PA Environment Digest

Hiking Week 2011 will step off on May 28, offering participants more than 100 organized hikes statewide.

"A wealth of healthy hiking activities is again being offered to all ages and abilities thanks to the cooperative efforts of the co-sponsoring Keystone Trails Association and our bureaus of state parks and forestry," said acting Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Richard J. Allan.

"This is the 10th year of this increasingly popular event, which has grown by reaching out to the uninitiated and offering a wide variety of highly organized hikes," said Allan. "We hope to draw both novices and trail-hardened veterans into our state parks, forests and municipal greenways during this annual effort."

DCNR and co-sponsor Keystone Trails Association, or KTA, have been asking the public to suggest new hikes that could be added to this year's schedule, found online.

"We invite everyone who lacks knowledge of trail locations or fears hiking alone to join us for a hike. Just a few hours of hiking will do wonders for your physical and mental well-being," said Curt Ashenfelter, executive director of the KTA, who noted that a wide range of hikes for individuals of varying fitness levels are offered.

The week will feature special events across the state. All scheduled hikes have leaders and include a variety of lengths and terrain -- from easy strolls along urban greenways to strenuous treks in some of Pennsylvania's rugged mountain areas. Special hikes will include night hikes; wildflower walks; hikes for people with disabilities; and pet and geology walks.

For more information, including hikes already planned, dates and locations, visit Explore PA Trails online.

For details on hiking clubs across the state, visit the Keystone Trails Association.

KTA was organized in 1956, and is a 1,172-member umbrella organization made up of 52 hiking and outdoors organizations in and around Pennsylvania.

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