April-June, 2008
The Magazine of the NORTH COUNTRY TRAIL ASSOCIATION
Volume 27, No. 2
Join Us at Conference 2008! Page 4 National Trails Day Page 15 Elect your NCTA Board! Page 16 Awards Nominations Page 20 New Trail Protection Underway in Petoskey Page 22 Next issue features our first in a series by super-light backpacking expert Ryan Jordan. Don’t miss it!
“What I Have Learned About Trails and a Little About Those Who Taught Me” Fourth in a series
U
se your imagination. The year is 2108. The place is Lowell, Michigan. At a semi-formal dinner the cause for festivities is that the North Country Trail, which stretches from the Atlantic to the Pacific, has been at long last completely protected. Speaker after speaker rises to praise and thank all concerned. From Senators to Chapter Presidents, from Governors to Affiliated Trail organizations, they are all there to share their accomplishments.
NPS Superintendent, Tom Gilbert
Towards the end of the evening, an octogenarian from North Dakota is introduced and she starts by saying “I actually met Tom Gilbert.” Her statement brings down the house. Several times various speakers have invoked his memory and accomplishments, but here is someone who actually met him.
TRAIL HEAD
DAVE CORNELL President
Come back to the present world. The dream of extending our trail is just that, a dream. But the presence of Tom Gilbert is very real. More than any other person Tom is responsible for what we have accomplished. Why has one man been so important to our success? The answer is easy, because he has been a great partner, and his partnership has been fueled by a personal passion for this trail.The National Trails System Act envisions a partnership between a government entity (in our instance the NPS) and a non-profit entity (once again, in our instance the NCTA) that builds and maintains a trail. These partnerships have a proven track record. The Appalachian Trail, which was the model for the National Trails System Act, provided proof that the partnership worked. Partnerships are fragile and trail partnerships are no exception. Disagreements between the government entity and the private entity unfortunately have been common. Usually, these disagreements center around two subjects, money and control.
Money
Sometimes the governmental entity finds it necessary to reduce the amount it pays to its partner organization. You can imagine the consternation this causes. Never, I repeat, never has Tom reduced the NPS contribution to the NCTA. No matter what needs his office has, like a true partner, he has always thought of the NCTA first. In addition, whenever the NCTA has money problems, he weighs in. Working within the NPS guidelines he tries and usually succeeds in breaking loose additional funds to help his partner in time of need.
Control
Financial support from the NPS has been critical to the NCTA, but even more important, in my opinion, has been the fact that Tom and the NPS have taken a hands-off approach to the internal affairs of the NCTA. How tempting it must be for Tom to call Lowell every so often to say, “Are you people crazy ” (you fill in the blank). He never does that. He never says “I told you so.” He just tries to stand by and weighs in only when asked. Because of this attitude he is always listened to. Partnerships work only if each partner constantly tries to give more than they get. This philosophy has guided Tom’s relations with the NCTA. So here is to Tom Gilbert, a true partner and friend; we would not be here without him.
North Country Trail Association The North Country Trail Association develops, maintains, preserves and promotes the North Country National Scenic Trail through a trail-wide coalition of volunteers and partners. Our vision for the North Country National Scenic Trail is that of a premier footpath of national significance, offering a superb experience for hikers in a permanently protected corridor, traversing and interpreting the richly diverse environmental, cultural, and historic features of the northern United States.
Come Visit Us!
The Lowell office is open Monday through Friday from 9 am to 4 pm. 229 East Main Street, Lowell, MI 49331 Phone (866) HikeNCT • 616-897-5987 • Fax (616) 897-6605 www.northcountrytrail.org
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The North Star
April–June 8
A Glance Inside
Staff Andrew Bashaw, Regional Trail Coordinator Ohio/Pennsylvania andrewbashaw@northcountrytrail.org
Clare Cain, Director of Trail Management clarecain@northcountrytrail.org
Matt Davis, Regional Trail Coordinator Minnesota/North Dakota davis@northcountrytrail.org
Laura Lindstrom, Office Manager/Financial Administrator llindstrom@northcountrytrail.org
Jill DeCator, Administrative Assistant jdecator@northcountrytrail.org
Bruce Matthews, Executive Director bmatthews@northcountrytrail.org
Bill Menke, Regional Trail Coordinator Great Lakes bill_menke@partner.nps.gov
Matt Rowbotham, GIS/IT Specialist mattrowbotham@northcountrytrail.org
National Board of Directors Terms Expiring 2008 Mary Coffin, VP East, New York Rep., (315)687-3589 · mcoffin1@twcny.rr.com
Garry Dill, At Large Rep.,
(614)451-0223 · gdill@columbus.rr.com
Alicia Hoffarth, North Dakota Rep., (701)490-3889 · cahoffarth@hotmail.com
Terms Expiring 2009 Sarah Julien, Secretary, At Large Rep., (616)676-0172 · sajulien@comcast.net
Christopher Klein, VP West, Minnesota Rep., (320)766-9635 · klein11@midwestinfo.com
Al Larmann, At Large Rep.,
(315)697-3387 · AFLarmann@msn.com
Terms Expiring 2010 Dave Cornell, President, At Large Rep.,
Dan Berggren and Peggy Lynn will provide music, humor and historical tales at NCTA Conference in Cazenovia, New York. Page 4
Articles
Columns
Conference....................................4 Conference Registration Form......7 Searching for Our Roots.............11 Ahhh, This is Why!....................13 Across the U.P. with the Softies....14 National Trails Day.................... 15 Board Nominations & Ballot......16 Awards Nominations..................20
Trailhead.......................................2 Matthews’ Meanders.....................8 Hiking Shorts...............................8 On the Trail................................22 Going for the Gold.....................17
(239)561-6512 · onestep@mei.net
Joyce Appel, Pennsylvania Rep.,
(724)526-5407 · joyceappel@windstream.net
Lyle Bialk, Lower Michigan Rep.,
(810)679-2401 · lylebialk@sbcglobal.net
Carl Boesel Ohio Rep.,
(740)385-0074 · gboesel@hocking.net
Bobby Koepplin, VP Finance, At Large Rep., (701)845-2935 · bkoepplin@kwh.com
Gaylord Yost Great Lakes Rep., (414)354-8987 · gaylyost@aol.com
Len Price, At Large Rep.,
(651)267-9900 · len.price@conservationcorps.org
Jim Hudson, At Large Rep.,
(905)527-7111 · jdhudson@msn.com
Larry Hawkins, At Large Rep.,
(269)945-5398 · hawkeyemd@cablespeed.com
Jack Cohen, At Large Rep.,
(724)234-5398 · JCohen@zoominternet.net
Departments Who’s Who Along the North Country Trail...................18 Trail Supporters..........................21
About the Cover
Matt Champlin, an avid outdoor photographer from New York, captured this feeder stream at Chittenango Falls near this year’s annual conference in Cazenovia, NY. To view more of Matt’s photography check out his photostream on flickr at http://www.flickr.com/people/mattchamplin/.
North Star Staff
Irene Szabo, Editor (585)658-4321 or treeweenie@aol.com Aaron Phipps, Art Director The North Star, Spring Issue, Vol. 27, Issue 2, is published by the North Country Trail Association, a private, not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization, 229 East Main Street, Lowell, MI 49331. The North Star is published quarterly for promotional and educational purposes and as a benefit of membership in the Association. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without written permission of the North Country Trail Association.
April–June 8
The North Star
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2008 Annual Conference
Cazenovia, New York
August 7 - 10
Cazenovia College
Those of us who came to Cazenovia in 2001 know why we have chosen to return, but if you thought the food was wonderful last time, just wait till you see the offerings now. Their cafeteria ALWAYS has vegetarian and vegan items, some of them recipes from the famous Moosewood Cafe in Ithaca, and special needs are considered, also: gluten-free entrees along with choices for the lactose intolerant are normal fare. There are even dorm room choices this time, following recent renovations: traditional dorm rooms are the base price (bring your own fan!), while suites in an air-conditioned building are only $9.00 more per night.
Programs
On Thursday evening, following a tour of our seven states during Clare Cain’s “State of the Trail” and time around the crackerbarrel with Bruce Matthews, we will be treated to an irreverent but enlightening romp through Erie canal history by Irene Szabo, with illustrations comparing then and now; Irene guarantees you’ll leave with a new view of the significance of transportation history from the oxcart onward. As our trail approaches the Adirondacks, it’s perfect serendipity that we get to enjoy the music, humor, and historical tales that will be provided Friday evening by Dan
our hosts, the NCTA Central New York (CNY) Chapter, the Adirondack Mountain Club (ADK)–Onondaga Chapter, and the Finger Lakes Trail Conference (FLTC), invite our readers to come see all the NEW trail we’ve added since 2001. Come walk with us along the North Country Trail in central New York, from hilltop views to streamside meanders, through dark hemlock forests and across a whimsical outdoor art park, and savor special long walks with history. For example, we follow miles of railroads now forty years gone and surrounded by woods where once grist mills, country flag stops, and creameries dotted the wayside. The NCT route also continues north and east toward the deep mysteries of the vast Adirondacks along several canals—the famous Erie and one of its feeders, the Black River—preserved routes of vital manmade waterways monumentally responsible for unleashing expansion westward from the coast. Hikes and tours are designed to showcase all the variety of trail types the NCT offers in a wide circle around Cazenovia College, where we will stay, eat, and enjoy workshops and programs.
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The North Star
April–June 8
George Zacharek
Y
Come experience the beauty of the Black River (near Forestport) and the surrounding Adirondacks in New York’s north country.
2008 Annual Conference
Cazenovia, New York David Marcham
1940’s steam locomotive at Cazenovia Station.
Berggren and Peggy Lynn. With dozens of albums between them, Dan and Peggy entertain, educate, and inspire with traditional folk roots, dynamic original songs, and striking harmonies. With her bluesy voice, Peggy writes and performs songs about the women and natural beauty of the North Country, while Dan’s songs reflect the spirit and the hardworking people of the Adirondack region. Best-selling environmental author Bill McKibben says, “Dan is a throwback to the old role of the folk singer...he’s articulating things that need to be said right now.” Saturday evening, after our annual NCTA awards, John A.-X. Morris will bring us “Seasons on the Trail: Natural Connections on the Finger Lakes Trail, from Precocious Peepers and Mimicked Monarchs to Squiffy Squirrels and Chattering Chickadees.” His slides will illustrate a small part of the natural history found along the Finger Lakes Trail during the four seasons including the frogs and flowers of spring, the birds and butterflies of summer, the leaves and lycopods of autumn, and the icicles and insects of winter. Interesting, tasteful, and tasteless tidbits gleaned from observations, research, and folklore will be included. John writes a column for the FLT News called Natural Connections; it is the only nature column sure to rate belly laughs.
Other Places to Stay Lincklaen House http://www.Lincklaenhouse.com Cazenovia, NY, Next to campus Country Bumpkin Bed & Breakfast http://www.countrybumpkinbb.com/ Cazenovia, NY, 5 miles from campus Notleymere Cottage Bed & Breakfast http://www.notleymere.com/ Cazenovia, NY, 1.3 miles from campus Cedar Valley Campsite www.cedarvalleycampsite.com Morrisville, NY, Camping 11 miles from campus Craftsman Inn http://www.craftsmaninn.com/ Fayetteville, NY, 9.4 miles from campus Cazenovia Motel 315 655-9101 Cazenovia, NY, 1 mile from campus
How to Get There Flying: Syracuse Hancock International Airport is 30 miles from Cazenovia College. Contact NCTA with your travel information (before August 1st) if you are interested in a courtesy shuttle to the campus. Driving: Google driving directions to Cazenovia College, Cazenovia, NY 13035. (If you choose to drive through Canada, remember your passport!) GPS Coordinates of Cazenovia College: 42.932, -75.855
Workshops August Pre-Conference 5 – 7 Trail Building Training, Camping Phone the NCTA Office to Pre-register.
Thursday Al Larmann
1:00 2:30
Outreach Events For Maximum Visibility Twigs & Found Treasures
Friday 10:00 1:30 3:30
Saturday
Cazenovia Station (today), on the North Country Trail.
August 7 - 10
9:00 August 11 – 12
Incompatible Trail Uses & How To Control Them Chapter Leadership & Health DR Mower Repairs & Maintenance Trail Building Maintenance (all day) Post-Conference Sawyer Training Phone the NCTA Office to Pre-register. Rooms available at Cazenovia College. April–June 8
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2008 Annual Conference
Cazenovia, New York
Guided Hikes, Trips & Tours
Times given are planned departure from the parking lot.
THURSDAY
A 12:00 Hills & Hedgerows Hike: 6 miles. Through forests, easy stream crossings, short climbs, views, on CNY Chapter Link Trail southward. B 12:00 Pond Hopper Hike: 4.5 miles. Mostly downhill through State Forest, past pond and many streams, old cemetery and foundations, with views, on Map O-1, NCT/ FLT Onondaga Trail. C 1:00 Erie Canal Odyssey Driving Tour: Along remnants of old Erie Canal, with brief walks at wayside parks to see aqueducts, bridges, a canal town, and a working lock, with history nut as your guide. D 12:30 You & UTM/GPS Hike: 4 miles. Easy walk, slowly through Tioughnioga Wildlife Management Area (spelling test follows) on flagged NCT/FLT route to demonstrate use of UTM with GPS or compass. Bring your GPS or especially a compass. E 1:00 Swamp Tromp Hike: 2 miles. Easy walk on DRY path through swamp flora, guided on loop off NCT railbed walk by loop’s designer, a state forester. Discussion of trail design for users with disabilities.
FRIDAY
F 8:30 Gateway to the Adirondacks Sampler Hike: 4+ miles. 3 hour round trip drive to Black River Canal Trail. Walk past historic lock, museum with replica canal boat, sometimes through State Park gorge. Easy, level. This is NCT approach to the Adirondacks. G 9:00 Paddle, Pack, and Ponds Canoe Trip & Hike: Easy AM paddle in glacial kettle hole pond between two steep ridges, followed after lunch by hike 2.4 miles Up 650 ft. past waterfalls on Onondaga Trail to spectacular overlook of pond below. May opt to canoe only, with your own car. Bring your canoe, or if unavailable, we can borrow a few with advance notice. H 9:00 Finger Lakes Waterfalls Driving Tour: All day. In college van to several famous waterfalls near Ithaca, with short walks to each, some level, some climbing. Each is a photographer’s mecca, and one, Lick Brook, is on the trail. Additional fee. I 9:30 Over the Hill Hike: 7+ miles. Moderate to strenuous, with climbs to wonderful overlook on Onondaga Trail that takes the NCT from the main FLT toward the CNY Chapter. J 9:30 Hillside Railroad & Waterfall Hike: 7 miles. Walk on NCT directly from Cazenovia along forested abandoned Lehigh Valley RR bed, along scenic Chittenango Creek, passing several amazing CNY Chapter construction projects. Mostly level, ends at breathtaking Chittenango Falls State Park. K 9:30 Wiltsey Glen Hike: 7 miles. On the main FLT/ NCT, only moderately hilly for this area. All forested, long descent through Wiltsey Glen’s dark gully, plus several handsome hemlock-shrouded streams with hopping rocks. Ends at junction with the Onondaga Trail. L 9:45 Central NY History Driving Tour: All day. Visits to the Chittenango Canal Boat Museum on the Old Erie Canal (small fee), the Salt Museum in Syracuse, a tram ride around Onondaga Lake, and a visit to Middle Ages Brewery for tasting.
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April–June 8
August 7 - 10
SATURDAY
M 9:00 Highland Hill and Dale Hike: 8 miles. Steady graded climb through new part of Onondaga Trail, new Map O-2. Crosses two glacial ridges with views then descends to DeRuyter Lake. N 9:00 Erie Canal Bike Tour: 25 miles. Drive yourself and your bike, or carpool to the Chittenango Canal Boat Museum. Then ride the level towpath eastward past historic artifacts and across one working lock gate on the modern Canal, to Rome’s Erie Canal Village, most of it an NCT Connector Route. We’ll bring you and your bike back from Rome. Bike can be borrowed with advance notice. Additional Museum Fee. O 9:15 Ravines & Summits Hike: 6 miles. South end of Onondaga Trail, strenuous hills, climb from old cemetery and remnants of Lehigh Valley Railroad (yes, the same one to Cazenovia) up, up, up to junction with main NCT/FLT. Great overlook at top. P 9:15 Trail in the Making Hike: 8 miles. Strenuous Skyline Trail, considerable elevation changes and some bushwhacking on this incomplete trail. Includes a nature trail, old foundations, waterfalls, and a stunning view. Round trip walk. Q 9:15 The Every Which Way RR Route Hike: 6+ miles. One of the newer sections of the CNY Chapter’s NCT route on abandoned railbed with views, creek and wetlands on either side of dry-footed route, and a scenic ravine along Canastota Creek. Mostly level except short steep downhill and climb up 72 step stairway built by Al Larmann’s Retiree Brigade. R 9:30 Twin Hike A: 5 to 8 miles. (For an 8 mile hike, take the optional roadwalk.) New Map O-2 between two ridges, including one mile bushwhack between certified segments. Some climb. Onondaga Trail. S 9:30 Twin Hike B: 2 miles. Shorter option, modest climb, same nice views as above, but break out sooner. T 9:30 Cedar Swamp and Savannah Hike: 7 miles. NCT here is dry railbed through Nelson Swamp, across Chittenango Creek bridge to include segment led by wildflower expert, then 1.4 country roadwalk to Stone Quarry Hill Art Park. Long views from Art Park, then trail wanders through forest full of whimsical sculptures. Bring camera! Finally descend to Cazenovia on NCT. U 9:45 Cazenovia Area Wonders Tour: Mansion and gardens of Lorenzo State Historic Site, Chittenango Falls State Park with its 167-foot waterfall, and Stone Quarry Hill Art Park. Modest walking. Additional small entrance fees.
SUNDAY
V 9:45 Pond Hopper Two Hike: 6 miles. Moderate full day hike, northern Map O-1, mixed forests and rolling hills. Mostly downhill; Onondaga Trail. W 10:00 Streams & Ravines Hike: 4 miles. With moderate climb, Map O-1, includes Hemlock Glen Lean-to, Enchanted Hollow, Mossy Falls, and old fire tower site at 2000 ft elevation. X 10:00 Highland Forest History Hike: 3 miles. Map O-2, easy with vistas, then down to DeRuyter Lake, past park visitor’s center and farm museum. Y 9:45 Trenton Falls Hike: 2 miles. A unique opportunity to view a series of four waterfalls from a mile-long path with kiosks relating the history of the Barneveld in its heyday. Trail is on private land open to the public only four times a year, when the power company opens the dam to enhance the waterfalls. Round trip.
2008 Annual Conference Please Join Us in Cazenovia!
Registration Form
Aug. 7 - 10
A separate Registration Form is required for each person attending the 2008 conference. You may make copies of this form. Name: Address: City: State: Zip: Phone: E-Mail:
REGISTRATION FEES (There is no child’s rate) Full Conference Registration $30.00 Per Day Registration $15.00 days x $15.00 = $ Friday Finger Lakes Water Falls Driving Tour $18.00
$ $
Lodging & Meals If You Are Staying On Campus: Daily Rates Thursday Friday Saturday I plan to stay (Please multiply number of days you will stay x your daily rate) Single, Room & Board no A/C days x $54.00 = $ Double, Room & Board no A/C days x $45.00 = $ Single, Room & Board with A/C days x $62.00 = $ Double, Room & Board with A/C days x $60.00 = $ Linen charge, includes pillow (you may BYO) $10.00 $ Friday Evening (dinner & program) $30.00 $ I’d like to share a Double room with:
To help us plan better, please indicate which of the following activities (see page 6) you plan to attend: 9:00 a.m. Friday Canoe Trip “Paddle, Pack and Ponds” 9:00 a.m. Saturday Erie Canal Bike Tour Enter the letter codes and descriptions of your hike or tour choices below. (Please refer to hike/tour schedule on page 6) Code
Day & Time
Hike/Tour
Code
Day & Time
Hike/Tour
Code
Day & Time
Hike/Tour
Code
Day & Time
Hike/Tour
Code
Day & Time
Hike/Tour
Code
Day & Time
Hike/Tour
(Name) Meals If You’re Not Staying On Campus: Thursday Dinner $9.00 Friday Breakfast $4.50 Friday Lunch $6.50 Friday Evening (dinner & program) $30.00 Saturday Breakfast $4.50 Saturday Lunch $6.50 Saturday Dinner $9.00 Sunday Brunch $4.50 Total Conference Costs $
My check to NCTA is enclosed. Please charge my registration to: Visa
Discover
Master Card
Card Number
$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $
Send Your Registration By Mail: NCTA, 229 E. Main Street, Lowell, MI 49331 Send Your Registration By Fax: (616) 897-6605
American Express
Exp. Date
Sign-up By Phone: 866-HikeNCT (445-3628)
Name as it appears on card (please print) Signature
Waiver: Please read and sign the following: Those persons enjoying the North Country Trail (NCT) and/or activities sponsored by the North Country Trail Association (NCTA) or any chapters/clubs conducting activities on behalf of, or in support of the NCTA, accept full personal responsibility for their own well being, or, for the well being of a minor when acting in the capacity of parent or guardian. Further, users of the NCT accept and understand that hiking is a rigorous activity often conducted in rugged outdoor conditions subject to variations in weather and terrain conditions which may involve the risk of injury or death, and, that we are fully responsible for our own safety and selecting activities that are consistent with our physical capabilities. Print Name
Signature
Date
Conference Registration opens May 19, deadline is July 21. April–June 8
The North Star
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MATTHEWS’
MEANDERS BRUCE MATTHEWS Executive Director
I
t’s kind of like the glue that binds us—the things we share, the stories we tell, the memories we carry of times together and the ways we go about making more of them. In the North Country as I’m writing this some of us are getting together for our annual rite, the “first of spring” hike, to walk trail and assess a winter’s impact. Getting connected. As Robert Frost writes in “Mending Wall:” I let my neighbor know beyond the hill; And on a day we meet to walk the line And set the wall between us once again. I’d suggest, however, that unlike Frost’s neighbors, keeping walls between us serves no useful purpose. Before I built a wall I’ d ask to know What I was walling in or walling out, And to whom I was like to give offence.
HIKING SHORTS Rachel Carson Trails Conservancy (Baker Trail) PENNSYLVANIA - Armstrong and
Clarion Counties are both developing recreation plans and we attended many meetings to ensure that the Baker Trail is included. Our efforts have already paid off and will help preserve and promote the trail through these communities. We are exploring connecting the trail to additional recreational areas with an eye toward eliminating some of the road sections.
–Patty Brunner
…words we may find helpful to ponder as we move forward with building the North Country Trail and telling its story. As you read this, National Trails Day is almost here, trail building season is getting into full swing, and hopefully you’re thinking about joining us in Cazenovia, New York, for the NCTA annual conference. I’m looking forward to seeing many of you in my Trail travels and at conference; it’s been great getting to know you this year. Speaking of getting to know you, thanks for your participation in the member survey we recently fielded. More than 350 of you took the time to share your thoughts and comments on everything from member benefits to the website and North Star. We’ll share an in-depth analysis of the results in the next North Star but be assured your staff and Board are actively applying what we’ve learned today. I encourage you to help us break all previous conference attendance records at this year’s conference at Cazenovia, August 7-10. Irene Szabo and her incredibly hard-working team have planned an outstanding conference. Personally I’m really looking forward to returning to the country where I first truly connected with the outdoors. Fishing the headwaters of Limestone and Chittenango Creeks, Boy Scout overnights to Highland Forest, studying the Erie Canal (and winning a 7th grade essay contest about Fayetteville’s feeder canal)….memory lane, my friends. More connections. Sure hope to share them and see you there.
St. Croix Riverfest 2008 WISCONSIN - June 13-14, 2008 in
Solon Springs, Wisconsin. St. Croix Riverfest is a two day (Friday and Saturday) community-based celebration of the Upper St. Croix – Eau Claire Rivers Watershed and is intended to recognize local citizens and organizations and to promote stewardship of our streams, lakes, rivers, and wetlands. Our local Brule-St. Croix Chapter is one of the groups who are cohosting this event. We will staff a booth to pass out trail information and encourage new members. The Chapter will also be leading a hike on the Historic Portage segment of the North Country NST. For complete details visit: http:// riverfest.uscwa.org/index.htm and join us for a day on the River!
–Bill Menke
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April–June 8
Allegheny National Forest Chapter PENNSYLVANIA - Some might
say that winter is not the best time to relocate a section of trail, but we say it’s the best time. The temps are right and with leaves off the trees, it’s easier to see the best route. If there is a good view, it’s easy to check it out. If the snow is light, the ground is easy and the fallen trees are easy to cut. In the early part of November ‘07, we flagged a re-route around a long, open pipeline walk. Nobody wants to walk in the sun on a hot day, plus this puts the trail back to its original location before the tornados of ‘85. The tornado through the Tionesta Scenic Area was a category 5, the strongest rating. It blew down great old hemlock, beech, cherry and oaks. Some of these trees were 6 foot diameter and 400 years old. Now 20 years later the small trees are growing up fine. Some of the beech and cherry are 25 foot tall. We had no old maps to follow but chose a new route by common sense. Surprisingly, we found some of the old
blazes still on the trees that survived. After the initial lay-out, we went back through with a saw. Most of the trees are small diameter, the largest 3 inches. We cut them two feet off the ground so it would be easier to pull the stumps. With a simple come-a-long, a pulaski, and loppers, we could clear about 1/4 mile a day, even though the young trees are growing close together. By the end of November, the first 1/2 mile was done and blazed. Temporarily, we put the trail on an abandoned forestry road and re-joined the trail near the junction with the Twin Lakes trail. The next mile was the same thick, small trees. We found a very old well site road and used that for a good distance until we hooked up with an old pipeline. This pipeline was an opening and nothing more, many trees fallen across the path and new ones growing fast. It was so thick in this area that the flagging crew got turned around, even though they were experienced woodsmen. One word of advice: trust your compass, not your senses. Now with the re-route in place, hikers can see the thick re-growth that nature does all by itself. This will be much like a “green tunnel” because of the surrounding tightly packed new trees. A few of the old big trees are still standing there, and even some of the trees that came down because of the tornado can still be seen.
–Keith Klos
(Editor’s note: I walked this pipeline in the late 90’s, when the riotous growth on either side seemed like a thicket of baseball bat-sized trees, at least one per square foot. The young tender bark is also heaven for porcupines, so my hike ended that day when I had to return to the trailhead with my dog Gummy, whose mouth was full of spines.)
Last year when we went out as “trail crews” we realized we weren’t being recognized as volunteers or as members of the North Country Trail Association. On one particular outing we got a ticket in the parking lot of a state park because we did not have a state park pass yet we were there maintaining the trail within the boundaries of the state park. That’s when we hit upon the idea of somehow identifying our parked vehicles so others who might pass by would realize that we are indeed volunteers maintaining the trail and that there is an organization that supports the development and maintenance of the NCNST.
To that end, “Trail Crew” signs were developed and were distributed to all trail adopters. The signs are on legal size stock and laminated, intended for placement on the trail adopter’s dashboard when they are out working on the trail. The signs provide much needed visibility and recognition for our chapter and the NCNST. Secondly, a few of our members attended the Triad Meeting in Munising last October. Before each excursion on the trail, we were introduced to the idea of
safety orientation “tailgate” sessions. This inspired us to develop a “tailgate” checklist that we plan to use on each of our work sessions. Adopters and trail crews will complete a checklist before each outing and leave it on the dashboard of the vehicle beside the “trail crew” sign. Although no major mishaps had taken place, we realized that there was no formal method of communicating exactly where we were, what tools we had with us, what safety items we were carrying, etc. With the information provided, anyone who might come across the vehicle would know where to look for the crew, what equipment we had with us, how to contact a family member, etc. The intent was to keep it simple and yet provide information in case of an emergency. Finally, our last project was to prepare two First Aid Kits for members to use when doing maintenance. We realized many members carried their own but thought that more extensive kits might be appropriate. One is a fanny pack with items that might be needed for brief hikes and limited trail work. The other is a larger kit for large group hikes and chain-saw work. At our May general membership meeting we plan to discuss the contents of these kits and provide suggestions to members for their own personal kits. We are hopeful that these projects will provide the NCNST more visibility and recognition and make it safer for our members to be out on the trail.
–Lorana A. Jinkerson
Preparing for the Season’s Trail Maintenance UPPER MICHIGAN - The North
Country Trail Hikers Chapter was busy this winter making preparations for the upcoming season. We established three standard practices that will enhance NCT recognition, security, and safety when we’re out working on the trail. April–June 8
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Roger Morrison
Hiawatha Shore-to-Shore Monthly Hikes LOWER MICHIGAN - Hiawatha
Shore-to-Shore (HSS) members and guests gather the second Saturday of every month to hike a section of the North Country National Scenic Trail (NCNST). Roger Morrison, past chapter president, realized after several meetings that HSS had become all work and no play. He felt there was a growing need both for volunteers to enjoy the fruits of their effort as well as a way to invite the public to experience trail. Two years ago it was decided that the chapter would sponsor and provide a leader for a social hike once a month. The goals are to cover all of the 122 miles of the HSS section, from the south end of Mackinac Bridge to the mouth of the TwoHearted River, over the course of a year or so and that the hikes are be of a purely social nature. Marilyn Chadwick and Kay Kujawa have been planning and promoting the hikes. The hikes began as simple outings of two to three miles. Hikers would stop for a snack or a simple lunch along the way. As time passed, it became clear that some hikers were traveling from as far as the Lower
Kay (at right) and husband Stan enjoy a view on a recent HSS Chapter hike.
Peninsula or across the UP for the day and would like to hike a greater distance, so we began to provide hikers with a choice of varying distances and difficulty. In May of 2007, the chapter hosted a group of 22 hikers at Tahquamenon Falls State Park for an eight mile trek that began at Tahqua Trail and ended at the Lower Falls. After the hike, many of the tired souls met for food and refreshments at the Tahquamenon Falls Brewery and Pub. Some hikers stayed at the campground and helped Roger Blanchard, HSS Trail
Adopter Coordinator, and the Sierra Club on a work project, building a boardwalk over a beaver dam, for the next two days. October 2007 brought the chapter back to Tahquamenon Falls to hike an area where an HSS work crew had spent a week in August improving the trail. The hike began west of Luce County Road 500 to experience a switchback that the August crew had constructed and continued east back to the Upper Falls. Along the way, the hikers crossed three footbridges the crew (Hiking Shorts Continued on Page 12)
The Founders Circle Is Growing!
And There’s Still Time for You To Become A Charter Member Bobby Koepplin
Board Development Chairman
T
he Board of Directors has accepted the challenge of leading fund raising efforts in order to improve the quality and services of the trail. The Founders Circle has been created to help further the NCTA Board’s vision of completing the mission to strategically market, plan, build and maintain the longest National Scenic Trail in America. Membership includes a two tier, annual financial commitment as Trail Blazer ($1,000 or more per year) or Trail Builder ($500 up to $999 per year). Members of The Founders Circle will be recognized at the annual conference, in
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NCTA publications and other ways as appropriate. Those parties whose contributions are received by August 1, 2008, will be considered as The Founders Circle “Charter Members.” The Founders Circle members will be invited to serve in a volunteer Advisory capacity to the NCTA Board of Directors to guide and assist the Board in the mission to grow and enhance the longest National Scenic Trail in America. If you have any questions or would like to join The Founders Circle to advance the North Country Trail, contact Bobby Koepplin, Development Chairman, at (701)845-2251 work, (701)840-0250 cell or e-mail bkoepplin@kwh.com.
Searching for Our Roots Tom Gilbert National Park Service Superintendent
W
e know who conceived many of the National Scenic Trails and other long distance trails in the United States. For the Long Trail it was James P. Taylor; for the Appalachian Trail it was Benton MacKaye; for the Ice Age Trail it was Ray Zillmer; for the Florida Trail it was Jim Kern; for the Pacific Northwest Trail it was Ron Strickland. We even know who conceived two of the longdistance components of the North Country National Scenic Trail (NST) route: for the Finger Lakes Trail it was Wallace Wood and for the Buckeye Trail it was Bob Paton. However, we do not know who came up with the idea for the North Country Trail. We do know that, unlike all of the trails mentioned in the previous paragraph, it was a proposal that originated within a Federal agency. The only other long-distance trail having this origin is the Potomac Heritage NST. For many years, based on available materials, I was satisfied with the belief that the North Country Trail began as a U.S. Forest Service (FS) proposal. There was ample reason for this belief, most notably the fact that the trail appeared to be laid out to connect as many National Forests as possible in the seven northern-tier states through which it passes, and the fact that the earliest report I had mentioning the North Country Trail is a 1965 Forest Service report proposing and evaluating the trail as part of the Nationwide System of Trails Study. For many years I had been comfortable answering the question, “Who came up with the idea for the North Country Trail?” with “It was a U.S. Forest Service proposal.” When Gaylord Yost (retired from the FS) served as president of the North Country Trail Association, he raised the further question, “Who in the Forest Service came up with the idea?” Gaylord came up with a couple of names of other retired FS employees as possibilities, and while each had indeed been involved in studying the proposal, both said essentially, “It was not me. I was assigned to work on the study by others.” In his search, Gaylord turned up a FS report about the North Country Trail that predated the one I had. That report states that the FS was assigned responsibility to study the North Country Trail by the Bureau of Outdoor Recreation (BOR). This was a new angle. Maybe someone in the BOR came up with the idea for the trail and, because it connected so many National Forests, the bureau assigned the study to the FS. Having worked for the BOR (and its successor, the Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service) from 1972 to 1981, I knew some of the people who might have worked on the Nationwide System of Trails Study. With the help of Steve Elkinton in our Washington Office, I tracked down some of those people and contacted them. None of them knew who came up with the idea for the trail.
Through this searching by both Gaylord and me, I became convinced that either the answer to this question was in the National Archives in College Park, Maryland, or it has been lost to history. For the past several years, I have been looking for an opportunity to make a trip to the Archives. Finally I had an opportunity June 11-13, 2007. I arrived at the Archives early on Monday, June 11. I had to watch a brief orientation program and then obtain my researcher’s photo ID card. Procedures, rules, and security are extremely tight to ensure that no records are surreptitiously removed from the Archives.
Senator Gaylord Nelson sent a copy of his May 14, 1965, speech to Secretary of the Interior Stewart Udall a few weeks later.
A National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) research assistant helped me find the index to BOR records. It seemed to be no help at all. There was nothing in the index specific to trails or the Nationwide System of Trails Study. I consulted the research assistant again. He said he had more notes he had been compiling to create a more detailed index, among which was a multi-page listing of the records made by BOR at the time it had transferred the records. I scanned page after page of the listing. Finally, my eyes lighted upon “D38 Trails, 1962-1969” (a file code that my memory recognized)! It was Box #13 of a huge number of boxes transferred from the BOR. I could hardly wait until the box was pulled from the stacks and delivered to me. When the box arrived, I began going though each file, page by page, with eager anticipation that I would find what I was looking for. It took me all of Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning to go through the box of records. April–June 8
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Reading the contents of the letters and memos in the files was an unbelievable walk through the early history leading up to the National Trails System Act. There were original letters and memos from the early leadership of the BOR, heads of other agencies, members of Congress at the time, and other notable persons, including Senator Gaylord Nelson (WI) who eventually authored the bill that became the National Trails System Act of 1968. There were several original letters from Ervin Markert, Chairman of the Trails Committee of the Finger Lakes Trail Conference. I photocopied the most significant documents to create an “early history” file for our office in Madison. Eventually I found the memo, referred to in the earliest document mentioned above, in which the BOR (chair of the Steering Committee of Federal Agencies conducting the nationwide study) assigned the North Country Trail to the FS for study. But it did not contain any additional information about who came up with the idea for the North Country Trail. I continued reading through later files, hoping that someone might elaborate about the North Country Trail and mention the origin of the idea. But there was no such document in the box. I did, however, find a trip report of a May 5, 1967, meeting among several staff from the Ann Arbor, Michigan, regional office of the BOR who traveled to Michigan State University in East Lansing to meet with representatives of the Cooperative Extension Service, including Professor Louis F. Twardzik, chairman of the Parks and Recreation program at MSU, concerning the North Country Trail. The notes from the meeting stated: “Since the Forest Service had the lead in setting up and locating this trail, they will need to be included in any discussions …” Based on this, I decided I needed to shift my focus back to the FS as the origin of the idea for the North Country Trail, especially since the BOR records had not turned up an answer. Tuesday afternoon I began consulting the index for FS records. The index was more detailed (and more voluminous) than the index for BOR. I made note of several sets of boxes that pertained to outdoor recreation matters from the early and mid-1960s. Eventually, I had the same good fortune as I had had for BOR: I identified THE box. Its contents were titled: “Rivers, Trails, and Rec 1962-1965.” The anticipation while I waited for the 3:30 p.m. “pull” of records from the stacks was almost unbearable. When the box arrived, I almost hesitated to open it. But I did open it and looked at the title on the first file: “Commercial Timber Sales.” I looked at the second folder: “Commercial Timber Sales.” I looked across the tops of the files all the way to the back Hiking Shorts Continued... had built, and Loon Lake provided a spectacular view while hikers ate their sack lunches. The group met again at the Tahquamenon Falls Brewery and Pub after the seven mile hike. The HSS chapter celebrated Winter Trails Day this past January with a hike and gathering afterward at the Rock Bottom Grill in Moran. A blanket of freshly fallen show allowed hikers to ski or snowshoe distances of up to six miles. The chapter provided free hot chocolate
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April–June 8
of the box, and they all read the same. My heart sank. I went to the research assistants and explained the situation. They had no explanation; the index said that that should be the box. I persuaded one of them to go back into the stacks and check a couple of boxes either side of its location to see if the box I was seeking had perhaps been incorrectly shelved by a space or two. But, no, it had been in the proper location and the boxes either side had nothing to do with trails. I left late Tuesday afternoon very disappointed. I spent the evening with some friends, but could not get my mind completely off trying to figure out what mishap might have happened to hide the location of the records I was seeking. By morning, I thought I had come up with another plausible approach. I went immediately to the FS records index and looked through its entirety again for boxes of records entitled “Commercial Timber Sales.” Maybe the contents of the boxes had been inadvertently switched at some point? The index identified four boxes with Commercial Timber Sales records. I again persuaded one of the assistants to go into the stacks and examine the contents of each of those four boxes. He graciously agreed to do so. I waited for his return, but there was no good news. All four boxes contained timber sales records—nothing on rivers, trails, or outdoor recreation.
It seemed like the end of the line. Has the originator of the idea for the North Country Trail been lost to history? It seemed like the end of the line. Has the originator of the idea for the North Country Trail been lost to history? Perhaps, but the research assistant seemed to like a good mystery as well as I, and he invited me to send him an email message about the matter, giving him a reason to search further for the missing box. I have done so. On the homeward flight, I thought about other options. The National Archives, I learned, does not have all Federal records. There are Federal Records Centers that have other records that have not been made available for public research in College Park. I know that the BOR records from the Ann Arbor regional office went to a records center in the Dayton area. The FS regional office records may be in the Chicago Federal Records Center. I will be doing some telephone research first, but will be looking for an opportunity to visit and do some research in Chicago and Dayton in the near future.
and prizes for everyone at the Grill. In March, Bill Menke, NCTA Regional Trail Coordinator, joined the chapter for a winter hike in the Trout Brook Pond area. Bill and four chapter members cross-country skied eight miles of the trail, while a group of five women ventured out on a two mile snowshoe hike along the ridge above the pond. Still other hikers, ages 10 to 80, skied or snowshoed various distances. The group met back at the Kujawa cabin for a potluck lunch.
The Community Voice, a local newspaper, has done a wonderful job covering the monthly hiking events; articles have created an increased interest in the Hiawatha Shore-to-Shore Chapter and the North Country Trail. For information on these second Saturday hikes contact Kay Kujawa at kay1940@lighthouse. net or Roger Morrison at rmorrison@ sault.com.
–Kay Kujawa
2008 “Spring Fever Hike & Pot Luck”. Pictured Left to Right: Jim Slocum, Jim Crandall, Mike Trieschmann, Charles Burbul, Paul Johnson, Dave Larson, Sue Kranz (hiding), Tana Turonie, Cheryl Trieschmann, Ann Sherlock, Pat Prusila, John Prusila and Bob Norlin. Marty Swank,
B
President, Chequamegon Chapter
eing a Chapter Officer can be a very time consuming thing. When a person holds a full time job besides contributing a lot of NCTA volunteer hours, this occasionally leads to wondering whether one is working with a full deck or not. While I have reached this threshold on a number of occasions, someone (or something) has always brought me back to the point. If you are involved in this “dream” that we call the North Country National Scenic Trail, you may be unaware of how much of an effect you may have in turning a seemingly dark day into a brilliant white shining lifelong memory for someone who may be struggling with the “why.” All of the following “someones or somethings” have brought about the “Ahhh” for me, reminding me why these volunteer hours have been time well spent: Never underestimate the importance of being a MEMBER! Our chapter membership is currently at the highest point that it has ever been (thanks to Mike & Cheryl Trieschmann & Bob Norlin for recent additions that made up for some losses). We recently had a record turnout for a mid-winter meeting, a record turnout for a fun event (Spring Fever Hike & Pot Luck), and last but not least, would not have the funding that we need to function, without you! Never underestimate the power of your words or actions! Words of encouragement and praise (and numerous awards) in regards to the Chequamegon Chapter’s efforts have been very uplifting. These have come from many people including the National Park Service, US Forest Service, NCTA staff (including Bill Menke), hikers who have used our section of trail and chapter members.
Never underestimate the importance of being a volunteer! Our chapter had a record turnout for the last trail maintenance event of the season in 2007, and we finished fully maintaining the Rainbow Lake Wilderness in the process. The primary purpose for the NCTA and the local chapters is trail building/maintenance. Without volunteers on the ground, we wouldn’t have much of a reason for existence. Never underestimate the importance of being a chapter officer! Past Chapter Officers Tana Turonie and Mary Lucas held the chapter together for many, many years. A chapter cannot survive very long without sharing responsibility and tasks that need to be performed to prevent burning somebody out. When a volunteer takes on the responsibility of an officer position, he or she is helping to assure a chapter’s success and vitality into the foreseeable future. Never underestimate the importance of being a Chapter Trail Adopter! The ultimate success of our chapter depends on you, our trail adopters, if we are to make our sections of North Country Trail truly the best in the nation. With 61.4 miles of trail to maintain just within the Chequamegon National Forest we would never have enough volunteers or scheduled trail maintenance days to keep our sections fully maintained every year without individuals who adopt segments as their own. To sum all of this up: If you are a chapter member, a trail supporter or administrator, a trail volunteer, a chapter officer, or a chapter trail adopter, you are ALL the “Heart and Soul” of the “dream” that we call The North Country National Scenic Trail. You are why we still exist. Thank you for providing so many brilliant white, shiny moments.
April–June 8
The North Star
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Marty Swank
Ahhh, This Is Why I Am Doing This!
Across The U.P. With The Softies
Jan Lindstrom Wester
I
n 1992 three “women of a certain age” in the North Country Trail Hikers Club decided their backpacking days had been fun but were done. They proposed an ambitious program: to hike across the entire Upper Peninsula of Michigan on the North Country Trail, in successive segments over several years, in a “softie” traverse—staying in motels, dining in restaurants, and hiking ten miles or less each day. The trek would be from east to west, starting just beyond St. Ignace, the northern terminus of the Mighty Mac bridge, on threeday weekends each May and September. The Softies’ first spring hike was an encouraging start. We walked a well-blazed trail through mixed forest, over moderate, sandy hills and solid boardwalks, working inland from Lake Michigan. Views were memorable for the many shades of green, grey, and soft red in the budding trees, and occasional glimpses of the Mackinac bridge far behind us. Adding to the general enthusiasm was our declaration that motel hot tub soaks, pool dips, and happy hours at the end of a long hiking day must be part of the Softie tradition. Navigation in those days was largely by compass and topo map, with much help from the Hutchins Guidebooks. Cast your mind back to the days before GPS, when it was still possible to get lost in the woods, or to wonder how far it was to your destination. What a relief, even a thrill, it was to come upon a bridge, a road crossing, or a structure shown on a topo map. Even better was spotting a surveyor’s section marker: we knew where we were! On a warm, sunny day the next May, after a hike on which we had gratefully cooled tired feet in a remnant snowdrift beside the trail, we sighted the blue of Lake Superior ahead. We had reached Whitefish Bay, where the shallow water was warm enough for wading—incredible to us, used to the numbing cold of the big Lake. When we reached the Lower Tahquamenon Falls, we followed a windfall-strewn river pathway from the Lower to the Upper Falls and added pennies to the cracks in an old snag along the trail where previous travelers had already placed a dozen or more one-cent pieces. Crossing piney highlands in northern Luce County we again reached Lake Superior at the mouth of the Two-Hearted River. Glorious sun and blooming trillium, marsh marigolds, “sugarplums,” and other flora decorated the woods. But something even better was to come the next fall. Blueberries! Ripe berries were incredibly abundant along the sandy trail east of Grand Marais. Hikers otherwise sensible were seen emptying waterbottles to stuff berries into them. Fortunately the madness had struck close to our destination for the day.
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April–June 8
Another spring hike enchanted us with dense carpets of wildflowers within the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. That fall’s hike westward to Chapel Rock is remembered as a “Toughie” segment, as we were caught in a squall off Lake Superior and were lashed by rain and sleet until we hid anxiously under an overhanging sandstone shelf. In 1997, we reached our estimated half-way point, the NCTHbuilt bridge over the Laughing Whitefish River. This had been the club’s biggest project, completed two years earlier with considerable difficulty, and memories returned of heavy hauling, arduous carpentry, stolen supplies (later recovered), and final satisfaction at a huge job well done. The terrain north and west of Marquette is more rugged than in the east, with a treadway often rocky and root-crossed. Nothing untoward happened until we reached the McCormick Wilderness, straddling the Marquette-Baraga county line. In this large tract, blue blazes are prohibited, and the NCT must be followed by carefully noting clues—an evergreen sheared on one side, branches placed parallel to the trail, canopy cleared overhead, and so on. A day-long Softies hike amid blazing fall color with three young children along took more time than expected, and a state trooper’s car met the Softies as they emerged from the woods: an alarmed family member at home had called with concern The most strenuous hiking was in the rugged Trap Hills, where we became painfully aware, by 2004, that we were 12 years older than when we had started! Ahead were the Porcupine Mountains and serial steep north-south ridges and ravines between us and the Black River near the Wisconsin border. Here we realized our really big mistake: we should have started at the west end, when we were younger, and headed east to hike the more gentle parts when we were older! In May 2006 a celebration was held at the western U.P. trail terminus near the Copper Peak ski-flying hill, where champagne was poured and cheers raised at the completion of the first transU.P. Softies trek, over 400 miles.
What next? Why, the Softies are doing it again—only this time, from west to east. And anyone who wants to join us for any part is welcome. We especially invite members of the other U.P. chapters to join us as we hike their segments and admire the fine work they’ve done. Our navigation and safety procedures are much improved over those at the beginning of the adventure; we have NCTA trail maps, GPS, a chase vehicle, and ham radio communication. Less mystery but more security seems a reasonable Softie tradeoff. To learn when the next hike is scheduled, check the North Country Trail Hikers web page at www.northcountrytrail.org/nct/Events.htm.
NATIONAL TRAILS DAY, JUNE 7 Have we been missing the point? The American Hiking Society started this day with the intention that we trail groups all across the United States would use the occasion to PROMOTE hiking and our trails, and to invite NEW people to hiking. Outreach is the primary goal, whether by luring new people to walking outside, or by getting good news coverage through local media. While only a few new members result from these events, a seed has been planted in each participant, and we must trust that those seeds will bear fruit someday, somewhere. After all, if I hadn’t gone to Girl Scout camp as a kid, I’d not have been so easily lured into the woods once I stumbled upon a little marker that said “Finger Lakes Trail” twenty years later. Following are two good articles from NCTA Chapters on this very topic. Get inspired! –Editor Irene Szabo
WHAT IF WE BUILT THE TRAIL AND NOBODY CAME? Someday we will discover if our younger population is really interested in hiking on a trail from New York to North Dakota. It is possible that they may be more interested in watching a movie about the trail rather than hiking it. Why? Because their sedentary life style may preclude them from physical activity because of personal health problems. The North Country Trail Association is like a lot of other environmental organizations that I am familiar with in Michigan. Most of its active members are over the age of 55. It is a struggle to interest the younger generation in outside activities. The Harbor Springs Chapter has tried to get more young adults and children on hikes with little success. There is a nationwide movement to engage elementary age children with nature called “Leave No Child Inside.” It began as a response to the book Last Child in the Woods and has stirred the conscience of thousands of people throughout the world. The Children’s Nature Network and the Chicago Wilderness consortium are two groups working on engaging children with nature. Emmet County has started a “Leave No Child Inside Taskforce” which they hope can educate and involve the entire northern Michigan community. The
Northern Michigan Hospital Education Department has screened seven thousand fifth grade students over a five year period and has found over 60 percent of the children have cardio-vascular risks. It is a complex problem and I urge all our members to educate themselves and become involved locally to create opportunities to get children outdoors and hiking. One way is to find a way to engage younger married couples and their children with nature. Building the trail and maintaining it should become secondary to getting people on the trail. An example of something that works was reported in The Bruce Trail Magazine, Spring 2006, highlighting “Great Kid Hikes,” each hike with a “Kid Impressive Feature.” The Bruce Trail organization works with the Canadian Pediatric Society. The main article in that issue is entitled “Outdoor Kids = Healthy Kids.” It begins “Imagine sitting in your doctor’s office and being told that you’re at very high risk for type 2 diabetes, cardio-vascular disease, hypertension and a slew of other weightrelated medical conditions. Now imagine that the doctor is your pediatrician and you haven’t graduated elementary school yet.” Here is what you can do: first, educate yourself with some of the work that has already been done. The Children and Nature Network is a good start. Second, if you are a grandparent, get your own adult children outdoors and on the trail. But if those young parents are over-scheduled, then take the grandchildren yourself. Finally, offer to babysit for parents who feel their younger children (under 5) cannot be taken on the trail. Meanwhile, we have many members with pre-school children who wouldn’t even agree with the “cannot” in that last sentence! Hopefully this article will inspire other Chapters to share their successful efforts to recruit younger members to the North Country Trail Association. –Jerry Keeney, Harbor Springs Chapter President
HIAWATHA SHORE-TO-SHORE NATIONAL TRAILS DAY The Hiawatha Shore-to-Shore (HSS) Chapter of the North Country Trail Association is coordinating this year’s National Trails Day festivities along with
Tahquamenon Falls State Park and Project GO (Get Outdoors). Project GO “celebrates outdoor recreation and the role it plays with improving the quality of life in Michigan.” With Park Interpreter Thersea Grattan, chapter members are planning activities and displays for the day. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is planning displays, nature activities, and hikes between the Upper and Lower Falls. Hourly bus transportation is provided from the Lower Falls parking area to the Upper Falls parking area. This allows hikers to walk the four miles between the waterfalls only one way. A DNR ranger will give a presentation about sea lamprey and their impact on the region. If guests are fortunate, they will be given an opportunity to get up close and touch a lamprey. HSS members will promote the trail through a HSS/NCTA information display set up along the path to the Lower Falls. At this “station” the curious can either test their animal track identification skills or learn about various tracks by stamping track molds into a sandbox. New this year, the chapter will provide a hike leader for each hourly hike who will provide NCNST information during the bus ride to the Upper Falls. Hikers will receive a goodie bag containing trail mix bar, fruit treat pouch, insect repellent packet, North Country Trail themed word find and scramble, and trail-related brochures. Visitation at this park is heavy enough on a nice summer day that even with only in-park publicity, we had 100 hikers last year, plus both the park and we distribute flyers locally. –Kay Kujawa, Hiawatha Shore-to-Shore Chapter VP /Hike Coordinator & –Roger Morrison, Chapter Secretary
April–June 8
The North Star
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Board of Directors Candidates
offered for our members’ votes by the nominating committee President, At Large off-road locations as possible. Rick has organized the largest Dave Cornell served several work party in the history of the BTA consisting of over 128 previous terms as a director of the volunteers in one work party in northwest Ohio to move the North Country Trail Association and Buckeye/NCT onto the old abandoned Miami and Erie Canal towpath. He meets annually with the Ohio Department of continued to serve the Chief Noonday Natural Resources department heads to bring them up to date Chapter after he left the Board. A on past and future developments on the Buckeye Trail and founder of the Chapter, he has long NCT throughout Ohio. He was awarded Trail Builder of the been active in the Association and Year Award in 2006 and “Hiked the Hill” for the NCTA in served for many years as a full-time February of 2007 lobbying legislators for more funding. West volunteer with the National Park Service. His degrees in Salem, OH accounting and law have provided much needed expertise for the Association over the years. Dave has also received the NCTA Distinguished Service Award, and Lifetime VP-West North Dakota Trail Council Representative Achievement Award. Delton, MI Alicia Hoffarth works as the VP-East, New York Resource Development Specialist Representative for the Development Corporation Mary Coffin has been a thorin Valley City, N.D with job funcoughly involved trail volunteer for tions including assisting community over 20 years, maintaining and buildorganizations in finding and writing ing trail in central New York along grants, assisting with economic develthe Finger Lakes Trail, working with opment projects and initiatives, and managing the Regional landowners and state agencies, and Technology Center. She is currently the President of the planning and leading hikes. Sheyenne River Valley Chapter of the NCTA and has served For the Adirondack Mountain Club she has held numeron the board since 2003 filling an unexpired term as the N.D. ous committee posts, many of which involve organizing Trail Council Representative. Hoffarth’s hobbies include hikmajor events that hundreds of people have enjoyed. In both ing, camping, cross-country skiing, and biking. Alicia says, “I her local chapter and on a state-wide organizational level, believe the North Country Trail has developed substantially she has served many years as either board member or chair, in the last few years. However, there is significant work which so her administrative experience is extensive. Even after needs to be done to develop and market the trail. I would like tending trail since 1982, Mary still conducts local NCTAto increase awareness of the trail, particularly among young sponsored trail-building workshops to help volunteers create people, to increase involvement, use and support of the trail.” Valley City, ND the best possible new pathway as her Adirondack Mountain Club - Onondaga Chapter keeps building the NCT toward its eventual east-end goal. Mary has also received the NCTA Ohio, At-Large Distinguished Service Award. Chittenango, NY Garrett (Garry) S. Dill Jr. has been a member of the Buckeye Trail Ohio, At-Large Association (an NCTA Affiliate) for Rick Adamson Before retiring more than 10 years. Following his after 43 years as a communications retirement as a veterinary patholotechnician for the Associated Press, gist 3 years ago he joined the trail Rick Adamson joined the Buckeye crew and is currently Supervisor and Trail Association in 2000 and started a Maintainer for a 60 mile section building new off-road trail right away of trail. He was appointed as the BTA representative to the with their trail crew. He maintained NCTA and then when the NCTA Ohio Trail Council was a 15-mile segment for one year then formed he was elected Chairman. His vision for the future became Section Supervisor for the Bowerston Section for includes more off road (certified) trail in Ohio and increased a year. He headed up renovations of a barn constructed in communication and cooperation between the affiliates and 1888 for 2 years which is now the BTA headquarters. For the chapters within Ohio and with the NCTA. Columbus, OH past four years he has been the State Trail Coordinator for the Buckeye Trail Association heading up all construction and maintenance activity along the 1444 mile Buckeye Trail This is your official ballot for 2008 Election of Board of Directors.All votes must be on which 700 miles of the North Country National Scenic postmarked no later than August 1, 2008. Trail is routed. He also is the State Trail Coordinator for the NCT across Ohio. His goal is to move as much trail to
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April–June 8
“Let’s Be Careful Out There” GOING FOR
Part II I want to continue the discussion of safety to explore in some depth the need to report accidents on the trail.
It is the law! The NPS is required to track employee accidents and report them to the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP). Under the Volunteers in the Parks (VIPs) Act of 1969, all NCTA volunteers working on the North Country National Scenic Trail are considered to be federal employees for the purpose of injury compensation in the event of an injury on the job.
I’ve already got good insurance, so why should I report my accident? Most NCTA volunteers may have heard that the NPS somehow provides some sort of benefits in the event of injury, but probably are unclear exactly what those benefits are and how they are obtained. As VIPs, trail workers who are injured while performing that work are entitled to have their medical expenses paid by the OWCP, but only if such injuries are promptly reported to the NPS office in Madison. If you have your own health insurance, you certainly have the option of utilizing that coverage to pay for your medical expenses. However, you also have
the option of seeking to have OWCP pay those expenses. Either way, you still need to report your injuries to the NPS in Madison so they can record the details of the accident and injuries. This also preserves your opportunity to have OWCP cover some of the expenses at a later date in case your policy doesn’t. However, if you report the injury to the NPS weeks or months after it occurs, the OWCP may view the report with suspicion, and could decline to cover expenses that would have otherwise been justified. So now we have two good reasons to report accidental injuries: (1) it’s the law and (2) you should preserve your option to have the federal government pay for all of your medical costs or any expenses your own insurance does not cover.
Does Workers Compensation cover lost wages? The treatment of VIPs as federal employees for purposes of workers’ compensation extends only to medical expenses. It does not cover you for lost wages if your injuries cause you to miss work.
In the event of an injury: You need to contact Jim Lillie at 608-441-5610 x 13 in the event of an injury. Jim is responsible for processing workers’ compensation claims for VIPs. He must be contacted as soon as possible
THE GOLD
FRED SZARKA National Park Service
because the OWCP becomes skeptical if significant time elapses before the injury is reported. Jim will send out the necessary forms for you to fill out and return to him. He will forward them to OWCP for processing.
What about Lyme Disease or severe poison ivy? Contracting illnesses such as these while working on the trail counts as an injury. As some parts of the country are hotbeds for Lyme Disease, and it is frequently difficult to diagnose accurately, it is very important that you document tick bites and report them to the NPS promptly. Prompt reporting in this case is doubly important because of causal issues. If you contacted the tick doing trail work we want to know it, but if you picked up a tick from mowing your lawn that is a different issue.
NCTA Official Ballot 2008 Election Board of Directors
You will not receive a separate ballot by mail. Each NCTA membership is categorized as a household, and our bylaws permit only one ballot per membership. Please mark the ballot and mail or fax to: NCTA - Elections, 229 E. Main St., Lowell, MI 49331, fax number (616) 897-6605. All votes must be postmarked no later than August 1, 2008.
At-Large Seats Vote for Four Dave Cornell Rick Adamson Garry Dill Write-in
North Dakota Trail Council Representative Vote for One Alicia Hoffarth Write-in New York Representative Vote for One Mary Coffin Write-in Ballot is not valid without your name and/or membership number.
Your Name/Membership Number
Your Signature
April–June 8
The North Star
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Who’s Who Along the North Country Trail? If you have questions about the North Country Trail, there are many different places to go for information. This directory provides you with key contacts.
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When in Doubt, Try NCTA Headquarters: If you’re not sure whom to contact, or prefer to talk with our office instead of contacting a volunteer at home, your best bet is to connect with the NCTA’s National Office. If we can’t help you, we’ll be able to put you in touch with someone who can. Staff members are listed on page 3 (table of contents page). North Country Trail Association 229 E Main St, Lowell, MI 49331 Toll-free: (866) HikeNCT Fax: (616) 897-6605 www.northcountrytrail.org HQ@northcountrytrail.org
Visit our web site; it’s a sure bet that you’ll find most of what you need. Here you can join or contribute to the NCTA, browse the events calendar, explore NCTA Chapter pages, purchase maps and trail-related products, follow links to Partner organizations, read up-to-date news items, report volunteer hours, and, of course, learn more about the trail itself!
National Park Service: The NPS office in Madison is an excellent technical resource for volunteers, agencies, partner organizations, and the media. As our official trail administrator, the NPS sets trail standards, determines the trail route, and provides the overall vision for the trail. 700 Rayovac Drive, Suite 100, Madison, WI 53711 (608) 441-5610 Fax: (608) 441-5606 Tom Gilbert, Superintendent: tom_gilbert@nps.gov Fred Szarka, Trail Manager: fredrick_szarka@nps.gov Ken Howell, Land Protection Specialist: ken_howell@nps.gov
NCTA Chapters: For information about local activities or volunteering, contact the Chapter representative for your area of interest. We have more than two dozen local volunteer trail clubs scattered along the trail that are Chapters of the NCTA. NCTA members can affiliate themselves with any Chapter they’d like. Whether or not the member volunteers, a portion of their dues will help support Chapter activities. Chapters build and maintain trail, host hikes and other events, and work to promote the trail and the Association in their areas.
Affiliate Organizations: The NCTA enters into affiliate agreements with other organizations who envision the completed trail. Trail Maintaining Affiliates are independent organizations who also work to build, maintain, and promote sections of the trail. Supporting Affiliates are independent organizations who work with us to help fulfill our Mission, but are not responsible for a specific section of trail. Each has its own membership program, so we encourage NCTA members to support them as well. If you have questions about a section of trail that is managed by one of these organizations, your best bet is to contact our Affiliates directly.
Trail Council Officers: Our Chapters and Affiliates work together to achieve common goals through statewide Trail Councils. Each state has its own Trail Council, though Wisconsin and Upper Michigan share the “Great Lakes Trail Council.” Trail Councils have one or more officers, typically including a Chair and a State Trail Coordinator.
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5 3
2 4
NORTH DAKOTA
Trail Council Chair:
Curtis Vanek • go4trails@ideaone.net
State Trail Coordinator:
Bobby Koepplin • bkoepplin@kwh.com
1. Lonetree Chapter
Bobby Koepplin • (701)845-2935 • bkoepplin@kwh.com
2. Sheyenne River Valley Chapter
Alicia Hoffarth • (701)490-3889 • cahoffarth@hotmail.com
3. North Dakota Prairie Grasslands Chapter
Curtis Vanek • (701)282-0339 • go4trails@ideaone.net
MINNESOTA
Trail Council Chair and State Trail Coordinator: Chris Klein • klein11@midwestinfo.com
Parks and Trails Council of Minnesota (Affiliate)
Dorian Grilley • (651)726-2457 • dgrilley@parksandtrails.org
4. Star of the North Chapter
Brian Pavek • pavekb@comcast.net
5. Laurentian Lakes Chapter
Ray Vlasak • (218)573-3243 • highpines@arvig.net
6. Itasca Moraine Chapter
Carter Hedeen • (218)732-9226 • hedeencf@wcta.net
7. Kekekabic Trail Club (Affiliate) Martin Kubik • info@kek.org
8. Border Trail Route Association (Affiliate)
John Elliott • (612)829-5142 • info@borderroutetrail.org
9. Superior Hiking Trail Association (Affiliate) Gayle Coyer • (218)834-2700 • suphike@mr.net
GREAT LAKES
Trail Council Chair: Vacant State Trail Coordinator: Doug Welker • dwelker@up.net 10. Brule-St.Croix Chapter David Zosel • zosel@centurytel.net
11. Chequamegon Chapter
Marty Swank • (715)682-2254 • marty808@centurytel.net
12. Heritage Chapter
Michael Stafford • GBPACKR@aol.com
13. Peter Wolfe Chapter
Doug Welker • (906)338-2680 • dwelker@up.net
14. North Country Trail Hikers Chapter Lorana Jinkerson • ljinkers@nmu.edu
15. Grand Marais Chapter
Steve Miller • bluelatitude@jamadots.com
16. Hiawatha Shore-to-Shore Chapter
Kirt Stage-Harvey • (906)643-6379 • hiknflyn_dad2@yahoo.com
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8 5 9 7
4 2 10 11 12 10 9 8
15 14 12 13 13 11
LEGEND Chapters Partners Not Yet Adopted
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18 15 19 17
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LOWER MICHIGAN
27 34 20 23
Trail Council Chair:
Lyle Bialk • lylebialk@sbcglobal.net
State Trail Coordinator:
Joan Young • jhy@t-one.net
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17. Harbor Springs Chapter
Jerry Keeney • (231)526-9597 • keeney10@charter.net
Friends of the Jordan River National Fish Hatchery (Affiliate)
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30 23 24 29 PENNSYLVANIA Trail Council Chair:
Paul Henry • (724)347-3282 • phenry@choiceonemail.com
State Trail Coordinator: Richard Lutz • lutznct1@yahoo.com Butler Outdoor Club (Affiliate):
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(231)584-2461 • www.fws.gov/midwest/jordanriver/friends
32 26 31
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27 26
18. Tittabawassee Chapter
Gary Johnson • (989)842-3478 • gwj2@charter.net
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Joyce Appel • (724)526-5407 • joyceappel@windstream.net
20. Spirit of the Woods Chapter
Keystone Trails Association (Affiliate): Curt Ashenfelter • (717)238-7017 29. Wampum Chapter
21. Western Michigan Chapter
30. Butler Chapter
22. Chief Noonday Chapter
31. Clarion County Chapter
23. Chief Baw Beese Chapter
32. Rachel Carson Trails Conservancy (Affiliate): Patty Brunner • (724)325-3224 • info@rachelcarsontrails.org 33. Allegheny National Forest Chapter
19. Grand Traverse Hiking Club Chapter
John Heiam • (231)938-9655 • johnheiam@charter.net
Diane Winston • (724)654-4918 • dianewinston@yahoo.com
Joan Young • (231)757-2205 • jhy@t-one.net Werner Veit • (616)776-1630 • wv12@aol.com Larry Hawkins • (269)945-5398 • hawkeyemd@cablespeed.com Ryan Bowles • bowlesr@msu.edu
OHIO
Trail Council Chair: Vacant State Trail Coordinator: Rick Adamson • rmadamson@earthlink.net 24. NW Ohio Rails-to-Trails Association (Affiliate) Tom Duvendack • (419)822-4788 • tduvendack@earthlink.net
25. Buckeye Trail Association (Affiliate)
Garry Dill • (614)451-0223 • gdill@columbus.rr.com
26. Adams County Chapter
John Johnson • (937)544-7248 • jtjson@aol.com
27. Ohio Valley Chapter
Ryan Smith • (740)374-5666 • rsmith365@hotmail.com
28. Great Trail-Sandy Beaver Canal Chapter Brad Bosley • (330)227-2432 • bbosley@cceng.org
Dan Mourer • (724)445-3315 • mamourer@embarqmail.com
Pam Logsdon • (814)432-3617 • pamlog@netzero.net
Keith Klos • (814)484-7420 • klos@westpa.net
NEW YORK
Trail Council Chair and State Trail Coordinator: Howard Beye • fltc@frontiernet.net
34. Finger Lakes Trail Conference (Affiliate):
Gene Bavis • (585) 658-9320 • information@fingerlakestrail.org Additional Maintaining Organizations Coordinated by FLTC: Adirondack Mountain Club (ADK), ADK-Genesee Valley Chapter, ADKOnondaga Chapter, Adventure Recreation Club at Ithaca College, Cayuga Trails Club, Fillmore Boy Scout Troop 748, Foothills Trail Club, Genesee Valley Hiking Club, and Hammondsport Boy Scout Troop 18
35. Central New York Chapter:
Kathy Woodruff • (315) 697-7017 • kwoodruff001@twcny.rr.com
April–June 8
The North Star
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awkins Mick H
Irene Szab
o
Rick Olivio
Help Honor Our Top Volunteers
Recent Award winners: 2007 Trail Builder Lynda Rummel (left), 2007 Trailblazer Gary Pennington (center), 2007 Lifetime Achievement John Leinen (right).
Do you know someone who devotes countless hours to build or promote the North Country Trail? Someone who silently maintains a section of the North Country Trail year after year? Nominate them for a North Country Trail Association award. These awards will be presented on behalf of the Board of Directors at the annual conference in Cazenovia, NY this August. I would like to nominate
for the following award (check one):
Vanguard: A legislator or other public official whose leadership, actions and advocacy have substantially benefited the Trail.
Leadership: A volunteer, who has demonstrated exceptional leadership leading to significant local achievements or highly successful events.
Trailblazer: A business or foundation for far-sighted vision and support, demonstrated by significant contribution(s) to the Trail or the NCTA.
Outreach: A volunteer, whose efforts to build coalitions, partnerships or other forms of local support have contributed significantly to the ongoing success of the Trail.
Lifetime Achievement: An individual, in recognition of more than a decade of true dedication, exceptional service and outstanding contributions toward the dream of the Trail. Service may be performed in a voluntary or paid capacity.
Communicator of the Year: A volunteer, for exemplary work in promoting the Trail or the NCTA through a communications medium (newsletter, web site, brochure, etc.) or personal contacts.
Distinguished Service: An individual, in recognition of exceptional volunteer service in furthering the goals of the NCTA, and outstanding contributions toward the dream of the Trail. Individual should have made a significant commitment and accomplishments over three or more years. Trail Builder of the Year: A volunteer, whose work in Trail construction, planning, or negotiations have resulted in the development of outstanding new trail or facilities over the past year. Trail Maintainer of the Year: A volunteer, who has demonstrated exceptional dedication or achievements over the past year in maintaining or restoring pre-existing Trail segment(s).
Rising Star: A volunteer between the ages of 8 and 18, who has made significant contributions to the Trail, and whose dedication to the Trail and the NCTA sets an example to other youths and shows exceptional promise. Sweep: A volunteer, for tireless work and achievements behind the scenes on behalf of the Trail or the NCTA. Chapter or Affiliate: volunteers who demonstrate loyalty, commitment, and hard work annually to the local organizations chosen activities. Awards made by the Board for the Chapter/Affiliate Honor Award will be read at the annual conference but presented by Chapter or Affiliate officers at meetings they schedule in their local areas.
Please write a brief statement of your reason for nominating this person. Include name, address, phone number and e-mail address for both nominee and nominator. Deadline for nominations is June 20, 2008. Send nominations to: North Country Trail Association, Attn: Awards Committee, 229 E. Main, St., Lowell, MI 49331 or e-mail to clarecain@northcountrytrail.org, please put “awards nomination” in subject line.
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April–June 8
NCTA Trail Supporters: Thank You!
rs’ Circ e d n u le o F
Carl Boesel Mary & William Coffin Dave Cornell Jack Cohen Garrett Dill Mike & Sarah Julien Deborah & Bobby Koepplin Al & Mary Larmann John & Pat Leinen Margaret MacRae Frederick & Eleanor Winston Gaylord Yost
$1000+ Meijer Foundation Universal Forest Products Brian Buchanan Matthew & Stacy Davis William Lynch Montana-Dakota Utilities Co. Walter Srogi Harmon Strong Ryan Bowles Daniel Gold Jerry & Beth Trout American Hiking Society 3M Foundation Iron County, Wisconsin Lyle Bialk Ray Kuzia
$250 - $999 David & Jean Adams ADK - Onondaga Chapter Jerry Allen LeRoy Bliven Kristen & Glen Bruxvoort Joshua Buchman Jeffrey Dennis John Diephouse Loyal & Bonnie Eldridge Alan Fark Lorana Jinkerson Carol & Hans-Peter Kappus Robert A. Kazar Thomas & Debra King William Lynch James & Elizabeth Mackey Guyer & Kimberly McCracken Michigan Mountain Bike Association Roger Morrison Rolf Swanson
David Tattan John & Sandra Wagner Donald Yenish Frazee Sportmen’s Club Itasca Mantrap Co-Op Electrical Assoc. Trust DuraSupreme Cabinetry Bad Medicine Lake Area Association Betty Benson Keith Brown Exxonmobil Foundation Friends of Itasca State Park GE Foundation Hillsdale County Republican Party Bill & Donna Menke Rotary EClub One Dr. JJH Swarz Valley City Convention & Visitors Bureau Werner Veit Gary Werner Marjorie Wright
April–June 8
The North Star
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An Interview with a Land Protection Specialist and a Soon-to-be Landowner Host I want to highlight a land protection effort that is underway near Petoskey, in the mitten of lower Michigan. The Little Traverse Conservancy is working with the Boor family to preserve a large tract of beautiful land which will also host a new route for the North Country Trail. Currently the Trail runs for 2.5 miles along Krause Road. I asked Ty Ratliff, a Land Protection Specialist with the Little Traverse Conservancy (LTC), to give some background on the project. Clare: How would you characterize the Boor property? Ty: Doug & Pam’s property is located approximately 6 miles southeast of Petoskey. Their 65 acres of uplands sit on one of the highest moraines in northern Michigan. The eastern portion of the Property is comprised of conifer stands and a few small openings, and the western portion is made up of mature hardwood forests that slope dramatically towards the west. The Property provides commanding views of the Bear River Valley and Little Traverse Bay. Clare: Why is this acquisition project so compelling to the Conservancy? Ty: The acquisition of the Boor Property will link over 800 acres of neighboring City of Petoskey recreational lands and State of Michigan lands. The property offers significant wildlife habitat and wildlife corridor protection and the acquisition will protect sensitive slopes and mature hardwood forests. It will also offer an ideal location for hiking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and birdwatching and is also identified in the City of Petoskey’s Parks & Recreation Plan and is part of Emmet County’s Skyline Trail project. The property alsoprovided the Conservancy a great opportunity to work with new partners such as the NCT and the City of Petoskey. Clare: Can you explain the mechanics of the acquisition process? Ty: The City of Petoskey has been working amicably 15+ years with the landowners to acquire the property. The Little Traverse Conservancy was able to get all
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parties to work in the spirit of cooperation and bring this unique land purchase/ preservation effort one step closer to completion. We helped the City apply for a Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund grant to acquire the Property and provide significant match money towards the grant application. Last, because of the lengthy time frame of the grant process and the Conservancy’s ability to be flexible with the landowners, the Conservancy was able to acquire the property beforehand until money is secured by the City to purchase the land from us.
On the
TRAIL
with Clare Cain Director of Trail Management
Next I asked the Boors a few questions about their experience with the land protection process and their thoughts and ideas on preservation.
out two nickels to rub together; we were LAND POOR so we could not cover the costs. In the meantime, I had devised a plan to develop parts of the property for view lots. We planned to call the community Mountaintop Trails. So we scrapped the talks until my neighbor John Tanton approached me in the fall of 2006. John is a conservationist and has spearheaded many efforts in the area to preserve property. He is also familiar with the recreational development in places like Denver, Colorado. That area had seen urban sprawl pressures but someone had the foresight to set aside mountain land around the city for hiking and recreational use. Similarly, Petoskey is growing and feeling development pressure. This township has the largest forest and green space property within easy access to town so the City has a long-term plan to cultivate the outlying woodlands for diverse recreational use. Our property and its proximity to the trail just happened to be part of the plan to connect the fragmented city ownerships into parcels that could be linked together. The biggest apprehension we had about the land transfer was misuse. ATV and ORV usage can damage a steep and sensitive property like this. The Little Traverse Land Conservancy has been instrumental in helping to incorporate language into the land covenants to retain quiet and natural uses of the land.
Clare: Tell our readers about how your family made the decision to preserve your property? What sort of reservations did you have? Doug and Pam Boor: We started inquiring with the Conservancy in 1989 about some transfer of ownership. We halted the initial talks about the land purchase at the time, since the cost for survey and appraisal were to be born by the seller. We were a newly married couple with-
Clare: How familiar were you with the North Country Trail before you began exploring conservation options? Doug and Pam: I went to forestry school at University of Michigan. I met North Country Trail enthusiast, Joan Young, through a University outdoor interest group called Les Voyageurs. We have remained friends over the 20 years. Her encouragement also nurtured the seed to become a part of the trail network.
Doug & Pam Boor have been working for many years on permanent protection of their property near Petoskey, MI.
Clare: Have you experienced any kinks in the process of preserving your property? Doug and Pam: The biggest obstacle we experienced was patience. Our talks over 19 years brought us close to the table three times. Ty Ratliff with the Land Conservancy was the ingredient that made the chemistry work for our deal this time. His personal demeanor helped us feel that he had our interests in mind. He stated once that they buy only from “willing sellers” and that he always sought for win-win scenarios. Clare: Can you tell us about how your land is managed and a bit about its history? Doug and Pam: We have thinned this property three times and have an excellent growth of red pine timber. It is my desire to see the forest management continue in the future generations. We set up a stewardship fund with part of the proceeds from the last logging to be used for land improvements. These may include a platform for viewing or star gazing, interpretive signage, water source for the trail users or perhaps a rustic camp site. The property was a dairy farm owned by the Krause brothers. It was heavily logged and for many years had severe erosion due to the steep slopes. The property was used briefly as a local ski hill in the 30’s. We purchased the property from Ed Sobleskey in 1985, who should be credited with starting the conservation efforts on this land. He planted the pine plantations with local Future Farmers of America crews. Several local friends have told me they remember planting the seedlings in the late 60’s. We became stewards of this property after moving up here from the Detroit area where my family and I used to walk, and take our dog out along a network of local trails, so I realized the importance of recreational land use, particularly in urban areas. Clare: From your experience, what would you recommend to a future landowner who might be interested in both preserving their property and allowing the Trail to pass through it? Doug and Pam: One thing we recommend to any landowner considering allowing the trail to pass over their property or developing conservation
easements is persistence. The time you spend may result in the best legacy that you create in your life. Clare: What impact do you see thisdecision having on your family? Doug and Pam: Pam and I have been married 20 years. We have two daughters ages 17 and 16. In our early years my wife and I lived at the base of this mountain in a rustic log cabin with no electricity. Our water source was from a nearby spring. We had sought, at that time, a simpler or subsistence lifestyle. Somewhere after marriage, two kids, and a house mortgage, we lost our original direction. In a way, this property transfer to the Conservancy and its use by the North Country Trail achieves a part of our original direction for a simpler life— to take time to enjoy the natural beauty around us. Both girls have been active in the management of the property from hauling firewood and trail clearing to enjoying outings with friends, and my older daughter has hiked alone for many years. In fact, her walks in solitude seem to have built her confidence and self-reliance, so that at 17, she has already traveled to four continents. I like to think her life here prepared her for her diverse travels.
It is my belief that success begets success. This is certainly true in the land protection arena. As we become more familiar and comfortable with land protection methods & tools and coordinate with our friends in the land trust and conservation community, I believe we can progress with the development of off-road segments of the Trail onto adjacent protected lands. It’s not so far-reaching to imagine our trail corridor as an integrated part of the natural landscape. There are many landowners along our Trail route who support the Trail and allow the Trail to cross their property. They usually don’t want any hullabaloo made over them but we sure are thankful for the personal and philosophical decisions they make that allow for the dream of the North Country Trail! –Clare Ty Ratliff has been a Land Protection Specialist with the Little Traverse Conservancy (LTC) for 9 years. LTC is headquartered in Harbor Springs, Michigan. To learn more about the Conservancy, please visit http://landtrust.org The City of Petoskey is located in Emmet County in the tip of the mitten that is Michigan’s lower peninsula. Emmet County is one of the fastestgrowing regions of the state. According to the 2000 US Census, its population increased from 25,040 to 31,437 between 1990 and 2000, a change of 25.5%. Since 2000, Emmet County’s population has continued to increase. The economy in Emmet County is driven by its recreational appeal and the seasonal influx of tourists and nonresident property owners.
The Boor Sisters “have been active in the management of the property,” says Dad proudly. April–June 8
The North Star
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Happy trails to you. Our eight newspapers across Michigan cover the great outdoors, including the best nature walks, day hikes and overnight backpacking trips. Read us, then find a slice of heaven of your own on foot. Booth Newspapers: The Ann Arbor News, The Bay City Times, The Flint Journal, The Grand Rapids Press, The Jackson Citizen Patriot, The Kalamazoo Gazette, The Muskegon Chronicle and The Saginaw News. LV19892
NONPROFIT U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
North Country Trail Association 229 East Main Street Lowell, Michigan 49331
Grand Rapids, MI Permit 340