Rambles with Brook
Hikes with the Executive Director
Join the Executive Director, Brook Lenker, for short (< three mile) hikes and get to know Keystone Trails Association and the trail of the day. Meet special guests from our partnering organizations and agencies. The conversations continue at local restaurants (on your own) following the hikes
2023 Schedule
Hikes with the Executive Director
Join the Executive Director, Brook Lenker, for short (< three mile) hikes and get to know Keystone Trails Association and the trail of the day. Meet special guests from our partnering organizations and agencies. The conversations continue at local restaurants (on your own) following the hikes
2023 Schedule
Hike#3: Boyd Big Tree Preserve Conservation Area/Spangler Lands/Hocker Park Birding with Central PA Conservancy
Sunday, June 11
Enjoy a leisurely paced, moderately challenging four and a half mile birding hike with the Central Pennsylvania Conservancy through three contiguous areas of protected land – the Boyd Big Tree Preserve Conservation Area, Spangler Preserve, and Hocker Park. Observe the avian life and learn about the regional land conservation efforts of the Conservancy. Participants can join the group at the Boyd parking lot trailhead or board a KTA shuttle van in Carlisle and ride to and from the outing. After the hike, we’ll enjoy lunch* and conversation at a local restaurant.
Itinerary:
**Trailhead: Boyd Big Tree Preserve, 401 Fishing Creek Valley Rd, Harrisburg, PA 17112
***Lunch costs are covered by the participant
Registration Fee:
Sunday, June 11
Enjoy a leisurely paced, moderately challenging four and a half mile birding hike with the Central Pennsylvania Conservancy through three contiguous areas of protected land – the Boyd Big Tree Preserve Conservation Area, Spangler Preserve, and Hocker Park. Observe the avian life and learn about the regional land conservation efforts of the Conservancy. Participants can join the group at the Boyd parking lot trailhead or board a KTA shuttle van in Carlisle and ride to and from the outing. After the hike, we’ll enjoy lunch* and conversation at a local restaurant.
Itinerary:
- Van departs Carlisle* 8:15 a.m.
- Group gathers at trailhead** 9:00 a.m.
- Hike ends 11:30 a.m.
- Lunch at area restaurant*** 12:00 p.m.
- Van returns to Carlisle 1:45 p.m.
**Trailhead: Boyd Big Tree Preserve, 401 Fishing Creek Valley Rd, Harrisburg, PA 17112
***Lunch costs are covered by the participant
Registration Fee:
- With shuttle from Carlisle $15 per person
- Without shuttle/Meet at Trailhead $ 5 per person
Coming Soon:
Hike#4: Appalachian Trail at Lehigh Gap with Keystone Trails Association
Saturday, September 23
Hike#4: Appalachian Trail at Lehigh Gap with Keystone Trails Association
Saturday, September 23
Ramble Payment
Kittatinny Rambles
With support from Audubon Mid-Atlantic via the Kittatinny Ridge Conservation Landscape (KRCL) mini-grant program, KTA is coordinating six day hikes to six of the sub-landscapes of the amazing Kittatinny Ridge. The hikes will take place spring through fall 2023 and will be announced here and in future issues of The Keystone Hiker.
Each outing will include transportation from Harrisburg (with secondary pick-up locations) and a lunch stop (on own) at a restaurant proximate to the trailhead. Each hike will highlight the work of–and volunteer opportunities with–local trail organizations who maintain the particular trail or trail segment. Proceeds from registration fees will be donated to those organizations.
While the KRCL is gaining in notoriety in defining a local sense of place, providing exceptional outdoor recreation venues, supporting critical habitat and migratory pathways, and performing vital natural functions (e.g., drinking water, carbon sequestration, etc.), it will continue to benefit from more people in the greater region learning about its superlative values. These hikes are such an opportunity—facilitating visceral experiences with the resource.
The trails of the Kittatinny are well-loved but require ongoing care. Local trails clubs perform much of the maintenance, but they welcome new volunteers and members to sustain their activities. Our hike series seeks to connect participants to these clubs, elevate their visibility, and enhance their capacity to steward their respective pieces of the KRCL.
Please join us in these explorations, and invite others.
With support from Audubon Mid-Atlantic via the Kittatinny Ridge Conservation Landscape (KRCL) mini-grant program, KTA is coordinating six day hikes to six of the sub-landscapes of the amazing Kittatinny Ridge. The hikes will take place spring through fall 2023 and will be announced here and in future issues of The Keystone Hiker.
Each outing will include transportation from Harrisburg (with secondary pick-up locations) and a lunch stop (on own) at a restaurant proximate to the trailhead. Each hike will highlight the work of–and volunteer opportunities with–local trail organizations who maintain the particular trail or trail segment. Proceeds from registration fees will be donated to those organizations.
While the KRCL is gaining in notoriety in defining a local sense of place, providing exceptional outdoor recreation venues, supporting critical habitat and migratory pathways, and performing vital natural functions (e.g., drinking water, carbon sequestration, etc.), it will continue to benefit from more people in the greater region learning about its superlative values. These hikes are such an opportunity—facilitating visceral experiences with the resource.
The trails of the Kittatinny are well-loved but require ongoing care. Local trails clubs perform much of the maintenance, but they welcome new volunteers and members to sustain their activities. Our hike series seeks to connect participants to these clubs, elevate their visibility, and enhance their capacity to steward their respective pieces of the KRCL.
Please join us in these explorations, and invite others.
Past Rambles in this Series
Hike #1: Tom Lowe/Sand Spring Trails Loop with Blue Mountain Eagle Climbing Club
Saturday, April 15
An easy 4.6-mile loop near Shartlesville, Berks County. On the trek, meet members of the Blue Mountain Eagle Climbing Club (BMECC) and learn about their work maintaining portions of the Appalachian and other trails. Participants can join the group at the trailhead or board a KTA shuttle van at Fort Hunter Park in Harrisburg. After the hike, we’ll enjoy lunch* and conversation at a local restaurant.
Itinerary:
• Van departs Fort Hunter Park 8:45 a.m.
• Group gathers at trailhead 10:00 a.m.
• Hike ends 1:00 p.m.
• Lunch at area restaurant* 1:15 p.m.
• Van returns to Fort Hunter Park 3:15 p.m.
*Lunch costs are covered by the participant
Registration Fee:
- With shuttle from Fort Hunter $15 per person
- Without shuttle/Meet at Trailhead $5 per person
Saturday, April 15
An easy 4.6-mile loop near Shartlesville, Berks County. On the trek, meet members of the Blue Mountain Eagle Climbing Club (BMECC) and learn about their work maintaining portions of the Appalachian and other trails. Participants can join the group at the trailhead or board a KTA shuttle van at Fort Hunter Park in Harrisburg. After the hike, we’ll enjoy lunch* and conversation at a local restaurant.
Itinerary:
• Van departs Fort Hunter Park 8:45 a.m.
• Group gathers at trailhead 10:00 a.m.
• Hike ends 1:00 p.m.
• Lunch at area restaurant* 1:15 p.m.
• Van returns to Fort Hunter Park 3:15 p.m.
*Lunch costs are covered by the participant
Registration Fee:
- With shuttle from Fort Hunter $15 per person
- Without shuttle/Meet at Trailhead $5 per person
Hike #2: Cove Mountain Trails with Susquehanna Appalachian Trail Club
Friday, May 19
Our second hike in this six-hike series conquers a moderately challenging, three mile loop (approximately) at the Hamer Woodlands in the Nature Conservancy’s Cove Mountain Preserve offering a lush forest setting and scenic views of the Susquehanna River. On the trek, meet members of the Susquehanna Appalachian Trail Club and learn about their work maintaining trails and leading outings in central Pennsylvania. Participants can join the group at the trailhead but shuttles from the greater Harrisburg area can be arranged. After the hike, we’ll enjoy lunch* and conversation at a local restaurant.
These hikes are made possible through a Kittatinny Ridge Conservation Landscape (KRCL) mini-grant, funded by PA DCNR, and administered by Audubon Mid-Atlantic. The series is designed to showcase the sub-landscapes of the amazing Kittatinny Ridge and the organizations that care for it.
Itinerary:
• Group gathers at trailhead 10:00 a.m.
• Hike ends 12:00 p.m.
• Lunch at area restaurant* 12:15 p.m.
*Lunch costs are covered by the participant
Registration Fee:
- With arranged shuttle* $10 per person
- Meet at Trailhead** $5 per person
*Trailhead located at upper gravel parking lot for the Wesley United Methodist Church of Marysville, 450 Sylvan St, Marysville, PA 17053
**Registration fees donated to SATC
Friday, May 19
Our second hike in this six-hike series conquers a moderately challenging, three mile loop (approximately) at the Hamer Woodlands in the Nature Conservancy’s Cove Mountain Preserve offering a lush forest setting and scenic views of the Susquehanna River. On the trek, meet members of the Susquehanna Appalachian Trail Club and learn about their work maintaining trails and leading outings in central Pennsylvania. Participants can join the group at the trailhead but shuttles from the greater Harrisburg area can be arranged. After the hike, we’ll enjoy lunch* and conversation at a local restaurant.
These hikes are made possible through a Kittatinny Ridge Conservation Landscape (KRCL) mini-grant, funded by PA DCNR, and administered by Audubon Mid-Atlantic. The series is designed to showcase the sub-landscapes of the amazing Kittatinny Ridge and the organizations that care for it.
Itinerary:
• Group gathers at trailhead 10:00 a.m.
• Hike ends 12:00 p.m.
• Lunch at area restaurant* 12:15 p.m.
*Lunch costs are covered by the participant
Registration Fee:
- With arranged shuttle* $10 per person
- Meet at Trailhead** $5 per person
*Trailhead located at upper gravel parking lot for the Wesley United Methodist Church of Marysville, 450 Sylvan St, Marysville, PA 17053
**Registration fees donated to SATC