September 2025 President's Trailhead - Wayne Gross

Dear Member, 
Fall is a great time to get out there on a hike and bring a friend! Autumn's change in weather and colors brings on changes in many ways.
Thank you for your efforts in furthering our mission of providing, preserving, protecting, and promoting recreational hiking trails and hiking opportunities in Pennsylvania. Each of you, through trail maintenance in your club and throughout the state, advocacy on issues affecting our trails, and by just leading hikes, is making a difference at a grassroots level. I have seen so many hikes and trail care events sponsored by our member organizations. Keep up the great work!
Our KTA Trail Care program continues in full swing. There are several remaining trail cares this fall.  Plan to participate in one or more of the remaining trail cares - even if it's for only one day.  Check out our website for details.
It's time to start nominating members and clubs for our various service awards.  The awards include Certificates of Achievement, Volunteer of the Year, Club of the Year, the Citation Award for lifetime achievement, and the Leave No Trace Award. These will be presented at our Hiking Awards Celebration on Saturday, December 6. Please go to https://www.kta-hike.org/hiking-awards.html for information to make a nomination by November 1.
Make sure you plan to submit for your hiking award or encourage others who have completed hiking trails to submit for their prize, especially youth and teenagers, for the new Teen Hiker Award. The hiking awards are also listed on our website. Check them out and hike toward earning one this year. Awards will be presented at the Hiking Awards Celebration on Saturday, December 6.  
We have some exciting events coming up. The first is the Keystone Hiking and Outdoor Weekend (KHOW), taking place from October 17 to 19 in the PA Wilds. It offers a range of activities, including hiking, biking, writing workshops, art-making, elk bugling, and other workshops.  Check out the Events page of our website. The KTA Council will be meeting. If you represent a club or organization, be sure to sign up to attend. Please note that the remaining room blocks expire on September 14 and 17.  
The second event is the First Annual Keystone Trails Symposium: A Retreat for Pennsylvania Organizations with Trail and Hiking Interests on Saturday, November 15th at Kings Gap Environmental Center. We would like to see all clubs and organizations represented. The event is geared toward leaders of hiking clubs and other volunteer-driven groups with a focus on trail-based recreation. This gathering is free, but limited to two representatives per organization. Lunch and morning coffee provided. Complimentary Friday night lodging is available upon request. The first five organizations with representatives registered for the event will receive a special donation from KTA. Registration opens September 5 and closes October 10.
The third event is the KTA Pennsylvania Hiking Awards Celebration on Saturday, December 6th, at the Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art in Millersburg, PA. The KTA Hiking Awards honor individuals with a passion for exploring the wealth of incredible hiking trails that Pennsylvania has to offer.
There is a full list of KTA hikes, events, training courses, activities, and trail care opportunities.  There is so much to do. Please visit our website, sign up for one or more of our events, and bring a friend.
Your gift to our Keystone Trails Endowment fund this year will make a positive impact in furthering our mission. In particular, toward the member Club mini-grants that have been presented this year.  Consider planning to make a gift this year toward the Keystone Trails Endowment fund.
One final note. Please read Brook's message about his retirement. We want to thank Brook for his efforts over the last four years as Executive Director for KTA. Having worked closely with him over the last several years, I want to let everyone know that KTA and furthering KTA's mission have been at the forefront of Brook's efforts. His attention to detail, grant writing, and development of our staff have been a great benefit for KTA. We wish him well in his retirement. He said he is not disappearing and will be volunteering. The Board will begin a search for the next Executive Director to fill the large boots left by Brook. We will rely on our membership and stakeholders to help spread the word once the search commences. 
On behalf of the Board and the membership, I want to thank our Executive Director, Brook, and all our staff for the excellent job they are doing to further our mission. 
For the trails and those who wander on them! See you on the Trail!

Thanks,
Wayne E. Gross
President, Board of Directors 
Keystone Trails Association
The Statewide voice of Pennsylvania Hikers