Mega Ending?
Local Officials Involved in Preserving Megatransect
LOCK HAVEN — The promoter of the annual Megatransect trail race is threatening to end or relocate the annual race on Bald Eagle Mountain.
The race has been a focal point event in the trial running community that has influenced local residents and participants from across North America. The race has also spawned the creation of similar events in the area like the Hyner View Trail Challenge and the Eagle Trek.
Of the hundreds of participants that take on the challenging course of the ‘Mega’, many are local residents. The race has even become a social activity for families, friends and co-workers. The Mega has also been the site of several marriage proposals as well as at least one wedding conducted during the actual event. The event also has a significant economic impact on Clinton County with many out-of-town participants supporting local restaurants, hotels and convenience stores during their stay.
Organizer David Hunter of Woodward Township went public with his concerns in an article in the Tuesday Lock Haven Express. He complained about “forest management going on at each part of it,” a reference to forestry work by The Nature Conservancy through an agreement with the Lock Haven City Authority. He said that work makes it difficult to sustain trails through portions of the course.
Meanwhile the Clinton County Economic Partnership, alerted about reports of the race’s possible demise, arranged for a Tuesday meeting of interested parties. Meeting at City Hall today were representatives from the city, the Megatransect, the State Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, The Nature Conservancy, the Clinton County Economic Partnership and the forester involved in the forest management plan on the city watershed.
After the meeting there was no indication that Hunter had been dissuaded from his plans to end or relocate the annual 26-mile hike. A participant did indicate there was a “good give and take” at the meeting.
County Economic Partnership tourism director Julie Brennan later released a statement:
“First, the Megatransect Committee has done just an awesome job of developing a premier event in our community. And they have done that with the support and agreement of both the City of Lock Haven and the State Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, as well as the private landowners over which the Megatransect trail runs.
“The Clinton County Economic Partnership’s tourism arm has been a community partner in this event since ‘day one’ and ours is a community interest because this event supports local businesses and nonprofit organizations. It generates a lot of volunteer opportunities and many of the participants are local and regional people. For all that this type of event brings to our community, we want to see it continue. So the priority is to assure this year’s event is a success, then we’d be interested in talking with others in the community about where we go from here.”
Meanwhile the 12th annual Megatransect is reported a go for Saturday, August 29. Hunter said this year’s event reached its quota of 1,000 participants in four hours.
