In This Issue: Hike on the Mid State Trail - Poe Paddy to Poe Valley Hiking Tip - Dressing For The Cold Elk Soon to be Roaming Sproul State Forest PA Hikes Calendar - Give a Little Back to the Trails Announcements - Hiking Organizations & Outing Clubs Deal of the Month

Hike on the Mid State Trail - Poe Paddy to Poe Valley The nice weather recently in Central Pennsylvania was enough to prompt a hike on the Mid State Trail. The temperatures before Thanksgiving reached into the upper 50s, making for excellent hiking weather. Deciding to put a few more notches on our Mid State Trail belt, we decided on doing a hike from Poe Paddy State Park to Poe Valley State Park. The hike was a little over 7 miles in length and provided us with a cardiovasuclar work out more than once. And of course, as is to be expected on the Mid State Trail, we were treated with some beautiful vistas. [LINK TO TRIP REPORT AND PHOTOS]

Hiking Tip - Dressing for the Cold Hiking during the winter requires you to dress appropriately. You’ll be surprised at how fast you get overheated and begin to sweat while hiking during these colder months. The key to dressing for hikes when it’s cold is to dress in layers. Also, wearing a shirt or turtleneck that zippers in the front is a good idea. You can zipper up for warmth and unzipper to cool down. When you do start to get hot, start by taking off your hat (yes, make sure you wear a hat as that is where most of your body heat escapes), then open your shirt or jacket a little, then try unbuttoning and rolling up your shirt sleeves. This will allow cool air to circulate up your arms and down your torso. Finally remember to bundle back up when you stop hiking. Dressing and undressing as your body warms and cools is the best way to keep comfortable during winter hikes.

Elk Soon to be Roaming Sproul State Forest Nearly 1,400 acres of prime elk habitat is being added to Sproul State Forest in Clinton County. The land purchase will pave the way for the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and DCNR to work with the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and Trout Unlimited to clean up several acid mine discharges into Kettle Creek, a tributary of the West Branch of the Susquehanna River. The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, a non-profit, wildlife conservation organization based in Missoula, Montana, has worked closely with DCNR and other partners in Pennsylvania to establish and enhance elk habitat in The Pennsylvania Wilds - one of the most beautiful and undisturbed regions east of the Mississippi River. The Pennsylvania Wilds contains about 2 million acres across 12 counties in the north central part of the state, and is home to a thriving herd of more than 700 elk. [LEARN MORE AT THE DCNR WEBSITE]

PA Hikes Calendar - Give a Little Back to the Trails The PA Hikes 2007 Calendar highlights various sections of the trails in central Pennsylvania and around the state. Each month depicts a hike on some of the various trails found in the Keystone State. All photos were taken during a hike on that month. View scenes from the Mid State Trail, Allegheny Front Trail, Old Logger's Path, and many others. For every calendar purchased, a donation of $5.00 will be given to the Keystone Trail Association. Enjoy the beautiful scenery that the trails of Pennsylvania have to offer and give a little something back in return. [GET YOUR CALENDAR AT THE HIKING SPOT]

Announcements - Hiking Organizations & Outing Clubs 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 announecments here every month for everyone to see. [SUBMIT YOUR ANNOUNCEMENTS TO THE WEBMASTER]

Deal of the Month Ever relax in a hammock? Swaying in a summer breeze, snoozing as you feel like you're flotaing on air. Now you can take that experience with you when you hike. When most people backpack they drag their tent along for overnighters. But an alternative would be to take a hammock. Not only are hammocks lighter than most tents, but they set up much faster, don't require flat camping areas, make little impact on the environment, and are very comfortable to sleep in. Hennessey Hammocks are the cream of the crop when it comes to hammocks used in the back country. Not only are there hammocks light and easy to set up, but they are rugged and come with a rain fly so that you can make sure you stay dry. Save $10 off the current price of either the Expedition or Explorer Deluxe Hennessey Hammocks. Use Coupon Code GTAH01 during checkout to take advantage of this Deal of the Month. 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. [HENNESSEY HAMMOCKS AT THE HIKING SPOT]

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