The chapter led at least one hike each month. Our special hikes included: an Interpretive Hike on tree identification, a Scavenger Hunt hike, an Introductory Backpack Hike and a Leaf Peeper Hike. Our first day, New Year’s Hike, continues to be our biggest draw. Almost 150 people participated in the guided hikes so far this year. The last hike of the year is scheduled for Sunday at 10 a.m. Hikers will meet at the Route 6 Trailhead, located on Route 6 about 2 miles east of Ludlow, and hike south through the lovely rolling hills leading to Fox’s Dam and the Tionesta Scenic Area.

Along with guided hikes, the annual Allegheny 100 Hiking Challenge brought 200 hikers from across the nation into the area.

Chapter volunteers tackled our second goal of improving drainage in many ways. One method was to reroute the trail onto drier ground.

Six small reroutes accomplished that. Volunteers also worked on repairing and building bridges. Eight small bridges were built and 24 were repaired. The repairs ranged from a minor issue, like repairing a failed tread, to resetting a 30 foot bridge that had been moved off of its foundation by stream flow. Other methods employed to repair drainage included building structures into the trail. Eight water bars directed water off the trail. Twelve check dams stopped erosion of the trail on old road grades. Sixteen feet of turnpiking created a raised trail through marshy areas. Finally, volunteers cleared leaves and organic matter off the Trail and out of the ditches to reduce water collecting on the trail.

Photographer Bill Lallman Pictured is the group that widened 36’ of bog bridge over a marshy area. They also raised it higher out of the water by lifting each section and adding height to the crossbeams.

The North Country National Scenic Trail (NCT) stretches over 4,800 miles from Vermont to North Dakota. That’s over twice the length of other National Scenic Trails, such as the Appalachian Trail or the Pacific Crest Trail. The ANF Chapter maintains and promotes almost 100 miles of the trail. To do so, it takes a community of volunteers. In 2024, 103 different volunteers helped to maintain the trail and run special events. Besides leading hikes, running the A-100 and working on drainage, many other projects were tackled. Volunteers refurbished trail informational kiosks, stained two shelters, blazed 24.5 miles of trail, installed signage to help hikers follow the Trail and cleared the Trail of downfall.

The ANF Chapter works in partnership with four government agencies. The U. S. Forest Service provides support, training, equipment and supplies and storage space for tools. The Forest Service also reviews the environmental aspect of new construction by the Chapter and helps them place structures and new trails in the appropriate spots. The North Country Trail Association provides us with training and support. The NCT is a unit of the National Park Service, so they also help the ANF Chapter with training, support and equipment. Finally, the U. S. Corp of Engineers hosts 1.3 miles of the NCT in Kellettville and assists us with issues there.

In 2025, the chapter hopes to design two big bridges in the Tracy Ridge Area, construct three reroutes, and paint blaze another 25 miles of trail. They will also be running the 13th annual A-100 Hiking Challenge and monthly hikes. All of this, along with maintaining and promoting the Trail take the work of many volunteers. To help out, to join a guided hike or to participate in the A-100, look up the chapter at northcountrytrail.org/trail/pennsylvania/anf/ or email them at anf@northcountrytrail.org.