Summer 2012

2012 Annual STC Camporee Club members gathered for dinner at the camporee Every year it rains…this year we’ll be prepared!

Photo by Tom Fitzgerald Photo by George Reamerstraff

The 2012 Summer Camporee will be held at Ole Bull State been unable to make contact with enough navigational Park again this year, but will be later in the summer, one satellites to accurately locate waypoints on the ground. day longer than previous camporees, and rather than using The tentative long hike for Saturday is a portion of the the group camping area, we’ve decided to set up camp in recently-cleared central connector trail between Cherry the main camping area to be closer to the showers and Springs Fire Tower and Hockney Hollow. Plans are to beach. hike from the fire tower to the East Fork Road, a distance An early contingent of STC members will arrive at the of about five miles. The distance is a little shorter than the park on Thursday, August 9, and set up camp, then get a usual long hike because of the lengthy time-consuming good night’s rest. On Friday, they plan to spend the day drive from the park to the tower and the East Fork Road. carrying out some much-needed maintenance on the If the group is still energetic and the afternoon is still Impson Hollow and Big Springs sections of the young, some of us may elect to forge on up the Game Susquehannock Trail System. They will also set an STS Refuge Trail to the Rock Ridge Road, leaving only the arrow sign at the intersection of Route 144 and Main short upper Hockney Hollow Trail unhiked. But the Street in Cross Fork. additional car travel and the evening activities make that unlikely. A possible additional activity–depending on the number of available warm bodies–will be an old-fashioned “chain and Those desiring a short hike can take advantage of the trails compass” survey of the new footpath under construction on the Ole Bull Park map, or any of the nearby CCC trails in the lower end of Long Hollow. It takes at least four that seldom see a human bootprint. people to do it efficiently. Five is better, but six is The plan for Saturday evening is to begin around 6:00 PM superfluous. A four-or five-man crew should be able to with a covered dish dinner, followed by our business finish that job in less than three hours. meeting roughly beginning at 7:00 PM. After the business We have tried to use modern GPS technology, but in that meeting, there will be a short program. We are still deep, narrow, steep-sided hollow, the GPS receivers have working on exactly what that will be. Stay tuned to our website for details.

Clearing the Central Crossover Connector By Bill Boyd, STC Trail Maintenance Chairman We had such a good time clearing the Northern Crossover trail last year, that we decided we’d do another this year. After studying the maps and doing a little scouting, we settled on a tentative route–one that would run from the Susquehannock Trail System at Mile-14.38 at the old Buffalo & Susquehanna railroad grade below Cherry Springs Fire Tower, to STS Mile-74.16 at the intersection of the Empty Tank and Hockney Hollow trails The crossover follows the abandoned B&S railroad grade southwesterly for about two miles. At the intersection with the abandoned section of the Boone Road, it turns abruptly uphill, to the north. About a quarter-mile of moderate uphill climb brings you to the Junction Road. Turning to the left (south), a hiker will follow the Junction Road for approximately 100 yards, before bearing off to the right onto a pipeline, which veers slightly to the southwest. Cross to the northwest (right-hand) side of the pipeline and follow it to the top of the first rise. As the pipeline marker comes into view, the crossover trail enters the woods to the right on the original Switchback Trail. This trail descends a fork of Shinglebolt Hollow for about 1.3 miles into the main Shinglebolt, and connects with an old woods road, which in turn joins the East Fork Road in about another mile. Turn right (north) on the paved road for about half-a mile to the Game Refuge Trail. You’ll northern gateway at Denton Hill DCNR, the loop would find this trail just past the driveway to Camp Beaver. If be about 32 miles–about right for a long weekend. Of day-hiking in this area, please keep in mind that parking is course a hiker could always combine it with the West very limited along this stretch of the East Fork Road. Do Branch crossover trail and other sections of the STS. not park in or block any of the camp driveways! Almost any of the trails would lend themselves to road-to- road day hikes. The Game Refuge Trail leads northerly up the main East Fork valley, and then turns northwesterly into a side Most of the crossover is on old Civilian Conservation hollow. After less than 300 yards, the trail begins to climb Corps trails which have become brushed in and nearly lost the right hillside of the side hollow, and gradually winds its from seven decades of little use outside of hunting season. way to the top of the ridge. After that, two long straight At this time, the route is about 90 percent brushed out. stretches bring you out on the Rock Ridge Road. Go Maps will be eventually be available. directly across the road and enter the Hockney Hollow The East Fork Crossover Trail is the result of nearly 200 trail, which leads through a vigorous young-growth forest hours of work by approximately 14 members of the for about a-third of a mile to a point where it meets the Susquehannock Trail Club. If you enjoy this new STS link, STS at its intersection with the Empty Tank Trail. you can thank them for their hard work. This crossover totals approximately eight miles, and will give hikers more options for loop hikes. Starting at the

Newsletter printed by the Welfare Hollow Publishing Group, New Florence, PA 15944 2

Hiking the Northern Connector On Sunday, we continued south on the STS, now with large backpacks grossly overloaded due to our “Bring A Mini-Circuit Hike everything ‘cause we don’t have to carry it far Saturday!” By Ryan Wilhelm strategy. Leaving Camp Sunday Using the recently cleared and well marked Northern morning, we followed the STS and Saturday Hiking Connector between the east and west sides of the STS, my then left the STS where it joined friend Steve and I backpacked a 24-mile loop around the the Plantation trail to head uphill northernmost section of the STS. How we chose to do toward Patterson Park. For the the hike was based on our preferences and hiking style. next 5 miles, we easily followed However, this loop-hike can be done many different ways the West Branch Trail down- and hiked in either direction. There are many state forest- stream, seeing grouse, many active road crossings and access points (like the STS Northern beaver ponds with a quick sighting Gateway), so bailout options exist if another vehicle was of a beaver and even a bald eagle! used. Due to these options we believe this is an excellent Eventually, this trail came out on Photo from Ryan Wilhelm choice for anyone’s first backpacking trip. If a bailout the West Branch Road at our becomes necessary Verizon 3G service is available along vehicle. Total miles for Sunday: 8.5. the Ridge and White Line sections of the STS. (In our case this was good for checking the weather and to send In our opinion, this loop makes an ideal two or three day goofy hiking pictures of each other back to their wives for hike for hikers of all experience. It offers scenery, many a laugh. ) logistical options and a taste of the STS without the need for a car shuttle. Thanks to all who did such a superb job Friday Camp On Friday March 23, 2012 in clearing this trail and maintaining the STS. with afternoon temps near a record high, we drove down from Corning, NY Late spring and early summer 2012 have been hotter and to camp on Lyman Run drier than usual, but cool shade can still be found in the near STS mile 7. This deep forested hollows along the Susquehannock Trail beautiful and well main- System. We look forward to the cooler months ahead. tained campsite is close The fantasy described below exists only in the poet’s vivid Photo from Ryan Wilhelm to the Lyman Run Rd. By imagination. camping here Friday night, it allowed us to start hiking earlier Saturday morning and made the trip a two-nighter. THE TALL, SPARE SUMMER Saturday morning after packing up, we drove to the From Something Breathing by Stanley McNail © 1965, Arkham House: Publishers, Sauk City, WI Hopper House Trail and parked along the West Branch It was like any other year:/Cold greened into spring,/And Road. This parking area is across the road from the West the locusts fed./The days that folded in and under/Gave Branch Trail’s trailhead and up the road one mile from the us no hint of what was coming/Sure of our yesterdays and STS (mile 11.25). We hiked counter-clockwise from this tomorrows/And of the clocks that never failed us,/We point, connecting with the STS on West Branch Road, and wove our thread/And bedded and begot/And planted hiking in reverse direction to STS mile zero. From here distant cousins in the ground./Then on a windless day the we continued south three miles on the White Line section yellow sun/Festered above us like a wound./The tall, spare of the STS and camped Saturday evening in Splash Dam summer was upon us/And had come to stay./That was six Hollow. We made Saturday’s 15.5 mile hike easier by years ago. The green is gone./The grass that grew stashing our large backpacks along the Lyman Run Road between my ribs/Is dry as knuckles,/And it makes no Saturday morning. (This positioned the backpacks 2 miles sound. ahead of Saturday night’s planned campsite) We hiked with small daypacks for most of Saturday.

Newsletter printed by the Welfare Hollow Publishing Group, New Florence, PA 15944 3

Finding Our Own Way Around By Eric R. Strauss, Assistant Scoutmaster, Troop 575, Mertztown, PA Scouts from Longswamp Troop 575 using and teaching these important skills to the Scouts. Front: Harry Mayrhofer, Jacob Hensinger, Cole Butz, Dillon On the other hand, a GPS unit would have saved us some Giadosh. Rear: Dominic Derr, Josh Weida, Daniel Strauss, time. If you recommend this route to future hikers, you Scoutmaster Doug Butz, might suggest that they have a few compass-savvy folks along, as you can’t simply follow the trail. By the way, there are no available cell phone signals in this area, so smart-phone GPS units are useless here. We left the STS and headed southwest on the Hungry Hollow Road in search of the trailhead of the Dry Hollow Ridge Trail. Finding it wasn’t quite as easy as we thought it would be. There was a sign marking the head of a trail leading down into Parker Hollow on the opposite side of the Road, but no other visible makers. (No trail into Parker Hollow was shown on our map.) Shortly there- after, we encountered a recently constructed and gated logging road on the left at the approximate location of the Dry Hollow Ridge Trail as depicted on our map. We Photo by Eric Strauss Longswamp Boy Scout Troop 575, from Mertztown, assumed it to be the trail we were seeking, but after we had Berks County, PA had a great hike on Saturday, April 28th, followed it for a short distance, something didn’t seem 2012. Days before we left home, we had asked the Sus- right. It dipped below the ridge line to the south, follow- quehannock Trail Club to suggest a route of approximately ing the contours out to the point overlooking Bergstresser ten miles near Ole Bull State Park. After a four-hour drive hollow. We also saw a recently excavated fire break that to the park, we set up tents on Friday night under the dim looked like it might take you down into the area where we light of Coleman lanterns and zipped up our mummy bags wanted to go. That didn’t seem to be the Dry Hollow under the 20-degree starlit sky. Ridge trail, either, so we wisely decided not to follow it. We pretty much followed the STC’s suggested route. On Bushwhacking out of the wilderness Saturday morning, we left the park on the Ole Bull Trail section of the Susquehannock Trail System, which is clearly marked on the Park map, the Susquehannock State Forest Public Use Map, and the USGS Oleona Quad- rangle. (We also carried the Short Run Quad with us.) The trail itself was in good condition and well maintained. Ole Bull Hollow is an open hardwood area with little understory. A lot of bluebirds (aren’t they supposed to Photo by Eric Strauss live in meadows?) and trillium and other wildflowers added When we finally realized that the logging road was not the splashes of color to the early spring woods. As we Dry Hollow Ridge Trail, we took a compass bearing and approached the flat at the top of the hollow, the forest bushwhacked to the top of the ridge, where we easily grew thicker, but the trail was still clearly defined. located the DHR Trail. It is not blazed, and at points is nearly lost in the thick mountain laurel. In other places There appear to be some changes up on the top that you heading southwest along the ridge, there are large open may wish to alert other hikers to. A few of us are fairly forest areas with little understory, making the trail difficult experienced map and compass guys, so we had a real blast

Newsletter printed by the Welfare Hollow Publishing Group, New Florence, PA 15944 4

to follow. But we stayed on course and didn’t have a Fording Kettle Creek problem. As you approach the Cassidy and Tub Hollow L to R: Dillon Giadosh, Harry Mayrhofer trails, there is a fenced-in deer exclosure. You can enter and exit the exclosure area via a lift gate in the fence— which are good reference points for location of the trail itself. Continuing southwest, as you enter the saddle connecting Tub and Cassidy Hollows, there is a new clear- cut, also surrounded by fencing. Again, a gate in the fence allows entry into the clearcut. The actual intersection of the Cassidy and Tub Hollow Trails was not located as the trail disappeared and we didn’t have a GPS unit. I agree with the STC advisor that this is a critical part of the hike, because if you miss this intersection, you could end up in the wrong hollow. Fortunately, the topography is pretty easy to follow if you know how to use a map and compass. We found a great spot to eat lunch with a beautiful vista to the North. Lunchtime vista

Photo by Eric Strauss Everyone scrambled up the bank and hiked Route. 144 back to the park. It was too late in the day to continue the planned hike across 144—up Rixford and down Layfield hollows. Our ten-mile hike was only about eight miles, but Photo by Eric Strauss it still felt like ten! We planned to cook dinner in Dutch After lunch, we worked our way to our left (pretty hard cut ovens, and had we continued the original hike plan, we south and east, as you can see on a USGS map) along the wouldn’t have had enough time to prepare the delicious edge of the clearcut, and made our way down into Tub chicken potpie that we enjoyed. It was a great recipe! Hollow, eventually locating the Tub Hollow Trail, which is also not blazed and poorly defined. At the bottom of Tub A group of our younger scouts and other leaders hiked Hollow, the trail bends to the right, following the contours some of the shorter park trails throughout the day, fished of the foot of the point to the southwest of Tub Hollow. in beautiful Kettle Creek, and also had a good time. Here, we broke from the trail and took a bearing to the Ole Bull State Park is fantastic. The staff, especially Dolly, south so that we could get up to Rt. 144. This area hosts a was very helpful throughout the planning process. The lush, thickly wooded wetland with a lot of ferns and old group camping area (which shows up on the printed Hemlock and White Pine. brochure, but does not appear on the park website map) And then came the infamous Kettle Creek stream crossing, was very nice and well maintained. The outhouses could which will long live in the minds of the Scouts!. The water have been better, but across the stream, there is a really was knee deep (thigh deep for the younger Scouts) and nice new bathhouse–fully tiled with hot showers…the quite chilly – I am guessing in the 40’s – but we made the works. There is also parking there for through hikers. crossing with no difficulty. There is no magical place to Thanks again to the STC for your detailed, thoughtful cross, and we probably spent more time than we should comments. They were a big help and really enhanced our have searching for one. It’s a good idea to pack old weekend. We plan to return to the area in the future. sneakers, “crocks,” or other “wet shoes”, as some of the Scouts learned when they forded Kettle Creek.

Newsletter printed by the Welfare Hollow Publishing Group, New Florence, PA 15944 5

Setting the Sign Posts By Curt Wunderlich, Assistant Scoutmaster, Troup 432, Jonestown, PA

Boy Scout Troop 432 headed for the big woods of Digging the sign post holes Northcentral Pennsylvania on the last full weekend of March 2012 for our annual maintenance weekend on our 20-mile stretch of the Susquehannock Trail System in Potter and Clinton Counties. This year the troop had a special project–install the posts and base for a future sign that will explain the purpose of a 25-acre prescribed burn carried out in Tin Can Hollow by the Susquehannock State Forest District in the spring of 2011. One edge of the burned area borders the Green Timber Hollow segment of the STS. Unlike a year ago, winter had faded away, and the weather was conducive to getting some work done! On Saturday, March 24, the troop split into three crews and attacked different parts of the trail. The western crew Photo from Curt Wunderlich included Scouts Devin Adams, Dylan Adams, Stephen turns digging. Once the 3-foot depth was reached, we set Morgan, John Ordonna, under the leadership of Jon Barry, the posts, plumbed them up, attached the sign base, and Logan Startoni, and me. The crew arrived at the adjusted their height as needed to level the sign base intersection of the Culver Woods and Shephard roads, between the posts. Since the base was below eye level, it where at 8:15 AM they met Recreation Forester Cory was slanted forward like an elementary school desk top to Gulvas of the Susquehannock State Forest District. We let the sign be read easily from above while allowing dove a short distance down the Culver Woods Road to the rainwater to run off. second pipeline crossing where we parked the vehicles and unloaded supplies. Cory provided two 4x4 posts When everything was lined up properly, two bags of dry approximately 6 feet long, and four 80-lb. bags of concrete concrete mix were packed around the post in each hole. mix along with a metal base for the sign. The actual sign The holes were backfilled with soil the rest of the way. was still being made, and will be taken out to the site at Soil moisture from future precipitation will gradually soak some later date. into the concrete mix, react chemically with it, and eventually produce a block of solid concrete around each The boys loaded the concrete bags onto my deer cart, post. The job took less than two hours without any which is rated to 300 lbs. We didn’t stop to think that 80 setbacks, and we were done by10 AM. lbs. times 4 equals 320 lbs!. The cart voiced its displeasure with creaking and cracking noises, but like a faithful Scouts and leaders (L-R): Logan Startoni, Devon Adams, Dylan Adams, Jon Barry, John Ordonna, servant, carried its load for the short distance of Steven Morgan approximately 500 yards. The tools, posts, and sign base were carried by the crew. When we reached the site chosen by Cory, he gave us a brief talk on the purpose of the burn, then showed us a diagram and directions for the sign installation. We began digging with a shovel, bar, and post hole digger. The posts needed to be 24 inches apart to fit the sign base, and set in holes 3 feet deep. Digging went very well. There were no rocks and only a few roots in the way. Everyone took Photo by Curt Wunderlich

Newsletter printed by the Welfare Hollow Publishing Group, New Florence, PA 15944 6

Pickin’ and Jammin’ Clearing the Southern STS By Mary Wetmore By Curt Wunderlich, Assistant Scoutmaster, Troup 432, Jonestown, PA In the late summer or fall if I meet a friend in the local After setting the sign posts as related in the previous story, stores or on the street, I might hear a familiar question we walked back to the vehicles and packed away the dig- such as, “What have you been doing lately?’” To this I ging tools. We grabbed our daypacks, chain saw, bow saw, quite likely will answer, “Oh, I’ve been doing a lot of and pruners, and headed down the trail for the regular pickin’ and jammin’!” business of our annual work day–clearing our section of the STS of fallen limbs and sometimes whole trees. This usually takes some further explanation, since I am not a musician of any sort. I do enjoy most kinds of music We encountered five or six blowdowns that required the and I have attended many informal “jam sessions” with chain saw, including one big one in Green Timber Hollow. family or friends to hear amateur fiddlers or guitar pickers The Scouts trimmed numerous limbs here and there and doing their thing. cleared the usual winter’s debris off the trail. Our section has some long open meadows and pipelines, so parts of it But my “pickin’ and jammin’” consists of pickin’ all kinds went pretty fast. By 2 PM, we were done. of fruits and berries, wild, or tame, and making many kinds of jam, jellies, and the like. Nothing is any better than wild We arrived at the Greenlick Road where we met up with strawberry jam, but they are hard to find in abundance, the central crew consisting of Scouts Isaiah Gates, Caleb and then because they are so small, it takes a lot of berries Ginder, and Justin Humes plus leaders Dennis Brehm, Jeff and a lot of patience to get enough for jam. Then come Shirk and Mark Startoni the wild red and black raspberries, also a delicious treat, In the meantime, out on the eastern end of Troop 432’s but I seldom get enough for jam. Then my favorite for section of the STS, the third crew of Scouts Austin Barry, pies and jam are the good old long blackberries, more Lucas Shirk, and Keaton Startoni led by Scoutmaster common in our area. Now, with wild turkeys and bears Charlie Kern, Bernie Boltz, and Richard Wolfe cleared competing for these, it is also becoming harder to find from Ole Bull Park to the Twelve Mile Road. That crew them. There are also several different kinds of wild apples ran into so many blowdowns that they ran out of gas for and crabapples which make great jellies. their chain saw. But Charlie came back alone on Easter So, keep your berry-pickin’ pail handy and take it with you weekend and finished cutting through the blowdowns, and when you’re hiking the wilds, as you never know when you repainted some blazes to boot. may come upon something for “pickin’ and jammin!’” The guys on the central crew noted the Long Hollow bypass under construction and remarked that it will be nice to have the trail out of the creekbed. I TOTALLY agree, as I broke my leg in there about five years ago when I STS Circuit Hiker Award slipped on a flat mossy rock and fell. Thankfully it was Congratulations to the following for completing the only about 150 yards down to the truck. circuit, and in turn earning the Circuit Hiker Award! We all returned to my camp later and had our traditional 1039 Erik Eddy 1042 Bill Boyd spaghetti with venison burger sauce and garlic bread! Reading, PA Coudersport, PA There were 19 Scouts and adults on this trip. We all had a 1040 Kyle Freeman 1043 Bruce Robbins great time even though light rain fell on and off most of Coudersport, PA Coudersport, PA the day. 1041 Chris Symans This is one of our favorite annual trips. Coudersport, PA For information on the Circuit Hiker Award, contact the Susquehannock Trail Club at PO Box 643 Coudersport, PA 16915, or email us at [email protected].

Newsletter printed by the Welfare Hollow Publishing Group, New Florence, PA 15944 7

Trails End continues to help with maintenance of the Susquehannock Trail System. Remembering Dotty Webber By Penny Weinhold For many years, Dotty did volunteer work at the Pump With additional input from John Eastlake, and the Mountain Home article by Brad Wilson Station Division headquarters, all without pay. She took Dotty & Bob Webber care of requests for camping and firewood permits. Dotty & Bob were well known as true pioneers. Dotty was a direct descendent of Jacob and Philip Tomb, original settlers of the community of Slate Run. Her family had once owned the land where the Black Walnut Bottom Camping Area is located. She and Bob were married for 51 years, and lived together in a log cabin a few miles above Slate Run village. Their cabin is located about two miles back in the woods from State Route 44. They depended on a trusty Jeep for transportation. They preferred the simple life with no electricity, tele- phone, TV, or modern plumbing. They lived close to nature where they felt they were closer to God. They heated their cabin with firewood, and Dotty, who loved to cook, prepared their meals on a wood-fired kitchen stove. Water was carried from a nearby spring. News of the outside world came by newspaper, and news and music by battery-powered radio, mostly from State College. Dotty and Bob were avid readers and had a library that would impress any book lover. Many evenings were spent reading by the light of kerosene lamps. Dotty played the Dorothy Tomb Webber piano, and she and Bob loved to sing, especially church Nov. 5, 1922 - Jan. 4, 2012 hymns. Both of them had excellent singing voices.

Dotty loved God’s creation and had a particular fondness Six Susquehannock Trail Club members were among the for cats. At one time, they had 53 cats, but at present, approximately 200 people who gathered on May 19, 2012 according to Bob, the number has dwindled to five. to honor the memory of this remarkable woman. The outdoor service was held under a beautiful grove of trees at the Black Walnut Bottom Camping Area along Pine Creek just south of the village of Slate Run in northwestern Lycoming County, PA. Dark Bridge Solution (From the Spring 2012 issue) Dotty was the beloved wife of Bob Webber, who for many Annie and Bob cross the bridge together in 2 minutes. years was the Forest Foreman of the Pump Station Annie crosses back with the flashlight in 1 minute. She Division of the DCNR Bureau of Forestry’s Tiadaghton gives the light to Sherlock and Dorothy who cross the State Forest. (That job title statewide has since been bridge in 10 minutes. Bob takes the light and crosses back changed to “Forest Maintenance Supervisor.”) Bob, who to get Annie in 2 minutes. Annie and Bob cross the bridge survives, is an excellent woodsman, trail builder, and hike together for the second time in 2 minutes. (Alternatively, leader for various outdoor groups. He is one of the Bob could cross back first, and Annie could cross back to founders of the Black Forest and Golden Eagle trails, and get Bob after Sherlock and Dorothy have crossed.)

Newsletter printed by the Welfare Hollow Publishing Group, New Florence, PA 15944 8

Friends of Lyman Run KTA Korner Lyman Run Nature Report Maintainers’ Corner: KTA Trail Crews Reprinted with permission from Friends of Lyman Run (FOLR) Newsletter Reprinted with permission from Keystone Trails Association (KTA) Newsletter Twenty known baby bluebirds have been born this year in The Butler Chapter of the North Country Trail (NCT) the boxes on the Lyman Run Park property. If you would hosted a KTA Trail Crew work week from May 29 to like to build your own bluebird houses, contact the park at June 3, 2012. The section of the NCT was in a beautiful (814) 435-3010 for more information on how to build boulder strewn gorge along Slippery Rock Creek in them and where to place them. McConnell's Mill State Park. More than 40 stone steps were placed to ameliorate some hazardous footing. Read Two broods of baby mallard ducks totaling 19 ducklings more at www.kta-hike.org. have frequented the beach at Lyman Run. The mamas have no fear of swimmers. Please enjoy watching the The next KTA Trail Care event will take place from July ducklings but do not try to pick them up! 13-15, on the Mid State Trail (Tioga Region). The trail care and trail crew schedule are available at www.kta- There are several others birds, such as wood ducks, bald hike.org eagles, and great blue herons worth coming out to see. Can’t wait to have you join us for some bird watching at He took the challenge, Will You? Lyman Run State Park! Reprinted with permission from Keystone Trails Association (KTA) Newsletter Take Five Photo Contest Markus Woodring, 38, from Mifflin, Markus Woodring Reprinted from Friends of Lyman Run (FOLR) Newsletter PA has only been a hiker for four months. He is also one of KTA's The Pennsylvania Parks and Forest Foundation (PPFF) is newest 100-Mile Trail Challenge sponsoring the Take Five Photo Contest. The contest will participants! be judged by popular vote on the PPFF’s facebook page. To become a friend of PPFF on facebook, look them up It's not too late to register for the at www.facebook.com/PennsylvaniaParksAndForstFoundation. 2012 100-Mile Trail Challenge! You still have two months in which to There are five different categories and three placements complete your 100-miles–that's less Photo from KTA for each category. The five categories are: than two miles per day!  Appreciation of Beauty  Kids in the Outdoors Your Hiking Advocate  Outdoor Recreation By Curt Ashenfelter, KTA Executive Director  Volunteers in Action  Dogs in the Outdoors Two weeks ago, I met with representatives of the Pennsylvania DCNR to better understand exactly where Awards will be given for the energy development will impact hiking trails. The most following: heavily impacted trails are the Chuck Keiper Trail, the  First place per category Donut Hole Trail, the Mid State Trail, the Quehanna Trail,  Second place per category the Bucktail Path, the Loyalsock Trail, the Old Logger's  Third place per category  Overall Best in Show - Path and the Black Forest Trail. These trails have, or will People’s Choice Photo by Eric Strauss soon, face major challenges to maintain their wilderness  Overall Best in Show - Critics Choice character. For more information about how these trails Deadline for entries is September 3, 2012 with voting may be impacted by gas development leases, and how you beginning September 5, 2012 can help, visit our website at www.kta-hike.org For more information visit the contest announcement at http://www.tinyurl.com/takefivephotocontest.

Newsletter printed by the Welfare Hollow Publishing Group, New Florence, PA 15944 9