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The Keystone Hiker - August 2016
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Boats, Bikes, Birds, Glass-Blowing, and so much more! Like Hiking! Many hikes on stunning trails for every ability-
Sign up as soon as possible. The Whitehall Camp and Conference Center, located near the town of Emlenton, will be our HQ. There are reservation deadlines, and some activities require payment up front. If you don't sign up by the reservation deadline, you might not be included in a chosen activity, or the activity might be full since some activities have a maximum number of participants. We don't want you to miss out on something you would really like to do!
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KTA is seeking submissions for our 2016 Fall Photo Contest. Please e-mail your favorite autumn photo of a Pennsylvania hiking trail to [email protected] by 10 PM on August 15, 2016.
There is no limit on photographs included in the contest, but entry is limited to 2 photos per person.
Keep Reading...
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Thank You For Another Wonderful Prowl the Sproul!
It was the 13th year Keystone Trails Association partnered with DCNR, specifically the Sproul State Forest District, for a weekend of great hikes, camping and camaraderie. We had a blast!
Thanks for coming, and if you couldn't, we hope you can make it next year!
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Did you know that KTA is a membership-based organization?
Since 1956, we have depended on contributions from hikers and hiking trail advocates like you to help us achieve our mission of providing, preserving, protecting, and promoting recreational hiking trails and hiking opportunities in Pennsylvania.
KTA extends a warm welcome to our newest members, who joined KTA between January 16, 2016 and July 15, 2016! Thank you to the following individuals and families for joining Pennsylvania's only statewide hiker advocacy organization....
Keep Reading...
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photo courtesy Joe Neville |
Thank You, Treks and Trails International!
Every year, Treks and Trails International leads a hiking trip fundraiser for Keystone Trails Association. This year, the destination was The East Coast Trail of Newfoundland. Oh my.
Check out the photos and start dreaming for 2017!
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After months of waiting, on July 13th we could share the good news: The LCC reached an agreement with Talen Energy, to immediately open all the trails through Kelly's Run Nature Preserve and Holtwood Picnic Area! If you were waiting for this to sign up for the KTA Trail Challenge, you got your wish :).
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Free T-Shirt and Picnic Ticket for all "Super" Volunteers!
We can't do it without you! Cheer on those amazing 25k/50k trail runners and hikers while helping KTA pull off its biggest annual event!
Keep reading...
or sign up NOW.
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by Ed Lawrence, KTA Trail Care Chair
Beltzville State Park, just east of Jim Thorpe in Carbon County, is working to upgrade its hiking trails, and Park Manager Devin Buzard has asked KTA Trail Care for help. Volunteers are needed to make this August 6 Code Orange Workday a success to help create a safer, more enjoyable hiking experience for park visitors.
Keep reading to learn about the free stuff...
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by Jeff Mitchell, KTA Board of Directors
The Bear Creek Preserve is one of my favorite places to hike in the Wilkes-Barre area. It has over thirty miles of trails that feature streams, wetlands, waterfalls, big rocks, views, and rhododendron tunnels. My favorite loop at the preserve is about 8 miles long and explores Shades Creek. Keep reading...
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Reserve Your Room or Campsite and Sign Up For Incredible Tours!
Situated near Allegheny National Forest; Beaver Creek Nature Area; and Cook, Clear Creek and Oil Creek State Parks, and close to the Allegheny River, this spot has something for all types of outdoor-enthusiasts. Hikes range from 1 mile to 12, from easy to difficult. Also, choose between bicycle, Segway, and boat tours, and we'll post a Kids Activity Schedule soon. Lodging and food provided together at an expansive camp and conference center!
Read more...
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Once again, Keystone Trails Association is offering preview hikes along the 25k and 50k courses. These hikes are affordable, perfect for training, learning the course, or deciding if you really want to try the whole 50k!
Read more...
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KTA is moving forward with designing and producing patches representing trails that currently do not have patches. So far we have designed patches for the Chuck Keiper Trail, the Donut Hole Trail and the Quehanna Trail - check them out in the KTA store.
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by Pete Fleszar
The Mid State Trail (MST) in Tioga County was privileged to host 8 volunteers for KTA Trail Care at the Ives Run Recreation Area July 8-10.
We cleared a rock bypass trail, following old timber skids, in Tioga State Forest around a stretch of scenic yet difficult creviced rock treadway south of the so-called Haunted Vista. We decided to work on this trail after hearing comments from previous KTA Wellsboro Spring Meeting participants.
Keep reading...
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by Deb Dunkle and Ed Lawrence, KTA Trail Care Chair
Maintaining the Mid State Trail (MST) in the Everett Region, in south-central Pennsylvania, is an ongoing challenge. Fortunately, volunteers who joined the KTA Trail Crew June 21-26 were up to the task again this year. Before the start of the Trail Care Week, Ray McCann and Everett Regional Manager Deb Dunkle spent 2 days mowing access areas and dodging heavy rain showers, while Richard and Pam Hershberger helped with other organizational and logistical needs.
Keep reading...
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by Kirk Johnson, Executive Director
Friends of Allegheny Wilderness
www.pawild.org
As I reported was likely in the December, 2015 edition of The Keystone Hiker, the U.S. Forest Service is indeed moving forward with an effort to open hiking-only trails in the stunning untrammeled backcountry wilds of the proposed Tracy Ridge Wilderness Area in the Allegheny National Forest - the largest federal inventoried roadless area in Pennsylvania - to mountain biking. Keep Reading...
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by Jody Phillips, Berks Community Hiking Club
The Berks Community Hiking Club hosted Trail Magic on June 30 along the Appalachian Trail (AT) north of Reading. This was the fourth consecutive year that members of the club enjoyed being Trail Angels for thru-hikers on the AT in this area.
Keep reading (more pictures, too!)
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by Jim Foster, KTA Board of Directors, Secretary
On July 26, contractors for South Middletown Township replaced the walking bridge that carries the Appalachian Trail over a stream near the Furnace Stack just south of Children's Lake in Boiling Springs. Keep Reading...
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(If you represent a member club and would like your event posted here, on the KTA website, or on our Facebook page, please email me about it at [email protected])
August 11: SATC's Annual Picnic (RSVP by August 6!)
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2 Ways to Shop and Support Keystone Trails Association
KTA publishes and sells maps, guidebooks, books, and patches related to hiking trails inPennsylvania. Members receive at least a 10% discount!
Or- choose KTA when you shop on Amazon Smile. Click the ad to sign up. It doesn't cost
you any extra: Amazon donates 0.5% of the purchase price to Keystone Trails Association.
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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 material (even just a trail closing or care alert!) to the Program Administrator, Sara Haxby, at [email protected]. The deadline for newsletter submissions is the 15th of the prior month. Submissions received after that time will be considered for the next month.
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