Dec 1, 2005 — A small group of seniors Wednesday said opening their hearts, giving their time and digging in the dirt keeps them appearing and feeling young. The volunteers, all of whom are retired, worked to clear about a mile of path for a hiking trail to be moved to a safer location.

They moved the portion of the 193-mile Mason-Dixon Trail off a dangerous part of Route 624 near Wrightsville. Now it crosses properties owned by Safe Harbor Water Power Corp. and County Line Quarry, which run along the Susquehanna River.

Jim Hooper, vice president of Mason-Dixon Trail System, and several other volunteers a few months ago used chainsaws and a Pulaski ax - a combination ax and hoe - to clear growth and vines on the side of a hill for the trail. "I'm excited to get it off the main road," said Hooper, who has been a trail volunteer for 28 years. The Mason-Dixon Trail, a public hiking path, crosses Delaware and Maryland, follows the western shore of the Susquehanna River, extends through Gifford Pinchot State Park and connects to the Appalachian Trail. It was built with member financing and contributions by volunteers who also maintain it.

The York Hiking Club has helped maintain the Appalachian Trail since 1948. The group monitors 40 miles of trail between Route 30 and Norman Wood bridges. A group of retired club volunteers meets weekly on relocation projects such as Wednesday's Wrightsville-area project. Volunteers don't need special skills or experience to help with trail projects.

"There's no government funding in this at all," Hooper said. "We need volunteers all of the time. ... We're finding younger (adults) don't join the club until they are in their 50s." York Township residents and club members Allen and Lore Britton, both in their 70s, have been volunteering for trail projects for more than three decades. "I love it," Allen said. "If I didn't do it, who is going to do it? If I like the trails, I've got to maintain them." He said people who work and walk on hiking trails are healthy for many reasons. "Everybody I know as a hiker has a youthful attitude," he said. "People who do volunteer work are healthier." Freysville resident Ron Gray, 62, is also a club member. He's hooked on trail work. "It's kind of in my blood," he said. Hooper and his wife, Joyce, met while working on hiking trails about five years ago. A lot of people have no idea of the pleasure of a hike through the land that we have," Joyce said. "It's very healthy, and you go home feeling very tired and relaxed. I find nature soothes the soul and clears your mind."

HOW TO HELP

Volunteers are needed to do trail work including trail building, cutting brush back from the trail, cutting blown-down trees, blazing the trail and maintaining bulletin boards.