Newsletter of the
North r.ountryTrail -ciation
Summer 1989
Page2 NEWSLETTER of the NORTH COUNTRY TRAIL ASSOCIATION PO Box 311, White Cloud, Ml, 49349 Editor: Wes Boyd, 14845 Rome Road,
Manitou Beach,
Ml 49253
OFFICERS President: Thomas Reimers, 3C Wildflower Dr., Ithaca NY 14850 Vice-President: Ruth Sack, 2317 Foster NE, Grand Rapids Ml 49505 Secretary: Tomi Lou Spyker, 7044 Africa Rd., Galena OH 43201 Treasurer: Kenneth Gackler, 413 W. Johnson, Caledonia Ml 49316 Hq. Manager: Virginia Wunsch, Rt. 4, White Cloud Ml 49349 Membership Chairperson: Martha Jones 1990 Hike Coordinator: Derek Blount Founding President: Lance Field
(607) (616) (614) (616) (616)
272-8679 363-5966 882-8023 891-1366 689-6876
A letter from the President
BOARD OF DIRECTORS New York Doris and Clifford Abbott, Rt. 1, Box 259, Spencer NY 14883 Howard S. Beve, 202 ccrccurne Rd., Rochester NY 14609 Laura McGuire, 1 Boylan Rd., Newfield NY 14867 Thomas J. Reimers, 3C Wildflower Or ., Ithaca NY 14850 Pennsylvania Barbara A. Smith, 11 W. Main St., Galeton PA 16922. John G. Hipps, 11 W. Main St., Galeton PA 16922 Glenn Oster, 784 Olive St., Pittsburg, PA 15237 Paulette Johnson, West. PA Conservancy, 316 4th
Ave.,
(607) (716) (607) (607)
272-5119 288-7191 564-3548 272-8679
(814) 435-2371 (814) 435-2371 (412) 364-2864 Pittsburg PA 15222
Ohio Emily Gregor, 6502 Olde York Rd., Parma Hts., OH 44130 Cecil Dobbins, 783 Cliffside Dr., Akron OH 44313 Jim Sprague; 4406 Maplecrest. Parma OH Tomi Lou spvker. 7040 Africa Rd . Rt. 1. Galena OH 43201
(216) (216) (216) (614)
884-0281 867-3371 884-4757 882-80n
. Michigan Pat Allen. 2215 Sylvan Dr. SE, Grand Rapids Ml 49506 Wes Boyd, 14845 Rome Rd .. Mani tau Beach. MI 49253 Derek Blount, 906 N. Alexander, Royal Oak Ml 48067 KPn Gackler, 413 W. Johnson St., Caledonia Ml 49316 Art Holland, 492 Four Mile Rd. Comstock Park, Ml 49321 Martha K. Jones, 1857 Torquay Ave .. Royal Oak Ml 48073 Ruth Sack, 2317 Foster NE, Grand Rapids Ml 49505 Vince Smith, Box 76, Whitmore Lake Ml 48189 Jim Warmels, 696 Plymouth NE, Grand Rapids Ml 49506 Virgina Wunsch, Rt. 1, Mundy Ave .. White Cloud Ml 49349
(616) (517) (313) (616) (616) (313) (616) (313) (616) (616)
452-4487 547-7402 548-1737 891-1366 784-6641 280-2921 363-5966 231-1257 454-0545 689-6876
Wisconsin Robert E. Dreis, 1632 Smith St., Spooner WI 54801 Gaylord Yost, 2925 W. Bradley Rd., River Hills WI 53209
(7t5) 635-8193 (414) 354-8987
Minnesota Rod MacRae, 1210 W. 22nd St., Minneapolis MN 55405 Jim Richards, Rt. 1. Callaway MN 56521 Ed Sols tad, 3701 Pillsbury Ave. S .. Minnespolis MN 445Q9
(612) 377-0130 (216) 375-4461 (612) 822-0569
North Dakota Linda (Vargeson), 1536 Second Ave. S, Fargo ND 58103
(701)
232-8513
(402) 221-3481
REGIONAL CHAPTERS/COORDINATORS/ AFFILIATES N.ew York: Finger Lakes Trail Council: Tom Reimers Pennsylvania: Barbara Smith, John G. Hipps Ohio: Buckeye Trail Association: Emily Gregor Michigan: Michigan NCTA Coordinating Committee: Wes Boyd Wisconsin: Bob Dries Minnesota: Minn. NCTA.Coordinating Committee: Rod MacRae. Ed sotsrao North Dakota: Linda Vargeason
Page size 118 114
112 1
to the editor
NEWSLETIER ADVERTISING FEE SCHEDULE Siitgle Issue $15.00 $25.00 $40.00 $70.00
Greetings from New York! Spring has really sprung in recent weeks. Times like this make me happy to be living in a condominium - I don't have to mow the lawn. But it is beautiful, with wildflowers everywhere. The annual meeting in Michigan was great. I thank the Board of Directors for electing me President again. It is an honor! Thanks also. to Ginnie Wunsch, Martha Jones, and Tomi Spyker for organizing an excellent meeting. I look forward to the fall meeting in Ohio. Everyone, please plan now to attend. Congratulations to Barbara Smith and John Hipps for receiving the award for dedicated service to the NCTA. The Board of Directors approved this award as an annual event. Please send nominations for next year's award to Ruth Sack, chairman of the Awards Committee and newly-elected NCTA Vice President. Thanks to all others who agreed to serve on the various permanent and ad hoc committees. Did you feel the excitement at the annual meeting? I believe the NCTA is coming of age very rapidly and positively. Many hopeful things are happening in NCTA and to the NCT. This newsletter is a real eyecatcher. Our membership keeps growing, but members' enthusiasm is growing faster. Plans for the 10th Anniversary NCT Hike in 1990 are moving forward. I believe we have finally agreed on the purpose and format of this important event. States not yet planning the Hike better get on the bandwagon before it's too late. Additions of new segments of the NCT are on the rise. The Trail and NCTA are receiving excellent publicity. Almost every nationwide trail magazine or newsletter has had news or stories about us. Future additions of significant sections of rail-trails to the NCT look very promising. Did anyone a few years ago ever thing we might have an NCT office and staff someday soon? Wow!
--Tom Reimers, NCTA President
NATIONAL PARK SERVi°CE .ADMINISTRATOR Tom Gilbert, National Park Service 1709 Jackson St., Omaha NE 68102-2571
Please report any errors or omissions
Trail Head
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Special offer! Any new commercial memberships to the NCTA -- which cost $500 -- will receive a premium of four free full-page ads in the NCTA newsletter: This is a $200 savings to commercial members.
Keyboard Trails by the Editor
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The deadline for the next issue of the newsletter is September 1, 1989.· All items for the newsletter must be in the editor's hands by that date. We keep hearing unconfirmed rumors of people or groups planning to attempt an end-to-end hike in 1990, and we'd like to know more. Please contact the editor if you know of someone planning the big trip. If nothing else, we sometimes get updates on route information earlier than other sources, and would be willing to pass them on individually. Needless to say, we'd also be very interested in reports on new end-to-end hikes. The Postal 'Service does not usually forward third class mail. If you have a change of address, your newsletter will most likely not be forwarded to you, unless requested, so it's very important that if your address changes you notify either Membership Chairperson Martha Jones, 1857 Torquay Ave., Royal Oak, Ml, 48073, or NCTA Treasurer Ken Gackler, 413 W. Johnson St., Caledonia MI 49316 if you want to continue to get your newsletter.
Newsletter of the North Country Trail Association, Summer, 1989
Page 3
NCT:fYI THE NCTA T-SHIRTS, formerly available from Tom Gilbert, are now available from National Headquarters. Only a handful are left; contact Virginia Wunsch at headquarters for sizes and prices. There may be more production of these popular shirts in the future.
Obituary
Tim Knopp
THE BUCKEYE TRAIL Association is in the process of updating and reissuing their mapsets of the Buckeye Trail -- and their new trail maps are magnificent! The two color maps are printed on a waterproof, damage-resistant paper, and are a big improvement · over .. the old maps. The BT Trail Map Committee deserves a big compliment on a job well done! Information On Buckeye Trail maps is available from Buckeye' Trail Association, PO Box 243, Worthington "Ohio 43085. ,
Timothy B. Knopp, 53, a Minnesota Board Member of the North Country Trail Association and a forestry professor IT'S TRAIL RUNNING season on the at the University of Minnesota College of . Finger Lakes Trail again. The premier Natural Resources, died Thursday, event will be the new "Finger -Lakes March 24, He collapsed while jogging Trail Fifty", a 50-mile trail race. Aspirnear his office on the St. Paul, MN. ing entrants must have finished in the campus. last year a trail 50 miler in less than 13 Knopp, of Roseville, Minn., had been hours, a road 50 miler in less than 10 president of the Voyageurs Region hours, or a ''wimpy'' road marathon in National Park Association for the past less than 4 hours. See NCTA trips and year and a half and previously had activites, page 4, for more information. chaired the group's issues committee for four years. He had been a NCTA board THE PARK SERVICE has purchased member since 1987. about $650 worth of tools for trail con"We wouldn't have some of the major struction by the NCTA in Michigan. Trail wilderness or preserved lands in Minnecrews will get a chance to try out those sota if we didn't have Tim Knopp work- . pulaskis and bow saws on trail constructing on them as strongly as he did," said ion programs in Michigan in July and Jennifer Hunt, executive director of the August. See NCTA Trips and Activites, Voyageurs park association, page 4, for more information. More tool Knopp was instrumental in passing the purchases for other groups along the trail Boundary Waters Canoe Area: wilderness are in the works. legislation in the 1970s and was an active member of the Friends of the BWCA. He also contributed to the Minnesota Letters to the Editor State Parks Council and Foundation. Knopp was born on a farm near Winona, Minn. He graduated from the Mr. Boyd: University of Minnesota with a degree in forestry in 1957, earned a master's I would like to mention the difficulty I degree in wildlife management in 1959 have in reading topographic maps when from· the University of Arizona and copied in black and white. Color coding received a doctorate in forestry from the is lost and brown countour lines become University of Minnesota in 1970. a· . maze of confusing grey. Forming a He was a game management biologist mental picture from looking at contour for the. state of Montana from 1962 to lines requires a bit of concentration even 1965. He became an instructor at the with an original map. University of Minnesota in 1968 and was Topographic maps are a necessary tool made a full professor in 1987. He was a for planning and laying out trails, but coordinator of the recreation resources they are becoming more and more management cirrculum in the College of expensive ($2.50 each in 7Y2" and 15" Natural Resources. quads) and the average hiker can acquire Knopp was the author of many popular all the information they need from maps and technical articles on recreation and available from the Forest Service, was a frequent consultant to outside Department of Natural Resources, etc., groups on trail and recreation area that show Township and Range lines. All planning. He was an active participant in roads of any significance are shown with the Nature Conservancy and an avid either a name or a number. In both the jogger, hiker and canoeist. · State and Federal Forest (at least in my He is survived by his wife, Kajsa: a area) there are survey post markers that son, Erik, of Roseville, and a sister, give me the necessary -info needed to Judith Romine, of Edina, MN. pinpoint my location by consulting my Memorials to the Voyageurs Region map. True, topog maps show township Park Association or the University of and range lines; but . section numbers Minnesota College of Forestry were only add to the confusion when reprosuggested. duced in black and white in
A GUITAR or banjo player is being: sought for entertainment at next year's: spring meeting. Voluteers or suggestion should contact Virgina Wunsch at national headquarters. THE NCTA Board of Directors at the Spring Meeting agreed to an increase in circulation of the newsletter, to be achieved by sending free issues to inter"ested legislators, managing agency officials,_ local government contacts, and officers of related trail organizations .. If you know of. some one of the above .that should be kept up to 'date on what's happening with the NCT, you may nominate them for a free newsletter by contacting Ken Gackler, 413 W. Johnson St., Caledonia MI 49316. He will try to iron out duplications and keep too many from going to any one area. THE NCTA FALL MEETING will be October 20-22 at Burr Oak State Park, near Athens, Ohio. Tomi Lou Spyker warns that, due to lodge and meeting · room restrictions,. that people attending the meeting will have to be pre-register-. ed not later than August 20. The hosts, the Buckeye Trail Association, has quite a weekend planned for NCTA attendees. There is more information about the fall meeting on page .11; if you still have questions, call Tomi Lou Spyker.
conclusion, I repeat: these maps are superior only to Topog Maps reproduced in black and white. Elevation becomes much more important in mountian country and it is hoped we find a better way to show contour lines in such areas when shown in black and white. Eddie Langsdale Your point is well taken; however, sometimes when searching for illustrations, you.haue to take what you can get. Careful reproduction can clear up a lot of' the problem -- but not all. -- Wes Dear Wes: - . The spring newsletter is great; so much information and news. Your cover story was duplicated and sent to the Ohio Department of Transportation bicycle advisor, Paul Graham. I will share the same information with the Ohio Trails Council and the Ohio Chapter of the R-T group. If our other readers would do the same we would really cover a great deal of ground. Keep up the good work. Sincerely Emily S. Gregor
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Page4
Newsletter of the North Country Trail Association, Summer,
1989
56 miles of trail certified in Michigan NCTA Oct. 20-22 NCTA Fall Meeting, Burr Oak State Park, near Athens, Ohio. Contact Tomi Lou Spyker, (614) 882-8023.
Ohio July 2()-29. Second National Rails to Trails Conference, at Dayton Mariott, 1414 S. Patterson Blvd., Dayton, OH 45409. Sponsored by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, National Park Service, and US Forest Service. Contact Rails to Trails Conservancy, 1400 Sixteenth St., SW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036.
New York
July 15. First Annual Finger Lakes Trail Fifty Trail Run. 50 .miles on the FLT, 8030 feet of climb. Entrants must be qualified. Starts at Tieman State Park, Ithaca, NY. Contact John Sholeen, 206 N. Titus Ave., Ithaca NY 14850 for further information. July 23. First Annual Virgil NY Finger Lakes Trail 7k and 15k Runs. Starts at Hauck Hill east of Virgil Mountian, 6 MI E of Dryden, NY. Contact Joe Dabes, 1189 Dryden Rd., Ithaca NY 14850 for further information. Aug 20. Fourth Annual Virgil Mountian Madness Trail Run 21.1 miles. Starts at 'Mossy Area' SE of Virgil NY. Entrant~ must be qualified. Contact Joe Dabes, 1189' Dryden Rd., Ithaca NY 14850 for further information.
In five separate certifications, 56.1 miles of North Country Trail in Michigan were certified in May. 9.6 miles are recently constructed; on the rest, paperwork has caught up with long-existing trail. The longest segment of the five is the original 28-mile Manistee Trail in the Manistee National Forest, near the NCTA National Headquarters at White Cloud. This trail, under construction since the early 1970s, has to undergo major rerouting to lessen wheeled vehicle conflicts. In the final act of the 1989 NCTA Spring Meeting, this segment was certified in a ceremony at Nichols Lake, at the north end of the original Manistee Trail. The trail has been completed, and certified, many miles to the north of Nichols Lake. The two other long-completed segments are in state parks on "Michigan's North Country Trail" (sometimes known as the Tahqua Trail) in the eastern Upper Peninsula. In Muskallonge Lake State Park, on the shore of Lake Superior, 1.5 miles were certified; and 17 miles were certified in Tahquamenon Falls State Park. The final two segments certified are a 2.8 mile segment east of M-94 -and a 6.8 mile segment west of that highway, near Munising. Hiawatha National Forest crews completed the construction last year; about two or three miles remain in the National Forest to the west, but forest officials are delaying completion until connections outside the forest are worked out. The last four, all in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, nearly complete a 210-mile link of certified trail, broken only by a small area of road travel south of Paradise in Chippewa County, and a short distance of marked road travel west of Munising.
Michigan July 15. Saturday Kids Hike (all kids). Meet at White Cloud City Park campground at 10 AM. There will be various hikes, depending on the age of the kids. We'll have a cookout and end up with swimming at Diamond Lake Park in the afternoon. Reservations required. Call Bernice Baron, (616) 456-6157 or Darlene Snyder, (616) 784-5050 or (616) 364-8722. July 16-29. Trail building on state forest lands near Kalk~skia, Mich., sponsored by the Huron Valley Group, Mackinac Chapter, Sierra Club. Help connect the Shore-toShore trail with the Jordan River Pathway! For information, contact Vince Smith, Box 76, Whitmore Lake, MI 48189. Aug 1. Western Michigan Chapter meeting at 7:30 PM Wednesday at 492 Four Mile Road, NW., Comstock Park, MI. For more inforation call Art Holland., (616) 784-6441. Aug 5. Michigan NCTA Coordinating Committee meets at 10:00 AM at Fenner Nature Center, comer of Arelius and Mt. Hope Roads, Lansing. Contact Wes Boyd, (517) 547-7402. Aug. 11-12. '\ two-day long hike in the Manistee National Forest. For n .ore information contact Art Holland (616) 784-6441. Aug. 20 - Sept 2. Trail building in Marquette County, MI, SJ:lOnsored by the Huron Valley Group, Mackinac Chapter, Sierra Club. For information contact Vince Smith, Box 76, Whitmore Lake, MI 48189. Sept. 23-24. Western Michigan Chapter Orienteering overnight. Contact Alan Adsmond, (616) 453-3069. Oct. 3. Western Michigan Chapter meeting at 7:30 PM at 3592 17 Mile Rd., Cedar Springs. Contact Wally Doane (616) 696-2777 for more information.
Heavy Little Miantl use a mixed blessing Two cities along the southern part of the Little Miami Scenic Park, an abandoned railroad grade being converted into a bikeway by the Ohio DNR, are experiencing problems. Local oppositi~n is s~~g plans for development of a paved bikeway along this certified NCT segment east of Cincinnati. In Terrace Park, Ohio, the village council voted unanimously last February to oppose a state plan to extend the paving of the Little Miami Scenic Trail through the village. The vote came after a 70 minute hearing before a standing-room-only crowd. T_he ODNR had stated before the hearing that they wanted village approval before undertaking the 2.6 mile paving project, and, at last word, no decision had been made on whether to undertake the project. Oppor:ients of th~ trail sai~ the trail would decrease property value~, increase cnme and litter, and create a parking problem. 864 signatures were gathered on a petition opposing the trail. The Terrace Park decision may have at least partly stemmed fro~ problems a few miles away in Loveland, Ohio, were city of~cials ask~d the ODNR to build a new parking lot near the trailhead, since too many people were parking their cars downtown, rather than at a designated parking lot further away to lessen the walk to the trailhead. ' City officials said 4,000 to 5,000 people may use the trail on a weekend, and local businesses say they have lost business due to the trail-related parking congestion. Thirteen miles of the planned 70-mile railbed conversion have been paved, and another 5 were planned for this year. A further 13 miles路 northward were planned to be paved in the next two years.
Newsletter of the North Country Trail Association, Summer, 1989
How to secure permission for a trail to cross private property by Howard S. Beye Trails Chairman, FLTC reprinted from Pathways Across America For the past 27 years the Finger Lakes Trail Conference, through its 33 trail sponsor organizations and individuals, has been securing hand-shake agreements from landowners to allow the trails of the Finger Lakes Trail System to cross their lands. The Finger Lakes Trail System is presently proposed to consist of the main trail of 532 miles from Allegany State Park in the southwestern part of New York State to the Catskill Park in the eastern part -- and six branch trails that when completed will total 254 miles. The main trail passes through mostly dairy farm and forest land in its course across the southern tier of New York. The North Country National Scenic Trail follows the Finger Lakes Trail for 350 miles. There are now 648 miles of the proposed 786-mile system completed and ready for hiking and backpacking. Approximately 60 percent (390 miles) of existing trail is on private land. Before Finger Lakes Trail representatives actually contact landowners to secure permission for the trail to cross their land, we make some preliminary decisions on the route. The best general route can be established by using highway, topographic, and (if available) aerial maps. We then determine the specific trail route by driving and walking through the area and contacting local landowners and local and state officials. We give priority to using local, state and federal land as much as possible for the trail route. We also consider using existing trails, abandoned railroads, and power, pipeline and other rights-of-way. Identifying the landowners When we have established the specific route, we secure tax maps. By plotting the proposed route on these maps, we can determine who the landowners are and where they live. Often the landowner does not live on the land where we wish to put the trail. When the route has been plotted on the tax maps it is easier to determine which landowners hold the key to success of establishing the trail. We contact these landowners first so we can make adjustments early in the
.
process if we cannot secure their pennission. Another advantage of the tax maps ii" that they enable us to ~lot a route involving the fewest possible number of landowners. Limiting the number of landowners makes securing permissions much less time-consummg. The speed. with which we feel the trail can be built affects the length of the route we initially try to gain permission to cross. We normally work in sections of about 10 miles. Generally, the processes of obtaining permission and building the trail are ongoing and concurrent. Our exxperience is it usually takes two to five years to complete a 10-mile section across private land with many owners. Fact-to-face contact The initial contact with the landowner is very important. If the landowner is a farmer, we feel the best time to find him aound his home is at the end of the day. Often we attempt to make contact in the late afternoon at the conclusion of a trail route scouting or work session. We try to have two persons work as a team to make the contact, usually including one of our women trail workers. In general, we find women are more successful than men at securing permissions, What to bring The contact team needs certian items with them to be successful: 1. A brochure or flyer telling about the organization building the trail. It should mention the fact that the work is being done by volunteers and tell about the trail size and type of use that will be allowed. 2. Maps of the immediate area that show the completed and proposed trail route. 3. A copy of the General Obligations or similar law that provides protection for landowners from claims of those whom he/she has given permission to use the land. The landowner should be given a copy. 4. The signs that would be used to identify and mark the trail. It helps to have a sign that tells of the landowners' generosity in allowing the trail on their land and the courtesies expected of users. What to discuss We also discuss the following with the landowner. 1. The material listed above. 2. That the trail is only for foot travel. (If other uses are planned they
Page 5 must be discussed and detail provided.) 3. That his is a handshake agreement that can be revoked at any time for any reason by the landowner. 4. Any suggestions the landowner has for a route across the property. This makes the interested landowner a part of the process. 5. That the Finger Lakes Trail Association closes the trail the first Monday in February each year to protect the landowners from having a public right-of-way open continuously across their land. If the landowner gives permission we do the following: 1. Thank the landowner and ask if he/ she would like to receive copies of the newsletter of the organization building the trail. 2. Tell the landowner that the route will be established and marked with flagging tape. When that task is completed he/ she will be contacted to get his/her approval for the route or to make suggestions for changes. 3. Tell the landowner a letter acknowledging his/her allowing the trail on the land will be mailed. A return receipt will be included with a stamped return envelope. When securing permissions from second home, non-agricultural, and absentee landowners, the time and method of making contact am different, but the same items need to be covered. Using these methods, over the past 27 years the Finger Lakes Trail Conference sponsors have secured hundreds of handshake agreements from landowners. Very few of these have been revoked. For a volunteer organization with limited resources we feel this is the only initial way to secure a trail route across private land. Protection of the route in years to come may require actual purchase of land or securing of conservation easements along selected sections of the trail.
How about a
modelNCT? The 118 mile Penn Central railroad grade through the Adirondacks, which may possibly become a route of the NCT, as shown in the article on the rails to trails survey, is very commonly modeled by model railroaders. There have been many model railroad layouts that feature Saranac Lake, Tupper Lake, Lake Placid and surrounding areas featured in Model Railroader and Railroad Model Craftsman. Saranac Lake, along the route, is perhaps best known for the many tuberculoisis sanitariums in the area during the first half of the century.
Page 6
Spring NCT A meeting in White Cloud is big success The Spring Meeting of the North Country Trail Association, held May 19-21 at the Shack Country Inn in White Cloud, MI, covered a lot of ground. CONSTITUTION AND ELECTIONS The meeting approved a John Hipps-proposed amendment to extend the officers terms of office, so that they be elected biannually in even-numbered years. A committee was formed to review constitution and by-laws. Tomi Spyker, the proposer, was appointed to the committee, along with Pat Allen and .Ken Gackler. Glen Oster having requested replacement as vice-president, the nominating committee presented the following slate of officers: President, Tom Reimers; Vice President, Ruth Sack; Secretary, Tomi Lou Spyker; Treasurer, Ken Gackler. All were elected, and a heart-felt thank-you was extended to Oster. Rod MacRae reported on the death of Minnesota director Tim Knopp, and reported that naming a capsite in the Chippewa National Forest after Tim is under consideration. The organization passed the following resolution: Be it resolved that the North Country Trail Association herewith expresses sympathy and condolences to the family of Tim Knopp. Tim died suddenly on March 24, 1989. Tim was a member of the NCTA Board of Directors and was active in providing the development of the North Country Trail in Minnesota. Tim's long career in outdoor recreation had placed him in the forefront of the efforts to build, promote and protect trails. His leadership will be sorely missed. The NCTA officers are asked to communicate this resolve to the Knopp family. '' Per his request, Joe Dabes (New York) was removed from the Board of Directors. Jim Richards (Minnesota) was appointed to fill Knopp's unexpired board post. Jim Sprague was selected to an open Ohio post. ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS The balance in the checking account as of the meeting was $3,862.17. Ken Gackler reported on the proposed 1989-90 budget. The arrangement and nature of budget items was discussed. The budget was approved with minor additions. Rod MacRae will form a committee to study a means of dividing up dues between the Association and local chapters. Martha Jones presented the membership report. Memberships currently stand at 362 -- an increase of 50% over last year. Virginia Wunsch reported on the Headquarters building. 75 people stayed at the hostel in 1988. Work in continuing on improving the internal accomodations. Derek Blount reported that four states have reported on 1990 hike site selections. Due to a lack of information from the other three, he was. unable to put together a media package for presentation to a corporate sponsor. Derek said it will take 6 months to develop a corporate sponsor. Emily Gregor reported on the f~l meeting, to be held at Burr Oak State Park in Ohio on Oct. 20-22, 1989. A newly rerouted path for the Buckeye/North Country Trail will be dedicated that weekend. Buckeye Trail Association President Jim Sprague reported that several such reroutings are planned. The location of the 1990 Spring Meeting was disucssed. In order to stay at the "Shack" with use of meeting rooms, the organization will need to fill 20 rooms. It was voted that an attempt be made to stay at the "Shack," but that the meeting date, solid on the third weekend of May for several years, not be changed. A committee of Ruth Sack, Virginia Wunsch and Doris Poll was set to roganize next year's spring meeting. Tom Reimers reported that the trail construction proposal submitted to the board by mail was defeated. After discussion, it was determined that the Forest Service was attending to the issue raised by the proposal and no action was required. Martha Jones discussed the proposal for an annual Merit Award for Outstanding Service to the NCTA. A committee
Newsletter of the North Country Trail Association, Summer, 1989 consisting of Ruth Sack, Barbara Smith and Emily Gregor was selected to name future honorees. Nominations should be sent to Ruth Sack, with information on the individual's activities. Membership in American Trails Network was extended. It was decided that the circulation of the newsletter be increased by sending gratis copies to public officals and other designated individuals, with a press run limit of 1,000. The meeting approved a 5-part proposal by Wes Boyd to (1) develop a long-term sale publications program; (2) to seek grants for seed money; (3) to seek low-interest loans if grants can't be found; (4) that materials be priced to provide profit beyond investment, the profit to be divided, half to the publication fund and the other half pro-rated between states involved in the publication, and (5) that the newsletter and the publications committee be combined, with the authority to authorize publications. Wes Boyd, Tom Reimers, Ken Gackler, Gail Werner, Barb Smith and John Hipps were named to the committee. A discussion was held on coordinating with outside parties in the production of trail guides. The NCTA President was empowered to enter into negotiation with an author to explore the possibilities of outside publciation.
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PARK SERVICE MATTERS Tom Gilbert of the NPS discussed the impact of the National Historic Preservation Act and the Endangered Species Act on the routing of the NCT. An example was given of the Sheyenne National Grasslands, were an endangered orchid grows. The need to comply with these acts as well as others may slow the speed of future trail building. Tom also reported on the decision to eliminate the North Country Trail Advisory Council as a functioning entity. No progress has been made in obtaining appointments for the committee, and funding will soon run out. When required, the NPS can call together an ad-hoc committee to handle problems. Tom also reported that the funding for the part time executive director for the NCTA was not going to be available, as thought previously. Tom also announced the production of videotapes of the NCT slide show. Tapes will be available to state DNRs, trail organizations and NCTA state representatives. Pat Allen reported on progress in obtaining funding within the 1990 NPS budget for a fulltime NPS staff member for the NCT. She approached Representative Henry (Mich.) concerning a line item for staff and office in the Grand Rapids, Michigan. Ralph Regula (Ohio) was able to obtain a line item of $94,500 within the buget. Now, letters of support for the proposal are required to be sent to Reps. Henry and Regula. The budget will still need support when it goes through the senate. -- adapted from meeting minutes by Tomi Lou Spyker, secretary
1990 Hike plans changed 路 1 Plan_s t? use t~e 1990 hike as a major fundraiser, with pledge subs~npti~ns bemg sought, have been dropped after agonizing consideration at the 1990 spring meeting. Discussion at the meeting centered around a considerable reluctance to undertake the amount of organization that had to be done, with only a limited amount of leadership and personnel available. Members at the meeting finally voted to use the event to garner publicity for the trail, and to bill the event as a Tenth Anniversary hike and celebration of the trail. Merchandise and printed material will be for sale, to bring in some funds, and Hike Chairman Derek Blount said donations could still be sought. Blount also said a sponsor '_Vill still be sought to help defray the start-up expenses for the hike, such as printing and banners, but warned state chairmen to think very hard about what could be done assuming no outside start-up money could be found. Blount promised that a revised hike proposal would be sent to NCTA directors not later than mid-June, and asked for comments to be returned to him not later than mid-July.
Newsletter of the North Country Trail Association, Summer, 1989
Page 7
One named for Laura McGuire
NY segments dedicated Two more sections of the Finger Lakes Trail in New York were dedicated May 13, 1989, as official components of the North Country Trail following review and certification by the National Park Service. The new sections of the NCT are in Watkins Glen State Park and Connecticut Hill State Wildlife Management Area. The NCT in Watkins Glen State Park is maintained by the Finger Lakes Chapter of the Adirondack Mountian Club (ADK) and the section in the Connectiuct Hill Area is maintained by the Cayuga Trails Club. Members of the Cayuga Trails Club, ADK, the Finger Lakes Trail Conference, and the NCTA and representatives from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the National Park Service were present at the ceremonies. NCTA President, Tom Reimers, reviewed the history of the National Trails System and national significance of the NCT. William Jackson, from Fort Stanwix National Monument in Rome, NY, welcomed certification of the new sections on behalf of the National Park Service. A highlight of the ceremony on Connecticut Hill was a surprise dedication of the trail in the name of Laura McGuire, an NCTA Director. Almost single-handedly, Laura has built and continues to maintain the NCT on the Hill. Two special signs naming "The Laura McGuire Trail" have been placed along the NCT. Laura also donated a cabin on her McGuire Mountian property to be used by backpackers wanting to stay overnight.
Cornell studen ts build bridges on N CT About a dozen Cornell University students spent two week ends in April building footbridges· and an outhouse along the North Country Trail and an adjacent section of the Finger 'Lakes Trail in New York. The enthsiastic students were enrolled in a trail maintenance class offered by the Cornell Outdoor Education Program in the Department of Physical Education. Several members of the NCTA, experienced in building bridges, assisted the students, not by telling them how to build bridges, but by being told how by the students. The students stayed overnight in the Chestnut Lean-To on the FLT about 0.5 miles from a certified section of the NCT near Danby, NY. The outhouse bears a sign saying "The Karl Johnson Privy" to honor one of the class instructors. One of the bridges displays the name, "Diane's Crossing" after its architect and student engineer, Diane Gail.
LAURA MCGUIRE [centerL long-time trail builder, was honored on May 13, 1989, when a new segment of NCT was dedicated in New York. Cayuga Trails Club President, Betty Lewis, and NCTA Director Clifford Abbott participated in the surprise for Laura. Photo by Doris Abbott Horse and Buggy doctoring in the twentieth century for the twenty-first. By a doctor who writes like he talks. in a caring and gentle way with a touch of humor here and there that exemplifies his every day encounters with his patients. Each essay illustrates the perpetual need for the simple discussion of every day health problems for the ~~~;al~t:l::r;;nof a book is
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STUDENTS OF the Cornell University Outdoor Education Program test the strength of a new footbridge they built in April on the NCT. Photo by Doris Abbott
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Page8
Newsletter of the North Country Trail Association, Summer, 1989
Why are there so few NCT end-to-enders? The sheer size of the North Country Trail tends to make the idea of an end-to-end hike an awesome one; yet, the trail has another obstacle, one that is easier to avoid on the nation's other long trails, which run more or less on a north to south axis: winter. Most end-to-end users of the big north-south trails start in the south in the early spring, and follow spring northward, eventually racing with fall's southward advance. This doesn't work on the NCT, which runs more or less east and west. While its center dips down a little bit, either end is well up in latitude and the country of long winters. Carolyn Hoffman, the one person that covered the trail end to end in a single season, used snowshoes for the first six weeks of her trip, which began March 5 in New York, and ended in North Dakota 222 days later, with snow again in the air. She hiked most of the way, but rode a bicycle for about 500 miles in Ohio and Michigan, or her trip would have taken even longer. If anything, the trip that potential end-to-enders face would take even longer today; much of Ms. Hoffman's trip was on roads, which now have trails developed in the area; very often, these will be longer and slower going. In an average year, potential end-to-enders would have a maximum of 210 to 220 days of reasonable weather between hard winters. Ms. Hoffman probably started a bit early; it would seem better to not start much before April 1, or perhaps even. April 15, and the chilling winds and snow in the open country of North Dakota would seem to argue against travel there after early November for all but the hardiest individuals. Using the figure of 210 days as the maximum length of the summer end to end window, and a pessimistic guess of distance to travel of 3700 miles, the hiker would have to average 17.6 miles per day -- more like 20 miles per day, allowing for the occasional rain day, rest day or investigation of an interesting side trip. Over much of the distance east of Cincinnati, it's going to be difficult to average that 17.6 miles per day for an extended period. With winter facing the potential end to ender at both ends of the trip, a basic decision has to be made: go east or go west? Each has its advantages and disadvantages, though on the face of it, in the early part of the trip, starting from the west has a slight edge. Hikers at either end will have to be starting at about the time the snow turns to mud. Heading eastbound from central North Dakota takes advantage of the fact that not much of the trail has been completed there; most of the first 500 miles or so of the hike will have to be on roads, and even gravel roads are less muddy than forest trails. Besides, those chill spring winds would be at the back -- but as the eastbound trip continues, hikers would get into the heavy forest country right at the height of the spring blackfly and mosquito season. Heading west, at least in a season of light snow the winter before, puts the hardest part of the trip at the beginning. Once the first third of the trip is over, there will be occasional tough days, but the hiker will have an idea of how hard they have to travel to get caught back up with that 20 miles a day they have to achieve. What of the hiker that wants to do the whole trail in one gulp, within a year, and not have to grind that 20 miles day after weary day? The cause is not hopeless, but the strategy has to be a bit different. The head-on strategy assumes that the hiker likes winter, loves winter hiking and camping, snowshoeing and cross country skiing. Probably the best way to do this involves heading west about Mid-June or the first of July. In the mountians of New York State, summers will be warm, but
not as oppressive as they can be further south or west. Proceeding about ten miles per day, the hiker will want to target themselves to cross the Ohio-Michigan border on December 1. The controlling factor here is Michigan's rifle deer hunting season, which runs from November 15 to 30; and Ohio's, which is the first part of December. The hiker can get a little ahead of schedule, but shouldn't be any farther north than about Grand Rapids before December 1, as most miles in Michigan south of there are relatively safe road miles. There's not often a lot of snow on the ground in Michigan in early December, but as the hiker proceeds northward, postholing along in the snow will become unproductive, and skiis or snowshoes will become useful. Once the winter traveler hits the deep snow, a new option appears to them: the network of snowmobile trails that lace the forest sections of Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota. The hiker will be able to find a myriad of them, often unusable in summer, to connect sections where the North Country Trail does not yet exist. By the time the snow turns to mud, the hike will be nearing North Dakota, for road travel in the mud season, and before the forest fill with bugs. The other approach for the 10 mile per day hiker is to duck the worst part of winter. This scenario involves starting in North Dakota about May 15. The target here is to be at the Mackinac Straits at the first of September, to use the annual Mackinac Bridge walk to hike every mile of the trail end to end. Continuing south, the hiker should be able to stay ahead of most of the snowflakes until reaching Cincinnati about the -end of November. At this point, the hiker takes a break for about three or four months, to go and see if the family is still alive, or, perhaps, to grab a bus and do the Florida National Scenic Trail (Forest Supervisor Office, Suite 4061, 227 N. Bonough St., Tallahassee, FL 32301; or Florida Trail Association, PO Box 13708, Gainsville FL 32604); at 10 miles per day, this could take around four months, but in March or April the hiker will want to be back on the NCT for another four or five months of hiking. This approach obviously takes a little more than a year, but the hiker gets to end-to-end two national scenic trails in a 5000 mile bargain. In this day of athletic awareness, it seems strange that no one the North Country Trail Association knows of has attempted to end-to-end the trail since 1978, even in segments spread over several years, the way the first end-to-ender, Peter Wolfe, did it. The Association occasionally hears from someone who's thinking about it, but the plans never seem to materialize. There is a small, but significant "first" out there, too: no one has yet hiked the entire length of the trail end to end in a single season. And, it seems strange, too, that the type of hiker that can average 14 to 16 miles per day on the Appalachain Trail shouldn't be able to go 18 to 20 miles per day for an extra couple of months on the generally much less difficult North Country Trail. Obviously, it's not easy -- but it's not impossible, either.
SWISS
ALPS
GRINDELWALD KANDERSTEG ZERMATT SAAS-FEE MURR EN GSTAAD LENK FLUELEN WENG EN ENGELBERG BETTMERALP LEUKERBAD RIGl-KALTBAD Moderate optional length DAY hiking along skyline trails. 1-2 week tours basing at 15 mountain 3-4 star hotels. All hikes guided by NCT member Cecil Dobbins. For a free color brochure call <216) 867-3771, or write to:
ALPINE ADVENTURE TRAILS TOURS, lac. 783 V Cliffside Dr. AKRON, OH 44313
The
Hikers
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Page9
Newsletter of the North Country Trail Association, Summer, 1989
Opportunities limited for NCT Rails-to-Trails Rails-to-trails development potentials remaining to the North Country Trail are limited, and many have been lost in the last few years, a study by the Rails to Trails Conservancy has revealed. The study was done under a cooperative grant with the National Park Service, and a draft version of the report was presented by the Park Service's Tom Gilbert at the 1989 Spring Meeting of the NCTA. The study surveyed 13 abandoned railroad potentials selected by the Park Service, and another six selected by the Conservancy. The · Conservancy classified six of these as having "excellent" potential, and three more as "fair"; but Gilbert pointed out that most of those having an ''excellent'' rating have problems in being adapted to the North Country Trail. The Conservancy selected these (from west to east) as having an "excellent" potential: • The former Soo line from St. Ignace to Trout Lake, Michigan. Though 27 miles long, most of this parallels already-certified NCT. The Hiawatha National Forest is working with Michigan Bell, the grade's owner, to use about 5 miles of this route as an access to St .. Ignace and the Mackinac Bridge. . • The former Penn Central line from Mackinac City to Petoskey. The Michigan DNR already owns this not-very-scenic line, and plans .to develop it as a snowmobile route; however, it may be possible to use a separate treadway on the northern three miles to give the NCT access to Mackinac City. • A 22-mile former Ann Arbor Railroad grade running northwest from Thompsonville, Michigan, could only be developed as a NCT spur. · . · · • A 19-mile former Penn Central grade between Roxanna and Springfield, Ohio, would be a northward extension of the already-developed Little Miami- Scenic Park. Some of this mileage is already under development, but how far north is a question, since the former Penn Central Troy-Springfield grade, identified by the Park Service as "most critical", is not -seen as a good prospect by the Conservancy. An alternate route on the Buckeye Trail, mostly off roads, exists, but penetrates the city of Dayton. • Eleven miles of a 50 mile Lehigh Valley Railroad segment between Cortland and Canastota, NY, is currently largely owned by the state, but devlopment is not considered a high priority by the state. The use of this segment may depend on route selection on the eastern end of the NCT. · • A 118-mile former Penn Central grade from Remsen to Lake Placid, New York, would penetrate the long-stalled problem of getting through Adirondack State Park; however, management decisions in the park may seal this route off, too. There has long been local opposition to development of the North Country Trail by any route in the Adirondacks due to what somequarters see as an already overcrowded wilderness. If this route -- which would still not reach all the . wav to Crown Point. the trail' s
NPS N CT office possible At the suggestion of member Pat Allen, US Congressman Paul B. Henry. from Grand Rapids, Michigan, has. requested an appropriation of $94,500 to establish a National Park Service office for the North Country National Scenic Trail in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Representative Henry testified in April . before . the Interior Appropriations subcommittee in support of his request. In his testimony he stated the need for the state to facilitate the completion of the tJ:ail. A staff person will be able to assist with multi-state, multi-agency · agreements. . . Represtentatives of member trail organizations have ··been asked to write Rep. Henry and Representative Ralph Regula of Ohio, who serves on the subcommittee. Letters to selected Senators will also be sent. The appropriation request is for the 1990 budget year. If successful, a NCT office could open next spring. +submitted by Pat Allen
projected trailhead -- cannot be. realized, trail planners may have to give serious -eonsideration to abandoning the Adirondacks entirely, and routing the NCT down the Finger Lakes Trail to a junction with the Appalachain Trail at Delton Lean-To in the Catskills, near New York City. Three other possibilities, which the Conservancy sees as only "fair", offer good potential to development of the NCT: • A 12-mile grade between Breckenridge and Foxhome in Wilkin Counties, Minnesota. • A 23-mile grade between Lisbon (Columbiana County) Ohio and New Galilee, (Beaver County) Pennsylvania. • A 22-mile grade between Dudley and Knox in Clarion and Armstrong Counties, Pennsylvania. While each of these would offer good possibilites for the expansion of the NCT, acquisition and development are not straightforward. Gilbert told the 1989 NCTA Spring Meeting that this list did not exhaust the rail-to-trail opportunities open to the NCT, but did represent the more obvious ones. A final report from the Rails to Trails Conservancy is expected this summer.
National Forest progress Sections of the North Country National Scenic Trail planned for National Forest lands are rapidly being completed. Of the 661 miles planned, 530 are now complete and certified, and several more trail segments have been completed but still await certification. Trail is. completed in Pensylvania's Allegheny, Minnesota's Chippewa and Wisconsin's Chequamegon National Frests. Trail construction is under way in North Dakota's Custer National Forest -- specifically, the Sheyenne National Grasslands, and it is hopedthat the trail will be completed there this year. Michigan's Hiawatha National Forest has only 7 miles remaining, and part of these should be completed if a railroad aqusition project planned for this summer is completed. Also in Michigan, the Manistee National Forest has 42 miles remaining, but this includes completed trail that has yet to be certified. Only about 20 miles of trail awaits construction, which may be complete next year. Among other projects; the White Cloud Ranger District anticipates trail completion· south· to the forest -boundary at Croton Dam this summer. Thirteen miles remain to be constructed in Michigan's Ottawa National Forest, but completion here depends partly on coordination, policy· and land acquisition problems being worked out. Long stalled due to its many frangmented ·segments, construction is finally under way in the Wayne National Forest in Ohio. A major rerouting of the Buckeye Trail onto forest land has raised the targeted mileage of the NCT to 80 miles from a 30 projected earlier, and several new projects are under way this summer .. All in all, 86 miles of North Country Trail have been completed on National Forest lands in the last two years. North Country National Scenic Trail National Forest Status April 1989 NF Allegheny Chequamegon Chippewa Custer Hiawatha Manistee Ottawa Wayne
State PA WI MN ND MI MI MI OH Total
Planned
Completed
Remaining
95
95
60
60
0 0 0 21 7 42 13 48 131
68 25 100 115 118 _§Q 661
. 68 :4 93 73 105 32 530
Summer, 1989
Page 10
Michigan's Up er Peninsula
New Tibbets Falls segment by Doug Welker Report on the ''Tibbets Falls'' section of the NCT. This trail segment was built in 1988, mostly on Wisconsin Electric Power Company land.
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TRAIL LOG [eas! to west] 0. 0 Trailhead at north end of Autio Rd., a gravel road leading north from Section 16 Rd., 2Y2 miles NW of Covington, MI. Head steeply down bank and follow old road north for a few hundred feet, then turn sharply left into woods. For the next 0.8 miles the trail leads through open maple/yellow birch/hemlock forest, paralleling and eventually crossing Nestor Creek. Good campsites in this stretch. 0. 85 Turn left on old road and proceed a few hundred feet, then turn right into woods. For the next 0.35 miles the trail goes through brushy mixed forest with no good campsites. 1.25 Intersect old road - continue straight ahead (north) for about 0.35 miles. 1. 6 Old road turns left. ·Continue straight ahead on trail for a few hundred feet to the Sturgeon River. Camping possible here. Trail makes a sharp turn left southwest away from river for 500 ft. 1. 75 Return to old road, turn right, and follow road west about" % mile. · 2.0 Old road ends. Continue straight about 1000 feet to Baraga Plains Road. Turn right and follow road crossing Sturgeon River. 2.25 Turn west into woods just north of
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4. 5 Tum right up old road. Trail bridge. Trail leads through dense coniferhardwood forest about V3 mile, often ascends onto Baraga Plains, a dry, sandy glacial outwash plain, and the vegetation next to the river. changes to open pine/red maple woods. 2.6 Begin 1000 ft. stretch of dense alders and brush. For the next 0. 7 miles . After 0.6 miles, intersect old two-track. following the trail - crosses a bluff and Turn left, follow for about % mile. 5.35 Enter Ottawa National Forest. parallels the river. Rapids become more After i;.- mile, cross underground gas frequent: pipeline, then, 500 feet later, cross well3. 45 Short, informal trail to left leads steeply down to Tibbets Falls. NCT used two track; then, a few hundred feet later, pass small, shallow Cupec Pond. continues to ascend past side trail, then 5. 85 Intersect USFS Ottawa National descends to the river and follows close to Forest "Sturgeon River Segment of NCT. it through highly varied terrain and Continue straight ahead. vegetation for about a mile.
Snowshoeing the NCT in winter The annual Western Michigan Chapter' s Snowshoe outing on February 18-19 was enjoyed by 18 people, including an outdoor news reporter and photographer, Howard Meyerson from the Grand Rapids Press. The Weatherman cooperated and gave us five inches of snow for Saturday and then added about two and a half inches more for our Sunday trek. The temperature was between 10° and 26° above zero, just perfect for snowshoeing the beautiful scenic trails in White Cloud, near our hospitality building, the National Headquarters Building. Laura Roberts drove up from Kentucky on Friday and stayed at the school house with Darlene Snyder and Ruth Arthur. They finally, at 2:00 AM figured how to turn the lights out, threw a few more logs in the wood burner and went to sleep. Seven of us stayed there on Saturday night and all realized how
fortunate .we are to have such a super place for trail activities like this. The gals planned a pot luck dinner and everyone stayed for delicious food and warm companionship. Art and Ginny Wunsch were their usual loveable trail workers; built a fire so the three gals would have a warm place, furnished lots of nice wood logs, . brought up gallons of water and gave their friendship to all of us. These two people are needed and appreciated -- we just can't thank them enough. · On Saturday afternoon, we started our trek just below Nichols Lake with 16 people for the almost five miles. The rolling terrain, open plains, "Second generation pines and hardwood forest takes on a new beauty in the wintertime. We crossed four creeks, which did prove tricky for those who chose to negotiate steps and log bridges with their snowsnoes on.
After our potluck dinner, we enjoyed· moon light snowshowing on and around Loda. Lake. After a few hours of friendly camaraderie around the wood burner, many crawled in sleeping bags for a too short night's sleep. Up at 6:30 AM, breakfast at a local restaurant and then back on the trail to continue our trip for 5Y2 miles more. We were pleased to have members . from the Sierra Club and the Michigan Trailfinders join our outing and help us enjoy out most successful winter event. · The snowshoers were our news reporter, Howard Meyerson, Darlene Snyder, Art and Mary Holland, Laura Roberts, Ruth _Arthur'. Ginny Wunsch; Jim Davis, Bermce Baron, Alan Adsmond, Kate Host, Mary Korr, Dick and Joan Wayman, Pet Talsokos, Barbara Bolan and Charles Gerhaney. --submitted by Art Holland
Newsletter of the North Country Trail Association,
Summer, 1989
Page 11
North Country_ TrailAssociation Fall Meeting October 20-22
BT A to host fall meeting at Burr Oak On October 20-22 the Buckeye Trail Association will host the fall meeting of the NCTA at Burr Oak State Park Lodge. The lodge is located in the rolling hills of southeastern Ohio. The fall color is expected to be at its best during the weekend. Several events will highlight the meeting. On Friday, a dedication ceremony and short hike will occurr on the new 10-mile section of the North Country Trail through the Athens Ranger District of the Wayne National Forest. (There will
be hikes during the meeting on the section of North Country Trail that passes through the state park.) There will be a Hospitality Night at the Buckeye Trail Cabin on Friday evening, with an Ohio Wine Tasting for interested individuals. Saturday will feature good fellowship and an evening banquet. The Saturday evening program will be a talk and slide show by the Canal Society of Ohio on the Ohio Canal System. Sunday will offer a breakfast get-together before starting the days events. Individuals who wish to combine some
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serious hiking with the meeting may want to come early or stay after the meeting in order to hike the 20-mile backpack trail that circles Burr Oak Lake. Due to meeting and room reservation deposits required by the lodge, PRE·
REGISTRATION AND PAYMENT IS RE· QUIRED FOR THIS MEETING. Individuals requiring more information than is available on the pre-registration form may call Tomi Spyker at (614) 882-8023 in the evenings, or Emily Gregor (216) 884-0281.
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FALL MEETING REGISTRATION
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Telephone
The
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• :Address
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Registration Fee: $25.00 per person* Lodging Fee: CABIN: (only oen left as of 6/10/89) Two bedroom, kitchen and bath, sleeps six (with sofa bed in living room) ROOMS: (12 reserved until 9/1 /89) Single $49.00/night Double $59.00/night
Bucl(eye Fri & Sat $163.50t
:
Fri & Sat $106.82t Fri & Sat $128.62t
• :
1lral·1
LINKING THE FOUR CORNERS OF OHIO ~
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• * Registration f~e includes .tne Friday Hospitality party at the Buckeye Trail : : Cabin, Saturday program/events, Saturday eveing banquet, and Sunday : : breakfast. :
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: t Program Committee can take reservations tor lodging only tor these two nights. If you wish to reserve a room tor additional nights, you will have to make separate reservations /payment tor those additional dates through the lodge. Call the Reservation Service at 1-800-282-7275 to make any additional reservations. If you tell them you have already reserved a room with our NCTA Block of Rooms they will put you in a room in our section of the lodge. --
Individuals
at $25.00 each
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Cabin Reservation
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Single Room Reservation
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Double Room Reservation [V2 of bill musfbe enclosed)
[V2 of bill must be enclosed] [% of bill must be enclosed)
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Total Enclosed
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PRE-REGISTRATION WITH PAYMENT IS REQUIRED BY AUGUST 20. Those individuals reserving rooms through this pre-registration will only have to pay one-half of total room bills by the 20th. Written notice of • cancellation received by September 15, 1989, will assure a refund of all : pre-payments except tor registration tee.
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: MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO "BUCKEYE TRAIL ASSOCIATION". : Send to: Tomi Spyker, 7040 Africa Rd., Galena, Ohio 43021
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COME TO BURR OAK! OCTOBER 20-22, 1989 There is strength in unity Compliments of the Ohio Horseman's Council
Do you know someone that ought to he a member of the North Country Trail Association? NCTA Service Award winner John Hippe says:
"I challenge every NCTA member to bring in two new members by the fall meeting at Burr Oak, Oct. 20-22!" SPECIAL OFFER! NEW COMMERCIAL MEMBERS WILL RECEIVE FOUR FREE FULL-PAGE ADS IN THE NCTA NEWSLETTER .
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- A $200 VALUE! APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP Annual Dues: n'lembership year runs from July 1 through June 30. Due~ paid fromsAptil 1 on are valid through June 30 of, the following year.
North Country Trail Association PO Box 311 White Cloud, Ml 49349
Adult. ~ Family (includes children under 18) Student Organization· ·' Supporting , Donor : Life F'atron : ..• , Commercial :
I wish to join the North Country Trail Association.
10.00 15.00 5.00 25.00 50.00 250.00 300.00 $ 5000.00 $ 500.00 $ $ $ $ $ $ $
D Yes, I would like to further support the North Country Trail Association with my"tax free contribution of $ . enclosedr
Enclosed is $
for a
membership. Name Address
Phone--------------