NCT News from Keystone Trails Association

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from the Keystone Trails Association, Nov 2009 newsletter

The Keystone Trails Association (KTA), a volunteer-directed, public service organization is a federation of membership organizations and individuals dedicated to providing, preserving, protecting and promoting recreational hiking trails and hiking opportunities in Pennsylvania, and to representing and advocating the interests and concerns of the Pennsylvania hiking community.

KTA Consolidated Grant
Thanks to funds received from the KTA DCNR Consolidated Grant and the assistance of Moraine State Park, two successful certification trainings for nearly 30 volunteers were held at Davis Hollow in August. Dave Krueger from SOLO was the wilderness first aid and CPR instructor, and Jerry Dixon and Sheldon Winters from Allegheny National Forest were chainsaw instructors.

Student Conservation Crew
Consolidated Grant funds were used to support a 21 day Student Conservation Crew that worked on State Game Lands 285 and 95 in Beaver and Butler Counties. Local NCTA volunteers from the Wampum and Butler Chapters stepped up to host, orient, and work alongside the crew as they built new trail and rerouted trail to improve the footpath.

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See Butler Noonday Chapter of the NCTA

Pennsylvania Annual Cherry Pie Hike

Old Stone House(photo by JHY)

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from the Pensylvania NCT

For those willing to brave the outdoors, strap on your boots and get ready to celebrate the birthday of our nation's first president with the annual Cherry Pie Hike. The free program is set for 10 a.m. Feb. 20 at the Old Stone House in Slippery Rock.

The hike will follow the North Country trail and feature a hefty helping of history and a nice slice of cherry pie.

The North Country Trail offers a walking distance of more than 4,000 miles from North Dakota to eastern New York. The Old Stone House is a pioneer wayside inn originally built in 1822 and restored in 1963. It serves as a landmark on the trail's route through Butler County.

Dr. Aaron Cowan of Slippery Rock University will give a short presentation titled "Beyond the Cherry Tree: George Washington and Early Americans' Complicated Relationship with Nature." Visitors will be fed complimentary cherry pie and coffee and have an opportunity to hike the trail. There's an optional dinner after the hike at the North Country Brewery in nearby Slippery Rock.

You must register for the Cherry Pie Hike. Contact John Stehle, stehles@yahoo.com or 724-256-0674; or Dan Mourer at 724-445-3315.

The Old Stone House is located at the intersection of Route 8, Route 173, and Route 528, 12 miles north of Butler.

This segment is on NCTA map PA-03

See Butler Chapter of the NCTA