Jill Winton can attest to the fact that Shingletown Gap attracts more than just a few hikers when the temperature rises.

"Shingletown can get pretty crowded, and the main trail is pretty impacted," said the Penn State Outing Club president. "It is tough to find solitude there on a nice weekend."

But Winton and other Outing Club members will soon have more room to explore new and longer circuit hikes when a 423-acre parcel of land known as Musser Gap opens up to the public.

The State College Borough Council voted 6-1 at its Jan. 9 meeting to contribute $76,110 of the borough's unappropriated funds to help the ClearWater Conservancy preserve Musser Gap.

The area is located along state Route 45 in Ferguson Township between Pine Grove Mills and Boalsburg and is adjacent to Shingletown Gap.

Dennis Plank, Penn State Outing Club vice president, echoed Winton's sentiments about the area.

"Having more land near Shingletown will ease the overuse of the area," he said.

Plank said he was pleased to hear about the plans to acquire additional land near Shingletown Gap and Rothrock State Forest.

"Anytime a wild space like Musser Gap is preserved, the Penn State Outing Club and the community benefits. The close proximity of the land to State College will make it convenient for students and community members to enjoy outdoor recreation activities there," Plank said.

Plank said he and fellow Outing Club members routinely hike the Mid-State Trail, which is 240 miles long and runs next to Musser Gap.

Katie Ombalski, a ClearWater Conservancy biologist, said the ClearWater Conservancy has plans to purchase Musser Gap and then turn it over to the state Bureau of Forestry, which will manage the land and open it for public access sometime this year.

The Bureau of Forestry would also develop a parking area and trail system that lead into the Shingletown Gap system and the Mid-State Trail system, she said.

Ombalski said the conservancy's overall goal for the land is to protect the sensitive ecosystem of Musser Gap.

The purchase will also protect the drinking water resources of the State College Borough and surrounding areas, she said.

Ombalski said the conservation of the land would provide a much-needed recreational area for hiking, biking and bird watching, and it would alleviate the overuse of the Shingletown Gap trail system.

Shawn Lupa, a manager for Appalachian Ski and Outdoors, 123 S. Allen St., said that he used to live right outside of Shingletown and that is happy to hear about the project in Musser Gap.

"Shingletown gets quite busy on nice days, and I am pleased to know that more of our land is being protected," Lupa said.

Ombalski said the funds for the purchase of this land are coming from four sources: The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is giving $606,000, the State College Borough Water Authority is giving $300,000, and the State College Borough and College and Ferguson townships are giving a total of $219,000.

Ombalski said these donations will provide the primary funding sources for the project, and she is still waiting to see if Patton and Halfmoon townships and the Conservation Fund will offer any money.

She added that anyone wishing to donate to this project should contact the ClearWater Conservancy.