On October 13, 2012, Keystone Trails Association Council members from across the state of Pennsylvania convened in Clearfield, PA, for the Annual Meeting of the KTA Council.  

The KTA Council consists of the Board of Directors, Committee Chairs, Representatives-at-Large, and Member Club Representatives.  The Council meets twice annually, in the fall and the spring, to discuss matters of importance to Keystone Trails Association, and to the hiking community at large.  A primary concern voiced at the Council Meeting related to the threat of continued and expanded gas exploration and drilling on and near our hiking trails.  Joyce Hooper, of the Mason-Dixon Trail System and York Hiking Club, urged KTA member clubs to work together to contact - in person and in writing - their representatives in Harrisburg about this important issue.  Linda Enders Roxberry, KTA Representative-at-Large, stressed the importance of today's hikers not becoming complacent under the perceived notion that Pennsylvania's trails are safe or protected from harm.  

Great news! This year, thanks to everyone's hard work, we were able to pull together and eliminate what seemed to be an insurmountable deficit.  This is the first time since 2007 that we have ended the fiscal year in the positive!  In part due to significantly increased financial support by KTA's member clubs and organizations club, we not only eliminated the projected deficit of $24,724, but actually ended the fiscal year in the black, with $357 in the bank.  On October 13, the 2012-2013 fiscal year budget was presented to, and approved by, the Council.  For the first time since 2007, KTA was able to approve a balanced budget. With a lot of hard work, and the continued, increased support of our member clubs, we are confident that we can again end this fiscal year in the positive.  Thank you all for your clubs' continued support of KTA, in our combined mission to provide, preserve, protect, and promote hiking trails in Pennsylvania.  Our foundation of member club support has helped to provide KTA with the first step towards a sustainable financial future. 

The Mid-State Trail Association, the non-profit stewards of Pennsylvania's longest and wildest footpath, now recognizes hikers who have walked the entire trail from Maryland to New York.  Anyone who has thru-hiked or section-hiked the entire Mid-State Trail from Maryland to New York (or vice-versa) is encouraged to apply for an End-to-End certificate and number. The date of end-to-end completion must be before June 1st, 2008, but sections of the trail that were hiked prior will be accepted.  Applications are available on their website, and must be submitted with copy of your MST End-to-End Hiker Journal, conforming to the guidelines found on the application.