellow caboose in downtown White Haven and bring a bag lunch. Sponsored by the Greater Wyoming Valley Audubon Society; 403-2006.
Parkinson’s Disease Walk, third annual event with a craft show, face painting, DJ music, door prizes and Chinese auction. Smith Health Care, 453 South Main Road, Mountain Top. Oct. 21, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. with walk at 11 a.m.; 474-5968.
Lake Scranton Tree Identification Walk with naturalist Jane Frey. Meet at the Pennsylvania-American Water Company parking lot on Route 307, Scranton. Oct. 21 at 10 a.m. Free; 343-5144.
Live Bats! Join Susan Gallagher from the Carbon County Environmental Education Center as she dispels some of the misconceptions about bats while exhibiting live specimens. Wild Birds Unlimited, Dallas Shopping Center, Route 309, Dallas. Oct. 21 at 1 p.m. Free; 675-9900.
Panther Bluff Hike, three steep miles to the top of the mountain in Simpson. Meet at the Greater Scranton YMCA, 706 N. Blakely St., Dunmore. Oct. 22 at 9:15 a.m.; $5; 343-5144 or hikingjane.com.
Tunkhannock Town Walk, four easy miles. Meet at the PNC Bank, 325 Memorial Highway, Dallas. Oct. 22 at 11:45 a.m. Sponsored by the Susquehanna Trailers Hiking Club. Call 693-2152 or 472-0319.
Llamas and Autumn Splendor. Hike with llamas around the Friends Land. Limited enrollment. Salt Springs State Park, Silver Creek Road, off Route 29, Franklin Forks. Oct. 28, 1 to 3 p.m.; $2. Registration: 967-7275.
Weekend Appalachian Trail Hike, 11.4 miles on Saturday and 7.7 miles on Sunday in the Pine Grove area. Meet at the public parking lot at Exit 175 off I-81 in Dupont. Oct. 28 and 29. Sponsored by the Sierra Club. Information: 388-2418.
Montour Preserve Hike, six easy miles. Meet at the Omega Bank, Routes 118 and 29, Pikes Creek. Oct. 29 at 11:45 a.m. Sponsored by the Susquehanna Trailers Hiking Club. Call 825-7200 or 735-8190.
Whitetail Deer and Fall Mammals, an illustrated talk by naturalist Ethan Huner along with a buffet dinner. Pocono Environmental Education Center, off Route 209, Dingmans Ferry. Nov. 3, 7 to 9 p.m.; $18. Reservations: 828-2319 or peec.org.
Morning Bird Walk with naturalist Rebecca Lesko. Endless Mountains Nature Center, 265 Vosburg Neck Road, off Route 6, Tunkhannock. Nov. 4 at 8 a.m. Free; 836-7202 or emnconline. org.
