Two new trails have been thrown into the mix for those seeking
to become Tuna Trekkers.

The Tuna Valley Trail Association is again sponsoring the
“Trekking the Tuna Trails” campaign to benefit the McKean-Potter
Counties American Red Cross.

Now in its second year, the Tuna Trekker campaign has added two
new trails as well as a geocaching component. The Tuna Trekker
season starts Saturday and runs to Aug. 15.

“People have three months to do it,” organizer Rick Lutz said,
adding that there are now nine trails and 31 miles to trek before
becoming a true Tuna Trekker.

Participants in the Tuna Trekker program are to get pledges for
each mile they walk on the trails and then get out and walk.

Walkers will have a log to complete; there’s space for a photo
of the participant — for a photo contest — and a witness
signature.

Anyone who finishes each of the TVTA developed trails, pledges a
minimum of $30 and completes the trails log, will earn the title
“Tuna Trekker.” The benefits of the Tuna Trekker program are
twofold — to get people to use and appreciate the trails as well as
earn money for the local Red Cross.

Last year, the Tuna Trekkers raised a little more than $2,000
for the Red Cross. Lutz noted that all of the money stays local and
helped support the local programs.

As the Tuna Valley trail system expands, so does the job for a
potential Tuna Trekker. The two new trails are the Marilla Rocks
Trail and the Blaisdell-Emery Trail.

The Marilla Rocks Trail is two miles and starts off Route 346,
about one mile past the Marilla Reservoir. The Blaisdell-Emery
Trail is a four-mile trail that runs from Owens Way to Lewis Run.
Lutz noted that the Blaisdell-Emery Trail is a point-to-point
trail, not a loop.

Although most of the trails are loops, there is another
point-to-point trail in the system. The Indian Pipe Trail, the
longest at eight miles, is not a loop. Most start on Interstate
Parkway and end near the Marilla Reservoir.

Lutz said that people can call him to arrange for a shuttle
service for either of the non-loop trails.

Another twist to this year’s program is geocaching, which was
added in response to comments from last year’s event.

“A number of people suggested we add the geocaching component,”
Lutz said. Steve Kresge, a geocacher and a Tuna Trekker himself
last year, set up the geocaches on the Indian Pipe Trail.

There will be a key word hidden in each geocache. Once the word
is found, the trekker needs to write it in the Tuna Trekker logbook
as proof it was found. These words will also complete a phrase.

Those who become Tuna Trekkers, find all the caches and complete
the phrase will be eligible to win a gift certificate from The
Option House.

The photo contest is returning this year. The winner of the
photo contest will receive a gift certificate from Cavallaro’s
Picture Framing.

“For the first year, we were very pleased with the success,”
Lutz said. “And from what we’ve been told, there’s even more
interest this year.”

Lutz encourages people to organize teams. The team that brings
in the most money will be lauded at recognition dinner in
October.

But as Lutz pointed out, the concept of the Tuna Trekker program
benefits both participants and the Red Cross.

“We are trying to encourage people to get out there,” Lutz
said.

Anyone interested in participating can pick up a trails log at
the Red Cross office on Congress Street or any TVTA member for more
details.

All completed logs must be turned into the Red Cross by Aug. 15.
TVTA trail maps can be printed from its website.