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P.O. Box 242, West Newton, Pennsylvania, 15089 United States
2025 WYTC Events
2025-09-01 Monday Labor Day Poker Run
Ride and Walk (Bring Family and Friends!)
32nd Annual
Labor Day Poker Run
On the Great
Allegheny Passage
Sponsored by the
Westmoreland Yough Trail Chapter
Please register on line HERE. Thank you for helping us to eliminate/reduce paper registrations!
The event will start at the Arthur H. King Access Area of the WYTC section of the GAP in West Newton. Proceeds from this fundraiser will be used by trail volunteers to maintain, preserve and enhance the Westmoreland County section of the Great Allegheny Passage.
3 NON-COMPETITIVE EVENTS BIKE—12 MILES LEVEL BIKE—20 MILES ENDURANCE WALK/JOG/WHEELCHAIR OPTIONAL—4 MILES Arthur H. King Access Area West Newton, PA September 1, 2025 Registration @ 8:00 AM Event @ 8:30 AM
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The Poker Run is NOT A RACE! Participants walk or ride at their own pace, to checkpoints throughout the course where they pick a playing card which is recorded on their Poker Hand Card.
At the end of the event, each poker hand is tallied. The person with the best hand in each category will receive a prize. At 11:00 AM the winners of the best hands in all events will be announced along with the winner of the grand prize drawing and the 50/50 drawing.
In addition, participants will have a chance to win one of several gift cards available for this event.
THE COURSES — All courses are totally flat.
Walking, Jogging, Wheelchair optional—4 miles: This 4-mile walk will begin at the Arthur H. King Access area and proceed north along the Great Allegheny Passage with check point stops along the way.
The mid-way check point is at the Westmoreland/Allegheny County line.
Level Bike Ride—12 Miles: This 12-mile ride for cyclists will begin at the Arthur H. King Access Area, proceed south along the Great Allegheny Passage to the check point at Smithton Beach and return to the access area.
Endurance Bike Ride—20 Miles: This 20-mile ride for cyclists will begin at the Arthur H. King Access area and proceed south along the Great Allegheny Passage and continue past Smithton Beach another four miles to the mid-way checkpoint at Whitsett. From Whitsett cyclists will return to the starting point.
NOTE: All cyclists are required to wear an ANSI or SNELL certified helmet when riding a bike in the Poker Run and sign a release form. The signature of a parent or guardian is required for all participants under the age of 18 years old.
SUPPORT
There will be rest stops and water along the route. Personnel will be available for those unable to finish the course. Volunteers will direct you along the route and EMT personnel will be available for medical assistance.
EVENT RAIN OR SHINE **********************************
REGISTER ONLINE (Preferred method) or Complete and sign the form below and mail with your check payable to WYTC:
WYTC—POKER EVENT
PO BOX 242 WEST NEWTON, PA 15089
GRAND PRIZE Drawing IS for A Brand NEW BIKE!
You must be registered by August 15, 2025 to receive a T-Shirt!
2025-06-01 Sunday Trail Appreciation Day
Meet your WYTC Trail Volunteers across from the GAP-WYTC West Newton Visitor’s Center. 11-3
Stop by our WYTC Table to learn more about Trail membership benefits, pick up individually packaged cookies, chips and water.
Get your free hot dogs and refreshments and get to know your trail neighbors. Find out what the West Newton Station has to offer you and meet the volunteers who make this resource possible for all GAP visitors.
The Rail Car will be open!
2025-03-29 Saturday March for Parks
2025-03-29 Saturday March for Parks
2025 March 29th, The WYTC Team. Thank You! The 23rd annual March for Parks was another marvelous success!
Approximately 350 marchers, volunteers, sponsors, and staff gathered at Twin Lakes Park, raising over $61,000 to support projects and programs in our Westmoreland County parks and trails.
A BBQ pig roast lunch was sponsored by the Westmoreland County Board of Commissioners, fun games and activities for kids, a large basket raffle auction, live music, and a brisk march around the upper and lower lakes.
2024-09-07 Tribute to Teresa Liszewski
With sadness we report the passing of Teresa Liszewski, one of our Original Over The Hill Gang members. Besides being a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, she was a true Trail Pioneer, and contributed significantly in the 1990’s to improving the former railroad area near the Youghiogheny River, West Newton, PA.
This group of men and women, the Original Over the Hill Gang (OOTHG), formed the forerunner of the Westmoreland Yough Trail Chapter (WYTC). They met weekly and selflessly gave their time to create and improve the quality of our trail. They provided manual labor, expertise, fund raising, and often their own equipment resulting in the basis of the current trail we see today.
Terry and her husband, Caz, with other members of the OOTHG, began a journey developing the Westmoreland County portion of the Yough River Trail in the 1990’s. With the combined expertise of these members, their vision was realized, and we thank Terry for her many contributions, especially for serving as Trail Monitor for over 15 years.
Many local, regional, and national visitors have enjoyed the Trail because of their involvement and hard work for many years. Thank you, Terry, for all that you’ve done to improve the WYTC portion of the GAP Trail.
In Teresa's memory, contributions may be made to the WYTC, P.O. Box 242, West Newton, PA 15089.
Here is Terry's Obituary.
More pictures of Teresa and Caz Liszewski
Editorial: Closing a gap in the gap
A 2022 study by Andrew Herr, an economics professor at St. Vincent College, estimates that the trail receives about 1.4 million visits each year, and about 200,000 people ride all the way from one end to the other. That means about a third of the population of Pittsburgh takes the trek from Maryland to the Point every year — and use increases about 10% per year.
The annual economic impact of $120 million has been especially welcome in Appalachian towns long-since bypassed by interstates. The GAP is more than a trail; it’s an economic lifeline.
THE EDITORIAL BOARD
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
FEB 4, 2023