Warren County Winterfest

Warren County Winterfest extends our thanks to Penn Soil RC&D and all of the partners involved for this successful project to improve the West Branch of Tionesta Creek Trail which serves as an important recreational resource for the region and is also part of the race course for the Jim Lobdell Memorial Sled Dog Races held as part of the Warren Co. Winterfest Event.

WEST BRANCH TIONESTA CREEK TRAIL IMPROVMENT PROJECT, A.K.A. TIONESTA VALLEY RAILROAD GRADE REHAB PROJECT A portion of the abandoned Tionesta Valley Railroad grade was endangered by erosion and sedimentation issues. If left unchecked, the project area would have been eventually destroyed by overland flow. Volunteers for Penn Soil Resource Conservation & Development Council, Allegheny Outdoor Club and Tionesta Valley Snowmobile Club came forward and organized an effort to reverse the damage and protect the TVRR grade. Personnel from the Pennsylvania Game Commission and Chapman State Park also worked on the project. (photos by Walt Atwood)

Heavy equipment work continued today as the Pennsylvania Game Commission began to lay shale on on top of geotextile fabric in preparation for final layer for the rehabilitated Tionesta Valley Railroad grade. This segment of the abandoned TVRR line lies just south of the State Game Land #29 boundary with Chapman State Park. When complete, the rehabilitated TVRR segment will have corrected drainage, eliminating an erosion problem that threatened the grade. The Tionesta Valley Snowmobile Club volunteers also worked on sled dog race turn-around checkpoints. Tomorrow (Thursday) will be another big day; shale will be placed for the rest of the segment.

The Tionesta Valley Railroad grade, which leads south from the Chapman State Park campground onto State Game Land #29, has seen some erosion issues in recent years. Today's work is the beginning of a new phase to rehabilitate a short section of the TVRR Grade. (This segment of trail is part of the Jim Lobdell Memorial Sled Dog Race course, as well as being an important connector between Chapman State Park and the North Country National Scenic Trail.) Today, volunteers brought... a shipment of hay to the project site. Meanwhile, a trucking contractor brought a load of limestone to the site as well. This phase of the project is supported by donations and a state grant. The project's financial agent is Penn Soil Resource Conservation & Development Council. Penn Soil also serves as Winterfest's financial agent. photos by Walt Atwood

Seven and a half months left before Winterfest 2021, and we're already preparing for the Big Event!

The Winterfest 2021 announcement rack cards are here, ready for distribution. The event is scheduled for Jan. 29, 30 & 31, 2021. We will be making them available from Chapman State Park's office.

Warren County Winterfest 2021 Friday, Saturday & Sunday January 29, 30 & 31, 2021 Chapman State ParkWarren County Winterfest 2021 Friday, Saturday & Sunday January 29, 30 & 31, 2021 Chapman State Park

Winterfest's date has been set: Jan. 29, 30 & 31, 2021. Winterfest volunteers were pleased to sit down and talk with Chapman State Park Manager Tyson Martin and the PA. Game Commission's Land Manager George Miller yesterday.

Photos submitted by Tyson Martin, Park Manager, of the Patrick Shine Memorial Polar Bear Plunge, Saturday, 18 Jan. 2020

The Winterfest Event Planning Committee thanks Seneca Resources for being a Gold Level Sponsor of Warren County Winterfest.

from our volunteer Diana: We had a Build a Snowman Winner, John McClure of Boy Scout Troop 57, from Northeast, Pa.... This scout troop stayed at Chapman Dam for the weekend, camping out... Tough, guys.. Several of the scouts visited the Geo-meet and very interested in geocaching...2 of our seasoned geocachers took them out to hunt a cache and introduce them to geocaching... Congratulations, John...

The Warren County Winterfest Event Planning Committee thanks John Anderson Construction Company for their Bronze level sponsorship of the Winterfest.

Photos from Ed's trail blazing of the (wet underneath) sled dog race course.

Polar Plunge is "on" for Saturday at 2:00 p.m.Polar Plunge is "on" for Saturday at 2:00 p.m.