Trail Care Update: July 2023 Recap

​During the month of July, there was one Trail Care event, July 6-9 on the remote Chuck Keiper Trail (CKT) in Sproul State Forest. On Friday and Saturday, determined crews tackled the >120 reported downed trees over the CKT in a 5-mile stretch from Petes Run Road to Grugan Hollow Road (as well as some brushcutting).

Unfortunately, due to a number of factors (high humidity, lower than ideal turnout), our two crews did not meet in the middle.  A short stretch of blowdowns remains, including the worst part near Boggs Run where the trail has been rerouted from the original path.

On Sunday, a crew scouted a possible reroute around the swampy area on the Chuck Keiper cross connector trail south of PA 144 in the East Branch Swamp Area. We found a very plausible path that will keep hikers' feet dry! Sproul State Forest is working to submit this for approval from DCNR. We continued to hike the East Branch Swamp loop and discovered the western half of the loop to be very overgrown.

Stay tuned for a possible KTA Trail Care Code Orange workday in the Fall, finishing the chainsaw work in Boggs Run and brushing and re-blazing the East Branch Swamp Trail. Many, many thanks to the hearty volunteers who logged a tough 100 hours on the CKT: Tom Bastian, Woody Loudenslager, Tom O'Donnell, Tony Robbins, Dave Updegrave, and Jenn Ulmer, as well as two members of Forestry staff.


If you were thinking of trying Trail Care, but have not yet, consider joining us for a day or weekend! Upcoming August events include: 

• Tracy Ridge Trail System in the Allegheny National Forest August 10-13
• Thunder Swamp Trail System in Delaware State Forest August 24-27.

In September, we'll be working on the gem that is the Golden Eagle Trail in the Pine Creek Gorge, as well as the trails in Oil Creek State Park. We will likely be working on Friday, September 1 on trails used for the Trail Challenge 25k!

Check out the links above for more information about each event, including camping options, logistics, etc. 

Many hands make light work -- let me know if you can offer yours!
​
Jenn Ulmer
Manager of Trail Maintenance & Training; ulmer@kta-hike.org