Hate being stuck inside during the winter? Kinzua Valley Trail Club has just what you need to beat the blues.
Once again, the club will partner with the Westline Inn to host its annual Cabin Fever fundraiser. This year’s event will be held from noon to 4 p.m. Jan. 25.
Proceeds will benefit KVTC in its efforts to improve local trails and allow people of all abilities to come and explore the natural beauty of the Kinzua Valley. It will include raffles, giveaways and live music by the band Pendleton Station.
Those who can’t attend can still help the cause through endowments, memorial gifts or by purchasing a memorial brick. Bricks are placed under the kiosk at the Westline trailhead.
This year’s efforts will help fund the creation of a walkway to connect the west branch of the Kinzua Valley Trail, which runs toward Westline, with the trail’s other branch, which currently begins on the east side of Route 219 and runs toward Guffey and Mount Jewett.
The sections will be connected via a section of trail actually running underneath Route 219 at the Tally Ho bridge, increasing safety and accessibility by eliminating the need to cross the busy Route 219.
“Nobody will have to worry about crossing the traffic,” said Cummins. “It will create a beautiful and safe transition from the east to west sections of our trail system.”
Guests will be able to travel from the Tally Ho Trailhead on the Westline side of Route 219 and follow the path under the bridge to link up with the recently opened KVT East Trailhead on the Guffey side.
“In cooperation with Hamlin Township we are working to improve the 3.8 miles from Guffey to Mount Jewett with a shared use agreement,” said Don Cummins, KVTC president.
“From there trail users can reach our final destination, Kinzua Bridge State Park, by way of the MJ2KB Trail.”
All of KVTC’s projects, carried out by volunteers, are funded by grants and donations.
The club expects to break ground on the project in spring, weather permitting. If all goes according to plan, the new connection will be ready by summer, Cummins said.
“In 2024 with the generous support of our Cabin Fever attendees, membership, local and area businesses and grants we completed a new trail head, east of Tally Ho Bridge,” said Cummins.
“We also completed the Tally Ho to Guffey Road section of our trail.”
The 501(c)(3) organization has 200 members. Cummins noted that the club has enjoyed an increase in membership during the last five years.
“The more trails we build, the more members we seem to get,” said Cummins.
The club has counters that analyze how many people use the trails.
“Use is up over the last five years,” Cummins said.
For the KVTC, all this work is in line with members’ and supporters’ shared values.
“We want to let everyone experience the majesty of nature that is all around us,” said Cummins.
“There is a certain amount of camaraderie with the other volunteers who are all working towards the same goals.”
The club remains thankful to its members and supporters, both public and private.
“Their continued generous support of our goal to maintain and build a first-class trail system for all to enjoy is so important,” Cummins said. “We are so thankful to everyone who has helped make these projects become realities.”
