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tr ?.&. 'EDIT(Ii.ri P. O. Bo>< 243 Ernpo: iu:n Pa. 15934
lll N K tf u tt
ii
VOLUME
VI,
tqb NUII{BER L
wrNTER,tLIBT
VoIJITME
VI,
NUMBER
1
NORTH COUNTRY
TRAIL ASSOCIATION New York ca-dTG-eovren
P.O. Box 311 White Cloud, Michigan ***
[,homas
49349
CO-EDITORS BARBARA A}IN SMITH JOII\I G. HIPPS
P.O. Box 243 Emporium, Pa. l-5834 *** . Robert E. Dreis, President L632 Smith St. spooner, wI 54301 Ihomas J. Reimers, vice Pres. 3c Wildflo$rer Dr.
Tom Ehwaites GLenn Oster
Paulette Jotrnson grita and Don Dorn
cecil
Dobbins Tami Lou Spyker Herschel A- Rubin
NCTA NCTA
IICTA ICTA
AYII wPc NCTA BTA BTA
oHc BTA
Michigan
Virginia Wunsch Pat AlLen
NCTA
.fim Warmels Art Hollantl Ruth Sacks
NCTA NCTA NCTA NCTA
Ken cackler
Grand Rapids, Mr 493LG
Caledonia, MI 49316
us ssA CTA
Ohio
EmiIe S. cregor
rthaca, rlY 14850 Pat AlLen, Secretary 23L4 Lake Drive, SE
Kenneth R. Gackler, Treasurer 413 West Johnson st.
Bosworth J. Reimers
Pennsvlvania garbarE A. smith John c. Hipps william Buckley
OFFICERS
IiIcTA
Wisconsin
Eol:Jffiieis
Steve Sorenson
Wunsch
NCTA NCTA
llinnesota
Headguarters Manager Route #4, ' tlundy Ave.
EIFi?-ffialow
Jim $IarmeLs, President
Fenffi'g-
!{hite Cloud,
L9B7
DIRECTORS
ORGANTZATTON
Virginia
wr\rrER,
ORGAIIIZAEIONAL
MI, 49349
NCTA
North Dakota
Ruth sacks, Chairperson Membership
EDI-COM
Art Eol1and, Chairperson 1990 End-To-End frail Hike
(tre editors remind any of you who want events arurounced in the Newsletter, who want to express opinions or wish to have write-ups of any kind publ.ished, please surbmit your copy before the appropriate
Lance Feild President Emeritus
deadLine. DeadLine for the Spring issue is 'March, L987.
-1-
VOLUME
VI,
NUMBER
1
WINTER, L987
EDTTORIAL
USE OF TRAILS FOR BIIGS &
HORSES
It has been the case these first five years of Iife for the that in all that has been said (and not said) and with all that has been done (and not done), emphasis has been made on trail use as a foot trail (hiking and backpacking). An occasional reminder is needed to not only keep our heads out of the clouds and our feet on the ground ( trail) to be alr,are that it is a multi-use trail for all non-motorized use as mandated by congress and described by the NPSThe Newsletter has made some efforts to keep us reminded of this point by the little pictorials on the front and back pages The Editors were reminded of thi; Point again by a communication this past August from Ralph Ramey, Director of the Nature Center, a part of GIen Helen and Antioch University, YeIIovl Springs, Ohio. It was good to hear from Ralph again who hosted the NCTA meeting way back there in 1983. Although we don't see him at our meetings because of his weekend demands at the Nature Center, Ralph is a big supporter of the NCT and works diligently for the trail's development in his part of our world. Ra1ph was instrumental recently in crystallizing an agreement among the City of Xenia, the Village of YeIIow Springs, the creene County park District and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources tb actualize the trail from Yellow Springs to Xenia and from Xenj-a to Morrow- This section, 10 feet wide and 19-16 miles long will be paved and follows the former right-of-way o the Little Miami Railroad of Penn Central. A key point in the decision was that the NCT is not limited to hikers only, it in cludes cyclists and horse back riders, the elderly and handicapped and wheel chair riders. We add that it also includes runners, cross-country skiers, snow-shoers and canoeists; where appropriate, one can jump ro walk on hands, do cartwheels and aII that kind of thingThe NCTA is grateful to Ralph Ramey for his accomplishment; the Editors personally give him three cheers. SmithiPPs Hurrah times three i ,l i NCTA
,.r,
4:
*
-2-
VOLUME
1
NOR.TI.I DAKO'IA
EDI-FLASiT:
ancl
VT, :
NUI'IBER
Dryer, Trail Coordinator for the National Park Se::vice in Bis:nark, reports that there will be a late winter meeting there to inquire into interest in the NCT in No::th D.ako'ta. A1I me:inbers and interested individuals are asked to l:e alert for an announcement of the exact date aird to support t'ire meeting as the first opportunity for NCTA to irave solne action for the trai-I at its western end. It is hop,ed that out of the ineeting there will be, indeed, interest and action, some Board mem'i:ers and a State Coord inator . Pam
A B
Ft.T{ WORDS FROIYI NORTH DAKIf'IA
y
P
am5r yer
l-o::
t6--oE[io
G---
Parks & Recreation Dep't. The staff of the No::th Dakota Parks & Recreation Department recently reviewed the excelleat North Cor:nXrt Trail slide pro.gram co:nplete,i by NC'.IA and NPS and chuckled a't the no'Lorius
Iine, "Comp.lebing tl:e NCT in be a chalIenge". We all agreed this statement r^las indeed true. Yes , conpleting (o:: even beginning) the trail wiIl 'be a challenge, but Do, it will not be imposs ible. We would like to alert the NCTA about two upcouring even'bs. The first is. an informa'bional meeting our Department is or:ganizing fo:: early spring (date an,l place yet to be dete;:mined). The purpose cf this meeting is to pull together agencies and general public who might be interested in ,levelopin,7 the trail. It wiLl be an opportunity to determine ',uho bhe cot't.stitue;rcy is in No;:th Dako':a No::th Dakota aiII
to solicit
WTNIER. I987 volunteer he1p.
The second event will be the first phase o'E a t'irree Pirase t.rail developloent P::oject in the Sheyenne National Grassland The U-S. Forest Service has fun de,l this phase f or fY 1987 Wo::k will b.:gin this summer j
District RaniTer Bill' Eo::tune be loo)<ing fo:: volr:nteer 'pi11 heIp. Anyone interested? For more info;:matio;r oi: meeting nobice on the above, contact:
Paln Dryer, Coo::dinato;: Natul:al Resources a Trails N. Dakota. Parks & Rec - DePi: . L424 vI . Ce;rtury Ave. , Suite 2O2 Bismarck, \JD 5850I (7oI) 22,+-48:87 FOR SALE
The following items can be Purchased frorn NCTA Headquarters:
N.C.T.A. Arm Patch $3.00+$-25Postage S'Late Arm Bar (all seven) $1.25 + $ .25 Postage Volunteer 336 Bar
$I.2s + $ 25 postage
Pictured Rocks National Shore Line Trail euide $4.95 + $1.00 Postage N.C.T. National Parks MaP $2.00 {- $ .25 Postage
-4-
BDI-NOTE
Jim warmels, Sterling President of ttre Western Michigan ChaPter of Ncta has been electecl to serve on the Advisory Council of the NCNST beginning January
L,
L9B7:
VOLUI4E
VI,
NUMBER
1
wrMrER, l9B7 Wolverine Council Challenge of Ann Arbor.
SPECIAL FEATURE
BOY SCOUTS AND T}IE NCT
A groundsh,ell of NCT realizaJust imagine how the NCT will tion is happening in Michigan grov, and glow as that kind of thanks to the Boy Scout Organi action takes place. zation in the state of tvtichiga under the aggressive leadershi HTGH ROAD,/LOW ROAD of Derek Blount of Roya1 Oak. scorrJ\N, / A/EOR, /yA For some time now, Derek has been organizing a state wide scoTLAlP s WALES HIKTNG TRrP effort among councils to supJune L3-27 L9A7 port trail construction and maintenance. Dick Terwilliger, a member of NCTA, a veteran leader of multi-day hiking events and an Derek gave a stirring presenavid, extrlerienced hiker of tation at our Spring l,teeting European mountain traiJ-s, will in White Cloud this past May, lead a free-lance hiking trip 1986 and provided us with the to Loch Leven in Scotland,s materials he is using to deCentral Highlands velop and implement specific and to Conwy in Wales I Sncnldonia iegion, action ideas. two of Great gritain's more spectacular many things Among walking areas. Derek is doFor one week in each location, ing incLudes the publication a variety of interesting dayof a regular NCT Newsletter for the Aoy Scouts of Michigan hikes will be offered to satisfy group members, different He is on the track to extend preferences and capabilities. these same efforts to all other states traversed by the Cost will be about g72S- For trail with the support of a details in the form of a trip of that Memorandum Agreement prospectus, send a businesswas signed on JuIy 23, 1985 size SASE to the leader, between ttre U.S. Park Service and the National BSA office in 7339-8 Pinecastle Rd., FalLs church, vA 22043. the support of the construction and maintenance of the Submitted by: NCT. t
recently re-read Derek's material in preparing the present issue of the Newsletter and felt the hair-raising-onthe-neck excitement of what this means to the NCT and the NCTA, to the Boy Scout Organizations and most especially to individuaL Scouts, . Each o you as readers can, perhaps, share this feeling by reading the accompanying news item that appeared recently in the
RICHARD
We
G.
o
TERWILLIGER
7339 PinecastLe Road' Falls church, VA 22043 703-s50-6325 EDI-NOTE
Anyone who comes across
nev,rs
items, etc., regarding the WCT are asked to send them to Cinny Wunsch to become a part of our NCTA Scrapbook.
tr
VOLUM}
VI,
NUMBER
1
WII\l'lEil, 1997
SPECTAL FEATURE
available to boys, adults, and units. Applications for this award can be obtained from ttre council- of f ice. ,Just as the original trail h,orkers of the Appalachian frail Iook back with pride on their accomplishment, so will our young Scouts. For the rest of their lives they can stand a little taller and prouder because they left a lasting mark in America's wilderness experience. Todays Scouts will be making an investment in America and in the hiking enjoyment of.future scouts. sign
WOL\IERINE COUNCTL CHALLENGE
ANN ARBOR. iUICHIGAN Axn TIM NORTH COU\ITRY TRAIL
The United States Forest service (USFS) has estimated that thirty percent of the population of America over twelve years of age walks for
exercise or recreation.
America has only I00,000 miles of established and maintained trails. This is only one yard of trail per person in America This number has been declining over recent years. Recently,
this is beginning to change. A new 3,00O mile national hiki-ng trail has been started. It will connect the Appalachian TraiL in Crovln Point, New York to the Levris and CLar Trail at Lake Sakakawea, North Dakota. It has been named the North Country Trail (NCT). America's newest national hiking trail is being built through Michigan. Eight hundred miles of this trail has been planned for our State. Only approximately 100 miles are complete. This trail is being built by volunteers in conjunction with the United Stites Forest Service, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, and the North Country Trail Association. They are in need of more People to work on the Trail today and in the future. If you know of an Eagle candidate that needs a proj'ect, someone who is interested in earning the Hornaday Award, or just has an abiding interest in the out-of-doors please have them contact the Wolverine Council at 313-9717100. The Hornaday Award is
up today!
EDI-QUEST
AlJ. readers are asked .to think about a catchy, exciting name for the 1990 Hike. The NewsIetter will .announce a contest
for this after the Spring, L987 Meeting. The Editors want to suggest, for the first prize, an official, written certifica allovring the winner to hike the entire 3,246 miLes of the trail EDI-QI'EST
are in need of ideas from the readers regarding membership recruitment. Some ideas suggested to date includei one new member/each present member, a member a mile by 1990 and the contest idea. P1ease send your suggestions to cinny in White Ci.oud so that plans can be formulated at the Spring Meeting. You can aLso send the names'and addresses of nevl members, in the meantime, to Ruth Sacksj
We
ft isnet the cough that carries
you off; its the coffin they carry you off inj
-6-
VOLUIVIE
VI,
NU}"IBER
1
SNOI^7I"1OBrLES
WII\IIIER, I937
TRAIL by Tom Thwaites EDITORTS NOTE: The JuIy 1986 issue of TRAIL TRACKS, the newsIetter of ttre National Trails Council, included an article, "The North Country TraiL: Compromisei or Abandonment?" by Do1 Ledin, a National Trails Council Board Member. In his article I'fr. Ledin argues that the National trail System Act should be amended to permit sno$rmobiling bn some sections of the North Country Trail (NCT). He notes that although the NCT was authorized six years d9o, progress tovlard completion of the trail is seemingly blocked in many areas because of the inability to incorporate existing snowmobile trails into the system. Since much of ttre NCT passes through the U.S. Ir{j-dwestern Snc,$, BeIt, where snovrmobiling is a major winter activity, Ivlr. Ledin believes it makes good sense to take advantage of these already existing trails, since funding is not available for the creation of a separate hiking trail route I{e asked KTA "s Torn Thwaites, a former member of the North Country Trail Advisory Council, to comment on Don Ledinrs Proposal. Follcruing is Tom's response Yes, I recalL that at the first meeting of the North Country National Scenic Trail Advisory Council the snovrmobile guestion was raised by the member from Minnesota. I'opPosed the motion to open the North Country Trail to sncmmobiles. I still oPpose it, and for the same reasons- To open any National Scenic Trail to motorized devices of any kind is to open all trails to aII tlpes of vehicl-es. If the price of this opposition is the post ponement of the completion of the NCT, it is a smaIl price to protect what we already have. There are stiIl major problems with the NCT route in Ohio, the lov,rer peninsula of Michigan and the Dakotas, ?s well as MinnesoLa. The existing parts of the NCT are on public lands, mostly Na'bional Forests and State Parks. The titcT still suffers from being a top-dovrn trail, rather like the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). The PCT has never been completed either. I suspect the real reason is a lack of volunteer commitment to the PCT. The failure of the government to complete the PCT in a virtually continuous corridor of pubJ-ic land is astonishing. If the NCT can generate sufficient volunteer commitment, then it will be completed. Nobody will be able to stop it, even though the NCT lacks a naturaL geographic corridor. Time is on our side. There is no need to cornpromise on the NCT Despite todayls oil gl-ut, wâ&#x201A;Ź kno,v the sno,vmobiLes and other motorized devices will run out of gas in a few years. Hikers and skiers will inheri.t the snowmobile trails when snormobiles are -no Longer able to use them. (EDINOTE - taken from I(IA News letder, Fal1, 1988. And that pretty'well says it all again one SNO\,{NIOBILES ON THE NORTH COUIUTRY
mo.re time.
)
-7-
..i
VOLUME
VI,
NTJiVIBER
1
AT]DIO-VIDEO
NCT
WTNTER, L937
EDI-NOTE
have learned from the NPS through Bill Shiner ttrat the Audio-Videc movie has been distributed to the follovring:
We
. .
NCT
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE:
I4idwest Regional Office, Omaha, NE Rocky l,lountain Regional Of f ice, Denver,
CO
MiA-atlantic Regional office, Philade1phia, PA North Atlantic Regional Office, Boston, MA National Capital Regional Office, washington, D-CPictured Rocks National Lakeshore, I'{unising, ivlI st. croix National scenic Riverway, st. croix I'a11s, Mound City croup National Monument, chillicothe, oH Sleeping iear nunes National Lakeshore, Frankfort, MI apostle Islands National Lakeshore, Bayfield, wI Grand portage Natj-ona1 Monument, Grand Marais, MN Theodore Roosevelt National Park, Medora, N.D. . USDA-FOREST SERVICE: Eastern Regional Office, Milwaukee, wI Allegheny National Forest, PA Wayne National Forest, MI Hiawatha National Forest, MI Ottara National Forest, l,1I Cheguamegon Na'bional Forest, wI Chippewa NationaL Forest, MN Sheyenne National Grassland, N.D'. OTI{ER: New f,ork Department of Environmental conservation . New York Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation,/ttew York State Trails council Pennsylvania Bureau of State Parks Ohio Department of Natural Resources Ivlichigan Department of Natural Resources . Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Minnesota Department of Natural Resources North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department North CountrY Trail Association Buckeye Trail Association Finger Lakes Trail Conference Siglrd Olson Environmental Institute, Ash1and, WI Everyone is encouraged to use these cassettes in your area to publicize anC promote the NCT. .avai1The brochures that supplement/accomPany the movie aretono-t have able as yet.- We are ltiff awaiting funding in order them printed. BDI-OLOGY
To New York State Board member from the list of State/Area c.andice Boleen Bosworth whose coordinators in the last issue name was inadvertently omitted of the Newsletter
-8-
'
VOLUIvIE
VI,
NUIUBER
I
HEA,.DQUARTERS
wrI\ItER,
L9B7
i CLOUD ft was divine invention that the half-way point for the 3,246 miles of the NCT is at !{hite Cloud, Michigan, for it was there that Ginny Wunsch was, and is, and it is where a restored (stil partial) tristoric, IittIe old, white, one-room school house serves as our National Headquarters. Ginny not only gave conception and birth to the Headguarters buildirg; she suffered the growth pains of its restoration and its economic survival. A mileage indicator on the brow of ttre Headguarter's face points west tov'rard Wisconsin, Ir,linnesota and North Dakota for 1,633miles and east to Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York for l, 603miles . Although human and satanic intervention has threatened its survival occasionally because of strain on our chronically borderline budget and by discouraging l^Ihite Cloud as the regular, permanent site for our annual Spring Meetj-ng, this fit fiddle stays alive and weII to play an increasingly beautiful. symphony of Home on the Trail for the NCTA and for all who roam on the
OUR }IEADQUARTERS AT WHTTE
NCT.
-9-
VOLUME
.VI, NUIIBER 1
(membership year runs fron October I to ,september 3I)
Annual
wrMrER,. 1987
APPLICATTON At, I, f', IC /\A 1 UN -i; J:f f:f ;if'f,i U il S I I I l' NCTA
Du,3s
Boi: 3Il i.tc CIouC, MI 49349
P. O. I,Jh
Date
ACuIt ilanily DLU.JgirL..O:gantzation.. Supporting. Do:rcr Life Patron Commercial..
I vrish to join the North Country Trail Associationfor EncloseC is $
...$ 10-00 15-00 .-.-...$ 5-OC ...Y 25-00 ....$ 50-00 .......$ -. -$ 250.00 ....$ 300.00 . . $50C0.00 ......$ 5O0.0C
men6ersE-ip
Nane
Address
Phcne ***t*.*******.r.****..,l.t.^.*..l.*,********.}*t.***..}****.ffi*****
Enclosed is $ including postage).
f
or I.:TA PATCIIES
($3
.
25 each ,
Send to:
ZIP
ADDs,ESS
Please complete:
I am interestecl in furthering the .'rork of the NCTA Corstructing anrl maintaining trails and ca:npsites iuifai".g .r,.5 maintaining shelters Reqional Ner'rsletter rePorter CI6r ical, secretar iaI , typing r';ork I{ernlcersh ip Deve loPnent Liaison with area trail organizations Other:
Tire following Person(s) w-..ut to become me:dcers of Name
Addres
s
-10
-
NCTA:
CO)E