Dear Hikers, Backpackers, and Fellow Trail Enthusiasts,
Greetings from the front lines of the battle to preserve the trails you love! The Keystone Trails Association continues to tirelessly advocate on your behalf for the protection of Pennsylvania’s hiking trails. As we fight for and promote the hiker platform with state government, I would like to highlight our recent gains, and thank our members and partner organizations for their true dedication and continued support.
I am proud to report that KTA enjoyed a successful 2012. Our staff, volunteers, members, and trail maintaining organizations have worked diligently to maximize the value of our collective efforts, and roll out new initiatives to accelerate our progress. With your help, we effectively advocated to preserve hunting-free Sundays and hiker-only trails. We advanced the critical education of legislators and the general public on the risks, threats, and environmental impacts associated with gas exploration and drilling in and near footpaths. We targeted and secured crucial new membership.
KTA’s Trail Care program is thriving; nineteen successful events were held across the state this year, utilizing 3,464 volunteer hours from 156 participants.
Our newest initiative, the 100-Mile Trail Challenge, was launched in April and enjoyed resounding success. Twelve hikers raised over $2,500 by hiking more than 1,600 miles of Pennsylvania’s trails. Over the coming year, this program will continue to engage and challenge beginner and veteran hikers alike, while expanding KTA’s membership and donor base. For more information about participating in the Challenge, visit www.kta-hike.org.
Perhaps most importantly, through increased generosity and commitment from members, KTA has gone from facing a nearly $25,000 deficit at this time last year, to reaching our goal of a balanced budget for fiscal year 2012. For this, I am especially grateful, as this surge in donations and new membership has allowed us to increase our advocacy efforts, visibility, and influence in Harrisburg. KTA’s permanent, physical presence in the capitol is paramount to ensuring our message is heard, and this year we have secured that presence.
While these successes are encouraging, and give me hope that our progress will continue; make no mistake: KTA is engaged in battle. A battle to not only protect the advances we’ve made, but to defend against the constant threats from private interests and state government’s plans to erode the protection of state lands for hikers.
In October’s President’s Message, Thyra Sperry, KTA Board President, outlined the imminent and severe threat to the Old Logger’s Path in Loyalsock State Forest. A natural gas developer has purchased the mineral rights under the entire trail, and is attempting to have roads, pipelines and well-pads built which will destroy the trail as we know it. The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) has the legal authority to protect the surface of 18,870 acres and the trail. We know that the DCNR has heard from the developer and special interests. We need them to hear from us, too. Your help is urgently requested to continue this fight.
Unlike the industries, corporations, and interest groups who are encroaching on new protected areas every day, and are an increasing threat to alter the landscape of Pennsylvania’s forests and trails forever, KTA simply does not have the lobbying power and unlimited resources to easily hold our ground against their aggressive agenda. However, we have you.
You, who made time this year to breathe in the peaceful tranquility of one of Pennsylvania’s wondrous hiking trails, whether during a KTA hiking weekend or on your own. You, who experienced a contemplative, focused moment, or a stunning encounter with Pennsylvania’s beloved wildlife. You, who value and appreciate the opportunity to commune with nature through a simple walk in the forest. You, who connect with your family, friends, and your own unique nature, through nature. You, who understand just how fleeting and increasingly rare these undisturbed moments may be in years ahead. You, who want to help preserve these opportunities for the hikers of tomorrow.
Your generous and much-needed donations are our collective voice. Please, now, help us speak louder! Please do what you can this season to help us further our mission to provide, preserve, protect and promote Pennsylvania’s trails for hikers, backpackers, and nature-lovers, now, and in the years to come.
Please click here to contribute to our cause today. On behalf of KTA, I thank you.