Inside: Meet the Mid State Trail - New KTA staff - and Special Trail Care shirts!
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April 2024
Dear Member & Friend of KTA,
Spring is upon us! Get out for a hike and bring a friend!
I want to thank you for your efforts in furthering our mission of providing, preserving, protecting, and promoting recreational hiking trails and hiking opportunities in Pennsylvania. At a pivotal grassroots level, each of you is making a difference. Whether it be through trail maintenance, volunteering with local hiking clubs, adding your voice to advocacy issues affecting our trails, or leading a local hike, we thank you.
In addition to the 15 Trail Care events listed below, there are even more exciting ways to get involved in 2024!
There will be a workday on KTA's adopted Appalachian Trail section and side trails (from Lehigh Furnace Gap to Lehigh Gap) on Saturday June 22, from about 9-3. More information and a Trail Care Event page to follow! Come join veteran A.T. volunteers in making sure this legendary trail is in primo shape.
Again this year, we'll be partnering with Central Pennsylvania Conservancy to offer one-day trail workday opportunities! Join us on the following Tuesdays at LeTort Spring Garden Preserve south of Carlisle: May 21, June 18, July 23, and August 20, approximately 9 am - 3 pm. More information and a dedicated Trail Care Event page to follow.
Celebrate the kick-off of our 40th Trail Care Season!
Show your support for KTA's Trail Care Program on and off the trails by sporting a special 40th Anniversary t-shirt or sweatshirt! Get yours here >
👋 Meet Trish, a KTA member and supporter from south central PA!
Q: When did you start hiking?
A: "I’ve been a hiker all my life, growing up outside Mt Holly Springs, I was surrounded by woods and nature. I wouldn’t have it any other way."
We want to announce a sizable bequest that has just been received from the George Gardiner Probst Estate. In his honor, the majority of the bequest has been invested in the Keystone Trails Endowment fund.
We are growing - again! Join us in welcoming our new team members:
Al Germann brings experience in trail stewardship and a passion for exploring the state’s great outdoors to a new position focusing on the extensive trail network in the PA Wilds region, assessing trail conditions, and organizing maintenance activities as KTA’s first Trail Care Coordinator.
Kate Prisby, with a background in education, program management, volunteer recruitment, and conservation leadership, will serve as KTA’s Manager of Events and Programs. In this role, she will orchestrate outings and other programs that offer memorable trail adventures and teach hiking etiquette, safety, and skills – ensuring that hikers of all demographics and experience levels feel comfortable and respected on PA’s trails.
Haley Feaster, an entrepreneur with a resume steeped in advocacy and communications, will expand KTA’s network of partners and continue to build awareness of KTA’s mission as Manager of Communications and Development. She brings a wealth of energy and ideas to her new post.
Farewell to Holly Tritt
KTA had the good fortune to have Holly Tritt join its staff in the winter of 2023 as Manager of Communications and Membership. Beyond a series of energetic interns, the Association had never had a staff member focused on communication activities. Holly’s creativity, skills, experience, and good ideas took our messaging to new heights with snazzy printed materials, compelling social media, inspiring trail videos, stellar website content, a fresh newsletter design, and so much more. Her efforts had a tremendously positive impact on the organization.
Holly is off to a new adventure in her life, but she has made a lasting difference at the Keystone Trails Association. The board and staff are grateful for her service and can-do attitude. Her kind and supportive spirit will be greatly missed.
- Brook Lenker, Executive Director
"I've enjoyed meeting so many amazing people during my time at KTA! Thank you to the staff, board, and members for being supportive of my work. I'm honored to have been part of such a milestone season in the organization's history. I'm looking forward to setting out on an adventure to pursue some long-time personal interests focused on volunteering and caring for others."
- Holly Tritt
KTA Announces Spring 2024 Mini-Grant Recipients!
The KTA Grants-to-Clubs program offers funding to KTA member organizations for projects beneficial to trails, the vitality of their organization, and the practice of hiking. We are pleased to fund the following nine Pennsylvania Hiking Clubs. KTA looks forward to sharing details about the funded projects in our future Keystone Hiker newsletters!
Spring Hiking Weekend - Last day to register is 4/5 April 19-21, 2024 | Stroudsburg, PA
Join us for 3 days of hiking, camaraderie, and looking ahead to the future of PA's trails! Lodging will be provided at Twin Pines Camp, Conference, and Retreat Center in Stroudsburg, PA. Choose from either a hotel-style room, bunk stay, or campsite. Enjoy evening presentations about the Kittatinny Ridge Conservation Landscape and Appalachian Trail. Register Now >
Kittatinny Rambles Series: Appalachian Trail Bluebell Hike at Scott Farm Thursday, April 25, 2024 | Middlesex Township, Cumberland County
Enjoy beautiful Virginia bluebell wildflowers blooming in profusion along the Appalachian and Conodoguinet Creek. Learn about plans for the Scott Farm property as the future home of Keystone Trails Association and an important hub for trail activities by conservation partners. The adjacent Kittatinny Ridge is a major flyway for migratory birds and an iconic landscape deserving amplified awareness and protection.
3:00 p.m. – Easy four-mile out-and-back hike 4:30 p.m. – Alternative half-mile out and back 5:00 p.m. – Picnic at Scott Farm
The event is free, but please register by April 19! Register Now >
Kittatinny Rambles Series: Wildwood Mega Hike at Wildwood Park Saturday, April 27, 2024 | Susquehanna Township, Dauphin County
As part of Wildwood Wetlands Festival, explore approximately four miles of the park’s trail system, incorporating portions of the wetland boardwalks, East Shore Trail, Tall Timbers Trail, Fox Run Trail, Wildwood Way, and the Towpath Trail. The hike traverses a variety of habitats–from open marsh to mature upland forest–and affords inspiring views of the Susquehanna Water Gap, a National Natural Landmark along the Kittatinny Ridge.
Event Location: 100 Wildwood Way Harrisburg, PA 17110
The hike departs from the entrance to the Olewine Nature Center The event is free. Registration is not required.
Trail Love: Michaux State Forest Edition June 1, 2024 (Sat) (optional camping the night before)
Celebrate National Trails Day with KTA! During this celebratory one-day trail maintenance extravaganza, volunteers and community partners will tackle multiple trail maintenance projects on several trails in or proximate to the Michaux State Forest. An optional forest camporee on Friday evening and a congratulatory cookout will be provided after projects are completed on Saturday. Register Now >
Hybrid Wilderness First Responder June 8-12, 2024 | Yellow Breeches Educational Center, Harrisburg
The Wilderness First Responder (WFR) course provides essential training in wilderness medicine, leadership, and critical thinking for professionals, leaders, and outdoor adventurers in outdoor, low-resource, and remote environments. In-person instruction will take place from June 8-12, 2024. There are 30 hours of pre-course work required to attend the in-person sessions. Pre-course work must be started no later than May 8th and completed no later than June 5th at 5:00 pm. View more information here!
To register, please contact Kate Prisby, Keystone Trails Association Manager of Events & Programs at: prisby@kta-hike.org. Registration and full payment must be received by May 8.
For questions about course specifics, please contact course instructor, Tara Cross at: bluemountainmedic@gmail.com.
*Course fees are on a sliding scale: $525 Keystone Trails Association Volunteers & Trail Club Representatives $550 Keystone Trails Association Members! $575 General Public Lodging is not provided*
Challenge yourself to complete these arduous miles of steep climbs and rocky terrain punctuated with fantastic vistas and scenic forest hollows. The course is great for both trail runners pushing for their best times on rugged trails and hikers aiming to complete the strenuous challenge before the evening finish cutoff. *Early bird pricing ends June 30!*Register Now >
Allegheny National Forest Hiking Weekend August 16-19 (Fri-Sun) | Allegheny National Forest
A long-standing tradition, KTA's ANF Hiking Weekend is great for hikers looking for a laid-back weekend with friends (or friends-to-be). Explore the beautiful forests on guided group hikes during the day. Then enjoy relaxing evenings around a bonfire, attend a special guest presentation, or head into town for a night out! Save the date - more info to come!
Keystone Hiking and Outdoor Weekend October 18-20 (Fri-Sun) | Susquehanna Riverlands
Explore the Susquehanna Riverlands through a create-your-own-experience-style weekend! Choose from events hosted by community and outdoor-related organizations to highlight the natural recreational assets of the region. We will have guided adventures, educational opportunities, and stewardship activities. Learn More >Registration opening soon!
5/11: The 2024 Hike Across Maryland (HAM) on the Appalachian Trail (AT), The HAM is a one-day hike that will be held on May 11, 2024. It starts in Maryland near the PA/MD border at Pen Mar Park, follows the Appalachian Trail through Maryland, and ends in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. The distance is about 41 miles over rocky and rough trail with several significant climbs.
6/7–6/9: The Allegheny 100 Challenge (A-100) is an unsupported endurance hiking challenge with no timekeepers, no aid stations, and no finish line other than the one hikers set for themselves.
8/4: Baker Trail UltraChallenge (50-mile ultramarathon on the Baker Trail; the "challenge" is for you or your relay team to win, or at least finish within 14 hours!
How to hike the A.T. without quitting your job - A recent article in The Trek explores how longer section hikes can be a useful tool for folks to experience the entire A.T. without quitting their jobs.
Learn about PA's State Parks
We're happy to sponsor the Hemlocks to Hellbenders podcast in 2024. This show highlights PA's beautiful outdoor recreation opportunities.
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