Buckeye Trail Association launches Appalachian Foothills Chapter

Say hello to the Buckeye Trail Association’s newest Chapter: the Appalachian Foothills Chapter!

The name of the Chapter came from the specific geography of the region, which sits right at the border of the Allegheny Plateau, colloquially known as the “Appalachian Foothills.” The West Union, Sinking Springs, Shawnee, and Scioto Trail Sections—located in Southern Ohio—comprise the 10th Chapter.

A chapter vision complete

The creation of the Appalachian Foothills chapter marks the complete coverage of all parts of the Buckeye Trail by Chapters run by local members—a movement which began in 2012 with the Miami Rivers Chapter in Southwest Ohio. For some time, Southern Central Ohio had little to no representation until last year when a group of interested volunteers gathered. Because of their determination and passion, the chapter quickly became a reality. The Appalachian Foothills Chapter officially formed on September 18, 2022, during the 10th anniversary of the beginning of BTA Chapters. Chapter members expressed their interest in the formation of a local chapter because they felt inspired to help promote and maintain an accessible, local trail system.

A vision for the future

“Participating in the Chapter is the best way to make that happen,” said Adam Batson, the Chapter’s treasurer. “As a member of the Chapter Leadership Team I contribute on behalf of the Chapter and local interest.” He plans to host one to two public hikes a month starting in January through March. These hikes, he says, will cover local geology (such as the numerous arches and pillars), botany, and cardio-focused hikes for health and well-being. Another member, Dori Bishop, felt inspired to join the Chapter because she wanted to help improve and maintain the trail to make it more enjoyable, after listening to complaints from backpackers and thru-hikers coming through.

“I got tired of hearing, ‘ugh, the Sinking Spring Section, it is so overgrown, poorly blazed, tick-infested, and non-existent in places…’ I want to help change that impression of the trail. I am thrilled to have this new chapter. We have a group of highly-motivated leaders in the chapter. All [of us] are truly dedicated to getting the BT in these four sections back into tip-top shape and making it a trail we can all be proud of.”

When she’s not hiking or camping, Dori acts as a Trail Angel, providing trail magic to hikers. Trail Angels are volunteers who provide assistance, whether it be shuttling, bringing more water and food, or offering lodging—any form of kindness counts.

Dori came to learn about the Buckeye Trail through family camping trips with her children, where they’d see blue blazes on trees in the Hocking Hills area. After years of noticing them, she finally learned about the Buckeye Trail and set out to backpack portions of it. Backpackers in Southern Ohio, including Dori, love traversing through the several State Forests in Southern Ohio.

These include: Tar Hollow State Forest, Pike State Forest, Scioto Trail State Forest and Shawnee State Forest (including the Shawnee Wilderness Area, Ohio’s only designated State Wilderness Area). Recommended day hikes are Fort Hill, Davis Memorial and Serpent Mound.

“My favorite sections are the ones that travel through Shawnee [State] Forest and the Edge [of Appalachia] because they are quiet and wild and close to home.” said Jenny Richards, the Shawnee State Park naturalist. She loves taking visitors out on the state park’s trails, and will be leading hikes on the trail on Saturday mornings in December at 10am, meeting at the Shawnee Lodge Lobby. Jenny is also another Appalachian Foothills Chapter member. When asked how she came to learn of and become interested in joining the Buckeye Trail Community, she said it was “from [her] work in Shawnee forest over the past 23 years.”

The Chapter is led by Brent Watson (Chairperson of Appalachian Foothills). While he did not learn about the Buckeye Trail until he was nearing retirement, Brent has always had a love for the outdoors. Growing up in Cincinnati he’d regularly take hikes in the woods with his father and dog, and go camping with his Boy Scouts Troop. This formed an early appreciation for nature that later led him to become a summer naturalist with the Cincinnati Recreation Commission when he was in college. This love for nature still remains. Brent discovered the Buckeye Trail during his hikes and began volunteering in his area. He adopted segments of the trail. Trail Adopters are volunteers who take responsibility for a portion of the trail, regularly hiking it and maintaining it. Some even organize their own small work parties. And when he became aware of the need for a local chapter, he joined the team.

“I have always been a cheerleader for Appalachia Ohio and know how easily others (who don’t live in this region) can create stereotypes that are not true. I have come to appreciate the resourcefulness, history, culture and values of this area. I have enjoyed living in this region the past 40 years and the relationships that sustain me. I wanted as many people as possible to see the beauty and scenery of this area. It is my role to make sure we stay on task and create a solid foundation to build a sustainable future. We not only have to get the necessary legalities in place but we must build a solid base of active volunteers and create numerous partnerships in order to have a safe trail to enjoy. It is about building relationships that are united for a common cause we believe in.”