Harmony Trail Construction

By Bob Mulshine

Harmony Trail users have noticed construction equipment and supplies in the parking lot on Route 910 for a few weeks now. This is all part of the build up by a Pine Township contractor to install a safe crosswalk over busy Route 910. Trail users will not be directed straight across the busy road. The contour of the land makes the sightlines too short at that point to be safe. A new path, that includes a bridge, will be built along Route 910 from the top northeast corner of the parking lot to a point across from the new Brennan Road which leads into the new Wexford Station Development. A crosswalk will be installed on Route 910 at that point. A set of yellow lights will be built down the road in each direction from this crosswalk. A pedestrian button will be installed within the crosswalk. When pressed, this button will activate the two blinking yellow lights. This will alert cars approaching the crosswalk from both directions to use caution and presumably allow the person pressing the button to cross safely.

Pine Township has already had sidewalks installed on the Wexford Station side of Route 910. These sidewalks can be used to safely get to the new walking path below the development. This path, like the Harmony Trail follows the route of the Harmony Trolley Line. It is parallel with the old Brennan Road and runs the complete distance of the Wexford Station Development.

On a different note: The Harmony Trail Committee has been cutting back the knotweed along the trail two or three times a year. We also had goats chew it down a few years back. Although knotweed is ridiculously hardy it is showing some sings of weakening. We are finding another invasive, stilt grass, growing along the shady edge where the knotweed is the shortest and thinnest. We are currently investigating vegetation we can plant in the knotweed patch to further challenge it’s growth with a hope of eventually replacing it. If anyone knows of a successful competitor for knotweed or would like to help in our fight against invasive vegetation, please email info@rachelcarsontrails.org

Stick City Brewing Company and the RCTC - a partnership worth toasting

By Paul Sauers

Stick City Brewing Company located in Mars, PA has become a great partner and friend of the RCTC these last three years. Nick Salkeld and his parents, Ron and Elaine, own and operate the brewery which opened in April 2018. Nick started brewing beer with his brother in the 2009/2010 timeframe using their father’s home brewing equipment. In 2016, the family started working towards the goal of opening a brewery.

Nick indicated that the name Stick City came from his family hanging out in the “sticks” in the rural parts of Butler County. Ron would say they were going to Stick City on these trips.

Stick City was the first craft brewery in Pennsylvania to join the 1% for the Planet Movement. The brewery donates 1% of its sales to environmental non-profits. Nick says they do this because they genuinely care about wild areas and waterways.

RCTC first met the Stick City folks at the Oboz Trail Challenge (sponsored by Public Lands) finish picnic, which was held at the brewery that year, and our partnership bloomed quickly thereafter. We quickly discovered that Stick City’s beliefs dove-tail neatly with the RCTC’s beliefs and goals. Starting with the 25^th Rachel Carson Trail Challenge celebration event in 2022, Stick City has partnered with RCTC making specially brewed beers specifically for the event.

The event T-shirt logos (different each year) are incorporated onto the beer can design logos through Nick’s efforts. This has become a big hit at the event! The cans as well as the T-shirts are commemorative and unique to each year’s event.

Since hazy ales and IPA’s are the most popular beers for the last several years, Nick has endeavored to brew up special unique hazy ales for the RCTC. Event participants really enjoyed the beers and look forward to them each year. Nick’s goal is to produce a very tasty and enjoyable hazy ale / IPA with a moderate alcohol level (APV) of about 5 to 6% so they aren’t too strong.

Of note, wheat is commonly used in beer recipes as part of the grain bill (barley is typically the largest grain source in most beers) but Nick leaves out wheat in RCTC beer recipes to eliminate the possibility of a negative reaction to the presence of gluten that some people may have.

Each year some 1,200 to 1,400 sixteen-ounce cans are filled for the event and while the rest of the beer is kegged. Four packs and draft beer are sold at the dinner the night before and at the Challenge. If there are any beers left after the event, they are available at the brewery until sold out. The ratio of cans to kegs has been adjusted slightly to reflect the ratio of sales.

Stick City Brewing donates 20% of the net sales of the beer to the RCTC which has amounted to $2,500 or more for each event. Over the three-year partnership, the RCTC has received over $7,000.

The RCTC values our partnership with Stick City and looks forward to seeing what the 2025 RCTC Challenge beer will taste like. In the meantime, grab your Stick City beer at the brewery located in Mars, PA.

For more information about Stick City Brewing contact them at https://stickcitybeer.com/ or 724-687-7849.

Running the Baker Ultra at 74

By Kathleen Ganster

When Lee Dougherty glided into the finish at the Baker Trail UltraChallenge, a 50-mile ultramarathon, he made it look easy. Which is impressive for anyone, but for someone over the age of 70, well that is truly impressive. Dougherty, 74, completed his second UltraChallengein August and already has his third in sight for 2025. “That will be my south section revenge race which will give me the third piece of the UltraChallenge unique medal. And also, it is the ‘Rolling Pin Year!’” he said. Dougherty referred to the medals given to successful race finishers, each section having a separate piece of a three-part medal. Once a runner successfully completes all three sections, he/she receives the commemorative rolling pin holder to display all three medals.

The 2025 Baker will cover the southern 50-miles of the 134-mile Baker Trail. The first time Doughtery attempted the UltraChallenge, it was on this section but he didn’t complete the event, thus his “revenge race.”

The Mt. Lebanon resident grew up in rural Illinois and began running 10ks in the early 1970s, his first marathon was in 1973. “Someone asked me if I had ever run in a marathon before, and I said, ‘No, but I think I will,’” he said. Since that time, Doughtery has run over 130 marathons including the well-known Boston Marathon 10 times, and three 100-mile races including the Leadville 100, a race in Colorado known for its grueling course and high elevation. These days, Doughtery said the only marathon he participates in is the one here in his hometown of Pittsburgh, mostly participating in trail races and runs, such as the Baker. “Running on trails is easier on the body. I run primarily with South Park Trail Runners, North Park Trail Runners, and City of Bridges Running Club,” he said, running four or five times a week.

Dougherty first heard of the UltraChallenge from some of his fellow runners. “I was looking for a 50-miler close to Pittsburgh. The UltraChallenge also had the challenge of running three-50-mile sections - one every year of course,” he said. Although he claims that he doesn’t have a favorite section on the trail, Doughtery said his fastest time was when he ran the middle.

The event is now one of the veteran runner’s favorites. “I love the Baker Trail and the community. The race is very well organized and there are very good volunteers. There's nothing I don't like about the UltraChallenge, however, there is the challenge of completing all three sections. If you DNF during one of the races, you have to wait three years to finish that section,” he said.

For those considering competing in the UltraChallenge in the future, Dougherty strongly suggests taking advantage of the training runs offered through the Conservancy.

As far as his own efforts, Doughtery plans to continue running for the foreseeable future. “I just enjoy it so much. Running is really part of my life and the running community is just great,” he said. Doughtery often runs with friends, but joked, “Runners in my age group do thin out as time goes on. Sometimes all I have to do is show up to a race to place in my age group.”

How I Got Involved

By Paul Sauers

My involvement with the RCTC dates back to the Summer of 2005 when I met my wife to be Kathleen just after that year’s Challenge.  Kathleen had been training for the Trail Challenge but had an injury so she volunteered that year.

I had never heard of the Rachel Carson Trail or Challenge nor had any experience with long distance hikes.  At that time I rode bicycles on Rails to Trails trails and thought I was in great shape.  To my great joy, I would soon learn otherwise.

Kathleen and I went on an 8‑mile or so hike on the Rachel Carson Trail in the Hampton Township area.  Needless to say, I gained an immediate respect and admittedly some fear of the trail.  The hills and rough terrain were tough on me, unlike the bike rides were.  Kathleen also showed me how to read the trail road maps aka the yellow trail blazes.

We trained for and completed the 2006 trail challenge.  I almost had to pull out at the top of what was called the “roller coaster hills” section (no longer on the trail) of the trail near Springdale.  A trail angel ( a guy in a pickup truck with ice waters ) saved my day by helping me hydrate and cool down.  This was the toughest physical challenge I ever participated in.  At this point I was getting hooked so to speak.

We went on to do the full challenge again in 2009 and 2010.

Along the way, I joined the Planning & Promotions (P&P) Committee have been a member since.  The P&P gets involved in a variety of things including, planning both challenges (Rachel & Baker),  organizing training and seasonal hikes on the trail, soliciting donors, social media, web development, writing, photography, outreach and education, etc.

To help promote The Challenge, Kathleen and I started doing Preparing for the Challenge talks at both REI locations (now there is one location), then later at 3ROC and Public Lands.  These talks have been well received and we often meet our “graduates” on the trail and several have become volunteers.

I’ve also become the beer guy so to speak over the years.  We first worked with ShuBrew in Zelienople, then Voodoo Brewery in Homestead to get beer for our events / picnics / annual meeting.  We’ve been very fortunate to work closely with Stick City Brewery the last few years where they produce special recipe beers for us.  Our T-Shirt logo designs are incorporated on the beer cans which has become very popular with the Challenge participants.

I’ve been on the Board since 2017 where I have learned so much in regards to all the efforts it takes to manage hiking trails – more than I ever realized.   I also assist on trail work crews when time allows.  Kathleen and I worked on first developing then maintaining the Rachel Carson Geocaching Trail.

The greatest thing about the RCTC is the amazing people that you get to know and work with.  We now have numerous friends who we met through our association with the RCTC. Another great thing with the RCTC is that you can do as little or as much as you want to do and also find things that you like to do most.

I highly recommend getting involved.  It’s great getting outside on the trails while helping to maintain and improve the trails in so many ways.