Trekking the Trails is Underway
By SANDRA RHODES
It’s no coin-incidence that there’s a new feature in the Trekking the Tuna Trails program this year.
The Trekking the Tuna Trails, sponsored by the Tuna Valley Trail Association, is in its third year of raising money for the McKean-Potter Counties American Red Cross. Participants are asked to walk the trails in the Tuna Valley Trail System as well as help out the Red Cross. The program, currently underway, continues until Aug. 15.
This year, a new challenge has been added into the trail mix. The Geocoin Challenge allows participants who raise $20 in addition to finding the nine geocaches on the nine trails of the TVTA plus a 10th cache when they turn in their log at the Red Cross, to earn a geocoin.
The trackable geocoin, created by Glenn Melvin, is a two-inch wooden coin made of maple. One side has the Red Cross and Tuna Trekker logos, while the other side as the Erik Benjamin Covered Bridge, located at the Marilla Reservoir on West Washington Street.
Organizers said capitalizing on the geocache craze was a no-brainer.
“The geocaching was a great success last year and most everyone participated,” said Jason Bange, executive director of the local Red Cross. “This year, instead of the caches being on one trail, we’ve placed one on each trail plus a final cache near the Red Cross office.”
These caches are known as “event caches.” They are a special geocache that is placed as part of a special event.
“These caches are not listed on geocaching.com and the coordinates can only be found on our trail logs or Geocoin Challenge flyers,” Bange said.
Each cache contains a stamp for participants to stamp their trail log and retrieve one of the trade items that are in the caches, including stickers, key chains and pins, some of which were donated by Zippo Manufacturing Co.
There are also hints in the Geocoin Challenge flyer for those who have trouble finding the caches. Each cache is named after a song, such as “Walk on By,” Walking on Sunshine,” and “Happy Trails.” Tuna Trekker Doris Stoddard hid and named the caches.
“Each of the caches were named after songs that have to do with walking and this helps our cachers keep in mind that this was originally a hiking event,” Bange said.
The hiking is still a major component to the Trekking the Tuna Trails program.
To be deemed a Tuna Trekker, one has to walk or bicycle the nine trails, fill out the trail log and raise at least $30. In the log book, there’s a place to sign, date and have someone witness they walked a certain trail. There’s also a section for comments.
Anyone who is physically unable to do all the trails can complete 31 miles on the trails they are able to walk will also be a Tuna Trekker.
Bange said the Tuna Trekker log is important to the growth and changes to the program each year.
“We look at what was successful and what wasn’t. Most of these notes come from comments that each of the trekkers log in their trail log books,” Bange said. “We’ve added new features each year to keep people interested and participating.”
One staple in the event is the photo contest, which, as Bange put it, allows people to show off what they found in this area.
Participants have the option of just being a Tuna cacher, a Tuna Trekker or both.
Last year, about $3,300 was raised to support Red Cross programs such as disaster assistance to families displaced by fires or to help send emergency communications to those in the Armed Services stationed throughout the world.
“This event is important to the financial stability of the local Red Cross,” Bange said. The chapter relies solely on financial contributions from the community and receives no regular government funding to carry out its mission.”
Gift certificates from local businesses will be awarded to the highest money raisers. As in the past, all will be feted at a dinner in October.
Log books are available 24/7 on the front porch of the Red Cross office on Congress Streets, at many sponsors’ location and at the Allegheny National Forest Visitors Bureau’s welcome center in the Old Post Office, 80 Corydon St.
All trail logs must be returned no later than Aug. 19.
“This is important to the Red Cross for many reasons,” Bange said. “First, it raises funds that are vital to maintaining our programs and services. Second, it promotes the Tuna Valley and tourism in the area. Third, the event raises awareness of the Red Cross, the Tuna Valley Trail Association and the trails themselves. Last, it encourages families to spend time together and promotes a healthy, active lifestyle.”
You can listen to Bange and Rick Lutz talk about "Trekking the Tuna Trails" by clicking here
It’s no coin-incidence that there’s a new feature in the Trekking the Tuna Trails program this year.
The Trekking the Tuna Trails, sponsored by the Tuna Valley Trail Association, is in its third year of raising money for the McKean-Potter Counties American Red Cross. Participants are asked to walk the trails in the Tuna Valley Trail System as well as help out the Red Cross. The program, currently underway, continues until Aug. 15.
This year, a new challenge has been added into the trail mix. The Geocoin Challenge allows participants who raise $20 in addition to finding the nine geocaches on the nine trails of the TVTA plus a 10th cache when they turn in their log at the Red Cross, to earn a geocoin.
The trackable geocoin, created by Glenn Melvin, is a two-inch wooden coin made of maple. One side has the Red Cross and Tuna Trekker logos, while the other side as the Erik Benjamin Covered Bridge, located at the Marilla Reservoir on West Washington Street.
Organizers said capitalizing on the geocache craze was a no-brainer.
“The geocaching was a great success last year and most everyone participated,” said Jason Bange, executive director of the local Red Cross. “This year, instead of the caches being on one trail, we’ve placed one on each trail plus a final cache near the Red Cross office.”These caches are known as “event caches.” They are a special geocache that is placed as part of a special event.
“These caches are not listed on geocaching.com and the coordinates can only be found on our trail logs or Geocoin Challenge flyers,” Bange said.
Each cache contains a stamp for participants to stamp their trail log and retrieve one of the trade items that are in the caches, including stickers, key chains and pins, some of which were donated by Zippo Manufacturing Co.There are also hints in the Geocoin Challenge flyer for those who have trouble finding the caches. Each cache is named after a song, such as “Walk on By,” Walking on Sunshine,” and “Happy Trails.” Tuna Trekker Doris Stoddard hid and named the caches.
“Each of the caches were named after songs that have to do with walking and this helps our cachers keep in mind that this was originally a hiking event,” Bange said.
The hiking is still a major component to the Trekking the Tuna Trails program.
To be deemed a Tuna Trekker, one has to walk or bicycle the nine trails, fill out the trail log and raise at least $30. In the log book, there’s a place to sign, date and have someone witness they walked a certain trail. There’s also a section for comments.
Anyone who is physically unable to do all the trails can complete 31 miles on the trails they are able to walk will also be a Tuna Trekker.
Bange said the Tuna Trekker log is important to the growth and changes to the program each year.
“We look at what was successful and what wasn’t. Most of these notes come from comments that each of the trekkers log in their trail log books,” Bange said. “We’ve added new features each year to keep people interested and participating.”
One staple in the event is the photo contest, which, as Bange put it, allows people to show off what they found in this area.
Participants have the option of just being a Tuna cacher, a Tuna Trekker or both.
Last year, about $3,300 was raised to support Red Cross programs such as disaster assistance to families displaced by fires or to help send emergency communications to those in the Armed Services stationed throughout the world.
“This event is important to the financial stability of the local Red Cross,” Bange said. The chapter relies solely on financial contributions from the community and receives no regular government funding to carry out its mission.”
Gift certificates from local businesses will be awarded to the highest money raisers. As in the past, all will be feted at a dinner in October.
Log books are available 24/7 on the front porch of the Red Cross office on Congress Streets, at many sponsors’ location and at the Allegheny National Forest Visitors Bureau’s welcome center in the Old Post Office, 80 Corydon St.
All trail logs must be returned no later than Aug. 19.
“This is important to the Red Cross for many reasons,” Bange said. “First, it raises funds that are vital to maintaining our programs and services. Second, it promotes the Tuna Valley and tourism in the area. Third, the event raises awareness of the Red Cross, the Tuna Valley Trail Association and the trails themselves. Last, it encourages families to spend time together and promotes a healthy, active lifestyle.”
You can listen to Bange and Rick Lutz talk about "Trekking the Tuna Trails" by clicking here
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