Over the last year, 184 volunteers participated in 18 trail work days. Throughout the year, 40 trail adopters diligently checked and made improvements on their own trail segment. Other hikers helped out by clearing trail as they moved through the forest or by submitting trail reports of problems they encountered.

The North Country National Scenic Trail, administered by the National Park Service, runs about 5,000 miles from Vermont to North Dakota. The Allegheny National Forest Chapter of the North Country Trail Association works on maintaining the 97 miles of the NCNST that passes through our forest. To help do so, the ANF Chapter holds bimonthly trail work days. Volunteers enjoy fellowship and fun out on the trail, while making a significant impact in the quality of the North Country Trail. Trail work days involve routine maintenance such as mowing and brush cutting, along with projects like water diversion work, placing signs or building bridges.

The ANF Chapter tackled many projects this year. The last of 13 informational panels were installed on trailhead kiosks. Grants from the National Park Service, Penn Soil RC&D, Allegheny Outdoor Club and Allegheny Outfitters allowed the chapter to create and purchase these informational map panels. The panels provide information about the trail and about the fauna, flora and history of the area.

Keeping feet dry along the NCT in the ANF is a challenge. In 2019, volunteers spent many hours working on moving water off the trail. Drainage issues were addressed by constructing ditches and water bars to direct water from the trail. Also, old drainage ditches were cleared of debris to make them more effective. Another way to keep feet dry is to install bridges. Ten new bog bridges were constructed over marshy areas. All of these walkways were covered with steel mesh which provides traction on slippery surfaces. That makes a total of 245 bridges, covering 3,175 feet or 0.6 miles, along the 97 miles of the NCNST.

Photo courtesy Tina Toole Mike Toole removes downfall in Tracy Ridge.

Following the trail is made easier by effective blazing. Twenty-five miles of trail was blazed this year as part of the effort to reblaze the NCT over four years.

Other projects included the removal of some old oil well pipes crossing the trail that were tripping hazards. A new staircase was built south of Fox’s Dam. Several small trail relocations moved the trail to firmer ground. Along with those projects all 97 miles of trail was cleared of downfall and was lopped or brush cut. Many miles were also mowed.

Besides maintaining the trail, the ANF Chapter offers monthly guided hikes along the length of the NCNST in the ANF. They also host the Allegheny-100 Hiking Challenge each June. To find out more about our chapter, visit our webpage at https://northcountrytrail.org/volunteers/local-contacts/allegheny-national-forest-chapter/, our facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ANFChapterNCT/ or email us at anf@northcountrytrail.org. On the national NCT website, free downloads of NCNST maps are available; https://northcountrytrail.org/maps .