by Steve Zwolinski, KTA Intern
There is a certain type of mystique that captivates the hiking community when setting out on the trail: following the blazes, having a conversation along the way, getting lost in terms of time except by finding waypoints or following the path of the sun or moon. Many folks take the trail’s condition for granted; they simply know that the trail is “there” and follow the clearing, getting somewhere in the meantime.
Despite the naturalness of the trails, the growth is often uncontrolled and as wild as the backcountry itself. A narrow path often wanders between trees, as well as up and down hills, and is ignored by nature when it comes to the spreading of plants. Over a few years, an initially clear path can become heavily overgrown. Resetting the trail can be difficult, if not impossible, after the path is covered. Thus, every few years, a small group of volunteers sets out to clear the path set by their predecessors to ensure the continued enjoyment of the trail.
As a newly discovered hiker, I joined the Mid State Trail Association's trail care event in the Rothrock and Bald Eagle State Forests near State College from April 10 to 12, 2015. Through my experience as an intern with KTA, I wanted to help ensure that both current and future hikers could enjoy the trail, and this 3-mile section was in dire need of trimming back brush and branches. I had experienced a short hike before—approximately 2 and a half miles near Wampum, in Lawrence County. However, I learned quickly that this Trail Care Event was not going to be a recreational hike, but one with a mission.
The night before the event was quite relaxing. Everyone sat around a fireplace in the Juniata Valley Council’s Seven Mountains Camp Rimmey Cabin. Some of the material was to get to know everyone so that plans could be made. Working remotely from Pittsburgh, my first experience was finally meeting my supervisor, Shanna Klucar, in person. It was a great experience knowing that we would work side-by-side on this project, and knowing that I would also work with her husband, Dan, enhanced the camaraderie. As we sat around and grabbed snacks and cold beverages, the best part was seeing the diverse set of people who would be bearing the brush cutters, loppers, and paint can to maintain the trail the next day. For several hours before going to bed, we relaxed as we heard some stories about past Events, as well as other plans—including more Events—for the next few weeks.
Waking up early the next morning was perhaps the most difficult thing to do. Despite the urge to drink coffee, I knew I had to hydrate, pack, and get to the camp early. Our small group (around 15 people) was split into 2 groups—one starting at the far end of the trail and working its way west; the other starting near a fire tower at the top of Tussey Mountain. The place where the groups met was part of the Mid State Trail—a part that our leader, Kevin, said needed extensive clearing, as many prior Trail Care Events missed the overgrown areas.
We set out in a small caravan to the fire tower, gathered our equipment, and made our plans. There were definite roles for our crew. Four brush cutters went through, clearing the low growth along the trail. The brush-cutting machines—essentially a chain saw on a pole—went first, buzzing through the growth. They were followed by 3 people using loppers to trim the larger branches and saplings, which hung over the trail and could not be cleared by the brush cutters. Although these branches and saplings were often tough, the goal was to clear at least a 3-foot-wide trail.
The experience initially was a bit intimidating. Unusually cool weather for April made getting into the swing of things a bit challenging, but working with Dan and John, an experienced Mid State Trail hiker and KTA Trail Care volunteer, helped me continue the hike. The 3 of us learned to follow each other’s lead, often carrying the loppers in our hands and checking each other’s work as we went along. The weather became warmer as we moved along, and our conversations helped pass the time.
Proceeding on the trail proved difficult at times. Many areas of the trail were rocky, and I was ill-prepared for the ankle and lower-body flexibility needed for maneuvering. However, I also found that navigating through the rocks was actually simple—I just stayed balanced, kept my body upright, and stepped not between the rocks but on top of them. Many areas were also narrow because of the lack of clearing, and having things brush against your body continuously became somewhat annoying.
Farther into the trail, we noticed that the character of the surroundings had changed significantly. Toward the overgrown middle section, pine went to birch and then to thistle and rhododendron. The rhododendron proved very difficult to cut because of its thick growth and tendency to tangle. However, cutting it became sort of a mission after I learned how to efficiently use the loppers.
The overgrown middle section was, perhaps, the most difficult part of the trail. There, a glacial-till field of rocks was blazed. These rocks were of various sizes, and they moved as we walked on them, creating fall-and-trip hazards. Rattlesnakes, hiding on or under the rocks themselves, were another concern and potential hazard. Luckily, our group avoided rattlesnakes and other wildlife, including ticks.
As we made our way back, Dan and I stopped at a south-facing overlook. Because a cell tower was nearby, I took the opportunity to make a video phone call to my friend in Canada, showing him tens of square miles of nothingness as we looked over the valley. Taking a break was necessary at that point; I had been hiking and feverishly working for 5 hours beforehand with only 3 breaks. Resting and enjoying the view helped me get through the last 3 hours of work.
Toward the end of the day, we began to see other hikers along the path. Many brought their dogs along, and everyone seemed to be interested in our trail care activities, thanking us for keeping the trails open and clear. The most noticeable trait that I saw as an outsider was how everyone spoke to each other as if they were long-term friends, even though a lot of them were meeting only for the first time. In addition, the warming weather meant that it actually quite comfortable to continue working, and we relied on hydration more and more.
The last hour of the day involved trading the loppers for a brush cutter. I was somewhat hesitant to try the brush cutter; power tools are not my cup of tea, but I felt that I had to explore my boundaries and work on bypassing them. Despite the loudness of the cutters, not to mention my hands and body smelling of oil and gas, clear-cutting a narrow swath was empowering and kind of fun. I initially found myself enjoying carrying the heavy device, but my right arm became increasingly tired, and carrying the device soon became painful.
Perhaps the most significant and rewarding experience of the day came near the end. My brush cutter had run out of gas, so a trail crew member told me to begin working my way back to camp. I had never hiked alone up to that point, and as it was getting late, I was desperate to find a place to sit down where others were located. Despite having only about 10 hours of lifetime trail experience, I found myself following the blazes and making it back to the trailhead without incident, still carrying the brush cutter. Dan gave me a fist bump at the end in total support. After sitting down to evaluate the day, I felt fulfilled at having conquered my fear of the outdoors and performing a task that few were willing to do (but many would undoubtedly enjoy).