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May 2024
"Check out the many wonderful things KTA and its partners have on tap for May and beyond in 2024. Hope to see you soon. Thanks for reading!"
- Brook Lenker, KTA Executive Director
New Weekday Trail Care Opportunities
For those of you closer to KTA headquarters, we're coordinating with Central Pennsylvania Conservancy again this year to offer Trail Care days during the week. From May through August, you can join us at LeTort Spring Garden Preserve, near Carlisle, to help spruce up their trails, and work on a couple brand new trails. The dates are 5/21, 6/18, 7/23, and 8/20. We'll work from 9-3 or stop whenever everyone has had enough, and depending on weather. We may expand into some Wednesdays, at their preserves in Juniata County.
New this year, one of those Tuesdays will be for women only, in partnership with the PA Chapter of Women Who Explore. We're still deciding on which date, but likely 6/18 or 7/23. So, if you're unsure if trail care volunteering is for you, or perhaps feel intimidated, please join us for a day of trail fun! We will start with a tutorial and safety talk, then likely split into small groups to tackle some trail projects.
Susquehanna Trailers Adopt Pinchot Trail
Some fantastic news in the trail world is that the Susquehanna Trailers Hiking Club, based in Wilkes-Barre, has adopted the Pinchot Trail! This 26-mile figure eight loop is great for backpacking, but has not received regular maintenance except from Pinchot State Forest and KTA through Trail Care weekends. A steady group of Trailers, led by volunteer Nancy Barrett, has been tackling the Sassafras Trail portion of the loop on Saturdays in the last two months. KTA's Manager of Trail Maintenance, Jenn Ulmer, along with Pinchot's Recreation Forester, Megan Finnen, led a short introduction to trail maintenance workshop, and the trailers hit the ground running after that! If you're local to the Pinchot Trail and would like to get involved with maintenance of the Pinchot Trail, or join them on their Sunday hikes, please get in touch with the club.
Trail Love: Michaux Edition
Are you ready for an exciting adventure? KTA is celebrating National Trails Day on Saturday, June 1st, with a one-day trail maintenance extravaganza that will bring together volunteers and community partners to tackle multiple trail maintenance projects on several trails in or proximate to the Michaux State Forest.
Here's an opportunity for you to give back to the community & help maintain the trails that you love to hike on. We invite you to join us for an optional forest camporee on Friday evening and even opt for camping.
We will kick off Saturday with a breakfast and program rally! Unwind at a congratulatory cookout with live music following Saturday's completed trail care projects. Camping has also been extended into Saturday night, so you can enjoy more of the great outdoors.
Keystone Trails Association is honored to receive Trails Capacity Program grant funding. KTA's Wilds Weekend Trail Crews project is funded by American Trails and the Ford Bronco Wild Fund.
The Wilds Weekend Trail Crew project will help support 5 trail work weekend events in the PA Wilds from April through October. Project goals include stewardship of 60 or more miles of trails, activation of 35 unique volunteers (including 10 new), and providing improved hiking experiences in the PA Wilds region.
"These projects across the U.S. were selected based on their excellent project applications, relevant, high-impact work, and representation of areas of the country that we were not able to support in 2023," says Mike Passo, Executive Director at American Trails.
2024 Trail Care Season - it's finally here!
This month we're kicking off the 40th season of KTA's Trail Care Program!
Keystone Trails Association, testified before the Pennsylvania House Committee on Game and Fisheries at the Pennsylvania State Capitol
The hearing was held to provide information on HB 2106, a bill that aims to amend Title 34 (Game) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes by removing the prohibition on hunting on Sundays.
Tuesday, April 9th, Brook Lenker, the Executive Director of Keystone Trails Association.
Shira quickly discovered trail care after stumbling across KTA's website in 2018 and has been a dedicated member ever since. She has volunteered at over a dozen trail care events and, together with her husband Brian MacNamara, Shira has co-lead several trail care weekends on the Bucktail Path, Thunder Swamp trail system, and in Reeds Gap State Park.
David "Cyril" Quatrone, Center Valley, PA
Cyril is an avid hiker based in Pennsylvania. As a boy scout, he enjoyed hiking and earned the rank of Eagle. He has also been doing trail maintenance and hopes to become more qualified to do certain things in the region. Cyril is currently trying to hike every mile of every trail on the KTA map as well as the entire AT. In addition to being a member of the KTA Board of Directors, Cyril is also the event coordinator for the Allentown Hiking Club.
Collaboration Leads to Capture of Littering Perpetrator on Appalachian Trail
The National Park Service, Game Commission staff, along with KTA section volunteer Sherry Ferguson, recently collaborated to clean up a large amount of trash that was dumped near the Appalachian Trail. Evidence was discovered in the garbage that led to the identification of the person responsible for the irresponsible act. It's disheartening to know that some people still engage in such behavior, but it's encouraging to know that the perpetrator was caught and fined $1,800.
Hopefully, this will serve as a reminder to others that littering not only harms the environment but also carries consequences. Let's all do our part in keeping our planet healthy and flourishing!
Pennsylvania Outdoor Recreation Survey
Attention Keystone Trails Association members! We encourage you to participate in the Pennsylvania Outdoor Recreation Survey conducted by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
By sharing your thoughts and opinions, you can help guide future investments, policies, and facilities for outdoor recreation in Pennsylvania. Your responses will be used to develop the next Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan.
Please note that the deadline for submitting your responses is Wednesday, May 22. Thank you in advance for taking the time to participate in this important survey. LINK FOR SURVEY
Behind one Pennsylvania Nonprofit Who's Listening to, and Speaking for, the State's Trees, Trails and Natural Resources
“KTA has this noble mission to provide, protect, promote and preserve hiking trails and hiking opportunities in Pennsylvania,” Lenker says. “We have a legacy with trail care … and supporting the Pennsylvania trail clubs that take care of other trails or trail segments” - Executive Director, Brook Lenker.
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 Blue Mountain Eagle Climbing Club in Reading, Pa and the Horse-Shoe Trail Conservancy in Southeastern, PA. Stay tuned for more project updates!
The Horse-Shoe Trail Conservancy, who oversee the awesome 140+ mile path from Valley Forge National Park to the Appalachian Trail, want to show some love to their section maintainers! These amazing volunteers do everything from mowing and weed whacking to tree cutting and blazing trails. To give them a big thank you, they plan to distribute volunteer t-shirts and hats.
The Blue Mountain Eagle Climbing Club resides in Pennsylvania's beautiful Berks and Lehigh Counties. BMECC plans to establish a bear canister lending program for overnight visitors to carry a bear-resistant food storage container.
Brook Lenker, KTA Executive Director, to M.C. the A.T. Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on 9/21/24
👋 Meet Michele, a KTA member and supporter from Wrightsville, PA!
Q: What makes hiking in Pennsylvania special/meaningful to you? A: "Pennsylvania is a beautiful state to be in, I love seeing green as far as the eye can see."
Lyme Disease Awareness Month, Webinar with the Tick Research Lab of Pennsylvania May 29, 2024 (Wednesday) , 5PM (FREE - REGISTRATION REQUIRED) Join Keystone Trails Association and special guest the PA Tick Research Lab for a webinar on Wednesday, May 29th at 5pm EST to raise awareness for Lyme Disease Awareness Month. The PA Tick Research Lab is a university-affiliated lab based in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania that is dedicated to providing fast, highly rated, laboratory-quality tick testing to people in high-risk areas for Lyme and other tick-borne diseases nationwide. Don't miss this opportunity to learn about the importance of tick testing and prevention in the fight against Lyme disease. Register Now> ( It's free!)
Trail Love: Michaux State Forest Edition June 1, 2024 (Sat) (optional camping the night before)
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*
Allegheny National Forest Hiking Weekend August 16-18 (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 with a prepared dinner, attend a special guest presentation, or head into town for a night out!Register Now >
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 >
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!
Pennsylvania Hiking Club Symposium November 16th (Sat)| SAVE THE DATE
The Keystone Trails Association's Hiking Club Symposium is an event that promises a day of fun, learning, and camaraderie for Pennsylvania Hiking Clubs and partners.
Spring Hiking Weekend at Raystown Lake! April 25-27, 2025| SAVE THE DATE
For those interested in obtaining further information about spongy moths and the Game Commission's spraying program, an interactive web page is available. The page contains a map that provides regular updates on the status of spraying.
Whether you're new to birding or are a seasoned pro, The Nature Conservancy wants to know which birds you've seen. Take their backyard bird survey now!
The South Mountain Partnership is urging community members to lend their support to the proposed Resources Management Center for the Michaux State Forest District, which is intended to replace the existing District Office in Franklin County. Support South Mountain
KTA’s annual 100 Mile Trail Challenge recognizes hikers who hike 100+ miles of PA hiking trails between 9/1–8/31 and secure at least $1/mile sponsorship for each mile of their journey. Donations support KTA's mission!
Do you hike with your dog?! Tips to keep in mind to keep everyone safe during black bear cub season from BearWise.
5/5, 1pm, The Netteburg Family bring stories from their AT thru hike with their 4 children (ages 4, 6, 8, & 11) in 2020. Their youngest hiker made history when she completed the trail at age 4. The Appalachian Trail Museum, 1120 Pine Grove Rd, Gardners, PA 17324
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.
5/18: Public Lands and Rachel Carson Trails Conservancy's DEI Committee join forces to host a women's-only trail run! North Country Trail - Moraine State Park, Butler County, Pa
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.
6/7-6/15: Lancaster Water Week, celebrating efforts and opportunities to re-wild for clean water!
6/8: Duck Dash Race, Hosted by the Butler County Outdoor Club, Sponsor a $5 duck to support Butler Chapter of the North Country Trail. Contact Joyce Appel to support, Joyceappel@windstream.net or 724-526-5407
6/8: The Mason-Dixon AT Outdoor Fest, Red Run Park in Waynesboro, PA. There will be food trucks, live music, and plenty of vendors.
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!
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