Geocaching, New Trails for
This Year's Tuna Trails Trekkers
By Sandra Rhodes
Visitor & Member Services
Allegheny National Forest Visitors Bureau
Two new trails have been thrown into the mix for those seeking to become Tuna Trekkers.
The Tuna Valley Trail Association is again sponsoring the “Trekking the Tuna Trails” campaign to benefit the McKean-Potter Counties America Red Cross.
Now in its second year, the Tuna Trekker campaign has added two new trails as well as a geocaching component. The Tuna Trekker season starts May 15 and runs to Aug. 15.
“People have three months to do it,” organizer Rick Lutz said, adding that there are now nine trails and 31 miles to trek before becoming a true Tuna Trekker.
Participants in the Tuna Trekker program are to get pledges for each mile they walk on the trails and then get out and walk.
Walkers will have a log to complete; there’s space for a photo of the participant – for a photo contest - and a witness signature.
Anyone who finishes each of the TVTA developed trails, pledges a minimum of $30 and completes the trails log, will earn the title “Tuna Trekker.” The benefits of the Tuna Trekker program are twofold – to get people to use and appreciate the trails as well as earn money for the local Red Cross.
Last year, the Tuna Trekkers raised a little over $2,000 for the Red Cross. Lutz noted that all of the money stays local and helped support the local programs.
As the Tuna Valley trail system expands, so does the job for a potential Tuna Trekker. The two new trails are the Marilla Rocks Trail and the Blaisdell-Emery Trail.
The Marilla Rocks Trail is two miles and starts off Route 346, about one mile past the Marilla Reservoir. The Blaisdell-Emery Trail is a four-mile trail that runs from Owens Way to Lewis Run. Lutz noted that the Blaisdell-Emery Trail is a point-to-point trail, not a loop.
Although most of the trails are loops, there is another point-to-point trail in the system. The Indian Pipe Trail, the longest at eight miles, is not a loop. Most
start on Interstate Parkway and end near the Marilla Reservoir.
Lutz said that people can call him to arrange for a shuttle service for either of the non-loop trails.
Another twist to this year’s program is geocaching, which was added in response to comments from last year’s event.
“A number of people suggested we add the geocaching component,” Lutz said. Steve Kresge, a geocacher and a Tuna Trekker himself last year, set up the geocaches on the Indian Pipe Trail.
There will be a key word hidden in each geocache. Once the word is found, the trekker needs to write it in the Tuna Trekker logbook as proof it was found. These words will also complete a phrase.
Those who become Tuna Trekkers, find all the caches and complete the phrase will be eligible to win a gift certificate from The Option House.
The photo contest is returning this year. The winner of the photo contest will receive a gift certificate from Cavallaro’s Picture Framing.
“For the first year, we were very pleased with the success,” Lutz said. “And from what we’ve been told, there’s even more interest this year.”
Lutz encourages people to organize teams. The team that brings in the most money will be lauded at recognition dinner in October.
But as Lutz pointed out, the concept of the Tuna Trekker program benefits both participants and the Red Cross.
“We are trying to encourage people to get out there,” Lutz said.
Anyone interested in participating can pick up a trails log at the Red Cross office on Congress Street or e-mail tunatrekker@mparc.org. All completed logs must be turned into the Red Cross by Aug. 15. TVTA trail maps can be printed from its website – www.tunavalleytrail.com.
Visitor & Member Services
Allegheny National Forest Visitors Bureau
Two new trails have been thrown into the mix for those seeking to become Tuna Trekkers.
The Tuna Valley Trail Association is again sponsoring the “Trekking the Tuna Trails” campaign to benefit the McKean-Potter Counties America Red Cross.Now in its second year, the Tuna Trekker campaign has added two new trails as well as a geocaching component. The Tuna Trekker season starts May 15 and runs to Aug. 15.
“People have three months to do it,” organizer Rick Lutz said, adding that there are now nine trails and 31 miles to trek before becoming a true Tuna Trekker.
Participants in the Tuna Trekker program are to get pledges for each mile they walk on the trails and then get out and walk.
Walkers will have a log to complete; there’s space for a photo of the participant – for a photo contest - and a witness signature.
Anyone who finishes each of the TVTA developed trails, pledges a minimum of $30 and completes the trails log, will earn the title “Tuna Trekker.” The benefits of the Tuna Trekker program are twofold – to get people to use and appreciate the trails as well as earn money for the local Red Cross.
Last year, the Tuna Trekkers raised a little over $2,000 for the Red Cross. Lutz noted that all of the money stays local and helped support the local programs.
As the Tuna Valley trail system expands, so does the job for a potential Tuna Trekker. The two new trails are the Marilla Rocks Trail and the Blaisdell-Emery Trail.
The Marilla Rocks Trail is two miles and starts off Route 346, about one mile past the Marilla Reservoir. The Blaisdell-Emery Trail is a four-mile trail that runs from Owens Way to Lewis Run. Lutz noted that the Blaisdell-Emery Trail is a point-to-point trail, not a loop.
Although most of the trails are loops, there is another point-to-point trail in the system. The Indian Pipe Trail, the longest at eight miles, is not a loop. Most
start on Interstate Parkway and end near the Marilla Reservoir.
Lutz said that people can call him to arrange for a shuttle service for either of the non-loop trails.
Another twist to this year’s program is geocaching, which was added in response to comments from last year’s event.
“A number of people suggested we add the geocaching component,” Lutz said. Steve Kresge, a geocacher and a Tuna Trekker himself last year, set up the geocaches on the Indian Pipe Trail.
There will be a key word hidden in each geocache. Once the word is found, the trekker needs to write it in the Tuna Trekker logbook as proof it was found. These words will also complete a phrase.
Those who become Tuna Trekkers, find all the caches and complete the phrase will be eligible to win a gift certificate from The Option House.
The photo contest is returning this year. The winner of the photo contest will receive a gift certificate from Cavallaro’s Picture Framing.
“For the first year, we were very pleased with the success,” Lutz said. “And from what we’ve been told, there’s even more interest this year.”
Lutz encourages people to organize teams. The team that brings in the most money will be lauded at recognition dinner in October.
But as Lutz pointed out, the concept of the Tuna Trekker program benefits both participants and the Red Cross.
“We are trying to encourage people to get out there,” Lutz said.
Anyone interested in participating can pick up a trails log at the Red Cross office on Congress Street or e-mail tunatrekker@mparc.org. All completed logs must be turned into the Red Cross by Aug. 15. TVTA trail maps can be printed from its website – www.tunavalleytrail.com.
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