Tanks vs. Trail

The New York Times of 2 July 2007 mentions the struggle in Pennsylvania over land use that pits conservationists -- and Appalachian Trail hikers -- against the Pennsylvania National Guard. It's an article by Sean D. Hamill titled "Land Conservationists Take On the National Guard."

The deal is that the Guard at Indiantown Gap wants to add to its tank firing range by swapping some land for a stretch known at Stony Creek Valley, and

"The Stony Creek land is the largest wilderness area without a road in Eastern Pennsylvania and is home to first-rate hunting and fishing and a stretch of the Appalachian Trail."

It's that St. Anthony's Wilderness area around abouts the Rausch Gap Shelter, south of the 501 Shelter. The Guard started out asking for 8,000 acres, and have backed away and backed away to now just seeking a "special use permit" for 90 days out of the year. A very broad coalition of outdoor people don't want to yield up this area to mis-directed tank shells.