Submitted photo Mifflin County native Henry Bonson and prolific hiker has been recognized for earning all six awards offered by the Keystone Trail Association.

MILLERTON — Hiking is a state of mind. To some people, it might just be for exercise, others crave the view from the summit.

For Henry Bonson, it’s more than that. Every bit along the way is enjoyable. That’s why he connects to the outdoors.

The Mifflin County native’s love affair with hiking begin at a very young age. Henry, a 1966 Kishacoquillas High School graduate, would “head out my back door and head to the mountains,” he recalls.

It also helped that he grew up at the foot of the Seven Mountains in Milroy.

Henry now lives in Millerton, located in northeastern Tioga County, with his wife, Deb, and dog, Mira. The Bonsons have been married for 55 years.

Henry has spent much of his life hiking and backpacking, which is what brought the Bonsons to Millerton. Noticing the beautiful mountain trails with such breath-taking scenic views, he started hiking the area trails.

Henry jokingly says, “If you look in the dictionary for outdoor activities, you’ll likely find my name.”

He does it all, including fishing, hunting, kayaking and mountain biking; however, it’s his hiking pursuits that have earned him accolades.

In October 2021, at age 73, Henry became the first person to earn all six hiking awards offered by the Keystone Trail Association.

A self-proclaimed “frog-kissing, tree-hugging outdoorsman,” Henry retired as an electrician to the Pennsylvania Wilds in 2009, joined the Asaph Trail Club and Susquehannock Trail Club and hikes with its members. He never really thought about receiving an award for hiking until he joined the Asaph Trail Club and met another member who was also working toward hiking awards.

Henry says, “It just kind of happened on its own.”

Henry explains the fresh air, scenery, challenge of hiking and camaraderie with other hikers is what keeps him hiking. He adds it’s a low-impact form of exercise, which gives him a sense of euphoria being out in the wild and deep in nature.

When asked about a favorite trail, Henry says, “I generally enjoy the trail I’m hiking at the time, but the trail I go back to is the Black Forest Trail.”

He says the challenge of it, the elevation, change of scenery and the pine trees and hemlocks keep him coming back.

Henry hikes alone much of the time, taking hikes up to 15 or more miles a day. Some of his hikes are overnight as he stays in a tent or shelter along the trail. He truly becomes one with nature when hiking and feeding the animals.

When Henry learned the association offered patches and certificates for completing certain trails in Pennsylvania, he embarked on his quest to hike them all. According to the KTA, no hiker has ever achieved such a feat — until Henry.

Henry earned his first awards in 2018 — Pennsylvania Award for hiking 500 miles of designated trails in the Keystone State; and KTA Western Pennsylvania Award for hiking 200 miles or more of designated trails in western Pennsylvania.

In 2019, Henry earned the KTA’s State Forest Award for hiking all 798 miles of the state’s 18 state forest system. He received an engraved hiking stick and a patch from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. It marked Henry’s third hiking award in two years.

Although he hiked a small portion of the required trails for the State Forest Trails Award as far back as 2004, Henry completed most of his hikes for this award in the last three years.

He also received two awards in 2020 — with the KTA’s Appalachian Trail Award for hiking the entire Appalachian Trail in Pennsylvania; and Merit Award for hiking the entire Appalachian Trail in Pennsylvania plus more than 200 miles of state trails.

Last year, Henry earned the Merit II Award for hiking the entire Appalachian Trail between the Hudson and Potomac rivers and more than 400 miles of the state’s other hiking trails; and the Mid-State Trail Association’s certificate No. 25 in recognition of completing the entire MLS through the state.

What’s next? Henry has finished the Appalachian Trail in eight states and hopes to complete the trail this year. The “Dinosaur,” Henry’s nickname on the trails, plans hike from Georgia up through during the spring and summer months.

“You will recognize him with his white hair and he converses with everyone he sees on the trail,” Deb says. “He has hundreds of stories journaled about hikers he meets and good and not-so good experience.”

Henry also spends his time designing, building and meticulously maintaining a hiking trail not far from Mansfield “that is hardly known to the hiking public.” The trail, located about 25 miles from his home, is not officially published.

Dubbed the “Cabin Run Trail,” this six-mile gem located on state game lands near the Mill Cove Environmental Center. This loop trail is built along Cabin Run, a pristine native trout stream.

The major attraction of this trail is a stone foundation, the remains of a trapper’s cabin, probably used 150 years ago. The second highlight of the trail is the vista overlooking Mill Creek Valley.

Henry laid out the trail so it would include this desirable scenery at the top of the mountain, which rises from 1,100 feet at the trailhead to 1,900 feet at the highest point.

He volunteers to help maintain these trails, so others can also enjoy them.

When asked how he accomplished these miles and miles of hiking trails, Henry replies, “… putting one foot in front of the other, and the next thing you know, you have a trail done. If I can do it, anyone can.”