Golden Triangle

January 1950
(Page 2) Sunday, February 12 - BLAZE THE BAKER TRAIL - This time between Springdale and Tarentum. Bring lunch. Distance 12 mi. Cost $1.10. Leader to be announced.

March 1950
(Page 1) HISTORY OF AYH
It is a long way from Westphalia, Germany to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and a long time from 1910 to 1950, but this is how far hosteling has traveled and how long the IDEA has endured. Indeed, that is precisely what hosteling is -- the idea that, given the opportunity to travel inexpensively and adventurously, the youth of the world would find health, happiness, and international understanding. With the tramp of a heavy boot on a mountain trail or the rush of fresh air against the cyclists' face, intolerance sinks to nothing, and impatience with one's fellow man disappears. Hosteling transcends the artificial boundaries of race, religion, and nationality and establishes that while there are differences between various groups, it does not follow that one is inferior to another.

Somewhere in the deep conscience of the Westphalia school teacher, Richard Schirmann, these thoughts must have moved when he initiated the first youth hostels in country schools -- empty for the summer months. They surged irrepressibly through Western Europe so that hosteling was firmly rooted by 1933 when Isabel and Monroe Smith, of Northfield, Massachusetts, voyaged abroad to find and feel the import of this spirit new to the United States but not necessarily alien. Upon their return, they established the first American youth hostel in their home then, with a burning ambition to make hosteling a household word they began their expansion. New England, ideally suited because of natural beauty, small towns, and numerous academic centers, became the first hostelized area. It remains today the bulwark of the movement. But in due time, other national areas accepted the IDEA -- The Great Lakes, the Pacific Northwest, the Great Smokies, and others. By the time the United States entered the recent war, hostels numbered 250 and passholders nearly 20,000. It was not a movement to be regarded lightly.

Hosteling swept Pennsylvania like a flood in the late 30's -- and mushrooming almost overnight was a chain of hostels along the Horseshoe trail from Harrisburg to Philadelphia and along the Appalachian trail from the Susquehanna to the Delaware Water Gap. A State Council was established in Philadelphia, as well as a local council in the Scranton-Wilkes-Barre area, Pittsburgh, too, felt the impact of AYH and, under the leadership of Horace F. Baker, eminent attorney, established a council in 1941, followed shortly thereafter by a model hostel in South Park.

Unfortunately, great forces of evil were afoot in the world, and the thing hosteling opposed most -- WAR -- came to pass. Whole peoples relegated their pleasure and ideals to the back of their minds and united in an even greater effort. The United States was no exception. Amid the rubble of foreign communities lay ruined hostels. In this country, no physical destruction occurred but AYH membership and participation dropped markedly as did the number of hostels. Councils floundered and fell disorganized, and the newest groups, such as the one in Pittsburgh, were the first to go. In the aftermath, while foreign nations counted their broken buildings, American hosteling surveyed a terrible loss in everything but reputation, and, while not returned to its beginnings of 1933, faced a reconstruction problem of prime magnitude. With courage and new determination, however, the loose ends were gathered, the veterans of the movement were summoned and advised of the task which lay ahead, and deliberate reconstruction began.

Six long years after the demise of the original Pittsburgh Council, a fledgling local group began anew on Washington's Birthday, 1948, to hold hikes intended eventually to expand to a full blown youth hostel movement. Simultaneously, Mr. Horace F. Baker invited a number of civic-minded citizens to a dinner at the Harvard-Yale-Princeton Club in an effort at reorganization. This group, guided by professional AYH workers from New York, Philadelphia, and Northfield, constituted itself a steering committee to formulate a new organization. It resolved to emphasize hostelers and hosteling rather than hostels in its initial phases, and this sound policy paid dividends we are all happily reaping today.

Elsewhere in this annual report will be found detailed summaries of progress in 1949, a banner year for AYH in Pittsburgh. It was made possible through the selfless, unflinching devotion of many fine people to an IDEA. It has borne fruit because of active participation of all of you in activities which we firmly believe constitute a firm foundation, not only for priceless companionship at a local level, but for elimination of animosity in a far greater sphere. With your continued support and enthusiasm, hosteling in Pittsburgh will inevitably reach the high stature it proudly enjoys in the great cities of the East. The community will come to look on hosteling as an integral and valued part of the culture of mankind.

(Page 3) BAKER TRAIL SONG (Tune: "Field Artillery Song")
Over hill, over dale,
On the Horace Baker Trail,
As the hostelers go hiking along.
Pick 'em up, lay 'em down,
Leave the stragglers back in town,
As the hostelers go hiking along.
For it's hi, hi, he,
Though we're beat as you can see,
We sing out a lusty hiking song.
If a tourist comes by,
We'll ptui in his eye,
As the hostelers go hiking along.

(Page 5) BAKER TRAIL
In the early Fall of 1949, the Board of Directors of the Pittsburgh Council authorized the construction of an extended trail to connect Pittsburgh with Cook Forest, an estimated distance of 125 miles. The trail was named the Horace F. Baker Trail in honor of the prominent Pittsburgh attorney who served as president of the first local council and whose guidance and assistance have played so prominent a part in the progress of the present Council.

Construction of the trail is accomplished in several steps. First, one or two scouts establish a logical route to be followed by a blazing party which marks the route with bright paint blazes on trees and rocks. The third step is the establishment of mileposts, to be followed by parties establishing campsites at regular intervals. The final refinement, of course, is the opening of hostels along the route.

The trail starts in Aspinwall and roughly parallels the Allegheny River to Freeport, where it crosses and proceeds to Kelly Station, Crooked Creek Dam, Mahoning Dam, and thence to Cook Forest. At present, scouting is virtually complete to Crooked Creek Dam and blazing has been accomplished as far as Tarentum. This portion of the trail almost completely avoids paved roads and crosses streams by such rustic means as cable and log bridges.

Upon completion of Sector No. 1 (to Crooked Creek Dam), a brochure will be prepared describing the route. This will be available to AYH members and to other groups in the community interested in hiking.

May 1950
(Page 1) SYMPATHY
Horace Forbes Baker, who was instrumental in founding the Pittsburgh Council, passed away February 24. The Baker Trail will be a memorial to his great influence in hosteling.

(Page 4) Sat.-Sun., June 10-11 - BAKER TRAIL OVERNIGHT HIKE-BIKE. Good training for summer extended hike trips. 15 miles each day with packs over Freeport to Aspinwall section. Cost $2.80. Leader Tony Pranses (PE 1-2556). Cyclists will meet hikers for camp out. Distance 45 miles each day. Cost $1.80. Leader Buddy Edlis (MO 1-3229) Bring Sat. lunch.

September 1950
(Page 6) Sat.-Sun., Sept. 23-24 - CROOKED CREEK OVERNIGHT. A hike along the newest section of the Baker Trail, with swimming and hiking at this favorite spot in Armstrong County. Bring eating and sleeping gear, Saturday lunch. Cost $4.00. Leader, Herb Buchwald (MA 1-4725).

November 1950
(Page 4) Saturday, December 2 - BAKER TRAIL TIME. This one overlooking New Kensington, with a campfire supper directly above the Aluminum City. Be sure to bring $1.45, mess gear. Leader, Mary Ellen Timberlake, LO. 1-2333

January 1951
(Page 3) BAKER TRAIL
Phil Ewald has been put in charge of the extension of the Baker Trail. The trail has been blazed to Mahoning Dam. A brochure will probably be issued this spring so that other organizations can travel it. The trail will extend from Aspinwall to Cook Forest.

(Page 4) Sunday, Feb. 4 - GOLDBRICKING ALONG THE BAKER TRAIL. A 10-mile hike and a visit to the brickyards in Freeport. Bring lunch. Leader Field Curry, FR 1-1646. $1.55

March 1951
(Page 1) Jack Stein, Chairman of the Trips and Trails Committee, announces the following extended trips for the summer of 1951:
Pittsburgh's Baker Trail from Aspinwall to Cook Forest, with open campsites (hike) - $30 - Aug. 4 to 19

(Page 3) Saturday, April 28 - MAHONING DAM ON THE BAKER TRAIL. The beginning of Sector 3 on the Pittsburgh Council Aspinwall-Cook Forest Overland Trail. Leader, Tony Pranses. Cost $2.50. For information, call Bruce Merritt, Fe. 1-3857.

May 1951
(Page 1) BAKER TRAIL GUIDE
A "Guide to the Baker Trail" was mailed during March to all Pittsburgh passholders and AYH Councils. The brochure, which contains a complete set of ten maps of the 133-mile trail, is available without charge to all new Pittsburgh AYH passholders. Additional copies are available for 20¢.

The maps in the Guide are the work of George Howe, who spends his non-hosteling hours in the Geography Department at Pitt.

Phil Ewald, chairman of the Baker Trail, has announced that the Crooked Creek trip of May 19 and 20 will blaze the trail from Freeport to Crooked Creek, while the Mahoning Dam to Cook Forest section will be blazed by the end of June. They have been scouted.

A Boy Scout troop from Wexford will be out on the Trail the weekend of April 22, while a troop from the South Hills will go from Crooked Creek to Springdale the weekend of May 19.

(Page 2) ON THE BAKER TRAIL
By Herb Buchwald

Betty Bierer, Roger Giler, Ross Firestone of Cleveland, and I started the Easter trip off by a taxi ride from Clarion to Cook Forest. It was 10:30 p.m. when we got there, too late to get a cabin. The only thing left was an open pavilion. The snow and 18° temperature didn't bother us that night--much! After breakfast we made our way to the fire tower, which is the start of the Baker Trail. The walk along the Clarion River amid snow flurries and sun streaming through the clouds started the trail off perfectly. After lunch we climbed Hill 1776, the highest point on the Baker Trail. That afternoon we found that it was not all honors to be a member of the first party to hike the Clarion section of the Baker Trail. Yes, we got lost. The detour took us at least 5 miles out of our way, bringing us to Corsica after a 22-mile day. In Corsica we persuaded a minister that we were human and deserved a ride in his car to Brookville for a stopover at Chet Merkle's. The next day was spent in some of the most beautiful lonely virgin pine country yet to be seen on the trail. We found lodging in the soft hay of a North Freedom barn that night. The rain and wind howled, but we didn't know it until 5:30 the next morning. Ross went home, but we carried on past Mahoning Dam on one of the wettest, coldest, windiest days of the season. That night we found lodging in Dayton's only hotel. It was a beautiful Easter morning, and before the churchbells beckoned, we had started on our last day. We were now again in well marked Baker Trail country. Late afternoon we reached the Hammel's in Plumville (Louise Pranses' family), and were welcomed to an inviting dinner, before we returned by bus from a very well spent Easter vacation.

(Page 4) CROOKED CREEK ON THE BAKER TRAIL. Good preparation for the rough hiking trips this summer. Packs, eating and sleeping gear are all necessary. Leader, Phil Ewald, Le. 1-3541. Estmated cost $3.50

Wednesday, May 30 (Memorial Day) - BAKER TRAIL. A 10-mile hike along the Allegheny Sector of the Baker Trail, including many beautiful views of the Allegheny River from the heights. Bring your lunch and 90¢. Leader, Dan Moore, MO 1-4024

July 1951
(Page 1) ADVENTURE WITH US
By Betty Bierer, Chairman

Year 'round hosteling is loads of fun. Those Friday night (oh) hikes, Monday evening cycle rides, weekend trips have been a wonderful adventure in making new friends, seeing W.Pa., dancing a square, doing the unusual and sharing the good fellowship that results from community living. Now, with the beginning of summer vacations, the greater adventure awaits in the extended trips that the Pittsburgh Council is sponsoring.

...

A chance to begin at Pgh. and hike along the Baker Trail to Cook Forest with its virgin stand of timber is given by Wes Bunnelle. On no trail within such a short distance, can be found such variety of topography, scenery, sociology -- this is the opportunity to see the large recreation areas at the three flood control dams along the way.

(Page 4) Sunday, August 5 - HIT THE TRAIL - All day hike on the Baker Trail with a campfire supper in evening. Cost-- $1.85. Leader, Martha Wood, Ma. 1-7885.

September 1951
(Page 1) BAKER TRAIL BOUQUETS

Exactly 136.8 miles is the length of the Baker Trail, starting at Guyasuta Lane in Aspinwall and ending at the Observation Tower in Cook Forest. And Betty Bierer and Wes Bunnelle were the first two to hike all 136.8 miles. They were accompanied by Mathilda--the bicycle wheel which rolled off the miles on its cyclometer. The first complete hiking of the trail was celebrated in Cook Forest, Saturday evening, August 18, with the presentation of achievement trophies to Betty and Wes. Phil Ewald, chairman of the Baker Trail Committee, presided at the presentation, and George Armstrong, park manager, spoke about the history and facilities of the park. At the same time, a scroll "in appreciation for so effectively organizing and carrying out the initial development phases of the Horace Forbes Baker Trail" was signed by all attending, to be presented to Tony Pranses. To welcome the pioneers after their two-week journey and to join in the ceremonies, were more than a score of hostelers who spent the weekend in the Forest with Fred Frouthal making decisions. The weekend was also distinguished by the presence of a real photographer, Jim Blair of the Pittsburgh Photographic Library who kept the air clicking with about 300 pictures including 97 flash bulbs.

THURSDAY OPEN HOUSE

Oct. 11 - "Baker Trail from Pittsburgh to Cook Forest."

(Page 4) Saturday, Sunday, Oct. 27-28 - BACK TO THE "OLD BAKER TRAIL" with Field Curry as leader. Overnight with camping, hiking with packs, campfire cooking, Cost $3.20. FR 1-1646.

November 1951
(Page 4) Sunday, Dec. 9 - OFF TO THE BAKER TRAIL. Call Phil Ewald (LE 1-3541) and we'll go hiking, this time on a "new" section between Crooked Creek and Mahoning. Bring your lunch. Cost $2.00

January 1952
(Page 3) Phil Ewald has left Pittsburgh. December 9, he led 14 hikers from Crooked Creek to Cochran's Mills on the Baker Trail, and then hurried home to pack for his very first love--the Smoky Mountains.

(Page 4) Sunday, January 27 - BAKER TRAIL HIKE. From Birdville to Springdale. Distance about 10 miles. Reserve with Walt Williams, HI-1-6043.

March 1952
(Page 2) BAKER TRAIL REPORT.

The Baker Trail Committee reports its aims for the coming year:

1. Blazing and clearing of the trail.
2. Construction of Shelters.
3. Make up information guide book of the trail to show the location of springs, stores, campsites, river crossings, highway crossings and many other important things for the hiker.

The committee is also planning to divide the trail into twelve sections of about eight to fourteen miles length and appoint one person to take charge of each section and see that is kept up.

(Page 4) Saturday, March 8 - BAKER TRAIL HIKE. Reserve with Walt Williams, Hi 1-6043.

Friday, Saturday & Sunday, March 21-22-23 - BAKER TRAIL ROUND-UP. Simultaneous blazing of entire 135 miles of trail. Leader, Herb Buchwald, Ma 1-4725. Bring eating and sleeping gear.

May 1952
(Page 1) BAKER TRAIL.

As was reported in the last bulletin there are big plans for the Baker Trail this year. The sector leaders have been doing wonderful work and to this date there are four sectors completely blazed, five partly blazed and four without any new paint on them.

Since our paint blazing weekend was almost completely rained out; one more concentrated effort must be made to finish the new blazing by the deadline of June 16.

The Baker Trail Committee would like to thank both the hostelers who helped on the trail and the local people for their splendid cooperation.

(Page 4) Saturday, June 14 / Sunday, June 15 )) Final deadline for complete blazing of Baker Trail.

July 1952
(Page 2) Sunday, Aug. 17: HIKE FROM CROOKED CREEK TO FREEPORT. A fifteen mile hike on the Baker Trail. Those fresh blazes are eye-catching and so is the countryside. A very beautiful stretch of trail, so catch your breath and come on along. Bring lunch and canteen. Cost 15¢ plus transportation. Leader, Ruth Eckhardt. Make reservations with with Ruth at headquarters or call Betty Bierer, EM 10413.

November 1952
(Page 4) Sunday, Nov. 8: BAKER TRAIL HIKE - Sector #7. A short hike north from Plumville. Previous hikes this year have covered sectors 2, 3, & 4. Leader Grace Kriner Mu 1-5007

Saturday, Dec. 27: BAKER TRAIL HIKE - Sector #9 - A ten or twelve mile hike over perhaps the most inaccessible portion of the trail. A wilderness trek through a fine stand of timber adjoining remote stretches of Mahoning Creek. Leader Cliff Alexander Lo 1-4466.

March 1953
(Page 2) WANTED - REAL ESTATE

HOSTEL-Freeport to Crooked Creek vicinity. Copper plumbing, integral garage, gas furnace not essential. Open fireplace desirable. Accessible to Hostel at Zelienople & Baker Trail. Jim Zimmerman, MA 1-2600.

(Page 3) VACATION TRIPS ... SEE TWICE THE COUNTRY AT HALF THE PRICE

BAKER TRAIL ON FOOT - Our own hiking trail to Cook's Forest is the route of this one-week pack trip, starting August 14. $25 is the cost.

(Page 6) March 8-SPRING TRAINER- Get in condition for this summer's hiking extended trip by following Jean McDowell along the Baker Trail from Kiski Junction to Tarentum.

March 28- Saturday- CALLING ALL BLAZERS!- Time to brighten up the Baker Trail with new paint. Walt Williams will lead the way on Sector 7.

March 29- Sunday - IDAHO TO PLUMVILLE OR BUST! - A long hike on the Trail, meeting the blazing party. Get more conditioning on one of the most scenic sections of the trail. See Chas. Richardson for more details. MU 1-2885.

May 1953
(Page 1) BAKER TRAIL GOES ON THE MAP IN 1953 ... Blazing Being Rapidly Completed ... Construction of Shelter in June.

Our first B-T meetings saw the twelve sector leaders copying the tentative, correct route of the trail onto their own topographic quadrangles. As a model, they used the official routing as it exists now on the master set of topo maps, revised by B. Bierer and Wes Bunnelle after their 2-week hike two years ago, on the first complete trek over the entire 137 miles.

Goals for 1953 were set at:

1. Finishing the blazing and re-blazing.
2. Gathering all needed information for a guide book.

Since then however, additional favorable reports of a shelter site above Freeport expanded to a definite plan to start construction in June. Though the painting is to be finished by then, this will require postponing of all final details of the blazing work. It means too, that we will be unable to issue a new guide book at the end of the year. But...completion of the first B-T shelter close to both Pittsburgh and the hostel, certainly warrants this emphasis.

Arrangements were made to furnish a group of Explorer Scouts with two guides for a 2-day trip on the Trail in June. We learned also of a two week pack trip by Senior Girl Scouts of Allegheny County routed from Crooked Creek north to Cook Forest.

In addition, our own Hostelers have been making the B-T a well travelled Trail with expeditions almost every week.

--Walt Williams, Baker Trail Chairman

(Page 5) Marshall Stalley, of our Executive Advisory Board, extends an invitation to all Hostelers to visit the Univ. of Pittsburgh Photographic Library on the thirteenth floor of the Cathedral of Learning. The office is open Mon. thru Friday from nine to five. There are lots of pictures on file that were taken at the Cook Forest weekend- summer of '51. Anyone interested in seeing them can get mor information from Rosemary and John Crable who've already visited the library.

(Page 8) May 23, Saturday-FREEPORT TO PITTSBURGH OR BUST! This is a real challenge to all ardent hikers. Also a good conditioner for that vacation. This hike is also designed for the less strenous hikers and those that work Saturday morning. Arrange to join the group at some point on the Baker Trail nearer Pittsburgh. Leader, Damon Phinney. MA 1-8213.

June 6-7, Saturday & Sunday-VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! Come either by bicycle or bus, stay an hour, all day or for the weekend. But come and do your bit for the Baker Trail We need help with the building of our first shelter and also blazing of that section, of the trail. Reserve with Jim Zimmerman for meals & staying overnight. MA 1-2600.

June 12, Friday Night-HARWICK HEIGHT NIGHT HIKE. A short hike and campfire on the Baker Trail overlooking Harwick. Bring mess kit and flashlight.

July 1953
(Page 1) DETROIT COUNCIL TO SPONSOR TRIP ON Baker Trail
An autumn hiking trip on the Baker Trail will be sponsored by the Detroit Council. On October 17, the hikers, led by Chester Heavner will begin their seven day trip at the beginning of the trail in Aspinwall, and hike the entire length of the trail to Cook Forest. Several of our own hostelers are hoping to be able to join the Detroiters for a few days.

September 1953
(Page 8) Oct. 18, Sun. - BAKER TRAIL HIKE. Follow the white blazes from Milton to McWilliams. See our trail in Fall colors and get some good color pictures. Contact Chas. Richardson, Mu 1-2885.

November 1953
(Page 7) I'm a little WATCHBIRD.

I watch from a nest high in a tree near the town of Schenley. It used to be, things were pretty quiet around my house but that's changed now. Like Saturday, for instance ...

It was just around seven o'clock when I was distrubed by some people (Hustlers, they were) chopping a dead tree right next to my house. Walt, Ruth, Bruce, Jean and Dot (that's what I heard them called) then picked up this cut tree and carried it to a small clearing nearby. Immediately, they were joined by two others, Ramona and Gloria. Then everyone began peeling off the bark.

At the same time, John and Cy busily studied a blueprint; then hung up some strings which they told everybody was the roof.(?) When I saw that blueprint, I knew it must be a professional job. I looked real hard. On the bottom was written, "Baker Trail Shelter No. 1."

How they worked--with axes, hatchets, saws and knives...like beavers! In fact, that's what they named Ruth after she chopped her first tree, 'Little Beaver'...couldn't figure that one out, but her friends thought it was funny.

She wasn't the only girl swinging an axe. Five went out looking for a tree...but before they took it there was always a vote--Would the bark come off easily; Was it easy to carry; Were there any thickets around it. And all the time, over the chatter of the girls, you could hear the boys hammering and sawing, as they fitted the logs into place.

I'm glad it's almost finished--(I don't tremble anymore when someone goes past with an axe.) In my birdseye opinion, this lean-to is a good looking piece of work...And now, to watch the Hustlers that come here to camp!!!

-- Jean McDowell

(Page 8) Dec. 6, Sun. UP HILL, DOWN DALE ON SECTOR III. Hiking on the Baker Trail in the vicinity of the Sportsmen's Club and Freeport. Trip to be led by Harry Rhule.

Dec. 27, Sun. TRIM THE CHRISTMAS TREE WITH LIZ AT THE LOG CABIN. (This is for the birds!) Bring your own suet. Hiking on Sector IV of the Baker Trail. Make your reservation with Liz Saffer, Ch 1-0382.

January 1954

(Page 8) Sunday, Jan. 10 -- UP HILL, DOWN DALE ON SECTOR III. -Winter hike on the Baker Trail near Birdville and Freeport. Led by Harry Rhule, Ch 1-3528. Bring lunch--Cost $2.

March 1954
(Page 4) Sun., March 21 - LUNCH WITH LIZ AT BAKER TRAIL SHELTER and hike to next site. Call Elizabeth Saffer at Ch. 1-0382.

April 1954
(Page 8) Sun., May 2 - PICNIC AT AYH SHELTER ON BAKER TRAIL. Bring your sisters, your cousins, and your aunts. Easiest trip we'll ever have; designed to show off our shelter to friends. Call Elizabeth Saffer for reservations - Ch. 1-0382.

August 1954
(Page 4) Sat., Sept. 18 - SECTOR III, BAKER TRAIL - one day un conditioning hike by Betty Beirer. Ma. 1-3741.

November 1954
(Page 5) BAKER TRAIL NEWS
We are investigating the possibility of using an abandoned log cabin on Betty Bierer's sector (4) of the Trail. The roof of the structure has caved in, but the side timbers are big and sturdy--they'd make a pretty fair Adirondack-type shelter. The site is 8 miles, total hiking distance, from our first shelter. Next stop after would be Crooked Creek Dam with its many recreational facilities...providing shelter for three day hostelling trips.

Boy Scouts are planning to extend the trail to Tionesta.

(Page 6) Sun. Nov. 14 - Cliff Alexander leads a trip over his sector of the BAKER TRAIL, the Birdville area. Lo. 1-6465.

April 1955
(Page 1) APRIL 2 AND 4 - BAKER TRAIL SHELTER BUILDING
This is the first of the work trips scheduled for demolition of a log cabin (it's falling down but contains much good wood) near Crooked Creek and the erection of a lean-to for use of hikers on the trail. Here's a real pioneer type project. You'll be given the opportunity to cut trees in the vicinity, prepare a foundation, haul logs, cook, have fun. lots of help is needed.
Can drive to site.
Leave headquarters at 6:30 A.M.
Bring work gloves and lunch. Other meals will be provided if desired. Come for all or part of the week end. Cost 65¢ per meal plus transportation. Reserve with Ramona Matthews by Thurs. March 31, EM 1-4736.

APRIL 17 - BAKER TRAIL MEETING.
Shelter leaders and sector leaders. Meet John Matthew's, 273 Winebiddle, EM 1-4736 at 2:00 P.M.

APRIL 30/ MAY 1 - PACK TRIP ON THE B.T.
Ralph Krishbaum leads us over the mid-sections of the Baker Trail and throws in a rare visit to the Dam. Woods, old trails, dirt roads. Sleep at Good's. Cost about $4.50 includes four meals and transportation. Leave Hdqtrs 6:45. Reserve by the 28th. Call MA 1-2697.

MAY 7 AND 8 BAKER TRAIL SHELTER BUILDING
Details in next GOLDEN TRIANGLE

June 1955
(Page 1) Sat/Sun. June 4/5 SHELTER BUILDING #2
It's not hard to reflect on the joys of pioneers. Come for one or both days. We can use everyone's help. Our shelter is growing with each work party. If we've enough help, we ought to complete the side logs and roof. Cost trans. Meals @ 65¢ if desired. Reserve with John Matthews EM 1-4736.

Thurs. June 9 TV WEEK END VACATIONS
WQED - 10:00 P.M. Hostelers on the Baker Trail at Cook Forest.

Sat. June 18 EXTENDED BAKER TRAIL TRIP LEAVES
Reserve by June 10. B. Bierer

September 1955
(Page 6) Sun., Sept. 25 - CROOKED CREEK After church we'll meet old and new officers, old and new hostelers and friends of A.Y.H. This is a fitting time to dedicate the new shelter. It's been a hot summer and work has lagged; but it's time to get the job done and be off to new horizons. Reserve with John Behun FR 1-0992.

November 1955
(Page 3) Louise and Tony Pranses brought the latest addition to their family pass, Renee Louise, to visit Aunts Emabel and Mary Hamill in Plumville on the B.T.

Jean McDowell flew down from New York to inspect the second Baker Trail shelter.

January 1956
(Page 7) February 11,12 Pack Trip - or Blazing - Between shelters ON THE BAKER TRAIL - This is for the hardy who enjoy camping out ... But the less rugged can join us on Sunday to find and blaze the trail where we lost it the last time near Godfrey. Get information from Ralph Krichbaum.

November 1956
(Page 7) November 3 Saturday - Let's get acquainted with our BAKER TRAIL. Hike along the bluffs overlooking the Allegheny at Freeport to Shelter #1. Meet Lonesome George Hughes at 9:30 at H.Q. with lunch and approximately $1.00.

January 1957
(Page 1) ARMSTRONG TRAIL
The year is 1756, just 201 years ago; the French and Indian war is raging fiercely in Pennsylvania. Braddock suffers a disasterous defeat at Monongahela crossing, and the French and Indians are free to ravage all the small English settlements in the area from their strong-hold at the Indian village of Kittanning. This was the picture before Col. John Armstrong led a small band from Fort Shirley near Carlisle on an eight day hike across old Indian trails to Kittanning, and there in one surprise raid snuffed out this hotbed of murder. The attack was the first successful military thrust into western Pennsylvania and proved to be a decisive blow in the ware, which was to determine the fate of North American civilization.

In 1956, the bi-centennial year of the march, the Armstrong Trail Society was instituted and the march was re-enacted by a group of Boy Scouts. The Society wants to develop this route into an established, public hiking trail and is asking the Pittsburgh Council for advice and assistance to accomplish this. The Trail crosses our Baker Trail at right angles and heads east through some of the most scenic woods and mountains in our state. If extended, it might eventually link the Baker Trail and the Appalachian Trail which run parallel to each other in opposite ends of Pennsylvania.

(Page 3) Book Review
"If bad weather comes, I will remember that it makes everyone miserable and I will remain civil to my buddies. Fighting won't stop it from raining." ... This was one of the rules by which Exploreres of Post #108 in Leetsdale, Pa., promised to live on the Baker Trail last summer. They completed their trip, from Aspinwall to Tionesta and back, in 26 days, and compiled a most remarkable record of it, showing landmarks, terrain, approximate mileage, compass readings, food and water stops, and camp sites. Although only in loose-leaf form, the book is an invaluable source of Trail information, even to details of preparation, like the scrap drive by which the boys made money to pay for the trip. The nine Explorer Scouts, and their advisor, E. D. Wright, deserve congratulations. (A.Y.H. has to publish its own Baker Trail guide book now, or the Scouts will let people think the Trail belongs to them, poison ivy and all)

(Page 7) March 24. - Peggy Reskauskas takes us on a Spring hike to Shelter #2, B.T. with campfire supper afterwards...Messkits and 65¢ plus $1.25 Transp. Phone Ma. 1-0740.

May 1957
(Page 7) May 25 26 WHOLESALE BAKER TRAIL BLAZING. 1-Day trips to the lower sectors; 2-Day excursions on the Cook Forest end (camping out overnight)
We'll need loads of hikers, cars, hammers, and kibitzers. (can't get blazes on straight without 'em) BRING lunch and tools for 1-Day trips ... sleeping bag, messkit, flashlight and extra clothing for other. Come Thursday, May 23, get signed up with the sector leaders, or call Gloria Fisher, Export 132-R-2 or Em. 2-4400, ext. 368. Cost: 15¢ plus transp. for 1 day; $5.50 for weekend.

November 1957
(Page 1) KEYSTONE TRAILS ASSOC.
What could the Keystone Trails Association do for the Baker Trail and the A.Y.H.?

Quite a bit, as several Hostelers discovered at the K.T.A.'s second annual meeting at Camp Michaux, near Pine Grove Furnace, Pa. on September 28.

Organized in 1956 by a group of hiking clubs in eastern Pennsylvania and nearby territories, the association acts as a clearinghouse for the exchange of information. The maximum benefit is thereby derived by all members of all the clubs that belong. Most of the eleven associates are also charter members of the Appalachian Trail Association and maintain hiking trails of their own.

The groups (150 attended) were generally older even than the A.Y.H. members, but they offered no apologies for their advanced age and needed none. Their social program included a five-mile hike on Saturday; a ten-mile hike on Sunday, (with Eileen Hagan upholding the honor of the Pittsburgh Council up front and the rest of us bringing up the rear.)

Saturday's highlight, at the long social meeting after dinner, was an illustrated talk by the Hon. Daniel Hock of Reading, on the founding of the Blue Mtn. Eagle Climbing Club. 91 years old...and his movies are not much younger...Mr. Hock still shows an active interest in hiking, the outdoors, and the opposite sex. We are hoping he will repeat his talk at our tenth anniversary banquet next Feb. 22.

The Association appears to offer many advantages, well worth the $5-a-year membership dues we pay. Its most active committee is comprised of representative from each participating club.

The Committee's chairman, George Kimmel, has maps of all trails and can answer almost all queries. Any question he cannot answer is referred to persons representing the Trail concerned.

The most direct, indirect benefits were the invitations of other clubs to participate in joint hikes on their trails. No committments were made, but our Trips and Trails committee is busy now with plans for the spring.

Perhaps the least obvious, but the most important, benefit is the example the Keystone Trails Assoc. sets in efficiency of operation. With only two meetings a year and an annual budget of $74, they maintain a service of value to hundreds and perhaps thousands of hikers in Pennsylvania. Their business meetings are models of despatch and efficiency, maybe because one of their officers is a Legal Advisor who nips in the bud any wrangles about constitutionality, legal form, etc. If any of this know-how rubs off on the Pittsburgh Council, our $5.00 investment will multiply manifold.

--Ralph Ludington

(Page 3) BAKER TRAIL NEWS

(Page 4) A retiring postman in Denver estimates he walked 104,000 miles in 40 years. Ralph Weaver, our hosteler postman, may not match that record, but he can claim the distinction of doing the Baker Trail from top to bottom, all 137 miles of it. He and Eileen Hagan completed the entire Trail on weekends and holidays.

(Page 6) (Complete guidebook with maps and descriptions to be published within the next year.) -- Vince Roolf, B.T. Chairman

(Page 7) NOV. 17, Sun. - SECTOR LEADERS (see page 3) can use help on the Trail. Join a work party, or spend the day scouting a future trip of your own.

NOV. 23, Sat. - BAKER TRAIL HIKE, Aspinwall to Springdale (closest sector to Pittsburgh) Supper will follow. Reserve with B. Bierer, Ma. 1-3741, meet at H.Q.

DEC. 21, Sat. - HEATHVILLE TO CORSICA, with leader who's an expert on the B.T., on one of the northern sectors which are their best in wintertime. Eileen Hagan is the leader. Call her at Ho. 1-4556.

August 1958
(Page 7) August 10, Sunday
CROOKED CREEK TRIP - Hike on the Baker Trail, swim, top if off with a campfire supper. Bring lunch and roastables for the evening meal. Leave AHY 10:00 A.M. Cost $1.50. Reserve with Victor Sorokin, Ex. 1-2800, ext. 2321 (during the day)

October 1959
(Page 3) GOING TO BLAZES ON THE BAKER TRAIL
Harry Rhule
On a blistering, late, summer afternoon we find two figures painfully making a slow, tedious ascent from the reaches of Elbow Run at the Crooked Creek Dam site. Making their way through the dense undergrowth, they are a strange combination...in the lead is a half-doubled-over elderly man, a gallon paint bucket in one hand, and a paintbrush in the other, followed by a young lad of no more than twelve with a large pack on his back, also.

Upon reachine the top of the hill both figures collapse into one, soaked-and-panting heap of humanity. A few minutes pass...then they take their canteens from their packs and gulp the remaining few ounces of water. They slowly rise after resting awhile and continue their journey to the Crooked Creek camping area.

At the Ranger's Cabin they are informed that the camping ground is completely filled and that they must spend the night in the cove close to the water and the mosquitoes.

They slowly trudge their way to the proposed campsite when they spy a familiar object coming towards them. Frantically, they wave their arms and shout as it comes closer and closer.

It's a car with two canoes on top and inside are four Pittsburgh hostelers. They get in and are whisked away to a delightful dinner and evening at a small cabin outside of Murraysville where they spend the night in a bed for the first time in five days.

December 1960
(Page 7) Sunday, January 8 - Baker Trail Hike in the vicinity of Cochran's Mill, suitable for ten-mile hikers. Bring lunch and soup bowl and Fran will serve home-made soup after it's over. Depart 8:15 A.M. Cost of $1.75 includes transportation. Call Ma. 1-8970.

February 1961
(Page 7) Sunday, February 26 - Harry Rhule, our Baker Trail enthusiast, leads a hike along its snowy paths. Depart from AHY at 9:00 A.M. Bring lunch and about $1.00. Call Harry at CH 2-3675. Dress warm and casual.

April 1961
(Page 7) Sunday, April 15 - Harry Rhule leads another hike on the Baker Trail along the upper Crooked Creek near Elderton for about ten miles. Depart from headquarters at 8:30 AM. Bring lunch, about $1.50 and phone Harry at CH 2-3675.

June 1961
(Page 9) Sunday, June 4 - Harry Rhule leads an invigorating hike along the Baker Trail from North Freedom to Phoenix. Tote your own lunch and bring at least $2.00 with you, ready to depart at 7:30. Call CH 2-3675.

January 1962
(Page 5) Sun., Jan. 14 - A cook-out supper tops off a hike on the Baker Trail. Don Woodland, camp chef of past fame, leads the trip. His number: Lo. 3-5419. Bring a lunch, be at H.Q. at 9:00 A.M., bring $2.00.

February 1962
(Page 5) Saturday, February 3 -- Manny Morgan leads a hike on the Baker Trail. Leave HQ at 9 A.M. with lunch and approximately 75¢. (HA 1-2358)

March 1962
(Page 3) Saturday, March 24 -- Hiking and shelter repairing on Baker Trail near Crooked Creek State Park led by Don Woodland (LO 3-5419). Bring lunch, hammer if you have one. Leave Headquarters at 9 a.m. Cost $1.25.

June 1962
(Page 5) Sunday, June 24 -- Get in form for the Seattle trip by hiking with a loaded rucksack (no more than twenty-five pounds) on the Baker Trail. Lunch will be provided, and you'll "cookout" your supper (your own) so include a messkit in your pack. Reserve by Friday, June 22 with Fran Czapiewski at MA 1-8970. All others welcome too.

August 1962
(Page 7) Sunday, August 5 -- Don Woodland leads a pack hike on the Baker Trail for those planning on the Seattle-Northwest camping trip and anyone else who is interested. Break in your shoes and your equpment and yourself. Bring lunch, loaded rucksack. Call Don at LO 3-5419. Leave HQ at 10 AM. Cost $1.50

September 1962
(Page 5) Friday Evening and Saturday, Sept. 28 & 29 - Don Woodland leads a beginners overnight leaving at 6:30PM to return Sat. afternoon. To stay at the Schenley Lean-to on the Baker Trail and so dome simple hiking. Bring sleeping bag, mess kit and $2.50. Reserve with Don Woodland, 563 - 5419, or Mark Dodd, CH 2-2781.

January 1963
(Page 7) January 13 Sunday The Baker Trail crosses through a lovely Christmas tree farm near Elderton (Rt. 422) Harry Rhule leads a hike on this stretch, on of the more unspoiled sections. Wear warm clothing (no sneakers), bring a lunch and about $1.50. Leaving time: 9:15 A.M. Harry is at 621-8486.

February 1963
(Page 6) STATE OF THE COUNCIL
January saw a trip on the Baker Trail and for many (including myself) it was our first introduction and an extremely pleasant one. Plans are underway for re-blazing and re-routing the trail, building shelters, and for taking more hikes along that beautiful 137-mile trail that Pittsburgh Council formed in 1950.

(Page 7) Saturday, Feb. 16 - Intrepid TRAIL BLAZER, Harry Rhule, bounds over creeks and contour lines in the vicinity of Idaho (Pa.) and Cochran's Mill, starting at 7:00 AM, on a trip that's no recommended for tenderfeet. Bring lunch and sturdy shoes. Call 621-8486 for reservation.

March 1963
(Page 4) A TRAIL REBORN
By Don Woodland, Baker Trail Chairman

A highly spirited meeting of members interested in the development of the Baker Trail was held on February 13th. The group formulated broad and detailed objectives for the development of the trail into a hikers' paradise.

Trail signs will be erected at the trail and road intersections. It was decided by the group that the signs will be of sheet metal. These signs will be fabricated by Harry Rhule and will be ready for erection on April 7th.

Information centers will be located in various towns up and down the length of the trail. The information center will contain a large wall-type map and a literature rack that will contain a one-sheet informational type of publication. In the publication will be a map of the Baker Trail, plus some information on the trail and on Pittsburgh Council of AYH. Winifred Roensch is preparing the informational sheets. The informational centers have tentatively been designated as Cook Forest, Crooked Creek State Park, Mahoning Dam, Freeport, Plumville, Corsica, Summerville, North Freedom, McWilliam, and Atwood.

Additional lean-to sites will be secured at the following locations: Cochran's Mill; Plum Creek near Rte. 422; Plum Creek 3 miles south of Plumville; Phoenix; McWilliams; between Summerville and Heathville; Mill Creek near Strattonville; and between Corsica and Fisher.

It is hoped that the Cochran's mill site can be selected in the near future. The approval of the owner of the property will then be secured so that construction of the lean-to can get underway. It is the objective of the group that this lean-to can be under construction by Fall of 1963.

Harry Rhule has agreed to lead some trips in the area with the intention of selecting some tentative sites. Mark Dodd will handle the arrangements with the owner for construction of the lean-to that will be under the direction of Don Woodland.

(Page 9) March 10, Sunday - Still proving to pompous cyclists, with their Century Pins & Orange Belt rides, that we have real hikers in AYH ... Hiking 31 miles from Mahoning Dam to Plumville, to Atwood, and Route 422. Arrangements will be made for all who want to go only part way. Register with Harry Rhule at 362-6395. (About $2.00)

March 23, Saturday - Bring a hammer and join Don Woodland in making repairs on the Crooked Creek lean-to shelter on the Baker Trail...also lunch. Leaving time 9:00 A.M. from H.Q., cost is $1.25. Don is at Lo. 3-5419.

April 7, Sunday - SIGN-POSTING PARTY ALONG THE BAKER TRAIL. Don Woodland and company made beautiful new signs, Harry Rhule puts them up!

April 1963
(Page 9) Sun., April 7 - Baker Trail from Freeport to Cook Forest (No! not a marathon, just the erecting of signs using Harry Rhule's truck) Meet 6:00 A.M. Tools will be provided.

May 1963
(Page 9) June 7, Friday, at Midnight - Leave for Mahoning Dam for the start of our 51-mile Baker Trail Hike, called on account of darkness, last time. With a moon, warm weather and daylight saving time we'll make it! Drop-out and intercepter spots will be arranged for those who want to accompany the die-hards. Harry Rhule can give more details.

June 1963
(Page 6) Friday at Midnight, June 7 - Leave from H.Q. to start of our 51-mile hike on the Baker Trail from Mahoning Dam to Crooked Creek Dam. Moon, warm weather, and daylight saving time will ensure a well-lighted journey. Come for the entire trip or join the die-hards at intercepter spots for shorter stretches; or help cook a warm supper for the weary troops. Harry Rhule, signing 'em up, Em.2-6395.

July 1963
(Page 8) July 13, Saturday - Sign-posting whingding on the Baker Trail; setting up our good looking trail markers at main roadway intersections...no hole-digging experience necessary. Don Woodland will show you how it's done. Meet H.Q. at 9:00 A.M. with lunch and bathing suit and mess kit (for picnic supper). Don's number is Lo. 3-5419.

August 1963
(Page 5) PROGRESS ON THE BAKER TRAIL
By Don Woodland

The untiring efforts of Harry Rhule, Winifred Roensch and company have resulted in the Baker Trail signs being completed and the Baker Trail information sheet being printed. The remainder of the trail signs will be erected on Saturday, July 27 and help is needed for this quarter.

Now...for the big step: Two new lean-to's will be erected this year. These have been designed and will be laid out and precut in our headquarters, thereby saving more time when we begin raising the lean-to at the site. We need the help of people that can saw a board and use a wood chisel...Gain some valuable experience in carpentry and learn modern methods of precut building construction.

The precutting will be done on Tuesday, August 6. Beginning in the afternoon, we shall work until evening, stopping only for the buffet supper that will be served to our able workers.

This will bring a total of four shelters on the Baker Trail and we hope to add three more in '64, thus enabling Hostelers to hike the entire trail, stopping over night at the shelters.

Did you know that the Crooked Creek lean-to is surrounded by Mountain Laurel. In June when it bursts into bloom, it is magnificent!

(Page 7) Saturday, August 10 to Sunday, August 11 -- Overnight hike on the Baker Trail between Freeport and Crooked Creek. Bring own food and sleeping bag plus individual necessities and assorted luxuries. Cost of trip is only $2.00. Leave HQ at 10 A.M.

October 1963
(Page 2) GETTING A LEAN-TO SITE IS SIMPLE?...
By Fran Czapiewski

Take a typical example: Don Woodland asked Mark Dodd to get permission to build a shelter on the Baker Trail near Crooked Creek. The spot at Brick Church was located near a coal mine so the solution seemed simple--we just had to ask the owner.

Going up, Mark approached a man at the mine and was told that he didn't own it, but the man inside did; he would be out in a little bit. Some thirty minutes later the man in the mine came out and said he didn't own it but a man by the name of King up at the store owned it.

At the store, Mark talked with Mr. King who said he didn't own it; his brother who lived in another county did...Then thinking further, he said the property was divided into small parts. His brother owned one part, the Cuthbert heirs owned another, the Federal government had the third part. The assessor for the township, he felt sure, would have more information.

Dodd found the assessor sitting on his back porch, rocking away with a very cold attitude. He started to explain that he wanted to know where the Cuthbert heirs could be located, when from under the porch there suddenly appeared two big wolfhounds (well, they were bigger than collies, anyhow) which were duly called off by the owner. When the assessor found out what was wanted he was very happy to oblige and gave us the address of the Cuthbert heiress.

We wrote the Cuthbert heiress and to Brother King and received permission. Meantime, the superintendant at Crooked Creek State Park has indicated an interest in putting up a shelter right in the park. So, we are now considering additional sites for lean-to's further up the trail...eventually going all the way to Cook Forest!

(Page 3) Oct. 5, Sat. - Foundation planting party, a fancy way of saying "digging holes for the concrete supports that anchor the framework for our new Baker Trail shelters...yes, a work party." Don Woodland takes another step forward finishing the leanto's...no willing hand turned away; Don will show you what to do...girls are useful for handing tools and morale. For full details, call 563-5419.

Oct. 12, Sat. - Finishing touches on the Baker Trail shelters. Don Woodland's number: 563-5419. Don might serve supper.

December 1963
(Page 3) December 7 Saturday Baker Trail lean-to construction party. Contact Don Woodland LO3-5419.

December 14 Saturday Baker Trail lean-to construction party. Contact Don Woodland LO3-5419.

January 1964
(Page 3) Sat. 25 Bob Fewkes takes us out on the Baker Trail to inspect the new shelters. Leave HQ at 8:30 a.m.

CONSTRUCTION OF LEAN-TO #3
By Don Woodland

Lean-to #3 is almost finished. The asphalt shingles for the roof have to be installed as well as some minor carpentry work. One more day should see the shelter finished. The construction of Lean-to #3 began in August with the pre-cutting of the framing members. This proved to be a time-saving method and the pieces fitted well in the field. On November 16th the concrete footers were installed. We used a post hole digger so sink the holes and made the forms out of cardboard boxes that were secured from a local A & P Store. Saturday, November 23rd, was the big day for the erection of the platform and framing. Harry Rhule delivered the pre-cut lumber and the oak lumber for the platform to the site in his red truck. It rained all morning so that the dress for the day was ponchos. In short order the crew, that included Mark Dodd, his daughter and 2 girl scouts, and Bruce Sundquist, had the heavy oak platform timbers cut and placed into position. 40 penny nails were used to nail the members together and this was an exceedingly difficult job that required many blows of a heavy hammer to penetrate the timbers. The girls did a superior job of nailing down the oak flooring. What a beautiful sight to see the rain running down their faces and the hammers pounding away. The framing of the back and side walls and roof was relatively easy because these members were pre-cut and marked so that it was only necessary to nail them together. Saturday, December 7th, was the day that saw the general completion of the carpentry work. The sides were installed as well as the roof. The final work party will be scheduled pending a break in the weather. More of our members should be taking part in the construction of the lean-tos. This is a good opportunity to develop some building skills. The skills will be needed when the Pittsburgh Council of AYH undertakes the development of a ski hostel several years from now.

March 1964
(Page 1) Baker Trail Improvement News
D.J. Woodland

THREE CHEERS, Shelter No. 3 (Cochran Mills) is now completed and is dry and warm. A dedication and ribbon cutting cerermony will be held in March. This will be a gala affair and reserved for those loyal members and friends that helped in the field construction. The exact date has not been set, but it is planned to have it on the afternoon of the day that the concrete footers for Lean-To No. 4 are poured.

1963 was a good year for the capital improvements program. The road signs were made and put in place. These signs are very striking and should help people to find the road-trail intersections. The objective for 1964 is to build at least two more lean-tos. The trail will require four more lean-tos to reach Mahoning Dam. The sites for two lean-tos have been selected, and the approval of the owners secured, thanks to the labor of Mark Dodd. The two additional sites will be tentatively selected in March.

I am sure that we learned quite a bit from the construction of Lean-To No. 3. For one thing the cost is reasonable, about $150. Also, it is possible to modify the design of the lean-to to reduce some of the material needed for the construction. For example the roofing will be changed to a plank and beam system that will elimate the need for rafters. Some of the framing lumber for lean-to No. 4 will have to be modified, but this can easily be done at headquarters.

The importance of having the right tools to work with was a valuable lesson. We broke two light hammers trying to drive 40 penny nails into oak. Saws and chisels have to be kept sharp.

Who will be the first person to sleep out in the new shelter? The honor should go to Mark Dodd and his "girls". He will have to hurry because my 4-year-old daughter has her sleeping bag rolled and is anxious to camp out.

We still need more workers. A couple more shelters will definitely put the Baker Trail on the map, and it is a great satisfaction to have taken part in this adventure.

(Page 3) Sat. Mar 7 Shelter site scouting hike and visit to shelter number 3. Mush through the Baker Trail with Don Woodland and $1.50 and lunch. Leave HQ at 9 a.m. Reserve with Don LO 3-5419.

April 1964
(Page 1) HELP WANTED
Wanted--skilled craftsmen for Shelter Number Four on the Baker Trail. Must know what a hammer is and what a saw does. Please contact Don Woodland at Lo 3-5419 or any open house meeting.

(Page 2) Apr. 11 Sat. Shelter site scouting hike and visit to shelter Number 3. Hike along Baker Trail with Don Woodland. Bring $1.50 and lunch. Reserve with Don LO 3-5419.

May 1964
(Page 3) Sat 2 Carpentry Work Party at Baker Trail Shelter 4. Call Don Woodland, Lo. 3-5419. Price: Free (bring lunch).

Sun 10 Harry Rhule leads a Baker Trail hike. Meet at HQ at 8:30 A.M. with lunch. Reserve: 362-6395.

Sat 30-Sun 31 Memorial Day Weekend camping trip - to Mahoning Dam to construct Baker Trail Shelter No. 7. Call Don Woodland, Lo. 3-5419.

August 1964
(Page 1) FRI 7 SAT 8 SUN 9 ) Hiking and Camping on BAKER TRAIL. Bring sleeping bag, messkit, food. Contact WINIFRED ROENSCH for further details, 362-5533.

October 1964
(Page 1) BAKER TRAIL SIGNS
Engraved wood signs of the type seen in our state and national parks are being made for the Baker Trail. Signs reading "Baker Trail" will appear at points where the trail crosses major roads. Other signs will serve as mileage markers to shelters and other points of interest. Signs will guide hikers to nearby shelters and will point out the location of springs, etc.

VOLUNTEERS are now needed to fill in the engraved letters with yellow paint. If you would like to assist in this project, come early (8:00 p.m.) to the Thursday night meeting on October 8. Bring an old apron. All other materials will be provided.

BAKER TRAIL

"We have progressed so that now we can sleep in the shelters we have built while we work on the new ones.", Don Woodland informed us. That means that the building is still going on. Don is planning a work party for Baker Trail Shelter No. 5 on the third weekend of October (Oct. 16, 17 & 18). Bring warm clothing, sleeping gear and food. Phone Don for reservations and further details -- 563-5415.

(Page 2) BAKER TRAIL Development Notes
---D.J. Woodland

Our Baker Trail development program took a giant step forward in May. The following is how it progressed:

May 2 - The concrete footers for No. 4 Lean-to had been installed in early April. Our illustrious editor Dave Magram helped with the concrete work; that is, he was busy between slices of cinnamon bread. Today the platform and framing was built. Harry Rhule delivered the lumber in his Red Truck and Bruce Sundquist, J. D. Myers, Winifred Roensch, and I worked liked the slaves building the Egyptian Pyramids to complete the work before dark. It was 7:30 p.m. when we stopped. It was necessary to cut the frsm1ng lumber from stock because the pre-cut materials that were stored under the big table at headquarters could not be used as we did not have a key. As a result of this, lean-to #4 features the plank and beam roof that was explained in some detail in the March 1964 Golden Triangle.

May 3 - Shelter No. 3 at Cochran Mills was dedicated with fitting ceremony and a delicious cake made by Mrs. Dodd. The cake had white icing (for the snow in winter), green trees, and a brown lean-to with a small red fire. Winifred Roensch gave us a demonstration in geometry by initially dividing the cake into 16 equal parts. There were 14 of us at the dedication, from my 2-year old son to teenage girls and adults. J. D. Myers and his wife stayed after the gang had departed to cook supper. It is a good thing they did because our guest, Scoutmaster Victor Wise from Renfrew, Pa. and his wife and family arrived late. You will be hearing more about Scoutmaster Wise and his boys from B.S.A. Troop 12 of Butler.

May 9 - Bruce Sundquist and I made a fast trip up to #4 to complete the framing and some odds and ends. We drove a short distance on the trail towards Russell Hill and came across a Troop from Allison Park that was out in force hiking the trail. This was an encouraging sight for us.

May 24 - Scoutmaster Wise and some of the older boys camped at Cochran Mills shelter and worked on Saturday to erect the roof of #4 and install the sides. The back was not finished because of a mistake in the lumber order. The roofing shingles were installed.

May 30 - Lean-to #7, located a short distance from Mahoning Dam, was started. The men from B.S.A. Troop 12 of Butler, Pa. helped J. D. Myers and I to erect the platform and frame up the shelter. Harry Rhule brought up the materials on Friday night. My family and I camped out Friday and Saturday. It was wonderful weekend and we had a good time. My children saw deer and other animals.

May 31 - My family and I broke camp early in the morning and with J. D. Myers drove to Idaho shelter to finish the job. The Mahoning Dam lean-to will be finished soon. We used railroad ties for the foundation of this shelter, and this proved to be a time-saving device. With the proper work party of about four to five good workers, we should be able to finish a shelter in two days. This is important because of the increased travel time from Pittsburgh.

Interest continues to mount on the Baker Trail. We are receiving communications from as far away as Cambridge, Mass. The sites for shelters #5 and #6 will be selected by October, and I expect to have them finished by November 1964. This will complete the chain of lean-tos from Freeport to Mahoning Dam. We are interested in finding a group that will take over the responsibility of the trail from Mahoning Dam to Cook Forest. A group in the Clarion or New Bethlehem area would be ideal. Two shelters should be built to complete the trail facilities to Cook Forest. Happy Hiking!

(Page 3) 16 FRI 17 SAT Baker Trail Shelter Party - Camp out Friday night and return by Sat. night. Call Don Woodland 563-5419,

18 SUN Hike portions of the new Baker Trail Extension (to be) that will join the Baker Trail to historic Forbes Trail which is currently being blazed between Pgh. and Ligonier. Bring lunch and about $1.00. Leave HQ at 8:30 a.m. Bruce Sundquist leads (VA 4-1897 or DR 7-1212)

December 1964
(Page 1) FIRE! FIRE! FIRE! Those are terrifying words to hear, and it is my sad duty to report that we have received word that one of our shelters was destroyed by fire on Nov 2, 1964. It was the Schenley Shelter, a log cabin design. I am sure that all the people who worked on that shelter will be saddened by the news. We intend to rebuild the shelter in Spring of 1965. There will have to be a clean-up party. Who would like to lead the party?

This fall has been devoted to administrative work that has to be done on the trail. We have interested some other groups in the trail. Five boy scout troops from Butler, Pa. area and Oil City area have been approved as sector groups. It is anticipated that a troop from DuBois will be assigned a sector. Pgh AYH is reserving the sectors from Freeport to Cochran Mills for our members. Any volunteers for a sector?

We are planning a general meeting for the sector leaders to be held in Cook Forest perhaps in the early spring. The purpose of this meeting is to have some original discussions on the trail development.

The Commonwealth is erecting signs in Cook Forest and Crooked Creek State Parks. We are planning to meet with the Highway Dept. in the near future to try to get them to erect signs on the state roads. Happy Hiking! - Don Woodland

(Page 2) FORBES TRAIL
A.Y.H. along with historical and scouting groups is currently scouting the historic Forbes Trail with the intention of turning it into a hiking trail running between Pittsburgh and Ligonier and ultimately to Bedford. Long range plans include joining this trail to C. & O. Canal towpath via the ancient "Warrior Trail" which runs along a high, wooded ridge between Bedford and Cumberland and also to join the Baker Trail to Forbes Trail via Roaring Run (east of Apollo) and the Loyalhanna Creek area. Persons interested in trail scouting or helping with these efforts in other ways are urged to contact J. D. Myers (372-7599) or Bruce Sundquist (Dr2-1212 Ext. 224)

January 1965
(Page 2) Sunday, January 17. Family style cookout at the Cochrans Mill shelter on the Baker trail. Individuals are welcome. Menu: Beef Stew. Cost: about $2.00. Leave HQ at 1200 noon. Reserve with Don Woodland at 563-5419 before January 14.

March 1965
(Page 5) Sunday, March 7. Seasoned woodsman Don Woodland sponsors a cook-out supper in the Covered Bridge Country at the Idaho Shelter on the Baker Trail. Families are invited; individuals are too. Cost about $1.00 plus transportation. Leave H.Q. 11:00 a.m.

April 1965
(Page 1) DON WOODLAND plans to sponsor a meeting for all those interested in developing the Baker Trail. Watch the May issue of the GT for further details.

May & June 1965
PDF pages missing

July 1965
(Page 1) BAKER TRAIL PATCHES
AYH now has attractive Baker Trail patches available for fifty cents each. Designed by Barbara Di Gregorio, they are three inches in diameter and yellow, green and brown in color. If you have hiked along the trail or even contemplated doing so, you are qualified to wear one.

October 1965
(Page 4) A JOB WELL DONE
by D. J. Woodland

For those hikers that have hiked Sector 3 (Route 66 to Cochran Mills) of our Baker Trail certainly have been impressed by the high quality of the trail signs and paint blazers. The Sector Leader, Walter Tereszkiewiez, deserves a lot of thanks for his efforts. He cheerfully volunteered his services as a sector leader less than a year ago, and what a fine job he has done. His work is very professional and has been an inspiration to all of us that have labored on the trail development program. Thanks Walter for a job well done.

February 1966
(Page 3) Feb. 26 - Help finish off the Baker Trail Sign Program. The work party will consist of cutting sign boards and painting with linseed oil. Starting time at Hqs is 10 a.m. and finish around 3:00 p.m.

April 1966
(Page 5) Sat 2 Don Woodland goes hunting for Shelter locations on the northern part of the Baker Trail. Reserve with Don at LO3-5419.

Sun 10 Bob Fewkes leads a hike on the Baker Trail from Cochrans Mill to Crooked Creek Park. Beginners welcome. Bring lunch, poncho and about $1.25 to hqs. at 8:30. Reserve with Bob 838-7784.

May 1966
(Page 2) Sun May 1 Come and HIKE our own Baker Trail. Reserve with Bring lunch and $1.25. See what a fine job Don Woodland* has done on the trail.

June 1966
(Page 4) June 19 (Sun) Cathy Lynch leads and easy hike on the Baker Trail from the Idaho Shelter to Cochrans Mills. Reserve with Cathy at 224-7216. Bring lunch, poncho and about $1.50 Lv. Hqs. about 8:30 a.m.

(Page 5) BAKER TRAIL PATCHES In case you forgotten, AYH still has BAKER TRAIL PATCHES available at .50¢ each to anyone who has hiked a portion of the trail. Get them from Bruce Sundquist at any opened house metting

July 1966
(Page 2) ALONG THE BAKER TRAIL
By DJ WOOLAND

The development program of the Baker Trail continues to make good progress. I have received many fine reports from our sector leaders on the work that has been done on their sectors.

The trail is well blazed and marked with signs. More signs are being erected this year. Tentative site selections for shelter No. 9 (Little Mill Creek) and No. 6 (Mahoning Church) have been made. The property owners are being contacted for permission to build. Some major trail relocations in section 10 have been planned.

Our indefatigable sector leader Walter Tereszkiewiez has two beautiful highway signs for Route 66 and Cochrans Mills (356) trailroad intersections. He is currently working on a Covered Bridge that will be field erected beginning in August. This will be the only covered bridge in Armstrong County.

Victor Wise, our able sector leader No. 5, is to be congratulated for receiving the Scouters Silver Beaver award. His sector is from Idaho to Atwood and is in excellent shape. If you get lost on his sector, we recommend that you stay home.

The number of hikers using the trail is constantly increasing. A girl scout troop used a pony to carry a cripple boy on a hike. The local residents along the trail are very friendly to the hikers. Mr. Weaver, who has a large farm at Hone, Pa., noticed a group of hikers on the trail. He sent his daughter to meet them on the road and insisted that they camp at his place. Mr. Simkins, who owns a hardware store in Corsica, Pa. told me that there is a steady stream of hikers past his window, and that they are getting younger all the time.

We plan to extend the trail south of Freeport to take in the scene of the Indian massacre. The original cabin is being restores.

Don't forget to buy the patches. HAPPY HIKING

(Page 3) July 23 Hike the Baker Trail from Idaho to Atwood. Bring lunch and about $1.50. Swimming during the car shuttle. Reserve with Harry Rhule at 241-3103.

August 1966
(Page 4) AUGUST 6 & 7 Analee and Chuck Fitzgibbons leads us to Cook Forest for the weekend of canoeing, hiking and cycling which Sue Simler will lead, and camping. Leave Friday evening with about $4.00 and your own food, except for Supper on Saturday. The hiking will explore possible route to join Baker Trail to a trail in the Allegheny Nat'l. Forest (7 miles north of Cook Forest) which runs to N.Y. state line. Reserve with CHuck or Analee at 563-1570.

AUGUST 13 Don Woodland is taking a group on the Baker Trail to clear a site for our next shelter Call 563-5419 $1.50

September 1966
(Page 2) A.Y.H . TO ATTEND ANNUAL KEYSTONE TRAILS MEETING

On Sept. 24 & 25 about 150 hikers from all over the country (Pa. mostly) will converge on camp Michaux in the beautiful Michigan Forest (southeast of Bedford near the Md, border)! Numerous hikes will be led during the day on various sections of the Keystone Trails. A business meeting will be held for the delegates and a program Sat, evening. Our own Oon Woodland is expected to report on our Baker Trail activities and other trail building activities in Western Pa. Folk Dancing will follow the program. See more information in the Trips and Trails section.

(Page 3) Sept. 9,10,11 Help complete Baker Trail shelter #6 north of Plumville. Leave Friday night. For information call Don Woodland, 563-5419.

Sat. & Sun. Sept. 24 & 25 Attend the Annual Keystone Trails meeting at Camp Michaux in Michaux Forest. Hiking on one of the moat scenic sections of the Appalachian Trail. Sat. nite program included folk dancing. Reserve with Bruce Sundquist {372-1212 x224) before Sept.l7. Cost $13.00 including food and lodging. Leave Friday nite. Return by 6 on Sunday.

October 1966
(Page 2) MORE HIKING TRAILS (TOBERMORY TO FREEPORT)
In case you haven't heard, a number of Canadian hiking clubs are nearly finished with a hiking trail from Tobomory (where Lake Huron and the Georgian Bay meet) down to near Niagara Falls. The trail is called the "Bruce Trail" and runs along the Niagara escarpment through Eastern Canada's most scenic country.

At Queenston, the Bruce Trail joins the Finger Lakes Trail System. A number of very active New York State hiking clubs expect to have their Finger Lakes Trail system extend eastward to the Catskills and southward via a spur trail to the Allegheny State Forest at Red House. There, says the New York State Park Department, it has a (somewhat overgrown) trail that leads south to the Pa.-New York line. Recently we have heard that the Allegheny National Forest people (N.F.S.) have plans for a trail that will run from the Pa.-New York line to the Muzette Fire Tower (thru the Allegheny National Forest), which is just seven miles north of the end of the Baker Trail in Cook Forest. Is it possible that some day there will be a trail from Tobermory to Pittsburgh? and if so, why not on to Washington, D. C. via Forbes Trail, Warrior Trail and the C. & O. Canal Towpath?

Handwritten: (Warrior Trail circled above) This must be some trail other than Greene-Marshall counties Warrior Trail

(Page 3) Saturday, October 22 - Fall colors hike on the Baker Trail from Cochran's Mill to Crooked Creek State Park. Leave Friday evening and stay at Cochran's Mill shelter or leave Saturday morning. Finish hike with a cookout supper and folksinging at Crooked Creek Park. Cathy Lynch leads this one. Call her at 362-1045 to reserve. Cost approx. $1.00.

April 1967
(Page 4) 22-23 Baker Trail maintenance and hiking trip. We will work on trail marking and shelter maintenance Saturday, camp at a shelter Saturday evening, and hike on Sunday. Cost about $2.50. Bring food and carpentry tools. Contact BRUCE SUNDQUIST for information (372-1212, Ext. 224).

August 1967
(Page 2) Sun. 6 Hike from Crooked Creek State Park to Cochrans Mill along the Baker Trail. Swimming in Crooked Creek. CATHY LYNCH leads (362-1045). Leave headquarters at 9 A.M. with lunch and about $1.25.

September 1967
(Page 4) OCT.6-7 CYCLE Sat. & Sun. from a central camping area. Location not yet decided but may be a shelter on Baker Trail on a Christmas tree farm. Bring lunches for Sat. and Sun. Other delicious food will be supplied. Sign up by Sat.,Sept. 30 to allow for meal planning. More info. available soon. Call BOB OMLER (264-4485).

October 1967
(Page 2) Fri 20 Sat. 21 Beginners' overnight on the Baker Trail. Stay at Schenley Shelter. Snacks and breakfast. Bring rucksack, flashlight, sleeping bag, mess kit, lunch for Saturday. $2.00. Reserve with D. J. WOODLAND (563-5419).

November 1967
(Page 1) BAKER TRAIL BRIDGE
The Baker Trail now has a beautiful new covered bridge crossing Horne Camp Run between Cochran's Mill and Crooked Creek Park. The bridge was built by sector leader, Walter Tereszkiewiez, and B.S.A. Troop 40. Its heavy timber trusses and rustic appearance are appropriate to its environment. Walter and Troop 40 are to be congratulated for an outstanding addition to the Trail.

December 1967
(Page 4)
AYH owes much credit to Don Woodland, Baker Trail Chairman, for his many contributions to the trail during the past six years. He has been largely responsible for building shelters, erecting signs, and maintaining the trail. He has generated interest in it among many scout troops and other groups and has established excellent relations with many people involved with it.

Before becoming interested in the Baker Trail, Don served on the Board of of Directors and also did a tremendous amount of work on the renovation of our headquarters building. Don has bean a real asset to AYH and deserves the members' support end assistance.

A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Don came to Pittsburgh about 13 years ago, joined AYH and met Billie here. They now have five hosteling children and live in Baldwin Township.

March 1968
(Page 1) BAKER TRAIL NEWS
Did you know that our Baker Trail has six shelters; or that our plans call for the construction of four more to complete the chain from Freeport to Cook's Forest? These shelters are your home away from home along the hiking trail. The inside dimensions are 12 by 8 feet and will sleep 6 comfortably. Each shelter has its official wooden sign, with the name and date of construction routed into the sign. The shelters are: Schenley, 1965; Crooked Creek, 1953, Cochrans Mill, 1963; Idaho, 1964; Milo Weaver, 1966; Mahoning, 1964; and hopefully, North Freedom, 1968.

The Crooked Creek shelter was built of timbers from an old log cabin; the newer shelters are built of rough sawn oak with boards and battens for the siding. Each shelter requires about 1,000 board feet of lumber and 30 lbs. of nails.

Out shelter design has progressed through several stages of development, with general dimensions based on the most efficient use of stock sizes of lumber. We have kept the waste down to approximately 2%.

On March 30th, AYH will break ground for the North Freedom Shelter. Our basic design has been modified so that a better proportioning of the interior space is achieved. If you want some good clean fun, and would like to create something for others to enjoy, sharpen up your saw and check the Trips and Trails page for where to report for work.

(Page 11) 29 FRI JO SAT Ground breaking and foundation work party for the latest Baker Trail Shelter - North Freedom. Leave HQ 7:00 p.m. and sleep in Mahoning Shelter. See Don Woodland (563-5419) for details.

May 1968
(Page 2) NEWEST SHELTER
The construction of our newest Baker Trail Shelter, THE NORTH FREEDOM SHELTER, is on schedule, and it will be dedicated on Saturday, March [May] 11, as the closing event of National Hostel week.

The shelter is situated on a slight knoll overlooking the river. The site is heavily accented with hemlock and rhododendron. The stream flowing in its bed is like so much background music; the air is crisp and scented with hemlock and pine.

This shelter is our latest design that was described in the March TRIANGLE and has worked out very well with the increased interior space. With the large amount of hikers using the trail in the winter months, an indoor fireplace is tempting for the next shelter in the Atwood area.

Our Baker Trail now has seven shelters and one covered bridge. Three more shelters are needed to complete the chain to Cook's Forest. The sites for those shelters must be selected so that we can schedule construction. We can use more help from our members on this work so why not join us and learn how to use your hands in a creative activity! -- Donald Woodland

(Page 11) 11 SAT Come to the DEDICATION of the NORTH FREEDOM SHELTER on the Baker Trail. Don Woodland (563~5419) leads. Leave HQ at 9:30 am with lunch, poncho and about $2.00. Be prepared to do some hiking in the area.

June 1968
(Page 1) SHELTER DEDICATION A WET SUCCESS
Nestled in a grove of hemlocks, on the banks of an almost white-water stream, Shelter Number Eight at North Freedom may be the most beautiful shelter on the whole Baker Trail. It is certainly the newest--in fact the dedication trip turned out to be a work party as those who attended it ended up nailing shingles on the roof. A welcome addition to the party were Billie Woodland and the Woodland's five children. Billie's husband, Don, is chiefly responsible for this shelter and most of the recent development of the Baker Trail.

The foundations for this shelter and its outhouse were dug by Bernard McKenna end some of his boys from the Youth Squad in Wilkinsburg. Assisting Don with the building were: Bruce Sundquist, Manny Morgan, Gordon Hyatt, David Engel and Robert Palazzi.

The dedication of the North Freedom shelter, which was one of the important events of Hostel Week, was highlighted by a cake baked by Billie Woodland with decoration provided by Hugh Gilmour. After the ritual cake-eating and the shingle-nailing, Hugh, Mary Johnston, Dave Wright, Bob Mautino and Cathy Lynch followed the capable map reading of Bruce Sundquist through the rain. The area looked excellent, even under these conditions. The North Freedom Shelter should prove to be a popular one.

When the TRIANGLE asked Billie for a comment on the shelter dedication, she reminded us of the total purpose of the Baker Trail. "This is Pittsburgh Council's most important service project" she said, "it should enable people, not only Scouts--by just a few or many years--to enjoy backpacking--to get close to God by getting close to nature. People who have such experiences should be better people, better able to solve their own problems and society's. That's what the Baker Trail is all about. That's really what the shelters are for."

(Photo) May 11th Dedication: Don Woodland, David Wright, Hugh Gilmour and Mary Johnston. Photo by--Bruce Sundquist.

September 1968
(Page 1) BAKER TRAIL NEWS
The site for Shelter No. 5 has been selected and construction of the shelter is scheduled for the middle of September. This shelter will be known as the Pine-ees Shelter and is location about 1 mile south of Atwood on the Baker Trail. The Pine-ees Chapter of the NCHA from Indiana, Pa. will be in charge of the construction.

Due to the sharp increase in the number of hikers using the trail, we decided to increase the size of the shelter to sleep two more hikers. The width will also be increased by a foot to provide a little more space in the front.

A good spring is located about 50 feet from the shelter site, and it has cool sweet water. There is a beautiful view on top of the hill of the surrounding Rural Valley.

This shelter when finished will bring to eight the number that we have on the Baker Trail. Our overall plans call for ten shelters; with the remaining two to be built on the northern end of the trail.
--Don Woodland, B.T. Chairman

October 1968
(Page 7) THURSDAY NIGHT IS "OPEN HOUSE" AT AYH
Schedule of programs for October, 1968 8:30 p.m.

10th Who knows the most about the Baker Trail? Don Woodland, of course. See his program showing the trails' most scenic points, the shelters and how they were built and some great action shots taken along the trail.

November 1968
(Page 3) BAKER TRAIL NEWS
Our beautiful new Pine-ees Shelter was built in less than two days thanks to the round the clock work of the members of the Pine-ees Chapter of NCHA of Indiana, Pa. This is our finest shelter to date. Keith States and his crew deserve a round of thanks for their splendid achievement. The shelter will be dedicated sometime in the near future.

1968 has been a record year for the Baker Trail. Two shelters and four latrines were built as well as a stone fireplace at the Cochrans Mill shelter. About 40 new signposts were installed. The trail has never been in better shape. No work was done from Corsica North. These sectors will be worked over next year. Some major trail relocations are being planned.

There still remains a lot of work to be done to make the Baker Trail into a first class hiking trail.

December 1968
(Page 6) FREEPORT TO COOK FOREST BY WAY OF THE BAKER TRAIL
Do the entire 137 miles, or take a sector at a time. Get the Baker Trail Guide at Hostel headquarters for information on where each portion begins and ends.

Sectors are short enough (10 to 13 mi. long) to provide an interesting day's trip.

(Page 9) SAT. 7th - Henry Pollack (621-3500 X 7483) leads a rigorous 15 to 20 mile HIKE on the Baker Trail. Leave headquarters at 8:30 a.m. This trip is strictly for people who want to hustle their bones. Hiking boots are required. Bring your lunch.

SAT. 14th - Vince Widmer (339-1165) leads a beginner 8 mile HIKE on Trader's Pass - a little unknown trail running West to East, between Baker and Forbes Trails. Hiking boots are recommended for your enjoyment. Meet at Headquarters at 8:30 a.m. with your lunch, water and about $2.00.

January 1969
(Page 7) 26 - Eb Moll (824-2914) leads a 10-12 mile hike on the Baker Trail going northward from the Idaho shelter. Some trail maintenance may be on the agenda. Meet at HQ at 8:30 a.m. Bring lunch and gloves(for snowball battles}

March 1969
(Page 5) 9 - After recoiling from the Banquet hike-another portion of the Baker Trail trail from Atwood to Plumville (10-12 miles) with Eberhard Moll(824-2914). Leave HQ at 9:00 a.m. with warm clothing, lunch and about $2.00.

22 - Vince Widmer leads another hiking trip (8 miles) from Crooked Creek to Cochran Mills on the Baker Trail. Bring lunch and approximately $4.00. Leave HQ at 8:30 a.m.

April 1969
(Page 4) SUN.13 - Frolic in the spring mist with Mary Brincka. Float for 10 miles on the Baker Trail North from Schenley on the Allegheny River. Bring lunch and "Brincka - laughter". Meet at HQ at 9:00 a.m.

SUN.20 - Eb Moll (824-2914) leads hike somewhere on the Baker Trail. Some (just a little) maintenance may be encountered. Meet at HQ at 9:00 a.m. with lunch.

Jul 1969
(Page 3) SUN 27 HIKE AND PICNIC Kathy Lynch (361-3707) leads a Hiking, Swimming and Picnic Supper Trip to Crooked Creek State Park. Hiking on the Baker Trail. Those who go hiking will terminate at picnic site. Leave Hostel at 12:30 p.m. Coat $2.00. Reserve by July 24.

February 1970
(Page 7) SUN 22nd HIKE - Baker Trail Hike with Trail Chairman Eb Moll. Not too difficult, but good shoes and warm clothing are important. Call 441-0226.

April 1970
(Page 6) SUN 19th Baker trail maintenance trip. Do you know how to hold a paintbrush? Mix cement? come and help repair Schenley Shelter. BONUS: Don Woodland's famous cookout after work. Meet in upper parking lot at 8:30 A.M. with lunch and about S1.75. Eb Moll is foreman, at 441-0226.

SAT 25th HIKE - Hike about ten miles along the Baker Trail, probably from Idaho to Crooked Creek area, ending with supper cooked on the trail. Reserve with Cliff Ham, (621-7825). Bring a lunch and about S2.50. Leave upper lot at 10 A.M.

June 1970
(Page 5) Sun 28th HIKE - Baker Trail hike with leader Eb Moll. Plan to leave the upper parking lot by 9:00 a.m. with lunch, boots and about $1.50.

October 1970
Sun 11 HIKE - a full day on the Baker Trail with Chairman Eb Moll. Very likely from North Freedom to Mahoning Dam area - 8 to 10 miles. Bring lunch, about $2.00, hiking boots; leave at 8:00 a.m.

November 1970
(Page 2) Sunday, November 8 BAKER TRAIL HIKE Dave Porterfield leads a 10-12 hike on northern section of the Baker Trail. Hikers should have had some experience and wear good shoes or boots. Bring lunch, plus $2.00. Call Dave at 452-7071.

(Page 3) Sunday, November 29 BAKER TRAIL HIKE Vince Widmer leads a 10 mile hike on the trail, pointing out various cacti enroute. Call him 339-6600.

January 1971
(Page 4) Sunday, January 31 ... Hike at least 8 miles of the Baker Trail with Rich Bartoo (882-9368) Leave from upper parking lot with lunch, boots, and warm clothing at 8:30. A good hike for beginners.

February 1971
(Page 1) A series of hikes are planned to begin in March for those hikers who would like to boast of having completely hiked the Baker Trail. Many of our members have hiked various segments or the trail, but gaps in the trail have, for some reason, arisen. Watch for further announcements in next month's issue.

(Page 5) Friday, February 26 - Sunday, February 28 ... The weekend you all have been waiting for, as Morie Oberg welcomes about 40 AYH'ers for a weekend of good food, congenial people, ice-skating, tuneful singing, tobogganing, hiking and Scottish Pastries at
Cooks Forest (Scottie's Cabins). Hike the new northern extension of the Baker Trail. Volunteers needed to help with kitchen chores. Stone Crest Lodge available for families with children but kitchen in this lodge available for Saturday dinner only. Cost of $10.00 includes everything. Reservations limited to the first ## people. Call Morie Oberg 279-5774.

March 1971
(Page 3) BAKER TRAIL PROGRAMS
Eb Moll and Dave Porterfield

This year at AYH we are instituting a comprehensive program for those who would like to hike the entire Baker Trail and those who have hiked some of it but still have gaps on the trail that they have not completed. The schedule overs the entire trail through forests and farmland, from Freeport to Cook Forest, a distance of 108 miles. The hikes are planned around spring flowers, summer swimming and blackberry picking in the fall.

After the winter storms are over, the trail usually needs a "face-lifting," repainting of faded blazes, addng of missing signs, removal of trees and branches lying across the trail, and the replacement of lost shingles and other repairs to the shelters. These hikes with "paint brush and saw" cannot be closely described that far ahead, but cover usually one section at a time and usually end at a shelter with a rewarding supper.

All trips will start from the upper parking lot near the headquarters bldg. in Nellon Park. It is recommended that you wear hiking boots and long pants and that you bring a lunch and drinking water as there may not be water available along the trail. Anticipate a prompt departure; the return time is anywhere between 6 and 10 PM. If you have your own transportation, you can arrange with the leader for an earlier return. All trip fees are approximate and include transporuation; the leader himself will determine the final fee. Nonmembers can add 50¢ per trip. Reservations for all trips are a must as changes in departure time may be necessary; be sure to call the leader for details, or call AYH on Thursday evening from 8 to ll ... the number: 362-8181. The general location of the hikes can be found on our Baker Trail information sheet which is free or in the Baker Trail Guide Book which sells for 75¢. Register the sections you have hiked on the Baker Trail poster at AYH. After you have completed the trail, your name will be posted on the plaque.

Sunday, March 14 ... Section 6 (Atwood to Plumville) 8 miles. Assemble at 8:15, and leave at 8:30. Reserve with Tess Henry (441-5052) Fee: $1.80.

Sunday, April 4 ... Maintenance hike probably section 5. Assemble at 8:15 and leave at 8:30. Dinner at tbe end of the hike. Eb Moll (441-0226) Fee: $2.00

Sunday, April 18 ... Section 7 (Dayton to Mahoning Shelter) Hot soup served at the shelter - 10 miles.Leave at 8:30. Fran Czapiewski (661-9543) Fee: $2.30

Sunday, May l6 ... Section 2 (Clarks Farm to Crooked Creek Dam) 10 miles. Leave at 8:30. Diane Moll (441-0226) Fee: $1.60.

Sunday, May 23 ... Maintenance hike probably section 7. Leave at 8:30. Food at the end of the trip. Eb Moll (441-0226) Fee: $2.50

Saturday, June 12-Sunday, June l3 ... Sections 4 and 5 (Cochrane Mills to Atwood) Leisurely two-day hike totaling about 20 miles. No backpacking. Stay overnight at the Idaho Shelter. Group cooking. Side trip to the power plant overlook can be arranged. Fee of $5.00 includes dinner and breakfast. Number of trippers is limited on this trip. Leave at 8:30 AM. Call John Henry (441-5052)

Sunday, June 27 ... Section 3 (Cochrane Mills to Crooked Creek to Crobked Creek Reservoir. 8 miles. Traditionally followed by picnic cookout and swimming in the lake. Leave 9 AM Fee about $3.00 including picnic supper. Call Cathy Lynch (361-3707)

Sunday, July 18 ... Section 1 (Freeport to Schenley Shelter) 5 miles, beginners' hike. Leave at 9 AM. Fee: $l.SO. Larry Giventer (422-9282).

Sunday, August 8 ... Section 7 (Dayton to Mahoning Shelter) 10 miles, blackberries and apples abundantly located located along the trail. Leave 8:30 AM Fee: $2.00 Marilyn Ham (621-7825)

Friday, September 17 to Sunday. September 19 ... Sections 8 and 9 (Mahoning Shelter to Summerville) Drive to Mahoning on Friday evening, and hike to the North Freedom Shelter on Saturday; continue on to Summerville on Sunday. Stay at shelters on both nights. Distance: about 21 miles. Fee: $7.00 includes two breakfasts and two dinners. Leave Friday night 7 PM. Morie Oberg (921-3023)

Sunday, September 26 ... Maintenance hike, section still uncertain. Call Eb Moll (441-0226)

Sunday, October 10 ... Section 10 (Summerville to Fisher) 12 miles. Leave 8:30 AM Fee: $3.00 Eb Moll (441-0226)

Sunday, October 24 ... Maintenance hike, section still uncertain, Eb Moll (441-0226)

Friday. November 5 to Sunday. November 7 ... Sections 12 and 13 .. (Camp Tionesta to Cook Forest) Hike from Tionesta in the Allegheny National Forest to the boundary of the State Game Lands and continue on Sunday from there to the Baker Trail extension to the fire tower in Cook Forest. Total about 22 miles. No backpacking, stay in cabin both nights. Fee: $11.00 includes two breakfasts and one dinner ... leave Friday evening at 7 PM. Jim Hurst (276-0447)

Tack this onto your home bulletin board and make plans to hike as many sections as you wish. If changes become necessary, they will be noted in the current edition of the Golden Triangle.
Baker Trail Chairman
AMERICAN YOUTH HOSTELS
Pittsburgh council
6300 Fifth Avenue
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15232

(Page 5 & 6) Brochure & map

(Page 7) Sunday, March 14 ... Here's the first of a series of hikes designed to help you hike those segments of the Baker Trail that you might have missed. Tess Henry leads one of the more scenic portions from Atwood to Plumville and welcomes beginners who want to start the chain of hikes. Leave the upper parking lot at 8:30 AM with adequate lunch and $1.80. Reserve with Tess at 441-5052.

April 1971
(Page 4) Sunday, April 4 ... Maintenance hike, probably section 5. Assemble at 8:15, leave at 8:30. Food at the end of hike. Fee $2.00. Eb Moll (441-0226)

(Page 5) Sunday, April 18 ... Section 7 (Dayton to Mahoning Shelter}, 10 miles. Hot soup will be served at the shelter. Assemble at 8:15, leave at 8:30. Reserve with Fran Czapiewski (661-9543). Fee $2.30.

May 1971
(Page 4) Sunday, May 2 ... Baker Trail Chairman, Eb Moll, can still use a few more hard-working volunteers to repaint blazes on the Baker Trail. Here's a chance to get in a few maintenance points; relieve your conscience by calling Eb (441-0226)

(Page 5) Sunday, Mav 16 ... Section2(Clarks Farm to Crooked Creek Dam) 10 mile hike. Assemble at 8:15, leave at 8:30. Fee $1.60. Dianne Moll (441-0226}

Sunday, May 23 ... Maintenance hike, probably section 7. Assemble at 8:15, leave at 8:30. Fee $2.50. Reserve with Baker Trail leader, Eb Moll (441-0226)

June 1971
(Page 3) Saturday, June 12--Sunday, June 13 ... Baker Trail hike from Cochrans Mill to Atwood. Aleisurely 2-day hike totaling about 20 miles. No backpacking. Stay overnight at the Idaho Shelter. Group cooking. Side trip to power plant overlook can be arranged. Fee of about $5.00 includes dinner and breakfast at the shalter. Number of trippers is limited. Assemble at 8:15 AM, leave at 8:30AM. For details, call EB Moll 441-5052.

(Page 4) Sunday, June 27 ... Hike on the Baker Trail from Cochrans Mill to Crooked Creek Reservoir, 8 miles. Traditionally followed by a picnic cookout and swimming in the lake. Assemble at 8:45, leave at 9 AM. Fee of about $3.00 includes food. Reserve with Cathy Lynch (36l-3707)

July 1971
(Page 4) Sunday, July 18 ... HIKING .. BAKER TRAIL .. Beginners hike on section 1, Freeport to Schenley Shelter led by Larry Giventer. Bring lunch and swim suits for cooling-off dip. Leave HQ at 9 AM (422-9282)

August 1971
(Page 2) BAKER TRAIL AS NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL???
The upper half of the Baker Trail and the Glacier Ridge Trail may become part of the "North Country Trail," a trail running from Vermont to North Dakota, spanning ### miles, which is presently under study. J.D. Myers and Eb Moll attended a meeting with officials in Harrisburg to discuss the best route through Pennsylvania.

It may be of interest to hikers that two more national scenic trails have been opened which end in our area, the "Kittanning Trail" from Washington County to Armstrong County and the "Potomac Heritage Trail" from Washington, D.C. tothe eastern part of Pittsburgh. Western Pennsylvania could become the "hub" of three national trails.

(Page 3) Sunday, August 8 ... HIKING ON BAKER TRAIL ... Section 7 (Dayton to Mahoning Shelter) 10 miles. Apples and blackerries are abundant along the trail. Assemble at 8:15AM; leave at 8:30AM. Fee $2.00. Reserve with Marilyn Ham 621-7825.

September 1971
(Page 2) Sunday, September 12 ... HIKING ... BAKER TRAIL ... Section 2, Godfrey to Crooked Creek. Beginners welcome on this eight mile hike. Bring lunch and swim suit for dip in Crookod Creek Lake. Leave RQ at 8:30 AM. Cost: $2.00. Call John and Alice Bentley (521-8756}

Friday, September l7 to Sunday. September 19 ... BACKPACKING ... BAKER TRAIL ... Section X and 9 (Mahoning Shelter to Summerville) Driver to Mahoning Shelter on Friday evening; hike to the North Freedom Shelter on Saturday; continue to Summerville on Sunday. Stay in shelters both nights. Distance about 21 miles. Fee: $7.00 includes two breakfasts and one dinner. Assemble at 6:45 PM on Friday, leave 7 PM. Provide your own lunches. A deposit of $2.00 is required. Morie Oberg collects (921-3023)

(Page 3) Sunday, September 26 ... HIKING...7-8 Mile hike for beginners along the Harmony Short Line (Allison Park to Gibsonia)...Bring along good spirits, lunch and canteen. Reserve with Janet or Pam Olson (782-2205) Leave HQ at 8:30 AM. Cost: $1.25.

October 1971
(Page 4) Sunday, October 10 ... HIKING ON BAKER TRAIL ... Section 10 (Summerville to Fisher) X miles. Assemble at 8:15, leave at 8:30. Fee $3.00. Eb Moll (441-0226)

Sunday. October 24 ... MAINTENANCE HIKE ON BAKER TRAIL ... For details call Eb Moll (441-0226)

(Page 4) Friday, November 5 to Sunday, November 7 ... HIKING ON BAKER TRAIL ... Sections 12 and 13, (Camp Tionesta to Cook Forest) a 2-day hike of a total of 22 miles. No backpacking. Hike Saturday from Camp Tionesta in Allegheny National Forest to the boundary of the State Game Land and contineu on Sunday from there on the Baker Trail extension to the fire tower in Cook Forest. Stay 2 nights in cabins. Fee of $11.00 includes two breakfasts and one dinner. Assemble Friday evening at 6:45, leave at 7 PM. Reserve
with Jim Hurst (276-0447)

November 1971
(Page 4) A TRAIL REPORT
by Eb Moll
It is really a success story, and this makes all that work worthwhile and enjoyable. Much has been done on the Baker Trail in 1971 and the year is not over yet.

Dave Porterfield and I, as Baker Trail Chairman and Co-Chairman, agreed at a meeting with neighboring trail clubs to extend the trail about 15 miles into Allegheny National Forest. After negotiating with four governmental agencies and several private landowners, the route was established, scouted, cleared and partly blazed.

The trail from the Clarion River to Corsica was rerouted for about 16 miles back into the woods. After selecting the route and scouting the trail, the trick is to find the landowners and get their permission to walk over their property. So far nobody has turned us down. We got a lot of help from Bill Hearst in Clarion. He even got an OK to build the Fisher Shelter on McNaughton Hill, the highest point in Clarion County with a beautiful view. We got right into the act and in July the shelter went up. It was almost completed, including outhouse and picnic table. The Clarion Boy Scouts promised to put on the missing boards and shingles.

After taking a break for vacation we found a fine spot for the Corsica Shelter. That one will be built on November 13 and 14, 1971. This leaves one shelter to be built near Summerville to complete the chain of 11 shelters up to Cook Forest.

The shelter design, based on Don Woodland's Idaho Shelter was refined and worked out in great detail. This enables a crew of six to build one shelter on a weekend (the cooking crew not included!).

The rest of the trail is in pretty good shape, but should be rerouted in several spots away from roads and populated areas.

Walter Tereszkiewicz added several unique bridges in Section 3 near Crooked Creek. Besides that he took pity on the section below Summerville and did a great job with blazes, wooden signs and little benches along the way. For all his donation of time and expenses over many years, Walter was awarded Honorary Life Membership in AYH.

Among the many helpers with the trailwork, the efforts of Don Woodland, J.D. Meyers and his wife Eleanor, and Bob McGoff should be mentioned.

With 7½ minute maps now available for the entire trail, a new guide book is in preparation.

We will continue to improve the trail in 1972. It extends now from Freeport into Allegheny National Forest and is over 130 miles long.

If you haven't hiked yet on the trail and camped at one of the shelters, try it once, you will enjoy it!!

(Page 5) Fri. Nov.5 to Sun. Nov. 7 HIKING on the Baker Trail ... Sections 12 and 13 (Camp Tionesta to Cook Forest) . A 2-day hike for a total of 22 miles. No backpacking. Hike Saturday from Camp Tionesta in Allegheny National Forest to the boundary of the State Game Land and continue on Sunday on the Baker Trail Extension to the fire tower in Cook Forest. Stay 2 nights in cabins. Fee $11.00 includes two breakfasts and one dinner. Meet Friday evening at 6:45pm, leave at 7 pm. Reserve with Jim Hurst(276-0447).

Fri. Nov.12 to Sun. Nov.14 HIKING--Help build a shelter near Corsica, Pa. or blaze rerouted parts of the Baker Trail. Leave AYH Friday at 6:30 pm or Saturday morning. Food will be provided free. Camp out or stay at Fisher Shelter. Call Eb Moll(44l-0226).

March 1972
(Page 4) Sat.Mar. 4 HIKING--Baker Trail Hike, 6-8 miles on section 1, Freeport to Schenly. Enjoy spectacular views from high cliffs overlooking the Allegheny River. Plan to leave with Greg and June Siple (421-3794) from the Hostel at 6:30 a.m. with light lunch, $1.50.

Sun.Mar.19 HIKING--Hike Section 4 (Cochren Mills to Idaho) of the Baker Trail on your goal to complete the Baker Trail in '72. Plan to leave the Hostel at 8:30 a.m. with a light lunch, canteen, and about $2.00. Trip leaders are Rich and Nancy Bartoo. (882-9368).

May 1972
(Page 5) Sat.Apr.29 to Sun.Apr.30 MAINTAINENCE HIKE on the Baker Trail near Corsica and Fisher. Leave early Saturday morning for 2 days of hiking, blazing and trail cleaning. Sleep at a shelter. Bring your own food or eat out. Contact Eb Moll (441-0226). Transportation $3.

(Page 6) Sun. May 14 HIKE--Baker Trail. Help celebrate Mother's Day by bringing her along as George Romovacek (661- ) leads a hike on Sec.3 of the Baker Trail. (Cochran's Mill to Crooked Creek State Park) Leave AYH at 8:30 am with canteen, light lunch, your mother and about $2.00.

June 1972
(Page 6) Sat.Jun.24 HIKE--Baker Trail. Additional details at the Thursday night meetings. See Eb Moll, or Marie Oberg.

July 1972
(Page 2) OPEN HOUSE
Thursdays at 8:30 p.m.
July 20
A composite of Eb and Diane Moll's slide collection, including the Baker Trail, Cook's Forest and varoius other trips.

August 1972
(Page 2) BAKER TRAIL GUIDE
The 1972 Baker Trail Guidebook just came off the press. It features 35 pages of trail description, location and facilities of shelter sites, a set of 17 new maps based on 7.5' topo maps, information on the use of the trail, general hiking tips, sources of information about campgrounds, cabins, and food stores (with store hours) within walking distance of the trail, reroutings, extension and the location of 2 new shelters is included. New trail length is 140 miles.

Send $1.00 (plus 6¢ tax for Pa. residents) to publications chairman Bruce Sundquist. 210 College Drive, Monroeville, Pa. 15146

(Page 8) Sat. Aug. 26 to Sun.Aug. 27 HIKE--Baker Trail (beginners with some experience). Hike two sections of the Baker Trail and sleep overnight at one of the shelters. Bring 2 lunches in a daypack, food for dinner and breakfast, mess kit, canteen, sleeping bag, plastic tube tent (if possible) and about $5.00. Reserve with Jay and Margaret Angel (362-5282). Trip size limited to 12 persons.

September 1972
(Page 3) HELP WANTED: Male and Female
Seeking good workers, no experience necessary. Will train on the spot. Work with wood, wood stain, shingles and food (cooking).

We are building the last Baker Trail Shelter in a chain of eleven. Plan ahead to join the party on Sept. 16/17 .for one or two days at Summerville, Pa. If you would like to help (and we can use every hand) contact Eb Moll 441-0226. (See also Trips and Trails announcement).

With this last shelte r built, all Baker Trail goals for 1972 have been reached. Other activities completed this year include: Completion of a 14 mile extension of the northern part, completion of 18 miles of rerouting between Rt. 80 and cook Forest and the issue of an updated and improved Baker Trail Guide.

(Page 6) Fri.Sept. 15 to Sun.Sept. l7 BAKER TBAIL BUILDING PARTY--Leave Friday evening or Saturday morning. Sleep in tents or next shelter. Community food. Share food and transportation costs, no trip fees. Contact Eb Moll (441-0226). See separate article.

November 1972
(Page 1) The One Day Shelter Story
by Eb Moll

With 14 woodsmen, 5 helpers and 5 cooks, the eleventh Baker Trail Shelter was completed, shingled and stained in exactly 9 (nine) hours on Saturday, Sept. 16, between 7:00 a .m. and 4:00 p .m --a new record. The table was already finished for Saturday breakfast. The spring was dug and the outhouse (with forest view) usable the same night.

The work party drew world wide attention: workers arrived from Brisbane, Australia (the Cleggs), from Beirut, Labanon (the Hams), and from Greenville, Pa. (the Robinsons). Beside the seasoned builders we discovered new talents in Rich Baker, Allan Ellis, Joe Hochnes and John Hayes. Responsible for the traditionally excellent food wer Eleaner Myers, Irene McGaff and Sandy Oberg. With little work left on Sunday, Cliff Ham led a 7 mile hike before lunch while a few put the last touches at the camp.

Thanks to everyone for helping.

(Page 5) Sun. 12--Baker Trail Hike, Section #7 (Dayton to Mahoning), about 12 miles shelter to shelter. Good hiking shoes recommended. Leaders Cliff and Marilyn Ham. (687-4960). Leave AYH at 8:00 a.m. with lunch and about $2.50.

Decemberr 1972
(Page 3) Sat. 9 HIKING--Reservoir hike on Baker Trail Ext. 8:00 a.m. Joint hike with the Boondockers. 20 miles Eor advanced hikers. Leader is Cliff Ham (687-4960).

Sun. 17 HIKING--Baker Trail, Section #1, Freeport to Schenley Shelter. Beginners nnd intermediates welcome. Contact Cliff Ham (687-4560). Meet at AYH by 8:00 a.m.; cost $2.00.

January 1973
(Page 5) Sun. 21 HIKING--Hike Section 2 of the Baker Trail. 8 miles from Clark's farm to Crooked Creek Shelter and Route 66. Meet at AYH 8:00 a.m. Leaders Cliff and Marilyn Ham. (687-4960). Cost about $2.

Sun. 28 HIKING--Exploration for Baker Trail extension; Springdale to Natrona, about 8 miles including Bouquet Bluffs Park. Cliff Ham, chief explorer (687-4960). Cost about $1.50.

February 1973
(Page 8) Sun. 11 HIKE--Baker Trail Maintainence and trail relocation. Check Idaho Shelter and relocate trail off Route 210. Some hiking; consult BT map #5. Leave upper parking lot 8:00 a.m.; bring lunch and $2.

Sun. 18 HIKE--Baker Trail Section #3: Route 66 to Cochran's Mills Shelter-10 miles good walking on attractive part of Baker Trail. Leader: Dave Porterfield. Leave upper parking lot at 8:00 a.m. Bring lunch and $2.

March 1973
(Page 6) Sat. 17 HIKE--Afternoon hike at County Park #9; 4-5 miles. Leave AYH at 12 noon. cost approximately $1. Leader Eb Moll (441-0226).

Sun. 18 HIKE--Baker Trail--Monthly excursion this month on Section 4, Cochran's Mill to Idaho, 8.8 miles including the famous "cable bridge". Fee about $2. Bring lunch. Leave AYH 8:00am from upper parking lot.

Sun. 25 HIKE--Exploration on Baker Trail Extension, probably Taretum to Freeport, through Harrison Hills Regional Park. Should be
relatively easy, about 8 miles. Leave AYH at 8:00 am; bring abouL $1.50 and lunch.

(Page 7) April Sun. 1 BAKER TRAIL MAINTAINENCE--We'll check North Freedom shelter and blaze the trail nearby. Leave AYH at 8:00 am from upper parking lot. Bring $2.50 and lunch.

April 1973
(Page 10) Sat. 31 HIKING--Baker Trail Exploration. We'll hike two alternative routes near Plumville and blaze the better trail. Leave AYH at 10:00 am. Bring $1.50 and lunch. Contact Cliff Ham (687-4960) for reservations.

(Page 11) Sun. 15 HIKING-- Baker Trail, Idaho Shelter to Pin-ees Shelter, Atwood, partially over relocated trail off Route 210. Leave upper parking lot at 8:00 am with lunch, $2.50 and good humor. Reserve with Eb Moll (441-0226).

Sat. 28 HIKING--Baker Trail Exploration--We will explore new routes for the Baker Trail in Allegheny County, possibly blazing some areas. Relatively easy 8 miles. Leave AYH at 8:00 am with lunch and $1.50.

May 1973
(Page 5) Sun. 6 HIKING--Baker Trail--Section 4. Cochran's Mill to Idaho or "the other way back'. 9 miles including the famous cable bridge. Cost about $2 including transportation. Bring lunch. hiking boots and leave upper parking lot at 8:00 am. Cliff and Marilyn Ham lead. Reserve with them at 687-4960.

(Page 6) Sun. 20 HIKING--Baker Trail--Section 6, from Atwood Shelter to Milo Weaver Shelter, 10 mi1es. See two delightful shelters, one in "Christmas Tree" area, Pine-ees; the other on the Weaver Farm. Dave Porterfield will lead, leaving the upper parking lot at 8:00 am. Cost about $2.50. Bring lunch.

June 1973
(Page 3) TRIP NOTES

BAKER TRAIL EXTENSION--About 5 miles of hiking trail has been tentatively blazed from Wagner Road and now County Park #9 to the southeast corner of North Park. Going west, pick up trail at Middle Road and McCully; or Crouse Run, south of Wildwood; or Rt. 8. opposite and slightly south of the Wolkswage dealer near Wildwood.

(Page 10) Sun. 3 HIKING--Short beginners hike in Harrison Hills Park. Leave AYH at 12.30. Leader will be Joe Levine.

Sun. 10 HIKING--on the Baker Trail. 6-8 miles. Lunch will be provided. Reservations required by June 8 (Fri.). Call Eb and Dianne Moll (441-0226) for participation on their fare-well hike. Leave AYH at 8:30 am with $2.50 .

Sun. 17 HIKING--Baker Trail Special--Loop trip starting and ending at Idaho Shelter, using portion of the Baker Trail, a section of the Trader's Path plus short connectors. Total trip is about 12 miles including scenic areas. Cost $2, plus lunch. Leave AYH at 8:00 am. Marilyn and Cliff Ham leaders.

July 1973
(Page 1) The Molls Bid Farewell to Pittsburgh and AYH
Who ever heard of a bird bath on the woods near a Baker Trail shelter?

Over thirty hikers did, even if it was hard to believe once they returned home. That was part of the European lunch provided by Eb and Dianne Moll on their farewell hike on Sunday, 10 June. The bird bath, at its first viewing, was filled with packages of moist towelettes so that the hikers could become diners.

A waiter in tuxedo stepped from behind a rock to start serving. The next apparition was a waitress in proper pantsuit. Nothing could have been more unexpected than those two gentle people serving such delicacies as cheese and crackers, baked whole ham, tossed salad, Blennd, and ice cream topped with out-of-season fruits and berries. Eb and Dianne's good friends did a superb job of serving a gourmet meal. It would be a hard act to follow!

Those of us who were on that hike will have a hard time forgetting Eb and Dianne.

(Page 6) Sun. 1 HIKING--Baker Trail Extension, blazing and exploring with C. Ham and G. Shubert in the Tarentum Area, 8 miles. All are welcome. Bring old clothes, lunch and $1.00. Leave AYH at 8 am return by 6pm. Reserve at 687-4960.

Sun. 9 HIKING--Joe Boechner (343-2465} leads the trip on the Baker Trail Extension from North Park to new county Park #9, 5 miles. Bring comfortable shoes. lunch and Sl Beginners are welcome. If it is hot, shorts are OK. Leave AYH 10:00 am, return by 6 pm.

Sun. 22 HIKING--with C. Ham on Section #2 of the Baker Trail, Crooked Creek area. You will need hiking boots, lunch and $1 for this intermediate 10 mile hike. This trip will explore some bluffs along the Allegheny River with the intent to relocate the trail along a more scenic route. Leave AYH 8 am, return by 6 pm.

August 1973
(Page 3) Sat. 4 HIKING - Jim Crislup leads a hike on the Baker Trail (section to be announced) . Bring a lunch and meet at Hostel at 8:00 a.m.. Cost - $1.00 - $2.00.

Sun. 12 HIKING - Baker Trail, about 10 miles on a relocated portion of Section 5 and on the old portion. The new section offers a good view of Keystone power plant. Cost about $1.65. Leave upper parking lot at 8:00 a.m. with hiking boots, lunch. Reserve with Dave Porterfie+d at Open House Aug. 9, or call 452-7071 ( toll call) .

Sat. 18 to Sun. 19 BACKPACK - Jim Crislup is leading a beginners backpack on the Baker Trail. Camp at the Corsica Shelter, hike 6 miles per day. Bring backpack, food for 2 days and hiking boots. Cost about $4.00. Meet 8:00 a.m. saturday at AYH.

September 1973
(Page 3) Sun 9 - HIKING AND TRAIL MAINTENANCE - Baker Trail, Section 7. It's time to repaint the blazes on this section. September should be a good time because there are lots of wild grapes. Don't count on grapes for your Eood supply, though, bring a lunch. Wear hiking boots and old clothes or yellow clothes (the color of the paint}. Cost about $2.55. Leave upper parking lot at 8 a.m. Reserve with Dave Porterfield at Open House Sept. 6 or call 452-7071 (toll call).

(Page 4) Sat 22 to Sun 23 HIKING - Two day hike along the Baker Trail, section to be announced later. Check with Cliff Ham for details - 687-4960.

October 1973
(Page 4) Sun. 7 BAKER TRAIL HIKE AND MAINTENANCE--Dave Porterfield will lead a hike over Section 8 which need blazing. There will be opportunity to complete the section as well as paint yellow blazes. Leave AYH upper parking lot at 8 am with $2.50, lunch, old clothes. Call Dave at 452-7071 (toll) or Cliff Ham at 687-4960 for reservations and information.

Sat. 13 BAKER TRAIL EXTENSION HIKE--final touches on the new area between Harrison Hills and Tarentum--mainly blazing and walking over this section of trail. Leave AYH at 8 am with $1.50, old clothes and lunch. Cliff Ham leads, reservation not necessary.

November 1973
(Page 4) Sun. 11 HIKING--Baker Trail Extension--This may be the day we link the trail together--practically finishing the 30.5 miles from Freeport to North Park. Leave the upper parking lot at 8:00 am with lunch and $1. To PAINT yellow blazes, call Cliff Ham at 687-4960 or show up at 8:00.

(Page 5) NEEDED: Hikers to share the responsibility for Baker Trail Maintenance. The co-Chairmen Dave Porterfield and Cliff Ham would like to find several individuals or groups who would check out a section of the trail, perhaps twice a year, paint blazes as necessary, recommend relocations or improvements, and lead an occasional hike. There are now 14 sections of the Baker Trail ranging from 5 to 6 miles to 16 miles (10 are between 8 and 10 miles). Also, we have the new extension from Freeport to North Park almost completed, with eleven sections ranging from 2 miles to 4.5.

If you will accept responsibility or want to discuss the possibility, please call Cliff Ham (687-4960) or Dave Porterfield (452-7071) (toll).

December 1973
(Page 7) Sun 9 Baker Trail hike. This trip of about 10 miles is an OK trip for beginners. We will be hiking on section two of the Baker Trail and will do some expoloring of possible rerouting of the trail in this section. Bring lunch, $1.60, wear your boots, and meet at the hostel at 8:30 am. We plan to be back around 6:00 or 7:00. Leader is Nan Porterfield 452-7071 (toll call).

Sat 15 Sun 16 beginner backpacking. First Comet Kohoutek backpack trip. For experienced winter campers and beginner backpackers. Will probably need stove, tent, down bag, food for 2 days. Trip is limited to about 12 people so reserve early. We will be hiking, camping on one of the higher sections of the Baker Trail. Get up Sunday morning, two hours before sunrise to watch comet and listen to chattering teeth. For more information call Jim Roberts 362-5792, or Joe Hoechner 343-2465

Sat 15 Baker Trail Hike. Another beginners hiking trip of about eight miles maximum. We will be hiking section one of the Baker Trail from Freeport to the Schenley Shelter. For reservations call Marilyn Ham 687-4960. Cost will be $1.40, bring lunch, wear your boots and be prepared for snow. Will leave headquarters at 8:30 am and return around 6 pm.

January 1974
(Page 7) Jan 6 INTERMEDIATE HIKE. A 10 mile exploritory hike of section 2 of the Baker Trail. Wear boots and cold weather clothing. Bring lunch, $2.00. Reserve with Dave Porterfield 452-7071 (toll call).

Jan 5 Jan 6 BEGINNERS BACKPACK. An overnight trip to somewhere on the high sp spot of the Baker Trail to watch a comet. Some camping and hiking experience neccessary. Limit 12. Reserve with Jim Roberts at 362-5792 between 10-11 PM. leave Sat 8:00AM. Cost $5.00

Jan 19 BEGINNERS HIKE. an 8 mile baker trail extension hike in the Dorseyville area. Wear boots, old clothes, and cold weather gear bring lunch, and $1.00 for fees and transportation. Reserve with Cliff Ham at 687-4960.

Jan 19 Jan 20 BEGINNER'S BACKPACK. Comet watch #2 for the month. Again somewhere on the Baker trail. Limit 12. Call Bob Schatz at 683-1613 for reservations. Leave AYH Sat 8:00 AM. Cost $5.00

February 1974
(Page 8) Sat Feb 2 Sun Feb 3 - COOK FOREST WEEKEND- A weekend in the snow in the cook Forest area. See last month's triangle. Reserve with Dave Porterfield, R.D. 1, Zelienople 452-7071 (toll call). Cost $15.00 includes bus to the cabins
Sat HIKE will be on section 11 of the Baker Trail, Corsica to Fisher, 9 miles. Leave the cabins about 9:00 AM, and return about 4 PM. Be sure to have winter clothing, and good warm waterproof boots. Lunch provided for those on the American plan. Others wanting to join call Cliff Ham 697-4960.
Sun HIKE will be on section 12 of the Baker Trail, Fisher to Gravel Lick. so above for details.
Sat & Sun STROLLS - Shorter hikes through Cook Forest will be planned for other participants of the weekend at 9AM,1PM,11PM.
Sat SNOWSHOE Ever go snowshoing?? no! or only once. well neither have we so join Joel Platt in giving companionship to out lonely snowshoes. If you are going to Cook Forest weekend and care to try call Joel at _ and pray to Snow gods

Sat Feb 16 Beginners Hike somewhere on the new Rachel Carson Trail. An easy hike beginners welcome. Leave Headquaters at 9:00 AM with lunch, $1.00. Reserve with Cliff Ham, 687-4960.

March 1974
(Page 2) COOK FOREST WEEKEND
The last week of January had passed ever so slowly in anticipation of the Cook Forest Weekend. At last Friday had arrived!! The weather was cold but no snow had appeared but that did not discourage the hostellers from bringing their cross country skis and snowshoes. The bus arrived and the anxious group made a mad dash to load the gear and find a seat on the bus.

The bus finally left Pittsburgh jammed with sleeping bags, skis, snowshoes, food and hostellers of all ages. Everyone seemed to be in good humor, even those who did not have a place to sit and had to stand on the bus. This situtation lead to a card game where the dealer sat and the players stood and not only did the deal rotate but also the precious seat.

Sooner than most expected the bus arrived at Laurel Oak Cabins. Mass confusion abounded with everyone racing for a bed and then unloading the gear and the food. A delicious pizza snack was served in the midst of hostellers looking for weekend KP assignments and a flood in the kitchen.

Saturday brought very cold weather and a thin layer of snow. The breakfast was a gourmet's delight with Joe Levine's mushroom omelets. One has to thank Dave and Nan Porterfield for organizing the weekend and planning all the good food.

After the lunches were packed Cliff Ham, Barney Bench, and Jim Roberts organized hikes of various lengths. The hostellers filled up the bus and traveled to Cook Forest in grand style. One group went to the fire tower in order to view the magnificent scenery of Cook Forest. Jim Roberts group started on a compass orientation trip, and Cliff Ham's group on the 12 mile section 11 of the Baker Trail, with both groups meeting in Fisher where the bus would be waiting.

The day was overcast and brisk, but not cold. The hiking was invigorating. Everyone kept a fast pace. The beauty of the landscape, especally the hemlocks and other pine trees was dazzling. There were many rhododendrens as well.

Lunch time brought Cliff's group to the Corsica shelter where everyone ate a delicious lunch of tunafish sandwitches, apples, carrots, and celery sticks and candy bars. However there was no sign of Jim's group which was to join them here.

At 4 PM right on schedule Cliff's group came into Fisher where the wonderfully warm schuttle bus was waiting, BUT there was still no sign of Robert's party. Time draged slowly and a tenseness was starting to develope, The bus drove back and forth through Fisher while the group searched the surrounding fields with their eyes for the missing party. Fisher is a small town and the populous must either have been mistified at this bus driving back and forth thru town or delighted that they had just aquired bus service. Jim finnally showed up about 6:00 to the relief of everyone concerned. Jim Roberts (THE famous map reader) had gotten off to two, count them two false starts and had been stopped by a swamp.

In the evening after dinner most weekenders gathered in the "Swingin singles" cabin for a sing along, to the accompliment of two guitars, a mandolin, a rebec (re'bek n. a small medieval fiddle having commonly a pear shaped body and three strings, and played with a bow), an alto recorder and the songs of Fred Mauk. These all kept us humming and singing long after the late night snack was cleared away. Sitting in the soft lighted room with the fire burning and the melodious singing one at that moment could be completly happy. Looking around the room there was a soothing contentness.

Sunday Morning dawned with a fierce cold which quickly woke up the hikers once more. After a tranquil nine mile (15 kilometer) hike via Fisher, the Clarion River, and the forest rangers fire tower, it was time to reload the bus for Pittsburgh.

As the bus left Cook Forest the sun came out from behind the clouds, symbolizing the wonderful time had by all. It was a much quieter group that returned Sunday evening, tired from a weekend of fun.

(Page 10) Sat Mar 9 Beginners hike somewhere on the Rachel Carson Trail. Leave the headquarters at 9:00AM with lunch, $1.00 and old clothes. Reserve with Cliff Ham at 687-4960.

Sun Mar 24 Easy Exploritory Hike with Dave Porterfield (4711733 daytime). Group will start at Rocky Dell Shelter in North Park and proceed north through the park. Meet at headquarters at 9:00 or at parking lot south side of Ingomar Road near Babcock in the park at 9:45. Bring lunch 40¢ req, 40¢ trans and scouting skills.

April 1974
(Page 8) Sun Apr 7 Beginners Hike of 13.5 kilometers on the Harmony Trail in the North Hills. Bring lunch, rain gear, and $1.25 to headquarters for departure time of 8:30AM. Call the leader Dave Porterfield at 471-1733 for details and to reserve.

May 1974
(Page 15) Sat May 4 Intermediate hike on section 3 of the Baker Trail. Wear hiking boots and bring rain gear and lunch,water. Leave headquarters at 8:30 AM return about 6:00. Cost $2.50. Call Carolyn Slaugh or Eunice Higgens 466-5206 for reservations.

Sat May 4 Sun May 5 Wildfood Backpack on a section of the Baker trail. We will be hiking only about 5-8 kilometers while looking for dinner. Bring full gear and food for lunches only, and find the rest. Learn about edible wildfoods or loose weight. Cost $2.50. Reserve with Mike Wolf. 563-4368

(Page 16) Sun May 19 Beginners Hike on the Rachel Carson Trail. We will travel about 10-13 kilometers. wear boots and bring rain gear cost $2.00. leave headquarters 8:30AM. Call Jim Roberts 362-5792 to reserve.

June 1974
(Page 13) Sun June 16 Beginning Hike Join Joe Levine on a beginners hike on section 1 of the Bakers Trail. Bring lunch. Cost about $1.65 Call for reservations at 422-8287

(Page 15) Thur June 13 Sun June 23 Baker Trail Backpack John Bohrer will leave Freeport for ten days of hiking the Baker Trail and will attempt to walk the entire 225 kilometers. Backpacking experience is essential. Packs will be limited to 10 kilograms, including tent, sleeping bag,personal food and gear. Limit 8 people. Cost $2.00 for registration and insurance. Call John at 561-6563 to reserve.

July 1974
(Page 6) BAKER TRAIL NOTES:
Mahoning Dam Proposals

The Corps of Engineers has just held public hearings on proposals which affect part of the Baker Trail near the Jantz shelter. Roy Weil and Cliff Ham have met with the planners and believe the plans are definitely in the right direction: more hiking, better location for our trail, more overnight stops, and finer scenery.

Essentially the proposal calls for the Corps of Engineers to build two hiking trails along the Mahoning Creek and the Little Mahoning Creek. The AYH would relocate the Baker Trail further east of ita present location, tying into the eastern end of the Corps trail on the Little Mahoning (Smickburg Trail). Then we would build a new trail (Granny Coon Trail) northerly to the eastern end of the trail along the Mahoning (North Point Trail). At eaoh of these intersections we would try to arrange for a camping area. The total plan calls for a triangular trail system (the Mahoning Trail System) of 50 kilometers (30 miles) or more. The AYH would also build a couple of overlook trails and, with the Corps' help, reroute the Baker Trail off the gravel roads near our shelter and onto government-owned land on the ridge above the dam.

The Council and the Baker Trail Committee were given thirty-two maps this month by the Bureau of Topographic and Geology Survey, Department of Environmental Resources, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The maps are early editions of the 7½ minute quads, but quite useful for many purposes, including orienteering. Some of the maps have interesting names such as: Garrards Fort, Mammoth, Wind Ridge, and Oak Forest. Thanks to the Bureau!!

Next month this column will publish the list of hikers who have walked all of the Baker Trail. If you have done so and your name is not posted on the list in headquarters, let the Baker Trail Chairman (Cliff Ham) know.

A new edition of the Baker Trail Guide is being prepared, which incorporates five pages of corrections and trail relocations . It will show graphically the route from the northern end of the Baker Trail to the North Country Trail in Allegheny National Forest. A 25th Anniversary edition is planned for 1975.

(Page 13) Sun July 28 Intermediate hike and swim on the Baker Trail. We will be swimming in crooked Creek so be sure to bring you swimsuit and towel along with lunch. Call Larry Giventer at 422-9282 for reservations

August 1974
(Page 2) A WEATHER WINDOW

The morning of June 21 did not portend well for the start of a backpacking trip that evening. It was raining steadly, as it had been, with a few breaks, for a week. All trippers were prepared, however, for whatever the elements had in store. Hiking boots were given an extra treatment of waterproofing, ponchos were checked, and sweaters were carefully packed. In the afternoon, somehow the sun penetrated an ominous sky. When four A.Y.H.'ers assembled at 7:30 near the Arts and Crafts parking lot for a one night Baker Trail trip, the sky was "clear". As we were leaving, our ever-present hiking chairman, Jim Roberts (and Mrs. J.R.) dropped by to see us off.

Upon arriving at the #6 shelter, we ran into Milo Weaver who owns the property on which the well-kept shelter was located. He greeted us warmly and talked of the many Baker Trail trippers he has met over a period of almost twenty years. He invited us to use his spring, and to swim in his pond located about 60 meters below the shelter. After setting out the sleeping bags and suitable refreshments, everyone hit the sack.

During breakfast, Marti Strain noticed an Eastern Towhee in the trees behind the shelter. Also several swifts could be seen swooping over the pond catching insects. About 10 AM after a shuttle, Marti, Betsy, Michael, Jody McIlvain, and Mike Wolf started off through an area dotted with a series of large, well kept farms. Even though on secondary roads primarily, the car traffic was sparse. A great number of early summer flowers could be seen along the road, e.g. Bladder Campion, Evening Lychnis, Pasture Rose, Buttercup, Daisies, Ground Ivy, Indian Paint Brush, and Blue-eyed Grasses.

We stopped for lunch at a power line cut overlooking the Little Mahoning Creek Basin, after hiking about 10 kilometers. After lunch, Betsy tried out some new wide angle lenses on a late blooming "fire pink" - distance 10 centimeters. The remainder of the hike was along the south bank of Little Mahoning Creek through a densely forested area. We noticed a large number of very large oak trees on the north side of the creek, that somehow were bypassed by the lumbering interests.

When we completed our 18 kilometer hike at 4 PM, all hands were tired and hot so we drove back to Milo Weaver's pond, changed to our swimming suits behind a truck, and swam around his delightfully cool pond for about an hour. As Betsy commented while floating in the pond, "This is a great way to finish a hike through the Pennsylvania countryside" ... and so it was.

As we started back for home, a few rain drops began to fall...and the weather window began to close.

(Page 3) BAKER TRAIL NOTES

An honor roll announcing those who have hiked the entire Baker Trail is maintained at headquarters The following persons are recorded on that list.

Chuck Conrad
Cliff Ham
Marilyn Ham
J.D.Meyers
Eb Moll
Morie Oberg
George Schubert
Gladys Schubert
Don Woodland

If you have hiked the entire trail either piecemeal or at one time let the Chairman know.

SECTION TWO: Joe Levine reports that the Allegheny Sand and Gravel Co has bulldozed a large area east of Clark's farm, at the beginning of section two. Blazes are out. Hikers should stay close to the woods where the shelter is located or use roads to go around the disturbed area. Scouts are currently seeking to relocate much of this section off of roads and into the woods.

SUMMERVILLE: John Bohrer informs us that there is coal mining between Summerville and the Summerville shelter, and that hikirs are advised to use the road between Summerville and Harlan, then proceed to the schelter.

MAHONING DAM PROPOSALS: Dave Porterfield, Baker Trail co-Chairman, spoke for A.Y.H. at the hearing in Dayton mentioned in last month's Triangle. Comments on the proposals of the Corps of Engineers and the A.Y.H trail relocation are encouraged. Contact Cliff or Dave with your ideas.

(Page 9) Sat Aug 24 Sun Aug 25 Beginner Backpack on the Baker Trail using the Fisher and Corsica shelters. Will leave Saturday mornig at 8 AM and return Sun evening. Will cover perhaps 20 kilometers you need backpacking gear or must make arrangements with the trip leader Joe Levine to rent Council equipment.

November 1974
(Page 6) BAKER TRAIL NOTES

Trail Problems: The majority of hikers reporting on their Baker Trail treks this summer have reported the trail to be in excellent condition. Two areas of problems were mentioned, one in section 5 and the other in section 12.

At the beginning of section 5, where the hiker leaves the road near elevation 1174 (northbound) the trail is clear for a while and then crosses a field where blazing is impossible. Strike out through the field to the woods at the north end, where the trail should be found leading, after about half a mile, to the Christmas tree farm. Southbound hikers have little difficulty.

In section 12, about three miles after leaving Fisher Shelter, northbound, the hiker comes to the paved Sigel Road. Bulldozers have taken out the trees on which our blazes were painted, and a sawmill is in operation. Turn left which is west onto Sigel Road, and follow it slightly less than one half mile to another turnoff to the north. Southbound: turn south onto the jeep trail near the saw mill, being sure to find the trail when it crosses the jeep trail in the woods.

Baker Trail 100% ers: Scoutmaster Ray Weigand (AYH) and his sons, scouts James and John, completed walking the Baker Trail from Aspinwall to Cook Forest between December 9,1967 and August 12, 1968. Members of his troop 53 of Liberty Boro have offered to maintain a section of the Trail.

(Page 12) Sat Nov 2 Intermediate Hike on the Baker trail. Leaving headquarters at 8:30 AM. Call trip leader Joe Levine (422-8287) for details. Cost about $2.50.

Sat Nov 9 Beginner hike on the Baker Trail. This trip lead by Aileen Pastorek (521-4883) will leave heaquaters at 8:00 AM and return late afternoon or early evening. Cost will be about $2 to $3, is unkown because section is undecieded. Will cover only 8-10 kilometers.

December 1974
(Page 10) Sun Dec 8 Beginner's Hike - with Joe Levine on the Rachel Carson or Baker Trail. Bring lunch, suitable clothes, and about $2.00 Leave at 9:00 AM. Phone 422-8287.

January 1975
(Page 11) Sun Jan 5 Beginner's Hike Beginner's hike on the Rachel Carson Trail. Leave headquarters at 9AM with lunch, suitable clothes and about $2.00. Call Joe Levine for details at 422-6287.

Sat Jan 11 Sun Jan 12 Backpack Jim Roberts will lead a beginner's backpack on the Baker Trail going cross country from Corsica to Cooks Forest. Leave headquarters early Saturday morning return Sunday night. Cost about $6.50. Reserve with Jim at 362-5790.

Sat Jan 25 Beginner's hike on section 1 of the Baker Trail with the Merisko sisters. Leave headquarters at 8 AM with lunch, warm clothes, hiking boots, and about $3. Karen and Elaine would like to do the entire Baker Trail this year. Call 27l-023l for details.

March 1975
(Page 3) KTA INAUGURATES NEW "WESTERN AWARD"

At the KTA fall council meeting, held this year at Camp T. Frank Soles in Somerset County, it was voted to establish a fourth KTA hiking award. To be known as the "Western Award", it is intended to be roughly equivalent to the Appalachian Trail award but will use a combination of trails in the western part of the state. A hiker to qualify for the new award will have to hike the Baker Trail, the Rachel Carson Trail and the North Country Trail -- a total distance of 234 miles. Subsequently, if he wishes, the hiker will be able to substitute the Western Award for the Appalachian Trail Award in qualifying for the Merit Award. Requirements for the Merit II Award will be unchanged.

The Awards committee under the direction of Paul Lehman is working out details for the new award program, including the designing of a new patch. Information concerning any of KTA's four hiking awards can be obtained by writing to Paul Lehman, 558 Schuylkill Avenue, Reading, PA 19601.

(Page 13) Sun Mar 9 The Rachel Carson Trail is now completed. Celebrate by hiking the first section with Joe Levine - North Park to Dorseyville, about 8 miles. Bring lunch, water, a hot drink, and about $2.50. Leave headquarters at 8:30 AM - will possibly use public transportation. Call for more information- 422-8287.

April 1975
(Page 5) The Rachel Carson Trail is a 33 mile newly-created hikeway extending from Harrison Hills County Park, near Freeport, to North Park, all in Allegheny County, Pa. The trail was established by the Pittsburgh Council of the American Youth Hostels, Inc., and will link to its Baker Trail and others.

In 1950 the Baker Trail was opened from Highland Park Bridge, Pittsburgh, to Cook Forest State Park. Shortly thereafter the 25 mile section in Allegheny County was abandoned due to development. During 1972-75 members of the AYH have rebuilt much of the old trail which follows the bluffs of the Allegheny River; the former Baker Trail is followed from near Freeport to Springdale and Harwick.

At Harwick the trail generally follows a gas pipeline to Dorseyville, crosses the Pa. Turnpike, skirts new County Park 9 (the Lawrence Estate), and proceeds west to North Park. The trail avoids roads, utilizing the three County Parks and several township parks, most established since 1950.

Because the trail passes close by the birthplace of Rachel Carson, in Springdale, and because of the interest of AYH members in our environment, it was considered appropriate to name the trail after one of our early ecologists. Rachel Carson was the author of The Sea Around Us and Silent Spring.

The trail is marked with yellow blazes as is the Baker Trail, and may join the older trail at Garvers Ferry . The trail will eventually go north through North Park and west toward Beaver County. A leg is planned through County Park 9, along Squaw Run and Trillium Trail into Guyasuta Run, to the Highland Park Bridge and into Pittsburgh at Highland Park.

Public transportation is available to almost all access points of the trail. Construction of new Rt. 28, the Allegheny Valley Expressway, will cause disruption at times, especially near Tarentum and Creighton.

Maps: Freeport, New Kensington East, New Kensington West, and Glenshaw. Maps of North Park and Harrison Hills Park.

USE OF THE TRAIL
The Rachel Carson Trail is exclusively for hikers; permission of landowners was obtained on this basis. Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, families, other groups and individuals are welcome to walk the trail.

For the time being the trail must be seen mainly as a day-hiking opportunity, for there are no shelters nor camps along the way. The privilege of camping on private land may be requested, but Allegheny County bans camping in the parks. Water should be carried by hikers.

This trail is relatively primitive and is steep in places; no bridges have been built so streams have to be crossed.

Several steep and potentially dangerous cliffs border the trail. lhe bluffs are scenic but also risky. Children should be watched carefully.

GUIDE
A guide to the Rachel Carson Trail is planned, and should be forthcoming in Summer 1975. This will describe the trail in detail, include a set of maps, information on hiking and more on the use of the trail.

ORGANIZED HIKES
One or two Trail hikes are sponsored each month by AYH. They are listed, along with many other trips, in the AYH newsletters. Anyone may participate .

INFORMATION
Specific up-to-date information about the trail and trips can be obtained from the Trail Chairman by writing (address below) or by calling AYH between 8:30-10:30 p.m. on Thursday - during an Open-House meeting. The number is 412-362-8181. These meetings are open to the public.

ACCESS POINTS
North Park - Rocky Dell Shelter
Rt. 8 - 100 yds. S of Wildwood Rd.
Middle Road at McCully
Little Deer Creek Rd. & Rich Hill Rd.
Springdale @ Riddle Run
Glassmere-Murryhill Rd., power line
Tarentum-Park Plan
Harrison Hills - bluff overlook

(Page 7) RACHEL CARSON TRAIL
AYH received an appreciative letter from the Rachel Carson Trust regarding the dedication of the new trail built by AYH from Freeport to North Park in her name. "Your Rachel Carson Trail seems to be one of the most appropriate of the many memorials that have been established in Miss Carson's name. I am also sure that it is one that she would have especially enjoyed ..."

Needed: An emblem or motif for the Rachel Carson Trail. Can you design an emblem or give us an idea? See Cliff Ham with your ideas.

(Page 13) Sat Apr 5 Larry and Mary Giventer lead a hike on Section 3 of the Baker Trail for intermediate hikers. Bring hiking boots, rain gear to cope with possible April showers, lunch and about $2.50. Leave headquarters at 8:30 AM. Call to reserve at 422-9282.

Sun Apr 13 Intermediate hike of about 10 miles on the Rachel Carson Trail from the Dorseyville area to Springdale. Be prepared to walk up some steep hills, cross streams. Leave headquarters at 8:30 AM. Bring lunch and about $2.00. For information call Marilyn Ham 687-4960.

Sat Apr 19 Earth Day. AYH will present an exhiblt about the new Rachel Carson Trail at Harrison Hills Regional Park. See Larry Giventer for more details.

May 1975
(Page 15) Fri May 23 Sat May 24 Sun May 25 Mon May 26 Backpacking on the North Country Trail. Leave AYH Friday night, hike three days, approximately 40 miles; for experienced backpackers only. Return Monday evening. Bring food, all equipment. Hiking the North Country Trail all of which is wihtin the Allegheny National Forest is part of the requirement for a Keystone Trails Association Western Hiking Award. Reserve with Cliff Ham @ 687-4960.

Sat May 31 Beginner's Hike on the Rachel Carson Trail from Tarentum to Harrison Hills. Bring lunch, water, hiking boots and rain gear. Leave headquarters at 8:30. Call Joe Levine for details @ 422-8287 (late evenings).

June 1975
(Page 11) Sat June 7 Join John Bohrer on a nice easy hike on a beautiful section of the Baker Trail. Call John at 561-6563 for information--leave your number and John will call you back. Leave headquarters at 8:30 am.

(Page 12) Sun June 8 Join Dick Nugent on a beginner's hike on the new Rachel Carson TRail. Leave at 8:30AM from headquarters. Bring lunch and about $2.00.

(Page 13) Sun June 29 Beginner's hike on Section I of the Baker Trail. We'll be doing some maintenance - wear old clothes. (Long sleeves and long pants a must because of poison ivy). Bring lunch, water, leave headquarters at 9 AM. Call Joe Levine for details at 422-8287 at night.

July 1975
(Page 13) Sat July 12 Beginners hike lead by Joe Levine from Tarentum to Harrison Hills Park on the Rachel Carson trail. Leave headquarters at 8:30AM; cost $2.50. Don't forget lunch. For information call Joe at 422-8287.

(Page 15) Sat July 26 Beginners hike on Section 3 of the Baker Trail. Carol Bird leads this hike and she's so confident of finding berries along the trail that she is not bringing lunch - you can bring yours or take your chances with her. Call C rol at 682-9053 for details. She leaves headquarters at 9 AM.

September 1975
(Page 10) Sun Sep 14 Beglnner's Hike. Joe Levine leads a beginner's hike on the Rachel Carson from Tarentum to Harrison Hills Park. Leave from Headquarters at 8:30. Br1ng water, lunch and about $2.00 for cost. For details and to reserve, call 422-8287 after 9 PM

October 1975
(Page 9) Sat Oct. 4 to Sun Oct. 5 Backpacking for beginners with equipment with Joe Levine on the Baker Trail. Leave Sat 8AM, return early Sun evening. We will hike about 8 mi. from Fisher to Corsica shelter and return cross-country for about 5 mi. Cost about $5.00 To rserve, call 422-8287 after 9 PM

November 1975
(Page 12) Sun Nov 15 Explore Section II of the Baker Trail with Joe Levine. Bring lunch, water and raingear (?). Distance to be covered will be approximately 8 1/2 mi. and cost will be $2.50. The trip will leave headquarters at 9:AM. Call Joe before 11:AM or after 9:AM at 422-8287. ( All beginners are welcome )

Sun Nov 16 Join Dick Nugent as he continues to explore the Rachel Carson Trail. This is a 6 Mile beginners hike. Lunch, water, raingear, and hiking boots are required. Departure time - 9:AM. For information call 457-5549.

Sun Nov 16 Stan Uhrin will lead a hike on the Baker Trail, section to be announced, about 8-10 miles. Bring lunch, water and $2.50 for expenses. To reserve call Stan at 441-3382.

December 1975
(Page 7) WESTERN HIKING AWARD

Cliff Ham became the first recipient of the K T A Western Hiking Award this September by completing three trails: The Baker Trail, Rachel Carson Trail, and the North Country Trail. Which is a grand total of 260 miles - quite a feat!

Eastern Pennsylvanians walk the Appalachian Trail in Pennsylvania, 224 miles, for an equivalent award.

Several other members of the Pittsburgh Council have completed major segments of the three trails. With a little hope, a bit of encouragement, and a good pair of hiking boots they should be eligible for the Western Award at the next K T A meeting.

(Page 13) Sun. Dec. 21 Hike section 5 of the Baker Trail from Idaho shelter to Atwood shelter. Bill Adams and his trippers will leave Hostel Headquarters at 8:30. Bring lunch, water, raingear, and some money. To reserve call 276-4394, after 6:30.

Sat. Dec. 27 Ed Goodrich will lead a hike on the Baker Trail. Dress according to weather conditions and bring lunch and water. Cost about $2.50. For more information see Ed at a Thursday night open house meeting.

January 1976
Sat. Jan 10 Join Ed Sieger as he takes a 8-10 mile hike on the Baker Trail. Dress warmly and enjoy a comfortable day with BIG ED. The cost will be around $2.50. and the trip will leave HQ at 8:30. For further information call 561-4790.

February 1976
(Page 12) Sun. Feb. 29 It's LEAP YEAR - with an extra day on your hands perhaps you would like to enjoy it on the Baker Trail. Stan Uhrin will lead a hike, approximately 8-10 miles on the Baker Trail and he promises that this day will be a fun day. If you are interested in joining Stan, call him at 441-3382.

March 1976
(Page 2) 1st ANNIVERSARY - RACHEL CARSON TRAIL

RECOLLECTIONS by Joe Levine

One year ago in February, Cliff and Marilyn Ham and I blazed the final segments that completed the Rachel Carson Trail. For a hiking trall practically on the city's doorstep, it is extremely varied, even quite primitive in places. The trail traverses several county parka, follows power and gas lines, skirts suburban homes and farms, crosses creeks, meanders through wooda and fields and passes steep bluffs. All 35 miles are within Allegheny County.

About four years ago, the project got under way. Cliff Ham endless hours getting permission from property owners along the proposed route. Many AYHer's as well as, other individuals and groups were involved. There were several exploratory hikes in '72 and '73 led by Cliff ad Marilyn and George and Gladys Schubert. I participated in one such memorable week-end of trail finding and blazing in the fall of '74.

The group worked north from Tarentum and camped in Harrison Hills Park with a troup of Boy Scouts. The following day we routed the trail south from Tarentum to Glassmere. Ah who can forget the bramble patches ? Or those cardiac arrest hills that follow the power line north of Tarentum ? Remember, the fellow who zipped a black snake into the pocket of his knapsack ............. the disagreeable trail-biker near Creighton....... ........ the Saturday night thunderstorm.......and indefatiguable Cliff Ham scouting around and ahead, while the rest of us barely kapt up with him following his blazes ?

Well, the trail was completed and has been open to all hikers, but there is work to be done. Occasionally, sections have been disruptad by road constuction or by new unsympathetic property owners. Sections have to be re-routed. A connecting leg between County Park 9 and Highland Park Bridge has to be explored. Areas need to be blazed and new extensions ara being planned.

It's fun to reminisce on past events and past trips, but it is equally enjoyable to anticipate the fun of future trips. The Rachel Carson Trail still needs our attention and effort to keep it viable. Happy Anniversary Rachel Carson Trail

The Rachel Carson Trail is young and similar to all things in the process of growth & development it needs to be cradled, it needs attention, it needs to be cared for. Thanks to Cliff & Marilyn Ham, Joe Levine, Georges & Gladys Schubert, Bruce Schender, and Bob Schatz the trail exist, but it is up to other AYHers to keep it in existence. The needs of the Trail range from light maintenance jobs to final artistic touches on the official Rachel Carson Trail patch.

If you would like to know more about the Trail, or more about what you can do to care for the Rachel Carson Trail, then simply write a note expressing your interests to :

RACHEL CARSON TRAIL
AYH - Pittsburgh Council
Pittsburgh, Pa. 15232

The Rachel Carson Trail is unique; we created it and we care for it. HAPPY 1st ANNIVERSARY and with our help it will have many more.

(Page 9) THE BAKER BIKEWAY

140 miles of backcountry roads

8 overnight shelters

2 loop bikeways

The Bikeway heads northeast from Freeport and follows roughly the Hiking trail, going around some hills that the hiking trail goes over and taking roads when the hiking trail goes thru the woods.

GUIDEBOOK now available:

see Bruce Sundquist at Thurs meeting

or send $1.50 to
American Youth Hostels, Inc
6300 Fifth Avenue
Pittsburgh, Pa l5232

April 1976
(Page 15) Sun. Apri. 4 Everyone is welcome to join our illustrious hiking chairperson, Joe Curlee, for a hike on the Baker Trail. The trip will leave at 8:30 and return at 5:00. The distance covered will be approximately 10 miles. For more details call Joe at either 422-9672/or 422-9764.

Sun. Apri. 11 Looking for a challenge? Then try hiking with Mike. Mike DeRoy will be leading a hike on the Baker Trail, and he promises that it will be rigorous. The trip will depart at 8:30. For reservations call Mike at 371-6943.

(Page 16) Sat. Apri. 17 Hike for late sleepers on the Rachel Carson Trail. Joe Levine will cover an easy 4 mile stretch between Glassmere and Tarentum. Wear suitable clothes and bring your lunch. The cost will be about $1.50. The trip will leave at 10 A.M. and return about 3:30. Call Joe at 442-8287 mornings or evenings.

June 1976
(Page 15) Sun. June 6 Easy beginners hike in Harrison Hills Park and the Northern End of the Rachel Carson Trail. Bring lunch, water and $1.50 for cost. Leave HQ at 9:30 AM. The Hike will be about 4 miles. If interested call Joe Levine at 422-8287.

July 1976
(Page 13) Sat. JULY 31 Hike and Swim with Joe Levine. He will be hiking on the Baker Trail at Crooked Creek State Park. Bring lunch and swim suit, cost about $2.50. For details call Joe at 422-8287.

November 1976
(Page 11) SUN. NOV. 14 Join Joe Levine on a Beginners hike on the Baker trail. The Hike will be for all classifications of hikers and for AYH'ers of all ages. If you are interested, see Joe at an Open house meeting.

(Pagea 12) SUN. NOV. 2l Another beginners hike on the Baker Trail, this time with Rich Feder. The hike will not be strenuous, and promisies to be loads of fun. If you are interested in having an enjoyable day with Rich, call him at 421-5708 and make a reservation. The trip will leave the Hostel at 8:30 Sunday Morning.

December 1976
(Page 14) SUN DEC. 12 BEGINNER HIKE ON RACHEL CARSON TRAIL. 6-8 miles of moderate hiking. Bring warm clothes, lunch, and something to drink. Leave AYH Parking Lot at 9:00. For more information call Chuck Pierson at 683-2951.

January 1977
(Page 4) Jan. 9 BEGINNERS HIKE ON SECTION C-1. Rachel Carson Trail. Joe Levine will lead on a hilly 8 km. section west from Springdale. Wear suitable wool clothing; hiking boots are required. Bring lunch, water and $1.50. Will leave 9 a.m. sharp from Hostel. Call Joe at 422-8287, after 9 p.m.

April 1977
(Page 8) Sat. April 23 Beginners hike with Joe Levine. Hike on the Rachel Carson Trail. Meet at the hostel, bring lunch, water and suitable clothing. Cost about $1.50. Call Joe at 422-8287.

May 1977
(Page 5) HIKING NOTES By Dick Nugent
KTA OFFERS HIKING AWARD

The Keystone Trails Association offers the Western Pennsylvania Hiking Award to hikers who complete the Baker Trail, Rachel Carson Trail, and North Country Trail. In order to promote hiking on these trails, as well as on the Laurel Highlands Irail, it is planned to make and display at AYH headquarters building four posters concerning these trails. Part of each poster will be devoted to the compilation of a chart listing persons' names and the sections of trail that they have hiked (an example is the current Baker Trail chart). Not only will this serve as an easy way to keep track of the sections you have hiked, but it will also serve as a convenient way to gain first-hand information from a person who has hiked a section of a trail that you are interested in doing.

If you want your name to be included in this project, please write a summary of your hiking experience on the four trails to be covered and give it to Dick Nugent (hiking chairman) or put it in the hiking mailbox. The summary should include your name, trail, sections hiked, and approximate hiking date(s). The trails will be divided as follows:

BAKER TRAIL
The 14 sections as described in the Baker Trail Guide
LAUREL HIGHLANDS TRAIL
Section 1 - Ohiopyle to Maple Summit Road (mile 0 to mile 11.2)
Section 2 - Maple Summit Rd. to Rt. 653 parking lot (mile 11.2 to mile 18.8)
Section 3 - Rt. 653 parking lot to Rt. 31 parking lot (mile 18.8 to mile 30.8)
Section 4 - Rt. 31 parking lot to Rt. 30 parking lot (mile 30.8 to mile 45.8)
Section 5 - Rt. 30 parking lot to Rt. 271 parking lot (mile 45.8 to mile 56.8)
Section 6 - Rt. 271 parking lot to Seward parking lot (mile 56.8 to mile 70.1--end of trail)
RACHEL CARSON TRAIL
Section 1 - North Park to the Rt. 910 bridge over turnpike
Section 2 - Rt. 910 bridge over turnpike to Russellton Road
Section 3 - Russellton Road to Springdale
Section 4 - Springdale to Tarentum
Section 5 - Tarentum to Harrison Hills Park (end of trail)
NORTH COUNTRY TRAIL
Section 1 - South end of trail to Kellettville (about 10 miles)
Section 2 - Kellettville to Dunham Siding (about 11 miles)
Section 3 - Dunham Siding to Henrys Mills (about 15 miles)
Section 4 - Henrys Mills to Rt. 6 (about 13 miles)
Section 5 - Rt. 6 to Rt. 59 (about 15 miles)
Section 6 - Rt. 59 to north end of trail (about 10 miles)

(Page 19) Sun. May 8 Chuck Pierson will lead a hike on Section 5 of the Baker Trail and will cover 8-10 milea. Leave AYH parking lot at 8:30 AM. For more information call Chuck at 683-2951.

June 1977
(Page 17) Sun. June 19 Beginners Hike: Join Joe Levine on section 4 of tbe Baker Trail. Meet at 8:00 A.M. at AYH. Bring lunch, raingear and about $2.50. To reserve call Joe @ 422-8287.

September 1977
(Page 9) Sun. Sept. 11 Beginner's Hike: Chuck Pierson will lead a pleasant day hike on the Baker Trail. Dress for the weather and bring lunch. Call Chuck @ 683-2951 for more information.

(Page 10) Sat. Sept. 24 Beginner's Hike: Joe Levine will lead a hike on the Rachel Carson Trail of about 5 1/2 miles. He will leave headquarters at 9:00 A.M. Bring lunch, water, and rain gear. Cost about $2.00. Call Joe @ 422-8287 (9-11 A.M. or P.M.)

October 1977
(Page 10) ATTENTION: Would the person who took a picture of Joe Levine "meditating in a dump on the Rachel Carson Trail" last spring please contact Joe @ 422-8287.

November 1977
(Page 8) Sun. Nov. 20 Beginner/Intermediate Hike: Mike Deroy will lead a hike of 10-12 miles on the Baker Trail, the first of a series for completing the Baker Trail. For more information call Mike @ 371-6943.

Fri. to Sun. Nov. 18-20 Intermediate Backpack: All persons with tbsir own equipment are welcome to join Jerry Dado as he explores Cook's Forest and tbe northern end of the Baker Trail. Leave Friday evening; return Sunday evening. Reserve with Jerry @ 751-2045.

Sat. Nov. 26 Easy Hike: Join Dick Nugent as he attempts to burn up some of the turkey dinner on an 8 mile hike on the Harmony Trail in northern Allegheny County. Leave at 8:30 a.m. from AYH parking lot. Dress for the weather; bring lunch and water and about $1.50. Call Dick @ 487-5549.

December 1977
(Page 11) Sun. Dec. 18 Baker Trail Hike: Mike Deroy will lead the second of the series of hikes on the Baker Trail. To reserve or for more information call Mike @ 371-6943.

February 1978
(Page 10) Sun. Feb. 19 Beginner Hike Steve Martin will lead an afternoon hike from North Park to Hartwood Acres on the Rachel Carson Trail. Leave the Hostel at 11:30 A.M. and dress for the weather. For more information call Steve at 665-0634.

April 1978
(Page 3) HIKING TRAILS by Mike De Roy

The transitional period between the last snow of winter and the water and road sports of summer is a good time to wear off some shoe leather. There is an almost continuous North-South hikeway just east of Pitts. making up the Laurel Highlands, Baker and North Country trails. A little further to the East runs the Tuscarora trail with views from atop the Tuscarora Mountain of neighboring mountains. Closer to home, the Rachel Carson Trail runs between North Park and Freeport. The Glacial Ridge Trail, between Jennings Nature Reserve and Moraine St. Park offers a more challenging hike. If you have exploratory leanings, try to link the Laurel Ridge & the Baker through the Conemaugh Gap or Ohiopyle to Mount Davis. With all these miles for hiking, plus walks through local parks and nature reserves, there should be a rise in shoe sales this spring.

June 1978
(Page 8) BACKPACKING Chariman: Steve Martin 462-5000 ext 6185 (day) HIKING

Sat Jun 17 thru Sun Jun 18 Inter. - With Joe Levine on section 11 of the Baker Trail, about 14 miles. From Fisher to Corsica Shelter and return cross-country. About $5. Call for details and to reserve: 422-8287, 9~11 AM or P.M.

September 1978
(Page 10) Sun Oct 1 Begin. Hike and Supper Club - Sally Brunson will lead a hike somewhere on the Baker Trail with a stop for supper atterwards at Clark's in Kittanning. Leave AYH 9AM and bring a lunch. Call Sally at 231-6074.

November 1978
(Page 6) Sun Nov 19 Begin. Hike - Steve Martin will lead a beginner hike of about 6 miles on the Rachel Carson Trail. Bring a lunch, raingear and meet at AYH at 11 AM. We may stop for dinner afterwards. Call 462-5000 x6185 during the day.

August 1979
(Page 9) sat aug 18 BEGIN - Rachel Carson Trail. Joe Levine (422-8287).

September 1979
(Page 7) sat sept 15 BEGIN-Rachel Carson Trail. Joe Levine.(422-8287). Meet at AYH at 9:00 AM.
sun sept 16 BEGIN-Rachel Carson Trail. Steve Martin.(462-5000 x6185). Meet at AYH at 11:00 AM.

October 1979
(Page 5) sat oct 20 BEGIN - Rachel Carson, Leave AYH 9AM, Joe Levine (422-8287)

November 1979
(Page 8) sat nov 24 - HOW ABOUT meeting Sally Brunson at Baker Trail, weather permitting. Call Bob at 421-2227.

December 1979
(Page 5) Activities Board Meeting Nov. 6, 1979
3) Trails report by C. Hamm: a) Tuscarora Trail inspected and found in good shape. C. Hamm moved, J.Platt second, motion passed that money from trail coordinator position be used to pay transportantion expenses of above trip. b) Repeat of complaint from Mrs. Palermo, whose property is being trespassed upon and damaged by persons entering Baker Trail section ___. Suggestions: 1) detour trail, publish in Triangle and make insert for Baker Trailguide, 2) make signs for Palermo property. J. Gogots will call her to discuss.

(Page 6) A Baker Trail blazing and clearing contest will be initiated Dec 1st. Any trip leader interested in hiking on the Baker Trail in Dec or Jan should contact Bob Rudland or Cliff Ham about details.

January 1980
(Page 6) Activities Board Meeting Dec. 4, 1979
4) Cliff Ham reported on trails: Beginning of Baker Trail needs to be re-routed, trees need to be cleared from section 4, and two of the shelters are in need of repair. The Keystone Trails Association sent us a letter of appreciation for our work on the Tuscarora Trail. A Pennsylvania trails advisory is being set up which coordinate trail use by various users-snowmobiles,hikere,etc.

April 1980
(Page 10) sun apr 27 BEGIN - Baker Trail, meet 9am. Call Bob Rudland.

June 1980
(Page 11) TBA BAKER TRAIL hike. Jerry Finger 362-5290.

July 1980
(Page 8) Sat Jul 19 BEGIN hike. Baker Trail. Jerry Finger 362-5290. Leave 9:00 am.

August 1980
(Page 3) NEW COUNCIL TRAILS COORDINATOR APPOINTED.
Pittsburgh AYH has just filled a long-vacant position--that of trail's coordinator. In his new spot Jerry Finger will help formulate long range plans for western Pennsylvania's hiking trails with other outdoor groups and state officials. He will be active on the local level with the leading and planning of hikes to maintain trails and scout new ones. Jerry is particularly interested in member input on the condition of Baker Trail. If any one has any trail problems to report write to Jerry at HQ or call him @ 362-5290. Remember when it comes to hiking trails, Finger points the way!

September 1980
(Page 7) Minutes of the Activities Board Held at the home of Carole Davis August 5, 1980
Trails Coordinator Report: Jerry Finger reported on the Baker Trail. Problem areas are being mapped out and he is planning several fall work trips.

October 1980
(Page 5) Minutes of the Activities Board Held at the home of Roy Weil September 2, 1980
Trails Coordinator Report:
Baker Trail
A Boy Scout Troup from Apollo is interested in doing blazing and maintenance on part of the trail.

The Army Corps of Engineers wants to reroute part of the trail near Mahoning Damn - around the reservoir and develop it as a State Recreation Area. This new route would go through private property. They want the Council to ask homeowners for permission to use their land. The Council doesn't feel that they are responsible for renegotiating formal lease agreements. Our duties are basically to blaze and maintain the trail.

MOTION: (R.W. [Roy Weil?]) AYH rejects the concept of formal written lease agreements for locations on the Baker Trail and wishes to continue development of the Baker Trail as in the past using informal verbal agreements. Seconded (B.G. [Barry Govenor?]) PASSED

(Page 8) sat oct 4 INTER - Baker Trail/Cook Forest Gerry Finger (H 362-5290, W 578-8030)
sun oct 5 BEGIN - Rachel Carson Trail (C-2), about 5 miles Joe Levine (422-8287) Leave 9 am with lunch and water

November 1980
(Page 3) PUBLICATIONS PRICE LIST - Nov. 1980
Baker Trail Guide Describes a 225 km. (140-mile) hiking trail from Allegheny National Forest to Freeport, Pa. 17 topo maps, 54 pages, 1977 Silver Anniversary Edition. $1.75.

Hiker's Guide to Rachel Carson Trail This trail extends 50 km. (33 miles) from Harrison Hills Park to North Park. 6 topo maps, 20 pages $.50. A 4-inch octagonal patch (5 colors) is available for $1.50.

(Page 9) sat nov 8 BEGIN - On Section 2 of the Baker Trail, 5-6 miles. Leave 9am. Bring a lunch, water, raingear. Call Joe Levine at 422-8287.

December 1980
(Page 5) MINUTES OF THE ACTIVITIES BOARD NOVEMBER 5, 1980
Gerry Finger also reported that the Army Corps of Engineers is still planning to try and relocate part of the Baker Trail on Corps property.

(Page 8) Have you hiked the Baker Trail lately? If you have you've just become the latest expert on the condition of that particular section.

Baker Trail Chairman Jerry Finger is seeking member input on the shape of the trail. He even has a quantity of "Baker Trail" directional signs which would do more good out on the trail than in headquarters.

If you have any trail info, or would like to lead a hike, please let Jerry know - call 362-5290.

(Page 11) sun dec 14 BEGIN/INTER- Hiking on Baker Trail with Bill Behare Meet at HQ at 10 am Call 672-8083 (home) or 456-6684 (work)

March 1981
(Page 4) MANY THANXS to Jerry Finger who has served admirably as trails Coordinator those past few months. The time and effort he put into the office was evident in the manner in which he delivered his reports and he will be missed.
Thanks again for your services,
The Activities Board

(Page 5) sun mar 8 INTER- Hike with Kathy Reilly on the Baker Trail. Meet at HQ at 8:30 am. Section to be decided. Call 687-6160 to reserve.

(Page 6) SUMMARY OP FEBRUARY 4, 1981 ACTTV1TIES BOARD MEETING
Trails: Baker Trail pamphlets now available. Search for new Trails Coordinator continues.

April 1981
(Page 13) BACKPACKING
sat apr 25-26 BEGIN- Backpacking trip on Baker Trail. Leave AYH HQ at 8am. call Joan Baker at 687-7947 any time after 6pm to reserve.

(Page 14) HIKING
sat apr 25 BEGIN-INTER Hike with Steve Schomer on the Baker Trail, leaving from HQ at 8 am. Call him at 824-5352 or 256-2040 (w) to sign up.

May 1981
(Page 16) sat may 9 BEGIN hike with Joe Levine. Rachel Carson Trail. Leave HQ at 10 am. Call 422-8287 to reserve.

sun may 31 TRAIL MAINTENANCE HIKE ON THE BAKER TRAIL. Wear your old painting clothes and bring some friends. We'll be repairing old blazes and doing some trail trimming. AYH supplies some paint and the tools. Call Kathy Reilly at 687-6160(h) or 281-7833(w).

June 1981
(Page 7) sat jun 20 BEGIN- About 6 miles on Baker Trail, Section 2. Bring lunch and drink. Cost about $3.00. Call Joe at 422-8287.

July 1981
(Page 3) From the Activities Board - Minutes of June 3, 1981 Meeting
Trails Coordinator: Corps of Engineer plans for the Jough Lake are to make it the last link in a total trail system connecting W. Pa. with N.Y. and Maryland. The Sierra Club is prominent in the Penn Canal Trail development connecting with the Baker Trail at Crooked Creek. Baker Trail repair hikes are continuing; backpacking trips to repair the northern section are possible.

Hostel Development: Possible New Bethlehem site is 3 miles from the Baker Trail, and 15 miles south of Clarion in the Red Bank Valley Municipal Park.

(Page 9) HIKING
sun july 19 INTER- Hike along section 5 of the Baker Trail, about 10 miles. We'll meet at HQ at 8:30 am. Call Kathy Reilly to reserve. 687-6160.

August 1981
(Page 6) MINUTES FROM THE ACTIVITIES BOARD MEETING July 1, 1981 (edited)
TRAILS COORDINATOR: Joe Levine held a maintenance hike on the Rachel Carson Trail with two other people. More maintenance hikes will be scheduled for September.

September 1981
(Page 4) MINUTES OF AUGUST 5, 1981 by MARLA WHITE
Hiking: The entire Baker Trail is in poor condition; there are new roads, etc., not indicated on topo maps. There is still a need for a Trails Coordinator.

October 1981
(Page 9) HIKING
sun oct 11 Beginner hike on Rachel Corson Trail. Leave at 9:30 am. Hike approximately four miles. Bring lunch and water. Call Joe at 241·3265.

sat oct 24 Beginner/Intermediate hike. Join Marilyn Ham for a hike on the Rachel Carson Trail. Meet at HQ at 9 am, bring lunch and wear comfortable shoes. 687-4520.

November 1981
(Page 9) HIKING
sat nov 14 BEGIN Hike on the Rachel Carson Trail. Meet at HQ at 9:30 am. Approximately 4 miles. Call Joe Levine at 241-3265.

December 1981
(Page 10) HIKING
dec sat 5 Join Cliff and Marilyn Ham for a 5 mile maintenance hike on the Rachel Carson Trail. Questions? 687-4520.

March 1982
(Page 6) HIKING
sun mar 14 INTER Join Armand and friends for a 10 mile hike on the Baker Trail. Meet at HQ at 8am. Call 256-7196 for further information.

April 1982
(Page 8) HIKING
sat may 1 Hike an 11 mile section of the Baker Trail through Cook Forest. For information and reservations call Glenn Oster at 364-2864(h) or 566-3041(w).

June 1982
(Page 3) AYH TRAILS PROGRAM by Cliff Ham
Pittsburgh Council has been maintaining 140 miles of the Baker Trail, 33 miles of the Rachel Carson Trail, 20 miles of the Tuscarora Trail, and is scouting a section of the proposed Conemaugh Gorge Trail. WE NEED HELP!!!

Volunteers are needed at three levels: First, responsibility for four or five section of the Baker Trail, or the four sections of the Rachel Carson Trail. Others who can oversee just one section of a trail are needed, and most of these sections are close to Pittsburgh. Some members and several Boy Scout troops already have responsibility for one section each. Then, we need hikers who will walk some of these section, perhaps do a little painting, or clearance, and report back the conditions.

By the end of this Summer, 1982, we should have all our trails back in good condition. A couple of weekends of work from a number of our members will ensure this goal.

July 1982
(Page 8) HIKING
sun jul 25 Beginning to Intemediate hike on the Baker Trail. Meet at HQ at 8 am. Call Jack Peth 921-7214H or 777-5365W.

August 1982
(Page 8) HIKING
sat aug 21 INT£Rmediate to ADVanced. Route 66 through Crookod Crook to Cochrans Mills. Call Tom Conley at 795-3162.

September 1982
(Page 4) JULY ACTIVITIES BRD MTG MINUTES
TRAILS COORD.- Penn Elec. is taking part of the Baker Trail and providing us with a different, satisfactory routing. AYHers are needed to take responsibility for sections of our trails, in order to have them in shape by fall.

October 1982
(Page 3) MINUTES OF AUGUST ACTIVITIES BOARD MEETING (condensed)
TRAILS COORDINATION: National Park Service sent us information and asked for comments on use plan for North Country Trail. We will send comments on the NCT and give written permission for Baker Trail to be certified as part of that system.

(Page 7) HIKING
SAT OCT 9 Have fun and help out in the process. Trail maintenance on the northern sector of the Baker Trail. For information and reservations call Glenn Oster at 566-3042(w) or 364-2864(h).

November 1982
(Page 3) HIKING
nov 13 Join Glen Oster on a maintenance hike on the Northern end of the Baker Trail. No fees or transportation charges. For information, and reservations call 566-3042(w) or 364-2864(h).

December 1982
(Page 6) HIKING
sat dec 4 INTER-Leave HQ at 8 am. Hike in Gastown-Keystone Dam-Atwood area of Armstrong County. Twelve miles of rolling hills and unmarked trails, parallelling the Baker trail. Call Marilyn Ham at 687-4520.

sat dec 18 INTER-Hike the Rachel Carson Trail from North Park to Russelton Road. Twelve miles. For information, and reservations call Glenn Oster at 566-3042(w) or 364-2864(h).

January 1983
(Page 4) HIKING
sat jan 8 INTER Hike the Rachel Carson Trail from Baileys Run Road to the Russelton Road, 10 miles. For information and reservations call Glenn Oster 566-3042(W) or 364-2864(H).

February 1983
(Page 7) HIKING
sat feb 12 INTERmediate, hike Harrison Hills to Bailey's Run Road on Rachel Carson Trail - 11 miles. For info and reservations call Glenn Oster 566-3042(W) or 364-2864(H).

(Page 8) BACKPACKING
fri feb 25-sun feb 27 INTERmediate hike in the Millcreek area on Baker Trail. Call Glenn Oster 566-3042(W) or 364-2864(H) for info and reservations.

April 1983
(Page 8) BACKPACKING
sat apr 23-sun apr 24 BAker Trail Maintenance at 7 am at Crooked Creek State Park. The AYH NNEEEEDDSS your help to organize Boy Scouts in a one day trail Maintenace program. Please make a commitment today.

(Page 9) CROOKED CREEK CAMPOREE
The Corps of Engineers is sponsoring a Scout Camporee April 23-25 at Crooked Creek State Park. OUr Council has made a commitment to oversee the Baker Trail maintenance work by some of these Scouts. This could involve and requre as many as 30 volunteers. The regulars in the Hiking and Backpacking can not meet this large demand. Please contact Cliff Ham, Glenn Oster, Steve Martin, Jack Peth, Shirley Sednak, Harriet Ann Seiner, or any Activities chairperson to express your willingness to help. WE NEED YOUR COMMITMENT TO ENABLE YOUR AYH COUNCIL TO KEEP ITS COMMITMENT TO THIS SERVICE TYPE ACTIVITY. MANY THANKS!!!!

June 1983
(Page 6) HIKING
sat jun 11 Join in a day of fun and accomplishment in trail maintenance work on Baker Trail in the beautiful Mill Creek area. No trip fee or transportation charge. For info and reservations call Glenn Oster at 364-2864(H) or 566-3042(W).

August 1983
(Page 4) A NEW PATCH is being created for the Baker Trail. The patch will replicate the trail signs found at roadheads and road crossings.

AYH PITTSBURGH COUNCIL received a donation for Baker Trail maintenance from Stephen Fucich and James Fucich of Monroeville. They recently walked the Baker Trail.

September 1983
(Page 5) HIKING
sat sep 10 Beginner/INTERmediate. Spend a day on the Baker Trail having fun and helping with trail maintenance. North of I-80. No trip fee or transportation charge. For info and reservations call Glenn Oster after Labor Day at 566-3042W or 364-2864H.

(Page 7) sat oct 1-sun oct 2 Lets try the Baker Trail. How about a planned series of weekends to get in the 140 mile at about 25 miles per weekend. Call Jack Peth (above) early so we can make some plans with a lot of peoples input.

November 1983
(Page 5) BACKPACKING
sat nov 19-sun nov 20 Easy INTER. Baker Trail #2, Sections 10 & 11, 18 miles. Leave Sat. 7 am. Call Jack Peth above.

sat dec 3-sun dec 4 Easy INTER. BAker Trail #3, Sections 8&9, 25 miles. Leave Sat at 7 am. Call Jack Peth above.

December 1983
(Page 4) HIKING
sat dec 3 BEGIN-INTER-Rachel Carson Trail from Harrison Hill Park to Bull Creek. Glenn Oster 566-3042(w) 364-2864 (h).

(Page 7) BACKPACKING
sat dec 3-sun dec 4 Easy INTER-Baker Trail#3. Sections 8 and 9 25 miles. Leave Sat. 7 am. Call Jack Peth.

January 1984
(Page 8) 14 Sat Hike Begin/Int Glenn Oster 566-3042w 364-2864h Hike the Rachel Carson Trail from North Park to Hartwood Acres. Call for info and reservations.

April 1984
(Page 8) 14 Sat Hike Inter Glenn Oster 364-2864 Hike a beautiful section of Baker Trail in the Cook Forest area. Call for info and reservations.

May 1984
(Page 4) 8AK£R TRAIL VISITED
On April 3, 1984, Dan Martt led a Baker Trail hike on section 2 and part of section 3 to Crooked Creek Dam. The trail was in good condition, with a few exceptions. Blazing and maintenance trips are planned for this summer.

Note: The Southern end of Baker Trail does not start under the bridge as stated in the guidebook! Proceed 100 yards beyond golf course road to the dirt road on the left off Route 356. Follow yellow blazes to join up with trail. Park under bridge as usual. Call Dan Martt at 241-4647 for more details.

(Page 10) 12 Sat Hike Inter Glenn Oster 364-2864 Maintenance hike on Baker Trail. No fee or transportation charge. Phone for info and reservations.

June 1984
(Page 7) 12 Sat Hike Easy Glenn Oster 364-2864 7:30 Join Glenn in renewing blazes and clearing sections of Baker Trail. Have fun and feel a sense of accomplishment. No fee or transportation charge. Call for info and reservations.

July 1984
(Page 9) 21 Sat Hike Easy Glenn Oster 364-2864 7:30 Spend an easy day in the country renewing blazes and clearing brush on the Baker Trail. No fee or transportation charge. Call for info and reservations.

(Page 10) 4 Wed Hike Easy Joe Levine 241-3265 9am @HQ About 4 miles in Harrison Hills County Park along Rachel Carson Trail Bring a lunch.

14 Sat Hike Dan Martt 921-4638h 922-4000x633w Maintenance hike on the Schenley section of the Baker Trail. Put in new steps, blazes.

September 1984
(Page 11) 29 Sat Hike Easy Joe Levine 241-3265 Easy hike on the Baker Trail.

October 1984
(Page 11) 21 Sun Hike Easy Dan Martt 241-4647 Exploratory hike on Baker Trail north of Crooked Creek Lake.

27 Sat Hike Easy Glenn Oster 364-2864h 234-0610w 7:30HQ Enjoy an autumn day in rural PA and help maintain an important trail. No fee charged.

December 1984
(Page 10) 2 Sun Hike Easy Joe Levine 241-3265 Section 1 of the Baker Trail.

15 Sat Hike Inter Glenn Oster 364-2864h Baker Trail.

January 1985
(Page 7) A HIKE TO REMEMBER WITH JOHN HAYES
BY Joe Levine

It was supposed to have been an easy, short hike on the Rachel Carson Trail, about six years ago, but the trip was beset by problems from the beginning. At Creighton - the start - we were surprised to find that PENNOOT had cut through the trail for the Expressway, so we had a short but steep climb right at the beginning. "Hey Joe", Dick Nugent quipped "Did you bring climbing gear?" Well, we all made it to the top, and I sighed with relief as the grade eased and we picked up the yellow blazes of our trail.

Twenty minutes later we lost the trail in a dense wood. I sent people out to scout for the trail and yell when blazes were seen. In a few minutes the trail was found and I called in the scouts to continue the hike. It was the end of April but the temperature had reached almost 90 degrees. Most of the trees were leafless, there was hardly any relief from the heat. Then another hill slowed us - I was in the rear - and near the top I found Peggy Brust lying on the ground, attended by her son Robert and Joan Goode, a nurse. Peggy was having some distress symptoms. We decided that she would remain there until she felt able to walk down a nearby dirt road. We arranged to pick them up on our return from Tarentum.

That settled, the rest of us continued for a while, then stopped for a break under some shade. I looked around at the resting hikers and asked "Where is John Hayes?" Someone recalled having last seen him when we were looking for the trail. I instructed them to stay put, and I started back fast. In about ten minutes I found John sitting calmly on a log, just a short way from the trail. Apparently he did not hear us yell when the blazes were found. "Hello John, what are you doing here?" I joked. He replied "I heard that if you get lost in the woods, the best thing is to sit down and wait to be found. Did I do right, Joe?" "Absolutely, John, now let's rejoin the group and get on with our hike."

(Page 10) 12-13 SS Backpack Inter Glenn Oster 364-2864h 234-0610w Try backpacking close to home. Join Glenn Oster on the western section of the Rachel Carson Trail. Call for information and reservations.

12 Sat Work Hardy Dan Martt 921-4638h 922-4000x633w 9:00 Make emergency repairs to section 5 of the Baker Trail to correct the route.

19 Sat Hike Int/Adv Glenn Oster 364-2864h 234-0610w Hike Baker Trail from the start near Freeport to Rt.66 near Crooked Creek. 13 miles. Call for info and reserv.

February 1985
(Page 4) TRAIL NEWS

This is the first of a series of monthly reports on trails maintained by the Pittsburgh Council, AYH. Members and friends are encouraged to help, and trip fees are paid by the council, as well as supplies and some tools. For information, call Dan Martt (921-4638) or Glenn Oster (364-2864).

The council this fall obtained a brush axe and two fire rakes, which have proved useful.

Glenn Oster and crew have been working north of Summerville on the Baker Trail. They report some problems, such as people painting out blazes, but the trail is in pretty good shape.

Dan Martt led a crew in re-locating a section of the Baker near Keystone Power Plant. It is nearly finished, needs some more brushing.

Jack Peth and Dan put up a sign at the southern terminus of the Baker, which marks the new "put-in." Still park under the bridge, but walk back up Rt. 356 about 200 yards to find the trail.

The bridge over Cherry Creek will be re-raised this year, if the Corps of Engineers ever approves our plans. Chief engineer on the job is Jack Peth, and work will be done by British prisoners-of-war, or whomever we can find.

Cliff Ham is working on the Rachel Carson Trail west of Harrison Hills park. A relocation is in the works north of the expressway through a game preserve. ... Dan Martt

(Page 12) 9 Sat Hike Int Glenn Oster 364-2864h 234-0610w 7:30HQ Baker Trail - 10 to 12 miles.

15 FSSM Backpack Int Glenn Oster 364-2864h 234-0610w 8pm,HQ Hike a beauti£ul section of the North Country and Baker Trails from Kellettville to Cook Forest (can return Sunday the 17th if desired.).

March 1985
(Page 12) 16,17 SS Backpack Inter Glenn Oster 364-2864h 234-0610w Trip on the Baker Trail. 24 mile section from Rt. 422 to Little Mahoning Creek Bridge.

23 Sat Hike Glenn Oster 364-2864h 234-0610w Maintenance on Baker Trail. Little Mahoning Creek area. Brush and tree cutting. Improve walking surface.

April 1985
(Page 13) 27 Sat Hike Maintenance Glenn Oster 364-2864h 234-0610 Maintenance hike on the Baker Trail.

(Page 14) 13-14 SS Backpack Adv Glenn Oster 364-2864h 234-0610w Hike a section of the Baker Trail from Rt.839 (North of Milton) to Summerville. 16 miles on Sat., 10 mi. on Sun. Call for info & reserv.

May 1985
(Page 4) WESTERN PA TRAILS ASSOCIATION TRAILS DAY
In cooperation with AYH, the Western Pennsylvania Trails Association will be sponsoring a Trails Day on the Baker Trail Sunday, June 15, 1985. We will: walk the trail; check its condition; pick up trash; clear brush; paint blazes; improve the treadway; shore up hillsides; and provide stream crossings. We will meet at Route 66 one mile northeast of Vovinckel,at the pipeline where the Baker trail crosses at 10am for assignments (allow three hours drive from Pittsburgh). Primitive camping nearby if you want to stay overnight. Contact the Trails Assoc. to sign up and for more info by calling 288-2777 Wednesdays.

(Page 14) 11 Sat Hike Maintenance Glenn Oster 364-2864h 234-0610w 7:30HQ Baker Trail Maintenance Hike.

11 Sat Hike Easy Joy Layton 486-4753 9@HQ Wildflower walk on the Rachel Carson Trail out of North Park. Bring a guide book if you've got one. Call before 9:30 pm.

June 1985
(Page 11) 15 Sat Hike All Glenn Oster 364-2864 7:30HQ WPTA Trail Day. Join Glenn Oster for a day working on the North end of the Baker Trail.

22 Sat Hike Easy Pat Rossi 335-5067 Meet at HQ at 9:30 or in New Kensington at 10:30. Drive to Baker Trail in Freeport via scenic route, then hike along river bluff among wildflowers. Optional dinner afterward at Arthur's. Coleader is desired. Call for info and reservations.

(Page 12) 2 Sun Hike Easy Dan Martt 921-4638 Maintenance hike on Baker Trail. Shelocta area. Easy, pretty.

July 1985
(Page 7) THE GREAT TOMATO PATCH NEEDS YOU!
Volunteers are needed to help harvest tomatoes, peppers, and squash at the Great Tomato Patch, an 8 acre area in Harrison Hills County Park. The patch will provide fresh produce for the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, and is a partnership project of the Allegheny County Parks Department, H.J. Heinz Co., Mellon Bank, and The Western PA Conservancy. Sessions last approximately 5 to 6 hours and are scheduled on Saturdays and Sundays from mid-August to mid-October. A free Great Tomato Patch t-shirt and a bag of tomatoes will be offered to every volunteer harvester. For more information and to pick a date, call Jeff Gerson, 288-2777.

(Page 13) 20 Sat Hike All Glenn Oster 7:30HQ Maintenance hike on the Baker Trail.

October 1985
(Page 12) 12 Sat Hike Work Jack Peth 921-7214 8:30 Work party on the Baker Trail - No charge.

19 Sat Hike Easy Pat Rossi 335-5067 9:30HQ South section of the Baker Trail. Meet at HQ at 9:30 or in New Kensington at 10:15.

November 1985
(Page 10) 23 Sat Hike Maintenance Glenn Oster 364-2864 8:00 Maintenance hike on the Baker Trail south of Crooked Creek.

December 1985
(Page 8) 14 Sat Hike Inter Glenn Oster 364-2864h 8:00 Hike on the Baker Trail.

January 1986
(Page 10) 4 Sat Hike Inter Glenn Oster 364-2864h 234-3967w 8:00 Hike an interesting section of the Baker Trail in the Crooked Creek area.

February 1986
(Page 10) 8 Sat Hike Easy Glenn Oster 364-2864h 234-3967w 7:00 Beautiful section of Baker trail - Mill Creek. Call for info/res.

April 1986
(Page 10) THE PRESIDENT'S CORNER

ACTIVITIES BOARD MEETING -- We decided to try again with the Corps of Engineers on the Baker Trail bridge over Cherry Run, since this is really needed.

(Page 12) 5 Sat Hike Maint. Wendell Phillips 831-2606 9:00 Maintenance hike on the Baker Trail between Schenley and Crooked Creek. Brush cutting and blaze painting. Return about 5pm.

12 Sat Hike Maint. Glenn Oster 364-2864h 234-3967w 8:00 Repaint Baker Trail blazes in the North Freedom area. No fee. for info and reservations, call Glenn.

May 1986
(Page 7) THE PRESIDENT'S CORNER

At the April Activities Board Meeting, the Board discussed the status of this year's publications, the Hiking Guide and the Baker Trail Guide. The hiking guide is nearing completion, but the Baker Trail Guide still needs more work. It was decided to suspend sales of the Rachel Carson Trail Guide. Due to the disruption of the trail by housing developments, Route 28, etc. several portions of the trail are no longer suitable for hiking. We will be working with trail volunteers and others to re-establish the trail in its entirety.

(Page 12) 17 Sat Hike Easy Pat Rossi 335-5067 9:30HQ 4-5 miles on the first section of the Baker trail. Scenic, but somewhat hilly. Meet in New Kensington at 10:30.

(Page 14) 10 Sat Hike Wendell Phillips 831-2606 8am Baker Trail maintenance hike. No fee.

July 1986
(Page 3) THE PRESIDENT'S CORNER

At the July activities board meeting, Bruce Sundquist reported that the Hiking Guide is being sent to the printer and is expected to be available by August 1st. The Baker Trail Guide is going through a final edit and will be going to the printer as soon as possible.

(Page 8) BACKPACKING

"HI, JACK PETH HERE!" This is the way I have started many announcements at AYH meetings. This one I would like to make in writing. Sorry for the decline in organization of the backpacking activity. but it's some kind of "burn-out". I do not plan to stand for election this coming year. I have had four great years as backpacking co-chair and have met many grand folks and had some fine folks as co-chairs. Steve Martin in '83, Debbie LaPlaca in '84 and '85, and Harriet Ann Seiner, now of Phila. I hope I have helped some of you and thank those who have helped me.
We need your help!
Please Speak Up! Thanks, Jack Peth

(Page 14) 12 Sat Hike Easy Wendell Phillips 831-2606 8:00 Maintenance hike on the Baker trail - Sect. 3. End with a swim at Crooked Creek.

August 1986
(Page 3) REORGANIZE PITTSBURGH AYH?
An Opinion by Joe Hoechner

Pittsburgh Council has long been noted as one of the "Activity" based councils as opposed to a hosteling council. As a result we have a program that stresses one and two day local trips, with an occassional hostel overnight thrown in for those hostelers among us.

Why do we force our local members to buy an international hosteling membership that they don't really need? Does the $20 adult rate discourage local membership and perhaps send potential members to other clubs? (Example: The local Wheelmen cylcing club dues are only $7/year.)

We could foolow the lead of other AYH councils that have separated their “hostel" members from their "activity” members by organizing an "outdoors club" within their council. The club would still be sheltered under the umbrella of the AYH liability insurance policy with yearly dues possibly being cut in half to $10/year. This would ease the financial burden and encourage new members to join to see if they like the organization. A pro-rated system could be set up so that they could upgrade their club membership to a full hostel membership. For those occassional Pittsburgh Council trips that do make use of a hostel for overnights the leader could use one of the free group membership cards that we have available.

The Pittsburgh Council is rapidly approaching its 40th (Gasp!) anniversary of founding. Is it time for a change? Comments are welcome!

(Page 10) 16 Sat Hike Pat Rossi 335-5067 8:30HQ Baker Trail at Crooked Creek. Leave HQ at 8:30 or New Kensington YMCA parking lot at 9:15. A pretty hike leading to a covered bridge over the hiking trail.

September 1986
(Page 9) 28 Sun Hike Easy Glenn Oster 364-2864 Renew blazes and clear trail in northmost section of the Baker Trail. No fee or transportation cost. For info and reservations call Glenn.

(Page 10) 13 Sat Hike Maintenance Wendell Phillips 831-2606 8 am Enjoy a nice hike and a little work on the Baker Trail. No fees.

October 1986
(Page 7) JUST WHAT IS PITTSBURGH COUNCIL OF AYH???

Pittsburgh Council is the local representative of American Youth Hostels. Our area covers most of Western Pennsylvania west of the Susquehanna and the West Virginia panhandle from Morgantown north.

We operate Ohiopyle State Park Hostel and Franchise other hostels for American and international visitors.
We built and now maintain 170 miles of hiking trails.
We have weekly Open House meetings with programs every Thursday evening.
We have a strong activities program, specializing in beginning and intermediate level outdoor activities.
We offer special weekend outings.
We publish hiking and canoeing guides and an outdoor cookbook.
We issue the Golden Triangle, a monthly newsletter.
We offer a small, but growing selection of T-shirts and outdoor equipment.
We have an outdoor equipment flea market in the Spring.
We provide volunteer service to the community.

Through the National AYH office we provide
access to 275 hostels in this country and 5000 hostels around the world.
leadership training programs
extended trips in the U.S. and aboad.

But most of all, we offer a way to learn about ourselves, others and the world around us through hosteling and outdoor recreational travel.

INTERESTED? COME HELP US MAKE IT HAPPEN!!

(Page 12) 18 Sat Hike Easy Wendell Phillips 831-2606 8:00 Maintenance hike on the Baker Trail. No fee.

December 1986
(Page 3) NOTICE REGARDING BAKER TRAIL NORTH

Logging is expected to take place in the vicinity of Baker Trail immediatly North of Route 66 near Vowinkle. Work has already begun and may extend through 1987 and perhaps 1988. The landowner has explained that for safety reasons the logging company insists that no unauthorized persons be in the area when its crews are working. We are encouraged to avoid this section of the trail during this logging period.

If a need exists to hike in this area, permission should be requested in advance. Contact is - Mr. Glen Roudemeyer, R.D. #3, Marienville. PA 16239.

(Page 10) BAKER TRAIL

Glenn Oster and I, and all the hikers and backpackers who use the Baker Trail, thank the many volunteers who contributed their time and energy to help maintain this 140 mile trail. To the following people and to those whose names we do not know, thanks again, see you in the Spring. ...Wendell Phillips

Blanche Asherman
Jack Asherman
Ben Brugmans
Carol Burtt
Clyde Colledge
Maya Fishkis
Judy Flowers
Flo Gaskill
Marily Harbough
Tom Kaveney
Joy Layton
Elsie Williams
Royanne Mac
Dan Martt
Chuck Punzell
Pat Tieman
Pete Sirini
Skip
Toby Sommers
Jim Utzig
Marie Utzig
Walter Vaux
Dale Williams
Bob Williams

(Page 12) 7 Sun Hike Easy Wendell Phillips 831-2604 8:00 Hike section 4 of the Baker Trail.

12 Sun Hike Easy Wendell Phillips 831-2604 8:00 Hike section 6 of the Baker Trail.

January 1987
(Page 10) 18 Sun Hike Easy Wendell Phillips 831-2604 8:00 Hike section 8 of the Baker Trail.

February 1987
(Page 10) 14-16 SSM Backpack Int Glenn Oster 364-2864h 234-3967w 7:30am Take advantage of President's day for a 3-day weekend of hiking on the Baker Trail from Summerville through the beautiful Mill Creek area to Cook Forest (or hike part way if you can't go for three days). Call for info and reservations.

28 Sat Hike Int Glenn Oster 364-2864h 234-3967w 8:00 Hike from the iceskating rink in North Park to Hartwood Acres on the Rachel Carson Trail. Meet at either North Park or Hartwood Acres. Call for info and reservations.

March 1987
(Page 10) 15 Sun Hike Easy Wendell Phillips 831-2606 Baker Trail hike.

April 1987
(Page 4) THE PRESIDENT'S CORNER

Blanche Asherman and her crew have been putting in a lot of work on the Rachel Carson Trail getting it ready for use during May, which is Rachel Carson Month as well as the 100th anniversary of her birth. We hope to have people in from the Rachel Carson Homestead for a slide show presentation soon.

(Page 10) 5 Sun Hike Easy Wendell Phillips 831-2606 8:00 Hike the Baker Trail.

(Page 14) 25 Sat Hike Easy Wendell Phillips 831-2606 8:00 Maintenance hike on the Baker Trail. No trip fees, no experience necessary.

May 2 Sat Hike Easy Pat Rossi 335-5067 9:00HQ April showers bring May flowers. Hike section 1 of the Baker Trail. Very scenic but steep. Meet at 9 at HQ or at 9:30 at the New Kensington Y.

May 1987
(Page 4) BAKER TRAIL

Almost forty years ago, some of the active members of Pittsburgh Council of American Youth Hostels decided to establish a hiking trail in Western Pennsylvania. These members had been on many extended backpacking trips in other parts of the country and decided to establish a hiking trail close to home. The trail was laid out to extend from Aspinwall to Cook Forest. It was named the Baker Trail in appreciation of the efforts of Horace Forbes Baker in establishing Pittsburgh Council AYH.

It was not enough that the trail be laid out on a map. It had to be developed and maintained. This required the efforts of many service-minded members. These volunteers have, over the years, donated a great deal of time and energy to blazing the trail and constructing a series of trailside shelters. Their reward has been the inner satisfaction that comes from a job well done and enjoying fellowship on work parties. It is a good feeling to return service to an organization that has served you!

A wooden plaque and a list of the workers will be displayed in headquarters as a testimony to the spirit of service that developed the Baker Trail. Let's keep on adding names to the roster! Additions and corrections can be given to Elleen Hull.

BAKER TRAIL FOUNDERS AND DEVELOPERS
Tony Pranses
Wes Bunelle
Phil Ewald
John Grable
Harry Rhule
Betty Bierer
Martha Ellis
Gloria Fisher
George Howe
Joan Walczak
================
Hartley Saxon
Fred Freuthal
Ed Worrell
Juna Merritt
George Cohen
Fred Mauk
Grace Kriner
Herb Buchwald
Henry Fisher
Jim Zimmerman
Louise Pranses
Walt Williams
Jack Stein
Ralph Kirchbaum
Ben Dell
Walter Tereszkiewicz
Tess Henry
John Henry
Sue Cerminaro
Barbara DiGregorio
Vincent Roolf
George Hughes
Warren Young
Fred Monks
Robert Snelshire
Lloyd Geertz
John J. Mathews
Jack Jedruch
Lee Hayden
Pub Jewett
John Philbrick
Victor Wise & BSA Troop 15 (Butler)
Anilee Fitzgibbon
Chuck Fitzgibbon
Rich Bartoo
Larry Giventer
Jim Hurat
George Bower
Cathy Lynch
Bob Fawkes
Don Woodland
Billie Woodland
Winfred Roensch
Bruce Sundquist
J. D. Myers
Elinor Myers
Diane Moll
Eberhard Mall
Gladys Schubert
George Schubert
Marilyn Ham
Cliff Ham
Joe Levine
Jack Leary
Morrie Oberg
Fran Czapiewski
Robert McGoff
Glenn Oster
Jack Peth
Terry Sickler
Wendell Phillips
Irene MeGoff
Blanche Asherman
Jack Asherman
Ben Brugmans
Carol Burtt
Clyde Colledge
Maya Fishkis
Judy Flowers
Flo Gaskill
Marlly Harbough
Tom Kaveney
Joy Layton
Elsie Williams
Royanne Mac
Dan Martt
Chuck Punzell
Pat Tieman
Pete Sirini
Skip
Toby Sommers
Jim Utzig
Maria Utzig
Walter Vaux
Dale Williams
Bob Williams

(Page 7) SATURDAY, MAY 2
Hike Easy Pat Rossi 335-5067 9:00 HQ Hike section I of the Baker Trail. Steep and scenic. Meet at HQ at 9, or at New Kensington Y at 9:30.

SUNDAY, MAY 10
Hike All Wendell Phillips 831-2606 8:00 Maintenance hike on Baker Trail. No trip fees.

June 1987
(Page 9) SOME BAKER TRAIL HISTORY

Editor's note: The following is from a letter received from Tony Pranses a Pittsburgh Council member now living in Elida, Ohio.

I was delighted and honored to find, in your May issue, the article about the wooden plaque dedicated to "Baker Trail Founders and Developers", and to find my own name at the head of the list, however, there was one significant ommission which this letter is intended to rectify. In the early Fall of 1950, when the early stages of soouting and marking the Baker Trail were underway, a young man named Harvey Hinden (about 19 at the time, a resident of Braddock and an active AYHer) and I took a week off and, making our headquarters in the home of my sisters-in-law in Plumville PA, scouted and established the entire length of the trail from Crooked Creek State Park all the way to Mahoning Dam. This was a considerable effort, therefore I believe Harvey Hinden's name should be high on the list.

Some other information which you may not be aware of:

The idea of the Baker Trail was conceived during a canoe trip down the Allegheny River in the Fall of 1949. Betty Bierer and I were together in one canoe, and, as we observed the high bluffs high above the right bank between Freeport and Tarentum, one of us (and I don't know which one) thought out loud: "Wouldn't it be wonderful to have a trail along there looking down at this beautiful scene?" The eventual idea to run the trail all the way from Pittsburgh to Cook Forest developed during the following winter.

Horace Forbes Baker was a distinguished Corporation Lawyer. His first association with AYH occurred prior to WWII. At that time, National AYH was sending professional organizers all over the country setting up councils, many of which turned out to be mere "paper councils" with no activities and little chance of survival. The first Pittsburgh Council was one. National AYH recruited Mr. Baker, not because he knew anything about AYH, but because he was dedicated to "good causes" and was prominent. The council died a quiet death during the war. When National AYH and the then "Pennsylvania State Council" decided, in 1948, that the time was ripe for another try at establishing AYH in Pittsburgh, they turned to me because I had met Isabel Smith in Northfield the prior summer during a solo bicycle tour of New England, she knew of my prior association with AYH (strictly however, as a participant) and she obviously believed that I had some oganizational talent. Virginia Towle, then a professional worker out of Philadelphia, came to Pittsburgh for a week and contacted many of those previously associated with AYH in the area, among them Mr. Baker, who agreed to host (and pay for!) an organizational meeting at the Harvard-Yale-Princeton Club. Bill Nelson put on a presentation, several others spoke, then the gathering constituted itself a "steering" commmittee for the purpose of eventually re-establishing a council. Mr. Baker was asked to serve as chairman. He declined, stating that one of the main reasons the pre-war council had failed was its lack of active members and preponderance of "old war horses" like him. He then placed my name in nomination, and I was selected.

When Mr. Baker died, AYH somehow missed the notices, therefore, we were not represented at his funeral. When we found out about it, the naming of the Trail in his honor was discussed and decided upon at a meeting of the Activities Board. I then called upon his widow, extended my and our condolences and asked her permission to name "our" trail the Horace Forbes Baker Memorial Trail. She smiled, said he would have been honored, said that she was touched but insisted that the word "Memorial" be stricken from the name because she considered memorials "dead" things and she wanted anything associated with the memory of her husband to be very much alive. With that change, she gave us permission to name the trail after Mr. Baker. ... Tony Pranses

(Page 12) 20 Sat Hike Easy Wendell Phillips 831-2606 8:00 Maintenance trip on Baker Trail. No trip fees. Bring gloves.

(Page 14) 6 Sat Hike Easy Pat Rossi Kathy Pacacha 335-5067 363-2228h 687-2234w 9@HQ Hike Section I of the Baker trail. Steep but scenic. Meet at HQ at 9 or at New Kensington Y at 9:30.

July 1987
(Page 10) 25 Sat Hike Easy Glenn Oster 364-2864h 234-3967w 8:00 Join Glenn for maintenance on the Baker Trail. No fee. Phone for info and reservations.

August 1987
(Page 3) 35TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION
AYH BAKER TRAIL GUIDE PUBLISHED

The Pittsburgh Council AYH has just released their long awaited 35th Anniversary Edition Guidebook to the Baker Trail. The 140 mile trail starts near Freeport, PA and continues northward to Allegheny National Forest where it connects to the North Country Trail. The Baker Trail was conceived and developed by Pittsburgh AYH in 1952 and has been maintained by active volunteers ever since.

The Guidebook consists of 38 pages with 17 maps in a handy soft cover format priced at only $4.00 a copy. For mail orders please include 76¢ for postage and handling, with PA residents adding 24¢ sales tax per book. Please inquire for dealer or bulk order rates. Make all checks payable to "Pittsburgh AYH" and mail to: AYH Books, 7303 Reynolds Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15208

(Page 8) IT'S BACK AGAIN! THE NEW AND IMPROVED: BAKER TRAIL GUIDE BOOK
• 38 PAGES
• 17 MAPS
PUBLISHED BY PITTSBURGH COUNCIL, AMERICAN YOUTH HOSTELS
35TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION 8 1/2 X 11 SOFTCOVER. $4/COPY
INCLUDES:
TOPOGRAPHIC MAPS OF THE ENTIRE 141 MILES OF TRAIL
WRITTEN DESCRIPTIONS OF EACH TRAIL SECTION ACCOMPANYING EACH MAP

THE BAKER TRAIL WAS BUILT IN THE EARLY '50S BY PITTSBURGH COUNCIL, A.Y.H. IT IS NOW MAINTAINED BY A.Y.H. AND OTHER HIKERS. IT FOLLOWS WOODLAND FOOT PATHS AND REMOTE RURAL ROADS. IT USES PUBLIC LANDS WHENEVER POSSIBLE. FOR EXAMPLE, ALLEGHENY NATIONAL FOREST, COOK FOREST, MAHONING RESERVOIR, CROOKED CREEK RESERVOIR. TEN TRAIL SHELTERS LIE ALONG THE ROUTE. MOST OF THE TRAIL OFFERS EASY WALKING AND MUCH NATURAL- AND RURAL CHARM. BAKER TRAIL EXTENDS FROM THE TRAIL SYSTEM IN THE SOUTHERN END OF ALLEGHENY NATIONAL FOREST TO NEAR FREEPORT. IT IS MARKED WITH YELLOW PAINT BLAZES. PERMISSION TO USE PRIVATE LAND AND PUBLIC LAND HAS BEEN OBTAINED FROM LAND OWNERS AND MANAGERS. A TRAIL PATCH IS AVAILABLE FROM A.Y.H. FOR $1.50. HIKERS WHO ENJOY BAKER TRAIL WILL ALSO ENJOY THE RACHEL CARSON TRAIL WHICH EXTENDS FROM HARRISON HILLS PARK TO NORTH PARK.

September 1987
(Page 12) 26 Sat Hike Easy Glenn Oster 364-2864h 234-3967w 8:00 Enjoy the satisfaction that you've done your part in improving Baker Trail north of Cook's Forest. No fee. Call for info and reservations.

(Page 14) 19 Sat Hike Easy Pat Rossi 335-5067 8:15HQ Baker Trail from Crooked Creek to Scenic Covered Bridge and back for a swim. Meet at HQ at 8:15 or at the New Kensington Arby's at 9:00

October 1987
(Page 4) BOARD MEETING UPDATES
Glenn Oster and Joe Hoechner met with the Armstrong County Tourist Promotion Agency. The agency is interested in promoting the Baker Trail as a local attraction.

(Page 10) PITTSBURGH COUNCIL ACTIVITIES MEMBERSHIP
Pittsburgh Council is introducing a new "Activities Membership" this year for those who wish to take part only in the activities and social events of the Council and who do not expect to be staying at hostels. Here's how it works: the Activities Membership costs one-half the regular AYH hostel membership (for example, $10 for an adult activities membership vs $20 for the adult hostel membership). You pay member fees on trips and other events, and you will receive the Golden Triangle monthly. What you will not get is a hostel pass, the US hostel handbook, the quarterly national AYH magazine Knapsack, or voting privileges in Council elections. If you want to stay at a hostel, you will need to buy an AYH hostel membership or a one-night guest renbership. However, you can use your activities membership as a credit towards the purchase of a hostel membership. Activities memberships purchased this year will expire on December 31st, 1988, the same as the hostel memberships.

Why are we doing this? We want to see if we can increase Council membership by offering a lower cost membership to those who do not use hostels. Frankly, we would prefer to sell hostel memberships but recognize that not everyone wants to use them. We intend to offer this as an experiment for a year or two and will then evaluate whether this is something that should continue on a permanent basis.

If you are interested in the new Activities Membership, check out the rates on the aplication form on the back page. However, you may want to consider buying the two-year hostel membership for $30, which is a 25% discount from the $20 adult hostel membership.

November 1987
(Page 10) 7 Sat Hike Easy Blanche Asherman 828-8158 8:00 Rachel Carson Trail

21 Sat Hike Maintenance Glenn Oster 364-2864h 234-3967w Help to keep Baker Trail north of Cooks Forest one of the most interesting and walkable sections. No fee or transportation charge. Call for info and reservations.

December 1987
(Page 12) 6 Sun Hike Int Glenn Oster 364-2864h 234-3967w 7:00 Hike one of the most beautiful sections of Baker Trail in the Mill Creek area. Approximately 11 miles. Call for info and reservations.

12-13 SS Backpack Int Glenn Oster see above 8:00 Hike Baker Trail in the Little Mahnoning Creek section. call for info and reservations.

January 1988
(Page 10) 9 Sat Hike Adv Glenn Oster 364-2864h 234-3967w 7:00 Hike the southernmost 13 miles of Baker Trail (skirting Allegheny Sand and Gravel Property), Garvers Ferry to Rt. 66 (near Crooked Creek). Call for info and reserv.

February 1988
(Page 10) 20-21 SS Backpack Inter Glenn Oster 364-2864h 234-3967w 7:00AM Hike the Baker Trail in the Summerville Area. Call for information and reservations.

March 1988
(Page 6) NOTE OF THANKS

On my day hike on January 9, Chester Bialecki slipped on snow-covered ice and broke his ankle. We were distressed for him to say the least and I could write volumes about the group dynamics which followed, but I'll spare you all of that. I do, however, want to recognize and thank all those who helped so willingly in looking after Chester.

George Bower, Dave Foster, Bill Lindgren, Mark Mistrick and Chester's wife, Diane, remained with Chester and built a fire to ward off hypothermia while Pete Srini, Gene Cohen and I hike out for professional help.

We contacted Freeport Ambulance, and they sent five volunteers with an ambulance and a rescue vehicle. We hiked to where Chester lay and then all took turns carrying him out on a stretcher for well over 1/2 mile (across the Allegheny River on a railroad bridge). I have written and thanked the rescue squad for their enthusiastic help.

I want to recognize the cooperative spirit of all the hikers in discontinuing the hike - even though some come from a considerable distance to make the hike, e.g.. Dave Foster from Butler and Bill Lindgren all the way from Slippery Rock. Dave Foster, Gene Cohen and Pete Srini drove upwards of 90 miles in car shuttling. No one who drove would take anything toward transportation cost.

Pete, in particular, in his usual cooperative and generous way, stayed on to the end to see that we got Chester and Diane home from the hospital. And George Bower saved us a trip back to Crooked Creek Dam by driving my car back to headquarters.

I want to compliment all involved and thank them for their fine attitudes and their help - especially for carrying Chester – he is 200 pounds of solid man.
Glenn Oster, January 12, 1988

(Page 10) 12 Sat Hike Inter Glenn Oster 364-2864 8:00 Rachel Carson trail from North Park to Rich Hill Rd. Call for info and reservations.

May 1988
(Page 4) THE PRESIDENT'S CORNER

A Hostel for Pittsburgh We all recognize that Pittsburgh Council has always been primarily an activities oriented organization. Yet even at the very beginning of the Council's history in the late forties and early fifties, there was an active interest in developing hostels, including a chain of cycling hostels between Pittsburgh and Erie. I'd like to encourage the current renewal of interest in hostel development and offer a bit of explan ation for the Council members who are not yet familiar with what we are trying to do:

What is a youth hostel? A youth hostel is a facility offering inexpensive accommodations and international friendship to young people exploring their own country and their world. While the facility may vary from place to place each hostel will normally provide bunk space in a dormitory, a kitchen for preparing meals, and a common room for relaxing and socializing with the other travelers. It is the common room that distinguishes a hostel from other accommodations; it is where the hostelers can meet each other, exchange experiences, and learn more about each other and the culture each comes from. Theis exhange and friendship is what makes the difference -- it is why hostelers know they can be at home in a hostel anywhere in the world.

Why do we want a hostel in Pittsburgh? We believe in hostels and hosteling as a way of promoting international friendship and we want to bring this opportunity to Pittsburgh so that we can learn about our friends around the world and so that they will have a home here in Pittsburgh where they can learn about us. We do have an arrangement with Point Park College in downtown Pittsburgh to serve as a "supplemental accommodation". Point Park lacks the kitchen facilities and the common room of a hostel but is available for people traveling to Pittsburgh until we can open our own Hostel.

What do we need to do next? The first step is a planning stage, and this is where we are now. We are defining what we need in a hostel, where it should be, and how we can make it happen. The next steps include funding design, construction, opening and operation. The opening of the hostel will include a lot of people, however, to do his or her part. The reward will come with the operation of the hostel -- we will be able to stop for an evening at the hostel and meet new friends from this country, Canada, Australia, Germany, China, Japan, Israel, England, Afghanistan, South Africa Zimbabwe and from virtually every other country in this world. I urge all of you who are interested in hostels and in the people of our world to take part in developing the Pittsburgh Hostel. ...Larry Laude

(Page 7) Saturday, May 14
Hike Maintain Pete Srini 683-3611 8:00 Help in maintaining the Baker Trail. no fees.

June 1988
(Page 13) Sunday, June 12
Hike All Pete Srini 683-3611h 788-7759w 8:00 Maintenance hike on the Baker Trail. No fees. Let's all help out!

September 1988
(Page 7) Saturday, September 10
Hike Maintenance Pete Srini 921-1238 8:00 Baker Trail Maintenance hike. No fees.

(Page 9) Saturday, September 24
Hike Maintenance Brian McBain 443-6972h 3S5-4781w Have a fun day with Volunteers For Outdoor Allegheny as we work to spruce up the Rachel Carson Trail near North Park. This is too good an opportunity to pass up! This group does excellent work and can teach us some valuable skills. They're also very friendly! Wear your grubby clothes and join in the fun!

October 1988
(Page 7) Sun. October 9
Hike All;maintenance Pete Srini (h) 921-1238 (w) 788-7759 8:00 AM HQ Help us in maintaining the Baker Trail. No fee.

(Page 8) Sun. October 23
Hike Int/Easy Blanche Asherman 828-8158 (h) Blanche is back in town and would like you to join her on a stroll of Sec. 2 or 3 of the Baker Trail.

(Page 9) Sat. October 15
Hike "Laid-Back" Pete Srini 921-1238 (h) 8:00 AM HQ Join Armstrong County fall foliage celebration; hike along Baker Trail from Crooked Creek to possibly Cherry Run. Call for Info/reservations.

(Page 14) THE PRESIDENT'S CORNER

SAVE THE BAKER TRAIL? Over the last few years, maintaining the Baker Trail has become an increasing challenge. Part of it is due to requests from landowners to reroute the trail for various reasons. The rest is due to the difficulty in getting enough people out to maintal the trail. It's been suggested to me that the Baker Trail may not be worth saving due to these difficulties and due to the increasingly large part of the trail on roads! The Baker Trail has been with us since the beginning of the Council and I would hate to see us give up on it now. (The trail opened to public use in 1950 and is one of the longest and oldest hiking trails in Pennsyvania.) However, if we don't get to work, we may have to do just that! I was going through the Baker Trail files yesterday and was impressed with the work that the Baker Trall committee was doing. Each section had a volunteer in charge of maintaining that section, shelters were being built, bridges were being built (including a covered bridge that has since gone away), and an active relationship was carried on with the landowners. How about it, do you think we can do this again? As with any project, this will take some work, but if we can get more people out on the trail, we can do it together. If you can help, send a note to the Baker Trail Committee at headquarters. Any comments on saving the trail will be welcomed also and with your permission will be printed as Letters to the Editor.

November 1988
(Page 6) THE PRESIDENT'S CORNER

SAVE THE BAKER TRAIL! Last month, I raised the question of what we should do with the Baker Trail. To a large extend, my question was answered by the "Discover the Baker Trail" hike sponsored by the Armstrong County Tourist Bureau on October 15th. 191 people showed up! This shows that there really is a need for trails like the Baker Trail where people can go out for an afternoon hike in addition to a week long backpack. Thanks to Pete Srinivasan for coordinating what I'm sure was one of the biggest, if not the biggest hike in our history.

January 1989
(Page 13) SAT. JANUARY 7
HIKE Adv. Glenn Oster 364-2864h before 9PM 234-3967w 8:00AM Baker Trail from Schenley to Route 66. This is the first leg of hiking all of the Baker Trail in 1989. Call for information and reservations.

February 1989
(Page 8) NORTH COUNTRY TRAILS ASSOCIATION, BY GLENN OSTER
Did you know that AYH (Pgh.) is a member of the North Country Trails Association? Yes indeed, and proud to be. We have been an organizational member for several years--our way of supporting a super objective and the association dedicated to making it a reality.

NCTA, for short, is a national organization headquartered in White Cloud, Michigan--its membership small, but its goal outstanding. Its sole reason for being is the North Country National Scenic Hiking Trail. This trail has been officially sanctioned by Congress in the same way as the Appalachian Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail.

When completed, the trail will wend its way for 3200 miles from Lake Champlain at the Eastern end of New York State to Lake Sakakawea in North Dakota, intersecting with the Lewis and Clark trail, which itself runs to the Pacific Oceanm. The NCT will travel across New York State, Western Pennsylvania (including a section of Baker Trail), Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota and North Dakota.

The overall responsibility for getting the trail on the ground is that of the national Park Service, but their role is only to oversee and encourage. It is up to the NCTA to keep this dream alive and the trail progressing. To date, about a third of the trail is officially certified, bearing the trail's attractive emblem.

NCTA has representation in each of the seven states that the trail crosses. Tom Reimber, Finger Lakes Trail Association, is President; Glenn Oster is Vice President; Tomi Lou Spyker, treasurer, gives his all to NCTA. Pennsylvania has four board members, i.e., Paulette Johnson (Slippery Rock University--formerly with Western Pennsylvania Conservancy); Barbara Smith and John Hipps, outdoor enthusiasts from Emporium, PA and Glenn Oster.

Two meetings of the NCTA are held each year (and our Pittsburgh Council AYH members are most welcome to attend), the annual meeting at White Cloud in May and a fall conference in October that changes location from year to year (Ithaca, NY in October, 1988).

The task of putting in place a 3200 mile trail with volunteers is herculean in scope, and all that NCTA can really accomplish is to keep interest up and gently encourage local hiking groups to get behind the effort of building and maintaining the trail. This is where AYH Pittsburgh fits in. The trail follows our Baker Trail from its intersection with the North Country Trail (which in Pennsylvania stretches from the New York border 93 miles through Allegheny National Forest to meet the Baker Trail a few miles North of Cook Forest) through Cook Forest to the beautiful Mill Creek Valley--about 25 miles. The only other section of the trail currently in place in Pennsylvania is the Glacier Ridge Trail extending from Jennings Nature Reserve (near route 8 North of Butler) well into Moraine State Park. AYH, Pittsburgh, is one of the dominant hiking organizations in Southwest Pennsylvania and over the next few years we will need to marshall our reserves to manage (together with Slippery Rock University and any other interested groups) completion of about 125 additional miles of trail. We shouldn't look upon this as a burden but as an honor to have a part in developing the longest scenic hiking trail in the nation.

NCTA is working hard at creating awareness of this fledging trail and to get local hiking groups and political support. You will be hearing more about the trail as NCTA gets closer to its big event, the Hike-A-Thon in 1990, its ten year anniversary.

This article has not been written to solicit individual membership in NCTA, but if you would like to help them remain alive financially, annual membership is only $10 for an individual and $15 for a family. An application for membership is included. (See back page of newsletter). Bear in mind that anything the NCTA accomplishes will help each of us who likes the out-of-doors and it is well worth our physical, mental and financial support.

(Page 10) TRIPS AND TALES BY CATHY SZYMANSKI
In order to promote the Baker Trail and promote hiking in Armstrong county, Armstrong tourism organized an eight mile fall celebration on October 15, 1988. People from AYH were asked to help lead the trip. Nine AYHers participated. Joel Platt and Lynn Ejzak led a group of people that had families. Lynn stated, "They had a good time--it was a good day for seeing leaves and people took pictures." Future AYH'ers were as young as age 4, and when they couldn't keep up with the elders", they were carried part-time. Since the trip was divided into 2 parts, no one had to do the whole trip; most people did four miles, however! There were 192 people altogether, broken down into a few groups. Our fearless leader, Pete Srini, did the "sweep" (the latest AYH dance) and told of how some people saw a black snake. Larry Laude and Marianne led a group of "farm trekkies." It was easy to sense how much Marianne enjoyed the trip. Marianne led them across part of beautiful farm land, where there were little streams built by AYHers.

Of course, what would be a fall trip without the beautiful leaves? To sum it all up, as Marianne states, "The hike was on a perfect, glorious sunny day." They walked on a golden path leading to a covered bridge built by AYHers in the 1960's.......

(Page 13) HIKING/BACKPACKING:

Feb. 4, Sat. Glenn Oster Inter/Adv. 364-2864 or 234-3967; 8:00 hike Baker Trail through Crooked Creek, 11 miles from Rt. 66 to Rt. 359.

Feb. 10-12 Glenn Oster; backpack; phone for info. Travel Fri. night, camp at Cook Forest on way, leave car at Amos Duck's residence; Sat. hike south to first water source on Spangler Run before State game lands;11+ miles; Sun. Hike to AMos Duck's Residence, 12 1/2 miles.

March 1989
(Page 3) Saturday, March 18
Hike Inter. Glenn Oster 364-2864 8:00 Hike Baker Trail from Rt. 359 to the Cherry Run Valley and cross country to Rt. 422 - 10 miles. Call for info/reservations.

Saturday, March 18
Hike Inter. Tom Kaveney 276-8044 8:30 Rachel Carson Trail. 8 mi., some hills

Sunday, March 19
Maint. Hike All Pete Srini 921-1238 Maintenance on Baker Trail

April 1989
(Page 4) Hiking Trips
4/15/89 Glenn Oster Day Hike; Rt. 422 and Plum Creek N. to North branch of Plum Creek; crossing at rt. 85/210/954. 13 miles.

(Page 5) Trail Maintenance
4/23/89 Sun. All Pete Srini 921-1238 Maintenance trip on the Baker trail.

May 1989
(Page 5) Hiking
5/21/89 All Pete Srini 921-1238 Maintenance hike, Baker Trail.

June 1989
(Page 7) Volunteers Needed To Keep Pittsburgh Council Running Smoothly
Volunteers have been and will continue to be the mainstay of Pittsburgh Council. We encourage you to help the Council do its work by volunteering for whatever you can help with. If you don't see anything here that suits you, call; there are always a lot of opportunities available. -- Larry Laude

Trail Maintenance
All well-beaten paths and the not so well traveled trails are maintained by various federal, state or local agencies or by volunteer groups. The Baker and Rachel Carson Trails are maintained through the efforts of the Pittsburgh Council of AYH.

The Baker Trail was conceived and developed more than 35 years ago through the efforts of Council members. Enthusiastic volunteers have helped to keep the trail open by brush cutting removing blowdowns, grading, re-routing, painting blazes, making and installing trail signs, shelter repair, trash removal and other chores.

The Baker Trail is beginning to show signs of its age, and we need more volunteer efforts to make the trail more enjoyable for the hikers.

You can help by joining in periodic trail maintenance trips or by hiking the trail and doing maintenance on your own. Or you may choose to adapt a specific section of the trail and be responsible for its upkeep. Even hiking the trail and sending In a report on the condition of the trail and the type of maintenance work involved would be of immense help. You can also help by locating organizations, such as Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and other service groups, who would be willing to help with trail upkeep.

Please contact Pete Srini at 921-1238 or see him at Headquarters if you can help.

(Page 15) 6/10 Sat A Glenn Oster 364-2864 call Join in our annual long day's hike on the Baker Trail. This one will be about 20 miles, Call for Info and reservations before 9 pm or 234-3967 weekdays.

6/18 Sun All Pete Srini 921-1238 8 am at HQ This is one of the regular maintenance hikes on Pittsburgh Council's Baker Trail. We need your help. Call Pete at home or at work at 788-7759. Remember, no trip fees on maintenance hikes!

6/23-25 Fri-Sun B/C Glenn Oster 364-2864 6:30pm at HQ This will be an easier backpack than most that Glenn leads. He'll be covering a section of the Baker Trail in the Red Bank Creek area, about 7 miles on Saturday and 6 miles on Sunday. Call before 9 pm for info and reservations or call 234-3967 weekdays.

July 1989
(Page 1) The President's Report
Membership Fees Restructured
by Larry Laude

Activity Memberships
Only memberships offered by the National office may be sold by the Councils. This means the end of our experlment with Activity Memberships. Please note that current activity members may join as full members at the renewal price. We hope that all of our activity members chose to stay with us and renew as full members.

(Page 8) 7/23 Sun All Pete Srini 921-1238 8:00 am Maintenance hike on the Baker Trail. No fee. Here is your big chance to paint the cows and trees. During the day call 788-7759.

August 1989
(Page 7) 8/27 Sun Pete Srini 921-1238 8:00 at HQ Maintenance hike for Baker Trail.

September 1989
(Page 7) 9/16 Sat All Pete Srini 921-1238 (h) 788-7759(w) 8:30 Meet at HQ. Hiking maintenancetrip on the Baker Trail

October 1989
(Page 6) 10/8 Sun All Pete Srini 921-1238 8:00 am at HQ. Baker Trail maintenance

December 1989
(Page 3) Dear Hostelers,
Thank you for all of your assistance with the Baker Trail Hike on October 14. The Armstrong County Tourist Bureau appreciates your willingness to help make the event a success.

The Bureau hopes that this annual activity continues to help draw more attention to the trail. If the Bureau can ever be of assistance, please let me know.

Sincerely,
Susan Torrance
Tourism Coordinator
Armstrong County

February 1990
(Page 5) 2/10 Sat Int Glenn Oster 364-2864(H) before 9 pm 234-3967(W) 8:00 am at HQ. Hike the Rachel Carosn Trail-14 miles. Call Glenn for information and reservations.

(Page 9) AN UNFORGETABLE HIKE
By Joe Levine
The hike was listed in the Triangle as "easy." It was late in April, trees were still mostly bare. The weather report promised a hot and hazy day.

A large group showed up for the hike on a four mile section of the Rachel Carson Trail. We dropped off the hikers in the school yard at Hiles and set up the shuttle in Tarentum. I gathered the group and we set off for the trail. However, PENDOT had messed things up by re-routing the new Rt 28 Expressway with a 150 foot cut where our trail had passed, high on the bluffs. We gazed up the dirt cut with some misgivings. Several hikers were "seniors" and not in the best of physical shape. Dick Nugent broke the chilly silence: "Hey Joe, Did you bring climbing gear?" We laughed and headed up the cut. We took it easy going up, stronger hikers helped the seniors and a sturdy cyclone fence near the top provided additional handholds for those who needed it. We took a short break and set off down the trail in good spirits.

As it happened, I lost the trail. How can you lose a trail, you ask? Easy! A tree with the crucial blaze is down, or someone blacked out a few blazes for spite. I sent out a few hikers in the most likely directions to yell when blazes were spotted while the rest of us waited. We were on a part of the bluffs overlooking the Allegheny River that were relatively featureless with thick stands of young trees. In that case, when you can't maintain visual contact between hikers, auditory contact is essential. After a few minutes, one of the scouts yelled "trail" and we resumed hiking. All was going well but the temperature was going up. I called a short break under some meager shade.

As we sat and chatted cheerfully, I looked at the group and said, "Hey, where is John Hayes?" A chill went up my spine as it hit me-I'd lost John Hayes! For those readers who never knew him, John was a short, stocky, cheerful and indomitable hiker, biker, and X-C-skier who became active in AYH after his retirement. The kind of member we couldn't afford to lose! I questioned the group, someone had seen him taking off back when we lost the trail. "Alright," I said, "everyone stay put, don't move and wait for me." With a shot of adrenalin in my blood I double timed down the trail retracing our steps and silently praying that I would find him. Around where we lost the trail I began shouting, "John John!" With great relief I heard his voice, "Over here!" I found him in a small clearing, calmly sitting on a log munching some gorp. He told me he had looked for the trail and didn't hear our voices, realized he was lost, and sat down to wait. "Did I do right, Joe?" "Absolutely, John, now let's rejoin the group."

All's well that ends well, right? Usually, but not on this hike. We started up a long, gentle hill out in the sun, about a mile and a half from Tarentum. The temperature hit 90 degrees and I planned to break for lunch at the top. As I topped the hill there were my hikers in a circle looking at someone on the ground. It was Peg Brust, one of my seniors, attended by our nurse Joan Goode. Joan reported that Peg had palpitations, felt weak and had to lie down. "Could she complete the hike after a rest?" "Too risky," replied Joan. I consulted my map. There was a dirt track descending to the outskirts of Tarentum, just a few feet from where we stood. I made my decision. When Peg felt stronger, with her son Robert, and Joan, she would slowly descend to the nearest residential street and wait for the cars. The rest of us would finish the hike and pick them up on our return to Hiles. All went as planned, Peg recovered and we returned safely to Headquarters.

However, there was one more fly in the ointment. When we laid out the trail with Cliff Ham several years earlier, we passed through a farm with very good well water. With that well in mind, I promised the hikers they would soon be drinking cold, sweet water, but it never happened. The trail was routed through the woods, skirting the farm. We had to drink tepid city water from our canteens. It was a minor disappointment at the end of a memorable day -- a hike I cannot forget and wouldn't wish on any trip leader!

March 1990
(Page 6) 3/18 Sun Int John Ritchie 828-0210(H) 624-1220(W) 8:00 am at HQ. Rachel Carson Trail, Springdale to Tarentum, 8 miles.

4/1 Sun Maint Pete Srini 921-1238(H) 8:00 am at HQ. Baker Trail work hike.

(Page 10) DO THE RACHEL CARSON TRAIL IN 1990
by Jim Ritchie

Last summer, my relatively modest hiking project was to hike the Rachel Carson Trail (RCT) from end to end. I've been carrying around my RCT guidebook for going on ten years now. The only hiking I had done on the RCT was at the eastern end within Harrison Hills Park.

Living in Oakmont, I have become very conscious of the rapid urbanization of the North Hills suburbs and the Allegheny Valley corridor. Hiking on the North Park end of the RCT last November, it occurred to me that this trail was being assaulted by urbanization at every turn. I marveled at the effort it must require to keep the trail open. I determined that if I ever wanted to explore the RCT in its entirety, I had better do it soon or else I might lose the chance to do so forever.

So in March I began, going from North Park to Shaler Junior High School and then in April from the Junior High to Route 910. The first leg revealed the trail passing just beyond the property lines of several new houses that were being built. Some of the plusses include the hollow leading out of North Park from the Rocky Dell shelter where I spooked a small herd of deer, Crouse Run Hollow following the interurban line, the small town of Sample and the small pond hidden in the trees at the high point of the climb. Near Middle Road, I was chased uphill by two very aggressive geese.

Each segment was only about 4-5 miles, but given my lack of familiarity with the trail and the difficulty sometimes in finding the next blaze, these short runs each took me the best part of a Sunday afternoon.

In June, I did the piece from Rich Hill Road back to Route 910 as an in-out trip. The hills along this stretch, especially near Rich Hill Road, are real lung busters. It amazed me that parts of Allegheny County were so untouched by residential development. This stretch was the beginning of some of the finest hiking I have done. In spite of the hard use the land has seen, for mining mostly, there is a kind of rugged beauty to it.

In August, I went from Rich Hill Road to Cheswick and back; and in September from Cheswick to Glassmere. I lost the trail twice along here, improvised a little in each case and then joined up with it further down the line. The views and the climbs had me hooked. Even though I would search for as long as an hour to find the next piece of the trail, the rewards were worth it.

It was at this time that I began coming to AYH meetings seeking information from others using the trail. I didn't know if it was really open the rest of the way to Harrison Hills. At AYH I met Blanche Asherman and Cliff Ham who assured me the trail was open. Blanche had been hiking west from Harrison Hills this same year and Cliff, one of the founders of the RCT, had done some trail maintenance earlier in the year.

I finished up in two more pieces, one in October from Glassmere to Tarentum, and the last in November from Tarentum to Harrison Hills. The highlights were the spectacular views of the Allegheny River from the bluffs on the western bank, the spectacular fall colors and walking along in the crisp autumn air. The minus was seeing one area being bulldozed and marked for development. It was probably the site of a newly proposed shopping mall in Fawn Township.

I want to mention that I probably learned the origin of the term "bushwack." I found the trail blocked in several places, especially in early September, by ironweed, pokeberry, brambles and other weeds that came up over my head. I had to use my trusty hiking staff to whack the bushes down. The longest such episode took nearly 30 minutes of whacking to move only about 50 feet.

In 1990, I would like to hike the RCT once again with interested members of AYH. I will be leading a series of four hikes. In March, April, May and June covering the entire 34 mile length of the RCT across northern Allegheny County, since I now know where the trail goes, we should have no trouble covering the whole thing in four shots of roughly 8 or 9 miles each.

I also want to mention that Glenn Oster led a group in February along the first 12 miles or so moving west from North Park. To avoid immediate duplication, I will be starting at Springdale and going to Harrison Hills Park, also in two pieces.

I would like to enlist the assistance of someone handy with a camera who would be willing to take slides along the trail. I am willing to share the cost of film and developing. If you are interested in being the official trip photographer or you are just interested in joining the group, give me a call at 828-0210 (H) or 624-1220 (W).

April 1990
(Page 5) 4/22 Sun Int Jim Ritchie 828-0210(H) 624-1220(W) 8:00am at HQ. Rachel Carson Trail (Allegheny County) from Tarentum to Harrison Hills. Approx. 8 miles. Call for information and reservatlons.

May 1990
(Page 3) THE PRESIDENT'S CORNER
Trails: Trails are getting renewed attention from the Council, including our own Rachel Carson and Baker Trails, the Montour Trail, and the Yough River Trail. Pete Srini and Glenn Oster and others have been at work securing portions of the Baker Trail with cooperative landowners. And Blanche and Jack Asherman, Jim Ritchle and many others have been doing a great job getting the Rachel Carson Trail ready for Rachel Carson Day and putting together a new Rachel Carson Trail brochure. Others have been helping too, including our old friend Bruce Schenker and the North Area Environmental Council. If you'd like to help with our trails, call any of these people or just leave a message at the AYH number: 412-362-8181. We can always use help with trail maintenance hikes but are also looking for people willing to take charge of a nearby section of the trail.

(Page 6) BAKER TRAIL ALERT
The Baker Trail crosses Mahoning Creek on the Route 839 bridge. We've learned from PennDOT that this bridge will be closed to all vehicle and pedestrian traffic until this fall for reconstruction. We don't have a recommended detour yet but we're working on it. It doesn't look good though. As far as we can tell the only road detour is to the west through McCrea Furnace or to the east through Smicksburg.

5/5 Sat Maint Pete Srini 921-1238(H) 788-7759(W) 8:00 am at HQ. Maintenance on the Baker trail. Here is your big chance to paint the cows and trees.

5/20 Sun Int Jim Ritchie 828-0210(H) 624-1220(W) 8:00 am at HQ. Rachel Carson Trail (Allegheny County) from Springdale to Dorseyville. Approximately 9 miles, call for information and reservations.

(Page 7) RACHEL CARSON DAY
MAY 19, 1990

The Rachel Carson Homestead Association has established a special mission in its 1990 Rachel Carson Day activities: to show that environmental degradation is a global problem, as well as a global concern.

RCHA has invited the Soviet Union's preeminent environmentalist and journalist, Mr. Vasili Mikailovich Peskov of Moscow's newspaper, KOMSOMOLSKAYA PRAVDA, for a visit to Pittsburgh and the homesite of Miss Carson. An entire series of events is planned around Mr. Peskov's visit culminating with the Rachel Carson Day activities at her birthplace on May 19. The Rachel Carson Homestead is located at 613 Marion Ave., Springdale, PA. The activities for May 19th at the Homestead are:

9:30 am Environmental Round-table discussion
11:00 am VIP Tour of the Homestead
12:30 pm Formal Ceremony in the amphitheater
Invocation, Rev. William F. Ewart
A Silent Spring - Brass ensemble
Speakers, including Vasili Peskov
American, the Beautiful narrative
1:00 pm Lunch served/Brass playing (Lunch tickets must be purchased in advance for $5 in order to prepare for the right number of people)
2:00 pm Springdale High School musical program

EDUCATIONAL EXHIBITS - All afternoon

AYH will conduct two short hikes on the Rachel Carson Trail to acquaint people with the trail.

9:00 am Harrison Hills Park, approx. 2 miles
4:30 pm North Park, approx. 3 miles

For information and reservation on these hikes call Blanche Asherman at 828-8158.

Other hikes on the Rachel Carson Trail will be led by Jim Ritchie. For information on his hikes, refer to the Hiking activities schedule in The Golden Triangle.

Blanche Asherman

June 1990
(Page 6) 6/10 Sun Int Jim Ritchie 828-0210(H) 624-1220(W) 8:00 am at HQ. Rachel Carson Trail (Allegheny County) from Dorseyville to North Park. Approximately 9 miles. Call for information and reservations.

6/16 Sat All Pete Srini 921-1238(H) 788-7759(W) 8:00 am at HQ. An easy maintenance hike on the Baker Trail. No fees. Dairy Queen milkshakes are on Pete.

July 1990
(Page 2) NORTH COUNTRY TRAIL CELEBRATION
Come join us! We're celebrating the 10th anniversary of the North Country National Scenic Trail, the NCT, on Sunday, September 2.

This 3200 mile trail has been officially sanctioned by Congress, just like the Appalachian Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail. Pennsylvania is fortunate to have over 200 miles of this route(about half of it complete), and we can feel especially proud because it traces a segment of our own Baker Trail.

AYH, Pittsburgh Council is responsible for the Cook Forest site of the celebration; so round up some of your buddies and lay plans to visit Cook Forest on September 2. You'll be able to hike on this historic trail to make loops as little as 1 1/2 miles or line hikes as much as 10 miles. We need your help to make this a success.

For more information phone Glenn Oster at 234-3967(W) or 364-2864(H) before 9 pm. More about this next month,

(Page 6) 7/14 Sat All Pete Srini 921-1238(H) 8:00 at HQ. Maintenance trip on Baker Trail. No fees.

August 1990
(Page 2) NORTH COUNTRY TRAIL CELEBRATION
DON'T MISS IT!

You're invited. Actually, invitations have been sent to Governor Casey and Pennsylvania State senators and representatives, heads of local governments, the universities, hiking organizations and all those interested in the out of doors. Join in celebrating the 10th anniversary of the North Country National Scenic Trail, the NCT, at Cook forest on Sunday, September 2.

We of the Pittsburgh Council of AYH are responsible for the Cook forest site of the celebration. Simultaneously, there will be 30 - 40 such sites along the trail's 3200 miles. We at AYH are proud that this important multiple use (non-motorized) trail travels a 30-some mile segment of our own Baker Trail including some of its most beautiful woodlands. For that matter, Cook forest is best known for its marvelous stand of sky-high hemlocks and hardwoods.

So, come to Cook Forest and hike a part of the NCT. Guide sheets and maps will be provided so that you can hike a loop as short as 1 1/2 miles, a three mite loop or a ten mile loop (longer, if you're really in the mood).

There's no registration fee, but you'll be able to buy patches and pins there and to order T shirts commemorating the event (and supporting the further development of the trail). Get together a group. Have a picnic at this beautiful park or arrive early and camp for the Labor Day week-end. But, whatever, it'll be fun. Come join us and hike a bit of the trail.

No advance registration is required. Simply meet at the visitors center at the picnic grounds along the Cooksburg/Vowinckel road about one half mile north of the Clarion River Bridge (toward Vowinckel) anytime between 8:00 am and 3.00 pm on September 2. You'll register and be able to discuss which trails to walk and will receive a trail guide and a map of Cook Forest.

For more information, call any of us after August 19 (we'll be backpack/hlking in Montana 8/3 - 8/18). Glenn Oster, 234-3967 (weekdays): Pat Teman, 561-3286; Helen Coyne,

(Page 6) 8/25 Sat All Pete Srini 921-1238(H) Maintenance hike on the Baker Trail (no fees charged)

September 1990
(Page 6) 9/2 Sun All Glenn Oster 234-3967(W) Selfguided. Hike the beautiful trails of Cook Forest in Celebration of the 10th Anniversary of the North Country Trail that follows AYH's Baker Trail through Cook Forest. Meet at any time at the visitors center (Cooksburg/Vowinckle Road) between 8:00 am and 3.00 pm. No fee. Call Glenn or Pat Tieman 561-3286 or Helen Clyne 776-0678.

9/15 Sat All Peter Srini 921-1238(H) Maintenance hike on the Baker Trail (no fees charged)

October 1990
(Page 6) 10/28 Sun Int/Adv Jim Ritchie 828-0210(H) 624-1220(W) 8:00 am at HQ. Hiking on the Rachel Carson Trail, Section C, from Springdale to Dorseyville, 10 miles, lots of hills, spectacular fall foliage. Call for information and reservations.

November 1990
(Page 5) NOTICE TO HIKERS
This is another reminder that the Baker Trail no longer crosses the Allegheny Sand and Gravel property north of Schenley, PA. Trespassing may result in prosecution. The trail has been blazed to by pass this property. The Schenley shelter is no longer available for use. Please cease and desist as the AYH organization is receiving letters from their attorney.

December 1990
(Page 3) THE PRESIDENT'S CORNER

THE NEW PITTSBURGH AYH. As noted elsewhere in this issue, the Council approved the proposed change to the Council board structure at the October annual meeting. I expect that this will have a significant improvement in the operations of the council. The biggest change will come from allowing each of the new committees to meet separately and to concentrale on their individual responsibilities. At the board meetings, each committee will present its recommendations to the board for approval. By keeping detailed discussion at the committee level, the Board of Directors will be able to concentrate on major issues and on policy for the Council. Any member is free to attend board and committee meetings. I anticipate that the board will be meeting every other month, with the committees meeting separately between the board meetings. The meetings will be listed in the newsletter. We haven't finalized the committees yet, but I anticipate five standing committees (Hostels, Activities, Finance, Communications & Operations, and Member Services) and several ad hoc committees (Audit, Nominating, Headquarters Renovation, and Bylaws). You do NOT need to be a member of the Board of Directors to be on one of the committees. If you are willing to join one or more of these committees, please let me know of your interest.

January 1991
(Page 6) Armstrong County's 3rd Annual Baker Trall Hike
by Pete Srini

Every year the Armstrong County Tourism Bureau organizes a hike on the Baker Trail. The hike is usually in the second week of October when the leaves are in their brightest. A large number of people of different ages and varying physical ability attend the hike. Our AYHers go on the hike as trip leaders.

This year, the hike was on Saturday, October 13. The hike covered the Crooked Creek section of the Baker Trail. This is one of the prettiest sections of the trail, which goes through woods country roads and farmlands. The highlights of the Trail include the covered bridge over Homey Run and the magnifi cent view of the Crooked Creek reservoir.

Over 220 people were scheduled to go on the hike, but due to the threat of rain, only 93 people registered. We had split up the hikers into groups of 20 with three or four AYHers accompanying each group. Tom Kavaney led the first group. He hiked from Brick church towards the Crooked Creek dam.

It had rained the week before, and the whole trail had become a wetland in most places. The trail followed a jeep route until we came to Pine Run. There was no bridge across the stream, so different strategies were followed to cross it. Some took off their shoes and walked across, some forded it with their shoes on and others tried to cross it by stepping over rocks. Everybody got wet feet anyway. Most of the people enjoyed the challenge presented by the stream crossing. The trail got muddier and muddier after this. In some places the trail almost looked like a swamp. Everybody slid, slipped and plodded along.

We went through farmlands and back roads before we reached the covered bridge. This was a popular lunch spot for the hikers. From the bridge the trail went along an old logging path towards the reservoir. After about a mile, the trail makes a turn to the left while the logging road goes straight head. Unfortunately the turn was missed by two of the hikers. They went quite a while along the logging road before they started to notice that there were no blazes. They backtracked and met the "sweep" group. There was some logging going on along the trail. Consequently quite a few people had difficulty going through the fallen trees. We crossed Elbow Run without undue difficulty. Negotiating the last two steep hills was made a lot easier by the switchbacks built by the Boy Scouts last summer.

We walked along a back road and reached the picnic area near the reservoir. A bus took us back to the starting point of the hike. There were no major injuries and everyone completed the hike. The last of the stragglers made it in around 5 p.m. In spite of the difficult terrain and the threat of rain, everyone had fun and promised to be back next year.

Thanks to Tom Kavaney, Rodney Horner, Sid Pant, Jim Ritchie, Brian McBane, Nick Broskovich, Sheila Kier, Dee Garvin, Lori Love, Charles Seifert, Royanne Mac and Janet Stuckert for volunteering to be AYH leaders for the hike. My special thanks to Tom Kavaney for merging his scheduled hike into the Baker Trail hike so we had a sufficient number of AYHers to manage the group. I must also thank Glenn Oster who had reblazed the trail a few days before the hike.

February 1991
(Page 4) THE PRESIDENT'S CORNER
Pittsburgh Council is at the edge of a new era. We have more members (over 2,200) than we have ever had before. We recently chartered two new hostels and are working to build our own hostel in Pittsburgh and to develop other hostels throughout the area. The Rachel Carson Trail has been reworked extensively and there is renewed interest in reviving the Baker Trail.

Yet I feel a real reluctance among some of our members to take the next step and continue on. Much of this hesitation may stem from an uncertainty about just what Pittsburgh Council is or should be. For example, are we an activities club? Yes, but trippers constitute less than 25% of the membership. (The other 75% joins AYH to go hosteling). Are we in the accommodations business? Yes, but we're more than just a campground or an inexpensive place to spend the night - we offer friendship and interpretation of the world around us. Are we in the travel business? In a sense yes, but again we do more than just travel from one place to another - we enjoy learning about and experiencing the world we travel in.

Some hesitation may come from the amount of work involved in running what is essentially a small business. Our current volunteer base is getting spread thinner and thinner. For example, as our involvement in hostels has increased, the board of directors has had less time to spend on developing the activities program and many of activities have been suffering a general decline as a result. (This is one of the reasons that a separate Activities Committee was set up, to allow it to concentrate on activities, trails and special events). Also, some of what needs to be done is no longer suitably handled on a part time basis by volunteers since it involves a continuing long term effort or requires attention during normal working hours.

The solutions to some of these issues are obvious and are already being acted on: The Board of Directors will be having a day long planning session to examine Council goals and objectives; we have hired part time people to handle some of the work load and will be looking further at hiring an office manager or executive director; and we will be developing our business abilities in additional areas as needed.

However I believe the key to further growth of the Council is a sense of mission and a continued growth of support for that mission among our membership and the community. If you want AYH to succeed, if you think things you want to happen aren't getting done, then we need your time and energy. Larry Laude, President

May 1991
(Page 7) 5/11 Sat I/A Jim Ritchie 828-0210(H) 6241220(W) 8:00 am at HQ. Hiking on the Rachel Carson Trail, Deer Creek. Section from Springdale to Dorseyville, 10 miles, lots of hills and wildflowers. Call for information and reservations.

5/19 Sun All Pete Srini 921-1238(H) 788-7759(W) Hiking Maintenance Trip. Time to paint the trees, utility poles and the cows again. Maintenance of the Baker Trail. No fee. All are invited.

June 1991
(Page 7) Sunday, June 9
Maintenance Trip on the Baker Trail
Pittsburgh Council is responsible for maintaining part of the Baker Trail. There is no activity fee for this trip. Leader: Pete Srini (921-1238).

July 1991
(Page 6) Saturday, July 20
Intermediate/Advanced Hike on the Rachel Carson Trail
Meet at HQ 8:00 a.m. to hike the Allegheny Crest Section of the Rachel Carson Trail from Springdale to Tarentum, 8 miles; steep hills and grand vistas. Leader: Jim Ritchie - 828-0210(H), 624-1220(W).

Sunday, July 28
Baker Trail Maintenance Trip
There's no fee for this trip. Leader: Pete Srini - 921-1238.

September 1991
(Page 7) Saturday, September 14
Hiking maintenance Trip, Baker Trail
Meet at headquarters at 8:00am. There is no fee; call Pete Srini at 921-1238 for more information.

October 1991
(Page 6) Sunday, October 27
Rachel Carson Trail
Intermediate hike. Hike the Harrison Hills section of the Rachel Carson Trail, going north from Tarentum for 8 miles. There are steep hills, grand vistas, and fabulous fall foliage. Meet at 8:00am at AYH HQ. For more information, or to reserve a spot, call Jim Ritchie at 828-0210 (home) or 624-1220 (work).

November 1991
(Page 10) PITTSBURGH COUNCIL TRAILS MAINTENANCE NEEDS YOU

The Pittsburgh Council of American Youth Hostels has primary responsibility for the maintenance of the Baker and Rachel Carson Trails. The Council conceived, built and has maintained these two trails for more than 40 years. These are "AYH Trails" -- in a sense, they represent our Council. When others use our trails and they are in good condition or poor condition, that reflects accordingly on AYH.

The Baker Trail, only 24 miles northeast of AYH Headquarters in Pittsburgh, runs from Garvers Ferry, PA, just across the Allegheny River from Freeport, for 141 miles to the area just north of Cook Forest State Park. The Rachel Carson Trail is 34 miles long, running from Harrison Hills County Park just outside of Freeport, south and then west to North Park. The Baker Trail was initially developed by AYH in 1950. At first, the BT extended beyond Freeport into Allegheny County down to the Highland Park Bridge. The Allegheny County section was eventually abandoned due to difficulties related to ongoing land development along the right-of-way. In the early 1970's some of the Allegheny County trailway was reblazed from Harrison Hills to Springdale and then extended to North Park as the Rachel Carson Trail.

AYH is committed to providing trail maintenance, trail activity, and publishing of trail guides for the BT and the RCT. When AYH members lead hikes on these trails and encourage others to use the trails, we fulfill our commitment to promote and sponsor trail activity. The Baker Trail guide was last published in 1986 while a 1991 Edition of the RCT guide has just been completed. Minimal levels of trail maintenance involve blazing, clearing and rerouting as necessary.

We have been extremely fortunate to have volunteers like Pete Srini, the Ashermans, and John Buck, all of whom have taken initiatives to provide levels of trail maintenance far exceeding minimum requirements. The Rachel Carson Trail bas been resurrected in just the past two years with extensive reblazing, clearing end rerouting by Jack and Blanche Asherman, Pete has led advertised AYH work parties doing heavy maintenance along the entire length of the Baker Trail, work like cutting and removing sections of trees that have fallen across the Trail. John has led his Volunteers for Outdoor Alleghany (VOA) people through the North Park area of the RCT blazing, clearing and picking up trash left by others.

December 1991
(Page 6) Sun INT Rachel Carson Trail Hike 8:00 am Jim Ritchie 828·0210 h 624-1220 w
Meet at headquarters at 8:00 am. A hike on the Rachel Carson Trail, North Hills section (section D), from Dorseyville to North Park. The hike is about 8 miles, and is a pleasant early winter hike through the North Hills. Call for information and reservations.

(Page 9) New Rachel Carson Trail Guide Available
A revised, Summer 1991 edition of the Hiking Guide to the Rachel Carson Trail is now available. The new edition includes updated topographical maps, all current through August 1991, and shows all reroutings caused by the completion of the Allegheny Valley Expressway (PA Route 28) through Allegheny County. The new guide is available for $4.24 including tax at the Headquarters store during the Thursday evening Open House, or may be ordered by mail. Address your mail order to AYH Publications, 6300 Fifth Avenue; Pittsburgh, PA 15232. Please enclose an additional $1.00 per guide for postage and handling.

There is also a Rachel Carson Trail cloth patch available for $1.50. Please make arrangements in advance if you want to purchase the cloth patch at the Headquarters store by calling Chuck Ejzak at 466-6196.

March 1992
(Page 4) Rachel Carson Trail-North Park
March 15 Easy Leader: Linda Smithyman Call: 531-1868
Sunday, 10:00 am.
We'll try to do a loop hike using the Rachel Carson Trail and solve all the mysteries of the North Park Trail Network. 5-6 miles.

April 1992
(Page 4) Rachel Carson Trail, Harrison Township.
April 18 Jim Ritchie 828-0210 624-1220
This is a maintenance hike. They've built a corral for horses right on the trail. We need to clear and blaze a new route around it. This is your chance to pitch in and help AYH to keep those trails goin'. Meets 10:00 am Saturday at HQ.

May 1992
(Page 12) May 16 Jim Ritchie 828-0210 (h) Baker Trail, Armstrong
624-1220 (w) County. This is another maintenance hike. This time we have a huge rottweiller with his doghouse on the trail. We want to bypass the doghouse. Also, a few miles away, a clearcut has removed many of our blazes. We'll go in and restore the route.

June 6 Jim Ritchie 828-0210 (h) Baker Trail, Garver's Ferry
624-1220 (w) to Cook's Summit. Intermediate hike on overland trails and along rural roads through villages of Schenley, Alladin, Godfrey, and Kelly Station; also the new rail-trail on the Allegheny River, Armstrong County; 12 miles

(Page 14) Rails to Trails Hikes
Harmony Trails Council (North Hills)
The Harmony Trails Council was formed to promote, establish and maintain a multi-use public trail system following the old Hammony Interurban line from Warrendale to Ingomar for walkers, joggers, bicyclists, skiers, non-motorized traffic, horse riders, and physically challenged persons. Harmony Trails Council * 9955 Grubbs Rd * Wexford PA 15090

(Page 15) Hiking and Backpacking 1992
The 1992 goals and initiatives for Pittsburgh AYH Hiking/Backpacking include several theme-centered series of hiking and backpacking trips, cpr and first aid training, a series of trail maintenance outings on the Baker and the Rachel Carson Trails, and the First Annual AYH Fall Gala Hiking, Backpacking and Wilderness Fashion Show.

On the serious side again, a trail maintenance initiative is planned to begin last month, April, and continue with at least one major maintenance project each month through October on the Baker and Rachel Carson Trails. The maintenance trips are planned to address specific problems, usually involving rerouting or serious brush-clearing. The group also discussed the possibility of providing t-shirts to maintenance workers both as a reward for giving their time as a volunteer but also to provide recognition and legitimacy to workers while on the trail.

Also, we plan to recruit two-person teams for trail blazing this year. The teams can work independently on an assigned section of the trail, refreshing old paint blazes on their own or participating in a group shuttle to points along the trail. For this, we seriously need the support of all the people who participate in our hiking and backpacking programs. You will probably be called over the next several months and be asked to donate one morning or afternoon of your time.

Other business included announcements regarding increases in activity fees to $1 for members and $3 for nonmembers per day and the imminent availability of new trail patches for the Rachel Carson and Baker Trails. The group discussed and reaffirmed the AYH policy of requesting trip leader permission to list their trips in outside media and to always offer the option of using the AYH Office or Answering Service telephone numbers for response.

June 1992
(Page 6) June 6 Saturday
Baker Trail, Garver's Ferry to Cook's Summit
Jim Ritchie 828-0210 (h) 624-1220 (w)
Intermediate hike on overland trails and along rural roads through the villages of Schenley, Alladin, Godfrey, and Kelly Station; also the new railtrail on the Allegheny River in Armstrong County; 12 miles

June 20 Saturday
Baker Trail, Mahoning Creek Area
Pete Srini 921-1238
This is a maintenance hike, most likely along the cool, shaded banks of Mahoning Creek in Armstrong County. The jobs to be done will include removing brush, cutting back the briars, refreshing the blazes and clearing the footway. 8:00 am at HQ.

July 1992
(Page 4) Dogs Gone!!!
Thanks to an AYH Trails Maintenance task force, hikers on the Baker Trail in Armstrong County no longer need to fear close encounters with the BT rottweiller.

The trail passed directly in front of the doghouses of three large dogs, one malemute, one rottweiller and one large but somewhat nondescript black dog between one and two miles north and east of PA route 66. The rottweiller was known to hide in the rear of his house until an unsuspecting hiker passed by. "Rot Serling" would then come charging through the front door of his house with the force and demeanor of a freight train.

The AYH task force was led on Saturday, May 22 by Jim Ritchie and consisted of Steve Nydes, Fumiko Kasuga, Maynard Hanson, Brian Byrd, Chris Kline, and Lenny Szypulski. That same day, a half-mile section of the BT on the far side of Crooked Creek Lake, suffering from a fairly recent clear-cut, was reblazed. Further down the trail, a large tree was removed from the right-of-way.

In the afternoon, the group hiked to the covered bridge over Homey Camp Run and later yet, visited the Cochran's Mill Shelter. The Shelter will probably be the site of a later maintenance expedition since it appeared that about half of the sides of the shelter had very recently been used for firewood.

AYH thanks all who volunteered their time and services for this trail maintenance trip.

Rachel Carson Trail Pasture-ized
On Saturday, April 15, an AYH trail maintenance task force rerouted a quarter-mile section of the Rachel Carson Trail in Harrison Township, Allegheny County around a newly-constructed horse corral.

Old blazes were blackened out and new blazes were installed along the new route, dipping into a small hollow and rejoining the old route on the other side. The group also cleared brush, cut out brambles and freshened up old blazes along the next mile of trail up to its intersection with Altermoor Road.

The group consisted of Jim Ritchie, Jack Asherman (who supplied the tools), Dee Garvin, Steve Nydes, Maynard Hanson (who has now explored more of Harrison Township than any other living creature), Laurie Prucha (who brought 5 pounds of carrots for the horses), Frank Pillitteri, and Helen Coyne.

Thanks to all who helped make the day a great success.

August 1992
(Page 6) August 15 Saturday
Baker Trail, Cochran's Mill to Idaho
Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Intermediate level hike, 9 miles. Hike starts at the Cochran's Mill Shelter and follows Cherry Run to the former cable crossing. After following dirt and paved rural roads, the hike ends in Idaho at the Idaho Shelter with a side trip to the Keystone Station Power Plant overlook. Meets at 8:00 am at HQ.

Aug 16 Sunday
Rachel Carson Trail
Blanche Asherman 828-8158
North Park to Hartwood. Intermediate hike through North Park, Hampton Nature Reserve, and into Hartwood Acres. Meets 8:00 am at AYH headquarters. About 10 miles.

August 30 Sunday
Baker Trail @ Crooked Creek Lake
John Dern 824-9756
Easy to intermediate level hike in the vicinity of the dam at Crooked Creek Lake. Approximately 6 miles. After the hike, we'll stop at the beach and swim for awhile. Meets at 8:00 am. Call for meeting place and additional information.

(Page 10) Baker Trail Needs Experienced Construction Volunteers
A recent walking inspection of the Baker Trail in the vicinity of Crooked Creek Lake in Armstrong County reveals a number of repairs that need to be made on several of the Trail's enhancements. There are about a half dozen foot bridges of various designs that are in need of repair. Also, the Cochran's Mill Shelter, an Appalachian-style backpacking shelter built by AYH in 1963, has been stripped of its walls from the ground up to about waist height. This shelter is used frequently by boy scout troops in the Armstrong area for weekend backpacking trips.

AYH also built a cable crossing of Cherry Run, about 2 miles from the Cochran's Mill Shelter back in 19??. A cable crossing consists of two cables, one about 4 feet above the other, running parallel to each other across a stream. The hiker walks along the lower cable while holding onto the upper cable with his/her hands. As legend has it, about two months after the cable crossing was constructed, a major storm flooded Cherry Run, washing a huge tree into the crossing and wiping out the lower cable.

Other bridges that desperately need repairs or rebuilding include crossings of Pine Run and Elbow Run. The Pine Run crossing, also not very far from the Cochran's Mill Shelter is especially troublesome because the water level is very seldom low enough for an easy crossing. The Crooked Creek Shelter near Cook's Summit is basically in good condition but does need a little bit of roof repair.

We need several volunteers who have experience building decks or homes or otherwise working with wooden structures who believe they can supervise and direct these recon struction projects. We also need a number of people who are willing to provide the labor necessary to complete these projects under someone else's supervision. AYH has written specifications for the cable crossing constructed over Cherry Run. AYH will pay for all materials needed for the reconstruction of the structures. To discuss how you may be able to help with these special maintenance projects, call Jim Ritchie at 828-0210.

September 1992
(Page 7) Sep 20 Rachel Carson Trail, PA Turnpike to Springdale
Blanche Asherman 828-8158
This is the second of four hikes on the RCT in 1992. This is an upper-level intermediate hike of approximately 10 miles featuring beautiful vistas, roller coaster hills with steep climbs, Baltimore orioles, columbines, and Deer Creek Valley. Meets at 8:00 am at HQ. Call for additional info.

October 1992
(Page 5) October 10 Saturday
Baker Trail, Crooked Creek Park to Brick Church
Pete Srini 921-1238
Enjoy the early October colors in this 8-mile intermediate level hike that starts near the dam area in Crooked Creek Park. The trail goes over hill and dale, crossing small streams on wooden bridges, one covered bridge and sometimes, no bridges. Meets at 8:00 am at HQ. Call for info/reservations.

October 10 Saturday
Baker Trail Maintenance Hike, Mill Creek Area, Clarion County
Glenn Oster 364-2864
Blaze and clear the Baker Trail in the area north of Mill Creek, Clarion County. This is an important section of the Trail for us in that the Congressionally-approved North Country National Scenic Trail shares this route. No fees. Call for info/reservations.

October 18 Sunday
Rachel Carson Trail, Allegheny Vistas Section
Blanche Asherman 828-8158
There will be no better vantage point from which to see the spectacular fall colors than from the heights of the bluffs overlooking the Allegheny River along this part of the RCT. This upper intermediate level hike is approximately 8 miles long, starting at Springdale and running to Tarentum. Lots of hills. Meet at 8:00 am at HQ. Call for info/reservations.

November 1992
(Page 3) Foot Notes
by Jim Ritchie

Foot Notes is a new column that we, the hiking and backpacking folks, hope will appear in the newsletter every so often beginning now. Our intention is to bring you all the news (and gossip) related to hiking and backpacking not only in the Pittsburgh Council, AYH but for all of Western Pennsylvania and beyond as well. We hope to keep you well-informed about the many things happening that you won't read in the trip listings including who's doing what to whom. Let us know what you think of our new column and please offer suggestions for improvement. And most of all, share your news with us so we can get it out to the rest of our readers. Thanks.

Maynard Hanson took a trip to Alaska in August, making one final dash for the Arctic Circle from Fairbanks in a 200-mile drive along the Alaskan Pipeline. While the weather wasn't especially good, Maynard says it was good when it had to be. Tom Kaveney loaned Maynard all his Alaskan maps so Maynard wouldn't get lost.

Mark Mistrick thinks AYH needs a new winter large group activity. He is seeking someone to help him with all the details of putting such a trip together. He has been talking about maybe going into West Virginia, maybe down to White Sulphur Springs, unless you have a better idea. Activities could include hiking, cross country skiing, downhill skiing, ice skating, sledding and tobagganning and, of course, eating (Are You Hungry?)

Did you know Helen Coyne went for AYH leadership training? The objective of this training is that it allows you to be a trip leader for National AYH. Helen went for her training and while it was specifically for cycling, the leadership and people skills she learned there are applicable to all types of trips. We're looking forward to· our new trip leader. Helen led her first trip, a beginner's backpack on the Rimrock Morrison Trail in the Allegheny National Forest in October. Rumor has it that now Helen has just completed a Wilderness Survival School. Does Helen know something we don't know??

Many thanks to Pat Tieman for serving as the Pittsburgh AYH Hiking/Backpack ing Co-Chair for the past few years. Pat was an active AYH member long before I got involved in 1989 and has made many contributions to our organization. Pat has been going on most if not all of the Shenandoan/Appalachian Trail hikes this past year and intends to remain an active contributor in AYH affairs. When I think of Pat, I think of the assistance she has provided new backpackers in selecting good equipment for their activities and the overnight trips she led in recent years on the Laurel Highlands Trail.

At the same time I want to congratulate Helen Coyne as the new CoChair for Hiking/Backpacking in AYH for 1992-93. I sure she has much to contribute in our program. Helen has been active with the North Country Trail Council, currently serving as the National organization's secretary and with the Keystone Trails Association, attending at the end of September the semiannual (Fall) meeting of that organization in Dingman's Ferry, PA. As you know, Helen also provides the staff support for the Pittsburgh AYH office at the Solway School.

Jon Maiman is suggesting that the AYH multi-activities weekend for 1993 be moved to central West Virginia in July. The intention is to camp at a campground near Fayetteville and sponsor hiking, rafting, canoeing, cycling, rock climbing, kayaking and others activities as well (like eating) ... . Now is the time to begin investigating hiking/backpacking opportunities in the area. What kind of trails exist around there? Are there trails leading out of the campground itself or would we need to carpool to a trailhead? Who will volunteer to lead hikes there?

A] Stones has expressed his interest in helping AYH repair some of its bridges and shelters on the Baker Trail throughout the next year. He had planned to go with Pete Srini on his October hike around Crooked Creek Lake on the BT assess the amount of work that would be needed. If you're interested in helping AJ, probably next Spring, let him know. Maybe we can organize an overnight trip, staying at the Cochran's Mill Shelter, doing the necessary repairs, and having a giant campfire on Saturday night. Talk to AJ.

Thanks to Blanche and Jack Asherman for staffing a brochure table on National Rails-to-Trails Day at the Buffalo Township Fire Hall, October 4, on the occaison of the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Butler-Freeport Community Trail, aka the Butler-Freeport Rail-Trail. The first two sections of the trail, totalling 3.5 miles, are now open with the ballast removed and a finished limestone surface in place. This is a spectacular trail, following the Little Buffalo Creek Valley and running past Todd Sanctuary in Butler County. Is anyone interested in leading a hiking trip on this trail? If so, I can provide maps and information on the route.

Ron Bennett is the President of the BFCT Council but is hoping he can pass the torch to younger blood after serving in this capacity for the last two, hard-working and successful years. If you're knowledgeable regarding the BFCT and ambitious, give Ron a call to express your interest. And while you're at it, thank him for a job well done.

Did anyone realize that the headline in the October Golden Triangle that said "Local Sierra Club Leads Bike to Beer Run" should have said "Local Sierra Club Leads Hike to Beer Run"? In our haste to poke a little fun at a typo in the Sierra Club newsletter, we committed a typo ourselves. Is this poetic justice or what??

If you intend to lead a hike during the months of December, January or February be sure to contact Jim Ritchie, Helen Coyne or the newsletter editor Ron Wodaski since no phone calls will be made to solicit hike/backpack listings for those months. The telephone calls will resume for hiking and backpacking in March, the calls being made in early February.

Through October, Blanche Asherman had completed three of the four hikes on the Rachel Carson Trail that she had set as her goal for 1992. In between hikes, she and Jack are out there cutting down the jungle that grows up each year, clearing the trails of fallen trees and brambles, refreshing faded blazes, etc. Many thanks.

Ron Boone led a hike in September for the B.O.L.D. folks, that is the Blind Outdoor Leisure Development people, in conjunction with Peggy Walsh. Peggy sent Ron a letter of thanks for leading the group on a great hike at Ohiopyle on September 13. Thanks, Ron.

Ingeborg Kerenyi found a gold mine recently. While hiking in August with Jim Ritchie on the Baker Trail in the Cherry Run area she stumbled across an entire hillside covered with Chanterelles. If you don't know what Chanterelles are, they are orange, irregularly shaped mushrooms considered a delicacy in Europe and sold in many open air markets there. lngeborg must have taken home 2 pounds of those things. Since she is still well, I assume she made the correct identification. Ingeborg also dined on fiddleheads back in April while hiking with Jim on the Wolf Rocks Trail.

Apologies to Linda Smithyman for whom several slides in the hiking/backpacking slide show on September 17 were loaded upside down or sideways. That was the fault of the slide show engineer for the night (me). Really, Linda, I'll do better next time.

Linda has been doing such a great job with maintenance on the Ohiopyle Hostel and doing so much horseback riding in her spare time that we are beginning to miss her as a trip leader on her favorite trails: Schenley Park, Frick Park, Duff Park, Spruce Bog on Laurel Mountain, and at Ohiopyle. Can someone talk Linda into resuming her career as a hike leader?? Maybe she's just holding out for her annual New Year's Day Gala Breakfast Hike.

Clare Bunker and Bill Lindgren were starting to do the Battlefield Hikes this fall but I didn't see them in the Golden Triangle. If you're interested, give them a call.

Glenn Oster went hiking for the second time this year on the Appalachian Trail, this time for two weeks in North Carolina, starting up where he left off earlier in the year. I don't know if the weather was better this time or not. In June, the weather was about as unforgiving as possible.

Glenn has been doing so many BIG trips over the past two years (the coast-to coast bike trip and five weeks of Appalachian Trail backpacking this summer) that we sorely miss his weekend backpacking efforts in the Allegheny National Forest, and the interesting day hikes he used to lead all over Western PA. In addition to the BIG trips, Glenn has been spending a lot of time visting family and friends in North Carolina and when he's not doing that, recuperating from bicycle accidents. Glenn has been doing some major league trail maintenance on the Baker Trail in Clarion County, around the Mill Creek area, clearing out overgrowth, rerouting sections of the trail, and repainting blazes that have all but disappeared. Glenn says he can't believe how much these trails get lost from year to year, so much that even though he was the last person to clear and blaze certain sections of the trail, he can't even follow his own path. I hope Glenn leads a hike on that section for us sometime soon.

(Page 7) Nov. 15 Sunday
Rachel Carson Trail, Harrison Hills
Blanche Asherman 828-8158
This is the Grand Finale fourth hike on the RCT for 1992, covering the last and northernmost segment of the trail. Intermediate hike, approximately 8 miles from Tarentum through Harrison Hills Park where the trail cuts along the edge of the high bluffs overlooking the Allegheny River. Hilly. Meets at 8:00 am at HQ. Call for info/reservations.

December 1992
(Page 6) FOOTNOTES
by Jim Ritchie

AYH Hiking/Backpacking had a great fall season with 31 hiking/backpacking trips listed in the Triangle during the 3 months of September, October and November. Many of our newer trip leaders, including Ron Boone, Maynard Hanson, Helen Coyne, and Veronique Schreurs led autumn trips this year. Joan Roolf had a great trip planned to Allegheny Gorge near Kennerdell, but had to cancel it when she realized it was scheduled for the opening day of small game hunting season.

Bill Lindgren and Clare Bunker led the Slackpackers on 4 trips to the Virginia/Shenandoah theater; there were 3 hikes led by Blanche Asherman on the Rachel Carson Trail; two on the Baker Trail; one each by Glenn Oster (maintenance hike) and Pete Srini. We had our first (recently) Activities Weekend, at Ohiopyle, organized by Jon Maiman with hikes led by Tom Kaveney, Jim Ritchie; and Mike Lubich of the Warrior Ridge Orienteering Club in Washington County put together an Orienteering Event. We had 10 overnight trips (7 backpacks). Two backpacking trips were back-to-back week-long events, led by Glenn Oster on the Appalachian Trail, Great Smokey Mountains National Park

Jon Maiman has been taking classes leading to certification as an EMT. This reminds me that at the Annual Hiking and Backpacking organizational meeting, held at Linda Smithyman's house last March, we discussed and all agreed that first aid training and equipment were a general concern of all and should be made a high priority. Activities that need to be done include taking an inventory of AYH first aid kits, CPR training, first aid classes, and making available to trippers medical information and supplies to include in their personal gear. We have not been able, due to the absence of volunteer time to take charge of these projects and to pursue these needs. If YOU are interested in organizing a "project team”, give me (828-0210) or Helen Coyne (776-0678) a call.

Joan Roolf would like to start a weekend ramble series. Joan's idea is to organize walks around the Pittsburgh metro area that combine an aerobic experience with an interesting destination of focal point, and perhaps food i.e. lunch en route.

Destinations might include special events like neighborhood festivals, fairs and places like Clayton of Mt. Washington. Some rambles might focus on a neighborhood like Squirrel Hill or Bloomfield. As a special version of the weekend ramble, Joan is thinking about the feasibility of a progressive dinner ramble. If you think its a good idea, give Joan a call and let her know (795-8345). If you know of good ramble destinations or events, tell Joan.

Mort Kurman is going to the Allegheny National Forest in the beginning of November to backpack from Willow Bay to the south along the North Country Trail, staying over at the Handsome Lake Campground. Mort may be hiking in the snow!! When I was up there in mid-October, I was surprised to see that the Kinzua Reservoir water level was still substantially below normal.

Blanche Asherman's Rachel Carson Trail hikes are generating a lot of enthusiasm for Allegheny County's best and most famous hiking trail. Sid Waddell told me how he has lived next to the trail for years and never had a clue it was there. He is especially looking forward to the Blanche's November hike on the RCT through Harrison Hills, his own neighborhood.

Many thanks to Dan Liebel who has been working with a group of Fox Chapel High School students, introducing them to trail maintenance activities on the Rachel Carson Trail. Dan contacted me last year and told me that he was working with a special group of students who have a high level of interest in the environment and in outdoor activities. His group was very interested in how they could apply their interest toward trail maintenance on the RCT, Dan, a group of six FCHS students, and I took an introductory hike on the RCT through the Crouse Run area in the North Hills. Later that year Dan and his group returned and did some blazing and trash removal along the route.

This year Dan is back. His group is now channeling its efforts through a science class at FCHS. Dan has joined AYH as a member and several of his group are doing so as well. We welcome this student interest and Dan's leadership.

During December, January, and February, hiking activity is in a lull. During these months I will not be calling our regular trip leaders for hiking or backpacking listings so if you are interested in leading a hike during these months, give me a call and we will make certain your listing gets into the Golden Triangle.

Winter is a great time to hike. Contrary to most people's expectation, you never get cold (except maybe if you stop too long for lunch). Most of the vegetation has died for the season so that many areas that are nearly impassible during the rest of the year are very accessible. Also, if you aren't really crazy about bugs or snakes, it's not likely you'll see many in January.

Helen Coyne led a beginner's backpacking trip to the Allegheny National Forest in October with plans to hike along the Rimrock-Morrison Trail. At last count, she had 7 trippers signed up.

Glenn Oster went backpacking on the Quehanna Trail at the beginning of November, with a group of 5. Glenn says the Trail was a little hard to follow in some spots, especially where the tornadoes roared through the forest in 1985. There were also a couple of spots where the slope on the trail was so steep, it was extremely difficult to negotiate, especially with a 40-pound pack. Glenn stopped at Parker Dam State Park office after the trip to suggest the rangers consider rerouting and maintenance to improve the trail. Just by coincidence, it so happened that the Keystone Trail Association, as a part of their TrailCare program were scheduled to come in the very next week for a weekend of trail maintenance. So the ranger assured Glenn he would pass on his notes to the group. Nice timing, Glenn.

Glenn has also listed in this issue of the Golden Triangle, several updates for your AYH Baker Trail Hiking Guide. Be sure to pull your Guide out and update the maps and text. Better yet, cut the article out and just insert it into your Guide.

While hiking through the north wall of Packsaddle Gap late in October, I was amazed at the amount of Japanese knotweed that had taken over the lower elevations of the trail, toward the Conemaugh River. That stuff seems to be everywhere. Parts of the Baker Trail between Garver's Ferry and Schenley are likewise taken over. In fact a Sierra Club group had a terrible time navigating through this stuff on a hike in September. I don't ever remember seeing or dealing with Japanese knotweed when I was a kid. Is it my imagination or is this something that has been introduced into our environment just recently (the last 10-20 years). This stuff seems to be taking over the earth, especially through the river valleys. According to my wild edibles book (Ron Boone-pay attention here!!!), the young shoots up to one foot high are edible, having a flavor similar to rhubarb, and can be cooked into pies or jam or used fresh in salads. My book says they are also difficult to eradicate, extending rhizomes underground to spread.

While scouting Packsaddle Gap, I parked my car at an abandoned bar in Robinson, PA called the "Gin Mill”, across the Conemaugh River from Bolivar. After eyeing me with some amount of curiosity for a short time, one of the neighbors came over to chat while I was organizing my gear. The Gin Mill had apparently been a trouble spot and he was concerned that I might be someone coming out to try to reopen it. He was relieved and much friendlier after learning I had just come out to go hiking for the day. He even told me how to get to a nifty waterfall on Roaring Run near the beginning of my hike, watched my car for me all day, and waved me off as I left town around 6 pm that evening.

Clare and Bill, by the way, are projecting battlefield hikes in 1993, starting off with Antietam and Masassass Battlefields. Be sure to watch the Golden Triangle for more information in '93.

Linda Smithyman is making all the arrangements for her Fourth Annual New Year's Day Hike in Frick Park. This is a wonderful way to start off your New Year: enjoying the outdoors, enjoying your friends and breakfast at Rhoda's after the hike.

(Page 7) Baker Trail Improvements
by Glenn Oster

Several areas along Baker Trail north of Interstate 80 (l-80) had fallen into serious deterioration in the past few years. A number of improvements, including rerouting the trail in several places, have restored the route for BT hikers. The following are details of changes made to the AYH Baker Trail Guide. You may insert this article into your guide and/or make the changes described below directly to the maps in the Guide.
1. Baker Trail Guide Map #14: North of l-80 the trail eventually followed Glenn Road (no relation) to a "T" intersection, turned right for 600 yards and then turned left for about 0.3 miles to a pipeline, where it then turned east. The woodland through which the trail crossed was logged twice, and the trail was left in a state beyond reclamation. As a result, it has been moved to pick up the pipeline earlier. At the "T" intersection mentioned above, hikers will tum left for about 200 yards to a blazed right turn up the driveway of the William Wanglers family and then directly onto the pipeline.
2. Baker Trail Guide Map #14: At the crest of the climb up Pendleton and Spangler Runs, north of Mill Creek, wind damage had toppled so many large trees and so many limbs had fallen on the trail that trail maintainers had ceased to attempt blazing this section from here to Summerville Drive, near the village of Fisher, a section of about 0.8 miles. As a result, the trail disappeared!! This section of the trail has now been rebuilt and should cause hikers no problem, assuming regular follow-up maintenance.
3. Baker Trail Guide Map #15: With the help of (and my thanks to) Kirk Slater, an AYH member living in New Castle, and Laura Neville, currently a non-member, we reblazed and cleared the trail for approximately four miles to the paved road connecting the villages of Fisher and Sigel. The last two miles of this section cross a woodland with grassy logging roads, but time had taken its toll. This section is now in good shape.

January 1993
(Page 4) Footnotes

January is upon us. It's not exactly everyone's idea of the best time of the year to hike but it does have its advantages: no bugs, no bushes, and not too much traffic in the woods.

In mid-November, I went up on a Sunday to the Butler-Freeport Community Trail to take a look at how the BFCT Council was doing. This is one beautiful rail-trail. There is now a 3-mile section completed running north from the Buffalo Town ship Fire Hall in Sarver to the village of Cabot. While there can't be more than 20 buildings in Cabot, they include a pizza parlor, a convenience store and a sit-down restaurant. There is also a bed-and-breakfast in town. The trail surface is mostly crushed ballast. Just past the 4th bridge, counting from the Fire Hall, if you look back into the trees, you can see a three-spout waterfall trickling some 50-60 down through a rock hillside. It's a little tough to get to, but it's a great lunch spot.

Going south from the Fire Hall toward Freeport, there is about 2 miles of "im proved surfaces followed by as miles of unimproved railroad grade, all the way to Freeport. The trail follows Little Buffalo Creek, down to its junction with (Big) Buffalo Creek, underneath the Route 28 expressway overpass, and on. The rails are gone, the surface is a little bit of heavy ballast and weeds. This is not only a great walking/hiking route, it would be fantastic on a fat-tire bike.

You know how sometimes some people don't show up for a hike when the weather's bad? Well, Glenn Oster, had the ultimate experience. While driving up to Oil Creek for a scheduled day hike on November 21, the weather was so bad, black clouds, torrential rain, high winds, that a whole carload of fair weather hikers pulled up next to Glenn, gave him the cut-your-throat sign, and turned back. Ironically (as it usually happens), just before they lit out on the trail, the rain fell back to a light mist. It turned out to be a respectable day.

Stacy Stancill has a great set of pictures from a rock-climbing expedition to Harper's Ferry. To get to the climbing site, you have to hike up to Maryland Heights. This is a great hiking trail, giving views over the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers. Clare Bunker and Bill Lindgren had scheduled a weekend hiking trip to Harper's Ferry in December, staying at the Youth Hostel there, hiking, and partaking of the town's Christmas festivities.

The Fred and Ruth Ernsberger of Fox Chapel have been cleaning up and marking many of the nature trails in their area. If you've never spent a Sunday afternoon in Fox Chapel, you might try it some time. There are at least 7 nature/walking trails in the area: Salamander Trail, the Sylvan Trail, the Trillium Trail, the Blue Run Trail, Fall Run off Route 8, Pheasant Run Trail and the trails behind Fairview Elementary School. If you would like to lead some short Saturday or Sunday afternoon walks on these trails, call me and I'll put you in touch with the Ernsbergers. (The Ernsbergers can show you a network of horse trails in the Fox Chapel area..... Linda??).

Norm Snyder, AYH's legendary bushwacker and explorer, has agreed in principle to co-lead a hike or two with me in the Spring, following the route of one of Norm's favorite side streams off Mahoning Creek in the Brady's Bend region of Armstrong County. Watch for this one: it'll be a unique experience. If you've never hiked with Norm before, be advised: Norm takes no prisoners!!!

When Ed Divers came to give his show at Open House in early December titled "A Dozen Outdoor Adventures in Western Pennsylvania", I initially thought the dozen adventures would refer to a dozen "PLACES”. It turned out that Ed's adventures are Botany, Zoology, Geology, History, Archeology, the Culinary Arts of Wild Edibles and so on with Ed having a good library in each of these areas. A great show. Also attending that show was Bill Allen, who has put together the best snake book available for Western Pennsylvania snakes. He had autographed copies available for $5 that night. If you missed Bill, let me know, and we'll try to get some copies of his book to sell in the HQ Store.

Two of our very well known hikers tied the knot this fall. I can't tell you who they are, but their names begin with K and L. (That's a trick clue).

AJ Stones says it may be possible to design a prefab Appalachian-style trail shelter that could be used for the Baker Trail. The Cochran's Mill shelter needs to be repaired: someone stripped the walls off the two sides of the lean-to style shelter. The ranger at Crooked Creek Park, John Derby, says he has an alternate site where we could put up a second shelter near Crooked Creek, in a hemlock grove and on Corps of Engineers property. If we do that and keep it off the Park map handout, it may escape vandalism. The current shelter is used heavily all through the year, mostly by local scout groups backpacking along the BT in that area.

Hermits and other interesting folks. How many hermits have you run into on Western PA hiking trails? One fellow, a certified hermit, Old Man Miller, lives along the Allegheny River, north of Freeport. When you approach his cabin, his dogs announce your arrival and come out to watch you pass by. Nearby is an early 19th-century cemetary with tombstones for Indians placed outside the fenced-in plot. I've heard that folks living in this vicinity sometimes bring food or supplies to Miller's camp. It is said that Miller has a friend, seen by a few people, named "Indian Joe", about whom very little is known.

Another fellow, not a hermit but very interesting anyway, is Ter Frayer, pronounced "Tair Frair”. Ter lives in a Tepee along the Kiski River, a couple of miles from its mouth on the Allegheny. He has skull and crossbones “Death" tattoos on his arms, has long black hair, and wears a stovepipe hat and a black leather vest. People I have talked to, however, say he is interesting to talk with and quite peaceable. If you approach his lair, he is almost certain to come out and look you over.

Not exactly a hermit either, but at least an attraction of the trail, is the fellow who lives along the Rachel Carson Trail, north of Springdale. Our friend, whose name is unknown, has stuck literally thousands of thin sticks, each about one to two feet in length, in the ground, in the vicinity of a high perch on the bluffs overlooking New Kensington, forming a "Cathedral of Sticks". He has met an AYH hiking party at least once and seemed friendly and curious about these hikers. I have encountered him several times while hiking alone and he has greeted me cordially each time.

(Page 9) Where Did Hostelling Come From, Anyway?? (A History)

The trip to Europe started with high hopes, buy deteriorated at every step. It was Thursday, July 20, 1933, and two young Americans were enroute by train to Altena, Westphalia, Germany, surrounded by Boy and Girl Scouts. Their plans were in ruins. The two were Monroe and Isabel Smith, man and wife, Boy Scout executive and an teacher from New York. They were destined to be the founders of youth hostelling in America, but didn't know it yet.

Looking on the bright side, the Smiths soon began to spot tourists of a different type-rucksacks instead of suitcases, walking or riding bicycles instead of trains, and seeming incredibly carefree. These youngsters were staying at "jugendherbergen," or youth hostels, for about 25 cents per night!

Alas, it seemed a heaven-sent intervention to the Smiths, who soon arranged for their group to stay at the Castle Altena, on a hill above the Westphalian town of Altena, the first youth hostel in the world. Already the trip was looking brighter.

Reset the calendar to 1907. Assistant teacher Richard Schirrmann stood before the governors of the Nette school in Altena, arguing a strange proposition. He wanted to turn one of the classrooms into overnight accommodations for visiting students. Everyone was opposed. Schirrmann pointed out the advantages of students getting away from the great industrial cities and learning about the countryside. The hardest part was finding a place for the night. Since the school stood empty throughout the holidays, why not make use of the facilities? As an experiment, the idea was approved, and that reluctant experiment was to lead all the way to Castle Altena. But even Schirrmann, the eternal visionary, had no vision of the outcome.

On a summer eve in 1907, Schirrmann and Herman Becker, caretaker of the Nette School, began piling up the benches and laying out rows of thinly stuffed straw sacks on the floor of one of the ground floor classrooms. The very existence of this overnight accommodation was a thorn in the flesh of the established teachers, and a single wisp of straw on the staircase would set off a storm. For the travelers, the rule was to leave in an orderly, quiet fashion, early in the morning. It's a custom that remains today.

Schirrmann knew German teachers did not like him "lowering himself" to mingle with students on walking trips, but he was both East Prussian stubborn and remarkably secure. He had no fear that his status would suffer. And the students loved him. They loved his enthusiasm, his child-like exuberance that matched their own, and most of all, the things he was doing.

On August 26, 1909, the date he later gave as the birthday of the youth hostel movement, Schirrmann lay wide awake, in a Brol Valley schoolhouse, while his students slept. It was the second day of a trip and a storm was brewing. They could find no accommodations despite much searching. A farmer refused the use of his barn but finally offered some straw that they took into the empty school.

As the storm rumbled through the night, Schirrmann thought that this should not be so difficult. In every village was a school-empty-with all the facilities for an overnight stay. It could be used regularly as the Nette school was used.

Jugendherbergen-youth shelters!

Villages in good walking country could each have a friendly youth hostel, a days walk apart, to welcome all young Germans who enjoyed walking.

In that schoolhouse, as thunder rolled and cloudbursts and hail assaulted the building, an idea was born that was to find acceptance around the world and make the name of Richard Schirrmann something to reckon with.

The idea found some acceptance. Yet, opposition spread just as fast as the idea itself. Schirrmann thought...maybe wider publicity...a magazine article? In early 1910, he sent off a manuscript, describing exactly how to set up a series of hostels, low cost, using classrooms as dormitories, to one of the most influential publications for the teaching profession.

Rejection after rejection came until he exhausted the list of scholarly publications. Would a more general publication accept him? Yes! The influential Koinische Zeitung published his article on July 12, 1910 and almost overnight Schirrmann was known throughout Germany. And so were his ideas, which appealed to the public almost as strongly as they displeased the teaching profession.

Suddenly the Nette school became very popular as classes with teachers arrived to spend the night-and not only on holidays. Soon, Schirrmann and Becker were setting up beds at the close of every school day and clearing them away before classes started the next morning.

Slowly, those who controlled the magical structures known as castles began to see that their use as hostels would be a favorable development. Castle Altena, just up the hill from the Nette school had been turned into a museum. Schirrmann negotiated with the curator to turn part of the castle into a youth hostel--the first permanent youth hostel in the world.

By 1911, there were 17 hostels registering 3000 “ubernachten," or overnights. It seemed to Schirrmann that some kind of organization would be needed to ensure all hostels observed certain standards. And with the thought of organization came the memory of a man he'd met years earlier-William Munker. A year younger than Schirmmann, he was equally interested in hiking and he had attributes Schirrmann lacked. Schirrmann was a visionary, Munker could read a balance sheet. Schirrmann was an optimist, Munker a realist. Schirrmann said, "Let's do it!" Munker said, “Where is the money coming from?"

Munker was essential to Schirrmann's success and their meeting ultimately meant the success of hostelling in Germany. By 1913, they formed the Bervand for Deutsche Jegendherbergen (Federation of German Youth Hostels or DJH) and 25 regional groups were eventually formed.

By 1914, 200 youth hostels in Germany produced 17,000 overnights. But then came the war. Germany's youth hostels were closed or put to other uses. Yet the idea of hostelling proved resilient; World War I was only an interlude.

On Christmas 1915, Schirrmann's regiment was holding a quiet spot on the mountain Bernhardstein. French troops looked at them across gun barrels. War was much in evidence, but peace was in the hearts of soldiers on both sides. Christmas bells began to ring in a nearby village and something "fantastically unmilitary” happened along that front as Schirrmann later recalled.

An unwritten peace treaty went into effect by common consent. Men stood in full view, making splendid targets, but no shot was heard-only the bells. Through old abandoned trenches, soldiers from both sides visited each other. French wine and cigarettes passed into the hands of the Germans and the French tried the black bread and ham of Westphalia.

The camaraderie amazed Schirrmann. The soldiers were not only friendly during Christmas week, but they remained reluctant to fight even after Christmas was over. The opposing troops on Bernhardstein had little taste for killing each other once they began to know each other as human beings.

What would happen, Schirrmann wondered, if those soldiers had come to know each other before the war began? Suppose young people in all countries had an opportunity to travel abroad, to know the young people of other nations as they would, for example, when they met in a hostel. Would not war become virtually impossible?

He could see it clearly now-as important as it was to get out and enjoy nature, world peace was the hidden, underlying importance of hostelling.

After the war, the movement spread dramatically. In 1931, there were 1300 hostels with 4,300,000 overnights. More importantly, the overnights were registered by multiple European hostelling associations.

Schirrmann's basic idea now had two main features. Hostels must be open to all races, all religions, and both sexes. And, there must be a "day room" or a "common room" where young people from many lands could come together and get to know one another, for in this interchange of ideas and friendship lay the greatest hope of world peace.

Subsequent accidents to world peace would in coming years throw great doubt on the efficacy of the day-room experience as a key to international understanding, but Schirrmann himself never doubted it.

When Monroe and Isabel Smith first met Richard Schirrmann, they couldn't remember at what moment the idea of starting youth hostels in the United States came up or who thought of it first. It just seemed that they had been led to this moment.

Schirrmann invited them to come to the second International Youth Hostel Conference later that year. The Smiths were very encouraged and after finishing the tour, they took the scouts back home, disengaged themselves from a multiple octopus-like embrace of boys and girls, consigned them to their parents and went back to New York.

There the ship was ready for the return trip and Monroe flung himself on board. It was the same ship but not the same Monroe. Westbound he was a disenchanted scout executive, a tour guide, a tour parent for homesick highschoolers. East bound he was on his way to becoming the founder, President and National Director of a new American corporate entity. He looked the same, but now he had great prospects.

March 1993
(Page 4) FOOT NOTES
"Hiking and Backpacking news"

For March 1993, we've got Bill Lindgreen and Clare Bunker leading a weekend of day hikes on the Appalachian Trail in Pennsylvania while staying overnight at the Ironmaster's AYH Hostel at Pine Creek Furnace State Park. Glen Oster is going hiking along the Glacier Ridge/North Country Trail from Jennings to the bike rental at Moraine and, later in the month, will be backpacking along the Quehanna Trail. Maynard Hansen is Taking on the Yough River Trail, one of the many rail-trail projects that will one day connect Pittsburgh to Washington D.C., while Linda Smithyman, further up the rail line, leads a hike along the Montour Trail. Another hike using rails for trails will be Joan Roolf, continuing with her City Hikes, following the Mon Shore from Southside Riverfront Park to Station Square. Jim Ritchie will assist the legendary Norm Snyder on a typical Norm Snyder hike: unstructured, unscheduled, difficult, 10 trails, up and down sidestream valleys, long and hard. Steve Nydes makes his trip leader debut tackling the infamous Maple Summit to Ohiopyle stretch of the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail.

Did anyone see the Rachel Carson biography special on Channel 13 on February 8th?? The Pittsburgh AYH named its 1972-74 resurrection of the Allegheny County portion of the Baker Trail after Rachel Carson, the Rachel Carson Trail. Rachel Carson grew up in Springdale, Pa in a small house that has been restored by the Rachel Carson Homestead Association. You may visit the restoration on Sunday afternoons. The Rachel Carson Trail passes within a quarter mile of the Rachel Carson Homestead and, if you read carefully the AYH Guide to the Rachel Carson Trail (available at HQ or the AYH office for $4), you'll find out how to take a spur off the trail to her home.

Did you know that Blanche Asherman is a member of the Rachel Carson Homestead Association?? Blanche has served unofficially as a liaison person between the RCHA and AYH and has publicized several AYH hikes along the Rachel Carson Trail for RCHA members.

Now there is a third Rachel Carson "connection" i.e. the Rachel Carson Institute at Chatham College, formed to honor and promote the achievements of women demonstrating excellence and commitment in environmental education, research or activism, in other words "women who have made a significant contribution toward a better environment". The RCI is soliciting nominations for the annual Rachel Carson Award. Nominations must include a letter of nomination, a resume or curriculum vitae and an official nomination form. Jim Ritchie (828-0210) will provide you with the nomination form at your request.

The Rachel Carson Award will be awarded by the Rachel Carson Institute on Rachel Carson Day, April 16 in a special celebration at Chatham College that will include a one women play A Sense Of Wonder, the presentation of the award and the reading of the winner of a high school essay contest. Call Lucy B. Laffitte, Director of the Institute at (412) 365-1100 if you are interested in attending the presentation.

While we're on the subject of Rachel Carson, how many of you have ever been to the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge?? I will award a pass for one free hike (no activity fee) to the first person to tell me the state of its location.

Does anyone out there know what GORP, that delicious mixture of trail food stands for?? Did anyone know the word actually meant something?? The answer is hidden in the newsletter somewhere.

(Page 7) March 13 Sat Glenn Oster 364-2864
Hiking- Baker/North Country Trail
Hike Baker Trail north of I-80 onto the North Country National Scenic Trail. This hike will take us to and alongside hemlock lined Mill Creek and up Pendleton and Spangler Runs, the southernmost section of the North Country Trail "hosted" by AYH's Baker Trail. Intermediate level - 9 miles. Call for info and reservations.

April 1993
(Page 4) In the "Spotlight" Know Your Hike Leader: Cliff Ham.
Cliff Ham has been an AYH member for a quarter of a century. 25 years, discovering AYH in 1968 shortly after working with inner city youths in programs designed to bring them into the outdoors, hiking. Finding that not all these young people shared his passion for Penn's Woods, Cliff was thrilled to discover a group of people who did (AYH).

Cliff was born in Lynn, Massachusetts and grew up mostly in Lynnwood, MA where he attended high school. Cliff attended MIT in Cambridge, MA but postponed his education temporarily to serve in the Air Transport Command during World War II. By the end of the war, Cliff had the option of remaining in the service with the rank of Captain but opted instead to return and finish MIT with studies in the area of City Planning.

Not Totally satisfied with his recently-acquired education, Cliff decided to pursue a Master of Divinity degree and subsequently became a Methodist minister, serving churches in Baltimore and Washington, D.C. Cliff worked in inner city churches and in working with the children in his area sponsored hikes on the Appalachian Trail to provide experiences out of the urban environment,

Cliff and his wife, Marilyn, are truly world travelers and number among the most recent travels, travels to Venezuela, El Salvador, Puerto Rico, and the Queen Charlotte Islands off the coast of British Columbia, Canada among many others. Perhaps Cliff's favorite world locale, however, is in the Andes Mountains of South America in which he has hiked twice. Cliff and Marilyn plan to explore the western half of Puerto Rico later this year, In western Pennsylvania, the John Saylor Trail ranks among his top choices for hiking.

Cliff has served in numerous capacities in AYH, among these serving as an officer, board member, and trip leader. He was a prime mover in the development of the Rachel Carson Trail and has worked extensively as well on the Baker Trail. He has initiated in recent years the Mid-Week Ramble program, combining Cliff's enjoyment of leading trips, socializing with friends, history and exploration.

(Page 6) The Armstrong Trail
by Jim Ritchie
In February 1992, a group calling themselves the Allegheny Valley Land Trust conveyed a meeting at the Armstrong County courthouse in Kittaning for all persons having an interest in making the dream of a 35 mile long recreational trail in Armstrong County along the shores of the Allegheny River from Schenley to Redbank a reality. The early leaders of the project included Dave Rupert, David Beale, Lee Calarie and most certainly the tireless Susan Torrence of the Armstrong County Tourist Bureau. AYHer's know Susan as the person who has organized the Baker Trail Fail Foliage hikes in Armstrong County for many years.

That first meeting was attended by Glenn Oster, the Ashermans, (Jack and Blanche), and me. Courtroom #2 was packed; there may have only been 100 people there but it seemed like 500. What I remember most was the pervasive positive attitude of the residents in attendance. This was something good!!! This was one of the best things that had happened in Armstrong in years. Several citizens voiced their opposition; some voiced their concerns. They were heard; their neighbors listened to them, with respect. But supporters in that room outnumbered the opposition by 25 to 1. The trail was on its way.

The Armstrong Trail starts in the village of Schenley, just across the railroad bridge from Allegheny County, the bridge carrying the Baker Trail across the Kiski River, the bridge that AYH once had to abandon because a Conrail lawyer saw a picture in the Sunday newspaper of a hiker crossing the Kiski on his bridge.

From Schenley, the Armstrong Trail and the Baker Trail run side by side all the way to the end of town called Aladdin, the site of the old Schenley distillery bottle dump. It's rumored that you can find valuable old bottles deep down in the bottle heap. Then the two trails become one all the way up to a place named Godfrey, the site of several nice summer cottages along the Allegheny River. Here the Baker Trail turns right, climbs a long steep hill and heads toward its 130 mile march to Cook Forest.

The Armstrong Trail continues along the River, following dirt roads providing access to camps, trailers and a little bit of everything else, through Kelly Station, Logansport, Ford City, Kittaning, Mosgrove, Templeton, Rimer, and then the Clarion County line. There is abandoned railroad paraphernalia, great hollows cut through rock by sidestreams to explore, and swinging ropes arcing out over the Allegheny.

By June the Armstrong Rails to Trails Association had been formed; the Trail itself was dedicated on June 11, 1992, and brush cutting and litter collecting projects were underway all along the trail. The first annual Fun Day was held on August 8, 1992: hiking followed by a picnic!! The first annual Armstrong Trail Fall Foliage Hike happened on October 11, 1992. Norm Karp became president of the Association; T-shirts were ordered.

The Association continues to sponsor cleanups, is making and posting signs along the right-of-way, is applying for grant money and seeks new membership. You can contribute to the success of the Armstrong Trail which, in turn, encourages others to undertake projects like the Armstrong Trail, benefitting people like you. Do your part and join the Association. It only costs $10 for you to become an activist in the Rails-to-trails movement. You'll also receive their quarterly newsletter, keeping you up-to-date on all the latest Trail developments. If you are interested, call (412) 548-3226, and ask for an application form to be sent to your home.

May 1993
(Page 10) FOOT NOTES
hiking and backpacking news

On March 29, 1993 the hiking and Backpacking people got together for their annual planning meeting at Linda Smithyman's House in Brookline. Co-chairmen Jim Ritchie provided a preliminary count of 80 hikes led during calendar year 1992, with 21 different hike leaders or leader teams, and in 39 different hiking trails or trail systems. The Baker Trail or the Appalachian Trail, for example countas one trail system each. The most active hike leaders in 1992 were Blanche Asherman, the Clare Bunker/Bill Lindgren team, the perennial Glenn Oster (who probably led more Triangle-listed hikes than anyone else), Jim Ritchie, Joan Roolf, Linda Smithyman (who won the award that night for bringing the best cherry cheesecake), Pete Srini, Steve Tubbs, and Tom Kaveney.

The most frequently hiked trails or trail systems included the Appalachian Trail (with by far the most), the Baker Trail (8 hikes in “92), the North Country Trail, Ohiopyle, the Rachel Carson Trail (6 hikes in “92) and Steve Tubb's “Somewhere” hikes (5 of those). The only question I have "Is “Somewhere” always the same place or does Steve go to different “Somewhere's” each time??".

The most popular month for AYH hiking was October with 11 (I wonder why?), followed closely by September and November with 10 each and then by March and April, each with 9. You could almost have guessed those months.

Annual meeting attendees were asked what single word or phrase came to mind when they thought AYH hiking and backpacking. (Think of your own word here before you continue reading). The words that came to mind were: adventure, discovery, challenge, experience, scenery, sights, sounds, smells, variety, peacefulness, meeting others, comraderie, friendship, self discovery and self esteem. If we all get even some of these things out of AYH hiking and backpacking then it is worth all efforts put in by the trip leaders to provide these opportunities.

Goals discussed by the group included better communications between the activity co-chairs, Jim Ritchie and Helen Coyne; getting involved in other organizations that promote the interests of hikers and backpackers, such as the Keystone Trails Association and the North Country Trail Association; and finally, how can we expand our volunteer base so we can attend to the many worthwhile projects that need to be addressed.

The most critical need at this time is probably providing regular trail maintenance to the Baker and Rachel Carson Trails, the two AYH trails. Trail maintenance projects include blazing, clearing, rebuilding shelters and bridges, and putting up signs. Our two trails have a combined mileage of 175 miles.

We would like to be able, additionally, to contribute, as other hiking organizations do, to the building of the North Country National Scenic Trail in Western Pennsylvania. We want to continue to expand our base of trip leaders. In 1992, we were able to recruit 8 new hike leaders or co-leaders: these include Diane Bialecki, Joan Roolf, Maynard Hansen, Ron Boone, Vernoique Schreurs, John Dern, Helen Coyne, and Steve Nydes. We want to continue our expansion so that we can fill up the empty weekends that we occasionally have and to offer a greater variety of difficulties on each weekend.

We have trail guides, especially the Baker Trail Guide and the Western Pennsylvania Trail Guide that are in need of new editions, they must be updated to include changes along the routes and they are hungry for expansion to include interpretive information like trailside geology, history flora and fauna, we have a slide show put on; we need to offer first aid and/or CPR training We have inventories to be taken and on and on and on.

Obviously, neither one person nor two co-chairs, nor even a dozen trip leaders can do all these things. This is the reason we need so desperately to expand our base of volunteers. If each person contributes just a little, we can accomplish many of these goals. To identify volunteers, the hiking/backpacking leaders have developed a volunteer recruiting form that you will be seeing throughout the next several months that allows you the opportunity to identify the areas in which you would like to help. When your trip leader offers you a Volunteer Form, please fill it out, indicate that kinds of things you would like to help out, with the intention of donating some time later in the year on those projects.

Well, SPRING is springing; the wildflowers will be profuse, especially during the first week of May. We have hikes lined up along Catfish Run (Clarion County), the mighty Yough, high in the Allegheny Mountains (the J.P. Saylor Trail), along the Laurel Highland Trails. We even have a weekend car camping trip to Shenandoah (Old Rag and the Cedar Run and White Oak Canyons), and a Glenn Oster backpacking trip to boot

Lastly, don't miss the AYH Heritage Reservation Memorial Day Activities Weekend. There are three great hikes: one right down the road at Quebec Run with its "Pennsylvania Gold Mine", a second out to Raven Rock, perhaps one of the best vistas in this area, over the Cheat River Canyon, and finally, on the big M. day, a hiking tour of George Washington's Fort Necessity, the site of the only defeat in the career of our President, and on the same ticket, an expedition to Jumonville Glen where George routed an encampment of French soldiers that made Fort necessity necessary.

by JIM RITCHIE

June 1993
(Page 3) FOOT NOTES
hiking and backpacking news

June 5 is National Trails Day. All over the United States, trail organizations will be showing off their wares to the general public. We think of trails most often as just hiking trails but in fact the "trails community” is much larger. There are at least 14 groups of interests relating to "trails": hiking trails, (touring) bicycle trails, all-terrain (mountain) bike trails, horse trails, dirt bike trails, 4x4 (four-wheel drive) truck trails, quad-runner (ATV) trails, jogging trails, snowmobile trails, ski-touring (cross-country ski) trails, rollerblade trails, motorcycle trails, canoe trails, automobile trails, and soforth. All these groups compete for the same limited space in our city, county, and state parks; in the National Parks and National Forests; in the state forests, and to a lesser extent in the State Game Lands, at least in Pennsylvania. These same groups complete for the same pots of government funding that you read about, including the ISTEA (Federal) money and the DER Trails Systems Development fund.

We at AYH will be celebrating by doing what we do best: offering a couple of choices of day hikes over the weekend to our membership and our friends. One hike will be in beautiful Mill Creek Park on the south side of Youngstown, Ohio. The other will be on AYH's own Rachel Carson Trail (19 years old and still going strong) along the Allegheny River. As usual, you get friendly, helpful hike leaders and good company from your fellow trippers. Enjoy the day with a gourmet bag lunch along the trail, sunshine, fresh air, and a touch of adventure.

For those of you seeking new places to hike, especially swamps, marshes or bogs, I've got a new one for you: Tinker's Creek near Aurora, Ohio. Go to Exit 13 on the Ohio Turnpike, and then follow the signs for Aurora-Hudson Road, going north. This takes you right past the entrance to Tinker's Creek State Park. Pull into the State Park and park in the first parking area. Be forewarned, however, that there are only about 2.5 miles of trails showing on the park map. To make it worth the trip, take your swim suits and plan to spend some time on the cute, little beach on a genuine kettle lake dating back to the Pleistocene Ice Age. In fact, the entire swamp area consists of partially filled kettle lakes. After parking your car, pick up a map to the park at the office or near the large bulletin board in front of the parking area.

While hiking the loop trails around the swamp, watch for abundant wildlife. In one loop, I saw six snakes, one of which was a majestic queen snake, and two large turtles. If you want more, the back of your map alludes to another 1.5 miles of trail in the adjacent Tinker's Creek Nature Reserve, accessed at the end of Old Mill Road. There is also an abandoned rail line from the Nature Reserve parking area going for about three miles (six miles round trip) parallel to Tinker's Creek itself.

We really miss Ben Brugmans this spring. Each Spring, Ben would lead repeated hikes into the Raccoon Creek Wildflower Reserve, often with 15 20 trippers. Ben's specialty were the "ephemeral" wildflowers, those very first wildflowers to come up and that last only a couple of days. Ben, as you probably know, has gone west. He goes back a long way in this organization, as attested by his slide show this past year on a backpacking trip he lead, all decked out in 1970's garb and 'do. Happy hunting, Ben.

-jim ritchie

(Page 5) June 6 Sun Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Rachel Carson Trail, Allegheny Vistas. Celebrate the day after National Trails Day hiking on AYH's own Rachel Carson Trail. This is the section of the trail that runs along the top of the bluffs overlooking the Allegheny River between Springdale and Tarentum. Many steep hills; intermediate/advanced level hiking. Meets at 9:00 am at HQ. Call Jim for info/reservations.

August 1993
(Page 8) TRAILS
For those of you in the North Hills, the Harmony Trail Council meets the last Thursday of every month at 7 pm in the caucus room of the McCandless Town Building (use the rear entrance past the police desk). That's the 27th of July and the 31st of August.

November 1993
(Page 6) MAKE TRACKS WITH THE PITTSBURGH AYH
ADOPT YOUR OWN PIECE OF THE BAKER TRAIL OR THE RACHEL CARSON TRAIL

In the course of the next year, I would like to attract TrailWorkers who would volunteer to hike on designated sections of the Rachel Carson and Baker Trails at least twice each year, and then send a report to the Chair of the AYH Trails Committee indicating the general condition of the trail along with specific work tasks that need to be performed. The TrailWorker system will work much like the "Adopt-a-Highway” program in that the designated TrailWorker would have exclusive responsibility for his or her section of trail.

TrailWorkers will be coordinated by a TrailMaster; each Trail, the Baker and the Rachel Carson, will have its own TrailMaster. The TrailMaster will maintain a file of TrailWorker Reports noting the maintenance work needed on the Trail, and keeping it prioritized. The TrailMasters will report to the Chair of the Trails Committee.

Each section would be relatively small, anywhere from 2 to 5 miles. The AYH TrailWorker, in conducting the two annual hikes, should take a large plastic garbage bag so that trash left along the trail can be picked up and carried out. The Trailworker would also have the responsibility for putting a new coat of paint on the blazes each year or two and replacing blazes from fallen trees and trees cut down. AYH will supply or reimburse you for paint and brushes. Minor clearing of fallen branches can be performed as well, to keep the right-of-way open.

Major work that needs to be done will be listed on the TrailWork Report form you will fill out. This might include large trees that need to be cleared, severe erosion requiring waterbars, new "NO TRESPASSING" signs requiring a follow-up visit to the landowner by the TrailMaster, or even a rerouting requirement because of development.

After you are assigned your section of trail, a volunteer will go with you to "introduce" you to your exclusive territory. As long as you file your report each year, you are entitled to maintain your adopted section of the trail.

The goal for the month of November is to gain volunteers for the following 5 sections of the Rachel Carson Trail:

Section 1: Freeport Road to Watts Overlook, Harrison Township
Length:2 miles
Notes:Along the Allegheny River Bluffs; heavily used, beautiful views; dangerous cliffs.

Section 2: Harrison Hills Park Entrance to Saxonburg Road
Length:2 miles
Notes:Follows Altermoor Road through residential area; turns into woods for a mile or so, out on Alter Road; down Alter Road to Saxonburg Road.

Section 3: Saxonburg Road to Burtner Road, Fawn and Harrison Townships
Length:2 miles
Notes:Beautiful wooded area on private property followed by a dramatic and strenuous descent down to Burtner Road. You must be able to climb a steep incline.

Section 4: Burtner Road to Bull Creek Road, Fawn Township
Length:2.5 miles
Notes:Dramatic ascent up steep hill from Burtner Road to hilltop; pleas ant grassy hilltop area; through some beautiful old farm lanes to Ridge Road; follows Ridge Road to Bull Creek Road.

Section 5: Bull Creek Road to Bailey's Run Road, Tarentum and East Deer
Length:2.5 miles
Notes:Climbs to a vista overlooking Allegheny Valley Expressway, through the woods to Bakerstown Road; up to the Tarentum Tower high up on the bluffs; skirts a reclaimed strip mine area and down to Bailey's Run Road.

If you would like to adopt any of these five sections of the Rachel Carson Trail, or any other section of the RCT or the Baker Trail, give Jim Ritchie, 828-0210, a call to arrange for an introduction to your section. You will receive recognition in the Golden Triangle Newsletter, at least once a year, and we will investigate the possibility of providing a few "perks" for your efforts; those under consideration include t-shirts, trail patches, pins, and certificates. We also intend to explore the idea of posting small signs on your section of the trail stating “This section of the Rachel Carson Trail maintained by John A. Doe".

HIKING / BACKPACKING
Nov 20 Sat Pat Rossi 335-5067 Veronique Schreurs 733-1741
Baker Trail, Garver's Ferry to Schenley. This is a 4-5 mile loop hike rated easy beginning near the Allegheny River across from Freeport, climbing to the bluffs over the river and descending to cross the Kiski River near the old Schenley distillery. Options, depending on the crowd and the weather, might include a visit to Murphy's Flats pioneer cemetery, or a walk to the distillery's old bottle dump along the Armstrong Trail. Meets at AYH Headquarters at 9:00 am or the Logan's Ferry McDonalds (at Routes 366 and 909) at 9:30 am. Call for info and reservations.

Nov 27 Sat Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Baker Trail, Maintenance Hike. Trail clearing; also, blazing if our paint doesn't freeze; probably in the vicinity of Mahoning Creek Reservoir. Limited group: two sickles, one brush hog, one painter, two fire rakes, two loppers or whatever. Meets at 8:00 am in the Ames parking lot in Harmarville, next to Integra Bank. We'll do something to make it fun (lunch or dinner in a small town??) Call Jim for info, questions, and reservations.

(Page 7) foot notes
hiking and backpacking news
-jim ritchie

Blanche Asherman tells me that the new Trailside program is now being carried on Pgh Channel 16, WQEX on Saturdays and Sundays at 4:30 pm. If you remember, this is a new program being hosted by John Viehman, the executive editor of Backpacker Magazine; each episode highlights non powered, outdoor activities: hiking/backpacking, biking/mountain biking, kayaking, rafting, sea kayaking, etc. Watch the show (or tape it if you're out) and let WQEX know you appreciate their programming.

Joann Fassbender called to tell me that the Fort Armstrong Horseman's Association, of which she is a member, is concerned about complaints of horse-caused degradation of the Baker Trail in the Crooked Creek Reservoir vicinity. The FAHA has attempted to be especially sensitive to trail problems caused by horses along the trail. The Horseman's Trail (actually a 35-mile network of trails) and the Baker Trail share the same footpath throughout much of the area. In those areas where the BT tends to be soggy, however, the Association has blazed (white blazes) alternate horse trails, recognizing that horses will sink deep into moist soil and create mudholes that hikers will find unpleasant. If you encounter such a problem, please call me (Jim Ritchie @ 828-0210) and let me know the approximate location of the problem. I will relay the information to the Fort Armstrong folks and they will bring immediate attention to the problem.

By the way, Joann, also an AYH member, says that hikers are especially welcome to use the Horseman's Association trail network and to use the Association's camp area for over night camping. There is water available there and a shed into which you may retreat if the weather becomes too intolerable. The Camp is located within a mile past the Crooked Creek dam, coming from the Pittsburgh direction, walking distance off the Baker Trail. The trail network may be accessed from the Camp area as well as near the Baker Trail Cochran's Mill Shelter and other places. Call Joann at 327-4408 for more detailed information. The Horseman's Association plans to print a sketch map in three-four months; when they do, we hope to have copies available for distribution at AYH Headquarters, the AYH Office, or on request.

On November 27th, I will be leading a maintenance hike on the Baker Trail, near the Mahoning Creek Reservoir in Armstrong County near Dayton. This will be the start, hopefully, of a series of monthly maintenance hikes on the Baker and Rachel Carson Trails, with the objectives of blazing, routing, clearing, and documenting the two Trails over the next year. I am hoping that we can attract maybe 8 people (two car loads) each month to go out and take care of our trails. I think we can make it interesting or fun if we think of some other things to do while we are out: eating in local restaurants for lunch or dinner, or visiting local sites of historical or natural interest, visiting produce stands, swimming in the summer, etc. I hope to see each of our hikers at least once in the next year.

Very briefly, I will report that the Corsica Shelter (Clarion County) on the Baker Trail has been reported missing by several parties hiking in that area, including Richard Haas of Sarver. On the other hand, Gerry Vaerewyck reports that the Schenley Shelter, missing for several years, has been found again, almost within eyeshot of the Armstrong Trail (upon which the Baker Trail has been rerouted), in a wash area, just uphill from the ruins of a railroad maintenance area between Aladdin and Godfrey in Armstrong County.

Chet Fromm of Fort Orange, Fla reports to us that the Baker Trail, in the vicinity of Cook Forest, is unmarked in the first mile south of its crossing of Route 66, being overgrown with waist-high grass and shrubs and then reports that in the next mile, yellow blazes go in all directions. Chet says north of Route 66, the trail is overgrown, but passable.

Several other brief notes: thanks to Donald Smith for his offer to help us clean up the Rachel Carson Trail near Tarentum-it's overgrown with brambles along a short stretch there. Also, thanks to Sam Saccamango for his offer, as well, to help us with trail maintenance activities. Gerry Vaerewyck has offered his personal services and those of his scout troop to help us with maintenance on the Rachel Carson Trail or the Southern end of the Baker Trail. Lastly, if anyone knows of a contact person for the Harmony Trail, will they please call me to let me know.

Norm ("The harder the better") Snyder and Steve Tubbs were out west in the end of September, in the vicinity of the Grand Canyon. Their plan included driving all the way out with Steve going on to California and Norm flying back after exploring some of the side canyons off the Colorado River.

Glenn Oster spent the last week of September backpacking the full length of the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail, finishing up just in time to attend the Keystone Trails Association semiannual meeting that was held at Camp Allegheny, near Stoystown, which is near Johnstown, on October 2-4. Also attending were Jim Ritchie, and Helen Coyne, as well as many other well known members of the western Pennsylvania hiking community: Tom Thwaites, Ed Beck, Mark Eckles and Hugh Downing among them. The program consists of hiking on both Saturday and Sunday and on Saturday, Glenn's hike won the prize for having the most people signed up.

In October, Bill and Clare were to attend “The Gathering" (that sounds like a Steven King novel) in West Virginia. The Gathering is a weekend slide showing, tale-swapping, and back-slapping meeting of the Appalachian Trail Long Distance Hikers Association. Sounds like a good time.

One last note: Steve Nydes will try his hand at exploring this month by leading a hike that starts along the Laurel Highlands Trail by Route 31 or possibly Route 30 and then finding the right combination of woods roads that take you to the old Laurel Hill tunnel of the Pa Turnpike. Steve says its about 2 miles off the LHT, mostly downhill (then you have to go back up, don't forget). Those of you who enjoy this sort of thing might watch for this one.

December 1993
(Page 7) Dec 14 Sat Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Baker Trail, Maintenance & Inspection: I can take as many as 3 companions (to make one carload) on a combination trail maintenance and inspection trip on the Baker Trail. This will be on the section between Godfrey, PA on the Allegheny River and the Crooked Creek Shelter. We'll carry a few tools, clear some trail, paint blazes if possible, and visit a couple of landowners along the way. We'll ride in the car when the trail follows roads and walk when it goes off-road. Meets at the Riverview High School parking lot next to the Hulton Bridge in Oakmont at 9:00 am. Call for info/reservations.

January/February 1994
(Page 6) January 9 Sun Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Baker Trail Maintenance Hike: Mahoning Reservoir Area.
We're going to go up again and finish the job we started in November. We need a chain saw crew for some heavy cutting and several others to handle weedwackers (manual), bowsaws, and loppers. Limit will be two carloads of volunteers. Dinner (or coffee and pie) in Dayton afterwards. Meet at 8:00 am in the Ames parking lot in Harmarville, next to Integra Bank. Call Jim for info/reservations.

February 26 Sat Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Baker Trail, Maintenance and Inspection: Armstrong County.
Need one carload of helpers to go on a combination trail maintenance and inspection trip on the Baker Trail, this time from the Cochran's Mill Shelter near Crooked Creek to the Idaho Shelter (near Idaho). We'll carry some tools, clear a little trail, paint blazes if possible, and visit landowners when need be. Ride in the car when the Trail follows roads, walk in the woods when it doesn't. Meets at the Riverview High School parking lot next to the Hulton Bridge in Oakmont at 9:00 am. Call for info/reservations.

(Page 7) ADOPT-A-TRAIL
ONLY 10 MORE PIECES OF THE RACHEL CARSON TRAIL REMAINING

The response to the appeal for hikers to adopt sections of the Rachel Carson Trail and the Baker Trail, appearing in the November newsletter was overwhelming. Since that time, all five sections of the Rachel Carson Trail that were listed have been adopted and, also, two sections of the Baker Trail have been adopted as well.

For the Rachel Carson Trail, this means that the entire trailway from its trailhead north of Harrison Hills Park all the way to Bailey's Run Road in East Deer Township will be properly blazed, all the obvious trash along the Trail picked up, and bad patches of brambles and blowdown will be removed from the Trailway.

Volunteer TrailWorkers coming forth to help care for the Rachel Carson Trail include Diane Flannigan and Joan Pfiefer from the South Hills, Seid Waddell from Sarver, Michael Crawmer and Jim Harris from Highland Park and the South Hills, and Don Smith from Irwin. Seid already went out and fixed up some major problems on a stretch in Harrison Township and within Harrison Hills Park, reblazing, spotting out some old misleading blazes and clearing out some brush.

On the Baker Trail, Sam Saccamango volunteered to keep up the first section of the Baker from Garver's Ferry to Godfrey and Elizabeth Sommer and her dad, from Indiana, PA (White Township) will maintain the section from the Idaho shelter all the way over to Route 422 near Shelocta.

If you would like to join the AYH TrailWorkers and adopt a piece of the Rachel Carson Trail, those listed below or any other, or the Baker Trail, please call Jim Ritchie at (412) 828-0210 or see him at the Thurs day night Open House, 8 pm-10 pm at the AYH Headquarters in Mellon Park.

Remember, TrailWork is mostly pleasant, light-duty work: hike the trail twice a year, carrying a plastic garbage bag and picking up trash along the trail, repainting faded blazes along the route, and clearing patches of brambles or knotweed. For anything larger than that, you will call the TrailMaster to arrange for a volunteer work party to come out and assist you.

Section M6: Bailey's Run Road to Crawford Run Road, East Deer Township
Length: 1.5 miles
Notes: This section of the trail climbs out of Bailey's Run Hollow and passes through the wooded area skirting the Bailey Farm, an area teeming with wildlife: deer, raccoons, birds and wildflowers. After keeping to the high ground for nearly a mile, the Trail plunges precipitously into the valley of Crawford Run,

Section M7: Crawford Run Road to Springdale Hollow Road, East Deer and Springdale Townships
Length: 2.75 miles
Notes: The Trail makes a dramatic ascent up to high ground from Murray Hill Road and then roller-coasters its way past a small housing development and into a wooded area leading out onto a power line where the Trail parallels the Allegheny River far below the bluffs. Wonderful vistas, in and out of trees and fields.

Section M8: Springdale Hollow Road to Tawney Run Road, Springdale Township
Length: 2 miles
Notes: The Trail follows the power lines and pipelines on a roller coaster pathway from Freeport Road to Peterson's Nursery, skirts the Nursery property and then descends through a small wooded area to an old railroad grade near Tawney Run Road. We have seen many turtles, frogs, and harmless snakes along this stretch. This section includes a short spur trail to the Rachel Carson Homestead in Springdale,

Section M9: Tawney Run Road to Russellton Road, Springdale, Frazer, and Indiana Townships
Length: 2 miles
Notes: After following Yutes Run Road for half a mile, the Trail shoots steeply uphill to a world of upland meadows and beautiful vistas at an altitude of nearly 1300 feet, the ceiling of Allegheny County. Following is another dramatic plunge down to Deer Creek along Russeliton Road near Rural Ridge. There is a short spur on the high ground to a wonderful vista overlooking the Allegheny River Valley,

Section M10: Russellton Road to Emmerling Park, Indiana Township
Length: 3 miles
Notes: Once again the Trail ascends one of its trademark hill sides, from 800 feet elevation at Deer Creek to nearly 1300 feet at the top of Rich Hill in Indiana Township. The Trail passes through a stand of old hemlocks, comes out at Cove Run Road near Emmerling Park.

When you volunteer to adopt a section of the Rachel Carson or Baker Trail, a time will be arranged with you for a trail maintenance orientation. The orientation consists of a guided walk along your trail section and instructions on blazing and clearing and other maintenance expectations.

(Page 8) FOOT NOTES
hiking and backpacking news
by Jim Ritchie

I got a letter from Thomas Brandon from Brookville, PA last week. Tom is a regular hiker on the part of the Baker Trail that passes through his area; Tom visited the Summerville Shelter in September this year and reports that it is in "good shape". Several efforts on his part to locate the whereabouts of the Corsica Shelter, a little bit more to the North, have been unsuccessful. Tom's is the third report I've had this year on the ill fortune of the Corsica Shelter. Apparently, the road leading down to the shelter from the Trail is covered with dead-fall, Tom has a friend who says he knows where the shelter is located and promised to take him there in the spring. If it is there, and if work needs to be done, Tom promises to lead his scouts out there (he is a scoutmaster, too) and do what they can to spruce it up. Stay tuned for further news on the disappearing Corsica shelter.

For those of you unfamiliar with the Baker Trail shelters, there are nine of them between Garver's Ferry near Freeport and the Allegheny National Forest near Marienville. They are, in order from Pittsburgh, Schenley, Crooked Creek, Cochran's Mill, Idaho, Atwood, Mahoning (Jantz), Summerville, and Corsica. The shelters are Appalachian-style, enclosed on three sides with an overhanging roof on the front. All the shelters have a nearby source of water; most, at one time, had outhouses, but many of those are in disrepair (this is a wonderful trail maintenance project). Several had picnic tables on the site.

The 141-mile Baker Trail was built as a backpacking trail in the early 1950's. While not used frequently as such today, it would be a great "discover America" odyssey to hike the length of the trail, from the bluffs over the Allegheny River, over hills and dales, through the Amish county around Armstrong and Indiana counties, continuing through rural Pennsylvania to Cook Forest and the ANF.

On another subject, I wanted to say a few things about trip leaders leading trips. Once in a while we hear about complaints on the part of trippers about their trip leader like “Why are we going this way?" or "The hike was too long" or "The shuttle took too much time" or "The trip leader shouldn't be allowed to bring a dog”, etc. We sometimes forget that trip leaders are volunteers, doing something they enjoy tremendously (hiking, being outdoors) and are sharing that experience with others whose company (hopefully) they will enjoy as well. They are not being paid; there is no monetary compensation for leading trips. The main perks are that YOU get to go where YOU want to go and pretty much on YOUR terms. Now the leader does have an obligation to inform the trippers of any peculiarities or eccentricities for a trip; but beyond that the tripper should be supportive, let the leader have his or her fun, and contribute to a pleasant day. Most of the leaders are responsive to suggestions, anyway, so if you have one, let the leader know, but don't be critical or hostile.

On the subject of car-pooling, the Activities philosophy of AYH is based on the concept of low-cost and low-impact adventure. It is customary to organize into a minimal number of cars because parking at trailheads is often severely limited, and because carpooling in its own little way contributes to the conservation of nonrenewable resources (gasoline, oil), and because it promotes the opportunities to meet and enjoy other people who share your interests in the outdoors, and because it reduces the risk exposure associated with long strings of cars following each other to some destination through traffic lights and along superhighways. Please help your trip leader accomplish these ends.

While hiking and backpacking are usually at a lull in the months of January and February, there are a full twelve opportunities for you to get out and challenge the cold weather, Perhaps the best kept secret around AYH is that hikers hardly ever get cold (at least as long as you keep moving). We do recommend you wear some sort of wicking underwear to keep the moisture away from your body, something like polypropylene fabrics; wear wool socks over polypro liners (for the same reason plus the wool will keep you warm even when it's wet); and wear a hat and gloves to keep your body heat from radiating away through your extremities. Dress in layers and if you wear jeans, wear something else to compensate for them such as polypro long john or a supplex nylon or gore-tex shell. These help retain body heat.

Hiking these months will consist of a number of half-day hikes in Allegheny County's county parks, Boyce and Deer Lakes, and Duff Park in Murraysville. Linda Smithyman wanted to know if she advertised her 5th Annual New Year's Day Hike in the New York Times and the Washington Post if she would break her standing record on number of trippers (n=29). We're not sure why she wants to break her record, but some have suggested she owns stock in Rhoda's Restaurant in Squirrel Hill, where Linda always seems to end up on New Year's Day.

Glenn (Oster) never quits hiking (or backpacking): he's going on a day hike in January, on an Allegheny National Forest/North Country Trail backpack later in January and to the Big Bend National Park (Texas-Rio Grande country) in February. Tom Kaveney goes to Ohiopyle country in January for a day hike at Bear Run (only if XC skiing is not possible. Tom doesn't want to ruin the trails, walking in them, if skiers are out making tracks, too).

March 1994
(Page 5) ADOPT THE RACHEL CARSON TRAIL
ONLY 5 MORE PIECES LEFT

Many thanks to our new TrailWorkers who have adopted parts of the Rachel Carson Trail during the past two months. John Shea of Beaver, PA has reserved Section M7 along the Allegheny River bluffs; Mary Ellen McShea will be taking care of M8, the loop around Springdale from Freeport Road going past Peterson's Nursery to Tawney Run Road; and Mary Ann DeJulio has volunteered to care for the 3 mile M10 section leading into Emmerling Park in Indiana Township (that's where you find some of the steepest hills on the Trail). We now have covered more than 22 of the 34 mile total. Only 12 miles to go!!

If you would like to join the AYH TrailWorkers and adopt a piece of the Rachel Carson Trail, those listed below or any other, or the Baker Trail, please call Jim Ritchie at (412) 828-0210 or see him at any Thursday night Open House, 8 pm-10 pm every Thursday night at the AYH Headquarters in Mellon Park.

AYH TrailWorkers agree to hike their 2-3 mile section of the Trail twice a year, taking a large plastic garbage bag so that trash left along the trail can be picked up and carried out. TrailWorkers will also put a new coat of paint on the blazes each year or two as necessary and replace blazes where trees have fallen or have been cut. Lastly, if your section has a "bad spot” where brush overgrows the trail, often brambles or knotweed, take a weed cutter and whack it down as necessary to keep the trail open. Usually, once in June will do the job. For anything larger than that, you will call the TrailMaster to arrange for a volunteer work party to come out and assist you.

Section: M11. Emmerling Park to Route 910 in Dorseyville, Indiana Township
Length: 2.5 miles
Notes: This section of the trail follows Eisele Road past several patches of European Columbine. The trail jumps into the woods, crosses Cunningham Run, a small tributary of Deer Creek, and comes out on Saxonburg Boulevard near the Casey Equipment Company. The trail then follows Deer Creek to a gas line, climbs a steep hill and exits onto Route 910 near Cedar Run Road.

Section: M12. Route 910 in Dorseyville to Middle Road, Indiana and Hampton Townships
Length: 2.5 miles
Notes: The Trail follows first Cedar Run Road and then Wagner Road before turning into a wooded area just before you reach Hartwood Acres; Then the trail ascends past a hidden pond and through a pine woods to a high grassy vista, and then descends to a small gentleman's farm just off Middle Road by McCully Road. This section will include a spur trail into Hartwood.

Section: M13. Middle Road by McCully to Route 8 by the Hampton Junior High School, Hampton Township
Length: 2.5 miles
Notes: The trail skirts McCully Road for a quarter mile and then plunges into the wooded Hampton Nature Preserve; downhill and then uphill, close to a new housing development next to a power line, across some grassy fields owned by the school district and finally up to the junior high.

Section: M14. Route 8 to Sample Station, Hampton Township
Length: 2 miles
Notes: After crossing Route 8, the trail skirts behind a residential area, past two hidden ponds and down into the very special valley of Crouse Run. Here, deep in the unpopulated valley are the remains of the Pittsburgh-Butler interurban. Here, in the spring, is arguably one of the finest stands of wildflowers in the county. The trail emerges from the woods onto Sample Road and continues to the old Sample Station.

Section: M15. Sample Station to North Park, Hampton and McCandless Townships
Length: 2.5 miles
Notes: The trail enters North Park in an isolated corner of the park area and finds its way along an unnamed stream to the site of the old Rocky Dell Shelter, next to some spectacular rock outcroppings. Then it goes into the Park, through the trees, past several picnic areas and playing fields, coming out on Wildwood Road. Crossing the road, it follows Pine Creek to Babcock Boulevard, crosses the Road and goes behind a small pond to the Western Terminus, directly behind the Beaver Shelter.

When you volunteer to adopt a section of the Rachel Carson or Baker Trail, a time will be arranged with you for a trail maintenance orientation. The orientation consists of a guided walk along your trail section and instructions on blazing and clearing and other maintenance expectations. If you want to volunteer call JIM RITCHIE at 828-0210.

March 19 Sat Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Rachel Carson Trail, Section B: Springdale to Tarentum (Allegheny Vistas). Approximately 8 miles. Strenuous roller coaster hills: there are at least 8 major hill climbs. This is a beautiful section of the trail, running high atop the bluffs parallel to the Allegheny River. This is the first of four hikes in four months covering the trail from end to end. See it all. Meet at 8:00 am at HQ in Mellon Park. Call Jim for info/reservations.

March 26 Sat Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Bake Trail, Near Idaho: Trail Maintenance. Maintenance is badly needed on the Baker Trail near the Idaho Shelter; trail must be rebuilt around an electric fence; involves loppers, bowsaws, whackers, blazing, etc. I need a crew of 8 to spend the day. Dinner or pie and coffee in Shelocta afterwards. Meets at HQ in Mellon Park at 8:00 am. Call Jim for info/reservations.

April 1994
(Page 4) April 9 Saturday Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Baker Trail, Near Mahoning Reservoir: Trail Maintenance. There are several large trees that have fallen down across the Trail on the hillsides leading down to the Mahoning Reservoir, near Dayton, PA. Work will involve chainsaws. I also need volunteers to do a little bit of brush cutting. Pie and coffee in Dayton when we're done. Meets at 8:00 am at HQ in MellonP ark. Call Jim to let him know you're coming.

April 17 Sunday Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Rachel Carson Trail, Section A: Tarentum to Harrison Hills. Hike up and down the roller coaster hills of the Rachel Carson Trail on this second of four hikes going end-to-end. Located in the northeastern corner of Allegheny County. About 8 miles. Intermediate to Advanced skills required. Meets at 8:00 am at HQ in Mellon Park. Call Jim for info/reservations.

April 30 Saturday Pat Rossi 335-5067 Veronique Schreurs 733-1741
Baker Trail, Freeport to Schenley. Short hike, about 5 miles, but with some steep hills (intermediate skills necessary). We will lookfor wildflowers, and see the confluence of the Kiski and Allegheny Rivers. Meet at 10:00 am at the Integra Bank, AmesP laza, directly off the Harmarville exit of the Route 28 Expressway. Call Pat or Veronique for information and a reservation.

May 1994
(Page 4) HIKING / BACKPACKING
April 30 Saturday Pat Rossi 335-5067 Veronique Schreurs 733-1741
Baker Trail, Freeport to Schenley. Short hike, about 5 miles, but with some steep hills (intermediate skills necessary). We will look for wildflowers, and see the confluence of the Kiski and Allegheny Rivers. Meet at 10:00 am at the Integra Bank in the Ames Plaza, directly off the Harmarville exit of the Route 28 Expressway. Call Pat or Veronique for information and a reservation.

May 12 Thursday Leo Stember 681-1385
Rachel Carson Trail, North Park. Here's a midweek hike through North Park on the Rachel Carson Trail, 5-6 miles at the very most. The focus of this hike will be on bird and wildflower identification. Leo has also taught classes on edible wild plants. Moderate pace. Meets at 9:00 am at Headquarters in Mellon Park. Call, daytime is best, for more information.

May 15 Sunday Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Rachel Carson Trail, Section B: Springdale to Tarentum (Allegheny Vistas). Postponed from March. Hike up and down the roller coaster hills of the Rachel Carson Trail on this second of four hikes going end-to-end. Strenuous/advanced hiking; at least 8 major hill climbs; this is a beautiful section, running high atop the bluffs over the Allegheny River. Maintained by Don Smith and John Shea. Meets at 8:00 am at HQ in Mellon Park. Call Jim for info/reservations.

May 21 Saturday Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Rachel Carson Trail, North Park Area: Trail Maintenance. There is a blowdown area just into the woods outside of Sample Station, Work will involve chainsaws and bowsaws. I also need volunteers to do a little bit of brush cutting. You suggest a good place for pie and coffee when we're done. Meets at 8:00 am at HQ in Mellon Park. This section maintained by Leo Stember. Call Jim to let him know you're coming.

(Page 5) BAKER TRAIL FIXED AT IDAHO AND SMICKSBURG
On Saturday, March 26 a six-person trail maintenance crew drove out to an area near the Idaho Shelter in Armstrong County and rerouted a quarter-to-half mile section of the Baker Trail away from an electric fence that had been installed directly along the path. Jim Ritchie did the local relations, saying “hello" to landowners as the group worked and manned a bow saw, and Mary Pitzer painted new blazes and freshened up the old, while Helen Coyne, John Truckley, Lenny Szypulski, and Mary Ellen McShea scouted, plotted, lopped bushes and branches, and cleared the trailway for the new route.

After the first project, the group went to the Idaho Shelter for lunch where it was found that several trees had fallen on the Shelter roof over the hard winter. The trees were removed, Mary Pitzer climbed on the roof and swept off several years' accumulation of moss and dirt, and the others cleared a 30-foot area around the shelter.

The next site was a couple of miles outside of Smicksburg, in the middle of Indiana County Amish country, where the Trail cut through some woods for half a mile, but had not been maintained for maybe ten or twelve years. The blazes were either nonexistent or very badly faded and no trace of a pathway could be found. A brand new route was cut and cleared through the woods with bright yellow blazes showing the way. A neighbor down the road remarked that “everyone got lost, walking right past the turnoff into the woods for a mile or so and then had to back up". John and Mary Ellen took and excursion to a nearby sawmill while at this site, noting with interest the lumber being produced there.

Lastly, the group all went to Stockdale's Restaurant in Dayton, PA for food, pie and coffee. Stockdale's is a quaint little place, right in the heart of town, with two dining rooms. The apple crumb pie was great, John says the buttermilk was REAL BUTTERMILK!! and as if that weren't enough Dave Crawley, a KDKA newscaster, was eating dinner there with some friends. The wait staff couldn't gush enough over him. All in all, it was a satisfying and productive day,

ADOPT-A-TRAIL UPDATE
AYH wants to extend a hearty “Thanks!!” to all the people who have volunteered to adopt a section of the Rachel Carson Trail. In recognition of their service, the following is a listing of all of our volunteers and the trail sections they will maintain in 1994. There are still two sections of the Rachel Carson Trail (Allegheny County) open for adoption. If you are interested, call Jim Ritchie at 828-0210 to talk about what you would have to do.

RACHEL CARSON TRAIL
SECTION M1: Freeport Road to Watts Overlook, Harrison Township; Joan Pfiefer and Diane Flanagan; South Hills

SECTION M2: Watts Overlook to Saxonburg Road; Seid Waddell, Sarver, PA

SECTION M3: Saxonburg Road to Burtner Road, Fawn and Harrison Townships; Mike Crawmer and Jim Harris; Highland Park

SECTION M4: Burtner Road to Bull Creek Road, Fawn Township Jim Ritchie, Oakmont

SECTION M5: Bull Creek Road to Bailey's Run Road, Tarentum and East Deer. Donald Smith, Irwin

SECTION M6: Bailey's Run Road to Crawford Run Road, East Deer Township. Length is 1.5 miles. This section of the trail climbs out of Bailey's Run Hollow and passes through the wooded area skirting the Bailey Farm, an area teeming with wildlife: deer, raccoons, birds, and wildflowers. After keeping to the high ground for nearly a mile, the Trail plunges precipitously into the valley of Crawford Run. OPEN! OPEN! OPEN! ADOPT ME!!!

SECTION M7: Crawford Run Road to Springdale Hollow Road, East Deer and Springdale Townships. John Shea

SECTION M8: Springdale Hollow Road to Tawney Run Road, Springdale Township. Mary Ellen McShea

SECTION M9: Tawney Run Road to Russelton Road, Springdale, Frazer, and Indiana Townships, Length is 2 miles; after following Yutes Run Road for half a mile, the Trail shoots steeply uphill to a world of upland meadows and beautiful vistas at an altitude of nearly 1300 feet, the ceiling of Allegheny County. Following is another dramatic plunge down to Little Deer Creek along Russellton Road near Rural Ridge. There is a short spur on the high ground to a wonderful vista overlooking the Allegheny River Valley. OPEN! OPEN! OPEN! ADOPT ME!!!

SECTION M10: Russelton Road to Emmerling Park, Indiana Township. Mary Ann DeGuilio, Indiana Township

SECTION M11: Emmerling Park to Route 910 in Dorseyville, Indiana Township, Andrew DeGuilio, Indiana Township

SECTION M12: Route 910 in Dorseyville to Middle Road, Indiana and Hampton Townships. Steve Donaldson, Mount Washington

SECTION M13: Middle Road by McCully to Route 8 by the Hampton Junior High School, Hampton Township, Barbara Braidic & Girl Scout Troop 1660, Glenshaw

SECTION M14: Route 8 to Sample Station, Hampton Township. Laura and David Hopper, Pittsburgh

SECTION M15: Sample Station to North Park, Hampton and McCandless Townships. Leo Stember, Oakland

ADOPT THE BAKER TRAIL
AYH volunteers are beginning to adopt sections of the 141-mile long Baker Trail even though the “official" call has not yet gone out. As reported last year, Sam Saccamango and Hal and Elizabeth Sommer have each volunteered to take care of sections of the Baker Trail, Sam near Schenley, PA and Hal and Elizabeth, near Elderton, PA. This past month Cindy Rogers, of Indiana, PA has volunteered to maintain some of the Baker Trail, the section still to be determined. Tom Brandon, of Brookville, has offered the services of his Boy Scout troop to help us care for the BT in the Brookville area. And, there are others in discussion.

AYH especially needs volunteers in Armstrong, Clarion, Jefferson, and Forest Counties to assist us with sections of the Baker Trail located in those areas. There are 11 sections of the BT available for adoption at this time. If you are interested, call Jim Ritchie at (412) 828-0210.

June 1994
(Page 6) June 12 Sunday Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Rachel Carson Trail, Section C (Deek Creek Valley). The four sections of the Rachel Carson Trail are nicknamed "hard", "harder", "more harder" and "hardest". This is the "hardest" section. Extremely numerous and steep hills. 8 mile long hike. Moderate pace. Advanced/Expert skills required. We may see turtles, Baltimore Orioles, European Columbine, Deer Creek, and other flora/fauna. Meets at 8:00 am at HQ in Mellon Park. Call for reservations.

June 25 Saturday Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Trail Maintenance, Baker Trail, Kiski Station to the Crooked Creek Shelter. We'll paint new blazes, do some lopping, cut down brambles and knotweed, do a little chainsaw and bowsaw work and pick up trash at a series of sites stretching from the mouth of the Kiski River to Kelly Station to Center Valley to Bethel. I know a good place to eat near Crooked Creek when we're all done. If it's hot, we may have the option to plunge in at Paradise Beach at Crooked Creek park. Meets at 8:00 am at HQ in Mellon Park. Limited to 8. Call for information and reservations.

(Page 7) ADOPT THE BAKER TRAIL
AYH volunteers are beginning to adopt sections of the 141-mile long Baker Trail even though the "official" call has not yet gone out. As reported last year, Sam Saccamango and Hal and Elizabeth Sommer have each volunteered to take care of sections ofthe Baker Trail, Sam near Schenley, PA and Hal and Elizabeth, near Elderton, PA. This past month Cindy Rogers, of Indiana, PA has volunteered to maintain some of the Baker Trail, the section still to be determined. Tom Brandon, of Brookville, has offered the services of his Boy Scout troop to help us care for the BT in the Brookville area. And, there are others in discussion.

AYH especially needs volunteers in Armstrong, Clarion, Jefferson, and Forest Counties to assist us with sections of the Baker Trail located in those areas. There are 11 sections of the BT available for adoption at this time. If you are interested, call Jim Ritchie at (412) 828-0210.

July 1994
(Page 6) July 2 Saturday Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Trail Maintenance, Baker Trail, Smicksburg to Mahoning Creek to North Freedom. We're going to cut, lop, chop, paint, and do some pick-up work on the Baker Trail along Mahoning Creek near Dayton. We'll also check some of the work we did back in December and March near the Mahoning Reservoir to see if it's holding up. Meets at 8:00 am at HQ in Mellon Park. Limited to 8. Call for info and reservations.

July 21 Thursday Leo Stember 681-1385
North Park: Rachel Carson Trail. This will be a 2-6 mile hike along the Rachel Carson Trail in North Park. Leo maintains this section of the RCT. Focus will be on bird and wildflower identification. Easy (leisurely to moderate pace, flat with a couple moderate hills). Meets at 9:00 am at Headquarters in Mellon Park. Call, daytime is best, for more information.

July 23 Saturday Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Rachel Carson Trail, Section D (North Hills). This is the eeasiest of the four sections of the Rachel Carson Trail, going past Hartwood Acres, the Hampton Nature Reserve, and through the Crouse Run Valley. About 8 miles, moderate pace, several moderate hills. Option to stay at North Park and swim at the pool or return to HQ when done. Meets at 8:00 am at HQ in Mellon Park. Call for info/reservations.

August 6 Saturday Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Trail Maintenance, Rachel Carson Trail.

August 13 Saturday Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Hike the Baker Trail!! Garver's Ferry to Bethel.

July 13 Wed Cliff Ham 687-4520.
All day picnic to the Baker Trail in Crooked Creek Park. We will walk along the Baker Trail. Bring lunch and good shoes. Charge for transportation and AYH registration.

August 1994
(Page 6) August 6 Saturday Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Trail Maintenance, Baker Trail, Kiski Station to the Crooked Creek Shelter. We'll paint new blazes, do some lopping, cutdown brambles and knotweed, do a little chainsaw and bowsaw work and pick up trash at a series of sites stretching from the mouth of the Kiski River to Kelly Station, Center Valley, and Bethel. Meets at 8:00 am at HQ in Mellon Park. Call for info and reservations.

foot notes hiking and backpacking news
-by jim ritchie
The big news around AYH for hikers is all the trail maintenance work being done by AYH volunteers on the Rachel Carson Trail and the Baker Trail. The Rachel Carson Trail now has end-to-end coverage with a total of 14 maintainers signed up through the AYH Adopt-a-Trail program. And even through we have not formally posted a request for Baker Trail volunteers, we have four maintainers signed up to take care of Trail sections in Allegheny, Armstrong, and Indiana counties.

Because of the response, I have not been able to schedule trail maintenance orientations with all of the volunteer maintainers yet. I have a half a dozen people with whom I still need to arrange a walk-through orientation. If you are one of those people, please be patient: I'll be calling you soon.

Seid Waddell, of Sarver, PA is the only volunteer maintaining two sections of Trail, both on the Rachel Carson. One section Seid is working on stretches from Tawney Run Road in Springdale to Little Deer Creek Road (Russelton Road) in West Deer. About four years ago, the RCT was re-routed to a gas pipeline on high ground because of a landowner problem. However the old route was mostly available, at least out to several scenic vistas overlooking the Allegheny River Valley heading toward Pittsburgh from the heights above Springdale and Cheswick.

For all practical purposes, the old route was abandoned; but, Seid has resurrected this route, cleared the brush and painted fresh blazes all the way to the restricted property line. The hilltop, in late June, was covered with dozens of blueberry bushes loaded with plump, but still green, blueberries. I would estimate they will be ripe by mid-July.

HIKING TIP!! If you are interested in hiking the new/old RCT spur above Cheswick, go to the intersection in Springdale of Yutes Run and Tawney Run Roads; drive about a quarter mile north on Yutes Run and make a left turn on the first left after going under the Rt. 28 expressway overpass (this is called either High St, or Crone Hollow Road). Park along the side of this street. Pick up the yellow blazes at the t-intersection straight ahead; cut a 45 degree angle through the far corner of the intersection, going up the hillside and underneath the powerline tower. The spur is about a mile long. Stop when you reach the triple blaze (a triple blaze indicates the beginning or end of a trail). Hiking in-and-out will take you an hour to an hour and a half. Thanks to Seid for his hard work in this area.

I recently went on a Trail Maintenance Orientation with Cindy Rogers of Indiana, PA on the section of the Baker Trail going along Little Mahoning Creek from just out of Smicksburg to the Milton Loop Campground at Mahoning Creek Reservoir. Cindy and her friends have cleaned up this entire section and it is well-blazed and ready to go, On our TMO, we saw fresh, crisply-outlined bear tracks in the mud along the Creek, and a family of 5-6 Broad-winged Hawks that squawked and circled us as we passed under their nest. After hiking, we stopped at the "Cheese Store" just on the opposite side of Smicksburg and got some cheese curds, a new experience for me. They come by the bag, probably a half pound, and are the leftover scraps from the cheese-making process. Very good!! If you're not familiar with Smicksburg, there is also a winery in town, offering free tasting, and several craft stores. Smicksburg is also in an area heavily populated by the Amish, and so there are many Amish farmers offering hand-crafted wooden furniture for sale. Look for the signs along the roads—watch out for horses-and-buggies.

HIKING TIP!! If you want to hike this section of the Baker Trail, the best access point can be reached by going to Dayton, PA in Armstrong County, take Route 839 north out of Dayton, and then just 100 yards before you reach the Milton Loop campground (on the left), the Trail comes out of the woods from the right along an old grassy farm road. The Trail crosses a field with high grass, but keep following the trace over to the woodline, watching for blazes along the way. Once into the woods the Trail is easy to follow and the hiking is great. From Milton Loop to the Smicksburg Road is about 2.5-3 miles one way.

On the last Saturday in June, Mary Pitzer, Nick Breskovich, and I assisted maintainer Don Smith in re-establishing his section of the Rachel Carson Trail, near Tarentum, where a bulldozer, this spring, took out most of the trees with blazes on them and left a half mile section of unblazed and very difficult-to-follow trail. We worked for nearly six hours in the heat, cutting, lopping, chopping and blazing, leaving the whole area nicely marked for all behind us. We also met Bruno Sr., Bruno Jr., and Johnny Nobilese, three generations, the landowners on one piece we fixed up. You might see some of Bruno, Jr.'s dune buggy frames when you go by his place on a hike.

HIKING TIP!!! If you want to try out this section of the RCT on a Sunday afternoon, go to Tarentum along old Freeport Road and turn away from the Allegheny River on Center St. Go up around four blocks and make a right, go to the t-intersection and make a left. Follow this road (Bakerstown Road) up the hill, over the Expressway, and park your car at the cemetery on your left. Walk back down the hill and just before you reach the Expressway, you'll see yellow blazes along the road. Turn left, and follow the trail down into and then back up out of the hollow. Continue, following the yellow blazes, to the overlook high above the Route 28 expressway, with views of Tarentum and the Allegheny River. Trace your steps back to Bakerstown Road. Cross the road and follow the Trail up the hill on the other side; the blazes take you to some more vistas and on to the Comcast satellite dishes at the tower on top of the hill...a good place for lunch. All the hiking described here will take you no more than 1.5 to 2 hours, about 2.5 miles round trip in both directions.

I also want to thank Scott Eckstrom of Upper St. Clair and Nikki Sorci of Fox Chapel, who volunteered to maintain the Rachel Carson Trail through the woods between Bailey's Run Road, near Tarentum, and Crawford Run Road, near Creighton. Scott and Nikki and I went through an orientation run in June. This is a tough section of the trail, including one of the steepest hills on the RCT, just outside of Creighton, and requires some creative blazing to jump across a power line clearing up on top of the hill. Unfortunately, a landowner is harvesting all the cherry trees along part of the route, making the trail temporarily discontinuous (or at the least, very hard to follow) at one point, until he clears the downed trees out. Scott and Nikki plan to introduce several of their friend to "trail maintenance".

Thanks also to Donna Allen, who will be leading her first hike for AYH in August, choosing to lead what I think is the first AYH hike on the newly-opened North Country Trail through McConnell's Mill State Park. Donna will start near Alpha Pass, above the Mill and hike through the air-conditioned hollow of Slippery Rock Creek, past the covered bridge, past Harris Bridge and Eckert Bridge, all the way to Hell's Hollow, I've heard that this section of the NCT, completed by work crews organized by the Keystone Trails Association composed of our own Glenn Oster, Helen Coyne, and many others from the Pittsburgh area, is a real beauty. Sign up for this one!!

AYH members on the road include Joyce Appel and Paul Henry, who went, in July, to East Africa where they climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro and took a canoe expedition down the Zambezi River; and Norm Snyder and Steve Tubbs who took another of their trips "out west". I recently visited New Orleans where I rented a pirogue in Crown Point, LA and paddled through the canals and bayous of Barataria, in the Jean Lafitte National Historic Park and also Acadia National Park, where I was not able to "do" the Precipice Trail due to its being closed because a pair of perrigrine falcons had taken up residence on the cliffs. I did hike up Cadillac Mountain and Gorham/Champlain Mts., in each case coming up the south ridge trails to the summits. If you're ever in Acadia, for a unique thrill, seek out the "ladder" trails: the Precipice, the Beehive, and Perpendicular.

September 1994
(Page 6) October 15-16 Sat.-Sun.
Armstrong County Tourist Bureau 548-3226
Armstrong County Fall Foliage Hike. Each year, at the peak of the fall foliage season, the Armstrong County Tourist Bureau sponsors its Fall Foliage Hikes, one on Saturday and a second on Sunday. The hikes utilize the Baker Trail, the Armstrong Trail, and several other lesser known trails in "Outdoor Adventure" country. Turnout ranges from 40-200 participants. Put this one on your calendar now and watch this space in the October Golden Triangle for more details or call the number above. THIS IS NOT AN AYH EVENT!!!

November 1994
(Page 6) January 2 Mon Joyce Appel 526-5407 Paul Henry 962-1511
Baker Trail, Dayton, PA: Cross-country Ski or Hike-depending on conditions; th ere is a long four miles to ski along the banks of Little Mahonfilg Creek with additional possibilities near the Milton Loop Campground. Call Joyce or Paul to ask about surface conditions and their current plans.

March 1995
(Page 5) THE NORTH FREEDOM SHELTER LIVES...KIND OF.
by jim ritchie
While on my mid-January excursion of the Baker Trail from McWilliams to just below Heathville, I went searching for the old North Freedom Shelter. Word was the Shelter had been burnt down, not just once but several times, and was moved in the process of trying to find a safe location.

The Baker Trail Hiking Guide shows the shelter location correctly on the map; the written instructions, however, were developed before the road going past the shelter was rerouted, so ignore the written instructions. The shelter was located along Little Sandy Creek just outside of an obscure settlement called Langville, on a little bluff directly over the flowing water, in a grove of hemlocks and white pine. The location is spectacular.

The shelter itself is another story; the walls of the shelter are gone, presumably burnt down and the roof now sits directly on top of the floor. If you are planning to backpack the area however, I would strongly encourage you to use the site with your tent; it is too pretty to miss.

To locate the shelter on the little gated side road just before you reach the bridge (northbound on the trail) off the main dirt road, you walk past the gate, and around the curve in the road to the left. Before you crest the little hill on the curve itself, look to the right into a grove of hemlocks and pines between you and the Creek. You will see a natural walkway through the trees; follow it to the top of the bluff overlooking Little Pine Creek.

If the shelter here were ever rebuilt, it would probably be worth the time to try to relocate it in a not-so-accessible area. But I will surely hate to give up that beautiful spot.

(Page 6) BAKER TRAIL-ADOPT IT FOR 1995
by jim ritchie
This will be the second year of the AYH Adopt-A-Trail program in which you have the opportunity to adopt a section of the Baker Trail. Last year, the Rachel Carson Trail was put up for adoption, in roughly 2- to 3-miles pieces. Fifteen sections of the RCT were adopted, covering the entire length of the Trail from end to end, North Park, 34 miles to Harrison Hills Park, Blazes were painted; weeds-especially brambles and knotweed were cut; trash was picked up, and blowdown was cut up and moved, once again rejuvenating Allegheny County's rugged and challenging Rachel Carson Trail.

For 1995, we want to adopt out the Baker Trail. The following information will help you decide if you would like to join up with us.

What is the Baker Trail? Baker Trail is a hiking trail, extending from Freeport, PA on the north-eastern tip of Allegheny County, 141 miles to the Allegheny National Forest, near Marienville, passing through Cook Forest and Crooked Creek on its way north. The Trail runs on the crests of the bluffs overlooking the Allegheny River, along the shores of Crooked Creek Lake, through Christmas Tree Plantations, past Mahoning Creek Reservoir, through Amish Country, and along the Clarion River.

Who owns the Baker Trail? Only small portions of the Baker Trail are on public property. The Baker Trail was built in the tradition of the Appalachian Trail: crossing private property with the verbal permission of landowners. Much of the Trail follows little-used rural dirt roads. The Baker Trail is an AYH trail: built by the Pittsburgh AYH around 1950 by a fledgling organization.

Why should I adopt the Baker Trail? The Baker Trail is a challenging and exciting resource for all the people of Western Pennsylvania and beyond. Unlike trails such as the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail, located mostly on State-owned property and maintained by the State using tax dollars, trails like the Baker, the Rachel Carson, and the prior to public ownership, the Appalachian Trail, will disappear without the support of hikers and outdoors enthusiasts like you. You will gain the personal satisfaction of having contributed to a recreation you yourself treasure.

What do I have to do? When you adopt the Baker Trail, you are making a commitment to hike your section of the Trail two times during 1995; the first time should be around the beginning of May when you will paint fresh yellow blazes along the route. The second, around the beginning of June, will be to check on vegetation, looking for problems where brambles or knotweed have overgrown the trail, and cutting away what you are able to do.

What do I get out of it? Nothing; except fresh air, exercise, love of the outdoors, personal satisfaction, beauty, peace of mind, friendship.

What else can I do? If you can't get out on the trail, I need some help designing and ordering incentives such as t-shirts, ball caps, patches, etc. with Baker Trail logos on them. If enough help is available, I'd like to organize an annual meeting of AYH trail maintenance workers, maybe at an outdoor cookout location along one of our trails. I would like to find a volunteer with experience writing grant applications; there are several programs through which the Baker Trail may be able to attract funding for things such as permanent plastic trail blazes. I also need some assistance from hikers who are willing to hike some of the remote sections of the Trail and then update the Baker Trail Hiking Guide, the map and the text.

How do I get started? Call me, Jim Ritchie, at (412) 828-0210; if I'm not there, leave me a message on my answering machine and I'll call you back. Ask me any questions you may have about being a “maintainer", a Trailworker. I especially would like to identify people in Armstrong County, Clarion County, Jefferson County, and Forest County who are willing to assume responsibility for portions of the trail near their homes.

Is there any training? I will provide a personal trail maintenance orientation for every volunteer. We'll walk the trail, learn how to follow it, talk about painting blazes, cutting weeds and blowdown, tools to use, and keeping the trail clean. I will be setting dates now for weekends in April, May, and June.

ADOPT ME!!! I NEED A GOOD HOME! (Baker Trail Sections)
Section 1: Garver's Ferry to Godfrey, Gilpin Twp., Armstrong County Not Available; already adopted.

Section 2: Godfrey to Center Valley, Armstrong County Mostly dirt roads, two sections through woodlots; climbs out of the Allegheny River valley to high ground; skirts farms, small rural settlements.

Section 3: Center Valley to Route 66, Bethel Twp., Armstrong CountyThis section includes the only "ladder trail” on the BT; Cook's Summit; the Crooked Creek Backpacking Shelter; ends on Rt. 66 at the Llama Farm next to Crooked Creek.

Section 4: Route 66 to the Crooked Creek Dam, Armstrong County Mostly through the woods; some steep ups and downs; along Crooked Creek to the dam, up the hill; ends at the picnic shelter/rest room complex.

Section 5: Crooked Creek Dam to Cochran's Mill, Armstrong County Starts by the picnic shelter/rest room complex by the dam, and then skirts the edge of the reservoir, into some deep hollows and out again. This is a long section, about 8-9 miles long, so it would be ideal for two or more people, running a car shuttle. One person could do it, going in and out the same route, doing one half at a time, This section is scheduled for a major rehabilitation in July, 1995 with the Keystone Trails Association scheduling a weekend-long TrailCare camping and trail maintenance extravaganza, being led by Mary Pitzer and likely to attract some of Pennsylvania's hiking legends.

Other Sections: To adopt any of the above sections, or any other sections with which you are familiar, call Jim Ritchie, (412) 828-0210 to hear about the details. Each volunteer will get a personal orientation on the trail section they adopt.

April 1995
(Page 5) WANTED: MAINTAINERS FOR THE BAKER TRAIL
The Baker Trail is looking for volunteers who will adopt a 2 or 3 mile section of the Trail, hike the Trail two times a year and offer some tender loving care. The following sections are open:

Section 6: Cherry Run
This piece of the Trail in Armstrong County runs adjacent to Cherry Run, an excellent trout stream tributary of Crooked Creek, Runs two miles from the bridge on Brick Church Road down to the site of the cable bridge crossing Cherry Run.

Section 7: Idaho: Not available. Already adopted.

Section 8: Amish Country
This is a short section, less than a mile, crossing a wooded area in the heart of Amish farm country. Just rehabilitated last year, in good condition. Just check it out this year; put fresh paint on it next year.

Section 9: Smicksburg: Not available. Already adopted.

Section 10: Mahoning Creek Reservoir
One of the most interesting sections of the Baker Trail, the Trail plunges down into the Mahoning Creek Valley through a dense thicket of hemlocks to a fresh water spring on the shores of the reservoir. The Trail then winds its way back up to high ground. 100 hours of maintenance performed here in 1994 - excellent condition.

ADOPT A SHELTER ON THE BAKER TRAIL
Adopt your own shelter; all you have to do is visit the shelter twice a year, stay overnight if you wish, clean up the area, whack down the weeds around the shelter and report all is well. Opportunities to do roofing and carpentry. All are Appalachian-style trail shelters.

Crooked Creek Shelter: At the top of Cook's Summit in Armstrong County, in a wooded area overlooking a tributary of Crooked Creek.

Cochran's Mill Shelter: High on a bluff over Crooked Creek, near Cherry Run and the Coal Mine Spring in Armstrong County.

Idaho Shelter: Hidden in the woods near tho Keystone Power Plant overlook in Indiana County; close to the town of Elderton on Route 422, outside of Indiana.

Atwood Shelter: Near the little town of Atwood, Armstrong County, less than two miles from the boat launch area of Keystone Reservoir.

Other sections and other shelters: To adopt any of the above sections, or any other sections with which you are familiar, call Jim Ritchie, (412) 828-0210 to hear about the details. Each volunteer will get a personal orientation on the trail section or shelter they adopt.

HELP WANTED: Experience in preparing grant applications
Apply for trail maintenance funding from Pennsylvania trails development program for permanent blaze markers on Baker Trail/Rachel Carson Trail. Volunteer work—will look great on your resume! Call (412) 828-0210.

ATTENTION!!! TRAILCARE WEEKEND CROOKED CREEK PARK
AYH & KEYSTONE TRAILS ASSOCIATION To rehabilitate the 10 miles of the Baker Trail on the shores of Crooked Creek Lake JULY 14, 15, 16 (Fri., Sat., Sun,)
KTA has dedicated this weekend to work on the Baker Trail, blazing, cutting, clearing, and cleaning. There will be volunteers from AYH and KTA who will come from all over the State of Pennsylvania to work on the Trail. All volunteers will stay at the Crooked Creek Group campground, high on a bluff overlooking the lake, at no charge. During the day, crews of volunteers will be dispatched to different parts of the trail for maintenance work; at night there will be campfires, weenie-roasting, song-singing, tale-telling and other fun things at the campground. Join other hiking folk from all over the state to work on maintaining our hiking trails, in this case our very own Baker Trail. Mary Pitzer, a member of both AYH and KTA, is the KTA project leader. Jim Ritchie, also of AYH and KTA, will coordinate AYH participation.

If you would like to volunteer, call Jim Ritchie, (412) 828-0210, or send email to JLR@VMS.CIS.PITT.EDU. Check-in will be anytime on Friday or Saturday. Come when you can. Work one day and spend the rest of your time in Crooked Creek Park: sandy beach, boat launch; suitable for canoeing, sea kayaking, and sailing. Hiking trails, Visitor Center, fishing.

May 1995
(Page 5) Sunday May 7 Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Trail maintenance hike on the Baker Trail near Crooked Creek Lake. A new strip mine operation requires us to "move" the trail down Horney Camp Run to the lakeshore and then back up along a dirt road. Mostly covering old blazes and putting up new blazes. We'll do as much as we can in the area before coming home. Dinner at Pitzer's Crooked Creek Inn, if the group is interested. Call Jim for more information and a reservation.

(Page 6) ATTENTION!!! TRAILCARE WEEKEND CROOKED CREEK PARK
AYH & KEYSTONE TRAILS ASSOCIATION To rehabilitate the 10 miles of the Baker Trail on the shores of Crooked Creek Lake JULY 14, 15, 16 (Fri., Sat., Sun.)
KTA has dedicated this week end to work on the Baker Trail, blazing, cutting, clearing, and cleaning. There will be volunteers from AYH and KTAwho will come from all over the State of Pennsylvania to work on the Trail. All volunteers will stay at the Crooked Creek Group camp ground, high on a bluff overlooking the lake, at no charge. During the day, crews of volunteers will be dispatched to different parts of the trail for maintenance work; at night there will be campfires, weenie-roasting, song-singing, tale-telling and other fun things at the campground. Join other hiking folk from all over the state to work on maintaining our hiking trails, in this case our very own Baker Trail, Mary Pitzer, a member of both AYH and KTA, is the KTA project leader. Jim Ritchie, also of AYH and KTA, will coordinate AYH participation.

If you would like to volunteer, call Jim Ritchie, (412) 828-0210, or send email TO JLR@VMS.CIS.PITT EDU. Check-in will be anytime on Friday or Saturday. Come when you can. Work one day and spend the rest of your time in Crooked Creek Park: sandy beach, boat launch; suitable for canoeing, sea kayaking, and sailing. Hiking trails, Visitor Center, fishing.

(Page 10) ADOPT THE BAKER TRAIL CONTINUES NINE VOLUNTEERS IN MARCH
The Baker Trail has nine new volunteers who have come aboard during the month of March. John Speck, a minister from Armstrong County, will be looking over parts of the Trail adjacent to Crooked Creek Lake and perhaps the Crooked Creek Shelter and the Cochran's Mill Shelter. Mary Duff, originally of Atwood, PA, called to volunteer the services of her son and his wife, David and Tamara, who live in Atwood, to take care of the Atwood Shelter and the trail leading up to and away from it.

Kirk Slater, who did so much chain saw work on the piece north of Milton, along Mahoning Creek Reservoir, has officially adopted that piece. Al Mader, of Sewickly, wants to adopt a part of the Baker Trail in the vicinity of the Allegheny National Forest, perhaps the piece that joins the North Country Trail in that area. Patty Scheuering, whose father (Bud Edlis) was one of the original builders of the Baker Trail, in the late 1940's, wants to continue in that tradition: Pat will participate in some of our group activities (see Hike listings) and will adopt a section on her own at a later time.

Michael Ruane has also volunteered to participate in our group weekend trail maintenance activities this year. Vince Roolf, of Plum, has volunteered for the group activities; Vince has a special interest in the route between the Cochran's Mill Shelter and Cherry Run near Brick Church in Armstrong County.

ADOPT THE TRAIL
If you are interested in becoming a part of a Western Pennsylvania trail building and trail maintaining tradition, you can start by volunteering your services to adopt a 2 or 3 mile portion of the Baker Trail, We especially need volunteers in Armstrong, Jefferson and Clarion Counties.

You obligation is only to hike the Trail two times this year, the first time, you take a can of yellow paint and put fresh paint on the yellow blazes; the second time, just take a garbage bag and pick up any trash on the trail-not usually very much. At the same time, if you observe any major problems on the trail, a clearcut or a blowdown, just call me, Jim Ritchie, at (412) 828-0210 and let me know. I will put the required maintenance on our maintenance schedule and organize a work party to go out and take care of the problem.

The following sections of the Baker Trail are featured for adoption this month. Call Jim Ritchie, (412) 828-0210 to find out more about the program.

Section 11: McWilliams
This section of the Trail, located in Armstrong County, starts at the Mahoning Creek Dam, runs north along the Creek and ends in Redbank Township. Mostly following dirt roads, there are two short sections of off-road trail; easy to maintain.

Section 12: North Freedom
This section follows dirt roads through hilly, picturesque farm country; the route includes Mt. Tabor, North Freedom, and Langville. The North Freedom Shelter site, a beautiful spot on a bluff overlooking bubbling Little Sandy Creek in Armstrong and Jefferson Counties, is along the route.

Section 13: Heathville
This section includes a major portion of the off-road part of the Baker Trail in extreme Southwestern Jefferson County. Runs from Langville, past the Zion Cemetery, over Red Run and Tarkiln Run in Beaver Township and ends in Heathville upon reaching Red Bank Creek. Requires an energetic volunteer.

Section 14: Summerville The Summerville section starts out along a thick grove of Rhododendron along Red Bank Creek and shortly follows rural dirt roads for several miles through Summerville to Harlan and ends at the Summerville Shelter, Deserted dirt roads above and along Red Bank Creek are the highlight. Eat dinner at the Country Kitchen in Summerville after a hard day's work,

Section 15: Corsica
The Corsica section lies entirely on rural dirt roads and passes through the town of Corsica on I-80. Sparsely populated, easy to maintain: only blazing is required here. This is located in Jefferson County.

ADOPT AN APPALACHIAN TRAIL SHELTER ON THE BAKER TRAIL
Adopt your own shelter; just visit the shelter twice a year, stay overnight if you wish, clean up the area, whack down the weeds around the shelter and call me to let me know all is well. Sometimes repairs are needed: if you can do it-great!!! If not, give me a call and we'll put it on the list. Shelters available today include the following. Call Jim Ritchie (412) 828-0210 for more details.

Milo Weaver Shelter: This one is easy; the Weavers take care of it; all you need to do is drive out there once a year, say hello, and ask if there is anything that needs to be done. Located on the edge of a farm pond along the tree line in front of a woodlot; a couple of miles. north of Keystone Reservoir in Armstrong County.

Jantz Shelter: Another easy one; Mr. Jantz watches over this one. Again, all you do is stop by once a year, say hello to Mr. Jantz, and offer to do anything that might need some attention. Located in Armstrong County just north of the Mahoning Creek Dam.

North Freedom Shelter Site: Piece of cake!! Actually, not much of this shelter is left, but it is a great place to camp overnight. Here is one we'd like to get a volunteer to rebuild, but most likely nearby, not at the same exact location. Your primary job is to stop by and pick up any trash that may have been left here; near North Freedom in Jefferson County.

Summerville Shelter: This is the last of the shelters to be built on the Baker Trail, in 1972. Near Summerville in Jefferson County, this one is in excellent condition, has a working outhouse, and a freshwater spring 50 yards away. Turn out the lights on a summer evening and you'll see a lot of wildlife here!

June 1995
(Page 6) NEW VOLUNTEERS ON THE BAKER
Steve Shaffer, from Clarion, PA and his friends "from the shop” called to say they would like to adopt all 17 miles of the Baker Trail between the Gravel Lick Bridge over the Clarion River, just south of Cook Forest, to the village of Corsica, near I-80. Steve has been hiking the Trail in that area for years. Recently, he has been exploring the 17 miles from Cook Forest to Corsica and has found it to be in much need of repair. The blazing in some areas is non-existent and many areas are plagued by blowdowns and weeds gone out of control. This is one of the worst areas on the Trail and we welcome and thank Steve and his friends for their offer.

Closer to home, Andy Evans and his young son have adopted the Baker Trail from the Crooked Creek Shelter, across PA Route 66 by the llama farm to the Crooked Creek Dam. After Andy scouted the Trail for one day, he called to say this is definitely something he wanted to do.

Pat Thompson, from Colorado and now in Pittsburgh, has offered to help with our trail maintenance activities, specifically on the Rachel Carson Trail, in Allegheny County, We'll be sending Pat maps of an area close to Deer Creek that she can scout. Also, Ken Lyle, recently moved to Pittsburgh from California, has volunteered his participation in the Keystone Trails-American Youth Hostels TrailCare at Crooked Creek weekend, Ken has done this kind of work before in California and is considering doing even more this summer with the American Hiking Society volunteer program, Lew Weingard of Tionesta has expressed his interest in the Baker Trail and wants to explore the BT in his area. Specifically, he wants to meet Al Mader, our man in the ANF to look at the section Al maintains. Lew is a North Country Trail volunteer. Last but not least, Edie O'Neal has offered to look over several grant application packages and perhaps help us to write a grant proposal for funding that would allow permanent trail markers on the Baker Trail and the Rachel Carson Trail.

Just after I scouted the Baker Trail north of Corsica in April, Tom Brandon wrote me a letter with a map attached telling me that he and his Boy Scout troop (#64) went out on Saturday April 22 and blazed the entire length of the gas line running past Little Mill Creek to Mill Creek and another two-mile section north of Game Lands Number 74. Tom has been our man in the North (of PA) for several years now; each year he and his Troop perform volunteer trail maintenance on the BT. We thank them for their efforts. Good job!!

AYH and I want to thank Susan Croyle of Ford City who has graciously extended her access to the Crooked Creek Shelter, which lies on her property, to the Baker Trail community. She was surprised to hear that the Trail is even being used, having seen nor heard anyone for many years. That particular area is not heavily used, with maybe only 6-12 hikers, including several through-hikers, passing through each year. Thanks, Susan.

At publication deadline, we are planning a trail maintenance hike in the area of the Covered Footbridge over Horney Camp Run in Armstrong County, We plan for 8 participants and at this hour we have Dee Garvin, Patty Scheuring, and Vince Roolf signed up. We will be visiting William Rosenberger and Cari Brenneman, both landowners who have offered to help us re-route the Trail around an area about to be strip mined. The Trail will cross their property while the mining operation is active; we plan at this time to restore the Trail to its previous route when the mining is done.

On Saturday, April 28, I was scouting a portion of the Baker Trail near Pine Run, in Armstrong County, when I discovered along the flats of Pine Run, a carpet of dark red trillium (actually called purple trillium in my Audubon Field Guide) in full bloom. Intermingled were yellow trout lilies, bluets, many spring beauties, toothwort, and wild blue phlox. Walking in my shirtsleeves, the sun shining, 55 degrees out, this spectacular sight made my day.

ADOPT THE BAKER TRAIL
HI-AYH continues its Adopt-a-Trail program featuring the Baker Trail, a 141-mile hiking and backpacking trail extending from Garver's Ferry, near Freeport, PA to the Allegheny National Forest near Marienville, PA. If you are interested in volunteering your services to help us maintain the Baker Trail, call Jim Ritchie at (412)828-0210. Your commitment extends to hiking your section two times in 1995, once to blaze and a second time to check it out. The following sections are featured for June.

Section 16: Little Mill Creek. Not Available. Tom Brandon blazed this stretch and Steve Shaffer and his gang from Clarion have adopted.

Section 17; Mill Creek, Not Available. Mike Robertson has adopted this section running parallel to Mill Creek for 4 miles through State Game Lands Number 74 in Clarion and Jefferson Counties.

Section 18: Pendleton Run. Not Available. Recently blazed by Tom Brandon. Adopted by Steve Shaffer and friends from Clarion, PA.

Section 19: Three Runs: Cathers, Clawson and Updike. Not Available. Steve Shaffer and the guys from the shop in Clarion, PA have adopted this entire section of the Trail, everything south of the Gravel Lick bridge and down to Corsica, for a special Summer 1995 project. They intend to reblaze and rehabilitate this entire 17-mile stretch of the Baker Trail.

Section 20: Along the Clarion River and into Cook Forest. This section is reported to be in excellent condition; we only need a volunteer who will make the trip twice a year and watch out for blowdowns, floods and other catastrophic events that might impact the Trail. Begins at the Gravel Lick Bridge and ends at the Nature Museum in Cook Forest State Park.

Section 21: Cook Forest. The Baker Trail in Cook Forest mostly parallels Tom's Run and Brown's Run, The Park does most of the maintenance work although there is no blazing done since C.F. is a National Natural Landmark site. The northernmost section of the trail within the state park needs a lot of clearing and is perennially difficult to follow.

Section 22: Kittanning State Forest. From the Cook Forest Boundary to Route 66. This section, through the State Forest includes two bridges built ages ago by AYH, Current reports indicate it is overgrown, difficult to follow. Needs fresh blazing and some t.l.c.

Section 23: The Northern Terminus, Not Available. The northern end of the Baker Trail. Adopted by Al Mader.

THE LAST SHELTER
There is only one more shelter site available for adoption on the Baker Trail. This one is special for a special person or a small group, maybe scouts, a church group, or an outdoor or hiking club. The CORSICA SHELTER disappeared several years ago, probably burnt down or disassembled and moved by vandals. The site is just north of Mill Creek in Jefferson County, near the place called "Frozen Toe" (if you've ever been there, you know my reference). This is the 10th, and last, shelter on the Trail. We need a volunteer group to rebuild, from scratch, an Appalachian-style backpacking shelter. AYH will reimburse you for all materials you may need to purchase and I think we even have plans or blueprints, if you desire. Let me (Jim Ritchie-(412) 828-0210) know if you think this is something you and your friends can do.

August 1995
(Page 1) Baker Trail Hall Of Fame..... July 1, 1995
by Jim Ritchie

At the time of this writing, I am about 9 days away from the joint AYH-Keystone Trails Association TrailCare weekend dedicated to the rehabilitation of the Baker Trail in the vicinity of Crooked Creek Lake, Armstrong County. In preparation for TrailCare, I spent a couple of days last week making out a trail maintenance inventory—a list of all the work that needed to be done along the Trail. I found a blowdown area near Elbow Run, a detour needed around a strip mine near Horney Camp Run, a discontinuity in the Trail above the Crooked Creek Outflow area, and vegetation gone wild along a one-mile piece near the beach overlook area. In addition, there is much blazing that needs to be done, a few stray trees that need to be cut up here and there, some trail hardening required where the BT shares the path with horses, and a little side hill construction.

Since March, I have been recruiting volunteers to help me maintain and sustain the Baker Trail. I have asked for volunteers mostly to "Adopt-the-Trail", maintaining short, individual sections, and for others to go out with me on weekend work parties and some potpourri. The response has been gratifying: every week, I get one or two more calls from people who want to get involved, people who want to put back into the well from which they draw, and who want to make a contribution to a landmark of Western Pennsylvania: the Baker Trail.

I would like to devote the rest of this article to give recognition to all the good people who have helped me "save" the Baker Trail. While I have tried to include everyone who has helped out, I may have inadvertently missed one or two individuals. If you should be on this list, and you are not, please call me, say hello, and chew me out for my sometimes woeful memory. Here is my Baker Trail Hall of Fame, July 1, 1995. The Hall of Fame includes Adopt-a-Trail volunteers, weekend workparty volunteers, and assorted Friends of the Baker Trail-at-large.

Brenda Adams-Weyent:Ranger, Allegheny National Forest, Friend of the Trail; Mary Bates: TrailCare volunteer, July 14-16; Tom Bates: TrailCare volunteer, July 14-16; Tom Brandon: Scoutmaster, Brookville, PA, Friend of the Trail; Dorothy Burns: Weekend Workparties, 1994, 1995 Susan Croyles: landowner, Bethel Twp., Armstrong County, Friend of the Trail; Greg Daniels: Adopt-A-Trail, Idaho section; John Derby: Ranger, US Army Corps of Engineers, Crooked Creek, Friend of the Trail; Ed Divers: Sierra Club hike leader, Friend of the Trail; Mary, David, and Tamara Duff: Adopt-A-Trail, Atwood section; Andy Evans & Son; Adopt-A-Trail, Route 66 to Crooked Creek Dam; Dee Garvin: Weekend Warrior-Trail Maintenance volunteer and TrailCare, July 14-16; Larry Goyda: TrailCare volunteer, July 14-16; Randy Hall: Adopt-A-Trail, Clarion River, Cook Forest, Kittanning State Forest sections; William Jantz; landowner, Jantz Shelter near Mahoning Reservoir, Friend; Keystone Power Plant: land owner and a brand-new “Baker Trail” sign on Route 422, Friends of the Trail; Mort Kurman: TrailCare, July 14-16; Weekend Workparties, 1994; Ken Lyle: TrailCare, July 14-16; Al Mader: Adopt-A-Trail, the Northern Terminus; Edie O'Neal: grant writing volunteer, Friend of the Baker Trail; Glenn Oster; Hike leader, Weekend Workparty Leader, Weekend and Weekday Workparty volunteer, a long-time Friend of the Baker Trail; Brian Palmer: Adopt-A-Trail, Crooked Creek Dam to Horney Camp Run; Mary Pitzer: KTA TrailCare @ Crooked Creek sponsor, July 14-16, Weekend Workparties; Link Porterfield: Adopt-A-Shelter, Idaho Shelter; Mike Robertson: Adopt-A-Trail, Mill Creek section; Cindy Rogers: Adopt-A-Trail, Amish Country and Smicksburg sections, second year; Vince Roolf: Weekend Workparties and TrailCare, July 14-16; Mike Ruane: TrailCare, July 14-16; Sam Saccamango: Adopt-A-Trail (1994), Garver's Ferry section; Dave Schramm: BT Through-hiker, Philadelphia, Friend of the Baker Trail; Patty Scheuering: Weekend Workparty and second genera tion Friend of the Baker Trail; Steve Shaffer: Clarion, PA; Adopt-A-Trail, Corsica, Little Mill Creek, Pendleton Run, and Three Runs (Cathers, Clawson, Updike) sections. Adopt-A-Shelter: Corsica Shelter. With some help from the "guys at the shop"; Kirk Slater: Adopt-A-Trail, Mahoning Creek Lake section, a long-time Friend of the Baker Trail; Hal and Elizabeth Sommer: Indiana, PA; Adopt-A-Trail, 1994, Idaho; John Speck: Adopt-A-Trail, Cochran's Mill and Cherry Run sections; Adopt-A-Shelter, Crooked Creek and Cochran's Mill Shelters; Pete Srini: Hike leader, Trail Maintenance leader, a Friend of the Trail; Ginny Sunday: Adopt-A-Trail, Garver's Ferry to Godfrey; Tom Thwaites: Vice President, Keystone Trail Association; Chairman, TrailCare program; Susan Torrence: Tourist Bureau, Armstrong County; Fall Foliage Hikes organizer, Friend of the Baker Trail; Milo Weaver: landowner, Milo Weaver Shelter, Friend; and Lew Weingard: Friend of the Baker Trail

As you can see, the list is quite stunning. And these are only the people I know; obviously there are many people I don't know personally whose involvement with the Baker Trail predates mine. I would like to take this opportunity to thank one and all for their work and their contributions to the Baker Trail.

THE BAKER TRAIL-A LIFE OF ITS OWN
by Jim Ritchie

It seems as if I wrote only a couple of months ago about how the Baker Trail lives and breathes on its own, depending on no one individual or organization for its existence. I have seen it happen once again.

As I was driving home from Indiana, PA one Saturday evening in July, after dark, I thought I saw a sign flash past, along a dark desolate stretch of US 422, that said something about the Baker Trail. “No!", I thought to myself, it wasn't possible. After all, I am the Baker Trail Coordinator, I am "in charge" of the Baker Trail, nothing happens without my knowing it, without me giving my permission for something to happen. Still, I could swear the sign, a brand new PENNDOT-specification sign, said something about the Baker Trail. But I had been through here dozens of times before, every several weeks to visit my son David at IUP, a budding, Internet-surfing, virtually-real, computer scientist in-the-making, and I had never seen anything like that before. In fact, I had hiked that very route a half dozen times in the past two years and had never seen anything like it at all.

About five miles down the road, my curiosity got the best of me. I stopped the car on the berm, turned it around, and drove the five miles back to the "spot". I stopped again, turned the car around to face what I thought was the same sign and, there it was! “Baker Trail” in big white letters on a blue background, a steel 4 foot by 4 foot, highway sign, with a carefully drawn map of the triangle formed by Routes 156, 210 and 422, with a dotted line for the Baker Trail route right through the middle, and instructions below the map, "follow the numbers".

So, there it was, with no help from me at all, someone had seen fit to erect a sign to guide us all along the latest of perhaps many routes the Baker Trail has followed. The Trail is where it is; there is no preconceived dirt over which boots must trek; build it and they will come (to hike).

The moral of the story, of course, is whenever you start to worry about how theworld will ever get along without your help, ease up a little bit. We're never quite as importantaswemake ourselves out tobe, somehow, things have a way of working out, because of or in spite of our best efforts. The Baker Trail only provided one more of many lessons on the limitations of self-importance.

HOT DOGS ON THE BAKER TRAIL (A Hiker's Alert)
by Jim Ritchie

Hiking along the BT between Cochran's Mill and the covered bridge over Horney Camp Run early in July, I was coming up on the half mile of dirt road leading out to Kerr Road. The trail here cuts between two fields planted in corn just before coming out onto the dirt lane whose purpose is to provide access to a lone trailer at its end. The trailer sits back about 100 yards from the dirt road and is set up on blocks to keep it off the ground. I had walked about half way past when I heard a deep "Woof! Woof! Woof!" and out from underneath the porch comes a huge mixed breed german shepard-type dog. Next I heard “Yip-yip-yip! Yip-yip-yip!” and “arrrr-arrrr-arrrr", "aroooooooo, arooooooo", and other assorted doggy sounds. Taking a quick count, I got the number six. Six dogs were coming at me from all different directions.

Here I was being attacked by a pack of dogs, the kind of thing you read about in the newspaper. Things didn't look too good. I reached into my waist pack and pulled out my never-before-used pepper spray. Never before had the occasion. I surely hoped it wouldn't come to that, but if it did, I surely hoped that stuff worked...

Of the six dogs coming at me, two were especially aggressive: a knee-high black and white shorthair mutt, and a slightly smaller white dog that looked like a cross between a beagle and a poodie. The other four hung back 10 feet or so, as if to see what was going to happen.

The black dog didn't hesitate even once as he approached me; he was coming for my leg, barking, and he was going to bite me. As he came closer, his bark became more and more a growl and then a snarl. This guy was gonna get me!! Then, just as he got about four feet away, still coming in for the kill, 1 zapped him with the pepper spray. It worked!! I got him right on the snout just below his eye; his tongue reached out to lick it off and at the same time he jerked to a stop, shook his head a couple of times, and took 3 or 4 steps back. I started backing away, down the road. Here he came again. I got ready, but the dog would only come to about 10 feet away and then hesitate. I kept backing away. The white dog came in closer. The four woofers in the back kept woofing.

You know, that black dog followed me for another quarter mile before he quit. Every time I turned my back, he began to rush in at me. When I faced him, he would stop. The four big woofers quit and went home, even the little white dog stopped at the edge of the front yard. But that black dog barked louder and louder and faster and faster and kept coming in closer and closer. Finally, I threw a rock at him and he stopped. I walked briskly out of doggy-land.

Be advised!! Trails through farm country, such as the Baker, are bound to have dogs nearby. Most are tied, but some are not. This location above is one place to mark on your Baker Trail Map (Map #3, look for the 1048 elevation mark, just west of Crooked Creek, in the lower, right quadrant of your map). In assessing the situation, I'm not sure the pepper spray would have stopped a bigger, more aggressive dog, especially the breeds frequently trained as attack dogs: rottweilers, pit bulls, dobermans. If anyone has any wisdom to share on this subject, give me a call (412-828-0210) and I'll pass it on to our readers in a future newsletter.

September 1995
(Page 5) Crooked Creek Baker Trail Project ... -Successful-
by Jim Ritchie

The joint Keystone Trails Association/Pittsburgh AYH weekend of trail maintenance on the Baker Trail at Crooked Creek Lake on July 14, 15, and 16 greatly surpassed the expectations of the organizers of the event, eventually attacting 25 volunteers from all over the state of Pennsylvania, some from as far away as Lewistown and southeastern PA. The real story of the weekend, however, was the heat, with temperatures climbing over 95 degrees and air quality so poor that extensive ozone alerts had been posted throughout the area.

In spite of the heat, four work teams were organized on Saturday and managed to put in six hours of hard labor before buckling under. Blowdowns were cleared, new blazes posted, weeds cut back, and the route through Pine Run, recently resembling a jungle, is once again one of the nicest hikes in Western Pennsylvania (Cochran's Mill to Kerr Road-4 miles).

As the weekend opened on Friday night, each registrant received the traditional KTA "sign-in cookie", this time Pennsylvania Dutch Moon Pies, fresh-baked by Mary Pitzer, an AYH member who was the KTA sponsor for the weekend event. Rich Scanlon, a KTA trail builder, dentist and part-time coroner from Lewistown, PA donated a case of giveaway "sign-in toothpaste" tubes, a new product from Crest combining tartar control, baking soda, and peroxide (??what does that have to do with trail maintenance??).

The group camped at the very pleasant and private Crooked Creek group campground, courtesy of the Army Corps of Engineers, who provided us exclusive use of the facility. The Corps also provided free user passes to all other Park facilities, including their 500 foot sandy beach, which was greatly appreciated after a hard day's work in the field. All in all, nearly 200 person-hours of trail maintenance were conducted along the 10-mile stretch of trail. Memories will include stops at the Tasty Treat, the spectacular lightning over the campground Saturday night, and dinner at Pitzer's Crooked Creek Inn (no relation to Mary-but she did try to get a discount). Pitzer's has a real bang-up hot meat loaf and gravy dinner, which I didn't forget for several days, believe me!!

In addition to those people recognized for their effort in the August Golden Triangle, I would like to thank all of the following people, who came out and volunteered their hard labor under the adverse conditions of 95 degree heat: Carl Lorence, Harrisburg; Rich Scanlon, Lewistown; Bryan Koehler, Chicora; Jack Leasher, Export; Dan Martt, Munhall; Ted Pavacic, Bethel Park; Steve Jones, Pittsburgh; Sue Ritchie, Oakmont; Stuart Thompson, Youngwood; Dave Maxwell, Pittsburgh; Helen Marquard, Murraysville; Bob Tait, Butler; AJ Stones, Jeanette; Ed Beck, West Mifflin; and Joe Hardeski, Portersville. Thanks, folks.

Fri-Sun Sept. 15-17 Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Trail Maintenance Weekend: Baker Trail/North Country Trail from Allegheny National Forest to Cook Forest. The North Country Trail Association and the Butler Outdoor Club will join Pittsburgh AYH in a weekend of trail maintenance on the six miles shared by the Baker Trail and the North Country Trail between the Allegheny National Forest and Cook Forest State Park. We need a blaze painting team, loppers, bow saw, a trash detail, and some light chain saw work. We will camp at one of the Cook Forest group campgrounds (no fee hot showers available nearby) on Friday and Saturday nights, and break camp at on Sunday. Come for the weekend or come for the day. We will organize carpools for those who are interested. For details, call Jim Ritchie, 828-0210.

Sunday Sept 24 Luc Berger 683-3131
Easy 3 mile hike in Hampton Community Park near Rte 8 & on the Rachel Carson trail. We will also look at wildflowers. Call for information & a reservation.

October 1995
(Page 3) President's Corner

It is with regret that I mark the passing of Cliff Ham on Sept. 9. Cliff has always been an 'elder statesman' of Pittsburgh Council for me and a touchstone of what the spirit of hostelling was all about. His numerous contributions to his neighborhood, our organization and our society are eloquently presented in a lengthly obituary in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on September 11. But when I think of Cliff, I think of his energy, his humor, his vast stores of knowledge of people, places and things and his good natured optimism.

We are already getting calls for memorial donations to the Pittsburgh Hostel on behalf of Cliff. I am pleased that many are choosing this way to create and lasting memorial to him since he has been a constant supporter of the project. We will discuss what that memorial might be at the board meeting and discuss it with Cliff's family.

I hope that Cliff's spirit is wandering along endless trails, biking on scenic roads and paddling among sparkling waters. We will miss him. Pittsburgh AYH will now always seem a little different to me.

Happy Trails
Marianne Kaska

(Page 5) HIKE THE BAKER TRAIL: A FREE SAMPLE
-by jim ritchie

You've probably heard me talking about the Baker Trail since Spring, all the work that's being done, and our adventures while hiking the trail. Many people have called to ask where they can access the trail and where would be a good place to go for a Baker Trail hike. So, I offer below a “free sample" of the Baker Trail for a short hike you can take this fall.

First, the Baker Trail is a linear, long distance backpack trail, not a loop trail. So, you either need to set up a car shuttle (park one car at each end of the hike) or you can hike in-and-out. Then, you need to remember that all maintenance and all the amenities (or the lack of amenities) on the Baker Trail are volunteer efforts, unlike many of the more popular Western Pennsylvania trails that are on State land and are maintained with tax dollars paying State employees to do all the work.

The section I would suggest you try out begins at the Crooked Creek Park Visitor Center; our local TrailWorkers on this section are Andy Evans & Son. The hike is approximately 3 miles in total length, in-and-out. You should plan one hour for the walking. There are modern, public restrooms and drinking water in the Visitor Center area.

Getting there from Pittsburgh takes about one hour. Take PA Route 28 north towards Kittanning approximately 35 miles (from the Highland Park Bridge) to PA Route 66. On Route 66, go South toward and past Ford City; go nearly seven miles to the 2nd entrance to Crooked Creek Park (disregard the first entrance by the Tasty Treat). Here turn left and go past Pitzer's Crooked Creek Inn, where you might want to stop after your hike for a sandwich or dinner-the food is good and the price is right. For just a sandwich or ice cream, try the Tasty Treat on Route 66, just outside the park.

Before parking at the Visitor Center, located across the dam on the left hand side, you may want to stop into the Resource Manager's Office, located just before the dam on the right hand side. The Office has maps of Crooked Creek Park and other U.S. Army Corps of Engineers facilities in Western Pennsylvania available for the public. While there, say hello to Ranger John Derby, a true "friend of the Baker Trail".

Back on track, at the Visitor Center, start your hike by walking from the parking area to the road and turning toward the dam. As you reach the guide cable along the right hand side of the road, just before the dam, look for a yellow rectangular blaze on a telephone pole in the grassy area to your right. When you get to the pole, look for another yellow blaze along the grassy area extending before you. You stay to the left of the exercise course which is laid out in the trees to your right. Follow the yellow blazes around the corner at the end of the exercise course area, up the mowed pathway, and look for the yellow blazes that will turn you into the wooded area now on your left.

The trail will take you down by the Outflow area where you can pause for a while and watch the activity among the fishermen gathered there. Continuing on, the trail takes you down along the banks of Crooked Creek for another mile or so. After about one and a half miles from your starting point, you will reach a paved road; that is your turn around point. To vary your return, you may want to cross over the fishing platform at the Outflow area; stay to the left of the picnic tables hugging the treeline on your left. This will take you uphill to the far corner of the exercise course, close to the point where you came in.

While at Crooked Creek, you may want to go down to the beach area -- look at your Park map -- visit the overlook just beyond the Visitor Center, inspect the campground, have a picnic in one of many picnic areas in the park -- try the one next to the boat launch. If you have a Baker Trail guide book, you may want to seek out the backpack shelters, there are two in the Crooked Creek area. A memorial to Nellie Bly, “Around the World in 80 Days”, is located by the Burrell Township Municipal Building (take Route 66A to Cochran's Mill Road, go left to the t-intersection and go left again; about a quarter mile past the intersection is the memorial). Other attractions include the Crooked Creek Horse Park-country music concerts on summer weekends-and the Krooked Kreek Waterslide, also a summer attraction.

I hope you enjoy your sample hike. If you enjoyed yourself, you may want to purchase the Baker Trail Guide so you can do some additional hiking on the trail. If you have any comments, you are welcome to call me, 828-0210.

RACHEL CARSON TRAIL NEWS
-by jim ritchie

You may remember that we recruited enough TrailWorker volunteers in 1994 in our AYH Adopt-a-Trail program to cover the entire 34-mile length of the Trail. While a couple of our recruits were not able to continue their trail maintenance activities in 1995, most signed up once again and a couple volunteers assumed more than one section. There are a couple of sections now open that we hope to fill before winter.

The big event on the Rachel Carson Trail this year was the June 5, National Trails Day, event in North Park where Eastern Mountain Sports (EMS) initiated a day of trail maintenance on the RCT in conjunction with the Keystone Trails Association, led by Ed Beck, KTA President. A new trailhead sign was installed in North Park, debris and trash removed from the trail, blazes repainted, and some trail hardening and side hill construction were completed. Our own David and Laura Hopper, RCT volunteers, were assisting Ed and the EMS folks in that effort. EMS also presented the KTA with a $1,000 grant to be used to fund other trail maintenance projects in Pennsylvania.

Seid Waddell, who now maintains two sections and one spur of the RCT, one in Harrison and the others near Cheswick, also was on site for the EMS/KTA effort. Seid also recently sent me a corrected map of the RCT passing through Harrison Hills County Park, placing the route correctly between instead of outside the two park roads. The next RCT Trail Guide will reflect that information.

Mary Ann and Felix DeGuillio recently reaffirmed their commit ments to walk and maintain the Rachel Carson Trail; their territory is near Emmerling Park in Indiana Township. Leo Stember, a sometimes hike leader for AYH, continues his efforts in North Park. Leo did not get to Greenland this year, but in his spare time, he has had some great ideas for the RCT for next year and I can't wait to explore these in more detail with him, Barbara Braidic and her girl scouts, in the North Hills near the Hampton Nature Reserve, put in their time this year and their section of the trail looks pretty nice.

Pat Thompson is a new recruit to the ranks; Pat has some background in the Deer Lakes/West Deer region in Allegheny County and so, had an interest in maintaining the RCT in that area. If you've ever been out that way, you know that is where the roller coaster hills are; that part of the trail is great for building strong legs and lungs. Don Stevenson, Mary Ellen McShea, John Shea, and Don Smith continue their good work on the RCT this year as well.

To those who were not able to continue this year, we thank you for your assistance while you were able to provide it. If you are able to come back to trail maintenance again in the future, give me a call and we'll find something for you to do.

When you are out on the Trail, look for the people with the new bright Kelly Green T-shirts with the “Rachel Carson Trail" imprint. They are your trail maintenance volunteers. Say hello and take a minute to thank them for their efforts; tell them how much you enjoyed being on the trail and how good you found the trail condition to be. Your appreciation for their work is important.

November 1995
No issue published

December 1995/January 1996
(Page 5) BEES ON THE BAKER TRAIL (Brushwacker Bruised by Big Buzzing Bees on BT)
-by jim ritchie

Three organizations working together completed 172 hours of trail maintenance work on the Baker Trail over the weekend of September 15-16-17. Pittsburgh AYH, the North Country Trail Association, and the Butler Outdoor Club, joined together to tackle some tough trailwork on the six miles between the Allegheny National Forest near Marienville and Cook Forest State Park, near North Pine Grove. Jim Ritchie of AYH and Brian Koehler of the NCTA and the BOC co-organized the effort, attracting 16 trail maintenance volunteers using chain saws, brush hogs, weedwackers, loppers, bow saws, draw knives, and painting Baker Trail yellow and North Country Trail blue blazes that cut a path through an especially troublesome area along the two trails.

Volunteers included Mort Kurman and Dee Garvin (who smuggled pie out of the Bucktail Inn), John Stein (who came all the way from Hershey), Brenda Adams-Weyent (our personal ranger in the ANF), John Weyent (who loaned us Brenda), Patti Scheuering (who drove 600 miles on Saturday to work with us on Sunday), Stevie Jones (best man I ever saw on the draw knife), Ted Pavicic (who ran the hog), Ed (Weed Wacker) Comstock, Sue Ritchie and Billy Woodland and Kate Fissell (painters extraordinaire), Bob Roth (who played the chain saw all day Saturday), and John Farina, who came down from Clarion University. Accommodations were in the extemely pleasant “Girl Scout" organized group campground, graciously donated by the Cook Forest State Park people, especially Greg Burkett, Rich McKenna, and Gene Hart.

What about the bees? On Saturday, the two work crews were up and out not long after the crack of dawn, on the trail, wacking and lopping and blazing and hogging and what not. The South Crew, working in Clear Creek State Forest, just past the northern most swinging bridge (there are two) across Maple Creek, was wacking their way through a barely-blazed-at-all, armpit-high brush open meadow when Ed weedwacked his way right over the top of a nest of yellow jackets (wasps) whose nest was a hole in the ground. Needless to say, they were just a little unhappy and promptly stung four of our party. Good soldiers that they were, the four stingees grit their teeth and continued onward. On the way back out, we painted a dead tree stump with the word “bees” as a warn ing to all who follow.

The North Crew, who started within the Allegheny National Forest proclamation boundary, did some extensive work all the way to the junction where the BT meets the NCT and from there, proceeded both to the south toward Highway 66, and to the north, cleaning out some very confusing trailblazing along the NCT, probably left behind by two or three uncoordinated groups which had worked independently in past years.

Just so you know that trail maintenance is not all work and no play, I'll let you know we all went out for dinner, in small groups and bigger groups, at the Vowinckel Hotel in (how did you know?) Vowinckel. The food was good, the prices were good, and the company was the best. Brian provided the entertainment as he tried to pretend he didn't know who owned the truck in the parking lot with its lights on. When we gave his secret away, the restaurant crowd was hushed as all eyes in the restaurant were on him, as he got up and strode to the door to take care of the lights.

This may be it for big TM projects this year. As I write, the only stuff left is to spruce up the BT near Mahoning Creek Lake for the Armstrong County Fall Foliage Hike (October 14) and Kirk Slater already went through that with a chain saw last week. Cindy Rogers of Indiana, says her section is a "go". Keep your eyes to the Triangle, though, next spring, and watch for our trail maintenance events to be announced. Try it once; it's fun-it's like being outdoors and not being in a hurry to go anywhere; you get to enjoy where you are for awhile. See you then.

T-SHIRTS ARE IN!!! T-SHIRTS ARE IN!!! ATTENTION: ALL TRAIL MAINTENANCE VOLUNTEERS
-by jim ritchie

If you are an Adopt-a-Trail volunteer for the Baker Trail or the Rachel Carson Trail, you may remember some mention long ago that someday we may even have our own T-shirts. That day has now come: we have spanking new bright color T-shirts for all our TrailWorkers. The Baker Trail shirts are bright orange with bright green lettering and the Rachel Carson shirts are just the reverse: bright green with bright orange lettering. The colors are consistent with the official trail patches, also available at AYH (sew one on your backpack). The bright T-shirts serve to identify our TrailWorkers while you are out on the Trail.

To help me get all the shirts out, please give me a call at 828-0210; let me know you need a shirt, give me your shirt size, and at the same time, you may want to update me on anything new on your trail section. Shirts are free to all Adopt-A-Trail volunteers and are available for $7.80 by mail or $6.30 in person. The cost is $5.88 for the shirt, 42 cents tax, and $1.50 for mailing costs.

April 1996
(Page 1) ADOPT-A-(HIKING) TRAIL
The Baker Trail and the Rachel Carson Trail Need YOU!!
-by jim ritchie

Volunteer maintainers are needed once again for the Baker Trail and the Rachel Carson Trail for 1996 so we can replace the people who are not able to continue this year. The Rachel Carson Trail is in Allegheny County while the Baker Trail runs from Freeport, Allegheny County, all the way to the Allegheny National Forest 141 miles distant.

We expect the maintenance volunteers to donate two days of their time over the summer: one day in the Spring to put up fresh blazes and a second day in the Fall to walk through trimming and pruning, picking up trash along the trail, a making notes about any major work that needs to be done. Your report, just a telephone call to me, will let us know how to plan our major projects for the next year.

All Adopt-A-Trail maintainers will get a free Baker Trail or Rachel Carson Trail. If you are more comfortable working in a group and volunteer for weekend projects, anyone who volunteers for three days of service will receive a free t-shirt. If you were a volunteer last year, your time from last year will count toward a t-shirt.

Plan your Spring trip during the several weeks when wildflowers are at their peak in Western Pennsylvania: the end of April and beginning of May. All your expenses for paint and brushes will be reimbursed by AYH or you may pick up your supplies directly from me.

I will personally walk with you through the section of the trail you adopt so that you know the route. I try to provide you with a section that will take you about one hour to go from one end to the other, so you have a two hour round trip. Of course, doing blazes and other work will add to your walking time.

The Baker Trail (BT) and the Rachel Carson Trail (RCT) are rustic, minimally improved trails, similar to the Indian Trails encountered by George Washington and Christopher Gist in the mid-1700's. They simply provide a marked route through the boundary areas and over the fringes of developed areas in today's Western PA. They are full of surprises and they are full of interest. Both trails cross rugged country and comprise numerous steep uphill and downhill climbing: it's tough, but why pay Gold's Gym hundreds of dollars so you can use a step machine when you can build your leg muscles and physical stamina for free on the BT/RCT.

If you are interested in becoming a Trail Maintenance Volunteer, give me a call at (412) 828-0210; if I am not at home, leave a message on my answering machine and I'll get back to you as soon as I can. You may find, as I have, an immeasurable wealth of discovery awaits you on the trail, the Rachel Carson Trail, and the Baker Trail.

(Page 5) TRAIL MAINTENANCE '96

March 24 Sunday Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Rachel Carson Trail. An all day maintenance trip; leave early in the morning and work a full day. An eight-person crew will be required: chain saw, lopper, blazers, bow saw, draw knife, brush hog, etc. We will work in several woodlots around Harrison Hills, Call Jim for information and a reservation.

April 20 Saturday Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Baker Trail, Cook Forest Area. Our objective will be to blaze and clear from the Gravel Lick Bridge, down Cathers Run, all the way to Mill Creek. Two crews and more are needed. Call Jim to volunteer and to get the details.

June 1 Saturday Ed Beck 469-2588 Jim Ritchie 828-0210
National Trails Day. Join Ed, President of Keystone Trails Association, the people from Eastern Mountain Sports from the South Hills, and Jim for a day of trail maintenance. We will work on the Rachel Carson Trail near Long Run in Indiana Township with the objective of restoring the Trailway through the area. Call Jim or Ed for more information,

June 22 Saturday Leo Stember 681-1385 Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Summer Solstice End-to-Ender on the Rachel Carson Trail, 34 miles in one day. This is the First Annual “AYH End-to-End on the RCT" hike, a 34-mile endurance hike for the best of the best. The hike begins at sunrise and ends at sunset, approximately 16 hours. Can you do it? Can you stay on the Trail? Only experts and the strongest of the strong will make it. Registration fee includes t-shirt, recognition for completers. Call Jim or Leo for more information,

July 13 Saturday Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Rachel Carson Trail, Transitions Day. The emphasis on the day's trail maintenance will be to spruce up all the transitions along the trail; transitions are the points where the trail goes into or comes out of the woods. Blazing, clearing, trash detail. Call Jim for information and a reservation.

July 14 Sunday Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Rachel Carson Trail. A variety of work sites today; Butler-Logan Road, Eisele Road, Alter Road, Springdale Hollow Road; this is a continuation of work on transition sites, making sure hikers can follow the trail out of the woods and back in once again, Blazing, clearing, trash detail, A good chain saw operator will be needed today. Call Jim for information and a reservation,

September 14-15 Sat-Sun Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Baker Trail. A weekend-long trail maintenance project. We'll camp at the Milton Loop Campground near the Mahoning Reservoir. We will have two objectives: one to clear trail for the Armstrong Fall Foliage Hike from the dam to Smicksburg Road; the other to blaze miles of trail along the dirt roads passing through Amish country. Call Jim for information and a reservation.

May 1996
(Page 1) The First Annual Rachel Carson Trail Challenge, June 22nd, 1996

What: The Rachel Carson Trail Challenge, the Rachel Carson Trail Half-Challenge, and the Rachel Carson Trail Family Challenge
Who: Sponsored by Pittsburgh Council, American Youth Hostels
Where: North Park, Beaver Shelter, on Babcock Boulevard, near intersection with Pierce Mill Road
When: Saturday, June 22, 1996; the Challenge and Half-Challenge start at 5:50 A.M. sharp; you must be at the registration desk by 5:30 A.M, The Family Challenge starts at 9:00 A.M.
Why: Proceeds will be donated to the Pittsburgh International Youth Hostel Fund and the Rachel Carson Homestead Association
How: Fill out the registration form in this newsletter, mail it to Pittsburgh AYH with a check enclosed for the proper amount, no later than June 15, 1996.
Questions: Call Leo Stember at 681-1385 or Jim Ritchie at 828-0210.

(Page 7) The First Annual Rachel Carson Trail Challenge, June 22nd, 1996

This year, 1996, will see the first ever Rachel Carson Trail Challenge hike, a 34-mile, one day, endurance event, held in the spirit of the Alaskan Iditarod, the Pittsburgh Marathon, the 70-mile Laurel Highlands Trail Run, and the many Ironman Triathlons. Sponsored by the Pittsburgh Council, American Youth Hostels, the Rachel Carson Trail Challenge will start at the Beaver Shelter in North Park, at sunrise on Saturday, June 22, (taking advantage of the Summer Solstice) and will extend through a 34-mile roller coaster of hills and bluffs, through the Townships of Hampton, Indiana, Springdale, Fawn, Fraser, and Harrison, ending at Harrison Hills County Park, in the northeastern corner of Allegheny County, near Freeport.

The Rachel Carson Trail stretches from North Park, in Shaler, to Harrison Hills County Park, lying entirely within Allegheny County. The trail is characterized by its roller coaster hills and is often said to be one of the most difficult hiking trails in the United States. A typical hiking pace is around 2 miles per hour. The hike will begin at sunrise and will officially end at sunset, 5:50 A.M. to 8:54 P.M., a total of 15 hours and 4 minutes.

The endurance hiker participants will be given a trip sheet and a set of topographic maps to guide them on their journey. There will be a half dozen checkpoints throughout the hike, each offering minimal support: water and nutrition bars. Hikers are expected to carry all of their own requirements, including food, first aid equip ment, raingear, water containers, maps and a trip sheet. Hikers may start anytime within one hour of sunrise, BUT... there is a minimum time requirement that must be met: two miles per hour. So all hikers must pass through the first checkpoint, 4 miles down the trail, by 7:50 AM., 2 hours from the start. The same rule applies for all checkpoints throughout the hike. Hikers not meeting the minimum time requirement will be dropped from contention for earning an official completion.

All hikers completing the 1996 Rachel Carson Trail Challenge will receive recognition prizes including, an embroidered Rachel Carson Trail sew-on patch, a Rachel Carson Trail Challenge Completer's T-shirt ("I Completed the Rachel Carson Trail Challenge, 34 Miles in One Day"), a weekend for two at the Pittsburgh AYH Ohiopyle Youth Hostel, and a complimentary subscription to the monthly Pittsburgh AYH activities publication, the Golden Triangle.

Two Dimensional Challenge:
The Challenge has two dimensions. The first challenge, the obvious one, is to be able to endure through 34 miles of tortuous hill-climbing and descent; the second, more subtle, is your ability to keep on the route. The core strategy will be the ability to pace oneself throughout the course of the hike.

Three Challenges include:
The Challenge
The Half-Challenge
and the Family Challenge.
There will be three levels of participation: the 34-mile Rachel Carson Trail Challenge; a 17-mile Rachel Carson Trail Half-Challenge, and the 5-mile Rachel Carson Trail Family Challenge. The Half-Challenge will cover 17 miles, also starting at North Park, but ending at the Rachel Carson Homestead in Springdale, Finishers in the Half Challenge will receive a completer's t-shirt ("I completed the Rachel Carson Trail Half-Challenge”).

Family Challenge:
The Rachel Carson Trail Family Challenge is 5 miles long and lies entirely along the Rachel Carson Trail within North Park. Entire families, Mom, Pop, the kids, Granny and Gramps, are encouraged to participate. The hike begins at the Beaver Shelter in North Park at 9:00 am. AYH encourages your family to bring a picnic lunch, and to stay in the park, enjoying the sunshine and fresh air.

Registration:
The registration fees for the Challenge are $15, the Half-Challenge, $12.00, and the Family Challenge, $6 per family member. All participants will receive a Rachel Carson Trail T-shirt. Official registration for the Challenge and the Half-Challenge must be in advance, no later than JUNE 15th, 1996. Registrations for the Family Challenge received by that date will receive their T-shirts on the morning of the hike; on-site registration is available for the Family Challenge, but registrants will have t-shirts mailed to them.

Proceeds:
All proceeds from the Rachel Carson Trail Challenge will be divided evenly between the Rachel Carson Homestead Association, in Springdale, PA, and the Pittsburgh Council, American Youth Hostels, in support of the new Pittsburgh International Youth Hostel project, finishing the development of a youth hostel for international and American travelers, in the Allentown section of Pittsburgh (near Mount Washington).

To register for participation, fill out the Rachel Carson Trail Challenge registration form in this newsletter, and mail it to:

RCTC
c/o American Youth Hostels, Room 202
5604 Solway Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15217

(Page 8) foot notes
trail maintenance news for May 1996
-by jim ritchie

The big news in trail maintenance is the recent spring meeting of the Keystone Trails Association in Wellsboro (“Grand Canyon"), Pennsylvania at the end of March. Pittsburgh AYH members in attendance included Glenn Oster (who is a member-at-large of KTA), Paul Henry (of Joyce Appel fame), Joyce Appel (of Paul Henry fame), Dee Garvin, Mort Kurman (the latter two sometimes known as “MortnDee"), Patty Scheuering and her friend Diane, and one unrecognized soul who I believe is from Warren County, and yours truly, who has been elected as the new KTA membership secretary. The featured speaker was Scott Weidensall, author of the book, Mountains of the Heart, who gave an inspired slide presentation on the geology and the cultural history of the Appalachian Mountains, from the foothills of northeastern Alabama to the last push out of the North Atlantic Ocean on Belle Isle, Newfoundland.

While five hikes were offered on Saturday, the crown jewel of the hiking program was the 57-person trek to the depths of Pine Island Run, back up to the ridgetop overlooking the Grand Canyon, and then down the hogback to the shore of Pine Creek. The way out was right directly up the spill of Pine Island Run, along the edges and ledges of numerous waterfalls, over downed trees, under downed trees, and through downed trees. The feature hike included one broken ankle evacuation and several groups of people getting lost and orienteering their way out. On the serious side, we are very proud of the outstanding job done by Paul Henry, the designated sweep on this trek, as he assisted the many people who were hiking at the limits of their ability, rendering them safe and sound at the end of the day..

In Indiana County, the folks at the Keystone Generating Plant, notably Roy Craft, will help us get the routes laid in by the scouts last year and the traditional Baker Trail route in line and coincident. Patty Scheuering will become the new year-round Trailworker on that section, starting now, covering the generating station and the pine tree plantation adjacent, both nice areas to hike. Patty cloned herself on the section she had been working, Summerville to the Zion Cemetery near Tarkiln Run, enlisting Jim Hummel of Heathville in the cause. It turns out Jim and his friends not only have been hiking the Trail for years, but they have been taking care of it, all on their own accord. Jim knows all the people up there and will be a valuable addition to the cause.

In March, six volunteers did a full day of trail maintenance on the Rachel Carson Trail, in Harrison and Fawn Township, covering five miles of trail in about eight miles of hiking. TrailWorkers included Mort Kurman, Seid Waddell (who has now moved to Vermillion, Ohio), Grace Downey (who I hope got all the paint off her jacket), Leo Stember, who shared his outstanding knowledge of birdlife with Mary Ann Thomas, and yours truly. On a sad note, part of the Trail in Fawn has been overrun badly by dirt bikes and quads (ATVs), rendering it a pathway of mud for a mile or so. But the weather was wonderful, the work got done, and life is good.

A major property transaction occurred in Clarion County where the transition of the Baker Trail through the property formerly owned by Charlie Glenn to Spangler and Pendleton Runs, heading toward Mill Creek, has a new owner. Our TrailWorker in that area, Tom Brandon, and Glenn Oster-who hiked through the area in late March-had been alerted and instructed to stop by and say "Hello" and be friendly if someone had been around. Our intention is to make friends with the new landowner and provide continued access through that corridor.

By the way, that stretch of the Baker Trail, Spangler Run, Pendleton Run, and Mill Creek is one of the most beautiful sections of the Trail you can hike. Look it up in your Baker Trail Guide (Map#14). The outstanding blazing and trailwork comes to us compliments of Tom Brandon and his scouts, and Mike Robertson, our man on Mill Creek.

(Page 9) ADOPT THE RACHEL CARSON TRAIL
-by jim ritchie

Pittsburgh AYH needs volunteers to help maintain the Rachel Carson Trail (and the Baker Trail), keeping those trails open and blazed. The Rachel Carson Trail was built in the early '70s, dedicated in 1972 and has been maintained by Pittsburgh AYH for 24 years. The trail is 34 miles long and is located entirely within Allegheny County, stretching from North Park to Harrison Hills Park near Freeport.

We expect maintenance volunteers to give two days of their time each year: one day in the Spring to put up fresh blazes and a second day in the Fall to walk through trimming and pruning, picking up trash along the trail, a making notes about any major work that needs to be done. Your report, just a telephone call to me, will let us know how to plan our major projects for the next year.

All Adopt-A-Trail maintainers will get a free Baker Trail or Rachel Carson Trail T-shirt. All expenses for paint and brushes will be reimbursed by AYH or you may pick up your supplies directly from me.

If you volunteer, I will personally walk with you through the section of the trail you adopt so that you know the route. I try to provide you with a section that will take you about one hour to go from one end to the other; so you have a two-hour round trip. Of course, doing blazes and other work will add to your walking time.

The Baker Trail (BT) and the Rachel Carson Trail (RCT) are rustiç trails with minimal improvements, similar to the Indian Trails encountered by George Washington and Christopher Gist in the mid 1700's. They simply provide a marked route through the boundary areas and over the fringes of developed areas in today's Western PA. They are full of surprises and they are full of interest, Both trails cross rugged country and comprise numerous steep uphill and downhill climbing. In the Spring, you may encounter wildflowers such as red and white trilliums (trillia?), trout lily, spring beauty, bloodroot, jack in-the-pulpit, butterflyweed; summer brings blackberries and blue berries; fall. colors are outstanding on the high vistas of the RCT. Fauna include deer, red-tailed hawks, turkey vultures, indigo bunting, rufus-sided towhee, rose-breasted grosbeak, huge anthills, and a variety of reptile life.

If you are interested in becoming a Trail Maintenance Volunteer, give me a call at (412) 828-0210; if I am not at home, leave a message on my answering machine and I'll get back to you as soon as I can. You may find, as I have, an immeasurable wealth of discovery awaits you on the trail, the Rachel Carson Trail, and the Baker Trail

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR RACHEL CARSON TRAIL CHALLENGE June 22, 1996

Pittsburgh AYH needs volunteers to help out on June 22, the day of the first ever Annual Rachel Carson Trail Challenge. Volunteers will assist with registration verification, handing out materials, and verifying hikers passing through checkpoints along the trail. Volunteers are needed as follows:

4:30 A.M. - 7:30 A.M.North Park
Registration Table 3 people needed
Challenge/Half-Challenge

7:30 A.M. - 9:30 A.M.North Park
Registration Table 3 people needed
Family Challenge

6:00 A.M. - 9:00 AM.Checkpoint One (5 mi).
Maintain Checklist.
3 people needed
Water/Nutrition bars

7:00 A.M. - 11:00 A.M.Checkpoint Two (11 mi)
Maintain Checklist
3 people needed
Water/Nutrition bars

10:00 A.M. - 2:00 P.M.Rachel Carson Homestead
Half-Challenge Endpoint/Checkpoint Three (17 mi)
3 people needed
Water/Nutrition bars

1:00 P.M. - 5:00 P.M.Checkpoint Four (24 mi)
Maintain Checklist
3 people needed
Water/Nutrition bars

4:00 P.M. - 8:00 P.M.Checkpoint Five
Maintain Checklist
3 people needed
Water/Nutrition bars

6:00 P.M. - 10:00 P.M.Harrison Hills County Park
Maintain Checklist
3 people needed
Water/Nutrition bars

To volunteer your services, in support of the Pittsburgh International Youth Hostel and the Rachel Carson Home stead Association, call Leo Stember at 681-1385, Jim Ritchie at 828-0210, or the Pittsburgh AYH Office at 422-2282.

June 1996
(Page 1) See May issue

(Page 5) foot notes
trail maintenance news for June 1996
-by jim ritchie

We just completed out second trail maintenance outing on April 20, driving 100 miles to the Cook Forest area and blazing out the Baker Trail along Cathers Run. The trail was basically an easy, gradual uphill slope from the Gravel Lick Bridge to a game commission road 3.5 miles upstream. Tom Brandon got up there a week earlier and blazed the Trail so we would be able to find it, saving us a good amount of time we might have floundered around testing out various side trails. The April 20 trip included Vince Roolf, Dee Garvin, Patty Scheuering, and Jim Ritchie. The usual stuff happened: the saw burnt up and froze; thunderstorms greeted us as we awoke to get ready that morning; and we didn't find the paint Tom left for us. On the positive side, we had dinner at Americo's in Cook Forest and the weather got better and better throughout the day.

New trail adopters include Kate Royston of Glenshaw whose (Giri Scout) Cadet Troop #656 just adopted the section of the Rachel Carson Trail from Middle Road to Route 8 in Hampton Township. Thanks, Kate and girls. They are taking over the section formerly maintained by Barb Braidicand her Girl Scout Troop.

Brien Palmer, our man near Crooked Creek on the Baker Trail, wrote up the best trail maintenance assessment report I've ever seen, letting me know that are about half a dozen major trees down on the Trail we just spent dozens of hours on last year, and that all the little bridges over the Crooked Creek sidestreams need repair. Brien, we're putting it all on the list and we'll get it into our schedule.

June 1 is National Trails Day and Pittsburgh AYH; Keystone Trails, and Eastern Mountain Sports are pooling their efforts to conduct a day's work on the Rachel Carson Trail. Volunteers are needed and I hope you will see fit to help us out or to help somewhere in the cause of trail-building.

TRAIL MAINTENANCE ’96

June 1 Saturday Ed Beck 469-2588 Jim Ritchie 828-0210
National Trails Day. Join Ed, President of Keystone Trails Association, the people from Eastern Mountain Sports from the South Hills, and Jim for a day of trail maintenance. We will work on the Rachel Carson Trail near Long Run in Indiana Township with the objective of restoring the Trailway through the area. Call Jim or Ed for more information,

June 22 Saturday Leo Stember 681-1385 Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Summer Solstice End-to-Ender on the Rachel Carson Trail, 34 miles in one day. This is the First Annual “AYH End-to-End on the RCT" hike, a 34-mile endurance hike for the best of the best. The hike begins at sunrise and ends at sunset, approximately 16 hours. Can you do it? Can you stay on the Trail? Only experts and the strongest of the strong will make it. Registration fee includes t-shirt, recognition for completers. Call Jim or Leo for more information.

July 13 Saturday Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Rachel Carson Trail, Trail Maintenance. The emphasis on the day's trail maintenance will be to spruce up all the transitions along the trail; transitions are the points where the trail goes into or comes out of the woods. Blazing, clearing, trash detail. Call Jim for information and a reservation.

July 14 Sunday Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Rachel Carson Trail. A variety of work sites today: Butler-Logan Road, Eisele Road, Alter Road, Springdale Hollow Road; this is a continuation of work on transition sites, making sure hikers can follow the trail out of the woods and back in once again. Blazing, clearing, trash detail. A good chain saw operator will be needed today. Call Jim for information and a reservation.

September 13-15 Fri-Sun Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Baker Trail at Milton Loop. A weekend-long trail maintenance project. We'll camp at the Milton Loop Campground near the Mahoning Reservoir. We will have two objectives: one to clear trail for the Armstrong Fall Foliage Hike from the dam to Smicksburg Road; the other to blaze miles of trail along the dirt roads passing through Amish country, Saturday night dinner will be at the famed Stockdale's in Dayton, PA. Call Jim for information and a reservation.

(Page 7) See May issue

(Page 9) ADOPT THE RACHEL CARSON TRAIL
-by jim ritchie

Pittsburgh AYH needs volunteers to help maintain the Rachel Carson Trail (and the Baker Trail), keeping those trails open and blazed. The Rachel Carson Trail was built in the early '70s, dedicated in 1972 and has been maintained by Pittsburgh AYH for 24 years. The trail is 34 miles long and is located entirely within Allegheny County, stretching from North Park to Harrison Hills Park near Freeport.

We expect maintenance volunteers to give two days of their time each year: one day in the Spring to put up fresh blazes and a second day in the Fall to walk through trimming and pruning, picking up trash along the trail, a making notes about any major work that needs to be done. Your report, just a telephone call to me, will let us know how to plan our major projects for the next year.

All Adopt-A-Trail maintainers will get a free Baker Trail or Rachel Carson Trail T-shirt. All expenses for paint and brushes will be reimbursed by AYH or you may pick up your supplies directly from me.

If you volunteer, I will personally walk with you through the section of the trail you adopt so that you know the route. I try to provide you with a section that will take you about one hour to go from one end to the other, so you have a two-hour round trip. Of course, doing blazes and other work will add to your walking time.

The Baker Trail (BT) and the Rachel Carson Trail (RCT) are rustic trails with minimal improvements, similar to the Indian Trails encountered by George Washington and Christopher Gist in the mid-1700's. They simply provide a marked route through the boundary areas and over the fringes of developed areas in today's Western PA. They are full of surprises and they are full of interest. Both trails cross rugged country and comprise numerous steep uphill and downhill climbing. In the Spring, you may encounter wildflowers such as red and white trilliums (trillia?), trout lily, spring beauty, bloodroot, jack-in-the-pulpit, butterflyweed; summer brings blackberries and blueberries; fall colors are outstanding on the high vistas of the RCT. Fauna include deer, red-tailed hawks, turkey vultures, indigo bunting, rufus-sided towhee, rose-breasted grosbeak, huge anthills, and a variety of reptile life.

If you are interested in becoming a Trail Maintenance Volunteer, give me a call at (412) 828-0210; if I am not at home, leave a message on my answering machine and I'll get back to you as soon as I can. You may find, as I have, an immeasurable wealth of discovery awaits you on the trail, the Rachel Carson Trail, and the Baker Trail.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR RACHEL CARSON TRAIL CHALLENGE June 22, 1996

Pittsburgh AYH needs volunteers to help out on June 22, the day of the first ever Annual Rachel Carson Trail Challenge. Volunteers will assist with registration verification, handing out materials, and verifying hikers passing through checkpoints along the trail. Volunteers are needed as follows:

4:30 A.M. - 7:30 A.M.North Park
Registration Table 3 people needed
Challenge/Half-Challenge

7:30 A.M. - 9:30 A.M.North Park
Registration Table
3 people needed
Family Challenge

6:00 A.M. - 9:00 A.M.Checkpoint One (5 mi)
Maintain Checklist
3 people needed
Water/Nutrition bars

7:00 A.M. - 11:00 A.M.Checkpoint Two (11 mi)
Maintain Checklist
3 people needed
Water/Nutrition bars

10:00 A.M. - 2:00 P.M.Rachel Carson Homestead
Half-Challenge Endpoint/Checkpoint Three (17 mi)
3 people needed
Water/Nutrition bars

1:00 P.M. - 5:00 P.M.Checkpoint Four (24 mi)
Maintain Checklist
3 people needed
Water/Nutrition bars

4:00 P.M. - 8:00 P.M.Checkpoint Five
Maintain Checklist
3 people needed
Water/Nutrition bars

6:00 P.M. - 10:00 P.M.Harrison Hills County Park
Maintain Checklist
3 people needed
Water/Nutrition bars

To volunteer your services, in support of the Pittsburgh International Youth Hostel and the Rachel Carson Home stead Association, call Leo Stember at 681-1385, Jim Ritchie at 828-0210, or the Pittsburgh AYH Office at 422-2282.

HIKING/BACKPACKING

Saturday June 22 Leo Stember 681-1385 Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Rachel Carson Trail Challenge. This is a Summer Solstice End-to-End endurance hike on the Rachel Carson Trail, 34 miles in one day. This will be the first of an annual event in the spirit of the Iditarod, the Marathon, and Ironman Triathalons. The hike begins at sunrise and ends at sunset, approximately 15 hours. Can you do it? Can you stay on the Trail? Expert hikers in the peak of condition will succeed. Minimal support. Required registration fee includes t-shirt, recognition for completers. See article in this issue of the GT for more details.

Saturday June 22 Leo Stember 681-1385
Rachel Carson Trail Half-Challenge. The same as the above, except only 17 miles, ending at the Rachel Carson Homestead. See article in this GT for more details. Registration fee required, includes T-shirt.

Saturday June 22 Leo Stember 681-1385
Rachel Carson Trail Family Challenge. This is the family version of the Challenge: a 5-mile loop hike in either North Park or Harrison Hills Park (to be determined), suitable for a nice day hiking in the outdoors. Proceeds go to the Rachel Carson Homestead Association and the Pittsburgh International Youth Hostel Fund. Registration fee required.

July 1996
(Page 5) HIKING IN A CONSUMER SOCIETY An Appeal for Trail Maintenance
by Jim Ritchie

When I was a kid and went out to play, my friends and I walked about a half mile from my house and went back into "the woods". We would explore winding trails, look for wildlife like snakes, birds, frogs, toads and chipmunks, enjoy the sense of freedom we had, alone, unsupervised, following the promise of adventure, over the hill, around the corner, behind the tree. We played in the same woods (I learned later these were the Berkshire Hills of Massachusetts) year around, in the spring learning to spot and identify wildflowers, in the winter learning how to track animals and each other and how to tolerate cold weather, in the fall watching Mother Nature put her children to bed for the long winter, in the summer wanting to live off the bounty of strawberries, blueberries and other wild edibles.

Today our children are frequently consumed by the ambitions of their adult parents, joining Little League baseball, soccer, Scouts, taking music lessons, church activities, dance lessons, basketball, swimming lessons, and so forth. Mom and Dad keep a calendar for Jr. and Missy, fitting in time to visit a friend here or there for an hour, "I'll drop her off at 3:00 Tuesday and come to get her at 4:30".

Many of us are victims of the "Been there, done that" syndrome, enjoying the things we do only for the novelty and momentary uncertainty of an activity's outcome. Once done, the novelty is gone, the outcome is certain and we seek the thrill of yet another new movie, new book, new restaurant, new song, yes, even a new trail.

There are those of us who never hike the same trail twice; once hiked, we are no longer capable of extracting additional pleasure from trees already seen, stones already turned, birdsongs already heard. The quest is on for yet some other new trail, on which some great adventure may occur, with you at center stage. Many hikers today collect trails like one collects stamps, once possessed, it is packed away, and attention turns to the next unpossessed scrap of paper.

Hikers radiate outward, driving hundreds of miles, consuming untold gallons of petrofuels, in search of the next thrill trail. The pleasure skimmed from each superficial encounter quickly fades, leading to longer and longer drives, even to expenditures for airfare, lodging, meals, and, yes, gear, I almost forgot to mention those of us hikers who love our hiking gear perhaps more than the hiking itself. Acquiring gear engenders hours of careful shopping, through magazines and distributor catalogs, reading consumer tests and ratings of products, doing calculations of “bang per buck”, in search of the largest quotient.

We will drive 100 miles in one day, one way, 200 miles round trip, burning 10 gallons of the earth's precious fossil fuels, expending 6 hours of our measured lives, to pursue an experience which, in truth may be pretty much like the one that we might have no more than 25 miles from our happy home. We can play our nearby trails with minimal "gear", and live the experience in all four seasons, the morning, the evening, in midday, in the rain, the heat, in snow, slowly, quickly, with our best friends, alone. We can get to know the nooks and crannies, the flowers, trees, birds, wildlife, the weeds even, of our footpath; we can even take the time once in a while, to clean it up, to give its foliage a trim, to pick up trash, to throw a couple of rocks in a soft spot.

Where you say? The answer is in many of our city and county parks, Beechwood Farms, Todd Sanctuary, the gamelands in our neighboring counties, and the many trails of the nearby Laurel Highlands.

The Rachel Carson Trail and the Baker Trail are two other hiking trails, close to home, that can provide the kind of intimate experiences with Nature, the outdoors, ourselves, that in truth we can all appreciate when we slow down enough to do so. We can experience them with a minimum of consumption, meaning we become, through our actions, a "producer" of trails and not simply a "consumer" of trails, demanding that yet more trails be built so we can once again seek yet another superficial encounter. Befriend a trail, close to home. Nurture it. Be its benefactor.

If you are interested in helping your friends in AYH and your community befriend a trail, helping to take care of the trail, call Jim Ritchie at 828-0210, Leo Stember (Rachel Carson Trail) at 681-1385, or Patty Scheuering (Baker Trail) at 325-3224. There are several ways you may make your personal contribution. Talk with your AYH trail representative this month and learn, with the investment of as little as one day a year, how you can become a builder, a maker, of hiking trails.

(Page 8) TRAIL MAINTENANCE ’96
July 13 Saturday Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Rachel Carson Trail, Trail Maintenance. The emphasis on the day's trail maintenance will be to spruce up all the transitions along the trail; transi tions are the points where the trail goes into or comes out of the woods. Blazing, clearing, trash detail. Call Jim for information and a reservation.

July 14 Sunday Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Rachel Carson Trail, Trail Maintenance. A variety of work sites today: Butler-Logan Road, Eisele Road, Alter Road, Springdale Hollow Road; this is a continuation of work on transition sites, making sure hikers can follow the trail out of the woods and back in once again. Blazing, clearing, trash detail. A good chain-saw operator will be needed today. Call Jim for information and a reservation.

July 19-20-21 Fri-Sat-Sun Patty Scheuering 325-3224
The Baker Trail at Crooked Creek. This is a weekend camp-out trail main tenance project with the objective of cleaning up a few trouble spots on the trail skirting Crooked Creek Lake, Car-camping at Crooked Creek Park. Chainsaws are needed. Saturday night dinner at Pitzer's or cook out. Call Patty for more information or to sign up for the a day or the whole weekend.

Sept. 13-14-15 Fri-Sat-Sun Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Baker Trail at Milton Loop. A weekend-long trail maintenance project. We'll camp at the Milton Loop Campground near the Mahoning Reservoir. We will have two objectives: one to clear trail for the Armstrong Fall Foliage Hike from the dam to Smicksburg Road; the other to blaze miles of trail along the dirt roads passing through Amish country. Saturday night dinner will be at the famed Stockdale's in Dayton, PA. Call Jim for infor mation and a reservation.

Rachel Carson Trail Challenge
Over 100 people participated in the First Annual Rachel Carson Trail Challenge on July 22nd! Watch the August newsletter for the complete story

August 1996
(Page 6) ....AND THEN THERE WERE FIVE The Saga of the 1996 Rachel Carson Trail Challenge...

I was getting 18 calls a day from people who were hooked on the idea of hiking “34 miles in one day-the 1996 Rachel Carson Trail Challenge. So was Leo (Stember), Leo and I were the co-organizers of this first-ever event. Having hiked the distance, not in one day, on the RCT, I had a sense of how difficult it might be to do the entire trail in a single day, Leo did 17 miles in one day to check out blazing and blowdowns along the first half. He knew.

Yet a lot of my calls were from people who had credentials: “I ran the 70-mile Laurel Ridge Run”; “Last year, I hiked 26 miles in one day"; "I'm a marathon runner; I knock off 26 miles, running, before breakfast”; “I did the Laurel Highlands Trail in 3 days—26 miles the first day". I was beginning to imagine that maybe, just maybe, we might have a whole mob of people finishing the endurance trial on the trail before sunset on June 22, high above the Allegheny River in Harrison Hills. Yet, ...

At first, Leo and I thought we might get 50 registrants for all three events: the 34-mile Challenge, the 17-mile Half-Challenge (ending at the Rachel Carson Homestead in Springdale), and the 5-mile Family Challenge. Since Bob Batz wrote a little piece for the Post-Gazette, however, we were getting swamped with calls, and there was no end in sight. We had set a nominal limit of 100 participants for the Half and Full Challenges but we quickly exceeded 100 applications.

In the end, we had 90 sign-ups for the Challenge, 31 for the Half-Challenge, and 14 for the Family Challenge. And some of these people had credentials. It was scary. We had offered all finishers a weekend for two at the Ohiopyle Youth Hostel, a special finisher's t-shirt, a Rachel Carson Trail embroidered patch, a year's subscription to the Rachel Carson Homestead newsletter, and a year's subscription to the AYH Golden Triangle. Our logistical arrangements, volunteer marshals, police, county park officials, insurance certification, were all being strained to our meager limit. We might have to sell the farm.

In the morning darkness and dampness of June 22, I showed up at the North Park Beaver Shelter and was not too surprised to find nearly 25 cars all lined up in the parking area on Babcock Boulevard, hikers all. I was getting used to this. We unloaded our Trip Lists, our t-shirts, Leo came with the Clif Bars, graciously donated by the Clif Bar company and by Eastern Mountain Sports in South Hills Village, a few more volunteers came, we checked the folks in, gave a 5-minute orientation (stay on the traill improvise! hydrate or die! don't get sick! respect private property! etc.) and sent them off into the darkness.

The first challenge, of course, was just getting on the Trail, crossing the collapsed causeway over to the trailhead across the little pond next to Beaver: Shelter. This involved a quick scramble down and up the washout. I once glanced across the pond long enough to see about a dozen hikers making the wrong turn on the other side, going to the right and not the left. I winced as I pictured them showing up at the North Park skating rink an hour later.

Everyone got on the Trail quickly, out by 6:15 AM; at 6:30 AM Nancy Able and I posted ourselves at the Route 8 crossing, and waiting for the first hikers to come through so we could assist them in crossing the highway. At 6:52, John DeWalt, a Laurel Highlands Ridge Runner, came crashing through the bushes, running, no less, greeted us with a smile and continued on. Nine minutes later, Alan Aliskovitz, an active Sierra Club hike and backpacking leader, came likewise crashing through the bushes asking "How long ago did HE go by here?" referring to John.

Then there was a pause of nearly half an hour before any appre ciable number of hikers came out to Route 8, approximately 4 miles from the start. Apparently, many wrong turns and false trails had introduced many of our hikers to the more subtle challenge: staying on the trail. The two mile per hour minimum progress rule seemed generous until one experienced how scouting for a lost trail ate up your time. As the main body (pelaton) came through, Nancy and I were ably (no pun intended) assisted by two Hampton Township police officers who held back the early morning traffic rushing past our crossing.

The first real checkpoint was on Shaffer Road, 7 miles into the hike, and was staffed by Marianne Kasica, AYH President, Jim Crist (look for his view of the Challenge, elsewhere in this issue), Jim's son Ross, Vince Roolf, Sue and Jim Ritchie, and Leo. John DeWalt came through, running. Ninety more hikers passed by. At this point,a the hikers' legs revealed some splashes of mud here and there, foretelling the reputation of the RCT as the “muddy, bloody, Rachel Carson Trail”. And, it was getting hot, and humid, too.

The next checkpoint, Mile 10 at Emmerling Park, saw hikers who had just experienced a couple of the RCT's roller coaster gas pipeline hills. No one dropped out between Shafer Road and Emmerling Park. They were doing OK. Eighty-five year old Jim Kratt, who helped maintain the trail 15 years ago, made it to Mile 10 before his knee gave out. He called his son to come out and pick him up. Emmerling was staffed by Patty Scheuering, her daughter Susan, and two of Susan's friends, offering not much more than water and sympathy. If the hikers knew what lie ahead..., and it was getting hotter.

The steep climb at Mile 12, from Long Run at the bottom to Rich Hill Road at the top was a spirit breaker; reality was beginning to set in—this was going to be a long, tough hike, even if you could find the trail. Rich Hill is so steep your nose almost rubs the slope in front of you as you climb. Each time you crest the "top" another "top" appears, 100 more yards away. After that, a short stretch of "flat" and then a steep downhill to a checkpoint at Russellton Road, Downhills hurt too.

Right after Russellton Road, the still bigger hill on Mile 14 followed. If Rich Hill didn't break your spirit, Mile 14 might just do the trick. I watched the now muddied-and-bloodied hikers snake their way steeply up to the first false summit, legs burning, lungs busting, sensing the vapors of grim determination of our hikers on Mile 14. The sun was burning down, reaching its high of 90 degrees with humidity approaching 70 percent, and a borderline ozone day to boot (no pun intended). Joe Hoechner and Tim Henigin staffed Russellton Road, graciously providing a canopy to get under for relief from the sun's glare.

Down Yutes Run Road, past Peterson's Nursery, and then you hit the "roller coaster" going into Springdale's Melzina Road checkpoint. Up, down, up, down, up, down, steep and high, brambles, high grass, heat, sun, humidity. I arrived at Melzina just two minutes ahead of John DeWalt, Leo about 1 minute behind me. John came crashing and stumbling up out of the high grass, soaking wet (he had thrown himself into a creek to cool off), and semi-delirious with exhaustion (he was still running). Seventy-five hikers followed John past Melzina Road. Melzina was staffed by Springdale native Heather Schweitzer and her two friends.

At Melzina, many of the hikers, mercifully, called it a day. We had a . bad break with the heat: it wore a lot of people down more quickly than what coulda been. Many went to the Rachel Carson Homestead, half a mile away, and called for a ride home, sitting in the cool shade once enjoyed by Rachel, herself, while we, many of us only children, played “hike" with our friends. Many called
for a ride right at Melzina, using cell phones made available to us by Bell Atlantic/NyNex for the Challenge. The cell phones were a godsend, allowing all the marshals to keep in touch with each other, and to pinpoint the location of hikers being sought by wives, husbands, mothers and friends.

Mark Tomlinson, the recently named Executive Director of the Rachel Carson Homestead, was also a godsend, allowing us to stage our halfway mark on the Homestead grounds. Mark has indicated that, over the next year, he will develop a better link of the Trail with the Homestead, and provide some signage so hikers can find the Homestead more easily and Homestead visitors can likewise find the Trail.

Somehow, many hikers continued, to Springdale Hollow Road, up the power line to the bluffs above the Allegheny River, into the cool, cool woods on high. But the Trail was tough in there, poorly marked, tricky, turning abruptly onto and off the power line. Only 31 hikers checked into the Sheetz at Mile 20, and only 11 went beyond, to even more brutally steep hills climbing powerlines and pipelines, false summits, weeds, blowdowns, washouts, lost trail, mud and blood, past Bailey's Run. Gerry Vaerywick and Gene Pochapsky finally bailed out at Bailey's Run (no pun intended); Only 9 hikers made it to the last check point at St. Clemens Cemetery. Barb Peterson, Dana Overmyer, Boris Bartlog, and Joe Seiler called it quits at St. Clemen's still on the Trail but they ran out of time with no way to finish on time due to a last minute loss of the trail between Bailey's Run and Saxonburg Roads. Ultimately only 5 would finish.

John DeWalt was outstripping our support system, arriving at check points before they were set up. In order to provide water, Leo had to calculate John's ETA at future checkpoints and make a special trip out there to catch John as he passed by. Near Bailey's Run, John apologized, saying "I just can't run up those hills anymore, just on the flats”. And even later, John quit running altogether, saying this might be the hardest effort he's ever made in any event.

John DeWalt finished a little after 6 PM, cleaned himself up a little, and then relaxed and schmoozed on the grass at Harrison Hills while only 4 more hikers remained on the Trail. Alan Aliskovitz, Erin Abraham, Mike Blackwell, and Eric Filo had passed through St. Clemens at 5:20 PM with 8 miles to go before 8:54 PM. At about 8:30 PM, I began backtracking on the Trail to see if they were on their way; in only a couple of minutes I found them by the entrance to the park, tired, but in good spirits, and determined to make the finish. They came into the finish area just as the alpenglow faded from the clouds and the sun dropped below the horizon. Erin, with no compromise to the day, did three cartwheels across the grass as she came in. So the five finishers were all there, hobbling maybe just a little. The first thing the hikers did when they got in: took off their boots. Patty S. went for pizza and we all ate pizza, we took a few photos, did congratulations, and made sure everyone got out of the park by 9:30 PM–our deal with the park police.

What good came out of this? Well, the Rachel Carson Trail, a trail struggling for existence, got a lot of feet on it, something it desperately needed to preserve its trace across the northern suburbs of Allegheny County, The publicity will no doubt put more hikers on the Trail over the next year than, perhaps, it's seen in the past 5 years. And, we'll get a few Trail Maintenance volunteers who will adopt a 2-3 mile section and take care of it: blazing, trimming, and keeping it clean and viable. The hikers made friends, formed teams right on the trail, and faced the challenges together, many attempting and completing a feat that may well be the hardest thing they've ever done in their life, even if only to the Half-Challenge point.

Some learned the importance of working as a team, saying it was the team that got them as far as they went: urging them on when they wanted to quit, making them laugh when they hurt, finding the trail when they could not. You did, indeed, need to use all your resources to do this: your map, the blazes, your trip list, and perhaps most importantly, the others you met on the trail.

Leo and I have already heard about next year: "All the marathon people and the Ridge Runners will be here next year"; "I'm going to 'train' so I know where the Trail goes, next time”; “I had no idea it would be this hard...next time I'll know and I'll be ready for it". ... -by jim ritchie

(Page 7) OFFICIAL FINISHERS (OF 90 REGISTRANTS)
Erin Abraham
Mike Blackwell
Eric Filo
Alan Alişkovitz
John DeWalt

St. Clemens-23 Miles
Boris Bartlog
Barbara Peterson
Dana Overmyer
Joe Seiler

Sheetz/Creighton-20 Miles
John Berda
David Clark
John Hassan
Howard Kenn
Mark Kochvar
Mark McCulloch
Georgia Pambianco
Bob Schmidt
Karen Schmidt
Tim Sullivan
Gerry Vaerywick
Charmaine Borza
Chris Harbaugh
Vicki Helgeson
James Kavanagh
Mary Ann Masarik
William Miller
Gene Pochapsky
Jared Schmidt
Rob Schmidt
James Tracy
Martin Wendell

Melzina Road/Rachel Carson Homestead-17 Miles (Full Challenge Hikers)
Jane Bean
Michael Connors
Rick Forman
Heidi Hemming
Rose Kasunic
Trevor Lloyd
Lynda McKay
Patty McLaughlin
Kathleen Pajer
Vivian Pittman
Sharon Pritchard
David Rumon
Frank Shymatta
Matthew Smith
Beth Szymoniak
Anthony Busofsky
Thomas Crock
John Havel
Mark Kasunic
Evan Lloyd
David McCusker
Jennifer McLaughlin
Rody Nash
Darrell Pendleton
Robert Pritchard
William Rosenblatt
Michael Rumon
Daniel Smith
Nickolas Solic
Greg Whitney

HALF-CHALLENGE FINISHERS-17 Miles
(31 Registrants)
Official Half-Challenge Finishers are those who signed up for the Half-Challenge and finished it.

Dale Able
Robert Augustino
Tom Beggs
Denise Cullen
Janet Hayes
Erin Lloyd
James McCormick
Patricia Pikunas
Ann Ruth
Suzan Thomas
Jerry Agin
Ted Bartsch
Linda Campbell
Susan Cullen
Konrad Kammerek
David Lyle
Janice Patterson
Rose Race
Liz Tavares

RCT Family Challenge "All the Elements"

Eighteen hikers, ranging in age from 6 to 50 years old took on the 1996 Rachel Carson Trail Family Challenge, a five-mile loop hike in North Park, starting at the Beaver Shelter, going as far as the abandoned Rocky Dell Shelter near the Hemlocks development, and then looping back to Beaver using a combination of bridle trails, service roads, power lines and obscure foot trails. The grand finale found the hikers bushwacking up a slope, deep within the Park, with no trail at all. Using landmarks such as drainage pipes, washes down a hillside, and trails made by deer, the hikers were able to negotiate their way through seldom-visited areas of North Park.

Hikers experienced mud, skunk cabbage, road cookies, a cool hemlock canopy, and many of the sounds and sights of nature at her best. Most were able to finish the hike in about 2 hours. The start included the same scramble as the 34-mile Challenge, down into and then up out of the washout on the earthen dam separating the two ponds behind Beaver Shelter.

Next year, the Challenge planners are considering a start in Harrison Hills Park, coming back toward North Park. The Family Challenge would then be set up as a loop hike within Harrison Hills Park, hopefully providing a test of skills, endurance, and persistence just as the hike this year.
-by jim ritchie

TENDING THE RACHEL CARSON 6.5 MILE WATER STOP
by Jim Crist

I dragged myself out of bed on Saturday, June 22, long after the sun was up and had to hurry to get ready for the 34 mile First Annual Rachel Carson Trail Challenge. I through some snacks into my fanny pack, grabbed some reading material, and threw the lawn chairs into my car. Then I dragged.my nine-year-old, Ross, out of bed and told him to get moving or we'd be late.

It's not that he and I were planning on hiking the entire 34-mile trail. No, we weren't planning on doing the 17 mile Half-Challenge. Instead our rigorous activity was to assist in the smooth running of the 6.5 mile water stop on Schaffer Run Road in Indiana Township.

My son had to be bribed with the promise of donuts ("not those dog-food grainola bars, Dad”) and a trip to the swimming pool later that day (“Dad, we'll be swimming while all those people are STILL hiking").

We arrived at the water station along the side of the dirt road and promptly set up the lawn chairs so my legs wouldn't set tired from all that standing. Since there were several people working at the water stop, I had some time on my hands. I decided it might be enlightening to survey the hikers as they passed through.

The first hiker through ran in a blur at 7:42 AM. It was 60 year old John Dewalt. For John a 34 mile run was nothing compared to the 100 mile event he finished a few weeks earlier.

At any rate, I decided to ask two questions.

What is your favorite color?
Who would you vote for - Clinton or Dole (no write-ins allowed)?

After all, everyone should at least be able to answer the first question so they can get at least one right answer. And of course, there is no right answer to the second question,

The results were enlightening. Oh, it's not too much of a surprise that the favorite color was blue (how mainstream) with green as a close second. There were several last place ties, each with one vote: Turquoise, Chartreuse, Orange, Fuchsia, Plaid, Rose, Brown, and Aqua (“because I ... can't make my mind up between blue and green”).

Tie-die Rainbow was the favorite of computer software engineer, Mark Kasunic. What would you expect from someone working at CMU who was wearing a tie-die shirt, clearly never left the 70s, and was hoping to see the ghost of Jerry Garcia on the trail.

I was admiring the stamina of the first woman to reach the water stop, Karen Schmidt at 8:33 AM. Her mind was focused on hiking I could tell, because my first question stumped her and she turned to her significant other and asked him “What's my favorite color?" He answered for her and then followed her on down the trail.

The political news is much more interesting. The Democrats are fast hikers. Clinton was undefeated until 8:46 when Bath Szymoniak declared the first Dole preference. The Republicans were bringing up the rear of the pack and by the time it was nearing the end Dole captured 40% of the vote to Clinton's 60%.

At 8:55 AM the first (and only) canine hiker, Zoe, a golden retriever came through. When quizzed, she just wagged her tail. I think she preferred Clinton.

I also wondered about the couple who quickly, simultaneously, answered the voting question with a “Clinton” from him, a "Dole" from her, then shot each other puzzled looks. I sent them on their way with instructions to "talk amongst yourselves and resolve this by mile 17."

Well it was a good day. Ross and I wrapped up our duty about 10 o'clock and we plan to be back next year, as hikers, not Pollsters.

(Page 9) Saturday August 17 Leo Stember 681-1385
Moderate 6 mile hike on the Rachel Carson trail near Creighton. Call for info & a reservation.

September 1996
(Page 1) Bridge over Muddy Waters: A Trail Maintenance Saga
by Patty Scheuering

Many thanks to the Baker Trail Maintenance Crew who worked at Crooked Creek the weekend of July 12, 13, and 14. We were few in numbers, but included some of the most unrelenting workers I have ever seen: Dee Garvin, Tim Henigin, Vince Roolf, Bob Tait and myself cut, lopped, dug, shoveled, picked and slopped in the muck & mire for nine hours on Saturday stopping only because of fuel problems, both people and equipment.

We stopped just shy of completing the most satisfying maintenance project I have ever done. With blue skies above and flooding waters surrounding us, we were able to divert the flow and save the reservoir, or at least all those high priced hiking boots that will no longer get wet and muddy on the Baker Trail! A FANTASTIC JOB!!

Our accomplishments were many, including a bridge (over muddy waters) made of readily-available resources: dead trees. We were so pleased with our work that we are considering replacing another decaying bridge in the same area in the near future.

On Sunday, Tim, Dee and I went back to finish what we started Saturday (singing our Baker Trail song) with help from Travis Anderson, a Crooked Creek Park Ranger working on his own time. Pictures were taken by the Park for an up and coming slide presentation, either for a job well done or visual aids on what not to do!!

When Travis left us to go to work in his regular job, the Rangers brought a non-volunteer worker named Rob to help. Rob was fulfilling some community service on the trail for past indiscretions. We were happy to have the extra hands to carry equipment as we changed venues. He helped a good deal and took a lot of verbal harassment in the good nature it was meant. He said he would like to work with us the next time too. A real glutton for punishment!

Mid-day Sunday, Tim planted a sign post on the edge of the new strip mine by the covered footbridge over Horney Camp Run to help hikers find their way across the open field with less confusion. We met a couple of backpackers hiking through who were heading for the Cochran's Mill shelter. This made John and Luke Speck, caretakers for this shelter really happy. John and Luke joined us Sunday afternoon in time to help with the detour around the strip mine: the cutback, cleaning up the brush, and reblazing. There should not be any problems with this section of the Baker Trail, at least until next year.

We thank the Crooked Creek people for all their time and effort! The trail crosses their property, but maintenance is AYH's responsibility, Paul Toman and John Derby, both Army Corps of Engineers rangers at Crooked Creek Park, as always, were a tremendous help in setting things up and making accommodations. Thank you! They helped reduce the tremendous amount of time and effort expended to set these weekends up so they run effectively and efficiently.

We will have many fond memories as we watch the poison ivy spread and blister! Thanks a million, guys, on a job REALLY well done!!

(Page 3) MILTON LOOP CAMP-OUT: SEPTEMBER 13-14-15

You are invited to volunteer for trail maintenance duty on the weekend of September 13, 14, and 15 when AYH will be camping at the Milton Loop Campground north of Kittanning, near the village of Dayton, and on the shores of the Mahoning River, Camping fees will be paid by AYH and Baker Trail t-shirts will be given to anyone working on Saturday and Sunday.

Friday night will be your chance to set up camp, cook yourself a camp dinner, and meet the other volunteers around a roaring campfire. On Saturday morning, we try to get out on the trail by 9:00 AM and work until 5:00 PM, depending mostly on weather conditions. On Saturday evening, we plan to drive into Dayton (home of the famous Dayton Fair) to eat dinner at Stockdale's Restaurant (home of good ol' country cookin'). On Sunday, we work half a day, quitting at noon, so everyone can get home and get unpacked and relax a little before going back to the grind on Monday.

The work should be relatively light: we need to do a lot of blazing in the area and may send out several small 2-3 person crews to handle that chore. We will walk through the Baker Trail along the Little Mahoning, clearing out fallen timber, and maybe putting down some filler in soft spots along the way. We also need to walk the trail along the Mahoning Reservoir, doing some bramble clearing, checking for blown-down trees to cut away, and making sure the blazing is up to par.

Some special events you might want to watch for: Paul Henry may make a surprise appearance to help us locate the spring down by the reservoir; Cindy Rogers, who maintains the Smicksburg Road to Milton Loop section of the Baker Trail, may stop by to work or to say hello, and Curt Slater, who maintains the Reservoir section, may materialize as well. Other friends of the Baker Trail in the area include Susan Torrence, who works for the Armstrong County Tourist Bureau and who is the brains behind the Armstrong County Fall Foliage Hike, many times on the Baker Trail, may stop by to say hello as well. Patty Scheuering, if her schedule allows, will show us how to build a bridge in a single bound!!

We always have a good time at our trail maintenance campouts: good company, good food, lots of comraderie, a weekend in the outdoors. Plan to join us.

If you have questions or need more information, call Jim Ritchie at 412-828-0210.

(Page 5) Sat Sept 21 Leo Stember 681-1385
Strenous hike on Rachel Carson trail: 17 miles, from the R. Carson homestead to Harrison Hills. Call for information & a reservation

(Page 7) TRANSITIONS ON THE RACHEL CARSON TRAIL
by jim ritchie

July 13th and 14th were “spruce-up” days on the Rachel Carson Trail on which volunteers worked to spruce up road crossings in eight different locations as well as to clean up two major off-road problem areas. Assisting in the effort were Bob Roth, Vince Roolf, Kate Fissell, Chris, John Dern, and Paul Bronder. First off Chris, Kate, Bob, and Vince worked in the woods by Peterson's Nursery cleaning up an area that had been substandard for nearly two years: the trail disappeared just as it attempted to come out on the gas pipeline area and the egress was blocked by a mound of brush and cuttings. That section is now in excellent condition.

Meanwhile, Jim, Paul and John worked on road crossings at Harrison Hills Park, Altermoor Road, Donnellsville Road, Burtner Road, Ridge Road, and Bakerstown Road near St. Clemens Cemetery. Later on that afternoon, all seven trailworkers joined together to blaze and clear the trail just before a point the Rachel Carson Challenge folks probably know as "Mile 13". The jump into the woods here was lost; in fact the entire trail was more or less lost all the way from Rich Hill Road. Now it is impeccable!

On Sunday, Jim and Bob visited more transition sites, road crossings, this time reblazing the entire 2 miles along Wagner Road, Shafer Road, Cedar Run Road, Route 910, and Myers Road. If you have the map, it's clear where you go, but if you are following blazes, you WERE out of luck-no longer!! After that, we went to Casey's Equipment along Saxonburg Boulevard, Russellton Road just before Mile 14, and on Yutes Run Road, all the way from Tawney Run Road to the gas pipeline running up behind Cheswick.

The Rachel Carson Trail thanks all those who came out on two hot, uncomfortable days and put a little back into the hiking trails they so often have enjoyed.

ADOPT A PIECE OF RACHEL'S TRAIL

A three-mile section of the Rachel Carson Trail, located near Tarentum and not too far from the Allegheny Valley Expressway needs a caretaker, someone who is willing to make sure the Trail has fresh paint on the blazes, clip away vegetation covering the blazes and pick up an incidental trash along the way. The three miles. in question start at Bull Creek Road just off the Expressway, and extend to Saxonburg Road in Harrison. It takes two days a year, all your expenses for paint and brushes is reimbursed, and you have the satisfaction of CONTRIBUTING to the cause of things you yourself value. If you are interested or just have questions, call Jim Ritchie at 828-0210 or Leo Stember at 681-1385.

October 1996
(Page 1) WHO BUILT THOSE BAKER TRAIL BRIDGES?
By Patty Scheuering

Many people have inquired as to who built the various bridges on the Baker Trail, in particular, the Covered Footbridge over Horney Camp Run near Crooked Creek, dated 1967. These bridges have heart and soul written all over them. I have marveled at the amount of time and energy that must have been spent building these bridges. Several weeks ago I was examining the support structure problems of the Horney Camp Run Covered Bridge and had too many questions, so I began a search.

After several dead ends, I found Walter Tereszkiewicz who has been a member of the American Youth Hostels since 1965. Walter, along with some Boy Scouts of Troop #40 in Lawrenceville, built all the bridges in the Crooked Creek area. They designed, fabricated and installed them! Over the years Walter has treated these bridges to help preserve them and re-supported the sagging sections, when possible, including the covered bridge. Again, a tremendous amount of time and effort has been expended over the years. Unfortunately, nature did not help to preserve them. Rushing waters, time and horses have rendered several of the bridges beyond repair.

I hiked the area with Walter as he told me all about the construction of the various bridges. I asked if he would consider helping on the repair and replacement of a couple of the bridges. Much to my surprise and delight he said he would fabricate the first bridge and all I would need to do is get it installed at the designated site! The money was approved and we were on our way

Once the hand rails are complete, I will need several people to help with the installation. If you would like to participate when the time comes, CALL ME NOW to let me know so we will have a team ready to go. My number is 325-3224. Hopefully our efforts will last as long as Walter's did!

I love finding people who are a part of the past history of the Pittsburgh Council, American Youth Hostels such as Walter. They all have so much life to talk about and experiences to share. All of these people have been instrumental in some way or another of making the Pittsburgh Council what it is today. I sincerely hope that in the years to come, people will look back at the present participants and marvel at the many wonderful contributions WE have made!

Thank you Walter for your contribution in the past, present and future! It sincerely is appreciated!!

(Page 3) Dear Editor,

We enjoyed reading Jim Ritchie's article on the Rachel Carson Trail Challenge in the August issue of the Golden Triangle. But, more importantly, we truly enjoyed participating in the Challenge. We would like to thank Jim, his wife Sue, and Leo Stember for the countless hours of work they put into organizing the event. The volunteers did a great job, too - our thanks to them also.

We look forward to next year's Challenge.

Sincerely,

Barbara Peterson
Dana Overmyer
Heidi Hemming

(Page 4) TRAIL MAINTENANCE NEWS

-the Milton Loop Project, a camp-out on the weekend of September 13-15, attracted nine volunteers and finished 75 person-hours of labor over the weekend; about 3 miles of the Baker Trail alongside the rapidly rising Mahoning Creek (in major flood stage) near Dayton, PA received a trimming, and several new water bars; we stayed at the very nice Milton Loop Campground, gratis, compliments of the Armstrong County Recreation Authority and Suzanne Boarts, the Authority's director, ate Saturday dinner at Stockdale's in Dayton where we were served by Mrs. Stockdale herself (a barbecued rib dinner for $5.95 and wonderful homemade pie to follow); a blazing campfire on Saturday night, compliments of Vince Roolf who brought 3 huge boxfuls of dry firewood; another fire Sunday morning to ward off the autumn chill thanks to Dee Garvin, who must have risen at 5:30 to build it; Aggie, the campground manager, helped us find our way around during our stay; others who manned (personed?) the loppers, bow saws and whips included Sarah Crotty, Joyce Rabinovitz, Kate Fissell, Becky Heimberger, Sue Ritchie, Cindy Rogers the local trail manager, and Jim Ritchie.

-Jim Hummell in Summerville, PA reports that he has just now finished cleaning up his home and his parent's home after being flooded in July when Red Bank Creek ran through the entire town, The Hummels totally lost their store and the flood also took out the road bridge that took the Baker Trail across Red Bank Creek, Jim says he can now take the time to walk the Trail and assess further damage and help devise a workable detour. Also, he says, the area around the new strip mine near Tarkiln Run may need some extensive temporary blazing.

-Tom Brandon and his scout troop walked through the Baker Trail from Mill Creek in Jefferson County to the Iron Bridge just south of Cook Forest in August and sent a written report; Tom says the Trail is in pretty good shape there-we've got a couple of new "NO TRESPASSING” signs we've got to check out, but otherwise the blazes look good.

-Nancy Schmidt and Alice Gelormino have volunteered to adopt the Rachel Carson Trail within the confines of North Park. Nancy is at Chatham College and Alice teaches a sixth grade class; the two plan to develop a cooperative environmental program where the college students work hand-in-hand with the sixth graders in a program whose focus is "taking care of the environment". Chatham, you may recall, is the home of the Rachel Carson Environmental Institute.

-John DeWalt, one of the esteemed five finishers of the June 1996 Rachel Carson Challenge, has volunteered to adopt a section of the RCT; John may tackle the miles from Bull Creek Road to Harrison Hills Park that includes the major problem caused by a new high-tension power line project that has cut the Trail in 4 spots. Good luck John.

-Tim Henigin, has also volunteered to adopt a section of the Rachel Carson Trail, specifically from Freeport Road in Springdale back to Russellton Road near Rural Ridge. This is the “roller coaster" encountered by the Challengers back in June,

-Patty Scheuering and Tim Henigin took a tour of the Baker Trail through parts of Jefferson County, along the Red Bank, in August to assess the extent of the rebuilding effort needed to fix up all the flood damage.

-HIKER ALERT! The Baker Trail bridge at Heathville, PA, over Red Bank Creek, has been washed away; the bridge cannot be crossed and the Creek is too fast and too deep in this location to cross on foot. The detour will be to continue on the hard road to the village of Summerville (see your Baker Trail Guide topographic map); cross the Creek in Summerville and get back on the Trail via PA Route 28.

-HIKER ALERT!! The Gravel Lick Bridge carrying the Baker Trail over the Clarion River, currently closed to automobile traffic, is due to be demolished in November. The detour, from the Cook Forest Fire Tower to the Iron Bridge on Iron Bridge Road, crossing Cathers Run south of Cook Forest is as follows: take the Deer Park Trail from the tower to Route 36 (see the Baker Trail Guide or the Cook Forest Park map); take Route 36 to Iron Bridge Road, the first road to the right walking south on the highway; turn right to the Iron Bridge. Since the Iron Bridge was also washed away by the July flooding, the crossing here will be a wet crossing. Cathers Run, at this location, is a safe crossing on foot, however.

-HIKER ALERT!!! A new landowner problem has been reported on the Rachel Carson Trail on the section between Middle Road and Wagner Road, in Hampton and Indiana Townships. Avoid this section until further notice. The Detour is to take Middle Road to Wagner Road and stay on the roads. Consult your Rachel Carson Trail Guide Maps.

(Page 5) FOOTNOTES
By jim ritchie

Right now, at newsletter deadline time, it has been a busy month in the world of trail maintenance. In just a few days, many of us maintainers will be heading up to Ski Sawmill near the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon for the Annual Fall Meeting of the Keystone Trails Association, the statewide umbrella organization for trail building and trail maintenance. And one of the topics to be discussed is how to get KTA recognized as a serious trails organization. A lot of people think KTA is just for recreation, that people join to hike on a trail someone else put there for them. But KTA is more than that: it's the organization that helps to put the trail there in the first place.

It's been difficult, as well, to get people to take AYH seriously as an organization that promotes trail building and trail maintenance. Unlike KTA, AYH has both: a "hiking and backpacking" program in which volunteers organize and lead group hikes and backpacks, and it has a trail building/maintenance program as well.

The hiking/backpacking program goes up and down in intensity, depending upon the number of people who are willing to be a trip leader. The trail building/maintenance program has always been small; there are not great numbers of people whose idea of a good time is hard work in hot, cold, wet, muddy, steep, and distant locales. Trail maintenance is hard work.

But what the program lacks in numbers, it makes up for in heart. The AYH trail maintenance program has revitalized those activities in Western Pennsylvania and has added, one by one, new memberships to KTA, new Western Pennsylvania blood attending the KTA Spring and Fall meetings, and new participation from Western Pennsylvania in the KTA TrailCare program, which rebuilds and repairs hiking trails all across the state-once a month. And, that heart in the AYH program has earned recognition for AYH as a serious trail maintenance organization, among its peers across the state.

And when KTA conducts its “Roll Call of the Clubs" as is its custom at the Saturday night business meeting, and Ed Beck-the KTA President-calls out “Pittsburgh Council, AYH”, you might be proud to know that an increasingly large number of AYHer's stand up to be counted. At the 1996 Spring meeting, 11 in total stood up to be counted, putting us in the top 5 or so clubs in representation, And, beyond AYH, another dozen or so Western Pennsylvanians, many of them associated with the vigorous Butler Outdoor Club, tip the scales a little bit more in our direction.

What does this mean to you? It means that KTA programs a few more TrailCare projects in Western PA, like the Slippery Rock Creek Gorge Trail, like the Glacier Ridge Trail at Moraine, like the Oil Creek trails, like the whole North Country Trail now being linked from Cook Forest to Moraine State Park along the Clarion River by KTA people heavily peppered with AYH folks. It means the Baker Trail got a shot in the arm last year and it means that groups like the Warrior Trail Association can get a grant to buy a "brushwacker" so they can make their trail better for YOU!!

Let's all thank the AYH folks who have been building trails for AYH and representing AYH in the KTA Council-you know who they are: Glenn Oster, Patty Scheuering, Diane Liscio, Mary Pitzer, Mort Kurman, Dee Garvin, Paul Henry, Joyce Appel, yours truly, and several others I know I'm missing here (my apologies).

(Page 7) Saturday Oct 19 John Dern 856-4642
Intermediate 8 mile hike on the Baker trail at Crooked Creek. Call for info & a reservation.

November 1996
(Page 4) Bees Back on Baker Trail at Walter's Crooked Creek Bridge
by Patty Scheuering

It was a bright, warm, sunny morning in October. At 8 am, on a Sunday, four AYHer's met at Crooked Creek Park in Armstrong County, 30 miles from Pittsburgh, to install our first Tereszkiewicz pre-manufactured bridge. Walter Tereszkiewicz, the master bridge builder, Bob Roth, veteran of numerous AYH trail maintenance forays, Bryan Koehler, from the Butler Outdoor Club and the North Country Trail Association and a veteran of our joint Cook Forest Campaign in 1995, and myself began to unload the wood from Walter's truck when, almost immediately, someone stepped in a hole in the ground (not me!) and as a result, we shot the next hour and a half waiting for a can of Beespray and for a swarm of very belligerent bees to settle down. Unbelievably, no one got stung.

The bridge installation was no easy task, much like a three-dimensional jigsaw puzzle! (Pardon the pun) Walter had everything pre-measured, pre-cut, pre-drilled and partially pre-assembled, spending more than 110 hours in preparation time. It still took four of us nearly six hours of intense labor to install the bridge at the site.

The year “1970" was carved on one side of the hand railing to commemorate the original installation at that site; the year "1996" was also carved in the rail to memorialize the date of this day's installation; "Baker Trail" was carved, obviously, to identify the trail, and an American Youth Hostel metal tag, complete with address, and an original yellow, metal, circular blaze was nailed to the front of the bridge-just like the original blazes that were nailed to trees to mark the trail way back when.

Please, go, look it over. Remember "If we build it, they will come". We did build it, you should go. The new bridge is located south of the Crooked Creek Dam, less than a mile from the Visitor Center parking lot, which in turn is 1 mile off Route 66, a couple of miles south of Ford City.

To get there from Pittsburgh, take PA Route 28 to the Ford City/ Route 66 turnoff just outside of Kittanning, about 25 miles from the Highland Park bridge, then follow PA Route 66 for about 5 miles to the signs marking a left turn to Crooked Creek Park. Once in the Visitor Center parking lot (not the Office parking lot), locate the trail by the road, and, NOT CROSSING THE ROAD, follow the blazes back into the woods, around the fishing area by the dam outlet, to the new bridge, which is close to a natural gas pumping station you encounter along the trail.

Your feedback and constructive criticism is welcomed and needed. As always, this gratifying project was completed thanks to the time and efforts of those willing to volunteer their services. Thanks to all who helped, especially Walter for all the work and the long, long hours he put into this project.

Hiking trails in Pennsylvania are numerous; it is a constant challenge for just a few volunteers to take care of all those miles. Please consider giving some of your time to help maintain our trails. Our next project will be to rebuild the supports for the Covered Foot Bridge over Horney Camp Run, also in the Crooked Creek area, and next to the old Ira Swank farm.

If you are interested in helping out, or even if you just want to come and watch what goes on, enjoying a day in the woods, please call Jim Ritchie (828-0210) or me, Patty Scheuering, (325-3224) to let us know you'd like to come. When the time comes to go out to do the work, we will call you to let you know.

HIKER ALERT!!!
BAKER TRAIL
September 24, 1996

Hikers have been denied access to the Kiski Junction Bridge, where the Baker Trail crosses the Kiski River near the village of Schenley between Armstrong and Westmoreland Counties, by the new owners of the Kiski Junction Railroad Co. The new company runs a short line railroad from Baghdad to Schenley along the Kiski River hauling freight for Allegheny-Ludlum Steel and providing amusement rides on the weekends.

Be advised that the Baker Trail is CLOSED over that Bridge. Trespassers may be cited and fined. There is no detour at this time. The section of the Baker Trail from Route 356 in Garver's Ferry to Kiski Junction may only be used for in-and-out hiking: All northbound through-hiking must begin in Schenley.

December 1996/January 1997
(Page 5) Saturday Dec 7 John Dern 856-4642
Intermediate 8 mile hike on the Baker trail at Crooked Creek. Call for info & a reservation.

February 1997/March 1997
(Page 3) Baker Trail / Rachel Carson Trail Trail Maintenance Planning Meeting
March 1, 1997

The 1997 Trail Maintenance budget request must be submitted to the Pittsburgh Council HI-AYH Board of Directors for consideration and approval in March. I am asking that all those interested in trail maintenance on the Baker Trail and the Rachel Carson Trail attend our first annual planning meeting, to be held on Saturday, March 1, 1997 at the Crooked Creek Environmental Learning Center. The meeting will commence at 10:00 AM. Lunch will be served at 12:30 PM at the Center, with the meeting continuing until approximately 2:00 PM. A short hike is scheduled for 3:00 PM, starting at the Center and will go to our new footbridge along Crooked Creek, a project of Walter Tereskiewicz, Patty Schreuring, Brian Koehler, and Tim Henigin. For those who choose, a short trip will take us to the recently rehabilitated Crooked Creek Shelter, at the top of Cook's Summit, a project of Jon Speck and friends Timothy Harris, Scott Yockey, Steve Williams, and Brad Bowser.

The objectives of the meeting will include the assembly of a maintenance log, detailing all the maintenance projects that need to be addressed along the Baker and Rachel Carson Trails, and to assign priorities to those projects. If the projects require special funding, beyond yellow paint and brushes, that information needs to be known as well. Adopt-a-Trail volunteers should bring this information concerning their part of the Trails with them.

Who should attend: Anyone with an interest in helping maintain AYH trails is welcome to attend. All adopt-a-trail volunteers, who have specific responsibility for maintaining a fixed section of the Trails should also attend. Each adopt-a-trail volunteer should bring a list of problems that need to be addressed on their section, whether or not they can handle it using their own resources, or if AYH should put together a special work crew to handle the work, and whether or not special funding is needed. Also, those people who have not adopted a trail section, but who volunteer for our group maintenance work on the weekends, or for the weekend camp-outs, should come to the meeting with their input: opinions and judgment. All are welcome.

What to do if you cannot attend: If you are not able to attend the meeting, please try to call Jim Ritchie at (412)828-0210 so you can provide trail maintenance project information to him prior to the meeting. If you are not going to be able to continue your trail maintenance activities (Adopt-a-trail) for 1997, please let Jim know that also. We need to assess how many NEW volunteers will be needed to continue our trail maintenance work.

The Budget: The Budget has been in the neighborhood of $900-$1,000 each year for the past several years. The funds have been spent, mostly, to purchase Baker Trail and Rachel Carson Trail T-shirts for maintenance volunteers, yellow paint, brushes, and to pay for tool repairs and purchases. This past year we spent a substantial portion of our funds on building materials so Walter Tereskiewicz could rebuild and repair several bridges in the Crooked Creek area for us.

For 1997, we have been asked to generate revenues to cover part of what we are allocated by the Board for trail maintenance activities. So, we want to discuss the feasibility of conducting one or two large scale, organized, hikes, during the year, open to the public, for a donation from participants. We will also direct revenues exceeding our expenses from the 1997 Rachel Carson Trail Challenge to the trail maintenance fund. Last year's Challenge generated $200 for the Hostel fund and another $200 for the Rachel Carson Homestead Association, after covering all our expense.

Directions: To get to Crooked Creek Park, take PA Route 28 to Kittanning, where you will pick up PA Route 66, and going south past Ford City, for approximately 5 miles to SR 2019; there is a small convenience store on the left at that intersection (not the ice cream/restaurant store) and there is a sign for Crooked Creek Lake, At SR 2019, turn left and follow the road for approximately 1 mile where you will see a sign for the Environmental Learning Center on the left side of the road. Turn left and follow the signs to the building.

(Page 6) March 22 Saturday Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Rachel Carson Trail, Harrison Hills Section. This is the first of four hikes that will cover the Rachel Carson Trail from end-to-end. We will start at the northern terminus high on a bluff overlooking the Allegheny River near Freeport, go through Harrison Hills Park, and go up and down some of the steepest hills you've ever seen. Ends at Bull Creek Road. About 8 miles, definitely strenuous, not recommended for beginning hikers. Meets at 8:00 AM at the Ames Plaza in Harmarville. Call Jim to make a reservation.

March 23 Sunday Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Rachel Carson Trail, Bluffs of the Allegheny Section. This is the second of four hikes covering the Rachel Carson Trail from end-to-end. Today we start in Springdale, ascend to the top of the bluffs overlooking the Allegheny River, and tackle hills even steeper than those we climbed on Saturday. The hike ends at Bull Creek Road. About 8 miles, definitely strenuous, not recommended for beginning hikers. Meets at 8:00 AM at the Ames Plaza in Harmarville. Call Jim to make a reservation.

April 12 Saturday Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Rachel Carson Trail, The Roller Coaster. This is the third of four hikes on the Rachel Carson Trail covering all 34 miles of the Trail. We begin in Springdale and tackle the Roller Coaster all the way to Tawney Run Road. But the hills don't quit there. Experience Mile 14, Rich Hill, and the drop into Long Run. Ends in Dorseyville. About 10 miles, definitely strenuous, not recommended for beginning hikers. Meets at 8:00 AM at the Ames Plaza in Harmarville. Call Jim to make a reservation.

April 13 Sunday Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Rachel Carson Trail, North Hills Section. This is the fourth and last of the four hikes covering the 34-mile Rachel Carson Trail end-to-end. We will start in Dorseyville at Cedar Run Road, go through the Hampton Nature Reserve, the beautiful Crouse Run Valley, and into North Park where the hike ends at the Beaver Shelter. About 8 miles, only moderately strenuous. Be sure you've gone 8 miles before, don't make this the first time. Meets at 8:00 AM at the Ames Plaza in Harmarville. Call Jim to make a reservation.

April 1997
(Page 3) TRAIL MAINTENANCE ANNUAL PLANNING MEETING AT THE CROOKED CREEK ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING CENTER

The first-ever, Annual Meeting of the AYH trail maintainers took place on March 1, at the Crooked Creek Environmental Learning Center. In spite of the "mixed-bag" weather, warm but on the verge of rain all day, twenty trail people (21 counting Shane Hummell) participated in the meeting. Trail people tend often to be private types, keeping to themselves out in the woods, or at least that is the stereotype, so 20 was a good number. This was the first time many of these maintainers have met their own kind face-to-face, so it was a good experience.

The agenda included personal introductions, a review of trail activity during last year, 1996, and a look at the objectives for 1997. The discussion of objectives revealed the Gerry Vaerewyck can solve about half of our problems single-handedly. I thank Gerry for coming and offering his assistance and "we will be in touch". A couple of new volunteers showed up, Steve Theiss, from Sharon, PA and Chuck and Sally Martin, from Pittsburgh. Steve just wants to get involved and Chuck and Sally want to adopt a section of the Rachel Carson and promote an extension of the trail to the Harmony Trail in the North Hills.

As a matter of information, it was noted that 66 individuals participated in AYH Trail Maintenance last year, contributing 851 hours of labor (not including travel time to and from the work sites). There are 18 open slots on the Baker Trail, out of a total of 29, and there are 6 open slots on the Rachel Carson Trail, out of a total of 16. So, if you have an interest in taking care of your own section of the Baker or Rachel Carson Trails, give me (Jim Ritchie) a call at 412-828-0210.

After the formal meeting, a short hike down to the two new bridges constructed last year by Walter Teresciewicz and installed with help from Patty Scheuering, Bob Roth, and Brian Koehler, gave us all a chance to stretch our muscles a little. We were also able to see the old gondola cable - used by Apollo Gas Company to cross Crooked Creek; we are considering the use of this structure to replace the now-defunct cable bridge at Cherry Run, a pet project of Vince Rooif.

Soon it will be time to get on the old clothes, open up the can of paint and get out there and put on the 1997 coat of paint. It was emphasized at the meeting, the blazes make the trail a trail and that is why it is so important to get the blazing done each year. Watch the AYH Golden Triangle over the next 6 months for a variety of “maintenance hikes” you can sign up for, including a couple of weekend camp-out projects.

PROJECT MANAGER WANTED
The trail maintenance group of AYH seeks an experienced project manager to provide oversight and direction on a volunteer basis for the reconstruction or replacement of the bridge over Cherry Run, Armstrong County, near Ford City. The last bridge was a two-cable (upper and lower) walking bridge; an alternative involves moving and installing an existing gondola cable from upstream on Crooked Creek, or building a suspension bridge on an existing railroad bridge abutment. If you have the proper qualifications (i.e. you "know how to do this"), please call Jim Ritchie at (412) 828-0210. Leave a voice mail message if necessary. Or send e-mail to jir@vms.cis.pitt.edu.

ENGINEER WANTED
The trail maintenance group of AYH seeks an experienced engineer to provide professional consultation on a volunteer basis for the reconstruction or replacement of the bridge over Cherry Run, Armstrong County, near Ford City. The last bridge was a two-cable (upper and lower) walking bridge; an alternative involves moving and installing an existing gondola cable from upstream on Crooked Creek, or building a suspension bridge on an existing railroad bridge abutment. If you have the proper qualifications (i.e. you "know how to do this"), please call Jim Ritchie at (412) 828-0210. Leave a voice mail message if necessary. Or send e-mail to jir@vms.cis.pitt.edu.

(Page 4) ADOPT THE BAKER TRAIL
Do you have an interest in Trail Maintenance??? You must love hiking and the outdoors; you must be responsible enough to assume personal responsibility for blazing, clearing, and cleaning a section of the Baker Trail on your own time, once a year. I will provide a personal walk-through orientation on your section. AYH provides or reimburses you for paint, brushes, and other needs. Right now there are sections available near Crooked Creek, Indiana County (near Elderton and Plumville), Armstrong County (near the Mahoning Dam), and Jefferson County. Reply to Jim Ritchie, (412) 828-0210, or send e-mail to jir@vms.cis.pitt.edu

(Page 6) HIKER ALERT UPDATES
Here is a quick update on Hiker Alerts (!!) still in effect on the Baker Trail and the Rachel Carson Trail as of this newsletter deadline, March 6, 1997.

BAKER TRAIL

1. Kiski River Bridge: the Kiski River Railroad bridge is still closed to hikers; northbound through-hikers should begin at Schenley; southbound through-hikers should end at Schenley. The two miles from Garver's Ferry, Route 356, to the Kiski River Bridge, are open for in-and-out day-hiking. A "Friend of the Baker Trail” is working on the problem, with the hopes of opening the bridge to hikers.

1A. Schenley Shelter: The Schenley Shelter remains closed to use. We will approach the owners once again this year, attempting to gain access.

2. Strip Mine at the Covered Footbridge, Crooked Creek. The strip-mined area near the covered footbridge over Horney Camp Run is open to hikers. The detour to the west side of the now-backfilled-and-planted field is still in service. Follow the blazes and the new direction signs provided by Walter Teresciewicz. Negotiations with the owner, the stripper, AYH and the DEP are in progress.

3. New Agricultural Field area between Kerr Road and Cochran's Mill, Crooked Creek area. There have been several reports of a large wooded area having been cut and cleared for planting. The trail is intact through this area; follow the temporary blazes (yellow flagging tape) around the perimeter.

4. Keystone Power Plant. The signs “Baker Trail” along the power line through the Keystone Power Plant may still be up; do not follow the signs. Instead, follow the yellow blazes and use your map for guidance. The signs will be removed this season.

4A. New Freedom Shelter. The New Freedom Shelter does not exist at this time. Good camping is available at the Shelter site, however; the site is high on a grassy bank overlooking a stream. We are seeking a volunteer group to rebuild the shelter.

5. Heathville Bridge. The highway bridge over Red Bank Creek at Heathville was washed away in last July's flood. To detour, remain on the paved road from Route 28, crossing Red Bank Creek at the bridge in downtown Summerville, to the village of Heathville. Look at your map to determine this route. Also, just south of Heathville, be alert to a large, strip-mined area just north of Bethlehem Chapel. The trail skirts the western perimeter of the strip mine and you should be able to follow the blazes all the way through. Detour signs will be posted this season,

5A. Corsica Shelter. The Corsica Shelter does not exist at this time. No camping is allowed on the adjacent State Game Lands. We are seeking a volunteer to rebuild the shelter.

6. Gravel Lick Bridge. The Gravel Lick Bridge, over the Clarion River, has been taken down by PennDOT. The detour is, from the Cook Forest Fire Tower, down Deer Pass Trail to Route 36, south on Route 36 to Iron Bridge Road, and then west on Iron Bridge Road. The detour rejoins the trail just past the Iron Bridge. Be advised, however, that the floods of last July also washed out the Iron Bridge. While the crossing of Cathers Run at the Iron Bridge will be a wet crossing, it is usually a safe, and do-able crossing on foot. (Nobody said the Baker Trail was an easy trail). Signage will be posted on the detour this season.

RACHEL CARSON TRAIL

1. Middle Road to Route 910. A temporary detour is in place from (eastbound) Middle Road to Wagner Road to Church Road, followed by Shaffer Road and Cedar Run Road, Westbound hikers should reverse that course. A landowner has restricted use of the trail off-road in this area. Please stay on the (dirt) roads. The landowners will be contacted and either access will be gained or the trail will be permanently rerouted.

2. Crawford Run Road to Bailey's Run Road. Alarge area is being logged. As of February 23, nearly all the blazes were intact so the trail could be followed. The logging roads, however, are very muddy. You may want to detour from Sheetz to Bailey's Run Road along Freeport Road (Old Route 28). When the logging is completed, we will re-assess the situation and make the appropriate adjustments to the trail.

3. Ridge Road to Burtner Road and Burtner Road to Donnellsville Road. A large-scale power line has been installed along the trail through this area, utilizing giant towers. The trail criss-crosses the power line swath. At any time, when you come "out" to the power line, cross directly to the other side and locate the trail there; also, use your map. Posts will be installed, directing hikers across the swath, or the trail will be rerouted.

(Page 7) The Second Annual Rachel Carson Trail Challenge, June 21st, 1997

The 1997 Rachel Carson Trail Challenge is a 34-mile, one-day, endurance hiking event, held in the spirit of the Alaskan Iditarod, the Boston Marathon, the 70-mile Laurel Highlands Trail Run, and the various Ironman Triathlons held around the country each year. Sponsored by the Pittsburgh Council, American Youth Hostels, the Challenge will be held this year on June 21st (taking advantage of the summer solstice), at the crack of dawn, and will extend through the 34-mile roller coaster of hills and bluffs between North Park and Harrison Hills in Allegheny County, ending as the sun sets under the horizon. The “Challenge” is to endure, to finish the hike in one day, rather than to "come in first” or “win” the hike.

The Rachel Carson Trail stretches from North Park, in Shaler, to Harrison Hills County Park, lying entirely within Allegheny County. The trail is characterized by its roller coaster hills and is often said to be one of the most difficult hiking trails in the United States. A typical hiking pace is 2 miles per hour. The hike will begin at sunrise and will officially end at sunset, 5:50 A.M. to 8:54 P.M., a total of 15 hours and 4 minutes.

The Challenge consists of two dimensions: the first challenge is to endure 34 miles of tortuous hill-climbing and descent in whatever weather conditions we are dealt; the second, more subtle, is your ability to keep on the route. Obviously, those who have hiked the trail before will have some advantage in maintaining the proper route.

The endurance hiker participants will be given a trip sheet and a set of topographic maps to guide them on their journey. There will be a half dozen checkpoints throughout the hike, offering minimal support. Hikers are expected to carry all their own gear and necessities, including food, water, and snacks, first aid equipment, raingear, maps and a trip sheet.

One hundred thirty-five people registered for the three 1996 Rachel Carson Challenge events: the Challenge (34 miles), the Half Challenge (17 miles), and the Family Challenge (5 miles). Of those who registered for the 34-mile Challenge in 1996, only 5 people finished.

The Rachel Carson Trail is an “undeveloped" trail in the sense that no special grading or surfacing materials are used on the trail. It is a typical Western Pennsylvania hiking trail and hikers should expect to find all the conditions a typical hiker would encounter on a typical hiking trail. While the trail is blazed with yellow paint blazes, there will be an occasional missing blaze where a tree has fallen or you are following a logging road or a power line or gas line; there will be blowdowns, washouts, poison ivy, nettles, bugs, loose gravel and rocks, steep inclines, and wet stream crossings. You must even be prepared to expect the unexpected. The better hiker you are, the better you will do on the Challenge.

More details concerning the Rachel Carson Trail Challenge will be in the May issue of the Golden Triangle, including news about sponsorship, the starting point for 1997, and the route to be followed. Be sure to read it. An EARLY REGISTRATION FORM is included below.

May 1997
(Page 3) RACHEL CARSON HOMESTEAD OBTAINS $1,000 GRANT To Be Used for Improve ments to Rachel Carson Trail

The good news from Mark Tomlinson, Executive Director of the Rachel Carson Homestead Association, is that, as a result of his initiative requesting support from the Monroeville Eastern Mountain Sports (EMS) store, the Homestead Association has been awarded $1,000 to be used for supplies for trail development and trail maintenance on the Rachel Carson Trail.

Mark is now in the process of data-gathering with Jim Ritchie and Leo Stember, pulling together an inventory or trail projects such as needed bridges for stream crossings, posts to be used to mark the trail across large open areas, elevated wooden walkways for several bog areas, and possibly, permanent yellow plastic blazing that would reduce trail maintenance requirements significantly.

As soon as the inventory is completed, a meeting will be held with Kim Scott, manager of the Monroeville EMS during which the several projects will be prioritized for action. In any case, the beneficiaries of the EMS grant will be the hikers who utilize the RCT throughout the year. You can help support the Trail, as well, by supporting the companies who support our hiking trails. The next time you are shopping for outdoor gear, stop in EMS to see what they have in exchange for their support.

Some of the projects on the preliminary list include bridges for Crouse Run near Sample Station, Cunningham Run in Indiana Township, just off Eisele Road, and Hemlock Run in North Park, Several bog areas, including one near the horse farm in Harrison Hills, another in the Hampton Nature Reserve, and a third in North Park, are candidates for elevated wooden walkways, and posting will be considered for the new power line cuts through Fawn and Harrison Townships.

Hopefully, we will have all our chicks in line by National Trails Day so we can initiate a worthy project on the Rachel Carson Trail with supplies obtained through the EMS grant. YOU can participate by volunteering to work on a Trail Crew,on National Trails Day, June 7, 1997. To do so, call Mark Tomlinson at 828-1969, Jim Ritchie at 828-0210, or Leo Stember at 681-1385.

(Page 5) SPRING HIKING ON THE RCT Hardy Hikers Hike Hefty Hills

Twelve hikers on Saturday and nine on Sunday, March 22 and 23, opened the spring hiking season on the Rachel Carson Trail, hiking from Bull Creek Road in Tarentum to the northern terminus on Saturday and from Springdale Hollow Road to Bull Creek on Sunday. The weather was cool but comfortable for climbing the roller coaster hills of the RCT.

As a hike leader, you hear everyone's reason at least once for being on the hike, as if being there requires some sort of explanation. Just for the record, I heard the following: Ingeborg Kerenyai told me she hasn't been hiking for awhile and needs to get back in shape; Mike Doerr needs to come with the group because, after the 1996 Rachel Carson Trail Challenge, his wife refuses to hike that trail again; Jack and Blanche Asherman are getting in shape for summer backpacking in Alaska at Denali and Gates of the Arctic, Alan Aliskovitz is getting ready to assault the Challenge this year-maybe Alan will be the first two-time finisher on the Challenge. Brian McBaine is there because it's too cold to canoe "60 degrees or higher, I canoe" (it was only 40 or so).

In April, on the 12th and the 13th, two more hikes on the RCT completed the end-to-end coverage of the trail. On Saturday, the 12th, it rained all day long; it rained hard and it rained lighter, but it did rain, for the entire day. It never quit. Five diehards did the 10 hardest miles of the trail from Springdale to Dorseyville, over the Roller Coaster, Mile 14, Rich Hill and Myers Hill. Sunday the 13th, was breezy, chilly, with mixed rain and sleet, not very good Spring weather. As a result there was not much to see in the way of wildflowers.

Overall, the Trail was in excellent condition, being marked and cleared better than I have ever remembered, thanks to the efforts of Hugh Downing, Mary Pitzer, Barb Peterson, Dana Anderson, Mike, Leo Stember, Mike Kennelly and his scout troop, Tim Henigin, and many others. In spite of the many problems we've encountered over the past few years, the trail survives; in fact, it thrives!!

HIKER ALERT REPEALED Wagner Road, Rachel Carson Trail

I am happy to report that the conflict and problems previously reported on the Rachel Carson Trail along Wagner Road, in the vicinity of Hartwood Acres, has been resolved and that hikers may proceed to use the Trail through that area without restriction. The landowners have consented to the continued use of the Trail across their property on the condition that hikers STAY ON THE TRAIL!!!! Apparently, there had been some problems with hikers or others coming off the trail, up the driveway to the house, and through the yard of the residents.

AYH has agreed to evaluate the blazing, on site, and make any necessary improvements needed by hikers to locate and stay on the trail. This was accomplished on April 14th. Any further incidents in that area should be reported to Leo Stember, 681-1385, or Jim Ritchie, 828-0210.

ADOPT THE BAKER TRAIL

Do you have an interest in Trail Maintenance??? You must love hiking and the outdoors; you must be responsible enough to assume personal responsibility for blaiing, clearing, and cleaning a section of the Baker Trail on your own time, once a year. I will provide a personal walk-through orien tation on your section. AYH provides or reimburses you for paint, brushes, and other needs. Right now there are sections available near Crooked Creek, Indiana County (near Elderton and Plumville), Armstrong County (near the Mahoning Dam), and Jefferson County.

Reply to Jim Ritchie, (412) 828-0210, or send e-mail to jir@vms.cis.pitt.edu

(Page 6) HIKING / BACKPACKING

June 7, 1997 Saturday Mark Tomlinson 828-1969 Jim Ritchie 828-0210 Leo Stember 681-1385
National Trails Day: Trailwork on the Rachel Carson Trail, For details, see the article elsewhere in this issue of the Golden Triangle. Please call to confirm your intentions to participate in our National Trails Day celebration.

June 21, 1997 Saturday Jim Ritchie 828-0210 Leo Stember 681-1385
RACHEL CARSON TRAIL CHALLENGE. The Challenge is a 34-mile, one-day, endurance hike on the Rachel Carson Trail. Planned to start at Harrison Hills County Park at 5:50 AM, you must finish by 8:54 PM in North Park, Pre-registration and fees ($17) required; see elsewhere in the newsletter for registration form.
RACHEL CARSON TRAIL HALF-CHALLENGE. The Half Challenge is a 17-mile endurance hike on the most difficult half of the Rachel Carson Trail, from Harrison Hills County Park to the Rachel Carson Homestead in Springdale. Start at 5:50 AM and, at an average 2 mph, you should arrive at the Homestead by 1:30 PM. Pre-registration and fees ($12) required; see elsewhere in the newsletter for registration form.
RACHEL CARSON TRAIL FAMILY CHALLENGE. The RCT Family Challenge is a 5-mile family event that will occur on the Rachel Carson Trail and other trails in Harrison Hills County Park. The hike will be a loop-hike, and you may start any time between 7 AM and 8 AM. Pre-registration is required; the form is elsewhere in this newsletter.

July 11-13 Fri Eve-Sat-Sun Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Baker Trail Weekend at Cook Forest. This event will include a hike on Saturday from the northern terminus of the Baker Trail, in the Allegheny National Forest, to the Cook Forest Public Campground where those who choose to stay for both days may camp. You may want to come on Friday night and find a good campsite; we'll try to all camp in the same area of the campground. Cook Forest campground has hot showers, flush toilets, and running water. On Sunday, we'll hike from the campground to the Cook Forest Fire Tower, to the Lookout, cross the Clarion River and head for the wet crossing at Iron Bridge and beyond. We'll do 8-10 miles and return to the campground. Call Jim for information and reservations, Day hikers are welcome to join us for a single day Saturday or Sunday.

August 1-3 Fri Eve-Sat-Sun Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Baker Trail Weekend #2, Backpacking the Baker Trail. Weekend #2 will be starting near Mill Creek in Jefferson County, hiking along the Mill Creek Game Lands, down the gas line to Corsica, and then along rural dirt roads to the Summerville Shelter where we will spend the night. The second day will take us through the village of Summerville, to Heathville on Red Bank Creek, past Tarkiln Run, Bethlehem Chapel, and ending near the village of North Freedom. On Saturday, we plan to do about 8-10 miles, hiking aggressively on the dirt road sections, i.e. 2 mph minimum, Sunday will be easier, doing 6-8 miles. Friday night we will camp at the site of the (nonexistent) Corsica Shelter.

NATIONAL TRAILS DAY Saturday, June 7, 1997
Work on the Rachel Carson Trail

National Trails Day, 1997, will be on June 7th. AYH will be working with the Rachel Carson Homestead Association on the Rachel Carson Trail. Details are not available at this time; but, if you want to pitch in and spend the day helping to build a great trail, call Jim Ritchie at 828-0210 or Mark Tomlinson, Executive Director of the Homestead Association, at 828-1969, to get on the volunteer list; that way, you will be given the details as they become available and you won't miss out.

The day will begin at 10 am at a selected work site and participants will work until 5 PM. You will meet and work alongside other volunteers from the Homestead, Eastern Mountain Sports, and AYH. We are hoping to utilize the proceeds of the EMS grant money (see elsewhere, this issue) to purchase materials that will be used on National Trails Day.

(Page 7) RACHEL CARSON TRAIL CHALLENGE II SATURDAY, JUNE 21, 1997
“34 MILES IN ONE DAY"

The 1997 Rachel Carson Trail Challenge is a 34-mile, one-day, endurance hiking event, held in the spirit of the Alaskan Iditarod, the Boston Marathon,. the 70-mile Laurel Highlands Trail Run, and the various Ironman Triathlons held around the country each year. Sponsored by the Pittsburgh Council, American Youth Hostels, the Challenge will be held this year on June 21st (taking advantage of the summer solstice), at the crack of dawn, and will extend through the 34-mile roller coaster of hills and bluffs between North Park and Harrison Hills in Allegheny County, ending as the sun sets under the horizon. The "Challenge” is to endure, to finish the hike in one day, rather than to "come in first" or "win" the hike.

The Rachel Carson Trail stretches from North Park, in Shaler, to Harrison Hills County Park, lying entirely within Allegheny County. The trail is. characterized by its roller coaster hills and is often said to be one of the most difficult hiking trails in the United States. A typical hiking pace is 2 miles per hour. The hike will begin at sunrise and will officially end at sunset, 5:50 A.M. to 8:54 P.M., a total of 15 hours and 4 minutes.

The Challenge consists of two dimensions: the first challenge is to endure 34 miles of tortuous hill-climbing and descent in whatever weather conditions we are dealt; the second, more subtle, is your ability to keep on the route. Obviously, those who have hiked the trail before will have some advantage in maintaining the proper route.

The endurance hiker participants will be given a trip sheet and a set of topographic maps to guide them on their journey. There will be a half dozen checkpoints throughout the hike, offering minimal support. Hikers are expected to carry all their own gear and necessities, including food, water, and snacks, first aid equipment, raingear, maps and a trip sheet.

One hundred thirty-five people registered for the three 1996 Rachel Carson Challenge events: the Challenge (34 miles), the Half Challenge (17 miles), and the Family Challenge (5 miles). Of those who registered for the 34-mile Challenge in 1996, only 5 people finished.

The Rachel Carson Trail is an “undeveloped" trail in the sense that no special grading or surfacing materials are used on the trail. It is a typical Western Pennsylvania hiking trail and hikers should expect to find all the conditions a typical hiker would encounter on a typical hiking trail. While the trail is blazed with yellow paint blazes, there will be an occasional missing blaze where a tree has fallen or you are following a logging road or a power line or gas line; there will be blowdowns, washouts, poison ivy, nettles, bugs, loose gravel and rocks, steep inclines, and wet stream crossings. You must even be prepared to expect the unexpected. The better hiker you are, the better you will do on the Challenge.

Final details concerning the Rachel Carson Trail Challenge will be in the June issue of the Golden Triangle, including news about sponsorship, the starting point for 1997, and the route to be followed. Be sure to read it. A REGISTRATION FORM is included in this issue.

June 1997
(Page 5) foot notes: trail maintenance news
by JIM RITCHIE

Trail maintenance is going wild and wooly in Spring 1997. Only a single week after meeting at the Crooked Creek Environmental Learning Center on March 1 to discuss planning and objectives for 1997 trail maintenance, Jim and Sue Ritchie scouted the Rachel Carson Trail from Springdale to Creighton and from Creighton to Bailey's Run, the latter being where a previously-reported clearcut was underway. It was noted that the only trees left standing, on March 9th, were those with blazes, With some caution, the trail can be successfully hiked through the logging area, although it might be muddy. Mary Pitzer and Mike Kennelly and his scout troop had just cleaned up that section of the trail, doing a great job, late in 1996. The Springdale to Creighton section was re-flagged with yellow plastic ribbon to mark the trail until it is paint-blazed this spring.

Later in March and in April, Jim Ritchie led four hikes, end-to-end, on the Rachel Carson Trail, resulting in three new end-to-enders and one more double end-to-ender. Aaron Rinehart, Ingeborg Kerenyi, and Rich Gemeinhart, hiked the entire 34 miles, end-to-end, and Alan Aliskovitz, hiked his 2nd time end-to-end.

On the first weekend of April, the Keystone Trails Association held its annual Spring Meeting at Camp Hebron, near Harrisburg. AYHer's present for the meeting included Glenn Oster, Helen Coyne, Mary Pitzer, Hugh Downing, Paul Henry, Joyce Appel, Bob Tait, and Jim Ritchie.

On April 14th, a Monday, a longstanding landowner problem on the Rachel Carson Trail was resolved, allowing hikers to continue through the traditional route of the trail in the Hampton Township-Indiana Township area along Wagner Road, New blazes were posted and any vegetation hiding blazes was cut to keep hikers on the trail and out of the landowner's backyard patio.

On Thursday, April 17th, Pittsburgh AYH was honored (one of two awards this year) by the Armstrong County Tourist Bureau for outstanding community service for its efforts to maintain and promote the Baker Trail. Accepting for AYH at a traditional thresherman's turkey dinner held at the Heilman Emanuel Lutheran Church in Ford City, PA were Patty Scheuering and Jim Ritchie.

Jim Ritchie, Mort Kurman, Vince Roolf, Paul Henry and Joyce Appel (paulnjoyce), and Tim Henigin, along with significant assistance from Cook Forest State Park Ranger Greg Burkett, installed 8 large 30" by 30" signs marking the Baker Trail-temporary detour around the non-existent Gravel Lick Bridge. Too bad the detour crosses the Iron Bridge in the State Game Lands south of Cook Forest: the Iron Bridge washed away last July in the big flood of 1996. But, you can wade across Cathers Run if you have to; you can't wade across the Clarion River.

Jim and Sue Ritchie, along with Brien Palmer of Apollo, cut _ mile of new trail along the Baker Trail, near the end of April, in the vicinity of Kerr Road, near Brick Church, near Cochran's Mill in Armstrong County. A 40 acre woodlot was cut to make a new field for cultivation (corn) this year, leaving a 300-yard gap, with no trees and thus no blazing, along the trail. In one day, a new route was scouted, blazes were painted, and the trail was cleared of vegetation. It's above the flood line and entirely within the Corps of Engineers boundary, providing the prospect of long service. Just to make us feel good, more than 20 hikers passed us on the new trail section as we were still in the process of cutting it out of the forest.

New volunteers this season include Tamara Duff, of Atwood, PA; Tamara will be maintaining the Baker Trail from its Route 422 crossing near Elderton, all the way north to Atwood, including the Atwood Shelter. Pat Thompson got her truck fixed and so will be helping us out on National Trails Day, June 7th. Pat maintains the Rachel Carson Trail between Russellton Road and Emmerling Park. Alice Gelormino, a Rachel Carson Trail maintainer who, along with Nancy Schmidt of Chatham College, has volunteered on behalf of her 7th and 8th grade students from the North Hills to help out with the Rachel Carson Trail Challenge on June 21st. Bob Roth, also a Sierra Club trail maintainer, has volunteered to adopt a section of the Baker Trail in the Cook Forest State Park area. Patty Scheuering, has not only volunteered to help out with the Challenge, June 21st; but will also be married on June 28th (how does she do it?). Jack and Blanche Asherman will be taking a checkpoint for the RCT Challenge. Joe Brinzer, has offered to help out on weekend trail maintenance trips over the summer on either the Baker or the Rachel Carson; he has hiked both.

As you know from other articles in this issue, Mark Tomlinson of the Rachel Carson Homestead Association and Kim Davis of Eastern Mountain Sports Monroeville are organizing two trail projects for National Trails Day on the Rachel Carson Trail. Leo Stember continues his efforts as the co-organizer of the RCT Challenge. Mary Remington will be backpacking on the Baker Trail from Schenley to Girty in May, staying at the Crooked Creek and Cochran's Mill Shelters. Bob Plumsķey, of Johnsonburg, PA, a retired engineer, has volunteered to help Vince Roolf and Jim Ritchie to begin the replacement of the long-missing cable bridge over Cherry Run. Assuming all the necessary logistics and preliminaries work out favorably, the replacement bridge will have wooden planks, a big improvement over the two-cable balancing act required in the old days. Bob, Vince, and Jim all met in May at the bridge site to assess the lay of the land and to itemize the necessary materials.

Speaking of the cable bridge, Joe Hoechner is making some sketched diagrams of bridge assemblies that may be used in other upcoming bridge projects. What does Joe have to do with the cable bridge, you ask?? I have a picture, dated 1972 of Joe, 135 pounds and with more hair than the girls from Carrick, balanced precariously 6 feet above the waters of Cherry Run, hanging on to the cable bridge for dear life. Actually, it looks as if he is doing quite well; his cable bridge-mate, however, is in the process of spilling into the clear, cool, waters below. John Derby has been a great help this spring, first providing copies of extremely detailed Corps of Engineers topographic maps that assisted in relocating the Baker Trail off Kerr Road, and then by offering to facilitate the Cherry Run project as much as possible, steering us through the various interested bureaucracies.

Dave Rumon, a 1996 RCT Challenger, has offered to help do weekend trail maintenance on the Trail, especially in the Crouse Run valley. Kate Fissell, from the CMU Robotics Institute, asked that we keep her in mind the next time we go out on the trail. Kate has been a steady volunteer over the past two years, often bringing a friend to help out with the work. Dave Galbraith, of Brookville, successor to Tom Brandon's Scout Troop 64, declared his intentions to rehabilitate the Baker Trail from Mayport all the way north to Summerville. He also has some friends who make good signs and they intend to post much-needed signage along this section of the trail.

Thanks go to Mike Diehl, Beverly Haas, and Joseph Natoli, all of the Allegheny County Parks Department for their invaluable assistance in plowing through all the logistics of staging the 1997 Rachel Carson Trail Challenge through the County Parks. They did so under somewhat adverse conditions, given the ongoing reorganization of Allegheny County government. There are others, surely, who need to be thanked here, and who, unfortunately, are the victims of my helter skelter record-keeping system. To those individuals, and to all those I have named above, I extend a sincere “Thanks”, “Thanks for helping out. It is appreciated".

(Page 6) HIKING / BACKPACKING
Saturday June 7, 1997 Mark Tomlinson 828-1969 Jim Ritchie 828-0210 Leo Stember 681-1385
National Trails Day: Trailwork on the Rachel Carson Trail, For details, see the article elsewhere in this issue of the Golden Triangle. Please call to confirm your intentions to participate in our National Trails Day celebration.

Saturday June 21, 1997 Jim Ritchie 828-0210 Leo Stember 681-1385
RACHEL CARSON TRAIL CHALLENGE. The Challenge is a 34-mile, one-day, endurance hike on the Rachel Carson Trail. Planned to start at Harrison Hills County Park at 5:50 AM, you must finish by 8:54 PM in North Park. Pre-registration and fees ($17) required; see elsewhere in the newsletter for registration form and additional information.
RACHEL CARSON TRAIL HALF-CHALLENGE.The Half-Challenge is a 17-mile endurance hike on the most difficult half of the Rachel Carson Trail, from Harrison Hills County Park to the Rachel Carson Homestead in Springdale. Start at 5:50 AM and, at an average of 2 mph, you should arrive at the Homestead by 1:30 PM. Pre-registration and fees ($12) required; see elsewhere in the newsletterfor registration form and additional information.
RACHEL CARSON TRAIL FAMILY CHALLENGE. The RCT Family Chal lenge is a 5-mile family event that will occur on the Rachel Carson Trail and other trails in Harrison Hills County Park. The hike will be a loop-hike, and you may start any time between 7 AM and 8 AM. Pre-registration is required; the form is elsewhere in this newsletter.

Fri Eve-Sat-Sun July 11-12-13, 1997 Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Baker Trail Weekend at Cook Forest. This event will include a hike on Saturday from the northern terminus of the Baker Trail, in the Allegheny National Forest, to the Cook Forest Public Campground where those who choose to stay for both days may camp. You may want to come on Friday night and find a good caimpsite; we'll try to all camp in the same area of the campground. Cook Forest campground has hot showers, flush toilets, and running water. On Sunday, we'll hike from the campground to the Cook Forest Fire Tower, to the Lookout, cross the Clarion River and head for the wet crossing at Iron Bridge and beyond. We'll do 8-10 miles and return to the campground. Call Jim for information and reservations. Day hikers are welcome to join us for a single day Saturday or Sunday.

Fri Eve-Sat-Sun August 1-2-3, 1997 Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Baker Trail Weekend #2, Backpacking the Baker Trail. Weekend #2 will the BT boys and girls starting at Mill Creek in Jefferson County, hiking along the Mill Creek Game Lands, down the gas line to Corsica, and then along rural dirt roads to the Summerville Shelter where we will spend the night. The second day will take us through the village of Summerville, to Heathvilleon Red Bank Creek, past Tarkiln Run, Bethlehem Chapel, and ending near the village of North Freedom. On Saturday, we plan to do about 8-10 miles, hiking aggressively on the dirt road sections, i.e. 2 mph minimum. Sunday will be easier, doing 6-8 miles. Friday night we will camp at the site of the (nonexistent) Corsica Shelter.

TRAIL MARSHALS NEEDED FOR THE RACHEL CARSON TRAIL CHALLENGE
June 21, 1997

Marshals are needed to help with the Rachel Carson Trail Challenge, scheduled for June 21, 1997, a Saturday, Marshals will be assigned to a checkpoint for a period of approximately 3-4 hours with the responsibilities of providing water to hikers and providing directions and answering questions posed by participants. A cell phone will be provided with which you may call other marshals and officials or assist hikers by calling their friends or relatives if transportation is needed. All marshals will receive an official 1997 Rachel Carson Trail Challenge mug for their car. A start-up crew will be needed in Harrison Hills Park, arriving by 5:30 AM. Other crews will have starting times of approximately 7 AM, 9 AM, 11 AM, 1 PM, 3 PM, 5 PM, 7 PM. You may sign up for more than one shift, too.

If you can help us out, please call Jim Ritchie at 828-02 10, or Leo Stember at 681-1385. Each volunteer will receive a coupon for one free night at the new Pittsburgh International Youth Hostel in the Allentown section of Pittsburgh.

(Page 7) RACHEL CARSON TRAIL CHALLENGE
SATURDAY, JUNE 21, 1997
FINAL DETAILS ANNOUNCED

STARTING POINT: The 1997 Challenge and the Half-Challenge will begin at 5:50 AM in Harrison Hills County Park. To get to Harrison Hills Park, take the PA Route 28 expressway north to Exit 16; go east (right) off the expressway for less than 1 mile, to Freeport Road. Turn right at Freeport Road, go about one mile and turn left into the Park, Upon entering the Park, just past the entrance, follow the left fork, to the first parking area visible on your left; park your car in this area. You may leave your car parked in this area during the day. The gate to Harrison Hills Park will open at 5:00 AM. Park your car and proceed to the starting area. Officials will be begin check in at 5:30 AM and you will be able to start immediately after check-in. The Park will be left open until 11:00 PM, so you can retrieve your car. At 11:00, the gate will be closed and locked. A reminder: it will be dark at 5:30 AM; you may want to bring a flashlight with you.

THERE WILL BE NO SHUTTLE TO RETURN YOU TO HARRISON HILLS. Sorry; we are not able to provide shuttle transportation back to Harrison Hills Park. All trail marshals, at the checkpoints, will have a cell phone to assist you in calling for transportation if and when you require a ride. It is recommended you have someone available to pick you up, wherever you may be, throughout the day.

THE MUG: All registrants to any of the 3 Challenge events will receive a special insulated Rachel Carson Trail Challenge mug, with a lid; the mug is shaped to fit your car's cupholder.

ENDING POINTS: The route will proceed 17 miles, generally southbound, to the Rachel Carson Homestead, where the Half-Challenge will finish. You may expect to arrive at the Homestead between 1:00 and 3:00 PM. Those on the 34-mile Challenge will continue past the Homestead for another 17 miles, generally westbound, to North Park, where the Challenge ends at the Beaver Shelter, on Babcock Boulevard, just north of Pierce Mill Road. You may leave a car in the large parking area off Babcock, adjacent to the Beaver Shelter.

PARKING AT THE HOMESTEAD: The Rachel Carson Homestead is located in a residential area in Springdale. DO NOT leave your car parked on the street in front of the homestead as that will inconvenience the area residents. You may park your car at the end of the street at the Springdale High School parking lot.

WHAT TO BRING: You are expected to be entirely self-contained. This is an endurance hike, not a “trail run” or a race. Weight, up to 10-12 pounds in your pack, will not be a significant factor. Be able to carry 2 quarts of water-sports drinks recommended, lunch plus a number of snacks-high energy foods recommended, raingear, dry socks, first aid gear-especially moleskin or band-aids for blisters; you may want to bring a pair of sandals or surf shoes for wet stream crossings; wear sturdy, well broken-in footgear preferably with a lugged sole to grip loose gravel and rocks and with good ankle support; wear thick wool, wool blend or synthetic fiber socks; wear a hat to keep your head out of the sun; wear sunglasses; use sunscreen; carry a pack towel to soak in streams and wrap over your head to cool down; a cell phone is optional if you want to be able to call someone you know for a ride from the trail.

WATER: There will be checkpoints every five or six miles with water available for participants. Marshals at the checkpoints will have cell phones provided by Bell Atlantic NyNex available for communications.

IF YOU FINISH: If you sign up for and you finish the 34-Mile Challenge you will receive a weekend for two at the Ohiopyle Youth Hostel in Ohiopyle, PA. There are numerous hiking and backpacking trails, canoe and kayak rentals, rafting outfitters, and a world-class bicycle trail available at Ohiopyle. You will also receive a year's subscription to the AYH Golden Triangle newsletter, a year's subscription to the Rachel Carson Homestead Association newsletter, a Rachel Carson Trail Guidebook, an embroidered Rachel Carson Trail sew-on patch, and a special “I finished the Rachel Carson Trail Challenge” t-shirt; only finishers will receive a t-shirt this year.

WHAT IF I FINISH THE HALF-CHALLENGE? Those who sign up for and finish the Half-Challenge will receive the one-year's subscription to both the AYH and the Homestead Association newsletters, the Rachel Carson Trail Guidebook, the embroidered sew-on Rachel Carson Trail patch, and a special finisher's t-shirt.

IS THAT ALL THERE IS? We are soliciting additional sponsorship and donations for food, snacks, drinks, and other premiums to be made available to participants. The final details concerning additional provisions are not available at this time.

PRE-CHALLENGE MEETING: For all those who are interested, there will be a special Pre-Challenge meeting on Thursday, June 12th, at 7:15 PM in Mellon Park, at AYH Headquarters, directly adjacent to the Pittsburgh Center for Arts and Crafts. All final instructions will be reviewed, and your individual questions will be answered. Several finishers and participants from the 1996 Challenge will be available to answer any questions you may have.

(Page 10) NATIONAL TRAILS DAY Saturday, June 7, 1997
Work on the Rachel Carson Trail

National Trails Day, 1997, will be June 7. AYH will be working with the Rachel Carson Homestead Association and Eastern Mountain Sports on the Rachel Carson Trail. Two projects are proposed. One is to build an elevated, wooden walkway across a bog in the Hampton Nature Reserve and the other is to begin putting up the new, maintenance-free plastic, yellow trail blazes. If you want to pitch in and spend the day helping to build a great trail, call Jim Ritchie at 828-0210 or Mark Tomlinson, Executive Director of the Homestead Association, at 828-1969, to get on the volunteer list.

The two projects will be funded from the proceeds of a $1,000 grant from Eastern Mountain Sports, awarded to the Rachel Carson Homestead Association. The funds are to be used for supplies for trail development and trail maintenance on the Rachel Carson Trail.

The beneficiaries of the EMS grant will be the hikers who utilize the RCT throughout the year. You can help support the Trail, as well, by supporting the companies who support our hiking trails. The next time you are shopping for outdoor gear, stop in EMS to see what they have in exchange for their support.

Some of the projects that may be forthcoming include bridges for Crouse Run near Sample Station, Cunningham Run in Indiana Township, just off Eisele Road, and a troublesome tributary of Pine Run in North Park. Several bog areas, including one near the horse farm in Harrison Hills and the other in North Park, are candidates for elevated wooden walkways, and posting will be considered for the new power line cuts through Fawn and Harrison Townships.

We will celebrate National Trails Day initiating a worthy project on the Rachel Carson Trail with supplies obtained through the EMS grant. YOU can participate by volunteering to work on a Trail Crew, on National Trails Day, June 7, 1997. To do so, call Márk Tomlinson at 828-1969, Jim Ritchie at 828-0210, or Leo Stember at 681-1385.

July 1997
(Page 4) NATIONAL TRAILS DAY A Day in the Sun

Twenty-two volunteers met at 9 am on Saturday, June 7, to work on the Rachel Carson Trail as their contribution to National Trails Day. Three work parties were formed, being led by Kim Davis of the Monroeville Eastern Mountain Sports store, Mark Tomlinson of the Rachel Carson Homestead Association, and Jim Ritchie of Pittsburgh HI-AYH. After some bagels and cream cheese donated by Mark, and after loading up on some apples, oranges and bananas, also donated by Mark, the three groups loaded up into their cars and, literally, left to "hit the trail".

Mark took his group, consisting of volunteers from Pittsburgh Cares, to the Homestead where that group worked on the spur trail from Rachel Carson's home on Marion Avenue, to the main corridor of the Rachel Carson Trail, about a half mile away. That group also worked to clear something like 15 trees, along a small nature trail owned and maintained by the Homestead, blown down by high winds in mid-May. Vince Roolf did the heavy chainsaw work for the group, using the official, beloved AYH chainsaw.

Does anyone know why Vince is the official AYH Mr. Chainsaw? The answer, of course, is that Vince is the only one who can start that #$+!!*@## contraption.

Kim took her group to Hampton Woods, i.e, the Hampton Nature Reserve, to freshen up those yellow blazes, trim out vegetation hiding the blazes, and to pick up debris and trash along the trail. They worked all the way from McCaully Road to the Hampton Middle School.

Jim went out to North Park and cleared out the trail and put up new blazes from the abandoned Rocky Dell Shelter over to the railroad tracks just above Sample Station. Along the way, the group of four encountered a huge hemlock tree freshly blown down on the trail. It being early in the morning, we whipped out the LARGE bow saw we just happened to take with us (Vince having the chainsaw back at the Homestead) and cut that giant hemlock into little pieces, Seriously, the main trunk is still lying on the trail, but it is on the ground where you can simply step over it, not waist high as it was, and all the numerous branches that put up a wall of hemlock are gone.

After successfully clearing out the hemlock, the group went over to Hartwood Acres and performed general maintenance (blazing, loppers, bowsaw) on the spur trail leading from the Theatre (not Performance) Area to Wagner Road where it connects with the main corridor. Of course, Pat Thompson just had to stop and feed the show horses at the Simon's thoroughbred farm.

All in all, as much got done in one day as would have taken three valuable days with only one crew going out repeatedly. Future projects associated with a $1,000 EMS Trail Maintenance Grant for the Rachel Carson Trail include an elevated boardwalk through the bog in Hampton Woods (or an equivalent site) and possibly permanent plastic yellow blazing to replace the paint which is dependable for no more than 3 years.

Thanks to all who came out to help for National Trails Day 1997.

(Page 6) THE 1997 RACHEL CARSON TRAIL CHALLENGE IS HISTORY

By the time you get this newsletter, the 1997 Rachel Carson Trail Challenge will be history. You will know if we finally got a break on the weather, or not. You will know if anyone finished-there is no guarantee. There will be stories of hardship, in any case, and stories of heroism and exceptional human endurance in the face of a seemingly impossible task.

As this copy is turned over to the newsletter editor, I am busily running up and down the trail, putting on the final touches, clearing up the last problems, checking out stories of disappearing blazes, barbed wire and telephone calls to the effect of “you can't be serious". Last week, on Tuesday, June 3rd, after work, I checked out the “brand new barbed wire” stories coming out of the Harrison area, and while I was there put up some fresh blazing through Thompson's Thoroughbred Farm. Yes, there is barbed wire. No, it's not new. It's been there for several years, and so long as we are courteous, don't spook the horses, or feed them junk food, we are welcome to pass through.

I also checked out the high ground above Donnellsville Road, where the power line towers were installed last spring (1996). It seems as if someone is conducting dirt bike competitions throughout a beautiful wooded area up there, but the RCT is still viable. It did need some additional marking which I added in the form of yellow flagging tape, a temporary measure, used until we can get some paint up there.

On Wednesday, June 4th, also in the evening, I spoke with Mr. Jeff Blackburn, of Harrison, a landowner through whose property the RCT passes. Jeff reports having no problems, ever, with hikers and continues to allow access through his land. When you're hiking the RCT near Ridge Road in Harrison, Jeff is the guy with the two fine Rottweillers in his front yard.

Later that same night, I hiked the area logged out late last fall, up above Bailey's Run, heading toward Burtner Road, just to make sure the blazes are still standing. As you might recall, the loggers left nearly all the blazed trees, but ONLY the blazed trees standing. Yes, they seemed OK, but I put some fresh paint on anyway.

Finally, on Monday, June 9th, Sue and I walked through Harrison Hills Park, plotting out the route of the Rachel Carson Trail Family Challenge, a five-mile course that will be hiked by numerous families on Challenge Day, June 21st. The Family Route, in addition to traveling the RCT, will loop back through the Horse Course and (secret) Bluebird Valley.

Between now and Challenge Day, Leo Stember and I will continue to apply the spit and polish to the trail, in the hopes that all will have had a memorable day by the time you read these words, in July,

August 1997
(Page 1) RACHEL 50, HIKERS 27
The Saga of the 1997 RCT Challenge
by jim ritchie

The Trail was in better condition. Three degrees cooler temperature. A slight breeze out of the west. Better talent. More realistic expectations. Doing the hard part first. Training. All these factors combined on June 21st, 1997, the Summer Solstice and the day of the Second Annual Rachel Carson Trail Challenge to bring forth 27 finishers on the 34-mile endurance hike, this year starting in Harrison Hills County Park and finishing in North Park. Last year's Challenge produced only 5 finishers out of the 75 entrants for the 34-miler; this year the 27 finishers were among a total of 77 thirty-four mile participants.

Driving up the Allegheny Valley Expressway at 4:30 AM, the haze around the interchange floodlamps was nearly surrealistic, just hanging in the air. No other cars appeared in either direction for miles at a time. When a lone car did pass, I wondered if they, too, were heading for Harrison Hills, but when I got there, no one else, except Greg, opening up the park gates, was there. Within minutes of reaching the Ox Roast Shelter, however, they began pulling up; vans, sport/ utilities, big cars, little cars. While last year, there was a sense of excitement and adventure in the air, this year there was a sense of determination: “I've been there before; I know what it's like; and I'm going to do it anyway, and I'm going to finish". Leo, Vince, Nancy, Dale, and Patti all came in, and we start checking them in.

There is no sense of bravado like '96, no cheering, joking, or laughing; just quiet, brief exchanges of words, stretching, packing, adjusting gear, getting the maps, getting the food: all business-grim focus; “we are going to DO this". In small groups they head out into the woods of Harrison Hills, across the washed out bridge over the unnamed stream flowing on its way to the Allegheny River-the hikers have 33.4 miles to go.

It's cool out; a little damp. Nancy and Patti help hikers across Freeport Road at the park entrance area; Vince and I help the same hikers through the barbed wire at Thompson's Thoroughbred Farm, me in the sombrero, Vince with the smile. John DeWalt is on his way to a PB (personal best) as he runs past us just as we get to the farm.

On my way down to the Bull Creek Road checkpoint, I stop off on Burtner Road and park in the gap between the god awful drop down to the road on one side and the god-awful climb on the other. There is a string of hikers heading uphill, looking everything like the photos of climbers heading up Everest, the only difference-no snow or ice. That was HILL #1.

Up the hill, past the Rottweillers, left on Ridge Road, a mile and a quarter to Bull Creek, Checkpoint. Pat joins the marshals there. Cross the road, parallel the expressway, up the hillside, down to the small stream; past the microwave tower; along the gas line; along the power line; steeply down a wooded hillside; through the yard of an abandoned house. Bailey's Run Road.

Along the road; crossing slippery rocks at Bailey's Run; past the junked cars; up the hill; major logging; spot the bright yellow blazes, power line; back into the woods; Down, down, down, on loose scree, to Crawford Run Road, on HILL #2.

Sheetz; Murray Hill Road; MURRAY HILL!!! HILL #3. Up the power line; through high grass; houses on the hilltop; Checkpoint! At the Murray Hill Estates checkpoint, we administer to the wounded, some terminally. Water, snack food, kind words. They've just encountered the “Three Hills of Hell", mercifully with a Sheetz convenience store right in the middle. Hugh is at the Murray Hill checkpoint, personally escorting each hiker or hiker group to the edge of the trail and showing them where it follows the power line and then zips into the woods about 150 yards down the line. Hugh and his son Joe maintain this section and they put a lot of work into it this year, including a last minute blowdown that was nearly invisible to the hikers as they passed through. Into the woods; brambles; muddy hillside, high weeds. Out on the power line. Off the power line, on top of the bluff. Allegheny River-beautiful view. On, off, on, off the power line. Down the steep hill to Springdale Hollow Road.

Onto the big utility line, going uphill, past the Homestead turnoff. Vince, with the smile again. Where is the water? We didn't plan a water stop at the Rachel Carson Homestead turnoff, but people are asking for water, even though it's only three miles from the last water stop. At this point the temp is pushing 85 degrees, and the humidity is building. Up, down, up, down, up, down. Theses are the hills of the "roller coaster", covered with grass hiding seven different kinds of brambles. Two teens, Susan Scheuering and her friend Tim Jones, set up a makeshift water stop at Melzima Road that will be refilled three times that day.

At the Homestead turnoff, another record is set: 35 Half-Challengers out of 44 registered, finish the 17-mile Half-Challenge, and congregate on the grass at Rachel's girlhood home. Mark Tomlinson, Executive Director of the Homestead, plays host with treats and fluid refreshment. Along the gas line. Into the woods. Peterson's Nursery. I set up a short term station at Peterson's nursery to catch the people we missed at Melzina. Alex comes through-the guy from RAAM (the Race Across America); following close behind are the 4 young women from the Slippery Rock University cross-country team who are Challenging John DeWalt-style: running shoes, a waist pack, and one bottle of water each. In fact, wearing shorts, they are travelling even lighter than John, who swears by long pants.

Uphill, downhill, gravel road, into the woods. Blowdown. Woods. Tawney Run Road. Cross the road, old railroad grade. Back to the road. Yutes Run Road, road walking, for almost a mile. Left onto the wide, grassy, gasline. Up, up, up, three false summits. Down, down, down. Hell has four hills. Russellton Road.

Alex, with his Camelback, John Havel, David Rumon, Don Erdeljack, Vaughn Busch, Tokya Trice, Marjie Stewart and many others trained this spring on the Rachel Carson Trail, getting a firsthand look at the difficulties they would face. Many other participants were there last year and remembered-how could you forget? They experienced the knee-burning, lung-busting, bramble-covered hills that follow the powerlines and gaslines, straight up and straight down the other side. They knew realistically what it would take to make it today.

The temperature peaked at 87 degrees while most were passing near Russelton Road and Saxonburg Boulevard. The Ashermans ran things at Russellton, sitting in the hollow of Little Deer Creek between Hell's Fourth Hill and LaFever Hill. The Trail was taking its toll. Aaron Rinehart chaffed his leg so bad he was hiking in pain. He considered for a moment, wrapping it in duct tape, just to keep on going, but reconsidered, wisely. His brother Sam bailed out with him; their dad, Walt, left far behind by the boys, was back at the Homestead.

Barb Peterson, broken-hearted in '96, not because she couldn't finish, but because she ran out of time, checked her feet at Russellton and found a surprise blister starting up. She cleaned it, patched it, wrapped it up and took off down the trail. Five minutes later, she came hobbling back, saying she was in pain. For a couple of seconds, the frustration of the possibility of another DNF began to creep in. But Barb, as determined as she has ever been, unwrapped the blister, cleaned it up again, wrapped it up again, and took off, successfully this time, down the road.

Hugh, moving from Russellton to Saxonburg, put through the first dreaded "hiker down" call this year. As he drove near Emmerling Park, a hiker was fully prone next to the road with a small gathering of fellow hikers checking him out. A call to 911 and in three minutes there were two ambulances, a paramedic vehicle, and two Indiana Township police cars on the scene. By that time, the hiker, just exhausted from heat and hardship, was beginning to come around, and in five more minutes was on his feet. But, wisely, his day was done, as he consented to a ride back to his car. At the same point, a report of another hiker, feeling ill about a mile back on the trail came in and a paramedic grabbed his gear and headed down to investigate. In just a couple of minutes however, the hiker in question appeared on the trail and said he was ok, just pushing too hard, and he had to rest up for a few minutes.

Up LaFever Hill; Rich Hill Road; down Rich Hill; Long Run at the bottom; into the woods; uphill, uphill; cross Cove Run Road, into the woods, back to Cove Run, down to Emmerling Park. Up Eisele, road walking; into the trees and down hill; wet crossing at Cunningham Run. Up above Casey's in the trees. Saxonburg Checkpoint. Alice Gelormino's sixth graders await her arrival, working all afternoon at this checkpoint. Discussions overheard at Saxonburg checkpoint: "I want to train for this next year, but what can I possibly do for this? All I can think to do is run barefoot on a emery board treadmill".

From Saxonburg: along Deer Creek, up Myers Hill to the water tower, down Myers Lane to Route 910; down the road, over the turnpike, down Cedar Run Road, road walking, Shafer Road, Church Road, Wagner Road, into the woods again. Big field, hidden pond, uphill into the trees, to a high vista, downhill to Middle Road. Into Hampton Woods, downhill, bog, another gas line clearing, young trees for miles; across the wide open field, very muddy; up to the middle school, down to Route 8. Cross the road dodging speeding cars, through the woods, down into beautiful Crouse Run Hollow. Up to Sample Road.

Sample Station was a lonely place, just ask Tim Henigin who sat there from 4 PM to 9 PM as only 29 hikers came through. Although they were beat-up, people coming through Sample still had the same look and sense of determination I saw in their eyes back in Harrison Hills. The Slippery Rock cross-country team came in looking for sympathy, water and a short rest. Once down, it looked as though they might not get up again; it was getting late, much more delay and they wouldn't make it. One of the women's legs were bright red and blotchy all the way from her ankles to her shorts, looking like she had gone through five miles of nettles. Sally Martin, who was providing support for Barb Peterson, gave the four a pep talk, telling them they couldn't quit now, to get up and get going. They did, two hobbling on the sides of their feet, two miles to go. When Will Viner came through, at the last possible finishing time, he refused to give up, saying that if it got dark while he was in the woods of North Park, he had a headlamp and would be able to find his way out. Will said he HAD to finish this year or else he'd have to come back again next year-a fate worse than death. Barb came through Sample, teamed up with Tokya Trice, stopping for barely three minutes; she had to keep going if she was going to make it. John Havel, beat last year by the heat and humidity, came even after Barb, and just kept on going; no way was he not going to make it this year.

At North Park, finishers collapsed on the ground, and told tales of bravado: high hills, heat, brambles, blowdowns, washouts, wet crossings, trees down, poison ivy, missed blazes, ... Spirits were high among those who were here, forgetting momentarily the 50 comrades strung out behind them, catching the PAT bus back to their cars and heading on home.

(Page 4) 1997 RACHEL CARSON TRAIL CHALLENGE FINISHERS
34-Miles (77 Registrants)
Alex Bekkerman (6:40 PM); Tom Bevan(8:55 PM); Mike Blackwell (6:40 PM-2nd time); Dave Blistan (8:35PM); Ray Burdett (8:35 PM); Karen Devine (8:35 PM); John DeWalt (3:55 PM); Don Erdeljac (7:10 PM); Brian Fife (8:50 PM); Mike Franusich (7:20 PM); Pat Goebl (8:35 PM); John Havel (8:55 PM); Ken Hendrickson (8:50 PM); Ted Massa (7:35 PM); Mark McConnell (7:20 PM); Carey Miller (8:35 PM); Kim Miller (8:35 PM); Mike Nagel (7:10 PM); Mike Nagel, Jr. (7:10 PM); Barbara Peterson (8:10 PM); John Prizzi (7:35 PM); Colleen Synan (8:35 PM); Tokya Trice (8:10 PM); Will Viner (~8:55 PM); Shannon Watson (7:10 PM); Allen Wicken (8:35 PM); Kenton Zellars (7:10 PM)
RC Trail Half-Challenge Finishers 17 Miles (44 Registrants)
Official Half-Challenge Finishers are those who signed up for the Half-Challenge and finished it.
Jerry Agin; David Barndollar; Matt Bell; Joe Brinzer, Steve Brunner, Vaughn Busch; Susan Cullen; Joanne Duvall; Bob Friel; Tina Gallippi; Jonathan Hardt; Jerrod Hardt; Janet Hayes; Douglas Jackson; Rose Kasunic; Jon Kasunic; Raquel Kasunic; Robert Vaupel; Mike Kennelly, Shauna Kinnison; Heather McKay; Linda McKay; Laura McLaughlin; Joseph McLaughlin; Kate Michaelis; John Mutchka; Dana Overmyer; Harold Pederson; Barbara Pieskach; John Purcell; Ann Ruth; Clare Smith; Margorie Stewart; Darlene Tokarsky; Kelly Tuite

(Page 6) HIKING/BACKPACKING
Fri Eve-Sat-Sun August 1-2-3 Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Baker Trail Weekend #2, Backpacking the Baker Trail. Weekend #2 will start at Mill Creek in Jefferson County, hiking along the Mill Creek Game Lands, down the gas line to Corsica, and then along rural dirt roads to the Summerville Shelter where we will spend the night. The second day will take us through the village of Summerville, to Heathville on Red Bank Creek, past Tarkiln Run, Bethlehem Chapel, and ending near the village of North Freedom. On Saturday, we plan to do about 8-10 miles, hiking aggressively on the dirt road sections, i.e. 2 mph minimum. Sunday will be easier, doing 6-8 miles. Friday night we will camp at the site of the (nonexistent) Corsica Shelter. You may also meet us along the trail for just a part of the trip.

September 1997
(Page 2) Upcoming Slide Shows

September 11: Jim Ritchie, “Baker Trail- Historical Slides". Shows AYH trips and hikers of the period 1971-1985. Part of Pittsburgh AYH 50-year celebration.

Slide shows start at 8:30 PM, at AYH Headquarters, Shady Avenue at Fifth Avenue. Doors open at 8:00 PM. If you want to give a show, call Luc Berger at 683 3131.

October 1997
(Page 2) Upcoming Slide Shows

Nov 6: Gloria Monk, “AYH Mountain Climbing In Tetons And Baker Trail Hiking In 1951-55”. Part of Pgh AYH 50-year celebration.

Slide shows start at 8:30 PM, at AYH Headquarters, Shady Avenue at Fifth Avenue. Doors open at 8:00 PM. If you want to give a show, call Luc Berger at 683 3131.

February 1998/March 1998
(Page 6) PAYING BACK...A Thank You to All Trail Maintainers
by Jim Ritchie

Over the past several years, many AYHers have taken on a special mission: the rehabilitation, maintenance, and preservation of the Baker Trail and the Rachel Carson Trail. Much has been accomplished: the trails are open and they are being used. The number of people who have helped for a day, a weekend, a summer, a year or for several years is now in the hundreds. These are people, not only from Pittsburgh and its environs, but also from Butler, Kittanning, Brookville, Sheffield, Summerville, Johnsonburg, Clarion, East Brady, Heritage, Ford City, Brockway, Leechburg, Vandergrift, Indiana, Hershey, State College, and many other locales in and beyond Western Pennsylvania.

Our maintainers have blazed, chainsawed, brushed, cut grass, built water bars, laid new trail, and picked up litter in the rain, in 100° heat, in all four seasons. They work on weekend camp-out crews, on day trips to strategic locations, and they work as adopt-a-trail volunteers, taking care of their personal sections of trail. The experiences they've shared include fall evenings at the Girl Scout Campground at Cook Forest, sitting out the thunder and lightning at the Crooked Creek group campground; the time we watched warily as the waters of Mahoning Creek inched their way to the Milton Loop Campground, dinners at the Vowinckle Hotel in Cook Forest, Stockdale's Restaurant in Dayton, and Pitzer's at Crooked Creek, the December maintenance trip when it rained all day long in the 35° air and we had to keep working frantically just to keep warm; sawing through a 2 foot diameter fall hemlock with a bow saw in North Park; and jumping along the Rachel Carson putting up blazes at the “transitions”, among many others.

As we head into 1998, I want to take this brief moment to say "thank you" to all who have lent a hand (and a foot or two and a muscle or three) in our efforts to maintain and preserve a part of our Western Pennsylvania heritage and our common experience. Five years, ten years from now, hikers will still be enjoying the experience of “walkin' the trail” that we helped be there for others. Thanks.

BAKER TRAIL/RACHEL CARSON TRAIL VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR '98 Adopt-A-Trail Especially

Each year, some of our adopt-a-trail volunteers on the Baker Trail and the Rachel Carson Trail retire, moving on to theʻrest of their lives, making it necessary to constantly be recruiting replacements, Adopters are asked mainly to paint new blazes for us; for one year, or two years, or whatever they can give us. AYH pays for the paint and brushes, I send you a map and give you a tour, and you supply a day's labor (or two) each year, If you want to do an extra day or two, you can move debris (downed trees and branches) off the trail, or if you like to do chain saw work, we certainly won't say no. But mainly, we need painters.

On the Baker, we need volunteers to put new blazes on everything from Mahoning Reservoir north to Bethlehem Chapel, and a couple of other locations. On the Rachel Carson, we need volunteers to work on several sections in Harrison Township, and others in Indiana Township.

If you would like to take a try at taking care of a wonderful trail, getting yourself into the outdoors, give me a call and let me know your interest: Jim Ritchie (412) 828-0210-leave a message if I'm out. You can also send email to jir@budget.ba.pitt.edu.

RACHEL HAS A NEW GUIDE

A new guidebook to the Rachel Carson Trail, the December, 1997 Edition, is now available from the AYH store on Warrington Avenue. The cost is $5.35, cash and carry, or enclose another $1.50 for mailing and handling costs. You can telephone your order on Monday or Friday; 10 AM to 4 PM or Wednesday from 11 AM to 6 PM at (412)431-4910. Credit Card orders may be faxed to (412) 431-2625. You may also mail your order to AYH, 830 East Warrington Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15210.

THE 1998 RACHEL CARSON TRAIL CHALLENGE (?)

As you've probably suspected, the logistics of running each year the Rachel Carson Trail Challenge are overwhelming. Many, many, many, many tasks need to be done. Our volunteer base, especially in the 3 months preceding the event, is dangerously slim and those involved are approaching a burnout status. Consequently, a decision has not been made at this time as to whether or not there will be a 1998 Challenge.

The tasks that need to be done include mailings (printing labels, stuffing envelopes, having copies of letters made, trips to Kinko's), telephone calls or letters to County Parks, insurance underwriters, and prospective Challengers, approaching sponsors, ordering and picking up t-shirts, mugs, or whatever, making up lists, lists, and more lists, and especially providing computing support-maintaining registration records.

If you are interested in supporting the Challenge by volunteering some of your time in April, May and June, please call Jim Ritchie at 828-0210. Watch the April issue of the AYH Golden Triangle for the final word on the Rachel Carson Trail Challenge.

HIKER ALERT UPDATES FOR 1998

Baker Trail

Cook Forest to the Allegheny National Forest: This section is now spic 'n' span, thanks to the efforts of Bob Roth and Jim Ritchie. Jim put new paint on the blazes north of PA Route 66, through the marsh, and Bob put up new paint and cleared up all the debris laying on the trail from Route 66 south through the northeastern quadrant of Cook Forest State Park. All green lights, all the way.

Gravel Lick Bridge, Cook Forest: The brand-new Gravel Lick Bridge is up and carries the BT across the Clarion River. The detour posted for the past year is down. Thanks be to PennDOT.

Shelters: Be advised that some shelters are currently nonexistent or not usable; Corsica, Fisher, New Freedom, and Schenley. Schenley is off limits, Corsica, Fisher, and New Freedom allow camping on the shelter site. The shelters will be rebuilt at some point in the future. Sounds like a good Eagle Scout project to me. Any takers? (AYH will pay for materials).

Bethlehem Chapel to Red Bank Creek, Near Heathville: This area has been strip mined heavily for the last couple of years. I went out there in October to paint up some fresh blazing and fix any holes in the trail. Unfortunately, there was an all-day 35° rain that particular day and the paint just ran down the trunks of any tree I tried to blaze. We will tackle this in April, 1998. Use your topo map and compass (going north) to get yourself to Tarkiln Run; the trail runs parallel to the Run for about half a mile, on its south side, before crossing. If you've been on this since last August, give me a call (412) 828-0210.

Heathville Bridge: The bridge is out, a victim of the July 1996 flood that hit this area. From the south, when you get to the bridge, continue along the road to Summerville; get to PA Route 28, turn left, and then turn right on the outskirts of town on the road that parallels the abandoned railroad grade.

Cherry Run, near Crooked Creek, Still a wet crossing in spite of the fact that we did meet with Bob Plumskey of Johnsonburg at the site to talk about rebuilding the cable bridge. Vince Roolf, Bob and i made up a list of materials needed to do the job. All we need is a (volunteer) project leader (someone to take charge). Call me if you know a good candidate.

Cornfield, between Kerr Road and Pine Run, Crooked Creek. Last year, a detour, placing the trail securely on Army Corps of Engineer land, was built around the field that was plowed for seed (and then not seeded due to excessively rocky soil). That detour should be in excellent condition. If you've been there, call me with a first-person report of current trail conditions.

Strip Mine @ Horney Camp Run, Crooked Creek: The stripped out area adjacent to Horney Camp Run, on the former farm of Ira Swank, had been planted with tall grass. A makeshift detour around the stripped area was fashioned. This area has not been observed in over a year. If you've been there, call me (412) 828-0210 and let me know what it's like.

Kiski Bridge, Schenley: At this time, the railroad bridge over the Kiski River is still off limits to hikers and others. Friends of the Trail are currently in negotiations with the owner. Stay tuned.

Rachel Carson Trail

Long Run, bottom of Rich Hill: Don Erdeljac reports that extensive logging has taken place along Long Run at the bottom of Rich Hill, From the gas pipeline, follow Long Run to the first drainage coming down the hillside; follow the drainage about 100 yards uphill and you will re-connect with the Trail.

Wagner Road: The landowner problems that occurred in this area over the past two years have been resolved. Keep on the trail when hiking through this area.

Donnellsville Road to Burtner Road: The new power line has cut the trail in 4 places; each time you come out to the power line clearing, proceed directly across to the other side to pick up the trail.

HIKING/BACKPACKING

March 21 Saturday Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Trail Maintenance, Rachel Carson Trail, Long's Run. This is a day trip to clear out the logging debris left along Long's Run in Indiana Township and restore the footpath before the vegetation sets in. Call to sign up and make arrangements to meet.

April 18 Saturday Leo Stember 681-1385
Trail Maintenance, Rachel Carson Trail, Hampton Woods. Clearing the trail and putting up new blazes will be the order of the day. Call Leo to sign up for this day's work and to make arrangements to meet.

April 25 Saturday Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Trail Maintenance, Baker Trail, Bethlehem Chapel. B.C. is about 50 miles north of Pittsburgh. Heavy strip mining in this area has compromised the trace of the trail from the Chapel area to Tarkiln Run. We will establish a viable route and then blaze and clear it as necessary. Call Jim to sign up and make arrangements to meet.

April 26 Sunday Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Hiking, Rachel Carson Trail, North Park to Dorseyville, Take a day to enjoy the fruits of our labor and hike the RCT, This weekend should be a peak day to observe the ephemeral wildflowers in North Park, along Crouse Run Hollow, in Hampton Woods, and along Shafer Run. 8 miles, intermediate level hike, moderate pace. Bring a lunch. Call Jim for information and reservations.

April 1998
(Page 4) NO "98" RACHEL CARSON TRAIL CHALLENGE

In response to the notice in the February/March 1998 Golden Triangle, we received a number of calls from volunteers to help out with the 1998 Rachel Carson Trail Challenge. To all of those who did call and offer their assistance, we give our thanks. However, there has been a need for at least two dozen volunteers, and many of those would require access to computers or fax machines. We came up short and consequently the 1998 RCT Challenge will not be.

We do promise to put the planning for a 1999 Challenge into motion. We have a little black book full of names and phone numbers for those who did offer their help. We will start initiating 1999 plans in September and start making task assignments in January 1999 or perhaps even earlier.

The tasks that will need to be done include mailings (printing labels, stuffing envelopes, having copies of letters made, trips to Kinko's), telephone calls or letters to County Parks, insurance underwriters, and prospective Challengers, approaching sponsors, ordering and picking up t-shirts, mugs, or whatever, making up lists, lists, and more lists, and especially providing computing support--maintaining registration records.

If you are interested in supporting the Challenge by volunteering some of your time next year, please call Jim Ritchie at 828-0210 to be put on the list.

(Page 6) ADOPT A SECTION OF THE BAKER TRAIL

Amazingly, the Rachel Carson Trail, at this time, is fully-staffed, fully-adopted by volunteers who will paste up a fresh coat of blaze paint, clear debris off the trail, pick up trash left by “Leave-a-BIG-Trace!" hikers and others, and report major problems to Rachel Carson Central. The trail ought to be in excellent shape next year, when the grueling, 34-mile, boot- and lung-busting Rachel Carson Trail Challenge endurance hike is staged once again.

The Baker Trail, on the other hand, 141 miles long, needs a larger corps of volunteers to cover its length. While all the closer sections seem to be well-staffed, some of those further north need someone to take pride in their appearance. The qualifications needed to Adopt-the-Trail are:you love hiking, you love hiking trails, you have an independent nature, can take initiative, can reada roadmapanda topo map, not afraid to get dirty, and have a good sense of responsibility. If you meet those qualifications, check out the sections listed below for one you can volunteer to care for.

1. Armstrong County, Bethel to Crooked Creek Dam. About 3 miles long, nearly all off road, nice area.
2. Armstrong County, Brick Church to Elderton. This is a long section, mostly on rural dirt roads, that needs minimal maintenance, mostly just new paint on the blazes and trimming around the blazes to keep them clearly visible.
3. Armstrong/Indiana County, Route 954/Atwood to Milo Weaver Shelter. This is another long section, running through farm countryon rural dirt roads, past some Amish farms, along "Baker Trail Road". Needs the same kind of easy maintenance as #2.
4. Armstrong County, Mahoning Shelter to North Freedom. Mostly rural dirt roads, downstream along Mahoning Creek, with a couple gems of short off-road trail sections. Easy maintenance.
5. Armstrong/Clarion Counties, Summerville to Corsica. This section starts at the village of Summerville on Route 28 and follows rural dirt roads to the village of Corsica on I-80. Pleasant and interesting farm area.

(Page 7) HIKING/BACKPACKING

April 18 Saturday Leo Stember 681-1385
Trail Maintenance, Rachel Carson Trail, Hampton Woods et al. Clearing the trail and putting up new blazes will be the order of the day. Other sites and multiple work groups are possibilities. Call Leo to sign up for the day's work and to make arrangements to meet.

April 25 Saturday Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Trail Maintenance, Baker Trail, Bethlehem Chapel. B.C. is about 50 miles north of Pittsburgh. Heavy strip mining in this area has compromised the footpath from the Chapel area to Tarkiln Run. We will scout and establish a viable route and then blaze and clear it until it works. Call Jim to sign up and make arrangements to meet.

April 26 Sunday Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Hiking, Rachel Carson Trail, North Park to Dorseyville. Take a day to enjoy the fruits of our labor and hike the RCT. This weekend should be a peak day to observe the ephemeral wildflowers in North Park, along Crouse Run Hollow, in Hampton Woods, and along Shafer Run, 8 miles, intermediate level hike, moderate pace. Bring a lunch. Call Jim for information and reservations.

May 1998/June 1998
(Page 6) ADOPT THE BAKER TRAIL

There are a few sections of the Baker Trail available for an outdoors-minded, responsible individual who isn't afraid to get their hands dirty and who wants to make a contribution to the world of hiking. These sections require a 1 to 2 hour drive from Pittsburgh, probably up PA Route 28 through Kittanning. It's possible to do all your work in one day each year, If you are interested, call me, Jim Ritchie, 828-0210, and I will send you a map; you can check out the trail on your own; if you are still interested, call me again, and I will arrange to meet you on the trail to give you some supplies and provide about one hour of on-the-job training. Take a look at these:

1. Clarion/Jefferson Counties, Corsica to Mill Creek. This section is mostly rural dirt and paved roads; the last 4 miles are along a gas line, over hill and dale, ending at Mill Creek. Easy maintenance.
2. Clarion County, Mill Creek to Sigel Road. Up the wild Pendleton/Spangler Run drainage. Big trees, wild water, isolation, then a couple miles of easy dirt road maintenance (blaze telephone poles); back in the woods by Updike Run and then along a private dirt road to Sigel Road.
3. Clarion County, Sigel Road to Gravel Lick, Mostly wooded trail, down the beautiful hollow of Cathers Run to the Clarion River. A small piece on the south end of Cook Forest State Park, along the River.

Call Jim Ritchie, 828-0210.

HIKING/BACKPACKING/TRAILS

June 6 Saturday You are the Leader!
National Trails Day, USA. Today is National Trails Day. Plan to "Take a Hike" on your favorite trail today. You can hike in the city or county parks, the state parks or forests, or even the AYH Rachel Carson or Baker Trails. If you'd like some suggestions, call Jim at 828-0210.

June 13 Saturday Leo Stember 681-1385
Trail Maintenance, Rachel Carson Trail. Work sites will be selected from the most needy areas along the trail. Lite maintenance: blazing, trimming with loppers and bowsaws, picking up trash-last chance to get the trail ready before the quasi-Challenge on June 20. Call Leo for the meeting time and place and for additional instructions.

June 14 Sunday Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Trail Maintenance, Baker Trail, Cochran's Mill to Idaho. We will hike and work for the two miles from Cochran's Mill past Cherry Run (wet crossing). Then we will blaze and trim along the road from Cherry Run to the Idaho shelter spur. Some interesting "front"country, as opposed to "back"country. Call Jim to sign up and make arrangements to meet.

June 20 Saturday Jim Ritchie 828-0210 Leo Stember 681-1385
Rachel Carson Trail Challenge, North Park to Harrison Hills. Even though there is no formally organized 1998 Rachel Carson Trail Challenge, some of the gang from the past two years will be getting together to do it on their own. Car pools may be formed and water and food may be stashed along the route. If you are interested, call Jim or Leo and get your name on the list; all names will be shared with others. There will also be two question-and-answer sessions with time to make arrangements with others (where/when to meet, transportation/shuttles), at 7:30 PM on Thursday night, June 11th and June 18th. Past Challengers will be available for questions. No formal support will be provided, however.

July 18 Saturday Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Trail Maintenance, Baker Trail, Bethel Twp. Maintenance Bldg. to Crooked Creek Dam. Mostly, we need to put up fresh blazing, trim away the vegetation, pick up trash, cut the overgrowth back a little. See Cook's Summit, the Llama farm, and Walter's latest bridge. If we're there late enough, we may stop and eat dinner at Pitzer's.

August 15 Saturday Patty Brunner 325-3224
Trail Maintenance, Baker Trail, Crooked Creek @ Kerr Road

August 29 Saturday Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Trail Maintenance, Baker Trail, Heathville or Ford City

August 30 Sunday Leo Stember 681-1385
Trail Maintenance, Rachel Carson Trail, La Fever Hill or ??? as needed.

(Page 7) FOOT NOTES TRAIL - MAINTENANCE NEWS
by jim ritchie

1998 holds the promise of being a very good year for AYH hiking trails; it's mid-May as I write this and I've already logged more than 100 phone calls, letters, and emails from volunteers and other friends of the trails. Not only that, but guess what??? Trail maintenance has become high chic!!! Not only is AYH going about taking care of its hiking trails, not only is KTA (the Keystone Trails Association), jumping up and down to Keep Trails Alive in western Pennsylvania, but now the North Country Trail Association (NCTA), the loose-knit organization spearheading the building of the NCT (it is not done) and its long-term maintenance, has literally exploded into furious activity with two new chapters, Butler County (Bryan Koehler is the Prez), and Clarion County (Carol Atwood, Prez), a new State Coordinator (Bob Tait of Butler) and the possibility of two more chapters before this page is in your hands (Beaver/Lawrence Counties-Richard Lutz/Denny Shepard-and the Allegheny National Forest-Don Dorn country).

The AYH connection is, of course, the Baker Trail, which shares approximately 20 miles of treadway with the North Country Trail, from the Allegheny National Forest through Cook Forest to the Clarion River. In fact, AYH volunteers Jim Ritchie and Bob Roth, with help from friend-of-the-Baker Trail Greg Burkett (Cook Forest Ranger), are the official NCT maintainers on those miles.

Closer to home, 1998 should be the year we start converting some of our blazing to plastic, the Rachel Carson Homestead Association (Mark Tomlinson), as you know, obtained a grant last year from Eastern Mountain Sports (Kim Davis-Monroeville) for improvements to be made to the Rachel Carson Trail. We have been field-testing plastic blazes over the winter, and are now ready to go on the trail with them. Mark should have the 1st batch done before you read this newsletter.

Gerry Vaerewyck, of Tarentum, and friends (Mary V., Coleman and Sean Griffin, Gene Pochapsky, Bruce Taylor, P.J. and small persons Richard, Joseph, and Robert Vaerewyck) have rehabilitated the Milo Weaver Shelter on the Baker Trail, much to the delight of the Weavers. Gerry and crew went up to MWS in January and early February, in the cold, and removed the old roof, disposed of it, put up the new roof, with new sheathing and shingles, treated the wood with interior insect/fungicide, dug the foundation out of the hillside, put the whole shelter on a new foundation, and cleared out all the brush in which it had become entangled. The whole package was then given a redwood stain coating. Show your enthusiasm by USING the shelter this summer; the Weavers are anxious to have guests at the shelter.

Gerry has been providing outstanding service to the Baker Trail and has always been helpful and enterprising. Next, Gerry plans to tackle the Idaho Shelter, sometime soon, clear out all the brush overgrowing it, and perform the necessary repairs to the roof, the foundation, the floors and the walls.

Dave Galbraith, from Brookville, called to tell us he has a couple of scouts who will be going out for their Eagle badge this year and that at least one of them may choose to rebuild one of our missing shelters as their Eagle project. In particular, Dave and one of the boys, have been scouting out the shelter site near North Freedom. However, instead of using the very public and high-traffic site used before, the shelter might be placed across Sandy Lick Creek and downstream a little ways in a grove of hemlock trees.

Everyone wants to do trail work!!!! New volunteers for the new season include: Dennis and Lynn Radovich and son (Tarentum), for work on the RCT, Bill Dimitroff (Carnegie) on the RCT, Don Erdeljac has adopted a section of the RCT and it is already spiffed up better than ever, Monique Nagel and her group of 19 looking for a group project on the RCT and to help with the 1999-RCT Challenge, John Huffman joined friend Mike Franusich at Long Run on the RCT in March, and Don Liebel (New Kensington) has adopted a section of the RCT, Vince Roolf, not a new volunteer but returning from some time out west, has been out removing winter blowdowns on both the RCT, in Harrison Twp., and the BT near Cherry Run.

Old friends who have already filed trail reports for 1998 or who have called to renew their allegiance for 1998 include Mike Blackwell, a two-time Challenge finisher who now would like to "put-back" and adopt a section of the trail, Mike Franusich, who worked with adopters Barbara Peterson and Dana Overmyer as their chainsaw sidekick worked on the Long Run cleanup in March, Vince Roolf was at Long Run, Mike Krempaski of Pennsylvania DCNR called to get the info needed to put the Baker Trail into a series of new tourism guidebooks for western PA counties, and Brien Palmer (Apollo) called to give me the skinny on the condition of the Baker near Horney Camp Run. We had a slew of Challenge volunteers including adopt-a-trail volunteers Mary Pitzer and Patty & Steve Brunner. Pat Thompson called to report the logging at Long Run on the RCT-that's her section; other new volunteer contacts: Benjamin Venator, Keith Walkowiak of Slippery Rock, Marjie Marmozette and Vaughn Busch, veteran Challengers, emailed their interest in doing some weekend trail maintenance.

Other bits and pieces of trail news: Dave Galbraith says the Heathville Bridge may be reconstructed this year, re-establishing the Baker on its original route. Glenn Oster, long time AYH trail builder, trail hiker and all-around world adventurer, is stepping down from the NCTA board position he has held for numerous years, as the Association phases out its "Affiliate" representation on its National Board; Jill Parnham of Hampton Township has indicated that the Township may hold a special trail event on the Rachel Carson Trail on June 6 in celebration of National Trails Day.

The trail maintenance trip on April 25th, to Bethlehem Chapel on the Baker Trail was a great success. The objective was to "fix" the trail where a huge strip mining operation had dug it up, lost forever. Fortunately, with the help of Jim Hummel, who lives nearby in Heathville, and who knows every inch of the backcountry around there, we were able to locate and establish a new route giving wide berth to the stripped out area. New blazes on the old parts of the trail should provide several more years of use between Fry Road and Red Bank Creek. Also helping were Karl Gundlach, Matt Fetters, and Paul Hodor, and the indomitable Denise Wessels.

The Rachel Carson Trail hike on April 26 was nearly a washout with an all-day steady rain. Nine out of 10 trippers called to cancel; fortunately Becky Lacour saved the day. She and I hiked the 8 _ miles from the North Park terminus to Route 910 in Dorseyville, in the rain (“rain is not a reason to not hike"-Jim Ritchie, 1998). Sometimes the best hikes come from the worst circumstances: Crouse Run was a raging torrent and, as we approached the first of two crossings, I had my doubts. I said I didn't especially feel like crossing it: 15 feet wide, running at least over our knees, up over its banks, muddy and crashing through the valley. So, we scaled a wash 50 yards up the steep hillside above a cliff on Crouse Run, traversed laterally near the top for about 100 yards, and then came down the very next wash, putting us exactly where the trail re-crossed the Run to our side of the stream. A tough move, physically, but satisfying in its success.

Leo Stember and his crew of maintainers went out on April 18th to fix up the Rachel Carson Trail between Crouse Run and Middle Road. Joining Leo were Don Erdeljac, Lyn & Mike Walters, Dennis Radovich, Brian DiPietro, and the indomitable Laura Butler. I had a chance to inspect their work on my hike, April 26th, and, let me say, if you want to see how a trail should look, go out there and look for yourself—a great job!!

July 1998
(Page 6) ADOPT THE BAKER TRAIL

We continue to experience some turnover of maintainers along our trails. Qualifications are: you must be outdoors-minded; responsible; shows initiative, and doesn't need a lot of supervision; not afraid to get your hands dirty and want to make a contribution to the world of hiking. We have one section close to Pittsburgh, require less than a 1 hour drive from Pittsburgh, probably up PA Route 28 through Kittanning. It's possible to do all your work in one day each year. If you are interested, call me, Jim Ritchie, 828-0210, and I will send you a map; you can check out the trail on your own; if you are still interested, call me again, and I will arrange to meet you on the trail to give you some supplies and provide about one hour of on-the-job training. Take a look at these:

1. Garver's Ferry to Godfrey on the Allegheny River. This section starts at Route 356 near Freeport, goes to the high bluffs above Freeport, and then down to the Kiski River. From Schenley, across the Kiski, the trail follows the Armstrong Rail-Trail to Godfrey-easy maintenance.
2. Bethel Township Maintenance Building to Crooked Creek Visitor's Center, Park at the Maintenance Building and descend Cook's Summit to Route 66, go past the Llama Farm and then along Crooked Creek all the way to the Visitor's Center. Mostly wooded, oif road.
3. Cochran's Mill to Idaho. About 2 miles of wooded trail run ning parallel to Cherry Run, a trout-quality stream, followed by a stretch of easily-maintained, rural, dirt roads, I think there's a paw-paw tree along the way.

Call Jim Ritchie, 828-0210.

HIKING/BACKPACKING/TRAILS

July 18 Saturday Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Trail Maintenance, Baker Trail, Bethel Twp. Maintenance Bldg. to Crooked Creek Dam. Mostly, we need to put up fresh blazing, trim away the vegetation, pick up trash, cut the overgrowth back a little. See Cook's Summit, the Llama farm, and Walter's latest bridge. If we're there late enough, we may stop and eat dinner at Pitzer's

August 1 Saturday Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Trail Maintenance, Baker Trail, Bethel Twp. Maintenance Bldg. to Crooked Creek Dam. Mostly, we need to put up fresh blazing, trim away the vegetation, pick up trash, cut the overgrowth back a little. See Cook's Summit, the Llama farm, and Walter's latest bridge. If we're there late enough, we may stop and eat dinner at Pitzer's.

August 15 Saturday Patty Brunner 325-3224
Trail Maintenance, Baker Trail, Crooked Creek @ Kerr Road. This is the area past the Covered Bridge at Crooked Creek. We will fix up the trail through a former strip mine site, from the Bridge to Kerr Road.

August 29 Saturday Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Trail Maintenance, Baker Trail, Heathville or Ford City. If we go to Heathville, we will put the finishing touches on the new trail installed around the strip mined area. At Ford City, we will do routine maintenance (trimming, blazing, pickup, a little chain saw) from the Visitor's Center to the Covered Bridge.

August 30 Sunday Leo Stember 681-1385
Trail Maintenance, Rachel Carson Trail, LaFever Hill or ???

August 1998
(Page 6) ADOPT THE BAKER TRAIL

The Rachel Carson Trail is fully-covered by volunteers who have adopted sections of the trail for trail maintenance. The Baker Trail is about two-thirds covered, so we need about a half-dozen people who are willing to donate one weekend a year to put fresh paint on the blazes, trim away a little vegetation, and pick up the trash left along the trail, Qualifications are: you must be outdoors-minded; responsible; shows initiative, and don't need a lot of supervision; not afraid to get your hands dirty and want to make a contribution to the - world of hiking. We have a couple sections close to Pittsburgh, requiring less than a 1 hour drive from Pittsburgh, probably up PA Route 28 through Kittanning. It's possible to do all your work in one day each year. If you are interested, call me, Jim Ritchie, 828-0210, and I will send you a map; you can check out the trail on your own; if you are still interested, call me again, and I will arrange to meet you on the trail to give you some supplies and provide about one hour of on-the-job training. Take a look at these:

1. Garver's Ferry to Godfrey on the Allegheny River. This section starts at Route 356 near Freeport, goes to the high bluffs above Freeport, and then down to the Kiski River. From Schenley, across the Kiski; the trail follows the Armstrong Rail-Trail to Godfrey--easy maintenance.
2. Bethel Township Maintenance Building to Crooked Creek Visitor's Center. Park at the Maintenance Building and descend Cook's Summit to Route 66, go past the Llama Farm and then along Crooked Creek all the way to the Visitor's Center. Mostly wooded, off road.
3. Cochran's Mill to Idaho. About 2 miles of wooded trail running parallel to Cherry Run, a trout-quality stream, followed by a stretch of easily-maintained, rural, dirt roads. I think there's a paw-paw tree along the way.

Call Jim Ritchie, 828-0210.

HIKING/BACKPACKING/TRAILS

August 1 Saturday Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Trail Maintenance, Baker Trail, Bethel Twp. Maintenance Bldg, to Crooked Creek Dam. Mostly, we need to put up fresh blazing, trim away the vegetation, pick up trash, cut the overgrowth back a little, See Cook's Summit, the Llama farm, and Walter's latest bridge. If we're there late enough, we may stop and eat dinner at Pitzer's.

August 15 Saturday Patty Brunner 325-3224
Trail Maintenance, Baker Trail, Crooked Creek @ Kerr Road. This is the area past the Covered Bridge at Crooked Creek. We will fix up the trail through a former strip mine site, from the Bridge to Kerr Road.

August 29 Saturday Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Trail Maintenance, Baker Trail, Heathville or Ford City. If we go to Heathville, we will put the finishing touches on the new trail installed around the strip mined area. At Ford City, we will do routine maintenance (trimming, blazing, pickup, a little chain saw) from the Visitor's Center to the Covered Bridge.

August 30 Sunday Leo Stember 681-1385
Trail Maintenance, Rachel Carson Trail, LaFever Hill or ???

FOOT NOTES TRAIL MAINTENANCE NEWS FOR HIKERS AND BACKPACKERS...
By JIM RITCHIE

I spent an evening in mid-July listening to a woman whose family had been kind enough in past years to allow the Baker Trail pass through their property, indeed, going right past their house, tell story after story about lost hikers, rude hikers, rude boy scouts, people traveling on the trail on horses, dirt bikes, quads, parking their cars on her property, throwing sticks at her dog, maintainers painting gas pipeline markers on her property, carrying off the little yellow flags marking the pipeline right-of-way, arguing with her that "this is the Baker Trail, and I don't care who owns this property, we're going to go through", knocking on the door in the middle of the night asking for drinking water, etc., etc, etc.

It's all very discouraging. We at Pittsburgh AYH volunteer our time, effort, and financial resources to provide a recreational facility for outdoors-minded people, allowing them to get outside and hike a proper trail through the Western Pennsylvania countryside, observing wildflowers and wildlife, trees and other plant life, and, yes, allowing them to meet their countrymen and countrywomen, say hello, and share in the appreciation of our land.

Then we have those who, apparently, never learned anything about courtesy; and respect; and appreciation; and just plain being friendly. I told Cindy that not only were horses "discouraged” from using the trail, but that, on private property, horses have NO PERMISSION to use the trail. I told her that dirt bikes and quads were not allowed on the trail and that furthermore trespassing by adults and children on dirt bikes and quads runs rampant all throughout Pennsylvania.

I asked her “what kind of scout leader allows his or her scouts to smart-mouth a property owner whose property they are crossing?” Indeed, what kind of scout leader smart-mouths himself? I told her that the majority of REAL HIKERS are courteous, respectful, and even downright friendly, especially AYH hikers. And, I told her that even if we moved our trail 100 miles away, those who disregarded her property rights would not go away, they would still abuse her home and property. That I know from experience.

Cindy wanted our trail gone. I had to say that I couldn't blame her. I'd want it gone too, with experiences like hers. We talked for a short while. And, after a while, she offered, I didn't ask, to let us keep the trail, if we moved it away from the house, moved the “Baker Trail” sign away from her driveway, and kept it out of her yard, where the grass is cut. For this much, I am grateful.

It's a sad commentary on our society when disrespect and abuse is as widespread as we sometimes observe it to be. But we cannot lose sight of the fact that MOST people are good people; MOST people ARE respectful and courteous and friendly. And it is for those people that we volunteer our time, effort, and resources.

But our job must go beyond doing these things. We need to EDUCATE our friends, our neighbors, and our acquaintances (and our scouts) on trail courtesy-(NO!!! just plain old everyday courtesy), and the ethics of interacting with others, especially on their property. We need to remind horsemen that, in most of the East, horses destroy trails; we need to remind dirt bikers and quad riders that they need to seek permission to enter another person's property with their vehicles and that, furthermore, it is ILLEGAL to ride without a license, without insurance on private or public property. We need to ask our scout leaders to brief their scouts on the ethics of hiking trails and being a guest on private property.

If we ignore our responsibilities and “let George do it”, the problems and the problem people won't go away. It will just get worse; and then, where will we be?

September 1998
(Page 3) ADOPT THE BAKER TRAIL

The Rachel Carson Trail is fully-covered by volunteers who have adopted sections of the trail for trail maintenance. The Baker Trail is about two-thirds covered, so we need about a half-dozen people who are willing to donate one weekend a year to put fresh paint on the blazes, trim away a little vegetation, and pick up the trash left along the trail. Qualifications are: you must be outdoors-minded; responsible; shows initiative, and don't need a lot of supervision; not afraid to get your hands dirty and want to make a contribution to the world of hiking. We have a couple sections close to Pittsburgh, requiring less than a 1 hour drive from Pittsburgh, probably up PA Route 28 through Kittanning. It's possible to do all your work in one day each year. If you are interested, call me, Jim Ritchie, 828-0210, and I will send you a map; you can check out the trail on your own; if you are still interested, call me again, and I will arrange to meet you on the trail to give you some supplies and provide about one hour of on-the-job training. Take a look at these:

1. Bethel Township Maintenance Building to Crooked Creek Visitor's Center. Park at the Maintenance Building and descend Cook's Summit to Route 66, go past the Llama Farm and then along Crooked Creek all the way to the Visitor's Center. Mostly wooded, off road.
2. Cochran's Mill to Idaho. About 2 miles of wooded trail running parallel to Cherry Run, a trout-quality stream, followed by a stretch of easily-maintained, rural, dirt roads. I think there's a paw-paw tree along the way.
3. Route 422 to Atwood. This is all dirt-road trail. But it is very interesting to hike, or even to ride on a mountain bike. Life can be more than a series of backcountry trails—there is also the frontcountry. There are many Amish in this area and this section includes the Atwood Shelter.

Call Jim Ritchie, 828-0210.

(Page 4) HIKING/BACKPACKING/TRAILS

September 12 Saturday Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Trail Maintenance, Corsica to Mill Creek. I have never hiked this section of the Baker Trail (these are the only 4 miles I have not hiked). Here the trail first goes along a hard road for a two miles and then it follows a gas line right-of-way for 4 miles to a close encounter with Mill Creek. We may search for the site of the former Corsica Shelter. I need 5 good helpers. We may stop for ice cream in Shannondale on the way home.

October 17 Saturday Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Trail Maintenance, Baker Trail, Heathville and Cherry Run. First we drive to Heathville to finish up some work we began in the Spring, only an hour's work at this location, Then we will go to Cherry Run, near Cochran's Mill, and do some blazing, clearing, and trash pick up. We may split up in the morning, meet for lunch, and then finish up in the afternoon. On the way home, ice cream at the Dari Delite near Ford City.

October 1998
(Page 3) ADOPT THE BAKER TRAIL
The Rachel Carson Trail is fully-covered by volunteers who have adopted sections of the trail for trail maintenance. The Baker Trail is about two-thirds covered, so we need about a half-dozen people who are willing to donate one weekend a year to put fresh paint on the blazes, trim away a little vegetation, and pick up the trash left along the trail. Qualifications are: you must be outdoors-minded; responsible; you show initiative, and don-t need a lot of supervision; you=re not afraid to get your hands dirty and want to make a small contribution in return for all the pleasure you've experienced on trails that someone else built for you, It's possible to do all your work in one day each year. If you are interested, call me, Jim Ritchie, 828-0210, and I will send you a map; you can check out the trail on your own; if you are still interested, call me again, and I will arrange to meet you on the trail to give you some supplies and provide about one hour of on-the-job training. Take a look at these:

1. Bethel Township Maintenance Building to Crooked Creek Visitor=s Center. We need someone with a gentle and understanding disposition to steward this troubled section of the Baker Trail. You must be friendly, have a good smile, and be a good listener. The works been done for this year, but we need someone to hike through every 3 months or so to keep on eye on it. This section starts at the Maintenance Building and descend Cooks Summit to Route 66; go past the Llama Farm and then along Crooked Creek all the way to the Visitors Center. Mostly wooded, off road. 60 minutes from the Highland Park Bridge.
2. Corsica to Mill Creek. Most of the work on this section has been done for this year. We need a physically capable volunteer to take it over for next year and, for this year, finish up some of the blazing along the road from Corsica to the point where the trail jumps off the road-about 1.5 miles. 90 minutes from the Highland Park Bridge.
3. Atwood to the Milo Weaver Shelter. This section follows dirt roads through the farm country of Indiana and Armstrong counties in the neighborhood of the Keystone Reservoir (Plum Creek Reservoir). Several Amish farms are along the way. Easy maintenance. 75 minutes from the Highland Park Bridge to Atwood.

Call Jim Ritchie, 828-0210.

(Page 7) HIKING/BACKPACKING/TRAILS

October 10 Saturday Leo Stember 681-1385
Trail Maintenance, Rachel Carson Trail. We will probably work on high ground on the section between Crawford Run Road and Bailey's Run Road. Meet behind the Sheetz on Freeport Road just off exit 13 on the Alley Valley Xway (Route 28). Call Leo to let him know you're coming.

October 17 Saturday Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Trail Maintenance, Baker Trail. Canceled due to schedule conflicts.

October 31 Saturday Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Trail Maintenance, Baker Trail, Odds 'n Ends. Today we will jump to a variety of locations, putting a fresh coat of paint on the blazes before the winter sets in. We'll probably visit several of the following locations: Heathville, Bethlehem Chapel, Redbank, McCrea Furnace, and Crooked Creek. If we're out late, we can stop for dinner on the way home. If we're done early, we'll track down some apple pie and coffee.

1999 Rachel Carson Trail Challenge Let's Get Started!!

Well, this is it. This is the call for volunteers to stage the 1999 Rachel Carson Trail Challenge (RCTC). If we get 25 volunteers by Thanksgiving, we'll go ahead with the Challenge. If not, it will be put under wraps for yet another year.

For those of you who don't know, the Challenge is a one-day, 34-mile endurance hike, starting at North Park and ending at Harrison Hills Park near Freeport. The Pittsburgh Council, Hostelling International-American Youth Hostels (HI-AYH) sponsors the event, held on the Saturday in June closest to the summer solstice, the longest day of the year. There will be 15 hours and 4 minutes of daylight available for hikers to complete the course, requiring a minimum pace of about 2.25 miles per hour. Hikers are self-contained and support is minimal; each person carries their own water, food and snacks, and any other gear that might be necessary on the trail: first aid, raingear, etc.

The first Rachel Carson Trail Challenge was on June 22, 1996: of 90 hikers attempting the entire 34 miles, only 5 finished-and they finished just as the last rays of the sun peeked over the horizon. The second Challenge, on June 21, 1997 had 77 hikers signed up to do the entire course, but this time there were 27 finishers!! Why the difference? There were probably three factors at work: (1) the temperature was 3 degrees cooler the 2nd year; in 1996 it reached 93F, in 1997 it only went up to 90F; (2) the course went from west to east in 1996 and reversed from east to west in 1997; (3) many of the 1997 finishers had experience in 1996 and refined their strategy for 1997.

The Rachel Carson Trail is a 34-mile long, primitive hiking trail. The trail is famous for its roller-coaster hills following the contours of Allegheny County up and down gas lines, power lines, through woods and fields, across streams, and up on the high bluffs overlooking the Allegheny River. Starting (or ending) in North Park, the Trail goes through the Hampton Nature Reserve, skirts Hartwood Acres, meanders across Indiana Township passing by Emmerling Park, up Rich Hill, down LaFever Hill, through Springdale, Frazer, Fawn, and Harrison Townships, ending in Harrison Hills County Park. Along the trail you will find brambles, nettles, Japanese knot-weed or elephant ear, poison ivy, mud, dirt, dust, scree, talus, fallen trees, washed-out stream banks, devil's walking sticks, and a multitude of even more imaginative challenges.

So, it you would like to help out and be a part of the RCTC-99 team, give a call and let us know. Call Jim Ritchie at 412-828-0210 or Leo Stember at 412-681-1385. Call today or at least be sure to call before Thanksgiving.

November 1998
(Page 3) Hike the Baker Trail
HIKE ONE: Garver's Ferry to Kiski Junction, A Loop Hike

Distance: 4 mi.
TIME: 2 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Comments: Great views across the Allegheny River; a good hike for a sunny weekend afternoon.

Directions to the Trailhead: Take PA Route 28 to Exit 17, (Freeport/Butler). Go South on PA Route 356, cross the Freeport Bridge across the Allegheny River and, immediately on the east side of the bridge (the side opposite Freeport), turn right into the entrance drive to River Forest Golf Center. There, at the entrance, along PA Route 356, you will see pulloff areas suitable to park two or three cars, next to the cable fence. Pull your car up close to the guard rail and park.

The Hike: Walk east down the highway (away from the bridge), PA Route 356, for approximately 200 yards. On the left (north) side of the road, you will see a large “Baker Trail” sign. Cross the road and begin your hike adjacent to the sign.

The Trail ascends the bluffs overlooking Freeport across the Allegheny River. After reaching the top, the trail flattens out for a while. Be carefull! The bluffs drop 200-300 feet down to the river below, so you don't want to get too close to the edge.

Shortly, the Trail descends, steeply, down the spine of the hill on which you have been hiking, to a jungle of knotweed on the flat ground below. Two comments here:

Spines
The spine of a hill is the same as the ridge of a mountain, just that the topography is on a smaller scale. This is the "knife" along which a hill or mountain descends most gradually, Picture a roof which comes to a peak at the top. Two adjacent surfaces of the roof form a line; if the roof were a hill or mountain, we would call that line the spine or ridgeline of the mountain. Sometimes, this line is called a "hogback".

Knotweed
Knotweed or Japanese Knotweed is a nuisance plant that grows in dense patches on disturbed ground, i.e. earth that has been dug up or bulldozed around. It is an exotic (non-native) species that is characterized by a tall, segmented stalk, like sugar cane or bamboo, and large heart-shaped leaves (similar to the shape of a spade, as in the "ace of spades”). Because of the shape of the leaves, this plant is sometimes called "Elephant Ear". A survival note: in the very early spring, the tender young shoots, no more than 6 inches high, are edible and can be boiled in water, delivering a flavor similar to asparagus.

Back to the hike: There are two options once you have reached the bottom of the hill and you are standing in the middle of all this knotweed. Let's call them the explorer's option and the reasonable option.

The Explorer's Option: Once upon a time, I am told, the Baker Trail, upon reaching the bottomland, continued UP the spine of the very next ridge, on the other side of the patch of knotweed. Try it. See what happens. Ascend to the top and then back down the other side to the bottomland once again.

The Reasonable Option: The current Guide Book to the Baker Trail indicates that the hiker should, upon reaching the Knotweed, crash out into the flat open ground in the direction of the Allegheny River. Walking toward the River, probably through weeds and brush, you will encounter a dirt or cinder pathway that once was a railroad right of way. Turn right and walk toward the Kiski River Bridge.

Back together again: Regardless of the route you took, from here you will see railroad tracks and two railroad bridges; one across the Allegheny River to Freeport and the other across the Kiski River to Schenley. Be advised that BOTH railroad bridges, at this time, are CLOSED to hikers, and that there is usually someone around to enforce that closure. Railroad police can write a citation and fine you $75 or more. So, upon reaching the tracks, do not cross them; turn around, and take the old dirt and cinder-covered railroad right-of-way back in the direction you came, heading out on the bottomland back toward the Freeport Bridge, where you started. Follow this path back to the bridge.

Go under the bridge and follow the dirt road on the other side up to the highway where you left your car. And if you meet someone hiking along the Trail, give them the secret sign of the Baker Trail!!

ADOPT THE BAKER TRAIL

The Rachel Carson Trail is fully-covered by volunteers who have adopted sections of the trail for trail maintenance. The Baker Trail is about two-thirds covered, so we need about a half-dozen people who are willing to donate one weekend a year to put fresh paint on the blazes, trim away a little vegetation, and pick up the trash left along the trail. Qualifications are: you must be outdoors-minded; responsible; you show initiative, and don=t need a lot of supervision; you=re not afraid to get your hands dirty and want to make a small contribution in return for all the pleasure you've experienced on trails that someone else built for you. It's possible to do all your work in one day each year. If you are interested, call me, Jim Ritchie, 828-0210, and I will send you a map; you can check out the trail on your own, if you are still interested, call me again, and I will arrange to meet you on the trail to give you some supplies and provide about one hour of on-the-job training. Take a look at these:

1. Corsica to Mill Creek. Most of the work on this section has been done for this year. We need a physically capable volunteer to take it over for L next year and, for this year, finish up some of the blazing along the road from Corsica to the point where the trail jumps off the road-about 1,5 miles. 90 minutes from the Highland Park Bridge.
2. Atwood to the Milo Weaver Shelter. This section follows dirt roads through the farm country of Indiana and Armstrong counties in the er neighborhood of the Keystone Reservoir (Plum Creek Reservoir). Several Amish farms are along the way. Easy maintenance. 75 minutes from the Highland Park Bridge to Atwood.

Call Jim Ritchie, 828-0210

HIKING/BACKPACKING/TRAILS

November 7 Sierra Club trip (not an AYH Trips)
Hike (beginners) the first 6 miles on the Rachel Carson Trail from North Park to Hampton Nature Reserve. Hike back (intermediate) 6 miles. Barb Peterson, 412 371 2506.

June 19, 1999 Saturday Jim Ritchie Leo Stember 681-1385
Rachel Carson Trail Challenge. This listing is a call for volunteers. We need 25 volunteers before Thanksgiving. If we get 25 volunteers by Thanksgiving, we'll go ahead with the Challenge. If not, it will be put under wraps for yet another year. We need telephone callers, people with access to computers and with word processing and spreadsheet skills. We need someone who can build a web page. Must be willing to meet periodically. Email contacts are a plus. Tasks will be assigned immediately after New Year's Day in January 1999. Call Jim or Leo.

(Page 4) Foot notes Trail maintenance news
by Jim Ritchie

The coming weekend, October 24th and 25th, will be the Fall 1998 meeting of the East End Council of the North Country Trail Association (NCTA) at Moraine State Park. The East End Council represents all the local chapters of the NCTA in the states of Pennsylvania and New York. Also attending will be representatives of "affiliates", like the AYH. Affiliates are organizations maintaining trails upon which the North Country Trail has been superimposed. The NCT uses the AYH Baker Trail for about 15 miles in the Cook Forest-Allegheny National Forest area so the AYH is given a seat on the Council to help plan and coordinate the development of the NCT.

Recently, a call has been put forth to initiate a Pittsburgh Chapter of the North Country Trail. All of you who are hiking, backpacking, and otherwise trail enthusiasts will be asked to contribute your time and effort building and then maintaining the 250 miles of the NCT as it winds its way through Western PA. And if you are USING trails, you should answer the call and payback a little, help to BUILD and MAINTAIN those trails. You will be asked to pay one more membership fee and attend one more set of club meetings, etc., etc., etc. And...you should.

However, I would be remiss if I did not express my apprehension at the rise of the NCT and the effect of that rise on the care and keeping of the Baker and Rachel Carson Trails. Already, the number of volunteers for weekend trail maintenance has drizzled down to nearly two or three once a month. And, part of that is indeed the effect of the NCT: I can name 20 NCT enthusiasts who once helped keep up the BT and the RCT.

The North Country Trail is sleek, and new, and shiny while the AYH trails are old hat; the years have not been kind to the BT or the RCT. They've been horse-trodden, ATV-ed, rerouted, road-routed, blow downed, washed out, brambled, and you-name-it, it's happened. A trail maintenance trip on an AYH trail is another foray into just the latest of an ongoing parade of disasters. But, such is the lot of any trail; the NCT will get its share, too, as time is unkind to us all.

I ask you, personally, to not forget your old friends, beat-up as they may be, while honoring your new friends, shiny and sleek as they may be. The Baker Trail and the Rachel Carson Trail are wonderful trails, and represent an opportunity to undertake real hiking or real backpacking on a primitive, "footpath in the woods". No frills these trails.

For your New Year's Resolution, for 1999, resolve to contribute one (just one) weekend helping us take care of your old friends so that others--young scouts, new hikers-can experience the peace and, yes, the joy of hiking and to be able to do so without driving 100, 200, 300, 400 miles to find a real hiking trail. And, as you support the new trail in your neighborhood, the North Country, also take that single day to support the ones that have been around for a while--they need your help too.

And, if you are one of those special people who know trails, and can vision yourself being part of the trail management, volunteer to adopt a 3-5 mile section of the Baker or Rachel Carson (412-828-0210). It hardly takes any more time than the one weekend day per year (it might take two days), and you have the pride of knowing you are responsible, on your own, for miles of trail that may be enjoyed by hundreds of others. That's a selfless reward, for caring, that's so hard to experience, it seems, these days. Join us in '99!!!

1999 Rachel Carson Trail Challenge Let's Get Started!!

Well, this is it. This is the call for volunteers to stage the 1999 Rachel Carson Trail Challenge (RCTC). If we get 25 volunteers by Thanks giving, we'll go ahead with the Challenge. If not, it will be put under wraps for yet another year.

For those of you who don't know, the Challenge is a one-day, 34-mile endurance hike, starting at North Park and ending at Harrison Hills Park near Freeport. The Pittsburgh Council, Hostelling International American Youth Hostels (HI-AYH) sponsors the event, held on the Saturday in June closest to the summer solstice, the longest day of the year. There will be 15 hours and 4 minutes of daylight available for hikers to complete the course, requiring a minimum pace of about 2.25 miles per hour, Hikers are self-contained and support is minimal; each person carries their own water, food and snacks, and any other gear that might be necessary on the trail: first aid, raingear, etc.

The first Rachel Carson Trail Challenge was on June 22, 1996: of 90 hikers attempting the entire 34 miles, only 5 finished--and they finished just as the last rays of the sun peeked over the horizon. The second Challenge, on June 21, 1997 had 77 hikers signed up to do the entire course, but this time there were 27 finishers!! Why the difference? There were probably three factors at work: (1) the temperature was 3 degrees cooler the 2nd year; in 1996 it reached 93F, in 1997 it only went up to 90F; (2) the course went from west to east in 1996 and reversed from east to west in 1997; (3) many of the 1997 finishers had experience in 1996 and refined their strategy for 1997.

The Rachel Carson Trail is a 34-mile long, primitive hiking trail. The trail is famous for its roller-coaster hills following the contours of Allegheny County up and down gas lines, power lines, through woods and fields, across streams, and up on the high bluffs overlooking the Allegheny River. Starting (or ending) in North Park, the Trail goes through the Hampton Nature Reserve, skirts Hartwood Acres, meanders across Indiana Township passing by Emmerling Park, up Rich Hill, down LaFever Hill, hrough Springdale, Frazer, Fawn, and Harrison Townships, ending in Harrison Hills County Park. Along the trail you will find brambles, nettles, Japanese knotweed or elephant ear, poison ivy, mud, dirt, dust, scree, alus, fallen trees, washed-out stream banks, devil's walking sticks, and i multitude of even more imaginative challenges.

So, it you would like to help out and be a part of the RCTC-99 team, give a call and let us know. Call Jim Ritchie at 412-828-0210 or Leo Stember it 412-681-1385. Call today or at least be sure to call before Thanksgiving.

December 1998/January 1999
(Page 5) 1999 Rachel Carson Trail Challenge Volunteers Needed!

For those of you who don't know, the Rachel Carson Trail Challenge is a one-day, 34-mile endurance hike, starting at North Park and ending at Harrison Hills Park near Freeport. The Pittsburgh Council, Hostelling International-American Youth Hostels (HI-AYH) sponsors the event, held on the Saturday in June closest to the summer solstice, the longest day of the year. There will be 15 hours and 4 minutes of daylight available for hikers to complete the course, requiring a minimum pace of about 2.25 miles per hour. Hikers are self-contained and support is minimal; each person carries their own water, food and snacks, and any other gear that might be necessary on the trail: first aid, raingear, etc.

The first Rachel Carson Trail Challenge was on June 22, 1996: of 90 hikers attempting the entire 34 miles, only 5 finished -- and they finished just as the last rays of the sun peeked over the horizon. The second Challenge, on June 21, 1997 had 77 hikers signed up to do the entire course, but this time there were 27 finishers!! Why the difference? There were probably three factors at work: (1) the temperature was 3 degrees cooler the 2nd year; in 1996 it reached 93F, in 1997 it only went up to 90F; (2) the course went from west to east in 1996 and reversed from east to west in 1997; (3) many of the 1997 finishers had experience in 1996 and refined their strategy for 1997.

The Rachel Carson Trail is a 34-mile long, primitive hiking trail. The trail is famous for its roller-coaster hills following the contours of Allegheny County up and down gas lines, power lines, through woods and fields, across streams, and up on the high bluffs overlooking the Allegheny River. Starting (or ending) in North Park, the Trail goes through the Hampton Nature Reserve, skirts Hartwood Acres, meanders across Indiana Township passing by Emmerling Park, up Rich Hill, down LaFever Hill, through Springdale, Frazer, Fawn, and Harrison Townships, ending in Harrison Hills County Park. Along the trail you will find brambles, nettles, Japanese knotweed or elephant ear, poison ivy, mud, dirt, dust, scree, talus, fallen trees, washed-out stream banks, devil's walking sticks, and a multitude of even more imaginative challenges.

We need people to help out, mostly in the months of January through May, making telephone calls, maintaining registration lists, doing mailings, designing and then distributing promotional materials, attending several coordinating meetings and many, many more tasks. So, it you would like to help out and be a part of the RCTC-99 team, give a call and let us know, Call Jim Ritchie at 412-828-0210 or Leo Stember at 412-681-1385. Call today or at least be sure to call before Thanksgiving.

CROSS-COUNTRY SKI/HIKING/TRAILS

December 30 Wednesday Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Cross Country Ski. We will go skiing wherever we can find some snow. My first choice will be somewhere on the Rachel Carson Trail or the Baker Trail, close to Pgh. If there is no snow, our next choices will be down in the Laurel Highlands; finally if there is no snow anywhere, we will go hiking-probably the Baker Trail. Be sure to call me for meeting place and time.

January 9 Saturday Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Cross Country Ski. Same agenda as December 30 listing.

June 19, 1999 Saturday Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Rachel Carson Trail Challenge. This listing is a call for volunteers. We need 25 volunteers to help us stage the 1999 Challenge. We need telephone callers, people to maintain registration records, prepare mailings, write letters, design publicity, and distribute promotional materials; having access to email is a plus. We especially need people with access to a computer who have word processing and spreadsheet skills, and someone who can help us build a web page. Must be willing to meet periodically. Tasks will be assigned immediately after New Year's Day in January 1999. Call Jim or Leo.

(Page 7) ADOPT THE BAKER TRAIL

The Rachel Carson Trail is fully-covered by volunteers who have adopted sections of the trail for trail maintenance. The Baker Trail is about two-thirds covered, so we need about a half-dozen people who are willing to donate one weekend a year to put fresh paint on the blazes, trim away a little vegetation, and pick up the trash left along the trail. Qualifications are; you must be outdoors-minded; responsible; you show initiative, and don=t need a lot of supervision; you're not afraid to get your hands dirty and want to make a small contribution in return for all the pleasure you've experienced on trails that someone else built for you. It's possible to do all your work in one day each year. If you are interested, call me, Jim Ritchie, 828-0210, and I will send you a map; you can check out the trail on your own; if you are still interested, call me again, and I will arrange to meet you on the trail to give you some supplies and provide about one hour of on-the-job training. Take a look at these:

1. Corsica to Mill Creek. Most of the work on this section has been done for this year. We need a physically capable volunteer to take it over for next year and, for this year, finish up some of the blazing along the road from Corsica to the point where the trail jumps off the road-about 1.5 miles. 90 minutes from the Highland Park Bridge.
2. Atwood to the Milo Weaver Shelter. This section follows dirt roads through the farm country of Indiana and Armstrong counties in the neighborhood of the Keystone Reservoir (Plum Creek Reservoir). Several Amish farms are along the way. Easy maintenance. 75 minutes from the Highland Park Bridge to Atwood.

Call Jim Ritchie, 828-0210.

April 1999
(Page 5) HIKING/BACKPACKING/TRAILS

May 15 Saturday Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Rachel Carson Trail, North Hills. This is the first of four hikes on the Rachel Carson Trail covering all 34 miles of the Trail. We begin at the Beaver Shelter in North Park, traverse the park and go through Crouse Run Hollow (wet crossing) near Sample Station. We pass through the Hampton Nature Reserve, climb to the roof of Allegheny County to Dorseyville. About 8 miles, this is the easiest of the four sections of the Rachel Carson Trail, Intermediate hiking. Meets at 8:00 AM in the Ames Plaza in Harmarville. Call Jim to make a reservation.

May 16 Sunday Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Rachel Carson Trail, The Roller Coaster. This is the second of four hikes on the Rachel Carson Trail covering all 34 miles of the Trail. We begin in Dorseyville, and travel past Emmerling Park to Long Run and then up Rich Hill. We go down LaFever Hill but then go up the infamous hill at Mile 14. Then we tackle the Roller Coaster all the way to Freeport Road in Springdale. About 10 miles, definitely strenuous, not recommended for beginning hikers. Meets at 8:00 AM in the Ames Plaza in Harmarville, Call Jim to make a reservation.

May 22 Saturday Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Rachel Carson Trail, Allegheny Vistas. This is the third of four hikes covering the 34-mile Rachel Carson Trail end-to-end. We will start in Springdale and go immediately up on the bluffs high over the Allegheny River. We will go up and down Murray Hill, Creighton Hill, Bailey's Hill and Bakerstown Hill, ending our hike at Bull Creek Road near Tarentum. About 8 miles, intermediate hiking, moderately strenuous. Be sure you've gone 8 miles before, don't make this the first time, Meets at 8:00 AM at the Ames Plaza in Harmarville, Call Jim to make a reservation.

May 23 Sunday Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Rachel Carson Trail, Harrison Hills. This is the fourth and last of four hikes covering the 34-mile Rachel Carson Trail end-to-end. This hike begins at Bull Creek and after a mile of road-walking tackles Burtner Hill, one of the biggest and toughest hills on the Trail. The rest of the hike is a piece of cake, going into Harrison Hills Park and back to the bluffs of the Allegheny River once again. About 8 miles, moderately strenuous, intermediate level hiking, Meets at 8:00 AM at Ames Plaza in Harmarville. Call Jim to make a reservation

June 19 Saturday Jim Ritchie 828-0210 Leo Stember 681-1385
Rachel Carson Trail Challenge. This is it. 34 miles in one day, from North Park to Harrison Hills County Park. Registration is required and a registration form is included elsewhere in the newsletter. Call Leo or Jim for additional information.

The Third Annual Rachel Carson Trail Challenge
"34 Miles in One Day"
June 19th, 1999

The 1999 Rachel Carson Trail Challenge is a 34-mile, one-day, endurance hiking event, held in the spirit of the Alaskan Iditarod, the Boston Marathon, the 70-mile Laurel Highlands Trail Run, the Race Across America and the many Ironman Triathlons held across the country each year. Sponsored by the Pittsburgh Council, American Youth Hostels, the Challenge will be held this year on June 19th (taking advantage of the summer solstice), starting at the crack of dawn, and will extend through the 34 mile roller coaster of hills, hollows, and bluffs between North Park and Harrison Hills in Allegheny County, ending as the sun sets below the horizon. The "Challenge" is to endure, to finish the hike in one day, rather than to "come in first" or "win" the hike.

The Rachel Carson Trail is characterized by its roller coaster hills and is often said to be one of the most difficult hiking trails in the United States. The hike will be gin at sunrise and will officially end at sunset, 5:50 AM to 8:54 P.M., giving Challengers a total of 15 hours and 4 minutes to complete the 34-mile route. A typical hiking pace on most trails is 2 miles per hour.

The Challenge has two dimensions: the first challenge is to endure 34 miles of tortuous hill-climbing and descent in unpredictable weather conditions; the second, more subtle, is your ability to stay on the Trail without getting lost. Obviously, those who have hiked the trail before will have some advantage in maintaining the proper route.

All hikers will be given a trip sheet and a set of topographic maps to guide them on their journey. There will be a half dozen checkpoints throughout the hike, offer ing minimal support. Hikers are expected to carry all their own gear and necessities, including food, water, and snacks, first aid equipment, raingear, maps and a trip sheet.

Of the 270 people who started the 1996 and 1997 Challenges, only 32 have finished the 34-mile event. Hikers claim the 1996 and 1999 North Park to Harrison Hills route is more difficult than 1997's reverse direction. Of those who registered for the Challenge in 1996, only 5 people finished 34 miles.

The Rachel Carson Trail is a "primitive" trail in the sense that no special grading or surfacing materials are used on the trail. It is a typical Western Pennsylvania hiking trail and hikers should expect to find all the conditions a typical hiker would encounter on a typical hiking trail. While the trail is blazed with yellow blazes, there will be an occasional missing blaze where a tree has fallen or when you are following a logging road or a power line or gas line; there will be blowdowns, washouts, poison ivy, nettles, bugs, loose gravel and rocks, steep inclines, and wet stream crossings. You must be prepared to expect the unexpected and the unthinkable. The better hiker you are, the better you will do on the Challenge.

A REGISTRATION FORM is included in this issue of the Golden Triangle Newsletter on page 7. For more information call (412) 681-1385 or (412) 828-0210. Email may be sent to POL1385@hotmail.com or Jimritch@aol.com. Read about the 1996 and 1997 Challenges at the AYH Website: http://trfn.clpgh.org/ayh/challenge96.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR CHALLENGE DAY Rachel Carson Trail Challenge June 19, 1999
We need a dozen or so volunteers to help us staff the Checkpoints on the Rachel Carson Trail on June 19, 1999. Checkpoint volunteers will assist hikers by "checking them in" when they reach the checkpoint, making sure each hiker gets water, snacks, and any assistance they may require. There will be a team of volunteers at each checkpoint. If you have first aid training or a tarp you can erect to block the sun, those are a plus. Each volunteer will receive a Rachel Carson Trail "Trail Marshal" t-shirt. If you are interested, call Leo Stember at (412) 681-1385 or Jim Ritchie at (412) 828-0210.

HELP US MAINTAIN THE BAKER TRAIL
Do you have an interest in hiking and hiking trails? Could you help us take care of the Baker Trail doing a one-time trail maintenance project??? If you love hiking and the outdoors and you can assume responsibility for blazing a section of the Baker Trail on your own time, please give me a call. I will provide a brief training session and turn you loose on your own project. AYH will provide or reimburse you for paint and brushes. This year, our greatest need is for volunteers who will blaze along several miles of country roads in Armstrong, Indiana, Jefferson, and Clarion counties.
Reply to Jim Ritchie, (412) 828-0210, or send email to jir@budget.ba.pitt.edu

(Page 7) More...About the 1999 Rachel Carson Trail Challenge

DETAILS
STARTING POINT: The 1999 Challenge will begin at 5:50 AM at the Beaver Shelter in North Park, 100 yards north and west of the junction of Babcock Blvd. and Pierce Mill Rd, North Park is located on the “Yellow Belt" between Route 19 (McKnight Rd.) and Route 8.
PARKING: There are several parking areas in the vicinity of North Park's Beaver Shelter but parking space is generally limited, Car pooling is suggested. Because Harrison Hills Park will be closed and locked at 9:30 PM, no exceptions, you must have your car out of the park before that time. You may consider parking your car outside the front gate. A few cars may be parked at the Volunteer Fire Dept. about a half mile north of the Park on Freeport Road. Call, if necessary, for further details on parking at Harrison Hills.
SHUTTLE: There will be no shuttle service to return you to your car from the finish or from anywhere along the hike.
HALF CHALLENGE: The Rachel Carson Homestead is a quarter-mile from the halfway point (17 miles) of the Challenge. Water, snacks, restrooms, telephones, and Trail Marshals will be available at the Homestead. You may “spot" a car at the Springdale High School parking area, 2 blocks from the Homestead.
WATER: Checkpoints will be located every 5-6 miles with water and light snacks available for participants. Marshals will have cell phones provided by Bell Atlantic Mobile for communications.
THE FINISH: The 1999 Rachel Carson Trail Challenge will end at precisely 8:54 PM (official sunset time) at the Ox Roast Shelter in Harrison Hills Park. Take the left fork on the Park entrance road and follow it to the end to get to the Ox Roast Shelter.

“HOW DO I COMPETE?”
WHAT TO BRING: You are expected to be entirely self-contained. This is an endurance hike, not a "trail run” or a race. Weight, up to 10 pounds in your pack will not be a significant factor. Be able to carry NO LESS THAN 2 quarts of water, sports drinks are recommended; carry a lunch plus high-energy snack foods, raingear, dry socks, first aid gear-especially moleskin or band-aids for blisters; you may want to carry a pair of sandals or surf shoes for wet stream crossings; wear sturdy, well broken-in footgear preferably with good ankle support and a lugged sole for gripping loose gravel and rocks; wear thick wool, wool blend or synthetic fiber socks; wear a hat to keep your head out of the sun; wear sunglasses, carry a pack towel to soak in streams and wrap over your head to cool down; a cell phone is optional but recommended, especially if you want to be able to call someone you know for a ride from the trail.

Please note that in June, some sections of the Rachel Carson Trail will have brambles and nettles as well as poison ivy. Long pants made of lightweight material are recommended.

THE ALTERNATIVE: While the organizers recommend you outfit yourself as a “hiker", it is recognized that several participants in Challenge 96 and Challenge 97 had some success participating in "runner mode” wearing light low-top trail running shoes, and carrying only water and a small waist pack for gear instead of a day backpack (rucksack/knapsack).

THE PRIZE: All 34-mile finishers will be entered into a raffle; three names will be drawn with each winner receiving an overnight for two at either the new Pittsburgh International Youth Hostel or the Ohiopyle Youth Hostel. All 34-mile and 17-mile finishers will receive six issues of the AYH Golden Triangle newsletter free (July-December 1999 issues).

May 1999
Issue missing

June 1999
(Page 10) HIKING/BACKPACKING/TRAILS

June 19 Saturday Jim Ritchie 828-0210 Leo Stember 681-1385
Rachel Carson Trail Challenge. This is it. 34 miles in one day, from North Park to Harrison Hills County Park. Registration is required and a registration form is included elsewhere in the newsletter. Call Leo or Jim for additional information.

June 26 Saturday Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Baker Trail, Maintenance Hike Crooked Creek Area. We will hike about 5 miles, blazing and sprucing up the trail as we go, starting near Sedwick's Country Estate (?) and finishing near Elbow Run. If it's a hot day, bring a bathing suit and you can go swim- ming at the Crooked Creek beach; if we work late, dinner at Pitzer's is an option for those who are interested. Call Jim for additional information.

July 17 Saturday Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Baker Trail, Maintenance Hike Cherry Run to the Tree Farm

August 7 Saturday Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Baker Trail/North Country Trail, Maintenance Hike Allegheny National Forest/Kittanning

The Third Annual Rachel Carson Trail Challenge
"34 Miles in One Day"
June 19th, 1999

The 1999 Rachel Carson Trail Challenge is a 34-mile, one-day, endurance hiking event, held in the spirit of the Alaskan Iditarod, the Boston Marathon, the 70-mile Laurel Highlands Trail Run, the Race Across America and the many Ironman Triathlons held across the country each year. Sponsored by the Pittsburgh Council, American Youth Hostels, the Challenge will be held this year on June 19th (taking advantage of the summer solstice), starting at the crack of dawn, and will extend through the 34- mile roller coaster of hills, hollows, and bluffs between North Park and Harrison Hills in Allegheny County, ending as the sun sets below the horizon. The "Challenge" is to endure, to finish the hike in one day, rather than to "come in first" or "win" the hike.

The Rachel Carson Trail is characterized by its roller coaster hills and is often said to be one of the most difficult hiking trails in the United States. The hike will be- gin at sunrise and will officially end at sunset, 5 50 A.M. to 8 54 P.M., giving Challengers a total of 15 hours and 4 minutes to complete the 34-mile route. A typical hiking pace on most trails is 2 miles per hour.

The Challenge has two dimensions the first challenge is to endure 34 miles of tortuous hill-climbing and descent in unpredictable weather conditions; the second, more subtle, is your ability to stay on the Trail without getting lost. Obviously, those who have hiked the trail before will have some advantage in maintaining the proper route.

All hikers will be given a trip sheet and a set of topographic maps to guide them on their journey. There will be a half dozen checkpoints throughout the hike, offering minimal support. Hikers are expected to carry all their own gear and necessities, including food, water, and snacks, first aid equipment, raingear, maps and a trip sheet.

Of the 270 people who started the 1996 and 1997 Challenges, only 32 have finished the 34-mile event. Hikers claim the 1996 and 1999 North Park to Harrison Hills route is more difficult than 1997 s reverse direction. Of those who registered for the Challenge in 1996, only 5 people finished 34 miles.

The Rachel Carson Trail is a "primitive" trail in the sense that no special grading or surfacing materials are used on the trail. It is a typical Western Pennsylvania hiking trail and hikers should expect to find all the conditions a typical hiker would encounter on a typical hiking trail. While the trail is blazed with yellow blazes, there will be an occasional missing blaze where a tree has fallen or when you are following a logging road or a power line or gas line; there will be blowdowns, washouts, poison ivy, nettles, bugs, loose gravel and rocks, steep inclines, and wet stream crossings. You must be prepared to expect the unexpected and the unthinkable. The better hiker you are, the better you will do on the Challenge.

A REGISTRATION FORM is included in this issue of the Golden Triangle Newsletter on page 11, For more information call (412) 681-1385 or (412) 828-0210, Email may be sent to POL1385@hotmail,com or Jimritch@aol,com, Read about the 1996 and 1997 Challenges at the AYH Website: http://trfn,clpgh,org/ayh/challenge96.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR CHALLENGE DAY Rachel Carson Trail Challenge June 19, 1999
We need a dozen or so volunteers to help us staff the Checkpoints on the Rachel Carson Trail on June 19, 1999. Checkpoint volunteers will assist hikers by "checking them in" when they reach the checkpoint, making sure each hiker gets water, snacks, and any assistance they may require. There will be a team of volunteers at each checkpoint. If you have first aid training or a tarp you can erect to block the sun, those are a plus. Each volunteer will receive a Rachel Carson Trail "Trail Marshal" t-shirt. If you are interested, call Leo Stember at (412) 681-1385 or Jim Ritchie at (412) 828-0210.

HELP US MAINTAIN THE BAKER TRAIL
Do you have an interest in hiking and hiking trails? Could you help us take care of the Baker Trail doing a one-time trail maintenance project??? If you love hiking and the outdoors and you can assume responsibility for blazing a section of the Baker Trail on your own time, please give me a call, I will provide a brief training session and turn you loose on your own project, AYH will provide or reimburse you for paint and brushes, This year, our greatest need is for volunteers who will blaze along several miles of country roads in Armstrong, Indiana, Jefferson, and Clarion counties,

Reply to Jim Ritchie, (412) 828-0210, or send email to jlr@budget,ba,pitt,edu

More...About the 1999 Rachel Carson Trail Challenge

DETAILS
STARTING POINT: The 1999 Challenge will begin at 5:50 AM at the Beaver Shelter in North Park, 100 yards north and west of the junction of Babcock Blvd. and Pierce Mill Rd. North Park is located on the “Yellow Belt” between Route 19 (McKnight Rd.) and Route 8.
PARKING: There are several parking areas in the vicinity of North Park’s Beaver Shelter but parking space is generally limited. Car pooling is suggested. Because Harrison Hills Park will be closed and locked at 9:30 PM, no exceptions, you must have your car out of the park before that time. You may consider parking your car outside the front gate. A few cars may be parked at the Volunteer Fire Dept. about a half mile north of the Park on Freeport Road. Call, if necessary, for further details on parking at Harrison Hills.
SHUTTLE: There will be no shuttle service to return you to your car from the finish or from anywhere along the hike.
HALF CHALLENGE. The Rachel Carson Homestead is a quarter-mile from the halfway point (17 miles) of the Challenge. Water, snacks, restrooms, telephones, and Trail Marshals will be available at the Homestead. You may “spot” a car at the
Springdale High School parking area, 2 blocks from the Homestead.
WATER: Checkpoints will be located every 5-6 miles with water and light snacks available for participants. Marshals will have cell phones provided by Bell Atlantic Mobile for communications.
THE FINISH: The 1999 Rachel Carson Trail Challenge will end at precisely 8:54 PM (official sunset time) at the Ox Roast Shelter in Harrison Hills Park. Take the left fork on the Park entrance road and follow it to the end to get to the Ox Roast Shelter.

“HOW DO I COMPETE?”
WHAT TO BRING: You are expected to be entirely self-contained. This is an endurance hike, not a “trail run” or a race. Weight, up to 10 pounds in your pack will not be a significant factor. Be able to carry NO LESS THAN 2 quarts of water; sports drinks are recom- mended; carry a lunch plus high-energy snack foods, raingear, dry socks, first aid gear-especially moleskin or band-aids for bl isters; you may want to carry a pair of sandals or surf shoes for wet stream crossings; wear sturdy, well broken-in footgear preferably with good ankle support and a lugged sole for gripping loose gravel and rocks; wear thick wool, wool blend or synthetic fiber socks; wear a hat to keep your head out of the sun; wear sunglasses; carry a pack towel to soak in streams and wrap over your head to cool down; a cell phone is optional but recommended, especially if you want to be able to call someone you know for a ride from the trail.

Please note that in June, some sections of the Rachel Carson Trail will have brambles and nettles as well as poison ivy. Long pants made of lightweight material are recommended.

THE ALTERNATIVE: While the organizers recommend you outfit yourself as a “hiker”, it is recognized that several participants in Challenge 96 and Challenge 97 had some success participating in “runner mode” wearing light low-top trail running shoes, and carrying only water and a small waist pack for gear instead of a day backpack (rucksack/knapsack).

THE PRIZE: All 34-mile finishers will be entered into a raffle; three names will be drawn with each winner receiving an overnight for two at either the new Pittsburgh International Youth Hostel or the Ohiopyle Youth Hostel. All 34-mile and 17-mile finishers will receive six issues of the AYH Golden Triangle newsletter free (July-December 1999 issues).

Sports Massage Available at the Challenge
Therapeutic sports massage will be available to participants at the 1999 Rachel Carson Trail Challenge. This service is being organized and sponsored by Allegheny Advanced Medicine, an advanced medicine practice group located in Gibsonia, Allegheny County, at 5351 Route 8, across from the North Park Lounge. You will be informed of the exact locations and times where they will be set up as you check in for the Challenge on June 19. If you have any specific questions at this time, including cost, please contact Bob Rock at 412-364-0801. For more information about Allegheny Advanced Medicine, call 724-443-8444 or 800-533-2627.

July 1999
(Page 1) THE IDAHO SHELTER IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS

Boy Scout Troop #91 spent a day doing trail maintenance and got a little, well a lot, wet at the end. (If following a Baker Trail Guide, check out section 4.) The first crew blazed a side trail from the right of the industrial complex up to the Idaho Shelter with white, round blazes. They opened a path through the downed trees and years of plant growth. They assembled a new picnic table and cleared up the area in general. They made a fire pit and built a fire in it in the rain! I was impressed! The second crew pulled an old rotting Baker Trail Sign from the Route 210 crossing and replanted a new signpost thanks to Walter Tereszkiewicz, AYH’s official sign designer and maker. They blazed the stand of pines and cleared the debris for an easier route; weed whacked as necessary and then continued blazing and lopping along the tree farm. The third crew planted a new double blazed signpost, again thanks to Walter, on Pine Hill Road directing hikers from the road left into the woods. They weed whacked, lopped and cleared the trail as necessary, and a couple of Dad’s cleared many downed trees along the way! Their efforts and spirits were tremendous among the raindrops! They were a great crew consisting of Frank Russo, Anthony Russo, Mike Cass, Jonathon Chastek, Mike Cornell, Joshua Gaston, Bob Kuntz, Chris McCutcheon, Ian Neumann, Joshua Wing. They were accompanied by a fellow Eagle Scout, Bryan Cass and were led by a great group of dad’s consisting of Paul Cass, Bob Kuntz, Bud McCutcheon, Jeff Neumann. They were all given a Service Award from the American Youth Hostels for their efforts!

That night we hiked up to the Keystone Power Plant where a fellow Scout Leader from Indiana PA, Roy Craft, gave us an in-depth tour. Quite Impressive!

MANY THANKS TO ALL PARTICIPANTS!!

A special thanks goes to the landowner Joe Kaczor of West Penn Diesel where the shelter resides, for his continued support of the Baker Trail and Mitch who lives near and watches over the shelter.

If anyone is interested in an easy one night Backpacking trip (about 6 miles) starting at Rt. 422 and finishing at the Idaho Shelter, call Patty Brunner 724-325-3224.

REMEMBER THAT HIKERS NATURALLY MAINTAIN A TRAIL! COME HIKE THE BAKER TRAIL!

(Page 7) HIKING/BACKPACKING/TRAILS

July 17 Saturday Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Baker Trail, Maintenance Hike: Cherry Run to the Tree Farm

August 7 Saturday Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Baker Trail/North Country Trail, Maintenance Hike: Allegheny National Forest/Kittanning

HELP US MAINTAIN THE BAKER TRAIL

Do you have an interest in hiking and hiking trails? Could you help us take care of the Baker Trail doing a one-time trail maintenance project??? If you love hiking and the outdoors and you can assume responsibility for blazing a section of the Baker Trail on your own time, please give me a call. I will provide a brief training session and turn you loose on your own project. AYH will provide or reimburse you for paint and brushes. This year, our greatest need is for volunteers who will blaze along several miles of country roads in Armstrong, Indiana, Jefferson, and Clarion counties.

Reply to Jim Ritchie, (412) 828-0210, or send email to jlr@budget.ba.pitt.edu

August 1999
(Page 7) HIKING/BACKPACKING/TRAILS

September 11 Saturday Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Baker Trail Hike, Crooked Creek section from Bethel Twp to Cochran’s Mill. This hike is about 10 miles and covers highly variable terrain: steep hills, open fields, wooded hills, abandoned strip mines, the famous Baker Trail covered footbridge over Horney Camp Run, and two Baker Trail backpacking shelters. This hike will be for experienced hikers who are accustomed to hiking this distance; it is not a beginner’s hike. Rated intermediate or higher. Call Jim for more information and reservations.

October 17 Sunday Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Baker Trail Hike, Keystone section, Indiana County. This hike is approximately 10 miles long and will be an in-and-out hike on a Christmas tree plantation and in the shadow of the Pennsylvania Power Company’s Keystone Power Generating Station near
Shelocta, PA. We also will visit the Idaho Shelter for backpacker’s, renovated this spring by Boy Scout Troop #91. This hike will be for experienced hikers who are accustomed to hiking this distance; it is not a beginner’s hike. Rated intermediate or higher. Call Jim for more information and reservations.

November 7 Sunday Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Baker Trail Hike, Mahoning Section. This is another 10-mile hike on the Baker Trail, this time north of Dayton in the Mahoning Reservoir area. Start at Smicksburg Road and hike to the Mahoning Dam, going past the Jantz (Mahoning) Shelter for backpackers. Also, see the Milton Loop Campground, the village of Milton, and Mahoning Dam. Dinner at Stockdale’s in Dayton at your option. This is definitely a hike for those who love to walk; it is not a beginner’s hike. Rated intermediate or higher. Call Jim for more information and reservations.

December 5 Sunday Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Baker Trail Hike, Red Bank Creek Section. The fourth and final 1999 ten-mile hike on the Baker Trail, starting near Tar Kiln Run, going to Red Bank Creek, Heathville, and finally Summerville. Meet Amos Duck, visit the Summerville Shelter for backpackers and, at your option, eat dinner at the Kountry Kitchen in Summerville. This hike will be for experienced hikers who are accustomed to hiking 10 miles. It is not a beginner’s hike. Rated intermediate or higher. Call Jim for more information and reservations.

Big Baker Trail Story in September Golden Triangle
Be sure to read the September 1999 issue of the AYH Golden Triangle so you can read about the extraordinary effort of two wannabe Eagle Scouts (working for the Eagle Badge) from Brookville, PA who financed, designed, manufactured and assembled two (!!-count ‘em, two) brand new backpacker shelters on the Baker Trail over the spring of ‘99. The new Corsica Shelter and North Freedom Shelter are open and ready for business. The story is a great story of initiative on the part of the scouts, Jim and Mike Walters, guidance and direction from their leader Dave Galbraith of Galbraith’s Furniture in Brookville, and support from Mom and Dad, Maxine and Ron Walters.

HELP US MAINTAIN THE BAKER TRAIL
Do you have an interest in hiking and hiking trails? Could you help us take care of the Baker Trail doing a one-time trail maintenance project??? If you love hiking and the outdoors and you can assume responsibility for blazing a section of the Baker Trail on your own time, please give me a call. I will provide a brief training session and turn you loose on your own project. AYH will provide or reimburse you for paint and brushes. This year, our greatest need is for volunteers who will blaze along several miles of country roads in Armstrong, Indiana, Jefferson, and Clarion counties.

Reply to Jim Ritchie, (412) 828-0210, or send email to jlr@budget.ba.pitt.edu

(Page 8) The Sky Was Blue.
From "Stagger Lee", Lloyd Price, 1959

The Saga of the 1999 Rachel Carson Trail Challenge

The sky was blue; the air was cool; the trail was clean; the water was low. spirits were high. That pretty much sums up RCTC ‘99. A grand total of 195 entries put 390 feet on the Rachel Carson Trail treadway on June 19, 1999. Seventy-four (74) athletes ran, walked, climbed, scooted, and stumbled their way through the 33.24 miles from the Beaver Shelter in North Park to the Ox Roast Shelter in Harrison Hills Park. The first finisher, Frank Eyth, of Pittsburgh, ambled into Harrison Hills at 12:50 pm, so early no one was there to greet him. By the time the support services got there, he had gone home and left a note with a party of picnickers at the nearby Ox Roast Shelter. So good were conditions, and so primed were the athletes that the second finisher, John DeWalt, of Sarver, PA, knocked nearly two hours off his personal best finish at 3:30 PM in 1997 finishing at 1:35 PM, and newcomer Stephen Downing, of Sewickley, was only a short distance behind, finishing at 2:10 PM.

The best weather day of the year greeted the Challengers at they checked in at 5:30 AM to get their shirts, maps, and 3-minute orientation before striking out across the causeway to the Rachel Carson Trail. The high temp for the day was 74 degrees; when the sun approached midafternoon, the clouds coolly complied by filling the sky, filtering the sunlight into mellow warmth.

The hikers were supposed to hit the Route 8 crossing by 7:10 am; we had carefully calculated the times the fastest hikers would hit each key point along the Trail. By the time Cele and I got there to direct traffic and provide a safe crossing, dozens of hikers were streaming out of the woods and out across the highway, unattended. They were way ahead of schedule. I called Leo (Stember, co-organizer) and said “You’d better set up Shaffer Road early because they’re going to outrun our checkpoints”.

At Shaffer Road, the runners’ vanguard, led by John DeWalt, Frank Eyth, and Stephen Downing were coming into sight as the very first marshal began to set up. Within minutes, dozens more were coming in, looking great actually, cool, relaxed, dry; having a good day. Personal Bests were going to be the order of the day. Sylvia gave out bandages for blister, Jim Crist and daughter Emma provided the entertainment at CP1 (Check Point 1) with Emma quizzing hikers on who they voted for for president, their favorite color, movie, song, etc. Frank, whose granddaughter was running the Challenge, steered hikers to the checklist; Jim Crist made sure they had checked in before they left.

As the day went on, the pace picked up. Many hikers were actually picking up steam as they headed down the Trail, starting off slow from North Park to Shafer and building up speed as they progressed. Past Casey’s, where Marshal Vince made sure the hikers stayed on track along the entrance road and back through the equipment yard.

At Emmerling Park, Marshals Patti and Steve directed the Challengers to water and restrooms, their last before hitting the first big Rachel Carson Hill, Rich Hill by name, a half-mile long climb, so steep at the bottom you can reach out and touch the dirt in front of your face as you rise up its face. I stood at the top of Rich Hill to congratulate hikers as they made it to the top, offering water and sympathy.

Soon, as they jammed their toes into the front of their hiking boots and running shoes going down LaFever Hill, they could look ahead past CP2 and see the hill known as “Mile 14". Nearly a mile long itself, Mile 14 seems to stretch to the sky; tiny hikers off in the distance, strung out like sparse beads on a cheap necklace were scattered in a mile-long chain. Marshals Jack and Blanche, at the bottom of the hill, gave out water, snacks, and friendly advice.

Next came the turnoff to the Rachel Carson Homestead in Springdale with Marshals Vince and Hugh taking turns directing traffic on the pipeline at the end of the Roller Coaster. The Roller Coaster consists of five sharp hills, all in a row, in track no more than one mile long. One young woman, sitting by the turnoff for awhile contemplating her fate, decided to give it a go and headed on down the trail, rejecting the temptation to quit and rest, to eat, drink, get a massage, and be merry, instead choosing to challenge the dreaded unknown ahead. Five minutes later, she came back in, giving it up, today anyway, and headed for the crowd of 75 participants who pounded out the 17 mile trek to Rachel’s House.

Next stop was Sheetz where Marshals Patti and Steve reappeared, with a shelter set up to block the sun that barely peeped through the cloud cover. CP3, however, was in full view of Crawford’s Hill, a power line right-of-way rocketing out of the valley below, 300 feet to a crest overlooking the distant Allegheny River and New Kensington. The mild sun, the low streams, the gentle breeze, and wonderful trail conditions were no match for Challengers ‘99. Nearly everyone who got to Sheetz managed, ultimately, to finish at Harrison Hills.

In the meantime, Leo was missing the leaders at nearly every checkpoint. It was Leo’s job to open up the checkpoints and get the Marshals in place with water, snacks, checklists, and instructions. Getting to Springdale Hollow/Riddle Run Road just in time to see them disappear over the top of the hill, he sped to the next road crossing hoping to intercept. Soon they came and Leo was able to water and feed the leaders.

We tried to intimidate the hikers by placing CP4 at the very bottom and edge of Burtner Hill, with perhaps the steepest rise of the entire trail at their fingertips. Even that, however, was not able to turn back a single hiker. Everyone who passed CP4 made it to the end, with time to spare.

The best parts of every Challenge are the stories shared at the end of the day, stories of heroism and cowardice, comedy and tragedy, elation and disappointment, strategy and blunder, the struggles and the insights of the human animal testing its limits. In one story, a guy and a gal are hiking, past the Homestead, past Sheetz, approaching Burtner. He keeps asking her if she’s OK and tells her if she wants to, they can quit, it's OK, he doesn't want her to be miserable. All the while, he's secretly hoping she says “OK, I’ve had enough”. But, she never says it, she just keeps on going. He's getting pretty pooped and begins to be just a little concerned that HE will make it. In the end, they both make it, but he's just a little worse for the wear and tear.

Another two guys had reached the Homestead and left the Trail to get some water and food and contemplate continuation. While their, they decided to get the free massage being offered their by Bob Rock, Martha Braun, and company from Allegheny Advanced Medicine. AAM must know what it's doing, because after the massage these guys couldn't believe how good they felt, just like they felt at 5:30 in the morning at the start, as good as new. So, they jumped back onto the trail and finished at Harrison Hills with nearly an hour to spare.

As an aside, the folks form AAM gave more than 60 massages to hikers who either finished or stopped into the Rachel Carson Homestead for a break. Homestead Director Mark Tomlinson had food and drink on hand as well as telephones and toilets for those coming in off the Trail.

At Harrison Hills, Leo and I were monitoring all the hikers out on the Trail. Using the checkpoint sheets, they could tell who was still out, who had quit, and what time anyone had gone past the CP. One couple, Bob and Lisa, were the only two people unaccounted for: they had passed Sheetz, CP3, but hours later, they had never reached Burtner, CP4. CP4 shut down at 7 pm. What would happen it they had been lost and came in 15 minutes later? 8 PM-no word. 8:30 PM-still no word. We kept asking other hikers coming in to the Park if they'd seen anyone behind them. “No”. Finally, in desperation, and on a hunch, I called Bob at home. No answer. Then Lisa. “Hello”. They had “bailed out” at Bailey’s Run, in spite of the pun. All accounted for.

As the last rays of the sun were being snuffed out on the western horizon, and Leo and I were packing up our gear to make our forced exit from Harrison Hills Park, one of the Challengers came up to me and thanked me and all of us for the work we had put into the event, saying “You know, I had to prove something to myself, and you gave me the opportunity to do that. Thanks, It is appreciated.”

Sometimes when you’re pushing your limits and you’re really tired, your mind has a hard time keeping in focus. One of the leaders got to within a half mile of the end of the hike, and couldn’t locate a turn. He looked and looked and walked back and forth and up and down and just couldn’t see it. After nearly 20 minutes of tracking and backtracking and retracing he found the turn and in 10 more minutes finished the hike. Oddly, the blaze at that turn was, in fact, in full view, and no one else mentioned having a problem at that point.

At the little dirt slide coming down into CP4 at Burtner Hill, our Trail Photographer, Jim Ritchie, Jr., was laying in the weeds waiting to get some action shots of hikers scooting down the slide to the edge of the small creek. After a couple of minutes, 3 hikers appeared at the crest of the slide and began to assume the scooting position, butt to dirt, to get down the slide without breaking a leg. As soon as they saw the photographer, however, they had to do the macho thing, and quickly bolting to their feet, ran down the slide, standing upright, hell bent for leather, nearly going down face first at the bottom.

Dwight Fox of Aspinwall, a Baker Trail volunteer, earned the nickname “Mr. Clean” as he came strolling into Harrison Hills at 5:35 PM looking like he had spent the afternoon at Monroeville Mall, no sweaty clothing and hardly a single speckle of mud on his pants. Gino Santucci came in at 7:35 PM wearing a pair of shorts and carrying nothing else except a fanny pack hardly big enough to carry his car keys and a single water bottle. Leo dubbed him the “minimalist”.

As Stan Schiffman approached the cutoff to the Rachel Carson Homestead, he had not seen anyone behind him for a long, long, time. He expected that he was probably running dead last. On the “roller coaster”, less than a mile to go, he could see two people up ahead-they were hitting the peaks of the coaster just as he was. Then, they went into a dip on the roller coaster and he never saw them again. When he got to the cut off, and asked Marshal Hugh what happened, Hugh said he saw them go down and he never saw them again either. They never came back up. So Stan went in to the Homestead and 45 minutes later, here they come, straggling in. Evidently they had cut over onto a side street and wandered the streets of Springdale, looking for the Homestead, allowing Stan the satisfaction of coming in ahead of someone-anyone.

Dave Schramm, came in to register at North Park with his two boys, Jordan and Ben, only minutes before we pulled up stakes and headed for CP1. They got their t-shirts and bananas and headed out across the causeway to the Trail. About 7 or 8 minutes later, as we finished up packing our supplies, I thought I heard something in the direction of the Trail, so I glanced over to see what was going on. There was one of Dave’s boys skipping stones across the pond from the edge of the causeway. Obviously, they were here for the pleasure of a day in the woods and on the Trail without regard to making high mileage.

The Rumons, 3 girls with Dad, at Mile 14 whispered to one of the Marshals that they wanted to quit. And they looked pretty bushed. When one of the CP Marshals asked if they wanted a ride, they said no, they had an obsessed dad who was going to force them to make it to the Homestead, and they had to make him happy. At the Homestead, the girls stopped out while Dad went on to finish at 6:50 PM in Harrison Hills. Congrats, Dave!

How many people saw the guy who was just in North Park taking a walk at 5:30 in the morning, saw all the hikers going by and decided to follow them; 2 hours later he’s at the Shaffer Road Checkpoint using his cell phone trying to tell his wife where he is; problem is he doesn’t know himself. I saw him crossing Route 8 looking up at the sky like “Where am I? What am I doing here?” I assume he eventually got home OK.

Did you know Elizabeth Taylor was one of our Challengers? No lie! She made the Homestead at 3:40 PM. Good job, Liz!

Barb Peterson was thrilled with her time, finishing at 4:35 PM, knocking hours off her 1997 finish. She just keeps getting better, year after year. There were only 5 two-time finishers competing in 1999: Barb, Don Erdeljac, Pat Goebl, John Havel, and Tom Bevan. Don’s our Rachel Carson Trail maintenance volunteer extraordinaire, Pat is part of team EMS, and John and Tom came out for the “May Hikes” this year; those are the four “training hikes” we do on 2 consecutive weekends in May to give people an opportunity to train physically, but also to learn the “look and feel” of the Rachel Carson Trail. Then, of course, we have our one and only one 3-time finisher, John DeWalt of Sarver. John, too, keeps getting better and better, finishing this year at 1:35 PM.

The men who finished the 1999 Challenge ranged in age from 19 (Drew Shaub, of Glenshaw) to 63 (John DeWalt) and the women from 16 (Megan Rogers of Allison Park) to 68 (Sally Martin, 68, of Bradford Woods, finished at Harrison Hills at 8:20 PM-talk about getting better and better). In total, 13 women and 61 men finished the entire “34 miles in one day”. Not bad, not bad at all.

-jim ritchie

Thanks, Folks
-jim ritchie & leo stember

We want to take a moment to thank all the wonderful and concerned volunteers who took a day or more to help us stage the 3rd Rachel Carson Trail Challenge. Specifically, we want to thank Jerry Agin, a participant who finished the 17-mile Half Challenge in 1996 and 1997 and now the 34-mile Challenge in 1999, for being our registrar, building for future use a comprehensive database of registrants, and finishers. Thanks to Ken Chute who designed our t-shirt for us and doing such a good job that the artist at the t-shirt company nearly wet his pants exclaiming what a wonderful job Ken had done, producing an artist-ready pattern on his computer.

Mark Tomlinson, Executive Director of the Rachel Carson Homestead Association, is thanked for making the Homestead available, not only as collecting point for 17-mile finishers, but also for allowing the folks from Allegheny Advanced Medicine for setting up a sports massage station in the front yard, and for providing some refreshments for Challengers. On that note, thanks to Bob Rock and Martha Braun and their two associates (whose names I do not know), all from Allegheny Advanced Medicine, for donating their time and providing free therapeutic sports massage for all takers. Bob reports they gave over 60 massages on Challenge Day. Also, Allegheny Advance Medicine made a cash donation in support of the 1999 Challenge.

We want to thank all those who served as Marshals on Challenge Day, doing a wonderful job, and for whose work we received numerous compliments for their friendliness and helpfulness: Cele Fichter, Sylvia Madden, Jim and Emma Crist, Vince Roolf, Hugh Downing, Sue Ritchie (thanks-hon’), Jim Ritchie, Jr. (trail photographer), Jack and Blanche Asherman, Jack and Cheryl Rearick, Steve and Patty Brunner, Ben Brugmans, Jerry Agin who in addition to being our registrar also helped at check-in before zapping out 34 miles on the trail, and Miriam Schiffman. Thanks to the Hampton Township Police Department for their assistance at the Route 8 Crossing, to Mike Diehl and Harry Thompson of the Allegheny County Parks Department for going out of their way to make the parks available for us and keeping Harrison Hills open past its bedtime.

I want to thank all the maintenance volunteers who serve as caretakers for the Rachel Carson Trail year ‘round, but who made a special effort to go out and beat that trail into the best condition of its existence: Hugh and son Joe Downing, Mary Pitzer, Barb Peterson, Tim Henigin, Vince Roolf, Jill Parnham and friends in Hampton, Dan Liebel, and Don Erdeljac. A special thanks goes to Don, who went out day after day, training for the Challenge on the Trail, and fixed nearly every problem he encountered, literally fixing some on the day before the Challenge. Don hauled posts for blazing into the woods, nailed up numerous plastic blazes at critical points of the trail, and communicating almost daily on problems observed and possible ways to fix them. Don also produced (and Jerry Agin typed out) a great bus connection schedule from all points of the RCT.

Thanks, too, to the folks at Sheetz/Creighton for making an unsolicited donation of ice for the Check Point behind their store and cheerfully welcoming Challengers going in the store for food, drink, rest rooms, and more. And, obviously, we want to thank our sponsors, Pennsylvania Health and Fitness Magazine (donation of advertising space), Bell Atlantic Mobile (donation of cell phones), Chesapeake Bagels for their great bagels, Tim Meize of Meize Jet Air for a donation of 4 cases of bananas, and EMS for their donation of water bottle handouts and the participation of Team EMS.

George Bender and Grace Henning picked up and dropped off the large ten-and twenty-gallon water coolers, saving someone a couple of hours and 40 miles of driving time. Thanks to John Havel to his unrelenting encouragement to stage the 1999 Challenge. Cristen Ostendorf of the Post-Gazette and Rex Rutkowski of the Valley News Dispatch are thanked for their great coverage of this year’s event; that reminds me to thank Hugh Downing who mercilessly ran our public information campaign, getting the word out to every imaginable publication in the Western PA region. Thanks to Barb Peterson, again, this time for arranging the publicity hike in North Park with the Post-Gazette people. Thanks to Joel Platt for taking over the AYH Golden Triangle newsletter duties, insuring that the message got out and got out on time.

No doubt I have forgotten to thank someone who contributed physically or spiritually to the 1999 Challenge effort or I have overlooked the special effort of someone I did thank for something else. It takes a lot of people to put one of these things together. It takes the kind of people who “put in” instead of “take out” in our society. It takes the kind of people who are part of our society’s solution and not part of the problem. To all those who “put in” their two cents on behalf of the 1999 Rachel Carson Trail Challenge, Leo and Jim extend our heartfelt thanks.

September 1999
(Page 7) HIKING/BACKPACKING/TRAILS

September 11 Saturday Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Baker Trail Hike, Crooked Creek section from Bethel Twp to Cochran’s Mill. This hike is about 10 miles and covers highly variable terrain: steep hills, open fields, wooded hills, abandoned strip mines, the famous Baker Trail covered footbridge over Horney Camp Run, and two Baker Trail backpacking shelters. This hike will be for experienced hikers who are accustomed to hiking this distance; it is not a beginner’s hike. Rated intermediate or higher. Call Jim for more information and reservations.

October 17 Sunday Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Baker Trail Hike, Keystone section, Indiana County. This hike is approximately 10 miles long and will be an in-and-out hike on a Christmas tree plantation and in the shadow of the Pennsylvania Power Company’s Keystone Power Generating Station near Shelocta, PA. We also will visit the Idaho Shelter for backpacker’s, renovated this spring by Boy Scout Troop #91. This hike will be for experienced hikers who are accustomed to hiking 10 miles; it is not a beginner’s hike. Rated intermediate or higher. Call Jim for more information and reservations.

November 7 Sunday Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Baker Trail Hike, Mahoning Section. This is another 10-mile hike on the Baker Trail, this time north of Dayton in the Mahoning Reservoir area. Start at Smicksburg Road and hike to the Mahoning Dam, going past the Jantz (Mahoning) Shelter for backpackers. Also, see the Milton Loop Campground, the village of Milton, and Mahoning Dam. Din- ner at Stockdale’s in Dayton at your option. This is definitely a hike for those who love to walk; it is not a beginner’s hike. Rated intermediate or higher. Call Jim for more information and reservations.

December 5 Sunday Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Baker Trail Hike, Red Bank Creek Section. The fourth and final 1999 ten-mile hike on the Baker Trail, starting near Tar Kiln Run, going to Red Bank Creek, Heathville, and finally Summerville. Meet Amos Duck, visit the Summerville Shelter for backpackers and, at your option, eat dinner at the Kountry Kitchen in Summerville. This hike will be for experienced hikers who are accustomed to hiking 10 miles. It is not a beginner’s hike. Rated intermediate or higher. Call Jim for more information and reservations.

Correction to Rachel Carson Trail Challenge Results
I just wanted to correct something in the newsletter. There are four of us listed as "did not finish" in the Rachel Carson Trail Challenge. Well, actually, we did finish the 17 mile half challange but we forgot to check in; our own fault, really. Don't worry, the records will not be shaken by our times. We arrived in Spring- dale about 2:10 PM but we missed the checkpoint. We are:

23. Mike Diskin 24. Dan Jeffreys 25. Dave Lyle 26. Jim Needles

This was my first experience of a hike this magnitude since basic training (30 years ago). It was a great day and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Well "thoroughly" might be a bit strong. Actually, "enjoyed" might be out of place also. Let's just say I appreciated it very much. Thanks for the opportunity. Next year, one of us will be assigned the exclusive task of making sure we hit all the checkpoints. Thanks again, Dan Jeffreys

Big Baker Trail Story in October Golden Triangle

Be sure to read the October 1999 issue of the AYH Golden Triangle so you can read about the extraordinary effort of two wannabe Eagle Scouts (working for the Eagle Badge) from Brookville, PA who financed, designed, manufactured and assembled two (!!-count ‘em, two) brand new backpacker shelters on the Baker Trail over the spring of ’99, one for Corsica, and the other for North Freedom (Langville). The North Freedom Shelter is open and ready for business. The story is a great story of initiative on the part of the scouts, Jim and Mike Walters, guidance and direction from their Mother and Dad, Ron and Maxine, and scoutmaster Joe Wolfe of Troop 67, Brookville. This article was going to run in September, but we decided to wait for some photographs of the new shelters and the new Eagle Scouts.

HELP US MAINTAIN THE BAKER TRAIL

Do you have an interest in hiking and hiking trails? Could you help us take care of the Baker Trail doing a one-time trail maintenance project??? If you love hiking and the outdoors and you can assume responsibility for blazing a section of the Baker Trail on your own time, please give me a call. I will provide a brief training session and turn you loose on your own project. AYH will provide or reimburse you for paint and brushes. This year, our greatest need is for volunteers who will blaze along several miles of country roads in Armstrong, Indiana, Jefferson, and Clarion counties.

Reply to Jim Ritchie, (412) 828-0210, or send email to jlr@budget.ba.pitt.edu

(Page 8) Rachel Carson and the Hills of Hampton
-by jim ritchie

In the hills of Hampton, there is a tribe known by the name “the Rachel Carson Trail Awareness Group” or the Rachel Carson TAG or, shorter yet, RCTAG. For years and years, the Rachel Carson Trail has plied its silent way through the hills and hollows of Hamptontown. Those who knew of it were few and far between. Jill Parnham, a resident of Hampton, discovered the trail and found it to fulfill at least a part of her need to commune with nature, to walk in the woods, to hear birds sing, smell flowers and watch the seasons change. And she wondered why she hardly ever encountered anyone else in Crouse/Grouse Run or Hampton Woods. (See the story of Crouse/Grouse Run below).

The answer, of course, was that hardly anyone knew the Rachel Carson Trail passed through Hampton Township, right past the Hampton Middle School, right past the soccer fields and the swimming pool, and right through the Hampton Nature Reserve. So Jill has sought to share her treasure with others and in doing so the Rachel Carson Trail Awareness Group (RCTAG) formed itself and has evolved over the course of several years, during which time the group has taken the initiative to organize events focussed on the trail and its well-being.

Jill says someone once asked what the name of her group was and she didn’t have an answer; so after a short hesitation, she said “Well, I guess you could call us the Rachel Carson Trail Awareness Group, because that’s what we do, we try to promote awareness of the trail”. This year, Jill, the loosely designated president of this loosely organized group has organized and facilitated trail activities for Earth Day, Rachel Carson Day, National Trails Day, and Hampton Community Day.

On Earth Day, April 24, RCTAG assisted the Hampton Presbyterian Church in organizing a clean up of Crouse/Grouse run in which the church members walked into this enchanting valley and carried out tires, appliances, bottles, cans, paper trash, etc. RCTAG followed up on that effort on Rachel Carson Day, May 22, by going even deeper into the valley and carried out, from both efforts, 60 tires, 15 bags of miscellaneous trash, 1 car body, 1 industrial heating duct, and assorted automotive parts and electrical appliances. Of course, the deeper in the valley you go, the further out you must carry all the trash you find. It’s probably fair to say everyone slept well after the hard days’ work.

On National Trails Day, June 5, RCTAG organized a hike that attracted around 20 Hamptonites, who drank in the glory of nature as interpreted by Jill and her friends. The purpose of National Trails Day, of course, is to share our passions for trails with our friends and neighbors, by hiking them (the trails, not the friends and neighbors) and nursing them (the trails once again, not the friends and neighbors). We show how to care for trails by clearing them of trash and debris, marking them, and we show how to enjoy trails by walking them.

Then for Hampton Community Days, on July 4, RCTAG set up a booth with information brochures and photographs from the trail, for the citizens of Hampton to see and hopefully to learn of a treasure at their fingertips.

In 1998, RCTAG raised a substantial amount of money to put up a sign interpreting the Rachel Carson Trail and memorializing Rachel Carson’s efforts. The sign was very professionally done with a vandal-proof heavy plastic layer over a presentation designed in partnership with the Rachel Carson Homestead Association. Unfortunately, the vandal-proof sign was vandalized but was eventually repaired.

As I promised: the story of Crouse/Grouse Run. If you reference nearly any map source, most notably the US Geological Survey 7.5 minute quadrangle that includes the beautiful stream valley between Sample Road and Route 8, you will see it referred to as “Crouse Run”. Old timers in the area, however, insist the correct name is “Grouse Run”, and that one mapmaker or another simply made a typographical error that has lived in infamy. Actually, “Grouse” makes more sense, it is the Pennsylvania State Game Bird, and is an actual word, unlike “Crouse”, which to my knowledge, has no meaning.

More interesting, perhaps, is the revelation that Rachel Carson, as a young girl growing up in the Pittsburgh area (her home was in Springdale, she had friends and acquaintances in the Hampton area), on occasion took the streetcar from downtown Pittsburgh to the Crouse/Grouse Run area and is likely to have explored the valley. How much of her love and observation of nature might have come from her experiences here??

A notable contribution of RCTAG, relative to Crouse/Grouse Run, is their effort, along with the efforts of the Pine Creek Land Conservation Trust (another Hampton Group protecting the Crouse/Grouse Run valley), to maintain (limited) public access to the valley, speaking and writing frequently with the (private) landowner, a prominent Pittsburgh physician, who has, in fact, generously allowed the public, to enjoy the beauty of the valley. In fact, he initiated a successful effort to rezone the area as a conservation area, not subject to capricious subdivision.

RCTAG is a small, informal, grassroots community organization; for more information or to make a donation or volunteer your services to RCTAG, call the President, Jill Parnham, at (412) 486-4864. RCTAG also may be able to arrange for short hikes for small groups in the Crouse/Grouse Run valley or Hampton Woods (Nature Reserve).

October 1999
(Page 6) HIKING/BACKPACKING/TRAILS

October 17 Sunday Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Baker Trail Hike, Keystone section, Indiana County. This hike is approximately 10 miles long and will be an in-and-out hike on a Christmas tree plantation and in the shadow of the Pennsylvania Power Company’s Keystone Power Generating Station near Shelocta, PA. There may be a "bushwack" option. We also will visit the Idaho Shelter for backpackers, renovated this spring by Boy Scout Troop #91. Dinner at King's upon returning to Harmarville is an option. This hike will be for experienced hikers who are accustomed to hiking 10 miles; it is not a beginner’s hike. Rated intermediate or higher. Call Jim for more information and reservations.

November 7 Sunday Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Baker Trail Hike, Mahoning Section. This is another 10-mile hike on the Baker Trail, this time north of Dayton in the Mahoning Reservoir area. Start at Smicksburg Road and hike to the Mahoning Dam, going past the Jantz (Mahoning) Shelter for backpackers. Also, see the Milton Loop Campground, the village of Milton, and the Mahoning Dam. Dinner at Stockdale’s in Dayton at your option. This is definitely a hike for those who love to walk; it is not a beginner’s hike. Rated intermediate or higher. Call Jim for more information and reservations.

December 5 Sunday Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Baker Trail Hike, Red Bank Creek Section. The fourth and final 1999 ten-mile hike on the Baker Trail, starting near Tar Kiln Run, going to Red Bank Creek, Heathville, and finally Summerville. Meet Amos Duck, visit the Summerville Shelter for backpackers and, at your option, eat dinner at the Kountry Kitchen in Summerville. This hike will be for experienced hikers who are accustomed to hiking 10 miles. It is not a beginner’s hike. Rated intermediate or higher. Call Jim for more information and reservations.

Year 2000 Sat/Sun Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Baker Trail Hiking Continues: Corsica/Mill Creek Section; Fisher-Sigel Section; Cook Forest Section; Allegheny National Forest Section. Be sure to watch the Golden Triangle beginning next March when we continue hiking the Baker Trail. Each hike will be approximately 10 miles and will include mostly off-road wooded terrain. As we go further and further north, we will have dinner options at the end of the day. Eat hearty country cooking in legendary venues such as the Vowinckle Inn, Cook Forest Inn, Bucktail Inn, and others.

RACHEL CARSON TRAIL HIKER ALERT!!! August 22, 1999

At the request of the landowner, a half-mile section of the Rachel Carson Trail in Frazer Township has been closed to hikers. Going north for a little less than two miles on the Trail from the junction of Pittsburgh Street (sometimes referred to as Freeport Rd.) and Riddle Run Road (sometimes referred to as Springdale Hollow Road) in Springdale, you will encounter a double plastic blaze on a telephone pole with no blazes in view beyond that point. The Trail is closed at the double-blazed pole. Blazes beyond that point have been blacked out.

Going southbound, after passing the radio transmission tower just beyond (south of) Murray Hill Estates the Trail turns right, into the woods, crosses a narrow, open, power line right-of-way, parallels a small creek to the left, and then traverses a small hillside below a trailer court. About halfway across the traversed hillside, the blazing ends, with subsequent blazes being blacked out. The Trail has been closed at the point you encounter the blacked-out blazing.

If you have the Rachel Carson Trail Guide topographic map set, you may reference Map #3: the Trail has been closed from point "T" to point "R".

Trail maintenance volunteers will begin scouting for a new route through this area; when established, that route will be publicized in the Golden Triangle, the AYH Newsletter, as well as other media.

"Switchbacks are for Wimps"
Read Mike Schiller's spine-tingling first person account of his experiences in the 1999 Rachel Carson Trail Challenge in the November Golden Triangle. learn the answers to all of life's important questions. "Did Rachel ever hike this trail?" "Do gourmet foods have their place in an endurance event?" "Can a grown man find love on the Rachel Carson Trail?" "Were the builders of the Rachel Carson Trail sadistic, misanthropic creatures from another planet?" and the related question "Don't they have switchbacks on Mars?" Tune in next month when Mike addresses all these important questions and more.

Big Baker Trail Story in November Golden Triangle
Be sure to read the November 1999 issue of the AYH Golden Triangle so you can read about the extraordinary effort of two wannabe Eagle Scouts (working for the Eagle Badge) from Brookville, PA who financed, designed, manufactured and assembled two (!!-count ‘em, two) brand new backpacker shelters on the Baker Trail over the spring of ’99, one for Corsica, and the other for North Freedom (Langville). The North Freedom Shelter is open and ready for business. The story is a great story of initiative on the part of the scouts, Jimmy and Mike Walter, guidance and direction from their Mother and Dad, Maxine and Ron, scoutmaster Joe Wolfe of Troop 67, Brookville, and friend, Dave Galbraith, a long-time supporter of the Baker Trail. This article was going to run in September, then in October; we are waiting for some photographs of the new shelters and the new Eagle Scouts.

Preview New Rachel Carson/Baker Trail Website
You are invited to preview, at a very early stage, the new Rachel Carson Trail/Baker Trail website at http://members.xoom.com/rachelbaker/ The site is currently under construction and will be changing rapidly over the next several months. We are interested in your feedback, either by email or by telephone: What do you think of the information presented? What else would you like to see on the site? let us know what your information needs are and we will try to include those on the site if possible.

HELP US MAINTAIN THE BAKER TRAIL
Do you have an interest in hiking and hiking trails? Could you help us take care of the Baker Trail doing a one-time trail maintenance project??? If you love hiking and the outdoors and you can assume responsibility for blazing a section of the Baker Trail on your own time, please give me a call. I will provide a brief training session and turn you loose on your own project. AYH will provide or reimburse you for paint and brushes. This year, our greatest need is for volunteers who will blaze along several miles of country roads in Armstrong, Indiana, Jefferson, and Clarion counties.

Reply to Jim Ritchie, (412) 828-0210, or send email to jlr@budget.ba.pitt.edu

November 1999
(Page 6) HIKING/BACKPACKING/TRAILS

November 7 Sunday Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Baker Trail Hike, Mahoning Section. This is another 10-mile hike on the Baker Trail, this time north of Dayton in the Mahoning Reservoir area. Start at Smicksburg Road and hike to the Mahoning Dam, going past the Jantz (Mahoning) Shelter for backpackers. Also, see the Milton Loop Campground, the village of Milton, and the Mahoning Dam. Dinner at Stockdale’s in Dayton at your option. This is definitely a hike for those who love to walk; it is not a beginner’s hike. Rated intermediate or higher. Call Jim for more information and reservations.

December 5 Sunday Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Baker Trail Hike, Red Bank Creek Section. The fourth and final 1999 tenmile hike on the Baker Trail, starting near Tar Kiln Run, going to Red Bank Creek, Heathville, and finally Summerville. Meet Amos Duck, visit the Summerville Shelter for backpackers and, at your option, eat dinner at the Kountry Kitchen in Summerville. This hike will be for experienced hikers who are accustomed to hiking 10 miles. It is not a beginner’s hike. Rated intermediate or higher. Call Jim for more information and reservations.

Year 2000 Sat/Sun Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Baker Trail Hiking Continues: Corsica/Mill Creek Section; Fisher-Sigel Section; Cook Forest Section; Allegheny National Forest Section. Be sure to watch the Golden Triangle beginning next March when we continue hiking the Baker Trail. Each hike will be approximately 10 miles and will include mostly off-road wooded terrain. As we go further and further north, we will have dinner options at the end of the day. Eat hearty country cooking in legendary venues such as the Vowinckle Inn, Cook Forest Inn, Bucktail Inn, and others.

The Big Baker Trail
Story of 1999
-by jim ritchie

The Baker Trail runs from the Allegheny River near Freeport, PA all the way to a nondescript pipeline crossing on Vowinckle-Muzette Road within the jurisdictional boundary of the Allegheny National Forest, nearly 5 miles north of Cook Forest State Park. The Baker Trail was built as a backpacking trail in the late 1940’s and was dedicated in the memory of Horace Forbes Baker, a Pittsburgh attorney who was not only the president of the post-war Pittsburgh Council of the American Youth Hostels, but an ardent supporter of the Baker Trail project. As a backpacker’s trail, a series of overnight, Appalachian-style, openface shelters were built thoughout the 1950’s and 1960’s to support hikers using the trail. In all, eleven (11) shelters were eventually built along the 141 miles of the trail: Schenley, Crooked Creek, Cochran’s Mill, Idaho, Atwood, Milo Weaver, Mahoning/Jantz, North Freedom, Summerville, Corsica, and Fisher.

Time has been unkind to many of the shelters: several were burnt to the ground by vandals; one has been declared “off limits” by an unsupportive landowner, and at least one simply rotted away. But during the 1990’s, a resurgence of interest in the overnight shelters has occurred. Jon Speck and friends rebuilt the Cochran’s Mill and Crooked Creek Shelters in 1995; Patty Brunner, Baker Trail Co-Manager, directed the rehabilitation of the Idaho Shelter by Scout Troop #91 in late 1998. Scout Troop #139, led by John Hackett of Verona, PA has adopted the Mahoning/Jantz shelter near Dayton, PA during 1998. Gerry Vaerywick, along with his family and friends, rebuilt the Milo Weaver Shelter in February, 1997.

Now Jimmy and Mikey Walter of Brookville, PA have contributed wonderfully, by building, from scratch, entire shelters, to replace the heretofore nonexistent shelters at North Freedom and Corsica. The two boys undertook the project to earn their Eagle badges for Scout Troop #67 of Brookville. Scoutmaster Joe Wolfe, and Dave Galbraith, former scout leader and perpetual “Friend of the Baker Trail” directed the boys to this project when he heard they were anxious to find a good project for their Eagle awards. Jim Ritchie dug through his boxes of old records to find the blueprints for the Baker Trail shelters and other constructions.

After sending the blueprints to Jimmy and Mikey, Jim talked with Ron Walter, the boys’ dad, who asked if it really mattered if the blueprints had to be followed to the letter. Learning it was not necessary to do so, Ron said “I have the plans to a shelter in my head. I’ll just build it that way.” So, at home, Ron, Ron, Jr, and the two aspiring Eagle Scouts, constructed all the pieces necessary to build a shelter. They put the pieces together and it worked, so they disassembled the entire structure, put it on a flatbed and drove it to North Freedom. Relocating the shelter to a more advantageous spot than its former site, they reassembled it, got permission from the site’s landowner for immediate placement and a promise for a permanent easement in the property title.

And did I mention that Jimmy and Mikey raised all the money necessary to purchase the materials by themselves??? Well, they did, selling hoagies, candy, from bakesales, and so forth. In Troop #67, part of the Eagle tradition is to raise your own money for your Eagle project.

Well, with North Freedom up and running, the Walter boys turned their attention to the Corsica Shelter. As it turns out, prefabricating the materials for Corsica was the easy part. As before, they cut out all the pieces, assembled it (to make sure it fit together), disassembled it, and loaded it on the flatbed. Alas!! The Corsica Shelter site was famous for its weekend teenage drinking parties. There was absolutely no security. So the Walters began calling all the landowners they knew in the area looking for that perfect spot. They soon resorted to simply driving up and down country roads near the trail looking for a spot to put the new Shelter.

Finally, “Friend of the Baker Trail” Bill Wangler, of Corsica, whose home is right on the Baker Trail, consented for the scouts to put the shelter in a spot about 100 yards down the trail from his house. Jim Ritchie and his maintenance crew of Rich Gemeinhart and “Indian” Carl Gundlach met Bill last October when they spent the day putting up new blazes on the 4 miles of roller coaster pipeline on the Baker Trail that starts at Mr. Wangler’s house. It turns out Bill has been keeping an eye out for the Baker Trail for many years, giving out directions to lost scout groups and others.

So, the new Corsica shelter is located approximately 1.8 miles due north of Corsica; as you follow the Baker Trail along country roads going north out of Corsica, the new Shelter is located right at the point the trail leaves the road and hits the pipeline leading out to the Mill Creek State Gamelands.

How do you adequately thank young men like Jimmy and Mikey and their wonderfully supportive parents like Ron and mom Maxine (whom I spoke with frequently on the telephone), and Friends of the Trail like Dave Galbraith, Joe Wolfe, and Bill Wangler?? Well, one way is to sign the register when you pass their shelters at Corsica and North Freedom and tell them how much you appreciate the work they’ve done for the Baker Trail. Another is to write a letter to the “Golden Triangle”, likewise expressing your thoughts.

Now we have 10 shelters up and running; all except the Schenley Shelter, which exists but is off limits for the time being at the property owner’s request. Hopefully, we can renegotiate that closing soon and have all 11 shelters operative. The next big step for the Baker Trail, of course, will be to generate some new traffic on the Trail in the next year or two, hopefully, even some backpack traffic. Our goals will be to hold the maintenance on the Baker Trail steady but to increase the traffic to the extent each year’s traffic will sustain the treadway for the following year. Can you help do that?? Absolutely. While making your hiking and backpacking plans for the Year 2000, try to plan at least one excursion, of either persuasion, on the Baker Trail. Become part of the traffic.

Official Rachel Carson/Baker Trail Website
is now live; the URL is http://members.xoom.com/rachelbaker.
Also, I discovered the following website, by accident; you may (or may not) enjoy it. I thought it was quite interesting.
www.bakertrail.com -jim ritchie

(Page 7) "Switchbacks are for Wimps!"
A First Person Account of the 1999 Rachel Carson Trail Challenge
-by Mike Schiller

Dateline: June 19, 1999.
Yeah, yeah, how hard can 34 miles be? When my friend, Bob the Banker, suggested we enter this Rachel Carson Challenge, I did not hesitate. After all, just this last February we had climbed Pico de Orizaba together in 16 hours, from 13,800 feet to 18,700 feet above sea level. Other than the headache that made me think my eyeballs were channeling a STOMP! performance, we had no real difficulty from the exertion. So, sure, 34 miles is a long way, but if we kept up a steady three mile an hour pace we would walk from North Park to Harrison Hills Park in less than twelve hours and even have time to eat lunch and look at a few wildflowers.

Plus, as someone who has logged many miles on trails all over the region, I felt ashamed to admit that I had never before hiked any portion of the Rachel Carson Trail. I had just read Carson's Silent Spring this past April and then promptly canceled my lawn service. It seemed that I owed it to Carson and myself to hike the trail named in her honor.

I discounted the fact that not many people had finished the challenge the first two times AYH sponsored it. I also ignored my other friends, K. and L., who had been on the trail in those years. It's a miserable trail, they said. All hills, straight ups and downs, lots of roads, lots of trail out in the open. They did not finish and this is from a fellow who walked over 1,000 miles on trails last year.

But jeez, I hike every weekend, I run, use the Stairmaster, pump some iron, climbed two volcanoes in February, climbed Ben Nevis in May. And my schoolmate and fellow 38-year-old, Dan Marino, just signed a contract for another 2 years with the Miami Dolphins. How bad is 34 miles compared to another season of running away from angry 300 pound men in cleats? Banker Bob and I sent in our $20 entrance fees.

5:50 AM
The first challenge was getting to the trailhead on time. Living in the South Hills and rarely crossing the river to the North, I forgot how long it took to drive to North Park, even Saturday at 5:00 AM. I arrived at the trailhead at 5:50 AM (the official starting time) and found Banker Bob. Bob had convinced his girlfriend, Marianne, and four of her friends to join us. Marianne is a fitness and outdoor fanatic, and I had no doubt that she would finish. I wasn't sure about Ryan, Heather, Bill and Rachel, but they looked fit and they all had a good attitude. I would be the Old Guard, but I planned to have the last laugh when we got to Harrison Hills Park in Freeport 34 miles later.

6:00 AM
On the trail. Damn. Already ten minutes behind schedule.

6:02 AM
We miss a turn in the trail in the first 100 yards. We only walked an extra twenty feet, but this was not a day for unnecessary steps. The trail winds through North Park for about a mile or so, and we quickly manage to get lost again. The blazes on the trees are inconsistent here, and we must have missed one, because we find ourselves along a road that does not match any of the trail descriptions. Fortunately, our cumulative sense of direction and a little patient map reading get us back on track. Spotting some other participants on the trail at the bottom of the hill helps, too.

The next mile or so is quite pleasant, walking along an unknown creek, admiring the patches of Forget-me-nots, wild strawberries and sorrel. Little did I know I should have enjoyed it more while I could.

7:33 AM
The trail runs smack into Route 8. This would be no easy road to cross on foot with the large amount of mall-goers and soccer moms out on a Saturday morning, but fortunately the local police are on hand to manage traffic and permit us to cross safely.

Across the highway, we hike up a dirt road behind the Middle School, down a gas pipeline, through some woods, through someone's back yard (don't annoy the geese!), around a pond, and along a road for about one mile to achieve the first checkpoint at 7.5 miles.

8:57 AM
Volunteer marshals have cold water waiting for us, along with a tasty collection of Rice Crispy Treats, granola bars and mini boxes of raisins. We give our name to the marshal to record the time we arrive. We are behind our expected three mile per hour pace due to our navigational errors. Marianne suggests to Banker Bob that perhaps they should jog to get back on pace and finish sooner. Her companions are silent on the topic, and I helpfully suggest that if they want to they should feel free but I would continue to walk. Bob tactfully tells Marianne that there will be no jogging. We grab a breakfast bar from the box and keep on walking.

9:00 AM
For the next seven miles Marianne and her friends maintain a 100 to 200 yard lead on Banker Bob and I, stopping when they are not sure where the trail leads, letting us catch up and read the trail description for them. Occasionally, Bob keeps up with Marianne and then inevitably drops back and humors me as I point out the patch of Solomon's Seal, or the big clump of Butterfly weed. In between, I get details on how to get a loan.

10:52 AM
The front-runners miss where the trail turns onto the road and instead walk straight up and over some railroad tracks through the trackless brush. Bob and I follow the road through an underpass and arrive at the second checkpoint (14.2 miles) several minutes ahead of the others. Serves them right, I figure quite ungenerously, for not reading the trail description.

11:04 AM
We sit on the dusty roadside at Checkpoint number 2 in the 80 degree heat, replenish our Camelbacks with water and eat bagels and bananas, courtesy of AYH. We rest at the base of an imposing hill that climbs steeply up a gas pipeline. Bob attacks the hill first, saying he is going to give himself time to "rest step" it up. I take the opportunity to put some moleskin on my heels, which are feeling the heat of the trail. I've never had a blister in the several hundred miles walked in these boots and I sure didn't want to break that streak with 20 miles to go. Marianne and crew head off shortly after Bob, leaving me to my moleskin and bagel.

11:17 AM
The bagel sucks the bridge off my three back teeth. Damn. I pull it out and try to get the bagel mush off the underside before replacing it, but it is surprising just how glue-like bagel mush can be when only half chewed.

11:26 AM
Bridge replaced, moleskin applied. I start up the brutal hillside with determination. My companions are just nearing the top of the pipeline. The sun and the dust make this a particularly tedious climb. As I start down the far side of the hill, I pass Ryan and Heather. Heather decides that the t-shirt she was wearing is superfluous and her sports bra will suit her just fine. My inquiry as to how they are doing is met with replies of "Good. Great." But I note that slim hint of uncertainty in their eyes, or is it the first reflection of fear? Either way, an energizing smugness perfuses my system. I quicken the pace and during the hot, non-scenic section of the trail along Yutes Run Road I pass several other hikers.

12:13 PM
When the trail finally leaves the road, it starts a section known as the "Roller Coaster". From about 16.5 miles to 19.0 miles I just walk up one side of a utility right-of-way and then down the other side. I walk up and then walk down. The sun is out and directly overhead now. I pass several more hikers and I feel like I'm on a mission. Walk up and then walk down. Apparently, the people who laid out this trail never heard of a switchback. At the crest of one hill, I spy Banker Bob climbing up the next hill. No sign of Marianne.

"Roberto, mi amigo!" I yell. "Ola!"

"Ola, Miguel!" Bob replies. I feel good.

12:19 PM
My eye catches something to the right of the trail. A black snake, about four feet long lies in the scrubby brown grass not more than 3 feet from me. I stop and look. The snake looks back. I reach for it, thinking it will make a pretty good present for the hikers behind me. The snake is too quick and scurries uphill. I walk uphill beside it. We keep an equal pace for 15 feet, then we both stop. Détente. Mutual Assured Tiredness. Okay, I think, I will leave you alone. Testing me, it wiggles over to the path where I am standing, does a quick curl around the tip of my walking stick, pulls its body up over the toe of one boot and then continues on to the other side of the trail. I am impressed into complete calm. I watch my friend move away and then I continue up the trail, not tired anymore.

12:25 PM
Bob waits for me at the top of the ridge. We walk the next quarter-mile together, reaching the "halfway" point at 18.0 miles. Marianne, Rachel and Bill are there already. No refreshments, but the marshal here directs people to the Rachel Carson Homestead. There, the AYH has refreshments, toilets and massages ready for all hikers. Massages, really? While we sit in the grass and eat lunch several hikers catch up to us, admit that they have had enough, and turn off to the Homestead. Seems like 10 of the 12 people who come by call it quits.

12:48 PM
Rachel spends most of the lunch break applying zebra and leopard print adhesive pads to various hot spots on her feet. The rest of us provide commentary and wonder out loud about Bill and Heather.

1:00 PM
Bill and Heather arrive. They are stopping here, they say. No one tries to talk them out of it. We shoulder our daypacks and walk.

1:15 PM
We stare at the trail as it heads into the woods on a laughably steep hill. Just looking at it takes the wind out of our recently rejuvenated sails. I imagine the trail designers laughing in their beers, "Switchbacks, hah! Switchbacks are for wimps!"

2:21 PM
Coming down the last steep utility path prior to the checkpoint, I slip on the beaten down grass that forms the trail here. So do several other folks. We all bounce back up and dust off our backsides with grace.

2:25 PM
21.7 miles done when we reach Checkpoint 3. I fill my camelback with water again. My legs are tired, but the cold, frosty taste of an ice cream bar from the nearby Sheetz convenience store makes everything seem better.

4:16 PM
This trail has more ups and downs than the price of an Internet stock. Infrequently, we get a nice view of Route 28, the Allegheny River and the towns on the far side. I am trying not to think evil of the folks who laid out the trail; surely they had good intentions. We pass several hikers calling for a rescue from friends, but we have far too much pride to quit now.

4:47 PM
We pick up a new companion along this section: a 35-year-old female flight attendant whose male accomplice has long since abandoned the effort. Jamie adds some new material to the conversation and she is easy on the eyes, though by the time we reach 26 miles I am not much of a conversationalist. I wonder how a flight attendant who admits only to some regular jogging seems to be breezing right through this whole day.

5:25 PM
The marshals at checkpoint 4 (28.4 miles) have thoughtfully placed a few plastic lawn chairs next to their Explorer so that not everyone has to sit in the dirt. The last half-mile before this had been another unreasonably steep downhill slope along a gas pipeline. It took all my concentration to not give in to the leg cramps that threatened to send my thighs into convulsions. Thankfully, the checkpoint was close. Water, banana, feet up and everything seems better.

5:45 PM
Checkpoint 2 redux: the trail heads straight uphill along a gas pipeline. This is probably the steepest section of the entire trail and sets a new standard for unnecessary cruelty to hikers. Marianne and friends head up the hill at a pace that quickly has them out of sight. Banker Bob waits for me and my crampy legs. At the top of the ridge the trail returns to a nice woodland trail, and to celebrate, my thighs immediately seize. I collapse to the side of the trail, rubbing my thighs furiously trying to relieve the pressure.

"There's no one around," says Bob. "I can rub them for you if you want."

"Arrg, that's quite all right," I reply. "I can manage. Just give me a minute."

"Suit yourself. But don't say I didn't offer."

A few hikers whom we had passed earlier pass us. I drink as much water as I can and then we walk on.

6:16 PM
"When we get out to the next paved road, I'm hanging it up, dude," I say.

"It's up to you, guy," Bob says tactfully. "It sure does seem like a struggle right now, though."

"No question. I reckon you can pick me up on the way home?" "Absolutely. No problem. You got a jacket to last until then?" "Yeah. I'm set. Let's just get to the road." I drink more water and we walk slowly down the gravel.

"You know," said Bob, "that flight attendant chick was asking if she was the oldest one of this group. She said she's 35."

"Yeah, she told me," I said.

"I said you were the old man of the bunch. She was impressed that you were going to do the whole trail at forty-one."

"Forty-one?" I gagged. "F*** you, pal. Try thirty-eight." "Oops, sorry."

"Damn straight! Jeez, forty-one! You really know how to make a guy feel better."

"Yeah, well, I'm not sure why I thought that. I just thought…"

6:22 PM
One of the marshals has parked his car where the trail comes out to the road. 3 miles to go, more than two hours of daylight left. Suddenly, I did not really want to quit.

"How's the rest of the trail?" we ask the marshal.

"It's pretty nice up there," he answers. "Walked this section myself last weekend. It's nice up there, especially the horse pasture. Lots of flowers. It's a nice section of trail."

"How are the hills?" I ask. "Does it level off at all?"

The gentleman grins. "This is the Rachel Carson Trail. It's all hills. 'Course, it's not as bad as what's back there. These are definitely more gradual. How you fellows doing?"

"Pretty good," says Bob. "This guy's cramping up a bit, though. Has to decide if he's going to finish."

"Yeah, "I say, "should've eaten more bananas, I guess. Or brought some potassium pills."

"Maybe I have something that will help, " says the man. He hands me a bottle of Naproxen; I swallow a couple tablets and thank him. I tell Bob that I can continue. Maybe it's the placebo effect of the pills, or that crack about being forty-one, or just a second wind coming on as the evening cools off, but in any case, I am newly committed.

7:12 PM
Bob is talking. He is entertaining me with all the stories he can think of to keep me entertained. I learn more about Bob, his family and Marianne than I would over several pitchers of beer. Though right now I would prefer the beer. I try to keep up my end with a few stories and at some point, I actually start to feel good again.

7:38 PM
We reach Freeport Road and see the lot where Bob parked his Jeep for the return trip. Hallelujah! One mile to go!

"Hey, thanks for sticking with me. I wouldn't have made it without you."

"You would have done the same for me, man. You still might some other day."

"I know. And I will if I can."

8:10 PM
We emerge from the woods at the picnic shelter in Harrison Hills Park and the twenty or so hikers and organizers provide a small ovation. Fourteen hours and ten minutes after we started.

Marianne, Rachel and Bill had finished about 30 minutes earlier.

They were gracious finishers and we all congratulated each other on a successful Challenge. While we sat there several other finishers walked in. One was a sixty-nine year old woman whom we had passed around mile 19. She just smiled and hugged her husband who had finished some time before we did.

10:30 PM
I am at home, a large pizza was just delivered and I am enjoying the feeling of being utterly physically exhausted. I am not thinking about tomorrow's 12-mile hike I am leading for nine other people. Oh well, at least I won't be getting smashed by angry 300-pound men wearing cleats.

Will I do it again? Right now, I doubt it. Of course, I have said similar things in the past about climbing mountains and have inevitably returned to climb another one. Talk to me next May and I may have a different answer.

December 1999/January 2000
(Page 6) HIKING/BACKPACKING/TRAILS

December 5 Sunday Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Baker Trail Hike, Red Bank Creek Section. The fourth and final 1999 ten-mile hike on the Baker Trail, starting near Tar Kiln Run, going to Red Bank Creek, Heathville, and finally Summerville. Meet Amos Duck, visit the Summerville Shelter for backpackers and, at your option, eat dinner at the Kountry Kitchen in Summerville. This hike will be for experienced hikers who are accustomed to hiking 10 miles. It is not a beginner’s hike. Rated intermediate or higher. Call Jim for more information and reservations. email: jimritch@aol.com

Year 2000 Sat/Sun Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Baker Trail Hiking Continues: Corsica/Mill Creek Section; Fisher-Sigel Section; Cook Forest Section; Allegheny National Forest Section. Be sure to watch the Golden Triangle beginning next March when we continue hiking the Baker Trail. Each hike will be approximately 10 miles and will include mostly off-road wooded terrain. As we go further and further north, we will have dinner options at the end of the day. Eat hearty country cooking in legendary venues such as the Vowinckle Inn, Cook Forest Inn, Bucktail Inn, the Farmer's Inn and others.

Official Rachel Carson/Baker Trail Website
is now live; the URL is http://members.xoom.com/rachelbaker.
Also, I discovered the following website, by accident; you may (or may not) enjoy it. I thought it was quite interesting.
www.bakertrail.com -jim ritchie

February 2000/March 2000
(Page 6) HIKING/BACKPACKING/TRAILS

March 25 Saturday Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Baker Trail, Mill Creek Gamelands. The first of a series of three hikes on the north- ern stretches of the Baker Trail. The hike starts just north of I-80 near Corsica, goes past the new Corsica Shelter, roller coasters along a gas pipeline right-of-way and then enters the Mill Creek Gamelands, about 10 miles in total. Dinner in Brookville optional. This hike is for experienced hikers who are accustomed to hiking 10 miles or more. It is not a beginner's hike. Rated intermediate or higher. Call Jim for more infor- mation and reservations. email jimritch@aol.com.

April 30 Sunday Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Baker Trail, Fisher-Sigel Section to Cook Forest Fire Tower. The second in a series of three hikes on the northern stretches of the Baker Trail. This hike will begin near the village of Fisher in Clarion County and end at the Cook Forest Fire Tower, crossing the new Gravel Lick bridge, about 10 miles in total. You will see some early spring wildflowers. Dinner at the Farmer's Inn near Sigel optional. This hike is for experienced hikers who are accustomed to hiking 10 miles or more. It is not a beginner's hike. Rated intermediate or higher. Call Jim for more information and reservations. email jimritch@aol.com.

May 14 Sunday Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Baker Trail, Cook Forest to the ANF (Allegheny National Forest). This is the last of three hikes to the northern terminus of the Baker Trail. The hike begins at the Cook Forest Fire Tower, traverses Cook Forest State Park including the Forest Cathedral, Brown's Run, the "secret" Hemlock Cathedral, Clear Creek State Forest, and finally the ANF-14 miles in total. This is a peak "wildflower weekend" in Cook Forest. Dinner at the Vowinckle Inn optional. This hike is for experienced hikers who are accustomed to hiking 10 miles or more. It is not a beginner's hike. Rated intermediate or higher. Call Jim for more information and reservations. email jimritch@aol.com.

June 24 Saturday Jim Ritchie 828-0210 Leo Stember 681-1385
Rachel Carson Trail Challenge(?). If the Rachel Carson Trail Challenge gets all its permits and clearances, this is the date. The RCTC2000 will begin at Harrison Hills County Park at 5:50 AM and will end at 8:54 PM at the Beaver Shelter in North Park, 34 miles later. Watch for the April Golden Triangle for the final details. Trail guides are available for $7.50 plus s/h and sales tax at (412) 431-4910 (AYH Travel Store).

Official Rachel Carson/Baker Trail Website
is now live; the URL is http://members.xoom.com/rachelbaker.
Also, I discovered the following website, by accident; you may (or may not) enjoy it. I thought it was quite interesting.
www.bakertrail.com -jim ritchie

April 2000
(Page 1) RCTC2000-June 24, 2000

The Rachel Carson Trail Challenge 2000 will take place on June 24, 2000. Two hundred runners, hikers, walkers and adventurers are expected to participate in the arduous 34-mile trek across the heinous hills and hollows of the Rachel Carson Trail, this year starting at the Harrison Hills County Park Ox Roast Shelter and ending at North Park's Beaver Shelter.

Registration materials and more information are included in this issue of the Golden Triangle. See the Rachel Carson Trail website at http://members.xoom.com/rachelbaker. Read about the 1996, 1997, and 1999 Rachel Carson Trail Challenges. Read about Team EMS and the all-woman Team Rock (as in Slippery Rock); find out what happens when people "disappear" on the Trail. Is it best to go "hiker-mode" or "runner-mode"? In 1997, the first and only westbound Challenge, 27 out of 135 hikers managed to finish before sunset. RCTC2000 promises to be not only challenging, but an exciting adventure, right in your own back yard.

What does RCTC2000 have in store?? Thunder and lightning? heat? rain? snakes? poison ivy? nettles? washouts? blowdowns? wet crossings? dirt? rocks? scree? talus? bees? ants? Hercules club (you'd better know what this is)? brambles? landslide? rockfalls? If it can be seen on a western Pennsylvania hiking trail, you'll see it somewhere along the 34-miles of the Rachel Carson Trail.

Order your trail guide and get out there and start training; then join us for the "June Hikes", led by one of our Trail Marshals, and get an edge on your Challenge-day effort. Registration is limited to 200 participants, so do it today!!

(Page 6) HIKING/BACKPACKING/TRAILS

March 25 Saturday Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Baker Trail, Mill Creek Gamelands. The first of a series of three hikes on the northern stretches of the Baker Trail. The hike starts just north of I-80 near Corsica, goes past the new Corsica Shelter, roller coasters along a gas pipeline right-of-way and then enters the Mill Creek Gamelands, about 10 miles in total. Dinner in Brookville optional. This hike is for experienced hikers who are accustomed to hiking 10 miles or more. It is not a beginner's hike. Rated intermediate or higher. Call Jim for more information and reservations, email: jimritch@aol.com..

April 30 Sunday Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Baker Trail, Fisher-Sigel Section to Cook Forest Fire Tower. The second in a series of three hikes on the northern stretches of the Baker Trail. This hike will begin near the village of Fisher in Clarion County and end at the Cook Forest Fire Tower, crossing the new Gravel Lick bridge, about 10 miles in total. You will see some early spring wildflowers. Dinner at the Farmer's Inn near Sigel optional. This hike is for experienced hikers who are accustomed to hiking 10 miles or more. It is not a beginner's hike. Rated intermediate or higher. Call Jim for more information and reservations, email: jimritch@aol.com.

May 14 Sunday Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Baker Trail, Cook Forest to the ANF (Allegheny National Forest). This is the last of three hikes to the northern terminus of the Baker Trail. The hike begins at the Cook Forest Fire Tower, traverses Cook Forest State Park including the Forest Cathedral, Brown's Run, the “secret" Hemlock Cathedral, Clear Creek State Forest, and finally the ANF-14 miles in total. This is a peak "wildflower weekend" in Cook Forest. Dinner at the Vowinckle Inn optional. This hike is for experienced hikers who are accus tomed to hiking 10 miles or more. It is not a beginner's hike. Rated intermediate or higher. Call Jim for more information and reservations. email: jimritch@aol.com..

June 3 Saturday Jim Ritchie 828-0210
NATIONAL TRAILS DAY: The "June Hikes" on the Rachel Carson Trail, Harrison Hills. On the "June Hikes", we will get ready for the Rachel Carson Trail Challenge 2000. In a series of four hikes, we will trace the route just as you will encounter it on June 24th. This is the first of four hikes covering the 34-mile Rachel Carson Trail end-to-end. This hike begins at Harrison Hills Park, skirting the bluffs over the Allegheny River, covering some easy and pleasant terrain. Then we hit Burtner Hill, one of the biggest and toughest hills on the Trail. The last mile to Bull Creek Road consists of quick-paced road-walking. About 8 miles, moderately strenuous, intermediate level hiking. Call Jim for more information and reservations, email: jimritch@aol.com.

June 4 Sunday Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Rachel Carson Trail, Allegheny Vistas. This is the second of four hikes covering the 34-mile Rachel Carson Trail end-to-end. We will start on Bull Creek Road near Tarentum and tackle Bakerstown Hill, Bailey's Hill, Creighton Hill, and Murray Hill in short order. We will finish along the bluffs over the Allegheny River near Springdale. About 8 miles, intermediate hiking, moderately strenuous. Be sure you've gone 8 miles before, don't make this the first time. Call Jim for more information and reservations. email: jim ritch@aol.com.

June 10 Saturday Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Rachel Carson Trail, The Roller Coaster. This is the third of four hikes on the Rachel Carson Trail covering all 34 miles of the Trail. We begin in Springdale and immediately tackle the "roller coaster", followed by the backside hill of Mile 14, LaFever Hill, down Rich Hill, and then up to Emmerling Park and Myers Hill. About 10 miles, definitely strenuous, not recommended for beginning hikers. Call Jim for more information and reservations. email: jimritch@aol.com.

June 11 Sunday Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Rachel Carson Trail, North Hills. This is the last of four hikes on the Rachel Carson Trail covering all 34 miles of the Trail. We begin at the Cedar Run Road in Dorseyville, do some spirited (dirt) road-walking for about a mile, and then hike past Hidden Pond, climb to the roof of Allegheny County, into the Hampton Nature Reserve, Crouse Run Valley, and finally North Park, ending at the Beaver Shelter. About 8 miles, this is the easiest of the four sections of the Rachel Carson Trail. There may be one or two wet crossings. Intermediate hiking. Call Jim for more information and reservations. email: jimritch@aol.com.

June 24 Saturday Jim Ritchie 828-0210 Leo Stember 681-1385
Rachel Carson Trail Challenge(?). If the Rachel Carson Trail Challenge gets all its permits and clearances, this is the date. The RCTC2000 will begin at Harrison Hills County Park at 5:50 AM and will end at 8:54 PM at the Beaver Shelter in North Park, 34 miles later. Watch for the April Golden Triangle for the final details. Trail guides are available for $7.50 plus s/h and sales tax at (412) 431-4910 (AYH Travel Store).

Official Rachel Carson/Baker Trail Website
is now live; the URL is
http://members.xoom.com/rachelbaker.
Also, I discovered the following website, by accident; you may (or may not) enjoy it. I thought it was quite interesting. www.bakertrail.com
- jim ritchie

(Page 10) RCTC2000 The Fourth Annual Rachel Carson Trail Challenge
"34 Miles in One Day"
June 24th, 2000

RCTC2000 is a 34-mile, one-day, endurance hiking event, held in the spirit of the Eco-Challenge, the Boston Marathon, the Alaskan Iditarod, the 70-mile Laurel Highlands Trail Run, and the Race Across America. Sponsored by the Pittsburgh Council, American Youth Hostels, the Year 2000 Challenge will be held on June 24th, 2000, the Saturday closest to the Summer Solstice. Starting at the crack of dawn, this event extends through a 34-mile roller coaster of hills, hollows, and bluffs between North Park and Harrison Hills in Allegheny County, ending just as the sun dips below the horizon. The essence of the "Challenge" is to endure, to finish the hike in one day, rather than to "come in first" or "win" the hike.

The Rachel Carson Trail is characterized by its roller coaster hills and rugged terrain with the “Challenge” being described as one of the most difficult trail events in the United States. The hike begins at sunrise and officially ends at sunset, 5:50 A.M. to 8:54 P.M., giving Challengers a total of 15 hours and 4 minutes to complete the 34-mile route. Hikers must maintain or exceed a pace of 2.25 miles per hour, exceeding a "typical” hiker's pace of 2 miles per hour on a primitive trail.

The Challenge has two dimensions: the first challenge is to endure 34 miles of tortuous hill climbing and descent in unpredictable weather conditions; the second, more subtle, is your ability to stay on the Trail without getting lost. Obviously, those who have hiked the trail before will have some advantage in maintaining the proper route.

All hikers will be given a trip sheet and a set of topographic maps to guide them through the trail. There will be a half dozen checkpoints throughout the hike, offering minimal support. Hikers are expected to carry all their own gear and necessities, including food, water, and snacks, first aid equipment, raingear, maps and a trip sheet.

Of the 270 people who started the 1996 and 1997 Challenges, only 32 had finished the 34-mile event. In 1999, the gods converged to deliver cool, dry weather; a major drought in western Pennsylvania resulted in dry streambeds with no wet crossings; and, RCT volunteers had done a remarkable job of maintaining and marking the Trail. As a consequence, 74 out of 200 hikers managed to finish the hike. In contrast, the summer of '96 brought temps in the mid 90's, humidity to match; high water in the streams forced 3 wet crossings, and a skinny volunteer base made following the trail an exercise in elusion. Of those who registered for the Challenge in 1996, only 5 people finished 34 miles.

The Rachel Carson Trail is a "primitive" trail in the sense that no special grading or surfacing materials are used on the trail. It is a typical Western Pennsylvania hiking trail and hikers should ex pect to find all the conditions a typical hiker would encounter on a typical hiking trail. While the trail is blazed with yellow blazes, there will be an occasional missing blaze where a tree has fallen or when you are following a logging road or a power line or gas line; there will be blowdowns, washouts, poison ivy, nettles, bugs, loose gravel and rocks, steep inclines, and wet stream crossings. You must be prepared to expect the unexpected and the unthinkable. The better hiker you are, the better you will do on the Challenge.

The Year 2000 Challenge will follow the Harrison Hills to North Park, east-west, route, only for the second time. It is to participant's great advantage to get out before Challenge Day and get the "look and feel" of the Trail. Look in this issue of the Golden Triangle under "Hiking/Backpacking/Trails" for a series of warm-up hikes to be held in June in preparation for the Challenge; the June Hikes will all move from east to west.

More...About the Rachel Carson Trail Challenge 2000

DETAILS

STARTING POINT: The 2000 Challenge will begin at 5:50 AM at the Ox Roast Shelter in Harrison Hills Park, near Freeport. Take the Route 28 Expressway to Exit 16, turn right off the Expressway and go to the T intersection with Freeport Road. Turn right. The Park is about one mile down the road on the left.
PARKING: Harrison Hills Park will be open at 5:00 AM on June 24; however, the park is closed at dusk, daily. You must have your car out of the park before that time. If you leave a car at Harrison Hills, you may consider parking your car outside the front gate. A few cars may be parked at the Volunteer Fire Dept. about a half mile north of the Park on Freeport Road. Call, if necessary, for further details on parking at Harrison Hills. At North Park, there are several parking areas in the vicinity of North Park's Beaver Shelter but parking space is generally limited. Car pooling is suggested.
SHUTTLE: There will be no shuttle service to return you to your car from the finish or from anywhere along the hike.
HALF CHALLENGE. The Rachel Carson Homestead is a quarter-mile from the halfway point (17 miles) of the Challenge. Water, snacks, restrooms, telephones, and Trail Marshals will be available at the Homestead. You may "spot" a car at the Springdale High School parking area, 2 blocks from the Homestead. Do not park on the street.
WATER: Checkpoints will be located approximately every 6-7 miles with water and light snacks available for participants. Marshals will have cell phones provided by Bell Atlantic Mobile for communications.
THE FINISH: Rachel Carson Trail Challenge 2000 will end at precisely 8:54 PM (official sunset time) at the Beaver Shelter in North Park. The Beaver Shelter is 100 yards north and west of the junction of Babcock Blvd. and Pierce Mill Rd. North Park is located on the “Yellow Belt" between Route 19 (McKnight Rd.) and Route 8.

"HOW DO I COMPETE?"

WHAT TO BRING: You are expected to be entirely self-contained. This is an endurance hike, not a "trail run" or a race. Weight, up to 10 pounds in your pack will not be a significant factor. Be able to carry NO LESS THAN 2 quarts of water; sports drinks are recommended; carry a lunch plus high-energy snack foods, raingear, dry socks, first aid gear-especially moleskin or band-aids for blisters; you may want to carry a pair of sandals or surf shoes for wet stream crossings; wear sturdy, well broken-in footgear preferably with good ankle support and a lugged sole for gripping loose gravel and rocks; wear thick wool, wool blend or synthetic fiber socks; wear a hat to keep your head out of the sun; wear sunglasses; carry a pack towel to soak in streams and wrap over your head to cool down; a cell phone is optional but recommended, especially if you want to be able to call someone you know for a ride from the trail.

Please note that in June, some sections of the Rachel Carson Trail will have brambles and nettles as well as poison ivy. Long pants made of lightweight material are recommended.

THE ALTERNATIVE: While the organizers recommend you outfit yourself as a “hiker", it is recognized that several participants in Challenges 96, 97, and 99 had some success participating in “runner mode" wearing light low-top trail running shoes, and carrying only water and a small waist pack for gear instead of a day backpack (rucksack/knapsack).

THE PRIZE: All 34-mile finishers will be entered into a raffle; three names will be drawn with each winner receiving an overnight for two at either the new Pittsburgh International Youth Hostel or the Ohiopyle Youth Hostel. All 34-mile and 17-mile finishers will receive six issues of the AYH Golden Triangle newsletter free (July-December 2000 issues).

For more information call (412) 681-1385 or (412) 828-0210. Email may be sent to POL1385@hotmail.com or Jimritch@aol.com. Read about the 1996,1997, and 1999 Challenges at the Rachel Carson/Baker Trail Website:
http://members.xoom.com/rachelbaker
Learn more about American Youth Hostels/ Hostelling International Pittsburgh, the organization the built the Rachel Carson Trail at:
http://trfn.clpgh.org/ayh/.

May 2000
Same content as April 2000

June 2000
(Page 1) NEW! NEW! NEW! NEW!NEW! NEW! NEW! NEW! NEW!!
CHALLENGE SHUTTLE SERVICE NOW AVAILABLE

A shuttle service has been arranged for the Rachel Carson Trail Challenge 2000. The shuttle bus will arrive at North Park at 4:15 AM, load for 15 minutes, and then depart promptly at 4:30 AM. The bus will then go to the Springdale High School Parking area near the Rachel Carson Homestead in Springdale, arriving at 5:00 AM, load for 15 minutes, and, once again, leave promptly at 5:15 AM. The shuttle will arrive in Harrison Hills Park at the Ox Roast Shelter in time for you to be on the trail at the "crack of dawn", 5:54 AM. Cost for the shuttle is $5 in advance with a guaranteed seat or $10 on site on a space available basis only. If you want to take advantage of the shuttle service, send a check (no cash) for $5 to H.I.P. Shuttle, 830 E. Warrington Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15210, postmarked no later than June 17th. Be sure to indicate if you will board the bus at North Park or at the Springdale High School parking area (on Marian Avenue in Springdale) near the Homestead. Nonrefundable. If you have any questions, please call Steve at 412-512-4544 or send email to: steve@thcoregrp.com

(Page 6) HIKING/BACKPACKING/TRAILS

June 3 Saturday Jim Ritchie 828-0210
NATIONAL TRAILS DAY: The “June Hikes” on the Rachel Carson Trail; Hike #1: Harrison Hills. On the “June Hikes”, we will get ready for the Rachel Carson Trail Challenge 2000. In a series of four hikes, we will trace the route just as you will encounter it on June 24th. This is the first of four hikes covering the 34-mile Rachel Carson Trail end-to-end. This hike begins at Harrison Hills Park, skirting the bluffs over the Allegheny River, covering some easy and pleasant terrain. Then we hit Burtner Hill, one of the biggest and toughest hills on the Trail. The last mile to Bull Creek Road consists of quick-paced road-walking. About 8 miles, moderately strenuous, intermediate level hiking. Call Jim for more information and reservations. email: jimritch@aol.com.

June 4 Sunday Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Rachel Carson Trail, Allegheny Vistas. This is the second of four hikes covering the 34-mile Rachel Carson Trail end-to-end. We will start on Bull Creek Road near Tarentum and tackle Bakerstown Hill, Bailey"s Hill, Creighton Hill, and Murray Hill in short order. We will finish along the bluffs over the Allegheny River near Springdale. About 8 miles, intermediate hiking, moderately strenuous. Be sure you've gone 8 miles before, don't make this the first time. Call Jim for more information and reservations. email: jimritch@aol.com.

June 10 Saturday Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Rachel Carson Trail, The Roller Coaster. This is the third of four hikes on the Rachel Carson Trail covering all 34 miles of the Trail. We begin in Springdale and immediately tackle the "roller coaster", followed by the backside hill of Mile 14, LaFever Hill, down Rich Hill, and then up to Emmerling Park and Myers Hill. About 10 miles, definitely strenuous, not recommended for beginning hikers. Call Jim for more information and reservations. email: jimritch@aol.com.

June 11 Sunday Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Rachel Carson Trail, North Hills. This is the last of four hikes on the Rachel Carson Trail covering all 34 miles of the Trail. We begin at the Cedar Run Road in Dorseyville, do some spirited (dirt) road-walking for about a mile, and then hike past Hidden Pond, climb to the roof of Allegheny County, into the Hampton Nature Reserve, Crouse Run Valley, and finally North Park, ending at the Beaver Shelter. About 8 miles, this is the easiest of the four sections of the Rachel Carson Trail. There may be one or two wet crossings. Intermediate hiking. Call Jim for more information and reservations. email: jimritch@aol.com.

June 24 Saturday Jim Ritchie 828-0210 Leo Stember 681-1385
Rachel Carson Trail Challenge 2000. The RCTC2000 will begin at Harrison Hills County Park at 5:50 AM and will end at 8:54 PM at the Beaver Shelter in North Park, 34 miles later. Read all about it in this issue, April Golden Triangle. Registration is required and is limited to 200, so get your application in today. Trail guides are available for $7.00 plus s/h and sales tax (total = $8.99 at (412) 431-4910 (AYH Travel Store).

foot notes
-by jim ritchie

The Rachel Carson Trail has been designated a National Millenium Trail by the American Hiking Society.

The RCT will host a National Trails Day event on June 3rd in the form of an 8-mile Rachel Carson Trail Challenge "training hike" from Harrison Hills to Bull Creek Road. The public is welcome.

The Baker Trail welcomes several new volunteer trail stewards: Bob Derry from Indiana, PA and his friends, including Paul Snider, are taking over the section from the Atwood Shelter to the Milo Weaver Shelter. Mike Nagel, AT through-hiker among other noteworthy designations, has taken the section of the BT from the covered footbridge at Horney Camp Run to Cochran's Mill; Gerry Vaerewyck and friends have taken on the gargantuan task of wading through all the bureaucratic red tape needed to restore the cable bridge across Cherry Run near Cochran's Mill. Bill Grove and Elizabeth Taylor are working the section of the Baker Trail from Bethlehem Chapel to the Summerville Shelter.

Ed Divers *talked* with the folks from the Kiski Valley Rail Road (KVRR) about using the railroad bridge across the Kiski River. Charlie, the KVRR guy, seemed to realize that our Baker Trail hikers are not crazies, and are not likely to be run down by a train while crossing the tracks.

The Keystone Power Plant clear cut a large section of woodland on which the Baker Trail is located—repairs needed.

Verona Boy Scout Troop 139, under scoutmaster John Hackett, organized their own National Trails Day project on the Baker Trail; they're going to do some major maintenance work on the Mahoning section of the trail, north of Dayton.

Bob Roth of AYH and Don Landfried of the North Country Trail Association, Clarion Chapter, along with several other volunteers, completed a relocation of the Baker Trail, north of Cook Forest, in order to accommodate an unfriendly landowner. Seems the landowner felt having folks walk by the front of his summer cottage on the road was intrusive (??). So he bought the land where the trail was leading out to the road, and then forced the trail to follow a different route, cutting out about a half mile of virgin hemlock forest.

The section of the Baker Trail between Iron Bridge Road and Fisher-Sigel Road in Clarion County had a "select cut" logging done on it. Since yellow paint was used to mark the trees to be cut, all of our blaze trees came down. And, instead of a nice woodland jeep trail, a nasty logging road was cut through this plot. The same happened in State Game Lands #74 near Mill Creek in Clarion County. Now that a lot of the 3rd and 4th growth trees in Western PA are reaching a foot in diameter, the loggers are rushing to chop them down

I attended an Eagle Scout ceremony in Brookville PA, back in March, where Jimmy and Mike Walter received their Eagle Scout badges. Jim and Mike each built a shelter on the Baker Trail; one is now at Corsica and the other is near Langville (North Freedom). And, they raised all the money needed to purchase the materials.

Cook Forest State Park, a National Natural Area, which I had understood could not be blazed for hiking because of its Natural Area Status, has, all of a sudden, been blazed several times over, and in a very inconsistent and confusing pattern. Now there are orange squares nailed to trees, silver aluminum circles with arrows on them, also nailed to the trees; and someone has taken it upon themselves to spray paint splotches of yellow paint on trees along the trail (God help us I hope they are not marking the Baker Trail!!), and the North Country Trail Association has put up a number of NCT "medallions" through the Park at strategic locations. Well, I will be talking with Steve Farrell, the new superintendent up there, and we will to get the "rogue blazing" under control. I intend to volunteer to go in there and "clean it up", if Steve OK's it.

Last fall, hiking the Baker Trail near Heathville, we stopped in to see Mr. Himes (who, according to Baker Trail legend, offers cold water to hikers). The purpose of our visit was to honor Mr. Himes with a Baker Trail t-shirt. Alas! He was not at home. So, we left the t-shirt anyway. I called him about a week later, and he did get the shirt, and he was very thrilled. And he said, "You know, if you wanted to camp on my property, you are welcome to do so, right behind all the insulator displays". You have to see what that man does with electric insulators to believe it.

Thanks to everyone who worked at an EMS store on Club Night, April 27. We were well covered at each of the three stores and I was proud of the AYH presence that night.

Jessica, the new manager at the Pittsburgh International Youth Hostel, is doing a fine job of managing our Rachel Carson Trail Challenge 2000 registration for us. Jerry Agin, our computer guru/registrar, taught Jessica how to use an Access database and how to run several reports off the database and she just ran with it. Thanks, Jerry and Jessica.

Steve Mentzer is trying to organize a shuttle for the Challenge. The shuttle, contracted from Laidlaw Trans- portaton, would pick hikers up at North Park at 5 AM on June 24th and ride them out to Harrison Hills to start the 34-mile trek back to where their cars will be waiting.

Ed Beck, president of Keystone Trails Association for the past six years, not only has stepped back from the presidency, he is also retiring from work. Ed has written his retirement manifesto, laying out his plans for quite a few years to come. Thanks, Ed, for the contribution of your leadership on behalf of Pennsylvania hikers and trails.

Hugh Downing, a Rachel Carson Trail volunteer maintenance steward, is the new KTA president.

George Dull, an Indiana Township supervisor, and I rode around the Rachel Carson Trail in that township recently, discussing how to make the trail more accessible to township residents.

Thanks to Greg Pytlik, of Pytlik Design Associates in Station Square, for the wonderful graphics work contributed for the Rachel Carson Trail Challenge 2000 brochure. Greg was also able to negotiate a favorable cost for printing up the brochures from Night and Day Press, downtown Pittsburgh.

Ken Chute, of Edgewood, has agreed to help us re-design and re-produce the AYH activity brochures. Specifically, brochures for canoeing, sea kayaking, rock climbing, the “Rambles”, sailing, and hiking and backpacking are targeted.

Lance Neeper and his friends in the IUP OUting Club in Indiana, PA have done several Baker Trail cleanups in the past six months. I gave a Baker Trail slide show at IUP earlier this year at that campus.

Leo Stember, Hugh Downing and I have completed the Banyas Bypass of the Rachel Carson Trail in Frazier Township. The Banyas pulled the plug on the trail over their property last year after the Challenge. The reason cited: “I just don’t want anyone on my property”. It seems, in this business, some people just can’t do enough and want to share their good fortune with others and then there are other people who won’t do anything for anyone.

Patty Brunner has been busy organizing numerous work projects for various scout troops on the Baker Trail. She attends the meetings to tell the scouts and scoutmasters about our trail and then to sell the project. She’s done so well, along with our many other volunteers, that all the work on the trail is nearly caught up. Only the really big projects seem to be left.

I want to publicly thank some new friends of the Rachel Carson Trail, specifically these are landowners who have extended their permission for the trail to cross their property: Mike Dalphonse of Hampton, Pam Reberg and Warren of Springdale. In spite of the occasional inconvenience of having a trail cross their property, these folks have extended their hospitality in the true spirit of neighborliness. Please, hikers, when you are hiking the trails, be courteous and thankful to all the land owners and land managers who allow us to use their property for our enjoyment and pleasure.

July 2000
(Page 7) foot notes
trail news for july 2000
-by jim ritchie

Bad news first: Sometime around the beginning of June, vandals destroyed the Cochran’s Mill Shelter near Crooked Creek Lake. Only a week earlier, Patty Brunner and a scout troop had used the backpacking overnight shelter while conducting some trail maintenance in the area. Patty had reported some “youths” coming by the shelter late at night to “check it out” and, finding it occupied by the scouts, spent the rest of the wee hours of the morning, “peeling out” in their cars and trucks on a nearby road, as if to let the scouts know they were angry their favorite drinking spot had been taken. The site had been the apparent scene of regular drinking parties recently, as Mike Nagel, who maintains that area, had reported removing several large plastic garbage bags of beer cans several times this spring.

The Army Corps of Engineers, who manage the land on which the Shelter is located, reported this to me on a Sunday evening, explaining that, because of personnel cutbacks, they no longer are able to patrol the Shelter area very frequently.

So, most likely, the Cochran’s Mill Shelter will not be rebuilt, for a while anyway, and if it is rebuilt, it would probably be rebuilt at a different site. In the meantime, the existing site is available for tent camping. However, for security reasons, you probably wouldn’t want to camp there unless you were with a group.

If anyone has any information about those people who destroyed the shelter, please call me at (412) 828-0210.

Good Last month, I reported that Leo Stember, Hugh Downing and I have completed the Banyas Bypass of the Rachel Carson Trail in Frazier Township. In fact, Leo was not there; instead, I should have said the intrepid Don Erdeljac was there and he did a great job of blazing all the poles along Riddle Run Run and Murray Hill Road so that NO ONE will get lost on the Banyas Bypass. In fact, Don has been training on the Trail all the way through May and June, and every time he sees a new tree down, or notices a missing blaze, he runs home, gets his paint or his chain saw , and runs right back out and fixes the problem. Once again, we all say “Thanks, Don” for a doing a great job on the Rachel Carson Trail.

August 2000
(Page 1) EARNING STRIPES on RCTC by alexis rzewski

Well, felt I needed to earn the stripes to wear that Rachel Carson Trail T-shirt I got. After missing last week's challenge, was looking for a buddy that could come along to do this trail. Found Reed, living nearby, that said his only limitation was that he needed to be home by 4 PM. Also, he could not take his car along, since his wife needed it. We then decided I was going to pick him up at 5 AM on Sunday, and we were going to leave the car in Springdale, and do 10 miles in one direction and back. Then Saturday evening I got a call from Annemarie, a radiologist from Ireland that works here in one of Pittsburgh's hospitals, asking me if I was planning to go hiking Sunday. She knows that on Sunday I am always outdoors doing something, and I had told her several times that anytime she wanted to come along, she was most welcome. This time she remembered, called me up, found me, and I answered that, as a matter of fact, yes I was planning a hike on Sunday. I then told her that I was picking up this other buddy at 5 in the morning, and that I could then pick her up at 5:10. She didn't blink. "Fine", she said. "I just gotta go get some stuff at Giant Eagle". And I told her that with her car, we could attempt at doing a shuttle with two cars and do half of this Rachel Carson trail, if she agreed. She agreed.

At 5:40, we left one car in Harwick, and at 6:00 at the intersection of Freeport Road and Millerstown Road. Then the three of us walked to locate the trailhead of the RC trail. Had some trouble finding it. There was dense fog. Then, just by chance, saw the signpost. The river was not visible. The fog was really mystical. Mushrooms were popping on the ground. Found two Boletus Edulis. The colorful playground of Harrison Hills park glowed in the disappearing fog. The Ox Roast Shelter, where the RC Challenge started from, came to light. Half a mile later, a beautiful pond with water lilies and staring deer. An early morning jogger.

At Bull Creek Road, we weren't sure where the trail was, and the text description was excellent. Not too far later, reached the summit of the bluff overlooking the expressway interchange, and a log gravitated us on it and have our first reststop. Later, descending on Bailies Run Road, we met a fellow named Nino Guiciardi, 72 years old. He said "hey, you guys were here last week". He showed us pictures of WWII and told us about being a POW in Nazi Germany. He said he always sees a guy running up the road, but this year he didn't see him. He likes to offer cold spring water to the Challengers, water that he gets 165 miles away in Potter County. His website is www.salsgiver.com/people/nguiciar. Gave us his card that reads "Member 303rd Bomb Group".

Another encounter was a woman living in Riddle Run Road who said that the trail used to be on her property, but she didn't give authorization this time for the trail to be on her property. "Well, you know, it's private property. I don't want people painting trees everywhere, throwing candy wrappers. Rachel Carson never hiked this trail". When comparing an old trail map with the current map, I noticed that the trail was once going directly from the radio tower to the bluff overlooking the New Kensington bridge. Now, the trail goes on a lengthy detour along a paved road.

On the bluffs facing the river, had lunch and took pictures. Annemarie fell asleep. I took advantage by taking close-up pictures.

Halfway between Freeport Road in Springdale and Peterson's Nursery, Annemarie and Reed really wanted to bail out. They had it. A phonecall to Reed's wife went something like this: "Well, I got two more hills to go". Annemarie too was on her last drops of life. So we took a side road to get us out of the roller-coasting pipeline, and then hiked along the Butler-Logan Road to the nursery. From there, the "last hill" was easily crested, to yield a view of "last descent", and a quite spectacular one. As we entered Harwick, and the feeling" of the parked car being near, Annemarie felt compelled to call a friend with her cell phone and tell the tale of how she did 20 miles on foot. She was still talking when we got to the car, still taking when we were inside the car, and still taking when I started to drive her car. It was 4:30 PM.

The trail will be remembered for some its small details: a cemetery of junk cars, models going back to the 40's, lying in rest in the quiet of the forest; going through the playground of a small elementary school; the horizontal lighting poles protruding forward at the base of a highway sign; the anchorage to the ground of four radiating steel cables that hold at different heights a radio antenna hundreds of feet away; the porch and patio of the house above Peterson's nursery, painted in "Frank Lloyd Wright red".

The only litter item we found was a card of the University Shop that made the RC Challenge 2000 shirts. Otherwise, not even a scintilla of human passage was found, aside from the stomped grass on the grounds of the gas and power lines.

Driving towards Harrison Hills to pick up the second car, we could recognize the trail pathways visible from the expressway ("hey, there: that's the trail!"), and in some cases, even spot a couple of yellow blazes. "You are going to dream yellow blazes tonight", I told Annemarie. And speaking of blazes, that reminded me on the "craft" of blazing a trail. Sure, as a blazer, you feel compelled in blazing informatively, so to ensure that the hiker doesn't get lost, but you don't want to over do it, otherwise the beauty of a natural habitat be distracted by a one-too-many prints of human signature. And walking the trail, I could "feel" the blazer's intent of providing direction, and yet, done in a way so to keep nature pristine.

(Page 4) AYH ACTIVITIES WITH BEN

This years Rachel Carson challenge was a great success. Jim and crew outdid themselves, to give every participant a great time. He likes to keep the participants to 200, in consideration of the landowners, without whose goodwill and generosity the trail would not be possible. Some extra people showed up, were accommodated, and the whole event went better than ever.

The key to success is the volunteers and organization by the Rachel Carson leadership. I was most pleased to be able to help in a very small way. The event is for a good cause, the volunteers are cheery and dedicated, the participants in a happy mood. Many expressed their thanks as they passed by at the check stations and water stops.

All in all, the challenge has all the right ingredients for what I hope will be a long and successful future.

The Rachel Carson trail group has taken on a manageable size task. They limit their expenses by all volunteer labor. The Challenge is kept to a size which is sustainable, and shows respect for the land owners. And most off all, the work is divided so the volunteers know the size of their job on the challenge day, so you know when you are finished.

Truly a fine event, with a positive long term outlook, that Western Pennsylvania and Pittsburgh can be proud of and benefit from. And most of all, my highest regards for Sue,Leo and all the other volunteers who I saw in action and who give so much to make it all possible. Ben

(Page 7) Rachel Carson Trail Challenge Drawing Nets 7 Winners

All 34-miles finishers in the Rachel Carson Trail Challenge 2000 have their names entered into a drawing for gift certificates and hostel weekends. This year the winners of a weekend at the Pittsburgh International Youth Hostel or the Ohiopyle Youth Hostel are: Andy Schromm of Glenshaw, PA; Carol Savage of Gibsonia, PA; and Justin Mazur of Pittsburgh, PA. Staying at a youth hostel (no, you don’t have to be young) is a different and thoroughly enjoyable experience. At Ohiopyle, go for the weekend and hike on the many trails, bike on the Yough River Trail, or raft or canoe on the Youghiogheny River. In Pittsburgh, explore Carson Street, Mt. Washiington, and Station Square using the inclines to go up or down. At either of the hostels, you’re likely to meet travelers from all over the world.

We also had drawings for four $50 gift certificates at Eastern Mountain Sports (EMS). EMS has three stores in the Pittsburgh area: Ross Park, Monroeville, and South Hills Village. The winners are: Babs Peterson of Pittsburgh; Michael Bown of Library, PA; Bob Means of Pittsburgh; and Dave Sansom of Pittsburgh. EMS carries a full line of hiking, biking, and watersports clothing and gear.

(Page 11) "Whew...!" or "How I learned to love/hate the Rachel Carson
Trail Challenge in the Year 2000"

-by jim ritchie

This is the fourth year my buddy, Leo, and I have done this: organizing a 34-mile, summer-solstice-day-long hike on the oft-designated "muddy, bloody" Rachel Carson Trail. The Trail is cursed with miles and miles of steep, treacherous hills, each dropping or rising nearly 300 feet at a crack, straight up, straight down: "switchbacks are for wimps". The cumulative elevation gain, one-way, is 6,970 feet. Climbing Mt. Everest, from the 19,000 foot base camp to its 29,000 foot summit is a mere 3,000 feet more.

The RCT is a hodge-podge of trailways ranging in surface and character from winding country roadways laid out along local drainage like Bailey's Run, Crawford Run, Tawny Run, ... you get the idea, to primitive, semi-jungle, single-track, barely eeking its way through explosions of poison ivy, nettles, brambles, and japanese knotweed. Throw in a smattering of power line and gas line rights-of-way and you've got a formidable trail.

This year we go westbound: from Harrison Hills to North Park. The first 7 miles have only Burtner Hill to negotiate, first a toe-pounding, heel-scraping, butt-sliding downhill and then a lung-busting, knee-burning, head-aching uphill that seems to go on forever and ever. We see hills like this from our car window. They're not made to be walked or hiked or run. Yet walk them, hike them, run them we do. 'Til we drop. And drop we do, too.

All 214 of us, hikers, runners, volunteers, got up at 3:30 AM (or earlier) on the morning of June 24, 2000, took a quick shower, ate some breakfast, grabbed our gear, jumped in the car and headed out. I arrived at Harrison Hills at 5:20 AM, jumped out of the car and began throwing boxes of t-shirts, papers, food, and water on the ground all around my parking spot. Happy hikers (they're all happy at 5:20 AM) obliged by grabbing a box and hauling it down to the Ox Roast Shelter, Registration Central.

For some reason, seems like more people than ever before are here early. The first hikers to go clock out at 5:29 AM and, minutes later, they're on the Trail. By 6 AM, more than 200 hikers have lit out through the calmness and early morning tranquility of Harrison Hills Park. They pass over one foot-wide stream, past the beaver pond, and through the trees. And then they burst out onto Freeport Road where loyal Vince (he's been a volunteer every one of our four years) assists the Harrison Police getting our hikers safely across the road.

Next I assist Ben and Ron at their stations in Thompson's Thoroughbred Farm, where they help hikers negotiate the barbed wire into and then out of the corral. We all look strong, pumped. At the first big hill, Burtner Hill at Burtner Road, I watch hikers flailing recklessly down the hill, out of control, risking legs, ankles, and necks, disaster only one bad turn of events away. As they chug up the other side, looking like the famous photograph of the Yukon gold-seekers, stringing their way up the Chilcoot Trail like a string of a thousand ants stretching to the sky, I can feel the effort, the heavy breathing, the burning of calf and thigh, stopping momentarily to look upward, getting a glimpse of "how much is left to go?".

At Bull Creek Checkpoint #1, 6.9 miles, many of the hikers, especially the "trail runner-types", come running into the stop, barely stop long enough to check in, grab some water, maybe a banana, and then they're off like Mario Andretti zooming out of the pits after a 30-second tire change. I see the intrepid Don Erdeljac, standing next to his running partner, Sue Weightmann, doing a water dance: pouring water over his head and body while turning in a square-dance circle to ensure maximum coverage. Don has put in hours of hard labor on the Trail, in exchange for this opportunity to test his mettle yet one more time on Challenge Day. Then, off they all go, heading up the steep, but mercifully short Bull Creek Hill, and becoming engulfed in the high vegetation of this wet, 5 1/2-inch-rainfall, summer.

At Agan Park Checkpoint #2 (13.9 miles), I arrive in time to meet Dario Donatelli (age 40) and Dario Donatelli (age 12) running in to briefly refresh and run back out again. Ex-Challenger Barb and her partner Nicole, the Agan Park Marshals, are the perfect pair to greet and urge the hikers on, Barb knows what it's like, she's been there, Nicole's learning.

In another mile, all hell breaks loose. "It's the roller coaster" he said. All of a sudden, you're in the open, now it's noon, and the hot sun is burning down on your head, your back, and the high grass is hiding extra humidity left over from the early hours of the morning, moisture hovering about head-high, waiting to ambush the sensibilities of anyone daring to come through. Hikers who felt strong and posh 30 minutes ago were getting sick on the roller coaster. One hiker asked the Melzena Marshals, Sue and Trisha, at Melzena Road, midway, "Is this the roller coaster?". "Yes" was the answer. "Good", he said, "If it wasn't, if something worse than this was coming, I was going to quit right now!".

The Melzena Marshals had to set up a little "hospital" in the shaded bushes beside the Trail for those who began "not feeling so good" while they awaited for friends or family to come bail them out of this horrific situation in which they found themselves. And, even tho' we were trying to keep all the hikers out of people's yards at the top of Melzena (landowner's request), some struggled to the top of the hill only to collapse, unable to move another single inch without at least one minute's rest.

Chaos. I saw one hiker, in desperation, walking the road around the roller coaster; when I stopped to ask if she was ok, she answered "I just can't go up those hills anymore; I'm done". Indeed at the next checkpoint, she stopped and went home, done for the day. In contrast, Brian Schwadron, of Pittsburgh, who capped a brilliant day of running the Challenge with a 2:46 PM finish at North Park, got confused on the roller coaster and, running, retraced his route back two hills to ask the runner behind him where the trail went, and then turned around and reran those same hills once again.

Many hikers, feeling strong at the Homestead turnoff, continued ahead only to give it up in the clutches of the roller coaster, beaten down by exposure to the heat of the sun, high temperatures (the high today was 86 degrees), and smothering humidity. All in all, 66 hikers finished their day at the Rachel Carson Homestead in Springdale (16.6 miles); another 14 quit somewhere during the first half, many at Sheetz in Creighton, a few just beyond the Homestead turnoff.

By Emmerling Park, runners and hikers stopped for water and rest, many just plopping on the grass, many resting for as long as an hour, trying to regain the strength and composure they would need to finish the hike. Many people have the strength and the stamina to do this hike; relatively few have the will, and the discipline, and the determination to get the job done. It's a mental thing. As one hiker, who suffered a painful injury with 14 miles to go, put it "Quitting is not an option".

Trouble on the trail. In the late afternoon, from five o'clock on, we began to get reports of people who felt sick, or who "didn't feel so good". We called an ambulance in to Shafer Road Checkpoint #4 (Mile 26.5) on a report that one hiker "wouldn't mind" having medical personnel "check me out". He was ok, but left the trail to go home, with a ride donated by an observer who, earlier in the day, had finished at the Homestead. Later, another hiker was shuttled home from Shafer Road where Marshals Kathy and Jo-Ann served up sympathy in globs.

Shortly after, I encountered a hiker standing on the corner of McCaulley Road and Middle Road, looking worried, a little disoriented, and maybe even a little confused (why am I here? why am I doing this?). So I pulled over and asked if he were lost or what? Whatever he said didn't make complete sense so I asked him a few other questions. It turned out that a woman hiker he and a friend had been with had collapsed at the top of "Duck Pond Hill" where the geese, not ducks, stand guard. The friend was tending the patient. I hopped out of the car and we ran (!!) up to the top of Duck Pond Hill and sure enough, a young woman was lying on the ground in a fetal position, and, although covered with windbreakers, was shivering like it was 25 degrees in a high January wind. After checking her out briefly (breathing, skin temperature and surface condition, asking a couple of questions), I called for an ambulance. Heat exhaustion. Arriving only a couple of minutes later, a police car drove up the hill and took her back down and to the hospital in the awaiting ambulance. The next day, Sunday, I spoke with her briefly; she was in good spirits and felt fine, a little tired maybe, but was focused (maybe fixated) on the fact she didn't get to finish. Her mood was primarily disappointment.

I was finishing my rounds of the checkpoints, now at Sample Station Checkpoint #5 (mile 31.5) with Marshals Colette and Joey, when the call came. Hiker down. In the woods "a mile after the railroad track turnoff". I jumped in the car, raced to the nearest entry point, and ran down the trail to the scene. A strong-looking, muscular woman had collapsed. Medical personnel were called immediately and within just a few minutes I met them on the road to lead them to our fallen comrade. After an initial assessment on the scene, it was decided a rescue team would have to come in and get her out to the ambulance. She was admitted to the hospital and remained hospitalized until Friday, six days later, being in intensive care until Thursday. Meanwhile, we prayed for her recovery. I spoke with her on Friday morning, and, wouldn't you know it, her only complaint was "I didn't get to finish. I was only 1.5 miles from the end and I didn't get to finish". She indicates that she loves the Challenge and will most likely volunteer to help out with the event next year rather than hike it.

Other “Trail Stories”

The HIP (Hostelling International Pittsburgh- the Challenge organizational sponsor) team, consisting of President Kyra Straussman, and Hostel staff Ada Bosonetto, Brian Funk, and Nicole Mannino were last seen somewhere between Bull Creek and Sheetz in Creighton, smelling the flowers; it was reported, however, that they were having a great time!!

One Challenger, who finished up at North Park, went home to shower and clean up and then returned to North Park to cheer in other finishers, reported losing 11 pounds on the day, weighed on his home scale.

George Bender lost his hat somewhere on the trail; he, all of a sudden, realized it was gone. Seeing me at Agan Park, he literally begged me for my extra hat (I always carry on), saying that there was no way he could finish without a hat. So I loaned him my spare hat, and he did finish, 7:12 PM. Congrats, George, and, you’re welcome.

Dario Donatelli and his son Dario Donatelli, Jr. finished at 4:19 PM, looking pretty healthy at the end. In truth, Dario, Jr. looked a little fresher than Dad. Dario, Jr., at age 12 may be the youngest finisher ever.

Alexis Rzweski came ready to go hiking at Harrison Hills Park bright and early at 5:30 AM on Sunday!! Guess what. There wasn’t a soul around. Alexis asked for his t-shirt later that week and I gave it to him at Open House, Thursday night. Then, because he felt he owed the trail some sweat, Alexis rousted a couple of friends out of bed early the next weekend and they went out and hiked a cool 20 miles. I guess he earned the shirt.

Barb Peterson (Babs) got separated from her trail partner, Frank Noll, early on in the Challenge. Barb was feeling bad for Frank thinking she had left him behind, and, “what if he got lost” or “what if he got discouraged and quit” or “what if ....”. Finally, at Shafer Road Checkpoint #4, she thought to check the time roster and found he was ahead of her!! By 15 minutes!! Off she went, like a bat out of ..., and, lo and behold, she caught up to him. They finished together at 5:03 PM.

Congrats to Gerry Vaerewyck and Gene Pochapsky; these two have been trying to finish the Challenge since ’96. In ’96, they bailed out at Bailey’s Run (going eastbound) because time was running out. Something else happened in ’97. This year they finished at 8:34 PM.

For the record, we had 250 registrations, 36 no-shows, putting a total of 214 hikers on the trail. We had 96 hikers who finished within the time constraint of "sunrise to sunset, 5:50 AM to 8:54 PM" and 3 more who finished after hours. We had 96 who made it as far as the Rachel Carson Homestead, of whom 66 stopped there (Half-Challengers) and of whom 30 continued past but did not make it to North Park. We also had 14 dropouts before the Homestead. We also had 5 “creative” hikers who started and/or stopped in places other than Harrison Hills or North Park.

Now, the Trail returns to its normal pace, lone hikers, couples and small groups, a few trail runners, hardly ever intersecting paths on the Trail. The Challenge ensures the future of the Trail, by not only putting a few hundred boots onto the treadway, cutting in a permanent trace, but by providing funds for maintenance supplies like cutting tools and tool repairs, paint, brushes, and postage for mailings designed to recruit maintenance volunteers. The Challenge also benefits the (AYH-American Youth Hostels) Pittsburgh International Youth Hostel by relieving it of the financial burden of funding trail activities. For all these benefits, Leo and I thank Ben, Ron, Sue, Trisha, Jim Jr., Jon, Vince, Blanche, Jack, Tim, Jo-Ann, Kathy, Colette, Joey, Margie, Vaughn, Nicole, Barb, Steve, Greg, Stan, Marilyn, Hugh, Jerry, Jessica, the “other” Nicole, Wade, all of our other helpers and supporters, and all our sponsors; and we all thank you-all, the Challengers, for making this the best Challenge Day ever.

See other Rachel Carson Trail Challenge letters and stories in this issue.

Also, go to our web site for photos from the Rachel Carson Trail Challenge 2000:

http://members.xoom.com/rachelbaker

(Page 13) Rachel Carson Trail Challenge 2000: Letters from Challengers

I just wanted to send you a short note to thank you for all your efforts in organizing an event such as the "challenge". I hope that everyone made it safely to their destination and that there were no serious injuries.

Dario Donatelli and Son.

p.s.We'll contemplate future participation in the event as physical and mental pain of yesterday become fond and distant memories.

I participated in the Rachel Carson Challenge this past weekend and just wanted to drop you a quick line to thank you for the opportunity. It was unlike any other endurance race I've ever done. Thank you and all of the volunteers who gave their time to help out. It was a great event and a truly difficult challenge.

Take care,
Andy Woods
Cincinnati, OH

Rick is fine; it seems the heat was too much. After we left you, he drank some Gatorade (which I think you recommended), got cleaned up at my apartment and we went out for pizza that night. He was pretty disappointed that we didn't make it all the way. By Sunday we both had recovered enough to drive over to Johnstown. I talked to Don Erdeljac and learned he made a concerted effort to get as far as possible during the cool morning hours. We'll adjust our strategy next year.

By the way, thanks to you and Leo for setting up the Challenge. It's really a unique, fun event to be part of and I really appreciate all the work you folks do. And let me know if you need any help setting it up next year.

Steve

Just wanted to drop you a line to congratulate you on a remarkably well-run RCT Challenge this past Saturday. I had a great time and was very impressed with the volunteers' efforts to make the hike easier for all of us. Through the hike I not only challenged myself physically and mentally, but also experienced a part of Western PA I had previously never seen. Thanks again for all of your hard work in orchestrating the event. Your efforts, and those of all of the volunteers, were evident and appreciated.

Take care,
Jeff Ellis

The RC Hike was very well organized. As a hiker I was really impressed. Now if you could just do something about the temperatures.

Jim C.

I was really impressed with the organizational success of the RC challenge. Not only did it go well, but the happy treckers thanked me as they went by. An outstanding example of hard work by you and your crew of an not so easy job.

Ben (Trail Marshal and VP of Hostelling International Pittsburgh)

I had a great time last weekend. Just put me on the list for next year!

Nicole (Trail Marshal)

I was a first-time participant in the 2000 Challenge. I have included a quote from Calvin Coolidge that I thought would be an appropriate posting on the web site:

"Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education alone will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent."
--Calvin Coolidge

I finished the challenge along with three friends of mine. I have to say that this is one of the more challenging things that I have accomplished in my life. That day tested our persistence, determination, and discipline. Around the 20 mile mark, I had noticed problems with my shins and related muscle groups (Tibius Anterior). Going into the Challenge, I vowed that quitting was not an option and that we would all finish the trail by days-end. So, I pushed for the remaining 14 miles (at some points on my hands and knees). It would have been very easy to say "I quit" and fall out of the race. Quitting was not an option.

I found out the following Monday that I had separated by Tibius Anterior muscle from my Tibia on both legs. My doctor was amazed how I was able to complete the hike (pain and loss of strength) in this condition. My teammates suffered from severe leg cramping, chaffing, swollen feet, and blisters. A lot of people think that my continued effort in the hike was not the smartest decision to make. I beg to differ. I was physically able to complete the Challenge. Eventhough I may have made my condition worse by continuing, I know that I have the strength and discipline to overcome physical impediments and meet my goals. I think this day was more a test of mental conditioning than it was physical. I think that these feelings were shared by my teammates and the numerous participants who completed the Challenge.

I wanted to share my experience with you as an example of the dedication, persistence, and discipline that was present in everybody during that day. I saw many hikers that were persistently pushing forward in light of their aches, pains, and injuries. I would like to congratulate all who completed the challenge. I think we all have one thing in common: we are people who face life's challenges and difficulties head-on and do not quit in the face of these challenges and difficulties.

Good luck throughout the year and hope to see you next year.

Joe Wolf

It was a pleasure to meet you and all the volunteers on Saturday. I wanted to compliment you on a truly enjoyable and well organized event. It was great to meet all the walkers from different backgrounds and age groups. What an interesting variety of people your event attracts. I was also amazed at how clear that previously overgrown section of the trail was. It was almost unrecognizable. I'll probably see more of you and the other folks in the future since I plan on joining AYH ASAP. Just out of my perverse curiosity, how many people wound up finishing on Saturday? Again, thanks for everything Jim.

Kevin O'Connor

Sorry, forgot the best part -yes we got out and did approx 4 miles between North Park and Boston Market. It went really well. The renewed family route directions were in case the internal personnel didn't work out with rides etc., but it did, and we are already looking forward to next year. How many folks finished? Thanks again.

Dave

October 2000
(Page 7) Trip Report - 27 Aug 2000 - Rachel Carson Trail, Part II
-by Axelis Rzewski

Two months ago, Ried, Annemarie and myself hiked about 20 miles on the Rachel Carson Trail. For me, that was a way of "earning the stripes" for that T-shirt I got after missing the Challenge in June 24th. Now, it was time for the remaining 14 miles.

After the great success of the last hike, Annemarie and Ried both agreed that an effort should be made to return to the trail and complete it. Two months elapsed before Annemarie could carve out a free Sunday from her busy schedule, and as usual, she didn't blink when told that we were going to pick her up at 5:30 AM. My brother Ico would also join us on this trip. For many other invitees, it was just too early in the morning.

We left one car at 6:10 in North Park in a location that we later discovered was not the parking lot next to the Beaver Shelter, but the Oakmont shelter and skating rink. In the rush of things and darkness or early dawn, we just didn't pay attention to the signage. We then used the second vehicle to reach Harwick. From North Park, the yellow belt is the perfect route to follow, and we very quickly reach Harwick. We park in a street facing the municipal building and start hiking at 6:50.

I am wearing the green Rachel Carson Trail Challenge 2000 shirt, so that by the end of day, that shirt will be soaked in the sweat of having covered the entire trail. By the way, about that shirt: I've debated myself on whether it would have been a better shirt if it were 100% cotton. Being 50/50 polyester and cotton, it is not as comfortable as a pure cotton garment, but today I will discover the advantages of a mixed fabric material rather than all cotton. Thunderstorms were forecasted, and the trail also offered some thorny bushes to slap through, and an all-cotton garment would have been detrimental.

From the start, Annemarie's concerns were the "rollercoaster hills" of which the RCT is famous for. Being more psychologically prepared, now knowing what to expect, she trooped forward with commanding leadership. Ried too, was more prepared. He recently purchased Asolo boots, and tailgating behind him on those steep ascents and descents on the gas pipeline trail, I could see how those brand new, unworn Vibram soles were effective and cutting nicely the hardened soil.

The early morning mist and fog gave many opportunities for suggestive photographic backdrops, specially from the summits of the rollercoaster hills. In one spot, going through some tall grass and bushes, we were soon covered with triangular-shaped seeds that *really* stick on your hair and shirt. These seeds come in rows, and my RCT Challenge T-Shirt really had "stripes" of them. I guess Mother Nature was responding in its style on my call to earn those "stripes".

On top of one hill, tall grass and 9-feet high wildflowers suggest some scene out of a safari. After negotiating some thorny bushes, the trail abandons the pipeline and goes into the woods in a hard-to-find turn. At about 9 AM, we reach a municipal park (Old Mill Run) and stop for a break. There are picnic shelters, a playground, sport fields. Only one other person is there, a birdwatcher. He told us that he spotted some cranes earlier.

The trail then continues on mostly wooded area. Just before the Casey crane plant, some spectacular tall flowers. The crane plant ground is fun to watch too. Large steel structures lay to rest. One cemetery of crane hooks all grouped together. North of the Saxonburg Road, another patch of spectacular flowering fields. This time, they are Black Eyed Mary. Hundreds of them. Some sundried logs remind more of a Wyoming landscape.

And then, the last pipeline hill, a very important psychological landmark for Annemarie. On top of the hill, an Agrarian scenery, with meadows, barns, and hilltop water tanks. The trail soon Crosses the Pennsylvania Turnpike, walking on top of a local road bridge, and stays on a back road for a good two miles. We are getting closer and closer to Hartwood Acres. Leaving the dirt backroad, the trail then meanders up on a hill with some sporadic meadows and fruit trees.

With the sudden appearance of a hidden pond, that given the embankment on one of its side it must have been artificially created, it suddenly dawns on people's minds the image of the perfect spot for lunch. "It's eleven o'clock", says Annemarie, as trying to justify the stop, as to say that it is *almost* lunchtime. Ried has fun feeding the fish. It's a feeding frenzy and the word "Piranha" comes to mind. Annemarie has her customary nap on the grass, another opportunity for photographs, just as in the hike two months ago.

So far, the day has been slightly sunny, with cool air. An hour later, finally, the darkening clouds delivered its light rain. Continuing on the trail, we cross Middle Road, into the Hampton municipal park, then the school grounds, and encounter the four-lane Route 8. As we approached it, we would see cars and trucks zipping by constantly. The moment we reached the edge of the road, not a car in sight on both directions and without having to stop, we kept the same hiking pace and crossed with no delay. What timing! Divine intervention.

Under the light rain, crossing of Glade Run was the only wet crossing so far in which we got our feet wet. Walking in the darkness under thick hemlock trees, and the sound of babbling creek, this portion of the trail had definitely the most backcountry quality. Half a mile later, we're walking on gravel next to railroad tracks for a short time, to then walk along another babbling creek with hemlock trees.

Soon the trail reaches the open play fields of North Park, and the large rectangular yellow blazes are replaced by smaller yellow dots - a park-mandated administrative directive? It's 2 PM. There are picnic events, such as one of the Alexander Nevsky Orthodox Church, and with the light rain, every square inch under the shelters are covered with people. A station wagon parked next to it with license plate "BBQ 1".

After walking across the south portion of North Park and reaching the lake (nice condos right next to Pine Creek - never noticed them before - almost like Vail, Colorado), we keep on following the yellow dots into the woods to then find a wooden sign: "Rachel Carson Trail", and three yellow blazes on it. Having seen single and paired blazes along the trail, Annemarie asks what does it mean when there are three. I tell her that it is convention among trail blazers to put three blazes in the ends Of a trail, but we were puzzled: we were in the middle of the woods, and planting that post there just made no sense. Not having our RCT map with us, we were playing guessing game, and having made the erroneous assumption earlier in the pre-dawn hours of believing that the Beaver shelter was near the skating rink, we kept continuing on a trail with white blazes.

After a while, we soon realize that the yellow dots have disappeared, and we decide to bushwhack towards the main lake, into the pine forest next to the tennis courts, and into the exercise trail behind the park headquarters. The team is now tired, and the feeling of having "lost" the trail doesn't boost morale for that last sprint. I volunteer to run to the car and return quickly to pick them up at park HQ.

Fifteen minutes later, I pick the passengers, and glance at the posted park map in the parking lot. Some 30 shelters are listed alphabetically by name. Looking for "Beaver", its on square D-3 on the map, and once found it on the map, I see it located over a creek of where the post with the three blazes was. "Hey fellas, great news: that post WAS the end of the trail". Annemarie exulted: "I am so glad we did the entire trail". So was I. My veggie stripes still attached on the shirt.

To see photos taken on Alexis' hike, go to: http://www.zing.com/album/?id=4293681999&code=456160&mode=invite

(Page 8) Rachel Carson Trail Challenge 2000-More (and More) Letters

July 17, 2000
Dear Jim,

I would like to give you my thoughts about this unique endurance challenge. First of all my congratulations to all the finishers. The volunteer stuff at the check-point stations was nice, friendly and very helpful. I also talked to many interesting pain-seekers- overachievers...like myself.

This challenge was the toughest thing I had to do both physically and mentally. To call the creators of this challenging course masochists is not enough.

At the end I was glad it was all over. I contemplated thoughts, cursed and meditated for hours.....I guess it was quality time spent with myself . I had pain for several days but it was well distributed all over the body.

I discovered a whole new world of calves, upper legs, buttocks, arms and other muscles I never knew I had . It felt like I had survived a rocks' avalanche.

I never experienced that type of pain before....not after a very hard marathon or my first ultra.

Now I have memories .. .....of scorching heat on the high grass of never ending up hills... a taste of hell. Was anyone hallucinating? Memories of the thrill of being a roller coaster car without breaks. By the way I would like to know how some colleagues-runners have managed to run the down-hills. Did you guys and gals had any knees left after the event? Were you wearing special spike's shoes?

It is amazing how humans become humble after 34 miles of exposure to nature.

Diana Marongiu-Lutz
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
August 31, 2000
Jim

The RCTC was really fun (fun in a brutal, painful, why did I do this voluntarily? sort of way) and was so much better marked and cleared than the first time. Your trail crew did a really good job.
Gerry Vaerewyck

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

August 24, 2000
Steve

Listen, I was reading the newsletter that the youth hostling group puts out. You know, where they write about the trail. In there someone said that they had lost their very special hiking hat on the trail and that it had been a big blow for them. I think I picked up that hat and set it back down again (I didn't feel like I was littering, I kind of felt like it was an archeological remnant of the 2000 trail and should be left there).

That hat was on the trail on that hill just after Sheetz's. You know how you climb a minor grade asphalt road for maybe 100 yrds and then turn off to the left and climb. Remember how we went up the steep, gas line clearing (or powerline clearing) instead of up the trail and how you said it was a short cut even thought it was very steep? Well, somewhere on that hill, between the road and the top, sort of halfway up was this sort of white, cotton (maybe) baseball cap / french foreign legion hat. I bet that is the hat the guy lost.

Do you think you could transfer a copy of this e-mail off to the powers that be? Maybe they can tell the guy that lost the hat and he can find it after all. The search area wouldn't be all that large. An hour's looking would find it if it is still there.

Rick

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

July 8, 2000
Dear Jim,

I am wondering if Hogweed was ever seen on the RCT. I suspect that it may be there, based on my experience this year.

This was my second time on the Challenge, and I was pleased to make it to Emmerling before a turned ankle and sore toenails convinced me to stop. Unfortunately, I removed my T-shirt while walking on Ridge Road, and never thought to replace it ... which means that I did most of my distance wearing a runner's tank top.

About 2 days later, I developed a large (6x4 inch), itchy, swollen plaque in my right armpit. Despite steroids, antibiotics, and a good dermatologist, this doubled in size and launched a secondary allergic reaction called erythema multiforme. I am now recovering, and hopefully the wiser for the experience.

I mention this because the original plaque really did not look like typical poison ivy. Apparently Hogweed can cause this sort of burn-like lesion, but my dermatologist doesn't think that anyone has seen it in Allegheny County (yet). I thought I would report my experience, just in case.

Hope to resume hiking again sometime (... in long sleeves!) Thanks.
Rita McGill

May 2001
(Page 1) VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR CHALLENGE DAY
Rachel Carson Trail Challenge
June 23, 2001

We need a dozen or so volunteers to help us staff the Checkpoints on the Rachel Carson Trail on Saturday June 23, 2001. Checkpoint volunteers will assist hikers by “checking them in” when they reach the checkpoint, making sure each hiker gets water, snacks, and any assistance they may require. There will be a team of volunteers at each checkpoint. If you have first aid training or a tarp you can erect to block the sun, those are a plus. Each volunteer will receive a Rachel Carson Trail Challenge “Trail Marshal” t-shirt. If you’re interested, email rctchallenge@yahoo.com or call Leo Stember at (412) 681-1385 or Steve Mentzer at (412) 512-4544.

(Page 5) HIKING/BACKPACKING/TRAILS

May 19 Saturday Jim Ritchie 828-0210
Trail Maintenance, Rachel Carson Trail. We will be going to two locations. One, near Wagner Road, relocating the trail away from some new construction, will involve blacking out old blazes and painting up new ones with some light vegetation removal. The second, near the Hampton Schools athletic fields, will involve only painting new blazes and light vegetation removal. We may do more if time allows. Call Jim to make arrangements.

June 2 Saturday Jim Ritchie (412) 828-0210
On the June Hikes we get ready for the Rachel Carson Trail Challenge 2001. In a series of four hikes, we will trace the route just as you will encounter it on June 23. This is the first of four hikes covering the 34-mile Rachel Carson Trail end-to-end. This hike begins in North Park at the Beaver Shelter, continues out of the park into Crouse Run Valley, through the Hampton Nature Preserve, up to the roof of Allegheny County and past Hidden Pond. It concludes with some spirited dirt road hiking for about a mile and ends in Dorseyville, covering about 8 miles altogether. This is the easiest of the four sections of the Trail. There may be one or two wet stream crossings. Intermediate hiking. Call Jim or email jimritch@aol.com for reservations or more information.

June 3 Sunday Barb Peterson (412) 371-2506
This is the second of four hikes on the Rachel Carson Trail covering all 34 miles. We begin in Dorseyville and proceed down Myers Hill to Emmerling Park, up Rich Hill, LaFever Hill, and the hill of Mile 14, heading towards Springdale and the “roller coaster”. We end at Freeport Road and cover about 10 miles total. There may be wet stream crossings. This hike is definitely strenuous, not recommended for beginning hikers. Call Barb for reservations or more information.

June 9 Saturday Barb Peterson (412) 371-2506
This is the third of four hikes on the Rachel Carson Trail covering all 34 miles. This hike begins in Springdale and follows the picturesque bluffs along the Allegheny River, then tackles Murray Hill, Creighton Hill, Bailey’s Hill and Bakerstown Hill. It ends at Bull Creek Road near Tarentum and covers about 8 miles. There may be wet stream crossings. This is intermediate hiking and is moderately strenuous. Be sure you’ve done 8 miles before, don’t make this the first time. Call Barb for reservations or more information.

June 10 Sunday Jim Ritchie (412) 828-0210
This is the last of four hikes on the Rachel Carson Trail covering all 34 miles. We begin at Bull Creek Road near Tarentum and do about a mile of uphill road hiking. Soon we hit Burtner Hill, one of the biggest and toughest hills on the Trail, followed by some easy and pleasant terrain along the bluffs over the Allegheny River. We end in Harrison Hills Park, covering about 8 miles. This is intermediate hiking and is moderately strenuous. There may be wet stream crossings. Call Jim or email jimritch@aol.com for reservations or more information.

June 23 Saturday Steve Mentzer (412) 512-4544 Leo Stember (412) 681-1385
Rachel Carson Trail Challenge. This is it -- 34 miles in one day, from North Park to Harrison Hills Park. Pre-registration is required; an entry form is included on page 7 in this newsletter, and it must be received no later than June 9. Email rctchallenge@yahoo.com or call Leo or Steve for more information.

Baker Trail, Hiker Alerts
· The railroad bridge across the Kiski River in Schenley is stilled officially closed to hikers on the Baker Trail. There is no detour (unless you can swim with a pack). Begin all northbound hiking in Schenley.
· The Cochran’s Mill Shelter has been destroyed by vandals and is, therefore, not in service. It is recommended that you camp a mile or so up- or down-trail and not at the shelter site because of continued drinking parties there.
· There is a new shelter at North Freedom/Langville. Please call (412) 828-0210 or email jimritch@aol.com for the location.
· All other shelters are open, the Trail is fully blazed and a trail guide ($7+s/h) may be ordered by telephone at (412)431-4910.

Rachel Carson Trail, Hiker Alerts
· The trail is fully open and blazed. The 5th Rachel Carson Trail Challenge, a one-day, 34-mile endurance hike going end-to-end on the Trail is scheduled for June 23, 2001, the virtual summer solstice. Registration is $23. Call (412) 431-4910 for a registration form or to order the trail guide ($7+s/h).

Visit the RachelBaker Website

Visit the RachelBaker website at http://members.nbci.com/rachelbaker where you will find the following information of interest to hikers and backpackers. Visit today and then bookmark our site for future reference.

1. A current schedule of hiking activities in the Pittsburgh area.
2. Information about the Rachel Carson and Baker Trails.
3. Rachel Carson Trail Challenge information
   a. See Photos from RCTC2000
   b. Read the exciting sagas of previous Challenges: 1996, 1997, 1999 and 2000
   c. Register for RCTC 2001, scheduled for June 23rd
4. Learn how to volunteer to help maintain our trails

(Page 6) The Fifth Annual Rachel Carson Trail Challenge
“34 Miles in One Day”
June 23rd, 2001

The 2001 Rachel Carson Trail Challenge is a 34-mile, one-day, endurance hiking event, held in the spirit of the Alaskan Iditarod, the Boston Marathon, the 70-mile Laurel Highlands Trail Run, the Race Across America and the many Ironman Triathlons held across the country each year. Sponsored by Hostelling International Pittsburgh/AYH, the Challenge will be held this year on June 23rd (taking advantage of the summer solstice), starting at the crack of dawn, and will extend through the 34-mile roller coaster of hills, hollows, and bluffs between North Park and Harrison Hills in Allegheny County, ending as the sun sets below the horizon. The "Challenge" is to endure, to finish the hike in one day, rather than to "come in first" or "win”.

The Rachel Carson Trail is characterized by its roller coaster hills and is often said to be one of the most difficult hiking trails in the United States. The hike will begin, rain or shine, at sunrise and will officially end at sunset, 5:50 A.M. to 8:54 P.M., giving Challengers a total of 15 hours and 4 minutes to complete the 34-mile route. A typical hiking pace on most trails is 2 miles per hour.

The Challenge has two dimensions: the first is to endure 34 miles of tortuous hill climbing and descent in unpredictable weather conditions; the second is your ability to stay on the Trail without getting lost. Obviously, those who have hiked the trail before will have some advantage in maintaining the proper route. Four training hikes covering the entire trail will be held the first and second weekends in June; details can be found elsewhere in this newsletter. Of the 270 people who started the 1996 and 1997 Challenges, only 32 finished the 34-mile event. Seventy-four finished in 1999 and 96 in 2000, each time from a field of around 200. Hikers claim the 1996, 1999 and 2001 North Park to Harrison Hills Park route is more difficult than 2000's reverse direction. Of those who registered for the Challenge in 1996, only 5 people finished 34 miles.

The Rachel Carson Trail is a "primitive" trail in the sense that no special grading or surfacing materials are used on the trail. It is a typical Western Pennsylvania hiking trail and hikers should expect to find all the conditions a typical hiker would encounter on a typical hiking trail. While the trail is blazed with yellow blazes, there will be an occasional missing blaze where a tree has fallen or when you are following a logging road, a power line or gas line; there will be blow downs, washouts, poison ivy, nettles, bugs, loose gravel and rocks, steep inclines, gullies, and wet stream crossings. You must be prepared to expect the unexpected and think the unthinkable. The better hiker you are, the better you will do on the Challenge.

All hikers will be given a trip sheet and a set of topographic maps to guide them on their journey. There will be four checkpoints throughout the hike, offering minimal support. Hikers are expected to carry all their own gear and necessities, including food, water, and snacks, first aid equipment, raingear, maps and a trip sheet.

This year the Challenge includes a shuttle bus to take participants from their desired stopping point (either the end- or halfway- point) to the trailhead just before sunrise. Additionally, a “rolling” shuttle will be available starting at 11 A.M. to pick up (at selected points) and return to their vehicles any Challengers wishing to drop out.

An Entry Form is included in this issue of the Golden Triangle. For more information see the Trail web site at http://members.nbci.com/rachelbaker or call (412) 681-1385 or (412) 512-4544. Learn more about Hostelling International Pittsburgh/AYH, the organization that built the Rachel Carson Trail at http://trfn.clpgh.org/ayh. More About the 2001 Rachel Carson Trail Challenge

DETAILS
THE START: The 2001 Challenge will begin at 5:50 AM at the Beaver Shelter in North Park, 100 yards north and west of the junction of Babcock Blvd. and Pearce Mill Road. North Park is located on the “Yellow Belt” between Route 19 (McKnight Road) and Route 8.
SHUTTLE: Shuttle bus service will be available to bring participants from Harrison Hills Park and Springdale High School to the North Park trailhead before dawn, and later at various points along the trail back to their vehicles. In June an email notice will be sent to registered Challengers with the complete shuttle schedule.
PARKING: There are several parking areas in the vicinity of North Park’s Beaver Shelter but parking space is generally limited. Car-pooling is strongly encouraged. Because Harrison Hills Park will be closed and locked at 9:30 PM, no exceptions, you must have your car out of the park before that time. You may consider parking your car outside the front gate. A few cars may be parked at the Volunteer Fire Dept. about one-half mile north of the Park on Freeport Road. The shuttle bus will be stationed outside Harrison Hills Park until 8:40 PM and no Challengers will be allowed to continue into the park after 8:15 PM.
HALF CHALLENGE: The Rachel Carson Homestead is a quarter-mile from the halfway point (17 miles) of the Challenge. Water, snacks, restrooms, telephones, and Trail Marshals will be available at the Homestead. You may park at the Springdale High School parking area, two blocks from the Homestead.
WATER: Checkpoints will be located every 7 miles with water and light snacks available for participants. Marshals will have cell phones for communications.
THE FINISH: The 2001 Rachel Carson Trail Challenge will end at precisely 8:54 PM (official sunset time) at the Ox Roast Shelter in Harrison Hills Park. Take the left fork on the Park entrance road and follow it to the end to get to the Ox Roast Shelter.
THE REWARD: All 34-mile finishers will be entered into a raffle; two names will be drawn with each winner receiving an overnight for two at either the new Pittsburgh International Youth Hostel or the Ohiopyle Youth Hostel, a $50 EMS gift certificate and a free EMS equipment rental certificate. All 34-mile and 17-mile finishers will receive six issues of the AYH Golden Triangle newsletter free (July-December 2001 issues).

“HOW DO I COMPETE?”

You are expected to be entirely self-contained. This is an endurance hike, not a “trail run” or a race. Weight, up to 10 pounds in your pack will not be a significant factor. Be able to carry NO LESS THAN two quarts of water; sports drinks are recommended; carry a lunch plus high-energy snack foods, raingear, dry socks, first aid gear-especially moleskin or band-aids for blisters; you may want to carry a pair of sandals or surf shoes for wet stream crossings; wear sturdy, well broken-in footgear preferably with good ankle support and a lugged sole for gripping loose gravel and rocks; wear thick wool, wool blend or synthetic fiber socks; wear a hat to keep your head out of the sun; wear sunglasses; carry a pack towel to soak in streams and wrap over your head to cool down. Salty snacks such as pretzels, peanuts and potato chips are recommended to avoid salt depletion.

Please note that in June, some sections of the Rachel Carson Trail will have brambles and nettles as well as poison ivy. Long pants made of lightweight material are recommended.

June 2001
(Page 1) VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR CHALLENGE DAY
Rachel Carson Trail Challenge
June 23, 2001

We need a dozen or so volunteers to help us staff the Checkpoints on the Rachel Carson Trail on Saturday June 23, 2001. Checkpoint volunteers will assist hikers by “checking them in” when they reach the checkpoint, making sure each hiker gets water, snacks, and any assistance they may require. There will be a team of volunteers at each checkpoint. If you have first aid training or a tarp you can erect to block the sun, those are a plus. Each volunteer will receive a Rachel Carson Trail Challenge “Trail Marshal” t-shirt. If you’re interested, email rctchallenge@yahoo.com or call Leo Stember at (412) 681-1385 or Steve Mentzer at (412) 512-4544.

(Page 5) HIKING/BACKPACKING/TRAIL

June 2 Saturday Jim Ritchie (412) 828-0210
On the June Hikes we get ready for the Rachel Carson Trail Challenge 2001. In a series of four hikes, we will trace the route just as you will encounter it on June 23. This is the first of four hikes covering the 34-mile Rachel Carson Trail end-to-end. This hike begins in North Park at the Beaver Shelter, continues out of the park into Crouse Run Valley, through the Hampton Nature Preserve, up to the roof of Allegheny County and past Hidden Pond. It concludes with some spirited dirt road hiking for about a mile and ends in Dorseyville, covering about 8 miles altogether. This is the easiest of the four sections of the Trail. There may be one or two wet stream crossings. Intermediate hiking. Call Jim or email jimritch@aol.com for reservations or more information.

June 3 Sunday Barb Peterson (412) 371-2506
This is the second of four hikes on the Rachel Carson Trail covering all 34 miles. We begin in Dorseyville and proceed down Myers Hill to Emmerling Park, up Rich Hill, LaFever Hill, and the hill of Mile 14, heading towards Springdale and the “roller coaster”. We end at Freeport Road and cover about 10 miles total. There may be wet stream crossings. This hike is definitely strenuous, not recommended for beginning hikers. Call Barb for reservations or more information.

June 9 Saturday Barb Peterson (412) 371-2506
This is the third of four hikes on the Rachel Carson Trail covering all 34 miles. This hike begins in Springdale and follows the picturesque bluffs along the Allegheny River, then tackles Murray Hill, Creighton Hill, Bailey’s Hill and Bakerstown Hill. It ends at Bull Creek Road near Tarentum and covers about 8 miles. There may be wet stream crossings. This is intermediate hiking and is moderately strenuous. Be sure you’ve done 8 miles before, don’t make this the first time. Call Barb for reservations or more information.

June 10 Sunday Jim Ritchie (412) 828-0210
This is the last of four hikes on the Rachel Carson Trail covering all 34 miles. We begin at Bull Creek Road near Tarentum and do about a mile of uphill road hiking. Soon we hit Burtner Hill, one of the biggest and toughest hills on the Trail, followed by some easy and pleasant terrain along the bluffs over the Allegheny River. We end in Harrison Hills Park, covering about 8 miles. This is intermediate hiking and is moderately strenuous. There may be wet stream crossings. Call Jim or email jimritch@aol.com for reservations or more information.

June 23 Saturday Steve Mentzer (412) 512-4544 Leo Stember (412) 681-1385
Rachel Carson Trail Challenge. This is it -- 34 miles in one day, from North Park to Harrison Hills Park. Pre-registration is required; an entry form is included on page 7 in this newsletter, and it must be received no later than June 9. Email rctchallenge@yahoo.com or call Leo or Steve for more information.

Baker Trail, Hiker Alerts
· The railroad bridge across the Kiski River in Schenley is stilled officially closed to hikers on the Baker Trail. There is no detour (unless you can swim with a pack). Begin all northbound hiking in Schenley.
· The Cochran’s Mill Shelter has been destroyed by vandals and is, therefore, not in service. It is recommended that you camp a mile or so up- or down-trail and not at the shelter site because of continued drinking parties there.
· There is a new shelter at North Freedom/Langville. Please call (412) 828-0210 or email jimritch@aol.com for the location.
· All other shelters are open, the Trail is fully blazed and a trail guide ($7+s/h) may be ordered by telephone at (412) 431-4910.

Rachel Carson Trail, Hiker Alerts
· The trail is fully open and blazed. The 5th Rachel Carson Trail Challenge, a one-day, 34-mile endurance hike going end-to-end on the Trail is scheduled for June 23, 2001, the virtual summer solstice. Registration is $23. Call (412) 431-4910 for a registration form or to order the trail guide ($7+s/h).

Visit the RachelBaker Website

Visit the RachelBaker website at http://members.nbci.com/rachelbaker where you will find the following information of interest to hikers and backpackers. Visit today and then bookmark our site for future reference.

1. A current schedule of hiking activities in the Pittsburgh area.
2. Information about the Rachel Carson and Baker Trails.
3. Rachel Carson Trail Challenge information
   a. See Photos from RCTC2000
   b. Read the exciting sagas of previous Challenges: 1996, 1997, 1999 and 2000
   c. Register for RCTC 2001, scheduled for June 23rd
4. Learn how to volunteer to help maintain our trails

(Page 6) The Fifth Annual Rachel Carson Trail Challenge
“34 Miles in One Day”
June 23rd, 2001

The 2001 Rachel Carson Trail Challenge is a 34-mile, one-day, endurance hiking event, held in the spirit of the Alaskan Iditarod, the Boston Marathon, the 70-mile Laurel Highlands Trail Run, the Race Across America and the many Ironman Triathlons held across the country each year. Sponsored by Hostelling International Pittsburgh/AYH, the Challenge will be held this year on June 23rd (taking advantage of the summer solstice), starting at the crack of dawn, and will extend through the 34-mile roller coaster of hills, hollows, and bluffs between North Park and Harrison Hills in Allegheny County, ending as the sun sets below the horizon. The "Challenge" is to endure, to finish the hike in one day, rather than to "come in first" or "win”.

The Rachel Carson Trail is characterized by its roller coaster hills and is often said to be one of the most difficult hiking trails in the United States. The hike will begin, rain or shine, at sunrise and will officially end at sunset, 5:50 A.M. to 8:54 P.M., giving Challengers a total of 15 hours and 4 minutes to complete the 34-mile route. A typical hiking pace on most trails is 2 miles per hour.

The Challenge has two dimensions: the first is to endure 34 miles of tortuous hill climbing and descent in unpredictable weather conditions; the second is your ability to stay on the Trail without getting lost. Obviously, those who have hiked the trail before will have some advantage in maintaining the proper route. Four training hikes covering the entire trail will be held the first and second weekends in June; details can be found elsewhere in this newsletter. Of the 270 people who started the 1996 and 1997 Challenges, only 32 finished the 34-mile event. Seventy-four finished in 1999 and 96 in 2000, each time from a field of around 200. Hikers claim the 1996, 1999 and 2001 North Park to Harrison Hills Park route is more difficult than 2000's reverse direction. Of those who registered for the Challenge in 1996, only 5 people finished 34 miles.

The Rachel Carson Trail is a "primitive" trail in the sense that no special grading or surfacing materials are used on the trail. It is a typical Western Pennsylvania hiking trail and hikers should expect to find all the conditions a typical hiker would encounter on a typical hiking trail. While the trail is blazed with yellow blazes, there will be an occasional missing blaze where a tree has fallen or when you are following a logging road, a power line or gas line; there will be blow downs, washouts, poison ivy, nettles, bugs, loose gravel and rocks, steep inclines, gullies, and wet stream crossings. You must be prepared to expect the unexpected and think the unthinkable. The better hiker you are, the better you will do on the Challenge.

All hikers will be given a trip sheet and a set of topographic maps to guide them on their journey. There will be four checkpoints throughout the hike, offering minimal support. Hikers are expected to carry all their own gear and necessities, including food, water, and snacks, first aid equipment, raingear, maps and a trip sheet.

This year the Challenge includes a shuttle bus to take participants from their desired stopping point (either the end- or halfway- point) to the trailhead just before sunrise. Additionally, a “rolling” shuttle will be available starting at 11 A.M. to pick up (at selected points) and return to their vehicles any Challengers wishing to drop out.

An Entry Form is included in this issue of the Golden Triangle. For more information see the Trail web site at http://members.nbci.com/rachelbaker or call (412) 681-1385 or (412) 512-4544. Learn more about Hostelling International Pittsburgh/AYH, the organization that built the Rachel Carson Trail at http://trfn.clpgh.org/ayh. More About the 2001 Rachel Carson Trail Challenge

DETAILS
THE START: The 2001 Challenge will begin at 5:50 AM at the Beaver Shelter in North Park, 100 yards north and west of the junction of Babcock Blvd. and Pearce Mill Road. North Park is located on the “Yellow Belt” between Route 19 (McKnight Road) and Route 8.
SHUTTLE: Shuttle bus service will be available to bring participants from Harrison Hills Park and Springdale High School to the North Park trailhead before dawn, and later at various points along the trail back to their vehicles. In June an email notice will be sent to registered Challengers with the complete shuttle schedule.
PARKING: There are several parking areas in the vicinity of North Park’s Beaver Shelter but parking space is generally limited. Car-pooling is strongly encouraged. Because Harrison Hills Park will be closed and locked at 9:30 PM, no exceptions, you must have your car out of the park before that time. You may consider parking your car outside the front gate. A few cars may be parked at the Volunteer Fire Dept. about one-half mile north of the Park on Freeport Road. The shuttle bus will be stationed outside Harrison Hills Park until 8:40 PM and no Challengers will be allowed to continue into the park after 8:15 PM.
HALF CHALLENGE: The Rachel Carson Homestead is a quarter-mile from the halfway point (17 miles) of the Challenge. Water, snacks, restrooms, telephones, and Trail Marshals will be available at the Homestead. You may park at the Springdale High School parking area, two blocks from the Homestead.
WATER: Checkpoints will be located every 7 miles with water and light snacks available for participants. Marshals will have cell phones for communications.
THE FINISH: The 2001 Rachel Carson Trail Challenge will end at precisely 8:54 PM (official sunset time) at the Ox Roast Shelter in Harrison Hills Park. Take the left fork on the Park entrance road and follow it to the end to get to the Ox Roast Shelter.
THE REWARD: All 34-mile finishers will be entered into a raffle; two names will be drawn with each winner receiving an overnight for two at either the new Pittsburgh International Youth Hostel or the Ohiopyle Youth Hostel, a $50 EMS gift certificate and a free EMS equipment rental certificate. All 34-mile and 17-mile finishers will receive six issues of the AYH Golden Triangle newsletter free (July-December 2001 issues).

“HOW DO I COMPETE?”
You are expected to be entirely self-contained. This is an endurance hike, not a “trail run” or a race. Weight, up to 10 pounds in your pack will not be a significant factor. Be able to carry NO LESS THAN two quarts of water; sports drinks are recommended; carry a lunch plus high-energy snack foods, raingear, dry socks, first aid gear-especially moleskin or band-aids for blisters; you may want to carry a pair of sandals or surf shoes for wet stream crossings; wear sturdy, well broken-in footgear preferably with good ankle support and a lugged sole for gripping loose gravel and rocks; wear thick wool, wool blend or synthetic fiber socks; wear a hat to keep your head out of the sun; wear sunglasses; carry a pack towel to soak in streams and wrap over your head to cool down. Salty snacks such as pretzels, peanuts and potato chips are recommended to avoid salt depletion.

Please note that in June, some sections of the Rachel Carson Trail will have brambles and nettles as well as poison ivy. Long pants made of lightweight material are recommended.

While the organizers recommend you outfit yourself as a “hiker”, participants in past Challenges had success participating in “runner mode” wearing light low-top trail running shoes, and carrying only water and a small waist pack for gear instead of a day backpack (rucksack/knapsack).

July 2001/August 2001/September 2001
(Page 5) Baker Trail, Hiker Alerts
· The railroad bridge across the Kiski River in Schenley is stilled officially closed to hikers on the Baker Trail. There is no detour (unless you can swim with a pack). Begin all northbound hiking in Schenley.
· The Cochran’s Mill Shelter has been destroyed by vandals and is, therefore, not in service. It is recommended that you camp a mile or so up- or down-trail and not at the shelter site because of continued drinking parties there.
· There is a new shelter at North Freedom/Langville. Please call (412) 828-0210 or email jimritch@aol.com for the location.
· All other shelters are open, the Trail is fully blazed and a trail guide ($7+s/h) may be ordered by telephone at (412) 431-4910.

Rachel Carson Trail, Hiker Alerts
· The trail is fully open and blazed. The 5th Rachel Carson Trail Challenge, a one-day, 34-mile endurance hike going end-to-end on the Trail is scheduled for June 23, 2001, the virtual summer solstice. Registration is $23. Call (412) 431-4910 for a registration form or to order the trail guide ($7+s/h).

Visit the RachelBaker Website

Visit the RachelBaker website at http://members.nbci.com/rachelbaker where you will find the following information of interest to hikers and backpackers. Visit today and then bookmark our site for future reference.

1. A current schedule of hiking activities in the Pittsburgh area.
2. Information about the Rachel Carson and Baker Trails.
3. Rachel Carson Trail Challenge information
   a. See Photos from RCTC2000
   b. Read the exciting sagas of previous Challenges: 1996, 1997, 1999 and 2000
   c. Register for RCTC 2001, scheduled for June 23rd
4. Learn how to volunteer to help maintain our trails

October 2001/November 2001/December 2001
(Page 5) Baker Trail, Hiker Alerts
· The railroad bridge across the Kiski River in Schenley is stilled officially closed to hikers on the Baker Trail. There is no detour (unless you can swim with a pack). Begin all northbound hiking in Schenley.
· The Cochran’s Mill Shelter has been destroyed by vandals and is, therefore, not in service. It is recommended that you camp a mile or so up- or down-trail and not at the shelter site because of continued drinking parties there.
· There is a new shelter at North Freedom/Langville. Please call (412) 828-0210 or email jimritch@aol.com for the location.
· All other shelters are open, the Trail is fully blazed and a trail guide ($7+s/h) may be ordered by telephone at (412) 431-4910.

Rachel Carson Trail, Hiker Alerts
· The trail is fully open and blazed. The 5th Rachel Carson Trail Challenge, a one-day, 34-mile endurance hike going end-to-end on the Trail is scheduled for June 23, 2001, the virtual summer solstice. Registration is $23. Call (412) 431-4910 for a registration form or to order the trail guide ($7+s/h).

Visit the RachelBaker Website

Visit the RachelBaker website at http://members.nbci.com/rachelbaker where you will find the following information of interest to hikers and backpackers. Visit today and then bookmark our site for future reference.

1. A current schedule of hiking activities in the Pittsburgh area.
2. Information about the Rachel Carson and Baker Trails.
3. Rachel Carson Trail Challenge information
   a. See Photos from RCTC2000
   b. Read the exciting sagas of previous Challenges: 1996, 1997, 1999 and 2000
   c. Register for RCTC 2001, scheduled for June 23rd
4. Learn how to volunteer to help maintain our trails

Junuary 2002/February 2002
(Page 2) GEOCACHING AND THE RACHEL CARSON TRAIL
by Don Erdeljac

Does it bring a smile to your face when you find something that you are searching for? Do you like being outdoors and hiking a section of trail with a great view? Would you like to learn to find your way from point A to point B, anywhere, anytime and under any conditions without necessarily having to use a map and compass? If developing life saving navigational skills while having fun interests you, read on!

Geocaching can simply be defined as geographically hiding something. Perhaps a water tight container with a log book and a few "fun" items. Hidden in a place which will introduce the finder to new hiking trails, obscure overlooks, or challenge him to new heights.

Locating it is generally done with a GPS (Global Positioning System) unit. This is a small electronic device which receives signals from Earth synchronous navigational satellites and reads out your position or takes you to a position (i.e. the cache site). The GPS unit, when programmed, points an arrow in the direction you are to walk, and indicates how far away the cache is. A basic GPS can be purchased at many of the larger discount chains, KMART, WALLMART etc. or a hunting store for under $100.

I've presently hidden two caches along the RCT. They are Clifftop#1 and Clifftop#2. Many more sites exist in Allegheny County. This is truly an interesting, teaching, fun, outdoor and Internet game! For more information on these sites and Geocaching in general, log on to www.geocaching.com

(Page 4) HIKING/BACKPACKING/TRAILS

Sunday, March 17th Sunday March 17th Walk the Rachel Carson Trail in Harrison Hills Park. Beautiful views 4-5 miles. Lorraine Johnson (412)561-2786

(Page 6) "Mud Pie" Challenge- 2001
The 2001 Rachel Carson Trail Challenge
June 23, 2001

One would not usually think of a rainy, breezy, muddy, cool day at the end of June as a wonderful day. But for 248 Rachel Carson Trail Challengers it was a godsend. No heat to deal with. No sun beating you to dust. No steamy waves of humidity rising off the roller coaster as you push your way up and down the five trials by hill.

Just as the heat of 1996 and 1997 limited finishers of the Challenge to 5 the first year and 27 the next (out of approximately 135 registrants), the damp, cool weather of 2001 provided optimal conditions for hiking 34 miles in one day on Rachel's Treacherous Trail. In all, there were 256 individuals who registered, of those 123, nearly half, finished by 9:00 PM, ranging from a dazzling 2:01 PM finish by Michael Halahan. Another 6 hikers/runners finished before 4:00 PM, and 17 more finished before 5:00 PM. The median finish time (half finished before, half finished after) was 6 55 PM. Four (4) hikers finished exactly at 9:00 PM.

Steve Mentzer, the RCTC2001 Executive Director, provided a new map of the trail, produced by GPS with the assistance of Don Erdeljac. Steve also participated in the Challenge, finishing at 6:32 PM. The cost of the map was underwritten by Steve's company, TrueCommerce, Inc.

In addition to map production, the GPS survey also provided the following statistics:

The length of Challenge 2001 was actually 33.3 miles. An additional mile of the trail extends beyond the Ox Roast Shelter in Harrison Hills Park. In fact, 4 hikers missed the turnoff and went all the way to the end.
The climbing elevation, from North Park to Harrison Hills, is 7,130 feet. In comparison, from Mt. Everest base camp at 17,600 feet to the summit at 29,028 requires only 3,000 feet more climbing. And, most Everest climbers utilize 4 camps on the way to the top.
The descending elevation from North Park to Harrison Hills is 7,107 feet. Not only do you climb over 7,000 feet in one day, you also lose it all in the same day.

The Trail's elevation ranges from a low of 761 feet above sea level at Freeport Road in Springdale to a high of 1,297 feet at the peak between Middle Road in Hampton Twp and the Hidden Pond.

We want to thank all the many, many wonderful people who supported us in our quest to stage the 2001 Rachel Carson Trail Challenge. Proceeds from the event are used to support the maintenance activities of the Rachel Carson Trail and the Baker Trail as well as the costs of the event itself.

New Website for Rachel Carson Trail and Baker Trail

NBCi has discontinued its web-hosting activities forcing a change to the location of the Rachel Carson Trail and Baker Trail website. The new URL is: www.rachelcarsontrail.com. Visit the new website for information about the two trails including information for the 2002 Rachel Carson Trail Challenge and past Challenges. There is also an extensive photo gallery for the Rachel Carson Trail Challenge and written accounts of the yearly saga. Changes and updates are in progress, so be patient if everything you are looking for is not up yet. We intend to post a schedule of Pittsburgh area hiking and trail events sponsored by local organizations, hiker alert notices of current trail conditions, and information on how to get involved as a trail steward, taking care of our Trails.

Rachel Carson Trail Hiker Alerts

At this time, there are no restrictions on the Rachel Carson Trail. Follow the Trail Guide and follow the yellow blazes. In the event of a conflict between the two follow the yellow blazes.

Rachel Carson Trail Challenge 2002

The Rachel Carson Trail Challenge for 2002 is scheduled for Saturday, June 22, the Saturday closest to the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year. The Rachel Carson Trail Challenge is a 34- mile long, one-day, sunrise to sunset endurance hike on the "hike me only if you dare" Rachel Carson Trail. This year, the Challenge starts in Harrison Hills County Park at 5:54 AM (sunrise) and ends 34 miles later in North Park. The deadline for finishing is 8:54 PM (sunset). Watch the new website "rachelcarsontrail.com" for more information and application forms, to be posted no later than March 1, 2002. More than 200 hikers and trail runners have registered for the Challenge in each of the past two years.

Baker Trail Hiker Alerts
December 3, 2001

Page 8-There are mixed reports regarding the railroad bridge over the Kiski River (Westmoreland/Armstrong Counties). While the last formal communication with the owners of the Kiski Junction RailRoad left us without permission to cross the bridge, several informal encounters of hikers with the KJRR owners have been reported in which the KJRR has not objected to hikers crossing the bridge At the present time, you must use your own judgment.

Pages 10, 12-The property owner at the point the Baker Trail emerges onto Route 66, northbound, has requested that all hikers keep to the edge of the property line when passing through their property. Do not approach the landowner's house asking for water or directions and do not harass the landowner's dog. Keep moving straight and directly to Route 66, straight down the power line.

Page 12-The Cochran's Mill Shelter has been destroyed by vandals. While the site is open for camping, camping is not advised because this site has been frequently used for beer parties by locals who have, in previous incidents, acted in a threatening manner. Good alternatives are the area near the crossing of Pine Run-before you get to Cochran s Mill, northbound, or the area just past the crossing of Cherry Run-after Cochran's Mill.

Page 25-The new North Freedom/Langville shelter, is immediately beyond the site of the old shelter. Specifically (northbound) cross the bridge over the creek, walk past the driveway on your left in about 150 yards and then watch for a grassy gas line service road immediately to your left. Walk about 300 yards down the service road and you will find the shelter located on your left. There is a small stream there that may be used as a water source (filtering is required). The site of the old shelter is still available for tent camping

Page 30-The Corsica Shelter is no longer located north of Mill Creek in Clarion County. The new Corsica Shelter is approximately 4 miles south of Mill Creek, directly on the side of the trail; this location is about 2-3 miles north of Corsica.

Page 32-Between Iron Bridge Road and Fisher-Sigel Road, just south of Cook Forest State Park, recent logging has resulted in a widening of an old forest road through the area; the widening has caused the removal of numerous blaze trees along the way. As you go northbound through this area, continually bear left at any junctions and you will stay on the trail.

Page 35-Unauthorized persons have been doing minor relocations of the Baker Trail north of Cook Forest State Park between Jack's Hollow Road and Maple Creek Road. Just after crossing Jack's Hollow Road, the blazes may have been repainted to take you into a recently logged area or at some times the blazes have been removed. If you become lost in this area, just follow Maple Creek Road east past Jack's Hollow Road and within a quarter mile of crossing Maple Creek take the left turn back onto the yellow-blazed Baker Trail northbound.