July 14, 2024
Bear Box Installed at G. W. Outerbridge Shelter

On May 9th members of the Allentown Hiking Club worked alongside those from the Keystone Trails Association, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, the National Park Service and PA Outdoor Corps to install a bear box near the George W. Outerbridge Shelter on the Appalachian Trail.

The large and heavy bear box was moved by hand up the mountain to the shelter area.

The bear box was placed near the shelter.

The crew...

January 23, 2024
Maintenance Hike Garners Eleven Volunteers on 24 Hours Notice
by Hal Wright

Trails Coordinator Kerry Snyder called for volunteers to help clear blowdown from the trail. On less than 24-hours notice, eleven volunteers responded.

This maintenance hike was arranged after Kerry received reports of a large amount of blowdown blocking the AT between Route 309 and Knife's Edge, a little over three miles north on the trail. The crew included AHC members and Alison ("Double H"), a 2023 thru-hiker who was in central PA for a family visit from her home in New Hampshire. The blowdown blocking the trail ranged from mere branches to numerous large trees. Kerry, the certified sawyer in the group, donned safety gear and did all of the chainsaw work.

Outing such as this exemplify the commitment of our volunteers and thousands more up and down the trail to provide the best possible experience for Appalachian Trail hikers.

We've created a gallery of photos taken during this maintenance hike which you may view here.

May 11, 2023
Update: Essential Trail Maintenance Workshop with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy

In 2022, the Allentown Hiking Club, in conjunction with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, offered full-day workshops to review and teach trail maintenance standards to those eager to get involved and help maintain the Appalachian Trail. We are keeping an eye out for such opportunities in 2023 and beyond.

There are a variety of ways to get involved with the Trail and one fun way is to help with trail maintenance. Essential trail maintenance helps protect natural resources and improves the hiking experience. After grasping the basics, participants were better prepared to join future work trips with the AHC and ATC, and possibly adopt their own section of the Trail to maintain. Attendees gained valuable skills and conservation experience, benefited from a light workout, and got some quality time outside as they made the Appalachian Trail (AT) a better place.

With almost 2,200 miles of Trail spanning across the east coast from Maine to Georgia, the AT provides a place of sanctuary from the bustle of the modern-day world for both human and wildlife communities alike. Since its inception as the first National Scenic Trail 100 years ago, the A.T. has always depended on volunteers - people like you who are willing to contribute their time, interest, and skills in order to make it all possible. This training workshop introduced new and experienced participants to modern maintenance practices for use on the Appalachian National Scenic Trail. With a focus on safety, the course included topics covering: Trail Condition Assessment, Dealing with Water Issues, Brushing, Keeping Hikers on the Centerline, and Marking the Trail.

If you could not attend this year, keep an eye on our club calendar for next year or visit the AT's events page for additional opportunities: https://appalachiantrail.org/events/.

February 13, 2023
Corridor Monitoring - A Photo Gallery

The Appalachian Trail is a 2200 mile footpath from Georgia to Maine. But what makes it a path worth walking is the protection of land along the Trail where it does not already pass thru national parks or lands protected by the states. Based on legislation passed in the 60's and 70's, the National Park Service acquired land rights to over 100,000 acres of land along the Trail. This "corridor" is maintained by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and member Trail clubs, including AllentownHikingClub.org.

Recently, on the second day of black bear season, with wind chills in the teens, and accompanied by Paula Uhrin, I did my first stint as Corridor Monitor for NPS segment 338 along the AT. Nonetheless, ours was a very successful outing! We located all the monuments marking the boundary with private land and saw no signs of encroachment.