Written by Maurice J. Forrester, Jr.
KTA's Third Decade: 1976-1985
by Maurice Forrester
The third decade of KTA's existence proved to be the busiest so far. The organization continued to grow and established itself firmly as a force and voice for hikers throughout the Keystone State. Various new member services were implemented, and ever more energy was put into public policy concerns. More support was provided for trails on the ground. The ten-year period ended with two events that shaped much of the group's activities for a number of years into the future.
Organization
In 1978 it was decided that KTA should incorporate, and appropriate steps were taken to do so. Following successful incorporation, application was made to the IRS for 501(c)(3) status so that contributions to the organization might qualify for tax deductions. The application was eventually approved in 1981.
The practice of holding the fall Council meeting apart from the Annual Meeting and in a different part of the state, which was begun in 1972, was discontinued following the 1978 meeting. It had proved less successful than hoped in stimulating membership and interest.
Among other administrative changes:
Finally, in 1980 the members took advantage of the Annual Meeting, held that year at Camp Swatara, to celebrate KTA's 25th Anniversary.
Publications & Other Sale Items
A fourth, fifth, and sixth edition of the Guide to the Appalachian Trail in Pennsylvania were published during this period. In addition, an eighth and ninth edition of Pennsylvania Hiking Trails were published.
New trail publications unveiled in this third decade were a Tuscarora Trail Guide, and a guide book and map set for the newly opened Link Trail.
A Trailhead Transportation Guide was also developed and published. This was intended to provide interested hikers with information about trail access points that could be reached by public transportation -- mostly buses. It never elicited a great deal of interest, however, and was never updated or republished.
In an unusual cooperative venture between KTA and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Bureau of Geologic Survey, Geology of the Appalachian Trail in Pennsylvania was published in 1983. This included many black-and-white photos, as well as a pocket inside the back cover containing a 30"x38" multi-colored geologic map of the entire Appalachian Trail corridor in Pennsylvania.
Finally, in an action that many saw as providing definitive proof that KTA was a "real" organization, a KTA t-shirt was produced and offered for sale in 1984.
Trails
Throughout most of this decade KTA was closely involved in the effort to establish a more acceptable route for the AT in the Cumberland Valley. When a route was finally selected by the National Park Service, and local opposition emerged, KTA participated vigorously in the public debate that ensued.
In the fall of 1977, the first proposal was made for the creation of a trail linking the Mid State Trail with the Tuscarora Trail, and thereby to the larger Appalachian Trail system. Within five years the Link Trail -- as it came to be known -- was open and hikable. Shortly thereafter a guide book and map set was made available.
Public Policy
On April 28, 1978, the Pennsylvania Appalachian Trail Act was signed into law, establishing a corridor for the trail in Pennsylvania consistent with federal legislation.
The policy of the Pennsylvania Game Commission prohibiting camping on State Game Lands had long been a problem for backpackers in the state, particularly in the St. Anthony's Wilderness section of the Appalachian Trail where the long stretch between shelters and approved camping spots was often a serious hardship. KTA approached the Game Commission with a proposal for modifying this policy to allow primitive camping along the Appalachian Trail. The Game Commission agreed to study the suggestion. Subsequently, in 1980, they sought legislation from the General Assembly to permit regulated primitive camping in the AT corridor. Legislation was eventually enacted and a policy for such camping was put in place.
Probably the biggest public policy success during these ten years involved widespread opposition to a proposed power project in Stony Creek Valley which would have had serious impact on the Appalachian and Horse-Shoe Trails in the St. Anthony's Wilderness area. Opposition to the power project extended far beyond the hiking community, however. Along with many other groups in Pennsylvania, KTA affiliated with the Stony Creek Valley Coalition to oppose the proposed project. The proposal was withdrawn in 1980.
Member Services
KTA purchased a measuring wheel and a brush-cutter for use by member clubs in their trail maintenance work. In a somewhat related initiative, a grants and loans program was established to provide financial assistance to the clubs to help cover costs related to trail maintenance.
In 1984, the TrailCare Program was set up to provide trail maintenance assistance of a somewhat different kind. A crew of volunteers was to be created each summer to go out and actually assist local clubs with trail work on the ground wherever there was exceptional need beyond the capabilities of local volunteers. During the first summer, an eight-week work program kicked off the project.
Another new initiative was launched in 1981, this one for the benefit of hikers on the Mid State Trail. In cooperation with the Bureau of Forestry, the Hiker Cabin Program took advantage of the fact that most fire towers were accompanied by cabins for use by fire wardens in the past, although at present they stood largely vacant offering a ready target for vandals. Volunteers were recruited to stay for a week at a time as caretakers at certain of the cabins along the Mid State Trail. Space in the cabin was then made available to backpackers for overnight use. In addition to benefiting hikers, the program assisted the Bureau of Forestry by reducing vandalism. Unfortunately, the program had to be discontinued following the 1985 season, since for various reasons only one cabin remained available. In addition, hiker usage had declined considerably following a flurry of interest at the start of the program.
KTA's Third Decade: 1976-1985
by Maurice Forrester
The third decade of KTA's existence proved to be the busiest so far. The organization continued to grow and established itself firmly as a force and voice for hikers throughout the Keystone State. Various new member services were implemented, and ever more energy was put into public policy concerns. More support was provided for trails on the ground. The ten-year period ended with two events that shaped much of the group's activities for a number of years into the future.
Organization
In 1978 it was decided that KTA should incorporate, and appropriate steps were taken to do so. Following successful incorporation, application was made to the IRS for 501(c)(3) status so that contributions to the organization might qualify for tax deductions. The application was eventually approved in 1981.
The practice of holding the fall Council meeting apart from the Annual Meeting and in a different part of the state, which was begun in 1972, was discontinued following the 1978 meeting. It had proved less successful than hoped in stimulating membership and interest.
Among other administrative changes:
- The KTA Constitution was amended to provide for a life membership category
- A part-time position of Administrative Coordinator was established, providing KTA with its first paid staff support
- In 1984 the organization's first computer was purchased, and KTA entered the electronic age
Finally, in 1980 the members took advantage of the Annual Meeting, held that year at Camp Swatara, to celebrate KTA's 25th Anniversary.
Publications & Other Sale Items
A fourth, fifth, and sixth edition of the Guide to the Appalachian Trail in Pennsylvania were published during this period. In addition, an eighth and ninth edition of Pennsylvania Hiking Trails were published.
New trail publications unveiled in this third decade were a Tuscarora Trail Guide, and a guide book and map set for the newly opened Link Trail.
A Trailhead Transportation Guide was also developed and published. This was intended to provide interested hikers with information about trail access points that could be reached by public transportation -- mostly buses. It never elicited a great deal of interest, however, and was never updated or republished.
In an unusual cooperative venture between KTA and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Bureau of Geologic Survey, Geology of the Appalachian Trail in Pennsylvania was published in 1983. This included many black-and-white photos, as well as a pocket inside the back cover containing a 30"x38" multi-colored geologic map of the entire Appalachian Trail corridor in Pennsylvania.
Finally, in an action that many saw as providing definitive proof that KTA was a "real" organization, a KTA t-shirt was produced and offered for sale in 1984.
Trails
Throughout most of this decade KTA was closely involved in the effort to establish a more acceptable route for the AT in the Cumberland Valley. When a route was finally selected by the National Park Service, and local opposition emerged, KTA participated vigorously in the public debate that ensued.
In the fall of 1977, the first proposal was made for the creation of a trail linking the Mid State Trail with the Tuscarora Trail, and thereby to the larger Appalachian Trail system. Within five years the Link Trail -- as it came to be known -- was open and hikable. Shortly thereafter a guide book and map set was made available.
Public Policy
On April 28, 1978, the Pennsylvania Appalachian Trail Act was signed into law, establishing a corridor for the trail in Pennsylvania consistent with federal legislation.
The policy of the Pennsylvania Game Commission prohibiting camping on State Game Lands had long been a problem for backpackers in the state, particularly in the St. Anthony's Wilderness section of the Appalachian Trail where the long stretch between shelters and approved camping spots was often a serious hardship. KTA approached the Game Commission with a proposal for modifying this policy to allow primitive camping along the Appalachian Trail. The Game Commission agreed to study the suggestion. Subsequently, in 1980, they sought legislation from the General Assembly to permit regulated primitive camping in the AT corridor. Legislation was eventually enacted and a policy for such camping was put in place.
Probably the biggest public policy success during these ten years involved widespread opposition to a proposed power project in Stony Creek Valley which would have had serious impact on the Appalachian and Horse-Shoe Trails in the St. Anthony's Wilderness area. Opposition to the power project extended far beyond the hiking community, however. Along with many other groups in Pennsylvania, KTA affiliated with the Stony Creek Valley Coalition to oppose the proposed project. The proposal was withdrawn in 1980.
Member Services
KTA purchased a measuring wheel and a brush-cutter for use by member clubs in their trail maintenance work. In a somewhat related initiative, a grants and loans program was established to provide financial assistance to the clubs to help cover costs related to trail maintenance.
In 1984, the TrailCare Program was set up to provide trail maintenance assistance of a somewhat different kind. A crew of volunteers was to be created each summer to go out and actually assist local clubs with trail work on the ground wherever there was exceptional need beyond the capabilities of local volunteers. During the first summer, an eight-week work program kicked off the project.
Another new initiative was launched in 1981, this one for the benefit of hikers on the Mid State Trail. In cooperation with the Bureau of Forestry, the Hiker Cabin Program took advantage of the fact that most fire towers were accompanied by cabins for use by fire wardens in the past, although at present they stood largely vacant offering a ready target for vandals. Volunteers were recruited to stay for a week at a time as caretakers at certain of the cabins along the Mid State Trail. Space in the cabin was then made available to backpackers for overnight use. In addition to benefiting hikers, the program assisted the Bureau of Forestry by reducing vandalism. Unfortunately, the program had to be discontinued following the 1985 season, since for various reasons only one cabin remained available. In addition, hiker usage had declined considerably following a flurry of interest at the start of the program.
Tornadoland
June 13, 1985
SHAPING THE GROWTH OF KTA TRAIL CARE
A memoir from Jean Aron
On May 31, 1985, a devastating tornado swept across the Quehanna Wild Area, a vast expanse of Allegheny Plateau woods and streams in the Elk and Moshannon State Forests of central Pennsylvania. The tornado left a swath of flattened trees lying like wind-blown prairie grass—a mile wide and 50 miles long. There were few serious injuries or property damage, since the tornado missed the most populated areas. Yet to those of us who love trees, the destruction was heartbreaking! The tornado was to herald a new era on Pennsylvania trails. Recently before the tornado, Tom Thwaites and I had both joined a small group of volunteers from KTA’s newly formed Trail Care team, organized by Dick Potteiger. We had helped to reblaze and clear parts of the Quehanna Trail. Soon after the tornado, Tom and I drove up from State College to Parker Dam State Park to check the damage. We could barely recognize the group’s earlier campsite, and the Quehanna Trail was completely lost. We saw a battered, steel road gate covered with fallen timber and debris. We crawled around that and worked our way over and under massive blowdowns to find the next trail blaze. It took us quite a while to go a very short way, so we turned back in despair. "Tornadoland, Saunders Run, Quehanna Trail, Oct. 26, 1985 "Breakthrough to the other crew" Ginny Musser, Lana & Dick Potteiger, Rich Dalgren, Oct. 26, 1985 "Tornado cleanup on Q. Trail. 'north-going zax' Tom Thwaites & 'south-going zax' Dick Potteiger shake hands, Jack Peth peeks through at final blowdown. A good omen. When the saws finished and were silent again, the cutters and crowd could only stare upward in amazement. The final blowdown, released from its burden but still attached to its root system, had “risen from the dead.” The 3 cut ends of the logs stood proudly, bolt-upright again. We speculated that future hikers might wonder how those trees could have been sawed off at heights of 8 to 15 feet—a new wonder of the world! The 'Zax' stare in amazement at the final log, which freed from bondage has just risen from the dead." Oct. 26, 1985 The following years found the Saunders Run section badly overgrown with briars. There would be many more regular maintenance trips, with weed whackers and loppers, before the forest could recover enough shade to keep the nasty scratchers in check. Trail Care became more and more power-tool driven. Earlier we had proudly done most of our trail building and maintenance with hand tools. With the advent of “tornado land,” we needed power. More workers needed to learn safe operation rules and techniques. Many times, Bureau of Forestry employees have joined and worked right along with us. Trail work has become more complex and noisier, but there is still a need for quiet hand tools, as well as willing hands. Many other hiking trails needed help, too. KTA Trail Care was expanded to 1 weekend every month possible. In months too cold for camping—March and November trips—the volunteers could be accommodated in state park cabins or private camps. A number of other volunteer groups have started to do trail maintenance, too. Sometimes urgent repairs are needed or bridge building must be done. There is never a lack of work. During the following 10 to 15 years, KTA Trail Care visited every part of Pennsylvania. We cleared, blazed, and built bridges. We designed Trail Care patches, hats, and T-shirts. We even made a Trail Care banner. This was hung at each Trail Care camping area on Friday night so that people driving from all over Pennsylvania could find the Trail Care team. We enjoyed the company of folks from all walks of life, from all parts of Pennsylvania, and from many parts of the country and the world. We worked hard, ate heartily, saw the sun set and the moon rise, and slept under the stars. We swapped hiking tales and bear stories around a campfire. The men and women of Trail Care were 1 big, happy family. And that is why all the friends I met there hold an important place in my memories.
June 13, 1985
SHAPING THE GROWTH OF KTA TRAIL CARE
A memoir from Jean Aron
On May 31, 1985, a devastating tornado swept across the Quehanna Wild Area, a vast expanse of Allegheny Plateau woods and streams in the Elk and Moshannon State Forests of central Pennsylvania. The tornado left a swath of flattened trees lying like wind-blown prairie grass—a mile wide and 50 miles long. There were few serious injuries or property damage, since the tornado missed the most populated areas. Yet to those of us who love trees, the destruction was heartbreaking! The tornado was to herald a new era on Pennsylvania trails. Recently before the tornado, Tom Thwaites and I had both joined a small group of volunteers from KTA’s newly formed Trail Care team, organized by Dick Potteiger. We had helped to reblaze and clear parts of the Quehanna Trail. Soon after the tornado, Tom and I drove up from State College to Parker Dam State Park to check the damage. We could barely recognize the group’s earlier campsite, and the Quehanna Trail was completely lost. We saw a battered, steel road gate covered with fallen timber and debris. We crawled around that and worked our way over and under massive blowdowns to find the next trail blaze. It took us quite a while to go a very short way, so we turned back in despair. "Tornadoland, Saunders Run, Quehanna Trail, Oct. 26, 1985 "Breakthrough to the other crew" Ginny Musser, Lana & Dick Potteiger, Rich Dalgren, Oct. 26, 1985 "Tornado cleanup on Q. Trail. 'north-going zax' Tom Thwaites & 'south-going zax' Dick Potteiger shake hands, Jack Peth peeks through at final blowdown. A good omen. When the saws finished and were silent again, the cutters and crowd could only stare upward in amazement. The final blowdown, released from its burden but still attached to its root system, had “risen from the dead.” The 3 cut ends of the logs stood proudly, bolt-upright again. We speculated that future hikers might wonder how those trees could have been sawed off at heights of 8 to 15 feet—a new wonder of the world! The 'Zax' stare in amazement at the final log, which freed from bondage has just risen from the dead." Oct. 26, 1985 The following years found the Saunders Run section badly overgrown with briars. There would be many more regular maintenance trips, with weed whackers and loppers, before the forest could recover enough shade to keep the nasty scratchers in check. Trail Care became more and more power-tool driven. Earlier we had proudly done most of our trail building and maintenance with hand tools. With the advent of “tornado land,” we needed power. More workers needed to learn safe operation rules and techniques. Many times, Bureau of Forestry employees have joined and worked right along with us. Trail work has become more complex and noisier, but there is still a need for quiet hand tools, as well as willing hands. Many other hiking trails needed help, too. KTA Trail Care was expanded to 1 weekend every month possible. In months too cold for camping—March and November trips—the volunteers could be accommodated in state park cabins or private camps. A number of other volunteer groups have started to do trail maintenance, too. Sometimes urgent repairs are needed or bridge building must be done. There is never a lack of work. During the following 10 to 15 years, KTA Trail Care visited every part of Pennsylvania. We cleared, blazed, and built bridges. We designed Trail Care patches, hats, and T-shirts. We even made a Trail Care banner. This was hung at each Trail Care camping area on Friday night so that people driving from all over Pennsylvania could find the Trail Care team. We enjoyed the company of folks from all walks of life, from all parts of Pennsylvania, and from many parts of the country and the world. We worked hard, ate heartily, saw the sun set and the moon rise, and slept under the stars. We swapped hiking tales and bear stories around a campfire. The men and women of Trail Care were 1 big, happy family. And that is why all the friends I met there hold an important place in my memories.
Surveying the ruins, Quehanna Trail near Parker Dam
June 13, 1985
The Quehanna is not pristine, but it can be very wild and remote. About a week before the tornado, a friend and I had enjoyed a backpacking exploration across a trail-less section of Quehanna between Twelvemile Run and Reactor Road. We saw room-sized erratic boulders and quite a few wildflowers, but no other people on our quiet weekend. Now it all seemed “gone with the wind.” The tornado had done unimaginable damage to the Quehanna and Chuck Keiper Trails, as well as to all the state parks, state forests, and XC ski trails in its path. The Bureau of Forestry did not have the means nor the money to repair damage; its answer was to temporarily close those state forest hiking trails. Tom Thwaites explained the problem: “If the trails are closed, nobody will hike on them. If nobody hikes on them, they will grow ever more closed with blowdowns and briars, and hiking will be even less likely. Soon we will lose all of those trails.” Everyone agreed about the need to reopen trails to the hiking public as soon as possible. Tom had a personal vested interest, since those trails were all part of his book 50 Hikes in Central Pennsylvania. He soon took on the leadership of Trail Care and inspired hikers to work on trails all across the state. Thus the tornado repair trips became the impetus for rapid growth in the popularity of KTA Trail Care. The first post-tornado trip to the Quehanna Trail, in June, saw a determined work crew—with chainsaws, handsaws, limb loppers, and just plain muscle—struggling to cut a path through the fallen forest. Since I was too small for chainsaw work, I often worked as a “forward scout,” crawling over and under through the tangled mess, to find the next paint blaze. One stubborn log had 2 saws stuck in it and almost defeated a third saw. It was hard work for all.
The Quehanna is not pristine, but it can be very wild and remote. About a week before the tornado, a friend and I had enjoyed a backpacking exploration across a trail-less section of Quehanna between Twelvemile Run and Reactor Road. We saw room-sized erratic boulders and quite a few wildflowers, but no other people on our quiet weekend. Now it all seemed “gone with the wind.” The tornado had done unimaginable damage to the Quehanna and Chuck Keiper Trails, as well as to all the state parks, state forests, and XC ski trails in its path. The Bureau of Forestry did not have the means nor the money to repair damage; its answer was to temporarily close those state forest hiking trails. Tom Thwaites explained the problem: “If the trails are closed, nobody will hike on them. If nobody hikes on them, they will grow ever more closed with blowdowns and briars, and hiking will be even less likely. Soon we will lose all of those trails.” Everyone agreed about the need to reopen trails to the hiking public as soon as possible. Tom had a personal vested interest, since those trails were all part of his book 50 Hikes in Central Pennsylvania. He soon took on the leadership of Trail Care and inspired hikers to work on trails all across the state. Thus the tornado repair trips became the impetus for rapid growth in the popularity of KTA Trail Care. The first post-tornado trip to the Quehanna Trail, in June, saw a determined work crew—with chainsaws, handsaws, limb loppers, and just plain muscle—struggling to cut a path through the fallen forest. Since I was too small for chainsaw work, I often worked as a “forward scout,” crawling over and under through the tangled mess, to find the next paint blaze. One stubborn log had 2 saws stuck in it and almost defeated a third saw. It was hard work for all.
 TTT 'chainsaw massacre' of tornado damage
July 14, 1985
The last post-tornado trip to the Quehanna Trail, on the weekend of October 26, saw a larger Trail Care team (about 24 people) again assembled at Parker Dam. We split into 2 teams and worked from both ends along the Saunders Run section. |
Two saws stuck & working on the 3rd.
|
"Breakthrough to the other crew" Ginny Musser, Lana & Dick Potteiger, Rich Dalgren, Oct. 26, 1985
Sometime in the afternoon, the 2 crews met at the final blowdown—a 3-trunk monster. I snapped a picture of the 2 leaders—“north-going Zax” (Tom Thwaites) and “south-going Zax” (Dick Potteiger)—shaking hands across the logs. Then the chainsaws roared again, with both men working on the triple log, which was the final barrier to a reopened trail.
Slideshow below of all of Jean Aron's photos.
Slideshow below of all of Jean Aron's photos.
