This, That Link, and T'Other

Good Morning Fellow NCTr's:

As previously communicated, the Clarion Chapter of the NCTA and the Keystone Trails Association are working on trail-improvement projects this upcoming weekend up around Cook's Forest. I'm planning on heading up there for the day on Saturday to help out and to check out the new piece of equipment the PA chapters have available to use. It is some sort of powered wheelbarrow that will be used (on this project) to transport gravel. If anyone else has an interest in spending the day working with them and wants to carpool to save some gas $ let me know and we can work out the details. The email from Joyce Appel indicates that the crew will take off from the cabins at Cooksburg at 8:00 AM so a very early start from here will be warranted.

Also wanted to let you know that the Wikki Trail Guide for PA http://www.northcountrytrail.org/guide/index.php/Pennsylvania has been updated to reflect the shelter construction and trail extension/rerouting that's been done this season within Wampum's range, not to mention my better understanding of the route at Cemex. The linked maps have been redrawn and some new photos added. The neat thing about the Wikki is that anyone can edit or add information, so if you want to update it (or fix any of the verbage) you are able to. It's a good resource to point people to when they ask us, "So, where does the North Country Trail go through this area?"

The other link is to a report by our NPS Ranger/Volunteer Coordinator Dan Watson talking about North Country Trail volunteer hours, found here http://www.northcountrytrail.org/insight/ He reports a 14% increase in the number of volunteer hours nationally on behalf of the North Country Trail for the past year. I can't verify it, but I'm wagering a full 2% of that is attributable to the time Lee put in on designing, funding, and building that new hiker shelter at Watt's Mill this past spring! Just my gut feeling on that one though.

Have a great week! Tentative plans for chapter trailwork are for next Sunday evening and the following Tuesday morning. I'll send out the details once verified.

Thanks for all you do for the trail,
Dave Brewer
330 531-1623