Keystone Trails Association - Our First Half Century

Keystone Trails Association has been around for over 50 years! In 2005 and 2006 our newsletter featured the milestones for each decade. Take a look back with us and see how we've grown.

1956-1965: The birth of Keystone Trails Association

The First Ten Years of KTA: 1956-1965

Conceived in Catoctin; Hatched in Harrisburg

Founding of a Dream

Although the organization that became Keystone Trails Association first emerged in Harrisburg in January of 1956, it had its initial conception a few months earlier in Catoctin, Maryland. For some years a group of trail clubs in the Baltimore/Washington area had been sponsoring a fall weekend get-together to which were invited various other hiking groups located within a reasonable travel distance. In 1955, the gathering was held on the weekend of October 1-2 at Camp Greentop in Catoctin, with some 135 hikers in attendance, including a number with an interest in Pennsylvania trails.

1966-1975: Growth and Changes

The Second Ten Years of KTA: 1966-1975

Publications

KTA's second decade began with a determined focus on the group's publication program. The organization's first ten years had already seen three editions of Pennsylvania Hiking Trails. Although these were all relatively modest 8 ½ " x 11" booklets with simple sketch maps, they were enthusiastically received by the Pennsylvania hiking community, as witnessed by the need for three editions during KTA's first ten years.

KTA's Third Decade: 1976-1985

The third decade of KTA's existence proved to be the busiest so far. The organization continued to grow and established itself firmly as a force and voice for hikers throughout the Keystone State. Various new member services were implemented, and ever more energy was put into public policy concerns. More support was provided for trails on the ground. The ten-year period ended with two events that shaped much of the group's activities for a number of years into the future.

KTA's Fourth Decade: 1986-1995

The fourth decade of KTA's existence was a notably productive one. The highlight of the decade, of course, was the Appalachian Trail Conference's 1989 biennial general meeting at East Stroudsburg, PA, with KTA as host. In addition though, there were other notable accomplishments relating to the Appalachian Trail and other trails in the state. There were also significant developments involving KTA's organizational arrangements.

1996-2005: Maturity and Change

KTA's Fifth Decade, 1996 - 2005: Maturity and Change

The last ten years of KTA's first half-century saw the organization begin to establish itself more firmly as the statewide organization representing the hiking community. Broadening concerns forced the organization to look beyond its early roots as a group of clubs focused mainly on the Appalachian Trail.

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