By John Bojarski, Butler Eagle Staff Writer
October 3, 2011
PROSPECT
Below 50 degrees and raining is not the ideal temperature for outdoor fun, but to hikers, that doesn't matter.
"There's no such thing as bad weather, only appropriate gear," said Thyra Sperry, president of the Keystone Trails Association.
The association had its fall meeting and hiking weekend in Butler County this weekend. It planned 28 hikes at Camp Lutherlyn, McConnells Mill State Park and Moraine State Park between Friday and Sunday. The group is a nonprofit advocacy organization for long distance hiking trails in Pennsylvania.
The event brought 125 people from across Pennsylvania as well as some from Ohio and New Jersey. They camped at Lutherlyn, either in tents or in cabins.
One thing that Sperry likes about the group is the diversity of its members. "The commonality is hiking," she said.
Curt Ashenfelter, the executive director of the group, said hiking is not just a physical activity, but it is somewhat spiritual, bringing him closer to nature.
Although hiking may be intimidating to some people, Ashenfelter said the association uses hikes to appeal to people of different ages and experiences. "We have a whole range of hikes," Ashenfelter said of the weekend event. In addition to the fun activities, the group's board meetings were held Saturday. Several topics were scheduled to be discussed, including concerns related to natural gas drilling in state forests. Children's activities, a canoe ride, food and other entertainment were also featured at the event.
The association, which was founded in 1956, has nearly 1,700 members. The group also has 50 member clubs with 35,000 people.
Additionally, Ashenfelter said that 3.5 million state residents consider themselves to be hikers. "There are a whole lot of people in Penn's Woods that like to hike," Ashenfelter said.
He said the group has not come to Butler County for this event in a couple decades. He was impressed by trails near Eckert Bridge and the Slippery Rock Creek Gorge in McConnells Mill.
John Stevens of State College, a board member and coordinator, joined the group in 2006, when he moved to State College. Although he attended this weekend, he said he was on "injured reserve" after getting a medical procedure. Although he would not hike, he said he came to enjoy the outing and attend the meetings. One of his favorite aspects involves maintaining the trails. Almost every hiking trail in the state is maintained by volunteers, including members of the KTA. "Unless you run into it, you don't know it happens," Stevens said. He encouraged people who may have an interest in hiking or trail maintenance to check out the group, saying that they would be partnered with people who have experience. "If you've never done this before ... don't worry," he said.
Laurie Kroft of Butler Township said that before this weekend she did not know that there were several hiking trails at Lutherlynthat are open to the public. "It's kind of funny that you don't know what's in your own backyard," Kroft said. A member of the Butler Outdoors Club, she helped guide hikes for people who were from out of the area. She has been involved with the KTA for four years and has been on several of their hiking trips. "It's a nice organization," Kroft said.
For more information on the group, visit www.kta-hike.org.
John Bojarski
[email protected]
724-282-8000 Ext. 254
October 3, 2011
PROSPECT
Below 50 degrees and raining is not the ideal temperature for outdoor fun, but to hikers, that doesn't matter.
"There's no such thing as bad weather, only appropriate gear," said Thyra Sperry, president of the Keystone Trails Association.
The association had its fall meeting and hiking weekend in Butler County this weekend. It planned 28 hikes at Camp Lutherlyn, McConnells Mill State Park and Moraine State Park between Friday and Sunday. The group is a nonprofit advocacy organization for long distance hiking trails in Pennsylvania.
The event brought 125 people from across Pennsylvania as well as some from Ohio and New Jersey. They camped at Lutherlyn, either in tents or in cabins.
One thing that Sperry likes about the group is the diversity of its members. "The commonality is hiking," she said.
Curt Ashenfelter, the executive director of the group, said hiking is not just a physical activity, but it is somewhat spiritual, bringing him closer to nature.
Although hiking may be intimidating to some people, Ashenfelter said the association uses hikes to appeal to people of different ages and experiences. "We have a whole range of hikes," Ashenfelter said of the weekend event. In addition to the fun activities, the group's board meetings were held Saturday. Several topics were scheduled to be discussed, including concerns related to natural gas drilling in state forests. Children's activities, a canoe ride, food and other entertainment were also featured at the event.
The association, which was founded in 1956, has nearly 1,700 members. The group also has 50 member clubs with 35,000 people.
Additionally, Ashenfelter said that 3.5 million state residents consider themselves to be hikers. "There are a whole lot of people in Penn's Woods that like to hike," Ashenfelter said.
He said the group has not come to Butler County for this event in a couple decades. He was impressed by trails near Eckert Bridge and the Slippery Rock Creek Gorge in McConnells Mill.
John Stevens of State College, a board member and coordinator, joined the group in 2006, when he moved to State College. Although he attended this weekend, he said he was on "injured reserve" after getting a medical procedure. Although he would not hike, he said he came to enjoy the outing and attend the meetings. One of his favorite aspects involves maintaining the trails. Almost every hiking trail in the state is maintained by volunteers, including members of the KTA. "Unless you run into it, you don't know it happens," Stevens said. He encouraged people who may have an interest in hiking or trail maintenance to check out the group, saying that they would be partnered with people who have experience. "If you've never done this before ... don't worry," he said.
Laurie Kroft of Butler Township said that before this weekend she did not know that there were several hiking trails at Lutherlynthat are open to the public. "It's kind of funny that you don't know what's in your own backyard," Kroft said. A member of the Butler Outdoors Club, she helped guide hikes for people who were from out of the area. She has been involved with the KTA for four years and has been on several of their hiking trips. "It's a nice organization," Kroft said.
For more information on the group, visit www.kta-hike.org.
John Bojarski
[email protected]
724-282-8000 Ext. 254