by Ed Lawrence, Trail Care Chair
The Trail Care schedule for 2015 offers 15 opportunities sprinkled throughout the year and across the state to ramp your passion for hiking up to the next level. You can make that longitudinal leap by participating in a Code Orange Work Day at Whipple Dam State Park (May 20), Tyler State Park (August 1), or Gifford Pinchot State Park (October 3). These events are an excellent way to visit one of Pennsylvania’s award-winning parks and help make the park an even more inviting place for young and old to discover the earthly delights of hiking. All 3 parks offer participants a chance to camp for free both Friday and Saturday nights; plus, the Friends of Pinchot State Park will once again host a not-to-be-missed cookout on Saturday night.
Alternatively (or in addition), the KTA’s 5 Trail Care Weeks in 2015 offer volunteers a chance to extend their engagement to a longer trail work experience, Tuesday through Sunday, or any part thereof, with all food provided. Work on the Pennsylvania section of the North Country National Scenic Trail (Week #1: May 26-31) and/or assist with the KTA's ongoing commitment to the rugged Chuck Keiper and Donut Hole Trails in Sproul State Forest (Week #2: June 2-7). Week #3 (June 9-14) will focus on a variety of trails in Bald Eagle State Forest, including some in and around the Snyder-Middleswarth Natural Area, noted for its stand of majestic old-growth conifers. Rounding out our work projects and palate will be the Everett Region of the Mid State Trail (Week #4: June 16-21), based out of Tenley Park and with meals provided by the indefatigable church ladies, and the Standing Stone Trail (Week #5: June 23-28), with camping at Greenwood Furnace State Park and featuring the Dutch-oven wizardry of cook Jim Catozzi.
The first of 7 weekend-long Trail Care events for the year will run April 10-12, with Kevin Busko leading the traditional breakout event in the State College Region of the Mid State Trail. Other weekends will return volunteers to the West Rim Trail (May 15-17), which needs some corridor lopping, and to the Tuscarora Trail (September 18-20), where the KTA Trail Care Program will partner with volunteers from the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club in their work to keep the storied “Big Blue” open and accessible. Your participation in one or more of these scheduled events will bring added value to the KTA’s mission of keeping trails alive in Pennsylvania! Consult the complete schedule for more information on the other 2015 events.