AHC and the D & L Trail: 25 Years of Commitment

In July, 1999, Sherry Petrilak and Tom Gittings of the Wildlands Conservancy attended the AHC monthly meeting to talk about a new trail, the D & L Trail, and recruit volunteers to be Trail Tenders to help maintain and improve the trail. This simple encounter has led to a 25-year continuing partnership between our two organizations.

AHC decided to become a roaming maintaining group, tackling areas that needed attention. Gene Scharle served as liaison with the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor and organized club participation in work trips. The first outing was Nov. 20 to Lock 22 at Mud Run, 2.7 miles north of Rock-port. The club improved an access trail from the D & L to the lock and removed vegetation from the lock.

During the span of 10 years, AHC participated in 30 work days. Club members volunteered at Lock 2 south of Glen Onoko, Lock 4 north of Glen Onoko, Lock 22 at Mud Run, Lock 24 near Lehigh Tannery, Locks 28 and 29 near White Haven, and Dam 4. As a change of pace, AHC tackled clearing vegetation from the railroad turntable south of Glen Onoko, and built an access trail with a rail fence. The club also performed trail maintenance at the Penn Haven Plane, Weissport, Parryville, and spent a day upgrading signage and kiosks along the trail. At most of these events, the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor provided lunch to the volunteers.

After 10 years, in 2009, AHC decided to adopt Lock 2 south of Glen Onoko. Built 1836-1838, Lock 2 is a 17 foot high lift lock, 22 feet wide and 125 feet long, with a buttress extension on the river side of the lock. Carl Griffin and Jim Gabovitz assumed responsibility for planning the twice a year work trips and directing club volunteers. Our volunteers have cleared vegetations from the capstones, inside the lock, and between the lock and the river so that rafters can see the lock; built a set of steps to facilitate visitor access to the inside of the lock; planted grass inside the lock;, dug out the headwall; removed graffiti and invasive plants; and erect-ed two signs. The club also maintains the three-tenths mile access trail from the D & L Trail at the railroad trestle to the lock. Lock 2 is in good condition.

Although AHC has not formally adopted the Coalport Guard Lock, which is just over a half mile south of Lock 2, the club has also worked at this lock and maintains the access trail between the two locks. This lock is also well preserved, although an earthen dam has been created across the center of the lock.