![](https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/v/t1.0-9/10896849_933269726717594_1162146280939910321_n.jpg?oh=6e96502f89a516be75748b8eadafeecf&oe=55017CCF&__gda__=1425846803_2b34daa116bdf4b587e9195513a0f4bb)
I never met Tom Thwaites in real life, but hiking the Mid State Trail felt a little bit like meeting him. Trail creators, builders, and maintainers leave their fingerprints on their trails; they weave their hearts into the trails they love. No, I never met him, but nevertheless, maybe I knew him.
Hike his Mid State Trail. Better yet, volunteer on the trail to help maintain his legacy. Best still, volunteer and join the organization for just $12/year. And if you live nowhere near Pennsylvania, find your local trail and spend a day improving it. Please give back to the trails you love so that others may discover them too.