In This Issue: Enjoying the View at Indian Wells Finishing What You Started on the Chuck Keiper Trail Discovering Trails Beyond Central PA - The Pinchot Trail The Mid State Trail's First Shelter Learn About Pennsylvania's State Parks on PCN Announcements - Hiking Organizations & Outing Clubs Deal of the Month - Free Carabine Mug Enjoying the View at Indian Wells The section of the Pennsylvania Mid State Trail that passes near State College may be rocky and difficult to hike, but it treats it's hikers to some beautiful vistas. From atop Tussey Mountain, views of both Stone Valley as well as Happy (Nittany) Valley can be had. But my favorite views are those along the trail as it crosses Fourth Mountain just south of Boalsburg. Hiking out along Fourth Mountain, the ridge that connects Tussey and Greenlee Mountains, you are treated to many vistas overlooking the Bear Meadows Natural Area. The best view, in my opinion, is offered last, as the Mid State Trail enter the Big Flat Wild Area. Known as Indian Wells, this vista provides an expansive and unobstructed view of Bear Meadows and the Seven Mountains beyond. [LINK TO TRIP REPORT AND PHOTOS] Finishing What You Started on the Chuck Keiper Trail In April of 2006, myself and four of my friends ventured out onto the east loop of the Chuck Keiper Trail. The hike was over three days, hiking the 23 miles over some rather steep ascents and descents into the likes of Boggs and Drake Hollow. Unfortunately, only two of us completed the entire hike. For various reasons, including an injury to one of them, three of our fellow hikers ended the hike 6.5 miles shy of completion. Turn the clock ahead one year. The fellow hiker that suffered an injury on the hike had since completely recovered. Also in that year's time he has done a lot of hiking and mountain biking, conditioning himself. When I asked if he would be interested in hiking a section of the Chuck Keiper Trail, he jumped at the opportunity. Read all about our venture on a section of the CKT as we finished what he started a year earlier. [LINK TO TRIP REPORT AND PHOTOS] Discovering Trails Beyond Central PA - The Pinchot Trail The Pinchot Trail, named after Gifford Pinchot, the first chief in charge of the United States Forest Service as well as a two term governor of Pennsylvania, is located in Lackawanna State Forest on the Pocono plateau in north-eastern Pennsylvania. I was looking to do a hike outside of Central Pennsylvania, and along with the minimal elevation changes also made this a great trail for us to do our first over-night hike of the season. We decided we would have a long, hiking Memorial Day weekend, hiking the south loop of the Pinchot Trail. [LINK TO TRIP REPORT AND PHOTOS] The Mid State Trail's First Shelter On June 8th a dedication ceremony was held at Woolrich Park for the first shelter located along the Mid State Trail. Dedicated to J. Woods Rich, a former president of Woolrich, this shelter provides a much needed break on a long section of the trail that dips into the valley through which the West Branch of the Susquehanna river flows. The shelter features a slanted roof that protects hikers from harsh sun and wind and offers nearby restrooms, fresh water, and the Woolrich store where supplies can be purchased. [READ MORE AT THE WILLIAMSPORT SUN-GAZETTE] Learn About Pennsylvania's State Parks on PCN PCN has joined forces with DCNR to showcase the beauty and versatility of the state's park system with a series of tours guided by Pennsylvania's expert state park staff. The weekly programs air at 8:00 p.m. on Friday. The program is designed to highlight the unique features of 10 selected Pennsylvania State Parks. The Commonwealth is home to 117 state parks all of which are filled with wonderful opportunities for the active individual or those interested in a quiet getaway to get back in touch with nature. [LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS PROGRAM AT DCNR'S WEBSITE] Announcements - Hiking Organizations & Outing Clubs Top of Tioga - The Susquehanna AT Club, Mid State Trail Association, and the Three Rivers Outing Club of Corning, NY are jointly hosting a special weekend event, July 4-8, 2007, day hiking portions of the MST and other footpaths in and near northern Tioga County PA. [LINK TO MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THESE HIKES] June 19-24, 2007: KTA Trail Crew, Tioga Region Base camp: Twin Streams Campground, Route 287, Morris. Keep extending the Mid State Trail, now east/north of route PA287. Contact Joe Healey (jnlhealey@aol.com) if you are interested in helping out. Do you or your hiking organization or outing club have information that you'd like to share? Planning a trip, fund raiser, or future trail maintenance? Then let the "Go Take A Hike" e-Newsletter help. Submit your announcements to webmaster@pahikes.com. We will post all announcements here each month for everyone to see. [SUBMIT YOUR ANNOUNCEMENTS TO THE WEBMASTER] Deal of the Month - Free Carabine Mug Purchase a 10oz or 33oz GSI Outdoors JavaPress coffee maker and get a free carabine mug. These french presses are made of Lexan and are light and nearly indestructible. A must for the trail, you'll really appreciate them in the mornings when you are craving a fresh cup of coffee. For a limited time, when you purchase either the 10oz or 33oz JavaPress, you'll receive a free carabine mug. These mugs have double-wall insulation that keep your coffee hot and the carabine handle makes it easy to attach the mug to your belt or backpack. To receive your free mug, use coupon code FREEMUG during checkout. You must make sure that you have a JavaPress as well as a mug in your shopping cart for the coupon code to work. Every effort will be made to get you the colored mug that you request, but management reserves the right to substitute a different colored mug. This free mug offer ends July 15th and is only valid for "Go Take A Hike" e-newsletters subscribers. Only one coupon/coupon code per order. Some coupons can only be used once. Other restrictions may apply. This exclusive Deal of the Month offer is only valid for "Go Take A Hike" e-Newsletter subscribers. [GET YOUR JAVAPRESS COFFEE MAKER AT THE HIKING SPOT] www.pahikes.com www.thehikingspot.com The Hiking Spot 290 South Main St. Pleasant Gap, PA 16823 (814) 359-4389 webmaster@pahikes.com Click on the link below to unsubscribe