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by Kaira Loving, KTA Intern
As my first week was coming to a close as Keystone Trail Association’s newest intern, I was told it could not be complete until I went out and paid a visit to Bob Fromme, Jr., who was in the midst of one of his well-loved "Trail Magic" days on the Appalachian Trail (more on this later!).
Bob joined KTA in 2008, and became a Life Member on September 8, 2009. He is a member of KTA's prestigious Sustainer's Circle, for his generous contributions to our organization this year. Bob is also a recipient of the 2013 KTA Appalachian Trail Award, for his outstanding hiking achievement of completing the entire Appalachian Trail in Pennsylvania.
There is something that makes Bob stand out even more than his achievements with KTA -- an event held most Wednesdays in early summer: Bob Fromme's “Trail Magic” on the Appalachian Trail (A.T.). I decided to accompany KTA Executive Director Curt Ashenfelter on Wednesday, June 19, on a field trip to see what was brewing in a parking lot crossover of the Appalachian Trail and Route 325, just below the Clark’s Valley dam.
As we pulled up, about ten thru-hikers of the AT were relaxing in the shade, enjoying sitting in an actual chair after hiking in the hot Pennsylvania sun all day. Many hikers had been anticipating visiting Bob’s “Trail Magic," having heard about it through the grapevine or even knowing him from previous years. To others, it was a complete and blissful surprise. I had the privilege of witnessing one of these special encounters as I sat there chatting with the hikers. They are easy to label as “Trail Magic Rookies,” because as Bob greets them and tells them to sit down and take a seat, they are at first taken aback. Then, he glances over at me, winks with an inerasable smile, and excitedly hands them the kicker: a laminated menu, complete with turkey club pasta salad (the chef’s recommendation), a vegetarian option with peas, deviled eggs, Gatorades in every color of the rainbow, and even a dessert menu with a chocolate cupcake and peanut-butter icing headliner. This is when the jaws drop!
Bob has been dropping jaws for the past four years at this location and keeps track of how many hikers come each Wednesday. Nineteen hikers stopped by while we were there that afternoon, all leaving with full bellies and smiles on their faces due to Bob’s random act of kindness. This included the 300th hiker of the “Trail Magic Days," which we all celebrated with congratulations and extra snacks to take on the trail for the lucky hiker. 300 hikers in four years, from all over the country and world… you can only imagine the stories Bob has to tell.
I am glad to have met such an inspiring and interesting crowd during my first week on the job, and I can truly say that the happiness that Bob brings to the hiking community is contagious -- making me want to spread a little magic of my own.
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