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by Ed Lawrence and Deb Dunkle
Maintaining the Mid State Trail (MST) in the Everett Region, in south-central Pennsylvania, is an ongoing challenge. Fortunately, volunteers who joined the KTA Trail Crew June 21-26 were up to the task again this year. Before the start of the Trail Care Week, Ray McCann and Everett Regional Manager Deb Dunkle spent 2 days mowing access areas and dodging heavy rain showers, while Richard and Pam Hershberger helped with other organizational and logistical needs.
On Tuesday, Tom Bastian rolled in with the KTA tool trailer, and the week was under way! Dale Miller, Jenn Ulmer, Michael Huber, Tony Robbins, and Tony Barr worked the brushcutters and loppers supported by Donna Thompson, Sarah Kownacki, and Blake Ketchum.
The crew opened a long-anticipated section of the trail north of Everett—going on the Blue Triangle property diagonally through the lumber yard to the Everett Door Company edge of the woods out to Route 26. Connecting this piece of the puzzle was a great accomplishment because of the number of different landowners involved and the confusing state and dated details of some of the survey maps. We very much appreciate the private landowners who’ve allowed the MST to pass through their properties! Still on the to-do list is finishing, with PennDOT’s assistance, the Tenley Park connector along the Shuster Bypass.
Volunteers also worked in the Rainsburg area, locating an easier way to access the trail in 2 different places. It took 5 people doing serious combat with thick briars to find and mark these new paths.
The only troubling event of the week occurred when someone heisted one of KTA’s brushcutters. A crew working in the Loysburg Gap area placed a brushcutter alongside the road before leaving the area while vehicles were being repositioned. The brushcutter was gone when the crew returned. They reported the theft to the state police, and Deb Dunkle notified people in the local community, asking for their help in returning the tool. Hopefully whoever took it will see the error of their ways and return it.
Aside from that incident, the week went well, and the trail is in better condition thanks to the dedication of the KTA Trail Crew. As usual, the fabulous Church Ladies kept everyone well fed. Thanks to all who helped make the Trail Care Week successful. |