Cambria Regional Chamber of Commerce hosts Ghost Town Trail walk

Chamber of Commerce wraps up CR Adventures

EBENSBURG -- The Cambria Regional Chamber of Commerce's "CR Adventures" series wrapped up Tuesday with dozens of participants walking the Ghost Town Trail's C&I Extension.

Chamber and county officials gathered at the Red Mill trailhead in Blacklick Township and walked on the trail for about 90 minutes. They were joined by members of the community and a busload of students from the Commonwealth Technical Institute at the Hiram G. Andrews Center in Johnstown.

The chamber has hosted an adventure walk on a new trail every month since April, said chamber Vice President Deb Orner.

"We're just trying to get people out and recreate -- especially to show people where the trailheads are so they're familiar with them," Orner said, noting officials realize that outdoor recreation brings in tourism revenue for business throughout the county.

It's an initiative the chamber started about four years ago, Orner said, adding plans are in place to host another CR Adventures series next year. Officials try to pick a variety of trails, ranging in difficulty from easy to moderately challenging to hike -- so that new areas are explored, she said.

Another goal behind the series is to encourage local residents to become ambassadors of the county's trails, Orner said.

"Some people don't feel comfortable coming out by themselves, so when we get them out in a group, they can see where to go. It's just a good way to get started," Orner said.

In addition to several Ghost Town Trail trailheads, the chamber has hosted adventures at Path of the Flood trailheads and at the Lorain-Stonycreek Hiking Trails in Johns­town, Orner said.

Cambria County Commissioner Tom Chernsiky co-hosts each adventure walk alongside the chamber's recreation economy council.

Chernisky said outdoor recreation is a $19 billion industry in Pennsylvania and it became part of Cambria County's local economy about 16 years ago.

"It's part of our economy here in Cambria County. OPM -- other people's money -- is being spent here," Chernisky said, noting the Ghost Town Trail is used by more than 200,000 people every year.

According to Chernisky, walking on trails can improve people's mental and physical health, too.

Chernisky noted the Ghost Town Trail's C&I Extension will make history later this year when the final section of trail is finished.

Two bridges are currently being built near Nanty Glo as part of the construction project, which is expected to wrap up in late November or early December, Chernisky said.

Once the work is complete, the Ghost Town Trail will have the only continuous rail-trail loop east of Oregon, Chernisky said.