Recruitment Hikes for Appalachian Trail

The Keystone Trails Association, the statewide voice of Pennsylvania's hikers, is offering two winter hikes along the Appalachian Trail in the Palmerton area in January. Both hikes will start at the Lehigh Gap Nature Center.

The Appalachian Trail is Pennsylvania's most well-known trail. It stretches over 2,100 miles from Georgia to Maine and is enjoyed by millions of hikers each year.

In the past, this 10-mile section in the vicinity of Lehigh Gap was maintained by a trail club from Philadelphia. This club has decided to discontinue this maintenance responsibility. KTA would like to become the maintaining club for this area.

In order to do this, KTA needs a corps of dedicated local volunteers to help. Are you interested in finding out more, as well as going on a nice winter hike? If so, join them for a hike to explore the section and talk about the opportunity. There is no obligation.

The first hike takes place at 10 a.m. Jan. 17.

This 5-mile hike will start out at the Lehigh Gap Nature Center (on the winter trail) and go northbound to Little Gap.

The second hike begins at 10 a.m. on Jan. 23. This 5-mile hike will start out at the Lehigh Gap Nature Center and go southbound to Lehigh Furnace Gap.

For more information on the hiking and other programs sponsored by the Keystone Trails Association, visit www.kta-hike.org.

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