The Keystone Hiker, October 2012 Edition

The Old Loggers Path (OLP), a beautiful, remote loop trail which wanders around the plateau east of Rt. 14 and west of Rt 87 in Loyalsock State Forest, is in trouble.

A natural gas developer purchased the mineral rights under the entire trail, and has drawn up plans for developing the well-pads, roads and pipelines. Usually, mineral rights supersede surface rights - but the wording of the deed states otherwise in this case - something unique in Pennsylvania law. Read more.

Irish Eyes Smile on KTA

by Paul Shaw, Member, KTA Board of Directors

Fifteen KTA members enjoyed spectacular scenery, generally fine weathe r, and the warm hospitality of the Dingle peninsula on KTA's just-completed Ireland hiking adventure. Co-sponsored by Treks & Trails International, participants hiked by day and stayed in comfortable country inns and B&B's by night. Read more.

Your Hiking Advocate

by Curt Ashenfelter

Your days of hiking in county and municipal parks may soon be over. The Pennsylvania Senate is poised to pass a bill that will allow county and municipal governments to sell our local parks for quick and easy cash. Read more.

Super Hike Recap

266 finishers trudged through heat and rain and rock and mud to complete all 28.4 miles of the fourth annual Susquehanna Super Hike and Ultra Trail Run. A huge thank you to all of this year's participants, and hearty congratulations to each of our finishers. Although this event is not about competition, and is instead a personal challenge, we do want to give a special shout-out to our top male and female finishers: Joshua Jamison, 34, from York, PA, at 5:16:21 (pictured at left, with Scott Newcomer, in second place, at 5:17:10), and Christine Anderson, 27, from Pequea, PA, at 5:40:06. KTA would also like to recognize Daryl Warren, of Wellsboro, PA, who placed at #198 at 10:10:06; at age 78, Daryl is our most senior finisher to date!

For event-day photos, results, and more details about how the day went, click here to Read more.

Code Orange Update

by Ed Lawrence, Trail Care Chair

A quartet of volunteers from KTA returned to Doubling Gap in the sinuous Blue Mountain on August 8, 2012, to help upgrade the hiking opportunities at Colonel Denning State Park. Read more.

SNEAK PREVIEW: A quick look into the crystal ball reveals that the 2013 Trail Care season will again feature five week long Trail Crews. Get your calendars out for this sneak preview of where and when the crews will be happening: May 28 - June 2, North Country Trail; June 4 - 9, Standing Stone Trail; June 11 - 16, Mid State Trail, Everett Region; June 18 - 23, Allegheny Front Trail; and June 25 - 30, Chuck Kieper/ Donut Hole Trail. The complete details will be available later, but plan now to join a Crew in 2013!

KTA Member Profile: Janet Smith

"When her youngest child graduated high school to begin a life of her own in 1997, Janet I. Smith promised herself that she would not become a victim of empty-nest syndrome. Sixteen years and 2,184 miles later, Smith can now lay claim to being one of the elite who have hiked the entire length of the Appalachian Trail, from its start on Springer Mountain in Georgia to its finish on Mt. Katahdin in Maine." To read the recent article about Janet's accomplishments in the Lebanon Daily News, click here.

Thunder Swamp Trail Update

by John Motz, KTA Representative-at-Large

After five years of toil, the KTA Trail Crew, along with helping hands from the Pocono Outdoor Club, has reopened 16 miles of Thunder Swamp Trail (TST), east of SR402. The trail had become badly overgrown, and in recent years suffered from a surge in understory growth generated by a mass oak die-off.

The trail crew started at the northern loop around Big Bear Swamp (aptly named) and worked southward, clearing blow downs and brush, and painting fresh orange blazes. The work has paid off, as attested to by the backpackers we spoke with at our Fall, 2012 work days. Read more.

Newsletter Submissions
This newsletter is published monthly by Keystone Trails Association. Submissions are accepted on a rolling basis. Opinions expressed are those of the listed authors. The Editor encourages submissions reflecting all viewpoints, but reserves the right to edit material. You are encouraged to submit your material via e-mail to Program Administrator/ Interim Newsletter Editor, Shanna Filizzi, at ktaadmin@verizon.net. Want to advertise in The Keystone Hiker? E-mail Curt Ashenfelter, Executive Director, at ktahike@verizon.net for advertisement benefits and rates.