The following was written by current Manager of Trail Maintenance and Training, Jenn Ulmer, for the April 2014 KTA newsletter. Not much has changed: there are still plenty of trails that need our help. Perhaps even more now. If you want to give back to PA’s hiking trails, please consider volunteering with us for a day or weekend!
 
So how many times has this happened to you: you’re hiking along, taking in the sights and sounds on a beautiful day, when all of a sudden, the trail starts narrowing and you’re navigating a bramble patch. Or you come upon some downed trees over the path. Or the blazes are so faint you really have to pay attention to make sure you don’t wander off the trail. “Gee,” you think, “someone should take care of that!” Then you start to think, “I wonder who does?”
 
When we started volunteering with the KTA Trail Care program in August 2011, we thought it would be a great way to meet other hikers, and give back to the recreational activity that we love. So we contacted the Trail Care leader, Joe Healey, and he gave us some general information about the weekend and what we should bring. We showed up at Ravensburg State Park after work on Friday and set up our tent. Joe and his wife Lorraine offered us some chili from a big crockpot. Saturday morning, we lopped back encroaching vegetation with a crew consisting of Lorraine, Diane, Kathy, and Connie. What a hoot! After a long day on the Mid State Trail, we all went out to dinner. What a welcoming group, we thought- we’ll have to do this again. Never mind the fact that my Jeep had a dead battery Saturday morning, or that the showers at the state park were less than stellar- this all added to the adventure (and to future stories).
 
One of the best parts of Trail Care is the “down time”. After a full Saturday of work, we hit the showers, have some supper and conversation, then more fun around a campfire at night. We are regaled by wonderful stories of hiking adventures, and tales of shenanigans at previous Trail Cares. This is also a great opportunity to seek opinions about hiking and camping gear, and first-hand information on some of PA’s premier hiking trails. Through KTA’s Trail Care, we have met the nicest, most welcoming bunch of people!
 
You may be thinking that you wouldn’t be able to contribute much- we sure thought that. We didn’t know how to run a brushcutter or chainsaw. However, there is so much more to do, and we have learned a lot about trail maintenance: the proper size and placement for a trail blaze, the width to lop or trim a trail since it might not see a crew for another couple years (Wanda said to picture yourself carrying a 4x8’ sheet of plywood down the trail), some methods of alleviating swampy spots, digging sidehill, “planting” signs, and rock stepwork. Over the past year, I think we may have earned respect as hard workers who don’t mind getting dirty! At the end of the day, it’s so rewarding to us to think about all that was accomplished.  
 
Another benefit is that we have traveled to and camped at so many state parks and hiked so many trails that we may have never had the opportunity to, otherwise. In exchange for participation, we get free camping. We bought a PA State Parks and Forests Passport that we get stamped at each state park we visit, to chronicle our adventures.
 
Please consider trying Trail Care at least once. That is all it took for us to get hooked. Your help will be invaluable. The more hands, the easier and quicker the job gets done! There is something for almost every level of ability. No one is made to feel inadequate-everyone is an equal and valued member of the team.

Guest post by Jim Foster​

When people acclaimed the work of Sir Isaac Newton, he famously said: “If I have seen further than others, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants.” I don't claim to have achieved anything like what Newton did, but, like him, I credit others for anything I have achieved.

Here are three giants who inspired me to start maintaining trails and hike on them. In September of 2005, I had started hiking around my home in south central PA and heard about the Cumberland Valley Appalachian Trail Club. I decided to come to one of their Saturday work days. That work day was led by Frank Bohn and Dick Barrick. Frank and Dick impressed me with their quiet, unassuming dedication to the Trail. We had a great time cleaning out water bars and brush. At the end, Dick, who was CVATC's chief of maintainers, asked me if I was interested in taking on a one mile section. I said that I might, and he showed it to me. I took over that section near Sherwood Drive, which I maintain to this day. Sadly, Dick has passed away. Frank moved to Florida several years ago.

But the REAL star of CVATC was and is Craig Dunn. Some of you may know Craig as the husband of our illustrious Secretary of Pennsylvania's Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Cindy Adams Dunn. Not as many know that Craig is an acclaimed and well honored star of the Appalachian Trail in his own right.

Craig started out with trail work in the 1970s with another wonderful A.T. club, the Susquehanna A.T. Club. He was President when SATC built its shelter on top of Peters Mountain in Dauphin County. In the late 1980s, the stewards of the A.T. decided to change the path of the A.T. from a road walk in the Cumberland Valley to a true woodland trail between Carlisle and Mechanicsburg. Craig led the effort with others to persuade landowners to give up a portion of their land for the trail. The effort became quite contentious and a group was organized to oppose the effort. For a time it looked like their efforts would succeed. But, they hadn't counted on the quiet, relentless persistence of Craig Dunn. More than anyone else, Craig was responsible for the ultimate success of the project. A new club was founded to manage the 17 mile section of new trail, CVATC. Since it was founded in 1991, Craig has been its trailmaster, leading the maintenance efforts.

Craig, Dick and Frank inspired me to move from maintaining a section to leadership. I became President of CVATC in 2009. Later I started to lead the work on the section of the A.T. KTA manages in northeastern PA. I also found out that I loved backpacking. I completed a thru-hike of the entire A.T. in 2007. I've done several others around the world.

These days we hear a lot from people who brag about how important they are to the success of a particular project. But, in my humble opinion, the real work of getting important work done is performed by quieter people who work behind the scenes and seek no glory for their successes. Craig, Dick and Frank exemplify these important people.

Guest post by Gerald Rowan
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I grew up in the very north- eastern corner of the state.  An area of forested rolling hills and old broken-down farms. It was rural and it was isolated. What it did have was numerous lakes, streams and miles of old logging roads to walk. Within a mile radius of our farm were six beaver dams, an old mill pond and another man-made pond. Within a three-mile radius there were three natural lakes. The swamps were thickly forested with hemlock and the ridge tops with sugar maple and hickory. 

The outdoors was a year around engagement. Hiking, swimming, kayaking, canoeing, backpacking, hunting, fishing in the lakes, streams and beaver ponds, ice skating and ice fishing in the winters. Back them every boy had his own trap line.  There was also maple sugaring and mushroom picking. In season there was herbing and wild berry picking.

There were no basketball or tennis courts, but it didn’t matter. I spent much of my free time hiking, camping and fishing in the area. With a driver’s license there was the upper Delaware, Lackawaxen rivers and Dyberry Creek to explore.  Lake Wallenpaupack was only a twenty-minute drive away, the Catskills maybe thirty-five.  After high school, I worked my way through undergraduate school as a hunting and fishing guide for a private club in Pike County. In time I was their resident guide, specializing in fly fishing. I was still hiking, backpacking and fishing but now I was getting paid for it.   
In the early sixties, I bought my first VW microbus, an old Bell Telephone service truck, converting it to a camper. Now I could explore over a much wider terrain. By 1970 I landed my first college teaching job, which afforded me a schedule that made hiking, camping and fishing even more possible. Often, we combined opportunities, backpacking in to camp and fish in remote areas that were not accessible otherwise. 

As I grew older backpacking and sleeping on the ground got replaced by a series of tents, pop-up campers then travel trailers.  Now hiking/fishing/camping expeditions could be weeks long and anywhere, from Ashville to Boundary Waters to anywhere off the grid. I fell in love with the Pennsylvania state parks. They were in the right places with the right amenities. My count of state parks is fifty-eight and numerous stays at my favorites. I counted twenty-seven stays at Hickory Run.
I began doing volunteer trail work with the Allentown Hiking Club and the rebuilding of several shelters on the AT in Berks and Lehigh counties. In time I worked with a number of different crews all over the state. Working with a crew at Worlds End in 1999 after hurricane Floyd was my first-time camp cooking. After that I camp cooked for a number of years. 

In 2008 I turned sixty-five and retired. With retirement I shifted gears and began to travel. I still hiked but now it was the Twelve Bens or the Wicklow Mountain in Ireland. I live in the Lehigh Valley and the AT is just a few minutes west of me. The Pinnacle, Hawk Mountain. Bear Rocks and Bake Oven Knob are easily accessible for day hikes. On warm fall days I’ve sat at the base of Bear Rocks for hours watching wild turkey. 
​
I always had an interest in protecting the environment. Back in 1955, after experiencing the double whammy of hurricanes Connie and Diane, I realized nature could be fragile and needed our support and protection to thrive.  It seems to me that people will protect the things they love. Well-developed and protected public spaces, and access to them, will allow the greatest number of people to experience and enjoy wild Pennsylvania.

👋 Meet Mark, a KTA supporter from Lancaster, PA! 

Q: What makes hiking in Pennsylvania special/meaningful to you?
A: "The variety of terrain and the beauty of our state."

Q: What type of hiking do you typically prefer most often?
A: "I prefer using our wonderful systems of trails to train for adventures outside the state and country."

Q: When did you start hiking?
A: "I’ve been hiking since grade school as a Boy Scout."

Q: What are you currently excited about in your hiking life?
A: "I am excited to share I’ve just returned from a successful winter climb to Mt. Everest Base camp!"

Q: Which hiking trails do you enjoy/recommend that are near where you live?
A: "Kelly’s run is amazing for training purposes. When you do it twice in opposite directions you can get some decent elevation changes."

Q: Which hiking trails do you recommend (anywhere in PA)?
A: "The AT is a great route for most hikers."

Q: What do you value most about KTA's mission?
A: "Thank you for promoting healthy lifestyle living! We need more people active and engaged in their communities! Thank you for all your work!"

Do you care about providing, protecting, preserving, and promoting recreational hiking trails and hiking opportunities in Pennsylvania?
​That's why KTA is here! Help ensure this mission continues to be fulfilled. 

👋 Meet Roxanna, a KTA volunteer from York County, PA! 

Q: What makes hiking in Pennsylvania special/meaningful to you?
A: "I grew up along the Susquehanna river and these trail have been a part of me all my life."

Q: What type of hiking do you typically prefer most often?
A: "All the above! A few hours, full day, multi-day, backpacking. I have done KTA Trail Challenge all but one year. I am always in the Mason Dixon. It may be trail work, all day hiking / night running."

Q: When did you start hiking?
A: "All my life I have been on these trails. But only started trail running/ hiking them about 30 years ago Conestoga trail was my first race and thus began my enjoyment of the trails in PA."

Q: What are you currently excited about in your hiking life?
A: "Currently getting ready to do a Buck Ridge Burn 1/2 in Pine Grove Furnace next, Brandy Wine Home across Delaware."

Q: Which hiking trails do you enjoy/recommend that are near where you live?
A: "Mason Dixon for sure!!"

Q: Which hiking trails do you recommend (anywhere in PA)?
A: "Conestoga trail, trails all around Lock Haven, and the Horse-Shoe Trail."

Want to hike the trails Roxanna suggested? Get guides, maps, and patches from KTA's store!

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."

Q: What type of hiking do you typically prefer most often?
A: "Day hiking 10-12 miles is my sweet spot."

Q: When did you start hiking?
A: "About 30 years or so, since I married my outdoorsy husband."

Q: What are you currently excited about in your hiking life?
A: "I have the best hiking partners; every hiking trip is a great adventure. I am working on becoming a hike leader with the PATC to help with their women's hiking summits to facilitate women getting in the outdoors. I have taught Hiking 101 at the summits, I've had my photos featured in Appalachian Trail Social Media Posts, and currently I have two photos in the Pennsylvania Appalachian Trail guidebook."

Q: Which hiking trails do you enjoy/recommend that are near where you live?
A: "My current favorite is the Mason Dixon in Hellam Hills."

Q: Which hiking trails do you recommend (anywhere in PA)?
A: "The AT is my first love, but really any PA Trail is special, we have so many to pick from."

Q: What do you value most about KTA's mission?
A: "Promoting Hiking Trails to all Pennsylvanians!!!"

Love the Appalachian Trail in PA like Michele? Get KTA's guide here!

👋 Meet Brendan, a KTA member and supporter from Butler County, PA! 

Q: What makes hiking in Pennsylvania special/meaningful to you?
A: "I have been lucky enough to make some of my most precious memories on trails here in PA. I remember the pride for my state which I felt the first time taking some of my college friends to the cathedral at Cook Forest, some had never been in the woods let alone an old growth forest. I still find the lessons I learned about nature, and how to be a steward, are held dearly. Over the last two years I have been on a bit of a weight loss journey. A large portion of my success is directly attributed to my access to trails. I don’t believe it would be where I am without hiking and the volunteer groups that maintain these trails. Anytime I can share this resource and pastime with people, I’m happy."

Q: What type of hiking do you typically prefer most often?
A: "I think dawn hikes are best. I really enjoy seeing the world come alive. As a fisherman and birder, those times are also most productive and rewording."

Q: When did you start hiking?
A: "In seriousness, 2 years. Though I've "hiked" for years while fishing particularly."

Q: What are you currently excited about in your hiking life?
A: "Personally, I want to do a full 10 miles somewhere this year. I have been working my way up, know that might be short for some seasoned hikers, to something like that. I think it's both important to know your limits but also have stretch goals to work towards. I also had a lot of fun helping friends of mine get outdoors to hike. I would like to find ways to advocate and share this pursuit with others."

Q: Which hiking trails do you enjoy/recommend that are near where you live?
A: "I am a big fan of the state park system here in PA. Locally, I think Moraine and especially Jennings Environmental Education Center and McConnells Mill are prime examples of hiking for all seasons and skill levels."

Q: Which hiking trails do you recommend (anywhere in PA)?
A: "When recommending trails it is important to match the trail with what folks are both looking for and prepared for. For beginners or people looking to mainly just get outdoors and see wildlife, I think the North Country Trail unit is the best place to start. For longer, more intense hikes, The Minister Creek Hiking Trail or the Quehanna Wild Area is often overlooked and a serious gem."

Q: What do you value most about KTA's mission?
A: "Access for everyone, period. That means everything from novices, to experts. People of all abilities and inclinations. We need to have trails people can get to, use, feel safe on, and enjoy what this state has to offer."

Inspired by Brendan's story? We are, too!
KTA is here for hikers like Brenden and you, who come together to make Pennsylvania's hiking community. We're honored to serve the Keystone state in an effort to promote and preserve its hiking trails. Connect with us by finding an event near you.

When you have 60+ miles of hiking trails to tend to, maintenance requires collaboration and effort between multiple groups and organizations!

"There is so much to do in and around Oil Creek State Park," shares Jenn Ulmer, KTA Manager of Trail Maintenance and Training, "As you might imagine, historical displays and information on the oil boom abound – the Oil Creek Valley is the site of the world’s first commercial oil well. There’s the Drake Oil Well Museum near Titusville and the 36-mile Gerard Hiking Trail loop which encircles/travels the length of the park on both sides of Oil Creek!"

This year, KTA will be heading to Oil Creek State Park with excited volunteers to join David Hallman, Park Manager at Oil Creek State Park, for a trail maintenance event! You can join us June 20-23, 2024!

The park has a long historic tradition of trail maintenance, much like KTA (we're in our 40th year!). David shared with us about a long-time special group of volunteers:

"Oil Creek is home to over 60 miles of trails. Thirty-six of those miles make up the Gerard Trail which loops around the entire park. The Gerard Trail is popular for several reason. One being our Adirondack backpacking shelters that hikers can reserve and spend the night. The other reason people enjoy this trail is for its sheer beauty and history. As you hike through the park you will have the pleasure of seeing remnants from the historic oil days, but you will also see how Mother Nature can heal herself and return to her former beauty. 

Maintaining such a trail system is a never-ending job and this is where our volunteer group the Over the Hill Gang comes in. For the past several decades the OTHG has done most of the work on this trail. They are a group made up of mostly “retired” gentlemen that meet every Wednesday to maintain this trail. They split up into groups and take a different section of trail to maintain. Work includes but is not limited to cutting fallen trees off the trail, fixing, building, and maintaining bridges, correcting drainage issues, blazing trail, and splitting firewood for our shelters. 

These are truly some of the best maintained trails in the State and it is all due to their efforts.This group of dedicated volunteers completes a tremendous amount of work for the park. Their selfless efforts free up our staff to complete other projects throughout the park. Without their help there would be no way we could keep up with the maintenance demands of these trails."

Come to Oil Creek State park with us! You can join us June 20-23, 2024!

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