Susquehannock Trail System

08/29/2026

While doing maintenance on the Ridge Trail today we took a few photos of the area.

08/22/2026

More newsy wisdom from Bill B.
The latest STC Camporee has been touched on a little , but here's a little more. First of all we secured 10 camping sites, thanks to our VP Janet Smith and park personnel. We thank you for both. These were all sites with elect., which is nice when you're "roughing it". And all were free of charge for the club.
Some of us arrived around midday on Thursday -August 6th - some others drifted in during the day. There were no scheduled events for that day - likewise for Friday. Campers and other members that showed up were free to arrange their own activities. That worked well - some wished to take short hikes, while others opted to partner up and help out with trail care. So some sections of the trails in the area got some much-needed attention. Then there were some who just wanted to "chill". And what better time or place for that - meet up and chat with old friends or make some new ones. That worked well also - as we had at least 11 campers and a total of at least 23 attendees. For a few this was their first Camporee, but from their comments it won't be their last.
As the Camporee was winding down, we were treated to a"singalong" , with a couple of singers accompanied by a couple of guitars. We hope to expand on this at future events.
On another note, Ole Bull Park has been inducted into the Old Growth Forest Network, of which Pennsylvania is the national leader - and this is a first for Potter County.
After a 2 PM dinner and meeting at the big pavilion, we headed for home with thoughts of next year's Camporee dancing in our heads.
Our club meets the second Saturday (normally) of each month - the next one on 9-12 at Lyman Lake at noon. YOU are always cordially invited to join us!

Send a message to learn more

08/10/2026

SAVE THE SCOVAL !
This will be our rallying cry for this Fall. The Scoval shelter was the first one that we built - that would be in 2016. Also it is the one and only shelter made with logs, to more closely match the Adirondack style.
Our Secretary, Lois Morey, donated the red pine logs; our good friend (and now deceased), Karl Altenhein, slabbed the logs on three sides so they would stack up nicely but still present a log appearance. This he did with his resurrected 1926 Ireland sawmill. This was done in 2015, and the logs overwintered stacked at my ranch. DCNR donated some cherry logs for the flooring - we often mention that we may have the only shelter with a solid cherry floor.
Around mid-summer in 2016, we put up the shelter over a couple of days.Making up the team were; Tom Fitzgerald, Jim Bowser. Clifton Bowser, Bob Bernhardy (all deceased), along with Mark & Denise Kelly, Jerry Johnston, Allen (Buzz) Russell, Vinny Rose, Terry and Austin Holtzapple, John Zimmer, Joe Allis, Gary Buchanan, Valorie Patillo, Larry and Violeta Holtzapple, and Wayne Baumann. Bill and Lois Morey delivered our lunches.
Now this structure needs some TLC. We think just some brushing off of the surfaces and a coat of wood preservative/stain. Usually one to two gallons does it. Some of the other shelters are still needing the stain - we'll get to those in due time.
So email me if you have a day or two in mind that you could help out, and we'll see if we can get together and give this nice old shelter even more years of life. Thank You! "GO STC"

Send a message to learn more

08/01/2026

THE ANNUAL CAMPOREE IS COMING: by Bill Boyd

And now, as we enter a brand new month, we begin with our annual Camporee. This is the time when we all gather at Ole Bull State Park for some camping, our monthly meeting, and lots of visiting time. Often we get to see some of those folks that we haven't seen since the last Camporee. This outing runs from the 6th through the 9th, with Friday the 7th the main arrival day. This is a day to do what you wish - some will take part in some trail maintenance, some will do some hiking, and some will just chill and visit.
The first Camporee was held at the Lew Baker campground, west of Galeton, in 1971. So these get-togethers have been going on for some 55 years, minus some missed years. We have 10 free sites this year, and the dinner hour has been changed to 2:00 pm on Sat. the 8th. This gives those who attend a lot more daylight to drive home in.
Some attendees bring a bundle of wood with them, as campfires are a big hit each night. Time for story telling and maybe even roast some hot-dogs or marshmallows. So if you have a favorite tale to tell or song to sing, bring it along.
There are always some stretches of the trail down that way which are in need of mowing, and other maint., so we bring a couple of DR mowers and other tools. If you are so inclined this is the day to help out, and these work parties usually only last to around noon so it doesn't cut into your social time. And, weather-permitting, it should be a great time.

Send a message to learn more

07/27/2026

Bill Boyd

Next week many of our members will be heading to Ole Bull State Park for our 55th Camporee. This get together began in 1971 and took place at the Lew Baker Campground, west of Galeton, Pa. There was the usual visiting, hiking, cooking over an open fire, and camping. On one hike, they encountered a rattlesnake, which Lew dispatched with his trusty .22. Back at camp they skinned the snake, cooked it, and those who cared too had a sample. (Note) rattlers are a protected species now days)
Over the years Ole Bull has become the meeting place of choice. The park provides, without charge, our club with several campsites, some with electricity. And. also over time it became tradition to do some trail care since we were already nearer the southern areas of the STS. Maybe this was overhyped, as one member remarked - the Camporee has become a Workoree! Actually this is not the case at all - it just points out that those who wish to help with trail care while at Camporee, can do so of their own choosing.
Some members arrive on Thursday evening, but most show up on Friday morning for a "do as you wish day." Then, in closing, we have a dinner and meeting at the big pavilion. This year that will take place at 2:00 pm, rather than 5:00 pm This gives those making a long drive to the park, to return home with plenty of daylight. .

Send a message to learn more

07/19/2026

Written by Bill Boyd.

This is just my recollection of some of my early days with the STC/STS. I joined the STC around 2000, after a 38 year stint with NFG, and before that a 4 year Navy hitch. At that time Wil Ahn was President, with his wife Betty serving as Secretary.

Apparently trail-clearing tools had not been a big item, and the trail showed it. Seems it was hit and miss with the members own tools. At that time I had a small Homelite chainsaw which required usually around 40 pulls to get started. Then came surprise-surprise....at a club meeting, Tom Leete suggested that the club buy Bill Boyd a chainsaw, as he was tired of watching me trying to start mine! The club had scant money to begin with and Wil was quite hesitant about spending it. But lo and behold I ended up with a new Stihl 170. After that it seems like the 170's were coming out of the woodwork - everyone seemed to show up with one, and the trail showed it. Even today, this saw appears to be the go-to tool. And with increased membership. and some great donors, we have more resources to buy tools. And the trail has earned a very good reputation (thanks to the maintainers). As a side note: Please Don't tell me that you need a 24" bar/chain to cut a 24" tree - just work from both sides, Duh. I'm well aware that some like to carry a big saw, and that's their business.
I worked with Dick Hribar quite a bit in the beginning, and with machetes we did a number on more overhanging limbs than you can imagine. And our President Wil, was right out there shoulder-to-shoulder with the rest of us on occasion. Some areas in the Hammersley were so overgrown that a hiker had to get off trail on the downhill side, find his way for a considerable distance sometimes and then get back onto the trail - all because of heavy briar growth. But the "Hamm" is a tough place for trail care, one needs to carry the tools uphill no matter which way you work it. We're still trying to figure some way to get the DR mower in there so that machine can do wonders for the trails.
Long story short - the STS is a well-regarded trail, so get out there and enjoy it. And thank the volunteers - they make it happen!

Send a message to learn more

06/27/2026

50 years ago; the Bi-centennial wagon traveled Rt6.

06/24/2026

Our trail club had a perfect weather day for kayaking Sinnemahoning State Park, Cameron County. Park staff led the way & narrated interesting features along the way.

06/20/2026

We met at Cherry Springs Vista June 20 for a hike amongst the Mountain Laurel. Thanks to Larry Holtzapple for leading us down the Susquehannock Trail & another connecting trail on a beautiful Saturday.

06/18/2026

ALWAYS LOOKING FOR HELP ON THE TRAIL, by Bill Boyd

Volunteerism - the use or involvement of volunteer labor, especially in community services.
Our communities certainly have a good helping of volunteerism, and we feel that the Susquehannock Trail Club ranks right up there with the best of them . After all, what could be more important than keeping people healthy? Of course the utmost in that endeavor would be the medical profession. Our endeavor begins long before that.
It is well established that walking/hiking is the best single thing a person can do to stay healthy. To do that we try to maintain the 84 mile STS (Susquehannock Trail System) so that people can enjoy walking through some of the forests of Potter County. This takes quite a number of volunteers - actually this is the main reason the Susquehannock Trail Club (STC)was formed. Around 20-30 members each year turn out to help with this chore.
The trail crews are all volunteers - we do have dues and donations to support some equipment purchases. Over the years we've managed to equip our crews with a modest amount of tools, including trimmers, brushcutters etc. , even a DR mower, a machine that runs a little over $3000, and worth every penny. With that we can clear (mow) more trails in a day than we used to in a week. (this is where those donations help tremendously).
All this is still volunteerism mind you - including our own vehicles and many private tools. None in the club receives any compensation of any kind from anyone.
So anytime you wish to get that warm, fuzzy feeling of helping out your fellow citizens, come along with us out on the trails - you'll even be helping yourself - how can you go wrong?
The club meeting for July 11 will be at Lyman Run, at noon, and you are invited.

Send a message to learn more