Submitted photo by Mike Toole Rich Hatfield, center, receives the National “Friend of the Trail” Award from local NCTA Chapter representatives, Tina Toole, trail coordinator, left, and Shawn Weishaar, chapter president, right.

Rich Hatfield of the U.S. Forest Service was selected as the 2025 recipient of the “Friend of the Trail Award” by the North Country Trail Association.

The annual award is given to “An employee of a unit of governance or organization whose leadership, accommodations, and active collaboration have substantially benefited the North Country National Scenic Trail (NCT) or the NCTA.”

“Rich Hatfield has been a District Ranger with the Allegheny National Forest in Pennsylvania for a decade and supports the Allegheny National Forest Chapter in countless ways,” said Andrea Ketchmark, executive director of the NCTA. “He is great at gathering stakeholders to agree on solutions. He once led a discussion that resulted in dedicating 100 feet of buffer on both sides of the trail through logging projects, as well as adding safety provisions. This has become a standard for any logging contract within the Allegheny National Forest. Rich stays in regular communication with the chapter about potential projects and how they might impact the Trail, and he has directed funds to help the chapter purchase supplies and equipment. His prompt responses and professional skills make working with Rich very productive and rewarding.”

There are 11 National Scenic Trails in the United States. National Scenic Trails, including the Appalachian and Pacific Crest National Scenic Trails that cover about half the length of the North Country Trail. The Allegheny National Forest hosts about 100 miles of the 4,800-mile North Country Trail as it traverses from Vermont to North Dakota. The ANF Chapter of the NCTA works with the U. S. Forest Service to maintain and promote the trail. For more information on the ANF Chapter NCTA visit northcountrytrail.org/trail/pennsylvania/anf.