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November 2024
"October's Keystone Hiking and Outdoor Weekend in the Susquehanna Riverlands superbly celebrated hiking, other outdoor pursuits, and the stewardship of nature. Over 150 people experienced the fun and camaraderie embodied in the event as well as a new appreciation for one of Pennsylvania's exceptional landscapes. What a weekend! There remain more ways to engage with KTA in 2024. If you are active in a trail or hiking club - or any group with an affinity for trails - join us on November 16 for a special symposium in Marysville, PA to learn, share, and connect with like-minded organizations. But hurry, registration ends November 8. And thanks for renewing your membership and/or donating to our work. Your support makes great things happen, as illustrated in the recent appeal you may have received from us. Together, we are a powerful force for the care and enjoyment of the Commonwealth's great trails and wild places." - Brook Lenker, Executive Director
President's Trailhead
Dear Members, ....
We had our annual meeting and awards ceremony at the KTA's Keystone Hiking & Outdoor Weekend. The following individuals were recognized: Certificate of Achievement: Wanda Shirk KTA Club of the Year: AMC-Delaware Valley Chapter KTA Volunteer of the Year: Krista Cessna KTA Citation Award for Lifetime Achievement: Katie Barker
Congratulations to all hiking award recipients!: Appalachian Award: Matthew Broadhecker, David Kutzor, Pallavi Vedantam Merit Award: Cyril Quatrone Merit II Award: Justin Funk, Cyril Quatrone Eastern Pennsylvania Award: Kathy Borrell, Justin Funck, John Harder, Cyril Quatrone Western Pennsylvania Award: Eric Butterbaugh, Cyril Quatrone, Mark Radzin State Forest Trails Award: Kathy Borrell Young Hiker Award: Alice Butterbaugh, Elena Butterbaugh, Parker Lingenfelter, Reid Lingenfelter, and Virginia Milburn 100 Mile Trail Challenge for 2023-2024: Donna Stolz
We also want to recognize our employee Casey Schneck for his five years of service to KTA.
A sincere thank you to the following Endowment Fund Contributors for 2024: George Probst Estate, Guardian; Al and Barbara Wiemann, Keystone Hiker; Wanda Shirk, Sustainer; and David “Cyril” Quatrone, Life Membership.
Beaver Run Bridge Flash Crew Update We want to thank the awesome volunteers who recently came together to rehabilitate the bridge over Beaver Run on the Quehanna Trail East Cross Connector! The bridge had been flooded for multiple years by a beaver dam, causing a mandatory wet crossing along a heavily used connector trail in the Quehanna Wild Area. KTA coordinated with Moshannon State Forest staff who provided materials and brought them to the site. Volunteers constructed new spans to replace the flooded ends of the bridge, while utilizing a portion of the existing structure which sits above the waterline. Hikers will now find an easy way to cross this small pond, which has become a haven for wildlife.The efficiency, enthusiasm, and skilled workmanship that went into this project exemplifies the strength of KTA's volunteer trail care program.
Golden Eagle Trail (GET) KTA Trail Care
For GET, we had a great weekend at a new-to-us lodging option, and had a chance to view the Aurora Borealis! Friday and Saturday, volunteer crews touched almost every mile of the fantastic 9.2-mile GET. We dug, brushed, lopped, pulled seedlings, and treated invasive barberry and autumn olive, etc.. Many appreciative hikers expressed their thanks for our efforts over these two gorgeous days. Sunday morning, however, was cooler and rainy, so we worked on cleaning, organizing, and sharpening tools for their long winter's nap. Check out the below before and after photos of our work on the Golden Eagle Trail!
Thank you to our volunteers from the October 10-13th, 2024 Golden Eagle Trail Care weekend!
The 40th Anniversary Season of KTA Trail Care
Al and I, along with PA's hikers and backpackers, would like to sincerely thank everyone who volunteered in 2024 by spending their valuable time and gas money. There would be no Trail Care without all of you! In advance of the Awards Ceremony at KTA's Fall Keystone Hiking and Outdoor Weekend, I compiled some statistics: all of our metrics are up over 2023 - number of volunteers, miles traveled to Trail Care, miles of trail worked on, etc.. There were a lot of first-timers, as well as some committed volunteers who returned for a couple (or most!) of the 18 events. You can hear all about 2024's successes at our 2nd Annual Volunteer Celebration! This event will be held Sunday, November 24, 2-4 pm, at Rock God Brewing in central PA (Danville, Montour County, easy access off I-80) again this year. All 2024 TC Volunteers are invited - watch your email for details. Those who volunteered for more than 3 events will receive rewards, plus, those who volunteered forty hours or more get the nifty Forty 4 Forty bandana! Also, new this year, the public is welcome to come join us and celebrate our volunteers. We will have pizza and snacks, as well as a cash bar (donations welcome.) More information and a simple RSVP form is here. We are all looking forward to a fantastic 2025 season!
"On Friday, October 4th, 14 intrepid individuals met in Ohiopyle to tackle the southern half of the stunning 70-mile Laurel Highlands Trail. The event was sponsored by the Keystone Trails Association (KTA), known as a slackpack; participants stayed in a motel at night and were transported to and from the trail each day." - Read the fantastic recap of KTA's LHHT 2024 Slackpack by David W. “Cyril” Quatrone, aka FourFeet, here!
KTA has joined Lancaster Community Foundation's Extra Give! Get ready to give! On November 22, visit extragive.org and make a donation to us and/or to any of the great participating nonprofit organizations in your community. All giving will end at 11:59PM on November 22, so make sure to get your gift in on time.
Volunteerism, Trails & Stewardship
Keystone Trails Association and PA Parks & Forests Foundation join together to offer a day of training for trail maintenance volunteers and organizations engaged in the stewardship of trails and public lands.
Registration is $25/person and includes lunch and all sessions. Register here!
đź‘‹ Meet Dave, a KTA supporter from Venango County!
Q: What are you currently excited about in your hiking life? A: "Completing the North Country trail in PA, hiking the Black Forest trail (for the 4th time) and the Susquehannock trail this spring. Also, introducing youth from our church to backpacking for the first time."
Support KTA's mission to provide, protect, preserve, and promote recreational hiking trails and hiking opportunities in Pennsylvania. Shop our newly designed merchandise here!
Did you hear?!
Keystone Trails Association was featured on a September podcast, Hemlocks to Hellbenders, hosted by Christian Alexanderson.
Co-hosted by KTA's Executive Director, Brook Lenker, and Communications and Development Manger, Haley Feaster.
Volunteerism, Trails, & Stewardship Symposium November 16th (Sat)| Marysville, PA Join Keystone Trails Association & the Pennsylvania Parks and Forest Foundation for a Symposium for Trail Clubs, Conservation Volunteers, and Park and Forest Friends Groups! Come together to learn, connect, and celebrate! Register Now! >
KTA WEBINAR SERIES: Fastest Known Time Athlete Bob Stewart November 19, 2024 (Tue) 6:00 PM Join KTA for a webinar on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, at 6:00 pm with special guest Bob Stewart. Bob holds seven titles for Fastest Known Times in Pennsylvania. KTA explores the world of the Fastest Known Time. Registration is free but required! Register Now >
KTA WEBINAR SERIES: The North Country Trail Association December 10, 2024 (Tue) 6:00 PM Join KTA for a webinar on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, at 6:00 pm with special guest Lauren Kennedy-Little, Regional Trail Coordinator - PA & Ohio, NCTA .The North Country Trail Association (NCTA) is the nonprofit partner of the National Park Service in developing, maintaining, protecting, and promoting the North Country National Scenic Trail. The NCTA unites volunteers, affiliated trail groups, and others in support of caring for the trail and telling its story. Registration is free but required! Register Now >
Virgin Islands National Park Hiking & Eco Adventure| KTA International Trip Fundraiser January 19-26, 2025 | Registration is now closed
Spring Hiking Weekend April 25-27, 2025 | Raystown Lake - Save the date
Submit Your Photos for the National Recreational Trails Photo Contest sponsored by American Trails! Deadline December 15th. Enter contest here
The annual Leave No Trace Award​s ​recognize outstanding contributions in the following categories: Individual Service, Youth Program, Outstanding Protected Area, and Community Partner. Nominations close on Nov. 17th. Leave No Trace
Here's what to know about the Beaver Moon, peaking the afternoon of Nov. 15th. Detroit Free Press
Wildfire concerns across northeastern and central Pennsylvania, WNEP News
Plans to make the Pennsylvania Turnpike the first sustainable highway in the U.S. by 2040. Bay Journal
The general elk season opens Monday, Nov. 4 and runs six days through Saturday, Nov. 9th. PA Game Commission
Other PA Club & Org Events
US Forest Service certified C-Sawyer Evaluators Peter Jensen and Bob Sickley of Peter S. Jensen & Associates LLC are teaming up with PPFF for a two-day classroom and hands-on chainsaw training course designed specifically for volunteers. 11/9-11/10 registration link, 11/12-11/13 registration link
11/8-11/11: Be part of a new PATC annual tradition by joining other outdoor enthusiasts for the 2024 Fall TrailFest this November. The event will be held at the Caroline Furnace Camp and Retreat Center in the beautiful Massanutten Mountains surrounded by George Washington National Forest. PATC
11/17: National Take a Hike Day! Join KTA Executive Director, Brook Lenker, at 9:30 am for a two hour hike at Fort Hunter Conservancy! Register at explorewildwoodpark.org/events/
11/19: Webinar with PA Interfaith & Light, Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper and Three Rivers Waterkeeper: Watersheds and their Problems. Register here
11/23: Turkey Talk, There’s no better time to talk about the turkey than—you guessed it—Thanksgiving! Van Scott Nature Reserve, Beach Lake, PA. Delaware Highlands Conservancy. Register here
11/23: Join REI and 52 Hike Challenge - Pennsylvania Chapter for Opt-Outside 2024 in Gallitzin State Forest for a hike and celebration! Hike 52 Challenge, register here
2/14-17: SkiDance is a volunteer-led activity sponsored by Sierra Club Potomac Region Outings (SCPRO). After almost 40 years, the organizers have decided to make this our last event, so if you’ve ever thought about joining us or haven’t been in a few years, make it a reunion and come help make it our best! Register here
5/21-24: We are excited to announce the date of the 2025 Pennsylvania Envirothon. Hosted this year in Windber, PA.
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