How I Got Involved

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 Rachel Carson 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 rail-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. Kathleen also showed me how to read the trail road map aka the yellow blazes.

We trained for and completed the 2006 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 water) 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, and we went on to do the full Challenge again in 2009, 2010, and 2012.

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 trail events (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.