When Dennis and Cathy Garrett gave the Wampum Chapter permission to build a new section of the North Country Trail across their property at Watt's Mill we not only gained the ability to build nearly two more miles of off-road, woods trail on private-property-locked PA Gamelands 285, but also discovered that we had two new, enthusiastic trail volunteers and advocates on board as the Garretts ended up working right along beside us.
As we put the new section of trail on the ground, Dennis and Cathy expressed a desire to provide a camping opportunity for hikers walking the trail and had the perfect spot in mind - a high, level, clear area near the North Fork of Little Beaver Creek at Watt's Mill that they and their two sons had camped at during weekends in years past. Eventually, their thought process evolved into being able to provide a backpacking shelter at this very scenic spot along the creek.
Thanks to the efforts of Wampum Chapter President Lee Fairbanks who gathered information and wrote the grant application, and the Garrett's enthusiastic support, the North Country Trail Association this week granted the chapter funds to proceed with this shelter building project. To quote Cathy (upon hearing the news of the grant approval), "Whoopee!!!!!!!!!!!"
Plans are being worked on for a date for the shelter installation which will take place sometime this trail work season.
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