What We Did Last Summer - By Jenn Ulmer and Donna Thompson

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.

Top left: Bucktail Path 2021, top right: Mid State Trail - Woolrich Region 2013, and bottom, Black Forest Trail 2017