Hikers or anglers who get caught in a rainstorm on the Loyalhanna Nature Trail can thank Tristan Glenn and fellow members of Boy Scout Troop 372 for a place to dry off.

Glenn, 18, of Ligonier Borough, joined local Scouting officials and the Loyalhanna Watershed Association this week in unveiling a new wooden shelter he installed on the association-managed site as an Eagle Scout project.

The Ligonier Valley High School senior initially intended simply to replace a worn metal-and-plastic storage shed at the trail head off eastbound Route 30, near the border of the borough and Ligonier Township.

After discussions with the association, he decided to “do something bigger that will involve more people. We figured out that it would be better to put a shelter in, for people to stay in.”

He expanded the project to include an open-faced shelter with benches. A storage compartment is at the side of the structure. That increased his project budget, from about $600 to roughly $2,000, he said, including $1,600 alone for pressure-treated pine.

Fortunately, the watershed association was able to cover the cost, and that of a few other recreational improvements, totaling $9,000, thanks to a grant from the PNC Charitable Trust.

“When Tristan contacted us to see if we had a project, it was perfect timing,” said Susan Huba, executive director of the watershed association. “We had just talked with PNC Charitable Trust. We were looking at doing a recreational improvement project to rehab this nature trail, which the watershed has been overseeing since the early ‘80s.”

Glenn’s project also included installation of a dozen new interpretive markers along the mile-long trail loop, which is bordered by Route 30, Loyalhanna Creek and a tributary, Mill Creek.

Huba explained each marker has a QR code that visitors can scan with a smartphone to link with corresponding content on the watershed association website. It provides information about points of interest along the trail, including a swinging footbridge across the creek that was destroyed in a 2018 flood.

The grant also funded installation of four signs along the Loyalhanna Creek Water Trail, which follows the creek downstream to Gray Wing Park in New Alexandria.

Glenn began the shelter construction in 2019 and had most of the work done by late last summer. Finishing touches, including the benches, were completed in February.

He had help from 22 volunteers — among them his father, Skip, and fellow Scouts, including his brother, Jesse, 15. They collectively put in more than 300 man-hours on the project.

Marcus Ragland, Scout executive for the Westmoreland-Fayette Council, was on hand to recognize Glenn’s work on his Eagle project, noting it requires a Scout to “show leadership, planning and overcome obstacles. Like all the projects that we have, it provides a much-needed service to our community.”

Glenn and his helpers had to contend with extremes of cold and heat during different phases of the project. Social distancing was required once the covid-19 pandemic arrived.

“We had two teams of three people working on sinking new trail markers in,” Glenn said. “We used that to spread people out.”

In addition to Scouting, Glenn participates in the Junior Olympic Archery Development Program. He’s interested in pursuing studies in engineering.

While working on the trail shelter, he noted, “I learned a lot about teamwork and leadership.”

“We’re excited to have this here for the users of the trail,” Huba said.

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