Did you know you can earn an award just by hiking?
A Brief History of the Keystone Trails Association Annual Hiking Awards
In 1961, the Keystone Trails Association (KTA) instituted an annual Hiking Awards Program to recognize those hikers whose enjoyment of Pennsylvania’s trails might serve as an example and inspiration to their peers. Over the years, hundreds of individuals have demonstrated their dedication to hiking and, in no small part, to preservation of trails by applying for and receiving the various KTA awards.
In 2003, three additional awards joined the traditional Appalachian Trail, Merit, Merit II and Western Pennsylvania Awards. Hikers may now apply for the Pennsylvania Award, the Young Hiker Award, and the State Forest Trails Award (cosponsored by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources).
Rules for each award, eligible trails, and the application procedure are outlined in this brochure.
In 1961, the Keystone Trails Association (KTA) instituted an annual Hiking Awards Program to recognize those hikers whose enjoyment of Pennsylvania’s trails might serve as an example and inspiration to their peers. Over the years, hundreds of individuals have demonstrated their dedication to hiking and, in no small part, to preservation of trails by applying for and receiving the various KTA awards.
In 2003, three additional awards joined the traditional Appalachian Trail, Merit, Merit II and Western Pennsylvania Awards. Hikers may now apply for the Pennsylvania Award, the Young Hiker Award, and the State Forest Trails Award (cosponsored by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources).
Rules for each award, eligible trails, and the application procedure are outlined in this brochure.
AWARD DETAILS AND REQUIREMENTS
- Appalachian Trail Award - Applicant must have hiked the entire Appalachian Trail in Pennsylvania.
- Merit Award - Applicant must have hiked the entire Appalachian Trail in Pennsylvania plus 200 or more miles on any of the trails listed below.
- Merit II Award - Applicant must have hiked all of the Appalachian Trail between the Hudson River and the Potomac River plus 200 or more miles on trails listed below in addition to those used for the Merit Award.
- Pennsylvania Award - Applicant must have hiked 500 miles in Pennsylvania. Trails can be found in Pennsylvania Hiking Trails, KTA's hiking guide. Portions of any trail may be used.
- State Forest Trails Award - Applicant must have hiked all 798 miles of trails in the Pennsylvania State Forest system. State Forest trails may be used to fulfill the requirements of another award. Applicant must complete a short form on DCNR's website in addition to sending in the KTA Award Application.
- Western Pennsylvania Award - Applicant must have hiked 200 miles or more on any of the western trails listed below.
- Young Hiker Award (12 and under) - Applicant must have hiked 25 miles on any trail in Pennsylvania. Applicant may receive this award on multiple occasions, but must complete the 25-mile requirement on different trails for each award.
ELIGIBLE TRAILS
Trails in italics are at least in part State Forest Trails and are therefore eligible for use in completion of the DCNR State Forest Trails Award. A list of trails and required mileage for each are listed on this Bureau of Forestry page.
Trails in italics are at least in part State Forest Trails and are therefore eligible for use in completion of the DCNR State Forest Trails Award. A list of trails and required mileage for each are listed on this Bureau of Forestry page.
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WESTERN TRAILS
Allegheny Front Baker Bucktail Path Chuck Keiper Donut Hole Elk Hickory Creek John P. Saylor Laurel Highlands Lost Turkey Mid State Mill Creek North Country Oil Creek State Park Quehanna Raccoon Loop Rachel Carson Rimrock-Morrison Shenango Susquehannock Twin Lakes Warrior |
EASTERN TRAILS
Big Pocono State Park Black Forest Blooming Grove Brandywine Conestoga Darlington Golden Eagle Horse Shoe Joseph Gmitter Lehigh River Loyalsock Mason-Dixon Mid-State Old Loggers Path Pinchot Ricketts Glen State Park Rocky Knob Standing Stone Susquehannock Thunder Swamp Tobyhanna Lake Tuscarora West Rim |
GUIDELINES
Applications received by September 1 will be eligible for receiving Awards at the Annual KTA Fall Hiking Weekend. Awards not claimed at the Annual Meeting will be mailed to the recipient. Applications received after September 1 will be considered for the subsequent year.
The following rules must be observed:
A log showing starting and stopping points on trails and dates hiked must be included with the application.
No trail may be used for more than one award, as specified in the award requirements, except for the Appalachian Trail and State Forest Trails Awards.
Except for the Pennsylvania and Young Hiker Awards, any trail used for an award must be hiked in its entirety; partially hiked trails will not be accepted.
In support of the application, please obtain the signature of an officer of KTA or some other outdoor organization.
A separate application must be submitted for each award.
Applications must be received by the first of September of the year in which the award is to be made.
Completed applications should be mailed to:
Keystone Trails Association
46 E. Main St.
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055
Direct questions to Casey Schneck at ktaadmin@kta-hike.org.
Applications received by September 1 will be eligible for receiving Awards at the Annual KTA Fall Hiking Weekend. Awards not claimed at the Annual Meeting will be mailed to the recipient. Applications received after September 1 will be considered for the subsequent year.
The following rules must be observed:
A log showing starting and stopping points on trails and dates hiked must be included with the application.
No trail may be used for more than one award, as specified in the award requirements, except for the Appalachian Trail and State Forest Trails Awards.
Except for the Pennsylvania and Young Hiker Awards, any trail used for an award must be hiked in its entirety; partially hiked trails will not be accepted.
In support of the application, please obtain the signature of an officer of KTA or some other outdoor organization.
A separate application must be submitted for each award.
Applications must be received by the first of September of the year in which the award is to be made.
Completed applications should be mailed to:
Keystone Trails Association
46 E. Main St.
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055
Direct questions to Casey Schneck at ktaadmin@kta-hike.org.
KTA Service Awards
The KTA Citation Award for Lifetime Achievement is presented to a person who has, over a period of years (not necessarily their entire lifetime), made significant contributions to the preservation of hiking trails and promoting hiking in Pennsylvania. Service may be in the form of volunteer efforts, publications, field work, or any other pursuit that has furthered the mission of the KTA.
The Thyra Sperry Volunteer of the Year Award goes to a KTA member whose recent service to KTA's mission, especially in the preceding year, is most worthy of recognition. It is named in honor of former KTA president Thyra Sperry (d. 2017) and her devoted service to KTA.
Certificates of Achievement can also be awarded based on nominations from KTA member organizations for extraordinary work on projects that benefit hikers and/or trails in Pennsylvania. This award option allows clubs to nominate a volunteer who may not be an individual KTA member. The nomination should be based on recent service, especially in the past year, that serves the hiking public as a whole rather than primarily the members of the member club.
The Thyra Sperry Volunteer of the Year Award goes to a KTA member whose recent service to KTA's mission, especially in the preceding year, is most worthy of recognition. It is named in honor of former KTA president Thyra Sperry (d. 2017) and her devoted service to KTA.
Certificates of Achievement can also be awarded based on nominations from KTA member organizations for extraordinary work on projects that benefit hikers and/or trails in Pennsylvania. This award option allows clubs to nominate a volunteer who may not be an individual KTA member. The nomination should be based on recent service, especially in the past year, that serves the hiking public as a whole rather than primarily the members of the member club.
Past Award Recipients
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KTA Citation Award
2020 John Eastlake 2019 Peter Fleszar 2018 Wanda Shirk 2017 Ed Lawrence 2016 Tom Scully 2015 Joyce Appel 2014 Ralph Seeley 2013 John Stein 2012 Wayne E. Gross 2011 Carl Lorence 2010 Richard L. Carlson 2009 Lorraine Healey 2008 Alfred W. Wiemann 2007 Louis Schultz Jr. 2006 Joseph E. Healey 2005 I.B. Sinclair 2004 Edward J. Beck 2003 Mike Sausser 2002 Barbara Wiemann 2001 Kenneth A. Scott 2000 Roger Lehman 1999 Jean Aron 1998 Hugh S. Downing 1997 Richard J. Tobias 1996 Carol Witzeman 1995 Bob Webber 1994 M.Virginia Musser 1993 Craig C. Dunn 1992 Paul C. Weikel 1991 Jack E. Hickman 1990 Merritt Zimmerman 1989 Thurston Griggs 1988 Thomas Thwaites 1987 Richard R. Thorpe 1986 David Raphael 1985 Malcolm L. White 1984 Wilma S. Flaig 1983 Henry J. Finerfrock 1982 Doris B. Finerfrock 1981 Paul R. Lehman 1980 Mildred Forrester 1979 Ruth Blackburn 1978 Fred Blackburn 1977 Raymond H. Fadner 1976 Col. Lester L. Holmes 1975 Paul Wagner 1975 Sharon Wagner 1974 Ruth A. Bolla 1973 Maurice J. Forrester 1972 Nancy J. Heller 1971 Martin Brillhart 1970 Albert McDonald 1969 Madeline Fleming 1968 Elmer T. Bolla 1967 Mel Brinton 1967 Earl V. Shaffer 1966 George Spring 1966 Jean Stephenson 1965 Richard C. Kimmel 1964 Paul Good 1963 Maurice K. Goddard |
Volunteer of the Year
2020 Robert Merrill 2019 Dennis Hurley 2018 Jenn Ulmer 2017 Mary Ladish 2016 Tom Bastian 2015 Tony Robbins 2014 Deb Dunkle |
Certificate of Achievement
2019 Doug Kutz of Lancaster Hiking Club 2018 BATONA Hiking Club’s Appalachian Trail Committee 2016 Tim Bachmann and George Garbarino of SATC (rock step project) |