In a region of almost 700,000 people, we’re fortunate to have one of the gems of the outdoor world passing right through our own backyard.
Completed in 1937, the Appalachian Trail runs from Maine to Georgia and attracts more than 3 million people annually. This includes an estimated 3,000-plus individuals a year who attempt to hike the entire 2,190-mile length of the trail, according to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy.
Since the Appalachian Trail is so heavily used, it’s vital that the trail is maintained so that hikers and thru-hikers can have safe passage. To this end, more than 30 different groups perform work on the trail along its 14-state span. One of these is the Keystone Trails Association (KTA), which twice annually holds group Trail Work Days on its adopted section of the trail surrounding Lehigh Gap north of Walnutport. The next volunteer work day is scheduled to take place Nov. 2 starting at 9 a.m…