Gamelands (26-Feb-2016)

With it snowing this morning I started working on projects around my house. They took somewhat longer than I expected and before I knew it, it was late in the day. I still wanted to get out though and drove over to Beltzville getting there around 4. I parked at another gamelands access, which after walking around I found was attached to another section I recently cleaned up.

On the field sides were the norm. Mostly cans, some bait containers and a bottle or two.

From the fields I took a short path down a slope to the lake. It looked as though someone had a party at this place. Lots of cans and a few bottles scattered about.

Tied Penny to a tree to clean up this area. It is much easier that way when there is a lot of trash to be picked up. She seemed content at this spot, standing in the sun and sniffing the air.

This was just from along the small path down to the lake. I wonder how many of these little out of the way party areas around the lake I haven't found yet. 

For the time I put into it today I picked up a lot of trash. It was more than a pack and a grocery bag full. I am going to try to put more time in tomorrow and take out much more than this. 

I find Gatorade bottles on almost every hike. I thought it was odd when I didn't on this one. After putting all of the trash into the back of the car I went to get in. There I noticed the above just in front of the car. Yeah, it was still a normal trash day.

You too can help with taking out the trash! If you get out hiking take a grocery bag with you, give it a second use and fill it with trash while you are out! Every bit helps. You can also help contributing to this project here: Help Fund Taking Out the Trash

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Gamelands & Beltzville State Park (25-Feb-2016)

With heavy rains last night, my choices were extremely limited of places to go. The rivers and streams are all very high and clean-ups along most would currently be unproductive. This left me at Beltzville yet again. I think I am very close to having done at least one clean-up at every access there is around the lake. I started at another section of gamelands and took the worn down path through the corn field above. 

The path continued on through the brush to the water and at that point I started finding trash. As every other access to the lake there were chicken liver containers, water bottles and more.

How is it that finding full Gatorade bottles is a common thing? We are so incredibly wasteful. The item on the right I found soon after the gatorade bottle. In this case I just imagined this litter's day. He or she went to the convince mart, picked out a nice sandwich, grabbed some live bait and a pack of smokes. Then it was down to the lake for a leisurely day with a line in the water and oh that sandwich. Probably egg salad and only a couple days past expiration, but I am sure they enjoyed it. Then the rest of their afternoon was spent just puffing away at the entire pack of Marlboro lights. Not a single fish was caught, but they considered the day a success. As the sun went down they packed up the fishing gear and neatly packed away there garbage and tossing it into the brush as they started up the trail. Yes, I do sometimes imagine in more detail than this how specific trash items got to where I find them. You collect trash enough days in a row, you probably would too.

This is just what was near the water. I could see more in the thick brush and multiflora on both sides down the bank, but it is something that I would need to take care of in the kayak with the tongs. The lake was high today as well, I might possibly be able to do more once it lowers to average levels. 

In the gravel on the shore was this bead necklace. It matched Penny's color so I put it on her to see if she liked them. She calmly posed for this photo and proceeded to try to take it off. I helped her with that and added the necklace to the pack.

This was a lot of trash for the small area that I had covered and I know I couldn't even get to everything that was there. Do people enjoy fishing surrounded by a bunch of trash? 

I stayed at the same gamelands for the second venture for trash. This time I took paths up the lake. In this photo it is clear the lake is a little higher than normal. 

Someone didn't have a good day fishing. This reel was not next to the lake, but in a tree line between fields on the gamelands. 

After walking up a cove and following the road I had more than a pack again. I covered the majority of the paths and possible areas to stash trash that could reasonably be accessed. So it was back to the car and off to another site. 

The second pile of trash for the day and I think it was a good one. Even with more needing to be done at this and other sites around the lake at least it is a start. Well all of this is just a start. With warmer weather coming sadly there will just be more trash added. 

I wanted to get in a good hike for Penny without much stopping for trash. I drove down to the Sawmill Trail, where I have done multiple clean-ups in the recent past. No luck with not finding trash. 

Some of the items were ones that I had missed on the previous trips through. Most likely they were obstructed from view before. 

Other items were new. On the left is an old can, but it had recently been put in that tree. At the slate quarry along this trail there are often cans shoved between the layers of slate and of course there was a new one.

For a trip that was just supposed to be a hike fore Penny, I sure did pick up a lot of trash. Always more trash. 

I made one last stop before heading home. With finding amphibians last night I just wanted to check out a small spring to see what I might find. It was snowing by this time, but I continued to it anyway. I did not find any amphibians, but I did find multiple adult Water Striders. I can say I learned something today from this. I did not know Water Striders overwintered as adults, I guess I didn't think about it before now. It is astonishing that such a small creature could survive all winter long. 

I might be back out at Beltzville again tomorrow. Sorry to the readers who might be getting sick of it. There is still trash there though and it needs to be taken out.
You too can help with taking out the trash! If you get out hiking take a grocery bag with you, give it a second use and fill it with trash while you are out! Every bit helps. You can also help contributing to this project here: Help Fund Taking Out the Trash

Like this blog? Like it on Facebook: Taking Out the Trash in Eastern PA

Amphibians on the Move (24-Feb-2016)

Wood Frog (Lithobates sylvaticus)

Last night I was sure the heavy rains and warmer temperatures would have some of our native amphibians on the move. There were not many, but I did find a couple species. So, where are they going and why are they out? The two frog species you will see in this post are spring breeders. Both emerge from their overwintering spots and make their way to vernal pools or other wetland areas. Vernal pools are depressions that fill with snow in the winter, rain in the spring and only retain water for a limited time. Since the pools do dry up they offer a safer alternative for egg laying and larval survival for amphibians. The reason being the lack of predators such as fish, which could quickly consume both adult and larval stage amphibians. 

Spring Peeper (Pseudacris crucifer)

If the warm temperatures return, soon the sounds of both Wood Frogs and Spring Peepers will echo from their wetland breeding areas. With both of these species it is generally the males who make it to the pools first and they will be the ones making the vocalizations you may hear. 

Wood Frog (Lithobates sylvaticus)

Keep these little critters in mind at this time of year. Especially when it rains. They can be traveling a good distance to get to their breeding sites and many times there are roads in the way. Amphibians don't fair too well against a car and there are many casualties as they try to cross. Help them out by trying to avoid them, because they do not have a chance at getting out of your way in time.

Of course there was trash when I was slogging through the woods. I picked up a handful of items, the areas I went to were fairly clean.

There are very strict laws regarding amphibians in Pennsylvania. Before you go out on a slogging adventure yourself, you should make sure to know the rules and regulations. If you are over 16 you should have a fishing license on you, even if you are just going out to observe them.

You too can help with taking out the trash! If you get out hiking take a grocery bag with you, give it a second use and fill it with trash while you are out! Every bit helps. You can also help contributing to this project here: Help Fund Taking Out the Trash

Like this blog? Like it on Facebook: Taking Out the Trash in Eastern PA

State Gamelands (24-Feb-2016)

The cold rain stuck around, but I had a much better day than yesterday. When I turned my car on the heat worked! I was ecstatic, on a day like this one it really is needed. The heat did kick off again half way to my destination, it came back again though and remained on the rest of the trip. I ended up going back to Beltzville Lake again. As I have pointed out in previous posts there at many accesses around the lake, both state park and state gamelands. I have been to every state park access, but there are still a couple gamelands I haven't stopped at yet. The one I visited on this trip was new to me. It was just a small lot and I wasn't expecting much. Every time I do that, I always find a lot of trash. 

I began cleaning up the parking lot before heading out on a hike. I found these piles of dumped tires and other stuff. Without anywhere to go with them, they had to stay. So many people are illegally dumping it is unbelievable. From what I have seen lately in this area it is getting worse. This should not be a problem anymore and it is a major one. If you see someone illegally dumping items, please contact local law enforcement. 

This is what I was able to take from around the lot. I have to admit I didn't do as good of a job as I normally would have. It was cold, raining and miserable. This was more of a dash for trash and get on the trail. 

All of the gamelands in this area are similar. Almost all have at least one planted pine row, fields and a small patch of deciduous trees on the side. I worked my way around the edge and down to the lake.

Picked up a few items along the field edge, but the majority of trash I collected on this hike was along the lakeside.

The ice keeps retreating on the lake and I hope soon all of it will be gone. The trash around the lake was the regular. Anyone use powerbait? The one in this photo was nearly full.

More of the same. 

For some people this might be a little graphic. This two liter Sprite bottle was nearly full with a brownish liquid. When I started pouring it out the smell was unmistakable and I knew there were dead mammals in it. Whenever an item like this is thrown out with an open top animals can get in them. They may be going in because they smell something that they think they can eat or they could just go in seeking shelter. Many times the critters can't get out and the open container acts as a trap. In this case two rodents found there way into this Sprite bottle and most likely drown. It is a horrible death that didn't need to occur.

I love walking through these old planted groves of pines. There are many in the area on public lands that once were tree farms. Not much life is seen in these groves, but it is peaceful and on a rainy day like this one it was dry. 

I had more than filled my pack and I was soaking wet. From this point it was back to the car and the items I picked up on the way back I just had to carry. 

The second pile of the day. Surpassed what I collected around the lot. I will have to revisit this area soon. There are a couple sites I need to get back to around Beltzville, I will be waiting for days with better conditions to do so. I hurried through this post tonight. The temperature is right and I want to get out tonight to see if any amphibians are out on the move! I know it is early, but I am hopeful. 
You too can help with taking out the trash! If you get out hiking take a grocery bag with you, give it a second use and fill it with trash while you are out! Every bit helps. You can also help contributing to this project here: Help Fund Taking Out the Trash

Like this blog? Like it on Facebook: Taking Out the Trash in Eastern PA

Lehigh Gorge State Park and a Gamelands in Schuylkill Co. (23-Feb-2016)

What an extreme difference in temperature since yesterday. It was cold this morning when I hit the trail, although it was expected it still was not welcomed. The gravel path which was waterlogged and soggy, had frozen solid overnight. I was in a hurry to get in and out before the incoming storm hit and in that hurry got a third of the way to my destination and realized I hadn't brought Penny's treats. I knew she would make the trip very frustrating had I not gone back, so we turned around and started over again. I still thought I had time to pick up and take out some trash before the storm arrived.  

When I got to the floodplain there was still no snow. Someone had put together this bench since I was there yesterday. That close to the water, it probably won't be there long. 

I stuck close to the waters edge as I walked upstream. This is the same thing I did on the 8th and to my surprise I started finding cans right away. There really must have been a lot of sediment moved after the last rain, I did a thorough job in this section on the 8th. The can on the right was impossible to take out. It is grown into the tree. The loose can on the left side was the first item I picked up and I the same moment I touched that can I a snowflake drifted down in front of me.

As I worked my way up the bank the snow kept picking up. From a couple flurries to a steady hard snow and it didn't take that long. The bumper on the left and the glasses on the right were a couple of the few plastic items I picked up before I decided I needed to give up for the day and get back to my car.

When I got back up to the D&L the snow was really coming down. I know it doesn't show up that well in the photo on the left, so you just have to believe me that it was. By the time I got close to the end, the trail was starting to become covered and I was hoping the road was not the same. My concern that the road going up the hill on the way out would be icy and my car wouldn't be able to make it. I don't think this access is a main priority and I didn't want to be stuck there for any amount of time.

I was happy to see the road was just wet and I emptied out the little amount of trash I collected from my pack. It wasn't much, but at least it was something. 

By the afternoon the snow had turned into rain and I decided to try my luck again, but not by the river. I took a short drive to Gamelands in Schuylkill County. On the way over I found that my luck hadn't changed to much since the morning. The fan in my car for heating and air conditioning just flat out stopped working. On the way over it wasn't bad, but I had to keep my window cracked to keep the windshield from fogging up. When I got to the site my luck continued. The valley the gamelands was in was still covered in snow and ice. We just had three days around and over 60 degrees, since the last large snow storm there were heavy rains. How was there still snow? Some of the area around the pull-off for parking was clear and I collected and piled up a few pieces of trash before I set out on the trail. 

I thought once I got close to the stream there might be snow free banks, but for the most part it didn't work that way. Where there were snow free places on the shore, there was not a single piece of trash.

When I got to this point on the trail I was soaked, cold and had enough. I decided to turn around. 

On the way back to the car I noticed something on the railroad tracks that left me shaking my head. Small plastic beads on almost every rail tie. This would indicate that these beads were cargo on a train and the car they were in wasn't completely secured. How much plastic was lost and littered across the rail line in this way? It kills me because it is such a preventable waste that should not occur. We waste too much and we just don't seem to care.  

I went back to the car in a slightly different way and found that there was trash along the slope next to the parking lot. I was not in a mood for a mystery bag at this point and there one was. A tap with my boot was all I needed to figure out the mystery. The bag was staying, a small animal was the contents.  Yes, I have found enough bags with animals in them that I can tell that's what is in them by a simple nudge. Most of the time it is house cats, sometimes it is skinned fur bearing animals, others are deer parts. I think this one was a cat, but I couldn't say for sure. Why people throw out any animals or animal parts out in plastic bags is beyond me. 

It didn't take me long to fill my pack with bottles and cans on and at the bottom of this slope. I was completely soaked at this point, cold and miserable.

The good thing is that, even with the left over snow at this site, I was still able to take out this much trash. The bad thing is I had to get back in my car and drive home without heat and the window down so I could see out the windshield. This was not the best day so far this year, but that's how things go. It's over and I'm already laughing about it.   

You too can help with taking out the trash! If you get out hiking take a grocery bag with you, give it a second use and fill it with trash while you are out! Every bit helps. You can also help contributing to this project here: Help Fund Taking Out the Trash

Like this blog? Like it on Facebook: Taking Out the Trash in Eastern PA