Tag: Horse-Shoe Trail

The Horse-Shoe Trail STILL Needs YOU!

by pagodapacers

This month’s volunteer opportunity on the Horse-Shoe Trail has been rescheduled from March 1st to March 15th.

The Horse-Shoe Trail Conservancy is rerouting a small portion of the trail that happens to be on a part of the trail that the Pagoda Pacers have agreed to help maintain. They have requested that we provide some help with this effort. The planned date is March 15th, 2025, at 10 a.m. Parking is where the Horse-Shoe Trail crosses Gebhart School Road in Brecknock Twp.

The scope of work includes:

  • Move and place some big rocks to create an edge to what is sometimes a creek.
  • Build some bench-cut retainer wall on slope.
  • Bench-cut some of the slope into the retainer wall.
  • Place a few stepping stones to hop across in the wet times.
  • Should take no more than 2-3 hours.

We are looking for 3-5 people that don’t mind getting their hands dirty. The HST Conservancy will provide all the required tools. Gloves are recommended.

GPS Location:  https://maps.app.goo.gl/wLC44Bn17WKrrUhQ7

Contact Shaun Luther at charliehorsedirector@pagodapacers.com to confirm you can help or if you have any questions.

This Month’s Weekend 10-Miler: 2/22/25 on the Horse-Shoe Trail

by pagodapacers

The next Weekend 10-Miler will take place on Saturday, February 22nd, at 9:30 a.m.

We will meet at Charlie Crowell’s house (151 Allegheneyville Rd, Mohnton) and run an out-and-back on the Horse-Shoe Trail.

Post-run lunch at Stampede BBQ!

Since this is an out-and-back on a well-marked trail, it’s easy to cut it short or extend it longer!

Hope you can join us!

The Horse-Shoe Trail Needs YOU!

by pagodapacers

We have an upcoming volunteer opportunity that will give you a chance to learn some trail-building and maintenance skills.

The Horse-Shoe Trail Conservancy is rerouting a small portion of the trail that happens to be on a part of the trail that the Pagoda Pacers have agreed to help maintain. They have requested that we provide some help with this effort. The planned date is March 1st, 2025, at 10 a.m. Parking is where the Horse-Shoe Trail crosses Gebhart School Road in Brecknock Twp.

The scope of work includes:

  • Move and place some big rocks to create an edge to what is sometimes a creek.
  • Build some bench-cut retainer wall on slope.
  • Bench-cut some of the slope into the retainer wall.
  • Place a few stepping stones to hop across in the wet times.
  • Should take no more than 2-3 hours.

We are looking for 3-5 people that don’t mind getting their hands dirty. The HST Conservancy will provide all the required tools. Gloves are recommended.

GPS Location:  https://maps.app.goo.gl/wLC44Bn17WKrrUhQ7

Contact Shaun Luther at charliehorsedirector@pagodapacers.com to confirm you can help or if you have any questions.

News from the Horse-Shoe Trail

by pagodapacers

Award-winning volunteers

One of our members, Jamey Hutchinson, and his partner, Patti, were recently recognized as “2023 Volunteers of the Years” by the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation (PPFF). Jamey and Patti put in a ton of volunteer hours on the Horse-Shoe Trail, and also at Nolde Forest, French Creek, and the Green Hill Preserve. Congratulations, Jamey and Patti!

Horse-Shoe After-Hours

There was also an important notice in the latest Horse-Shoe Trail newsletter about the dangers of night-hiking on this trail. Please note that most sections of the trail are CLOSED between dusk and dawn!

Trail protection isn’t only about easements. It is also
about respect for our landowners. In October, we were
asked to move the trail from an off-road path around a
property on to the road away from the property. Why?
Because users were accessing the trail at 4:30 AM,
with a head lamp, which woke up the family’s dogs and
… you guessed it: the dogs barked and woke everyone
up. This wasn’t the first instance of disrespect, but it
was the final straw. Please enjoy the trail BUT, in most
townships, it is closed after dusk and before dawn.