October 2024

"Like all of you, Keystone Trails Association is saddened by the destruction and loss of life caused by Hurricane Helene in the Southeast. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy has issued a press release providing helpful links to support recovery efforts in the impacted region and asking hikers to refrain from hiking certain southern portions of the AT until further notice. Helene is a stark reminder to tread lightly on the planet and strive to reduce our respective carbon footprints. As always, we appreciate your KTA involvement,  conservation spirit, and outdoor passion.  If you haven't already, please sign-up for the upcoming Keystone Hiking and Outdoor Weekend and, if you represent a trail club or hiking group, consider attending our first-ever Volunteers, Trails, and Stewardship Symposium, in collaboration with the PA Parks and Forest Foundation. In gratitude" - Brook Lenker, KTA Executive Director

As the weather cools, the 40th Anniversary Trail Care season begins to wind down. There still are a couple opportunities to get involved. We could use your help from October 4-6 for a "Flash Crew" Trail Care event on the Quehanna Trail Eastern Cross Connector.   We will have free camping starting Thursday night.
Al Germann and a KTA volunteer have been working with Moshannon State Forest on a solution to the Beaver Run Bridge quandary (see pic below), and have come up with  a solution and list of materials. If you can help this Friday, Saturday, or Sunday morning, see the event page here.

Next up in October is some work on the beloved Golden Eagle Trail in the Pine Creek Gorge, Oct. 10-13, and a workday on KTA's section of the A.T. on Nov. 2. We're working diligently on planning next year's Trail Care events. Do you know of a trail that could use some love? Are you willing to help scout and/or lead a Trail Care event? Email Jenn at ulmer@kta-hike.org or call 570-854-8316.

Last month, KTA volunteers contributed sweat equity on the Bucktail Path in Elk State Forest, as well as the Chuck Keiper Trail.  We also completed work on a great little loop near Lock Haven, Clinton County, as another Flash Crew dug, cut, and painted their way on the Camp Hollow and Lick Run Trails.

The Tuesday Trail Care series at LeTort Spring Garden Preserve near Carlisle wrapped up in September. Thanks to all the volunteers who came out and helped spruce up the trails and gardens there. We are looking forward to working with Central Pennsylvania Conservancy (CPC) again next year, probably on their Juniata County Preserves: Gregg's Woods and Port Royal Wetlands. Speaking of CPC, three Trail Care volunteers (Donna, Victoria, and Jessica) joined Jenn at their trail race fundraiser, the Ironmaster's Challenge, and had a blast assisting runners and hikers at the Hammonds Rocks aid station.

2024 Trail Care Season:

• 10/10-13: Golden Eagle Trail, Jersey Mills Ranger Station
• 11/2: KTA Lehigh Gap: KTA's A.T. Section
  Learn more about our Trail Care Program

Don't Miss Out on KTA's Fall Keystone Hiking & Outdoor Weekend! 

Autumn colors will be at their peak October 18-20 in the Susquehanna Riverlands, a designated conservation landscape.  Join us in York and Lancaster counties to get outside with other outdoor enthusiasts.  Take a hike during the day or under the full moon, attend a workshop to learn something new, head out on a riverside biking tour, see the Susquehanna via boat, bookend your day with yoga, come to the keynote speaker and socialize.  The 50+ events over the weekend have opportunities for all ages and mobility levels.  It's an exciting spin on KTA's traditional Fall Hiking Weekend.  Registration starts at $25 per adult; youth 18 and younger are free.  Scholarships are available.  Registration closes on October 15.  We hope you'll join us. Register here!

SUNDAY HUNTING ALERT

SB 67, which would allow Sunday hunting in PA was recently voted out of the House Game and Fisheries Committee today. It has already passed the Senate. A similar bill HB 2106, passed the House earlier this year and is now in the Senate. Both bills are very similar. It is likely that  Governor Shapiro will sign such legislation if and when it gets to his desk. KTA encourages its members and followers to share their opinions on these and other matters with their legislators. 

Click here to find your local legislator, PA General Assembly

Walk in Penn's Woods

Walk in Penn’s Woods, a statewide coordinated event on the first Sunday in October, encourages people across Pennsylvania to learn how their local woods work, see forests in new ways, and appreciate and love them so that we can all care well for them.
Walk in Penn’s Woods is for people across Pennsylvania to visit and learn about the forests that enhance our well-being. Forests always work for us, providing recreation, wildlife habitat, beauty, improved water quality, clean air, wood products, carbon storage, and more. - From the Pennsylvania Forestry Association
KTA supporters check out one of the Walk in Penn's Woods hike hosted by the Sproul State Forest in Clinton County, "Little Beaver Loop!" This hiking route includes the Chuck Keiper Cross Connector reroute that KTA's Trail Care team has worked on.
Check out all the hikes in Penn's Woods here! 

Are You an Educator?

KTA is looking to establish a volunteer team of experienced educators to assist staff with occasional outdoor educational programs for local K-12 school districts and youth camps.  Please note, volunteers may be required to provide criminal record checks, child abuse clearances, and FBI fingerprinting.  If you're interested in learning more, please email Kate Prisby, Manager of Events & Program at: prisby@kta-hike.org.  

Loyalsock Trail - Eastern Section 
Primitive Slackpack Recap

"I've become very interested in hiking longer distances but my inexperience in the outdoors has kept me from it. Luckily, KTA's SlackPack in Loyalsock State Forest was the perfect introduction. Brook and the guides were incredibly supportive - providing facts about flora and fauna, knowledge of the trail and taking care of our food and overnight accommodations. If you want to try long-distance hiking, attending a KTA SlackPack is a must." - Christian Alexandersen's recap of KTA's Loyalsock Primitive Slackpack in September 

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! 

Meet A PA HIKER

KTA Webinars

In case you missed our past two webinars, tune in via the links below!
⛺  Latino Conservation Week, The Hispanic Access Foundation 

🏕  Potomac Appalachian Trail Club, PATC

NEW KTA MERCH!

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. REGISTER HERE! 

KTA WEBINAR SERIES:
"100 Years of the Appalachian Trail" by Jim Foster
October 30, 2024 (Wed) 6:00 PM
"100 Years of the Appalachian Trail" by Jim Foster: The concept of a hiking trail from Georgia to Maine began in 1921 with a famous article by A.T. visionary Benton MacKaye. Jim Foster will present a talk with pictures on the first century of the Appalachian Trail. He'll include the founders, those who built the original Trail and sustained it over the years, along with several important hikers. Jim is a volunteer and life member of KTA, a long time A.T. volunteer and a "2000 Miler" who hiked the entire Trail in 2007. Registration is free but required! Register Now! 

Wilderness Advanced First Aid 
November 7-10th| Camp Hebron, Halifax, PA 
This November KTA offers a four-day Wilderness Advanced First Aid class sanctioned by Wilderness Medical Associates (WMA). According to WMA, "Wilderness Advanced First Aid is the perfect entry-level course for outdoor adventurers and outdoor professionals who may need to provide patient care when help is delayed for hours to days. The course focuses on basic lifesaving skills, patient assessment, field care for common injuries and illnesses, environmental illnesses, and proper reporting for rescue assistance."  Wilderness Advanced First Aid provides invaluable confidence and medical skills to anyone who spends time in the outdoors or leads group activities in outdoor settings. The course includes expert instruction, course materials, coffee & continental breakfast daily, and lunch daily. Class will run from approximately 8:00 am- 5/5:30 pm. Lodging may be available upon request with Camp Hebron at extra cost. Participants will be expected to set up an account and view course information at a WMA website prior to attending the course (KTA will send details to registrants). 
Cost: ​$375 - KTA Volunteers
$400 - KTA  Members and member organizations
$425 - General Public/Non-Members 
"A limited number of partial scholarships may be available. If interested, please contact KTA" 
Register Here!

Volunteerism, Trails, & Stewardship Symposium
November 16th (Sat) | SAVE THE DATE
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 | APPLY NOW!
Registration is now closed 

Spring Hiking Weekend 
April 25-27, 2025 | Raystown Lake - Save the date

• Taking Care of the Chuck Keiper Trail, by Al Germann, featured on the PA Wilds Blog
• Here is a handy pocket guide for 2024-2025 hunting dates; Pennsylvania Game Commission. Please remember to wear your blazed orange.
• Pocono Environmental Education Center (PEEC) was recently awarded the 2024 Dr. Ruth Patrick Excellence in Education Award by the Water Resources Association of the Delaware River Basin, WRA
• DCNR Seeks Volunteers for Five Trails Advisory Committee Positions. 

  The agency is seeking interested parties to voluntarily represent each of the following user groups: Hiking, Bicycling, Water Trail Users, and two Members at Large, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

• Pennsylvania Fall Foliage Report, DCNR 
• GO Laurel Highlands receives USA Today Best Readers Choice Award for the region's fall foliage, GO Laurel Highlands 
• Sandra Marra, President and CEO of the ATC testifies before Congress in support of the Appalachian Trail Centennial Act, Appalachian Trail Conservancy 
• Each Friday, the Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry provides a unique and informative article on a forest related topic. If you would like to receive the weekly Forest Fridays email: PaForester@pa.gov

 Other PA Club & Org Events 

• 10/5-6: Eastern Pennsylvania Alliance of Climbers, techincal trails workshop, for more information email: dana@epaclimbers.org
• 10/5: Environmental Advisory Council Network Fall Gathering, and in-person networking and training event, at Temple University, Ambler Campus. WeConservePa. 
• 10/13: Tussey Mountain Trail: Guided Outing; hosted by Centred Outdoors! 
• 11/8-11/11: PATC TrailFest! 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
• 11/2: PATC; Ski Fair kickoff! Learn about all aspects of cross-country skiing and  upcoming trips for 2024-5, PATC headquarters 
• 11/15: Western Pennsylvania's Annual Gathering is scheduled for Friday, November 15th. Please mark your calendars and keep an eye out for more details in the near future.
• 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/
• 5/21/24: We are excited to announce the date of the 2025 PA Envirothon. Hosted this year in Windber, PA.