North Star Vol. 10, No. 3 (1991) by NCTA Staff

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North Country Troll AssoCiatlon Newsletter, Summer 1991

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NEWSLETIER . ofthe

NORTH COUNTRY TRAIL ASSOCIATION PO Box 311, White Cloud, Ml 49349 Headquarters Phone: (616) 689-1912 Editor: Wes Boyd, 14815 Rome Road, Manitou Beach, Ml 49253 OFFICERS· President: Martha K. Jones, 1857 Torquay Ave, Royal Oak Ml 48073 Vice Prwident: Barbara A. Smith, 11 W. Main SL, Galetoo PA 16922 SllC/'9lary: Nancy Schuler, PO Box 194, Warren PA Hi:i65 . Tl'IMllUrer: Ksnrah Gadder, 418 W. Johnson St, caledohia Ml 49316 Headquartlll'9 Mgr.: Virginia Wunsch, Rt 1, White Cloud Ml 49349 President Emerilua: ~ Feild BOARD OF DIRECTORS NewYork . OOris and Cliflcrd ~ Rt 1, Bax 259, Spencer NY 14883 HCJMll'd S. Beys, 202 Colbourn Rd., RocheSter NY 14609 . Laura Mi:Guire, 1 Boylan Rd, Newfield NY 14867 J. Reimers, 3C W~dllower Dr.. lthacaM' 14850 Ed Sidae, 5 Clirton SL, NOIWich NY 13815

(313) 200-2921 (814) 435-2371 (814) 723·5150

(616) 891-1366 (1116) 689"6876

(607) 27'2-5119 (716) 288-7191 . (607) 564-3548 (607) 27'2-8679 (607) 334-3872

Thomas

Pennsylvania

Don and Brita Dom, Star AL, Bax 476, Sheffield PA 16347 Barbara A. Smith, 1.1 W. Main SL, Galetoo PA 16922 John G. Hipps, 11 W. Main St, Galetoo PA 16922 Glenn Oster, 784 Olive St, Pittsburg PA 15237 Nancy Schuler, PO Box 194, Warren PA ·16365

(814) 968-5759 (B 14) 435-2371 (814) 435-2371

(412) 364-2004 (814) 723-5150

Ohio· Emily Gregor, 6502 Olde York Rd., Parma Hts OH 44130 Cecil Dobbins, 783 Cliffside Dr., Akroo OH 44313 Jim SP'8Que, 44oe Maplecrest, Parma OH Tomi Lou SP)lker, 7040 Africa Rd., AL 1, Galena OH 43201 R. Baird Steward, 215 w. 12th St, Salem, Ohio44460

(216) 864-0281 {216) 867-3371 {216) 884:4757 (614) 882-~3 {216) 332-1745

Michigan Pat Allen, 2215 Sylvan.Dr. SE, G_rand Rapids Ml·49506 . Wes BCl'fd, 14815 Rome Road, Manttou Beach Ml 49253 Derek Blount, 906 N. Alexander, Royal Oak Ml 48067 Doo Elzinga; 1010 Allouez, Marquette Ml 49855 . Kenneth Gackler, 418 W. Johnson, Galedoriia Ml 49316 Arden Johnson, 600 Tennyspn, Rochester Hills, Ml 48063 Martha K. Jones, 1857 Torquay Ave, Royal Oak Ml 48073 Ruth Sack, 2317 Foster NE, Grand Rapids Ml 49505 Vince Smtth, Bax 76, Whttmore Lake Ml 48189 DBllene Snyder, 4067 Luxford, Comstock Park Ml 49231 Daug Welker, R1, Bax 59A, Peik.ie Ml 49958 Virginia Wunsch, Rt 1, Munet( Ave. Whtte Cloud Ml 49349

(616) 452-4487 (517) 547-7402 (313) 548-1737 (906) 225- 1585

(616) 891·1366 (313) 85.'.?-0292 (313) 200-2921 (616) 363-5966 (313) 231-1.257 (616) 764-5050 (906) 338-2680 (616) 689-6876

Wleconaln Gaylord Yost, 2925 W. Bradley Rd., River Hills WI 53209

(414) 354-8987

. Mlnnesot1 Rod MacRae, 1210 W. 22nd St., Minneapolis MN 55405 Harlan LiijBIJJist, 1605 W. Medicine Lake Dr., Plymouth MN 55441 Jim Richards, Rt 1, Callaway MN 56521

(612) 377-0130.

(612) 559,5994 {216) 375-4461

North Dakota Linda Mieke, 1536 Second A.ve. S, Fargo ND 58103

(701) 232-8513

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE ADMINISTRATOR Tom Gilbert. Nmional PBll< Service, 700 Ray-0-Vac Dr., Suite 100, Madison WI 53711

{608) 264-5610

REGIONAL AFFILIATES New York: Finger Lakes Trail Conference. PO Box 18048, Rochester NY 14618-0048 Ohio: Buckeye Trail Association, PO Bax 254, Worthingtoo OH 43085 Pl-111port any erro111 or omluiona

to the editor.

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by the Editor .

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The deadline for the next issue of the newsletter is September 3, 1991. Copy received by the editor after that date cannot be assured of aplace in the newsletter; receivingit well before that date is highly appreciated. For future reference the deadline for the winter issue of the newsletter will be December 1, 1991. ·

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It's hard to put a finger on why, but the feeling is inescapable: this trail is starting to take off and fly. When one keeps a finger to the wind, one detects some changing attitudes out there. It's no one big thing, but a lot of little things added together: • Projects that we have pushed on and massaged for years without milch result somehow are seeming to come together with a life of their own. • Officials in various state, national and local offices now are beginning to realize that this project exists and is a valid recreational opportunity for local areas; indeed, some places where, a couple of years ago you couldn't even get an · appointment to pitch an idea are now happy to welcome trail representatives. <In the last year, I've seen more media attention about the trail than I've ever seen before, both in the specialized publications and in the general mass media. I'm sure the 10th Anniversary Hike was a big success here, in drawing attention for recurring interest. •We're starting to get interest from other organizations, on the local, statewide and national levels, and trail projects are resulting. • Individual interest in various projects is booming. I've said for years that there is a huge mass of potentially fruitful projects out there -- many not directly involved in trail building or maintenance -- that go begging for someone to pick away at them. Now, some of these projects have been taken up by interested individuals and are becoming fruitful. • There's more and better information about the North Country Trail out there for the user than there ever has been before, with other projects coming. Granted, it's not collated into a central registry yet -- which is something we should work on -- but the situation is vastly improved over a few years ago. • Federal funding for the NPS trail office is starting to compound on itself, rather than being a struggle for every dime, and authorizations for more staff are coming, thankfully, since there's a growing backlog of applications for trail certification. Some of this funding is flowing down to the level of the organization, where we can put it to use. State funding for trailprojects seems to be picking up, as well. It's no big thing, but a lot of little things coming together. You can't take this newspaper story or that piece of data and make a story out of it. But, add a lot of little things together and it comes to a definite feeling that something good for the future of the trail is happening out there. We'll be reporting on some of these things as they gell and become reality.

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North Country Troll Association Newsletter, Summer, 1991

PATIENCE WON A ROUND when it was announced earlier this spring that the North Country Trail will be routed through Michigan's Porcupine Mountain State Park. When the initial plans for the trail were being drawn, state officials balked at allowing the trail into the park, and planners had to settle for a probably difficult to achieve route across private land south of the park. However, attitudes have changed, and the state has approved the NCT in 路the park. Trail heads do not match up with existing trail in the Ottawa National Forest, and some new trail will have to be constructed to solve this, probably this summer. The new route is south of the best-known features of the park, in .a remote, scenic, and little-visited area, but existing trail connects to such scenic features as Lake of the Clouds.

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FOR SEVERAL I-URS, Tomi Spyker has served as secretary of the North Country Trail Association, but was forced to resign due to job and school constraints, announced at路 the spring meeting. Nancy Schulerof Pennsylvania was selected to fill out Tomi's term,

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TRAIL USE is tough to calculate. ATC officials usually claim that 3 1/2 or 4 million people use the Appalachian Trail each year, but this figure includes any persons that step on the trail, for however short a distance, and is based on an unscientificsurvey several years ago. So how many people use the North Country Trail in a year. It's anybody's guess, and of course varies from segment to segment. Yet, it would be nice to be able to upgrade "guess" to "educated guess", for fonding in several areas is at least partly based on anticipated visitation,

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THE MADISON REGIONAL office of the National Park Service services three national trails: the North Coun-

try and Ice Age Scenic Trails and the Lewis and Clark National Historical Trail, and was, until early June, located on Big Sky Drive, a fact of some mirth to the Montana component of the L&C NIIT. As of June 1, the office has moved about a mile to another location, on (are you ready?) Ray-0VacDrive.Any guess which corporate office is located across the street? The new address is: National Park Service, North Country NST, 700 Ray-0-Vac Drive, Suite 100, Madison, WI 53711. The new phone number is (608) 2645610.

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THE MOVE OF THE National Park Service office for the NCNST, as mentioned above, has, along with other factors, caused a major logjam of paperwork, Tom Gilbt'tt reports. Buried in that paperwork, however, are enough certification applications to put the certified length of the NCNST over 1000 miles, so a real milestone for the trail is in the offing for the next few months. Next step: 2000 certified miles by 2000.

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THE NATIONAL Geographic Society's recent book offering, "Pathways to Discovery", "includesa segment on the North Country . National Scenic Trail. For more information, contact National Geographic Society, Post Office Box 2895, Washington DC 20077-9960.

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THE NORTH COUNTR.YTrailHiker's ClubofMarquette, Michigan,was recognized as a chapter of the North Country Trail Association at the Spring meeting this year.The chapterhasbeen bard at work at extending the trail through Michigan's Marquette and Barage Counties, with a great deal of success, and has held several very successful events, including one of the mootsuccessfuland well-attendedNorth Country Trail 10th Anniversary Hike activities last year.

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MAKING THE Marquette group a chapter of the NCT A brings the number of chapters in Michigan to threesort of. The Southern Michigan Chapter of the NCT A has been dormant for years, but Liz Fosberg, 550 Boichot Rd., Lansing, MI 48906, has agreed to try to get it going again. Interested persons in south centralMichigan should contact her. The NCT A is considering a new push to organize local chapters, which is seen as a real key to local involvement. 路

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THE SPRING MEETING of the North Country Trail Association will again be held at the "Shack" in White Cloud next year, Ginny-Wunsch reports. Ginny suggests that reservations be made early, as they got to be in short supply at the last minute this year.

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I.RENE SZABO from Mt. Morris, NY, was elected President of the Finger Lakes Trail Conference by the Board of Managers on May 4, 1991. She succeeds Tom Reimers who was president for two years. Irene joined the Conference in 1985 and has been a member of the Board of Managers since 1989. She chaired a subcommittee of the Trails Committee to evaluate requirements.and designs for trail signs and other trail markers. Irene is sponsor of the main Finger Lakes Trail between Winding Stairs Road and Everett's Road on Map M-12 and for the Bristol Hills branch between acess points 19 and 23. She is also writing a trail guide for the main FLT between the Conservation Trail and South Bradford. Besides the FLTC, Irene also belongs to the Audubon Society, the Nature Conservancy, North Country Trail Association, and the Bergen Swamp PreservationSociety. She taught high school English for a few years and owns her own business, Indoor Air Quality. Irene's main goal during the next year is to increase public awareness of the Finger Lakes Trail.

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North Country Trail Association Newsletter, Summer 1991

Help build the North Country Trail! This is a list of the North Country Trail construction or maintenanceprojects setfor1991 that the newsletterhas been made aware of. How about taking off a weekendor a week to help out with building the North Country Trail?

New York -The Finger Lakes Trail Conference Central Section Work Week will be July 15-20, 1991. Joel Fiske from the Finger Lakes National Forest will coordinate and lead the work week in the Finger Lakes National Forest near Watkins Glen. Trail rebuilding due to horse damage and poor drainage is the principal work to be undertaken.

Pennsylvania • The Keystone Trails Association is sponsoring a Work Trail Care project September 6, 7, and 8 on the North Country Trail in McConnels Mill State Park. Trip Leaders are Tom Thwaites (814) 237-7703 and Mark Eckler (412) 588-6164. Camp will be at Rose Point Campgrounds. They will start to build the North Country Trail in McConnels Mill State Park from Eckert Bridge to Hell's Hollow, at least 3 miles. This will be the first installment of a project this is expected to last several years. It is important that our NCTA members from Pennsylvania support this project. The weekend starts Friday night at the designated camping site. A full day of trail work on Saturday is followed by an evening of campfire and sociability (bring own food). Bring work gloves; tools will be provided. Call leader in advance if you plan to participate. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, NORTH COUNTRY TRAIL ASSOCIATION Salary $24,000-$30,000 w/benefits. Application Deadline July 15, 1991. Dlscriptlon: Develop and support an organizational capability, on continuing basis, w/staff and volunteers to assist NPS w/ mgm of NCT; direct membership development; pursue corporation/foundation/group organizations for financial support of NCTA and/or trail projects; promote public awareness and use of NCT; assist NPS and others in preparing long-range plans for development and protection of trail; establish and maintain good communications and PR w/public officials, private persons and organizations interested in supporting and/or protecting trail; recruit and train volunteers for Trail work and maintenance; pursue, as appropriate, capability to acquire, hold and protect lands for Trail; identify opportunities/needs to develop new Trail segments; prepare and submit applications for Certification of new Trail segments; provide guidance/assistance to NCTA Chapters and other Trail organizations for Trail work projects, Special Trail events, PR, Volunteer Training, Etc. Quallftcatlon: Self-initiative plus Education and knowledge/ experience in administration of non-profit organization. fund raising, membership development, computers and data-base mgm. Strong written/spoken communications and PR skills w/ public and private individuals and organizations, ability to coordinate and supervise volunteers and staff, and knowledge of political process on all levels. To Apply: Send current resume w/references to Search Committee, NCTA, 1857 Torquay Ave., Royal Oak Ml 48073 Location: NCTAssociation headquarters is in westem Michigan: some flexibility may be possible for the Executive Director's place of operation.

Michigan -The Huron Valley Group of the Mackinac Chapter of the Sierra Club will again sponsor four weeks of trail building in Michigan under the supervision of Vince Smith. The dates for the trail camps are: July 21-27; July 28-August 3; August 1824 and August 25-31. In July and August, the group will be creating the trail in State Forests east of Kalkaska and south of Boyne Falls, near several lakes and the headwaters of the Manistee and Jordan Rivers. In August, the group will be in the wild country of Michigan's Upper Peninsula among the lakes, rivers, rocks and forests 30 to 40 miles west of Marquette, with chances to explore Craig Lake Wilderness State Park, the McCormick Wilderness, and Rocking Chair Lakes with its virgin pines. Each outing lasts from Sunday to Saturday. Food is provided. First meal served is Monday morning. Bring your own camping equipment -- tent or camper, sleeping bag and pad, eating utensils, day pack, canteen, etc, and also a cooler and pruning shears, if convenient. The cost is $45 per week, due one month before the outing to trip leader Vince Smith. For information, send stamped, self-addressed envelope to Vince Smith, Box 76. Whitmore Lake, MI 48189 (313) 231-1257.

Minnesota • August 2-4 and August 16-18, Campsite construction in Chippewa NF. Contact Rod MacRae, (612) 377-1030 • Open dates: Survey new NCT route through the Paul Bunyan State Forest, (Between Chippewa NF and Itasca SP). This 30 mile stretch is dense forest and hills, and survey is needed to find the best route and flag it. When about 10 miles have been flaged construction will begin in cooperation with the Minnesota DNR. Dates can be independently arranged to fit your schedule. Contact Harlan Lillequist, (612) 559-5994 or Shelly Colvin (612) 827-6489.

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NCTA TRIPS AND ACTIVITIES )

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Michigan August 12-15. Camping/Hiking on Grand Island in Lake Superior by Munising, Michigan. Four days offun in the National RecreationArea Call Darlene (616) 784-5050 or (616) 364-8722 or Art Holland (616) 784-6441 for information. Must be an NCTA Member to participate.

Minnesota Sept. & Oct.: Organizedgroup hikes on the NCTIChippewa Small group of no more than 10 with trail leader. Great food and fall color. Other hikes on Superior Trail, Porcupine Mountains. ContactStartingLake Outdoor Center, Eden Prairie MN (612) 941-8336

Pennsylvania July 20, 1991: There will be a summer meeting for all Pennsylvania NCTA members, family and friends at Cook ForestState Park. There will be a brief meeting to discuss the annual hike on the three sections of the trail that celebrated the 1990 tenth anniversary. Any other kems pertinant to those present will also be covered. Everyoneis invited for the day or the weekend to become acquated with each other and to enjoy the many activities available at this special little place: hiking, canoeing, horseback riding, camping, picnicing and more. For any questions, contact Barbie Smith at

(814) 435-2371.

North Country Troll Association Newsletter, Summer, 1991

Pages

North Country Celebration -Summer home ... Watch and listen, tuning in to the rhythm and the ways of these master builders. Around a tree slump or poking their heads out of a tree hole the little Raccoons play play peek-a-boo. In the meadow, the coat of night, the cub Bear come in twos, sometimes threes, and stays with its Mother for just about as many years. Across the hill, poults of young Wild Turkey scatter and freeze at their Mother's warming call, and at the edge of the woods a brood of Ruffed Grouse chicks hide in the fem. The sky turns rapidly from gray to black wilhin a few blinks of an eye . Colossal flashes appear . The wind blows ... A rumbling sound tumbles across the treeThe splendor of rich green grasses and tops ... The end of the storm is no less marvelous. the azure sky take us far enough away from Wild flowers, purples, yellows, and reds are the every-day world to allow us to listen to definitely brighter. The waltz of the flowers our own heart and soul. There is an inner music that's nice to respond in swinging syncopation in between listen to and a gurgle and bubble like the the interplay of all living things is at the command of the grand conductor's magic wand. brook just beyond us. Summer's powerful greens fill every free, Within the depths of time ... bush, and blade and blossoming is everyWe .. Smell its memory messages ... where Taste its tenderness ... Orange and yellow Paintbrush pop out Feel its touch . of the grassy fields hand in hand with Ox-I Daises and Buttercups. Cinque-foil mix with Heat its music . In the tiniest of things to the biggest of Wild Strawberry, Wild Lavender Pink Geraniums with yellow Trefoil,tall trickilybrambles things, there is Life. Some no bigger than of white Blackberry blossoms mingle with grains of dust, yet full of color and scent. Ifwe clumps and ribbons of Dane's Rocket pastel, had not seen the miracle, would we have all exhaled from the soft underside of the believed in the spirit of the sea? rainbow to decorate this magnificent North There is a wholism about all life from the smallest of wildflowers to we who people the Country land. A summer shower cools the hot humid Earth. Earth that shares the universe. We can heat of the day. Fields and meadows, the tree- continue to help perpetuate the whole of the covered land, birds and animals, even the Universe through our own awareness of partnership; woman and man, bird and insect, tiniest of insects are thankful for the waler .. flower and animal, fish and reptile. We arc . the magic gift of all living things. Whal is that rustling in the woods? As we only a part of the spectrum that makes the walk into the forest losing ourselves in the rainbow. background hum of birdsong, we soon disEvery living thing from big to small is cover that sweet mystery that shows us the here to help one another to promote the goodways of Wood Folk. We need only be quiet, ness and the positivity, the color and the tight, friendly and peaceful, sitting down anywhere the joy and the laughter. in one place to learn the curious bits of their Fire flies flicker on and off in the air and lives that we would never otherwise experiilluminate this sweetly serene place. The loence. custs and crickets harmonize their song and Summer is the Lime when Mother Nathe grasses whisper in the breathless hush of ture's creatures are attending lo babies that evening. come in an assortment of colors, sizes and The sounds, the sights and the movements shapes. of the North Country casts spell that encircles There is a Bambi of the woods ... the the land, its flora and fauna, in a love embrace Fawn ... a speckled reddish delicate wonder for one another and for all the kindred souls of beauty. It's as if the capital Milky Way had who find the light of life beyond the vale of opened up, letting go its stars to land as spots into the heart of the world and the soul of the on their coat and bedazzle all who see them. universe. -Barbie Beaver do talk ... Visit the banks of their

We of the North Country Trail invite you to share in our efforts to realize a 3200-mile traversing New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota and North Dakota. Through a North Country Celebration you will breathe, taste, and touch the trail as we journey over its days and nights, around the calendar and within the year. All that is bright and beautiful will become an intimate part of you as its seasonal rhythm is experienced by way of the written word and a knowing that a much greater appreciation can be had from your own personal journey in your own time and your own quiet space.

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North Country Tra/l Association Newsletter, Summer, 1991

.The North Country Trail from the Michigan Shore-to-Shore RidingHiking Trail to the Jordan River Pathway

by Vince Smith

Long awaited by North Country Trail enthusiasts, the connection between the Michigan Shore-to-Shore Riding-Hiking Trail and the Jordan River Pathway, in Kalkaska and Antrim Counties, Michigan, is nearing completion, becoming a reality over the past three years, linking two popular trails and adding to the overall length of trail in Michigan. This trail segment bas not yet been certified, as it is still awaiting some finishing touches. East of Kalkaska Camp, the Shore-to-Shore trail follows State Road east through Mayhem Swamp, then turns south on Hagini Road. At this point, the NCT leaves the STS, continuing east on State Road, (which quickly becomes County Road 612) for a distance of five miles, past Manistee Lake and across the North Branch of the Manistee River, to just past Sunset Trail Road, where, when cleared, it will go north between the section line and the existing snowmobile trail. First hugging the section line through a red pine plantation, it will veer easterly to skirt a swamp, mount a ridge covered with hardwoods, cross a power line, and, two miles north of County Road 612, come to the access trail to Pickerel Lake State Forest Camp Ground. The trail is cleared down the hillside through the hardwoods to Sunset Trail Road", and comes out opposite the ladies' rest room, thereby avoiding most of a maze of vehicle trails in the area. In the eastward direction, the NCT Main Trail is cleared through the hardwoods across Kenel Road", and farther east and then north across a seasonal road a quarter mile farther on, ·and then another mile northerly through the woods to Indian Lake Road", 27 North of this point, plans are to combine the NCT with the Blue Lake Pathway, a set of three loops for hiking and skiing. Three miles north, the Trail follows Sand Lake Road north from Starvation -'"·-Lake Road" to Sand Lake (1 3/4 miles), and then a two-track on the same section line another 1 3/4 miles to C-38, Mancelona Road". There is talk of acquiring Sand Lake for a county park, in which case it may be possible for the NCT to follow the shore.) North of C-38, the Trail is again cleared through the woods, first red pine and then hardwoods, with also a clearcut and a power line to cross. After one mile, at Scholl Road", the Trail moves to the west side of the section line in order to stay on state land, and continues north another 1/4 mile and west 11/4 miles through aspens, openings, a clearcut, and hardwoods, to Bocook Road", Then, the trail turns L northwesterly for about a mile to Whispering Pines Road, and another mile or so to Cinder Hill Road". Another 3/4 mile or so west and north leads to the Doerr Road extension, here a mere two-track in the sand on the shore of Five Lake. From this point, an access trail leads northerly 3/8 mile or so to the Alba Schools Camp on the north shore of Five Lake. The camp bas been badly vandalized, but has a usable well, not known so far to be polluted. Camping is allowed only with the permission of the Alba School Board. The NCT itself goes west 1/2 mile on "Doerr Road", then north almost 4 miles on Corey Road (a mere wagon track through the fields), Harvey Road, and the trail to Landslide Creek Overlook on the Jordan River Pathway. Turn left here if you want to get to Pinney Bridge Campground. The Jordan River Pathway is not yet connected to the Warner Creek Pathway by a cleared trail, though bushwhacking is fairly easy.

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• Indicates that the road shoulder at this crossing is wide enough to park a car.

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North Country Trail Association Nei,ysletter,Summer, 1991

Book and

review

Best information yet now available on North Country Trail . Getting recent, reliable information on the ~orth Country Trail has always been a problem, and will p~ob~ly continue to be one for some years to come. Yet, the situat'!'n is steadily improving, and 1991 has brought a real revolu"?n with the publication of several items that together comprise the biggest and best contribution yet to information on the trail, all reasonably priced or free items that North Country Trail enthusiasts will want to have on their bookshelves when they're not in the pockets of their hiking shirts. -- lVB Certified Sections oflheNorlh Country Trail. by Byron and Margaret Hutchins, Rockford Ill:Hutchins Guidebooks ($15.40 plus $2.00 postage; segments available at various prices); Available from North Country Trail Bookstore.

Page 7

available in earlier publications. The mileages between points along the trail are given on the sketch map, as wellas estimates of bilcing time. In spite of very precise directions and information, the narrative desaiptions of the trail remains highly rea~ble, with plenty of local facts and color, and personalexpen~n~ that make the trail become very real. You are caught sitting under a bridge with the Hutchins, waiting out a thunderstorm, as they tell of a particularly gruesome local murder that occurred more than a century ago, talk of wildlife and scenery that happened alo_ng the way, along with_gi~g rou~e directions. Consider this segment, along the Miami and Erie Canal in Ohio: "North of Ohio 33, our path becomes a dirttrail, In 24 minutes, the canal has broadened into a lake, wbich was used as a tum-around basis, called 40-Aaes pond. We cross blacktopped Gylnwood Road in 23 minutes. There is a small dam at the highway bridge. The canal soon turns northeast along a wooded area and we pass under a sizzling powerline in ten minutes and cross blacktopped Delphos - St. Marys Road in two more minutes by some houses." "Certified Sections of the North Country Trail" is a longawaited start to a usable guide to the whole length of the trail, and, as an ongoing and growing book, it can be expected over the years to grow into the detailed hiker's guidebook needed for the length of the trail, done by experienced hikers and guidebook writers that know what information the hiker needs in new areas and, provides it ina highly usable manner. It's not the definitive guide to the North Country Trail- it's doubtful if there can ever be such a thing - but it's a huge step in the right direction.

Already the publishers of a guidebook to the Pacific Crest Trail, Byron and Margaret Hutchins have turned their attention to the North Country Trail, and have provided the most complete and detailed guide to many sections of the NCNST yet published. Gujde lo the Norlb Country Tmil in the ChiJ1PewqNaBecause the trail exists in many small Segments, the tional Foreg. Mianesotq. by Roderick MacRae. White Cloud, Hutchins decided to concentrate on those sections long enough Michigan: North Country Trail Association ($1.25)Available to make reasonable destinations for weekend hiking, and then from North Country Trail Bookstore. develop their segment descriptions in packages suitable for half a days or a days hike. The resulting hike sheets are printed There is probably no one better versed on the NCT in on 8 1/2" x 11 "路 paper and bound in a loose leaf folder or Minnesota's Chippewa National Forest than trail activist and notebook, so information on each segment can be easily 路 Scotophile Rod MacRae, and in this slim, 12-page publicacarried. The trail guide is available as a complete notebook, or tion, MacRae has boiled down his knowledge of the trail and in folders for various areas at various prices (See the North made it available to those who would enjoy the rolling hills Country Trail Bookstore ad elsewhere in this newsletter for and pristine lakes of the North Country Trail in north central prices on each segment.) Minnesota. The booklet,intended to be used with the National Available are segments on the Allegheny National Forest Forest Service/Lakes States Interpretive Association map of and Cook Forest State Park (Pennsylvania); Wayne National the forest, is highly detailed in the information it provides the Forest (Ohio); Little Miami Scenic Park (Ohio); Miami and hiker. Erie Canal (Ohio); Manistee National Forest (Michigan); Reading from east to west, the booklet gives a mile-byHiawatha National Forest (Michigan); Chequamegon Na-. mile description of the trail, and excellent aids in both the tionalForest(Wismnsin);Chippewa National Forest (Minne- planning and the use of the trail, including warning about sota) and Sheyenne National Grasslands (North Dakota). some tricky spots, such as areas where the forest map is in Segments on the Ottawa National Forest (Michigan) and the slight error. As the Chippewa National Forest bas a reputation Pictured Rocks National Lalceshore and Lake Superior State for having difficult to find campsites and water access points, Forest (Michigan) arc in preparation, and should be available MacRac goes into considerable detail to help the biker with within the year. Some segments are not complete because the these needed items . . trail is not, and the Hutchins promise to provide registered At the same tiine, it's nicely readable and loaded with purcbuers of the book with appropriate updates as they aids to the Chippewa National Forest that only someone become available, and to update existing data as needed. :Each with plenty of knowledge of the area could pass on, such as segment includes a suffiocntly detailed sketch map to follow this segment, near the eastern end of the trail: the trail. "10.3. Pass Loon Lake, another small, marshy body of A mcasutjPgwheel was used in the preparation of infor- water. Tum downhill towards Jake on the first small access mation on mo5t segments, in some cases comingup with some road and proceed bade eastward about .10 miles to a small mileage figures that are significantly different from tbo8e spruce grove at edge of road. An undeveloped campsite is at

Hiker

Page8

North Country Trail Association Newsletter, Summer, 1991

this spot. An inviting pathway will lead you toward the lakeshore and water can be accessed at an obscure patch of bard shore near a mature white pine forest at shores edge. Rejoin NCT aQQ continue northwest through hilly terrain and pine forest." This slim booklet, published by the North Country Trail Association, provides the kind of local knowledge about a trail segment that is needed along much of the trail. It is the kind of book needed in many areas that will give the biker new to the trail the information needed to make a North Country Trail hike an enjoyable one, and hopefully items of similar quality can be provided for other areas along the trail as time goes on. Mapsets of the North Country Trail in Michipn; by "Arden Johnson Rochester Hills, Michigan: Arden Johnson.

(Each set, $5.00; All four sets, $18.00; ).AvailablefromNorth Country Trail Bookstore. Michigan NCNST enthusiasts have long envied Ohio and Pennsylvania for their excellent mapsets on the Buckeye and Finger Lakes Trail, and seen the need for a similar trail map series for Michigan, where the North Country Trail follows a" wide variety of trails, some obscure, with obscure trailbeads, and varying widely in types and degree of marking. It has taken a real enthusiast to figure out where the North Country Trail runs in Michigan. . Now, finally,NCTA Membership ChairmanArden Johnson bas taken the bull by the horns and has gotten a mapset series for Michigan under way. Modeled after the familiar maps of the Finger Lakes Trail, the detailed sketch maps are unbound, and printed on 8 1/2xll inch sheets to make it easy for the biker to put in his pocket for a segment at a time. Included with the sketch maps are a brief trail description of each segment, detailed enough for the biker strange to the area to successfully and enjoyably follow the trail. Such information as access points, distances, camp grounds, water boles, etc., is shown. The maps are admittedly not fancy, multicolored publications, but they are a beginning that has been badly needed. The Michigan mapsets do not yet cover the entire route of the NCNST in Michigan, although sufficent maps to cover the route are planned in the near future, in order to give the longdistance hiker a simple package that will explain the general route of the trail. At the moment, the maps available are in four sets: Croton Dam to Hodenpyl Dam (9 sections); Interlochen to Boyne Falls (7 sections); St. Ignace to Harvey (9 sections) and Marquette to Ironwood (8 sections). The map series is intended as an interim publication, but one that will be updated and improved as time goes on and information and trail improves. "There are trail segments out there that no one uses because no one knows where they are," Johnson has commented. "Hopefully, this will get people out on some of them." The map series is now available through the North Country Trail store, and pre-publication orders, which had been held up by a misunderstanding, should have reached readers before this article. Jopn8on's work has provided a long-needed addition to the infbrmation available on the North Country Trail, and provides Michigan hikers with the one-place information source about the NCT in the state that has long been badly needed.

North CountrvNationalScenic Trail (various national fornts) US Forest Service and Lake States Interpretive Association. (Free); Available from USFS. The comment was made in the NCTA's "Following the North Country National Scenic Trail" that free information about the trail available from national forests (with the exception of the Chippewa) was generally far inferior to free information from other sources. With the publication of this series of maps, this is no longer the case. The US Forest Servicehas long been a strong supporter of the North Country Trail effort; in terms of trail on the ground, it's probably safe to say that they've been the strongest supporter. Now, in cooperation with the Lake-States Interpretive Association, they have available a series of free maps on the trail in the various forests' that matches the quality and quantity of work the USFS has done on the trail. The maps, in a 17x22 multifold, multicolor format, have been issued for the Sheyenne Grasslands, Chippewa National . Forest, Chequamegon National Forest, Ottawa National Forest. (two separate sections), Hiawatha National Forest (east section), Huron-Manistee National Forest (two separate seclions), Wayne National Forest and Allegany National Forest. Only a few scattered segments of North Country Trail on National Forest land are not covered, such as the western segment of the Wayne National Forest in common with the Buckeye Trail. The maps give a considerable amount of information about the trail, both on the map andin the margins. The maps themselves give the trail route itself, water points, camping and parking facilities, and the like, as well as access roads and points of interest. The margins are quite informative discussing a wide variety of information of interest to the .user, including camping information, natural history, an outline of the North'Country trail project, trail rules and good sense, and more information on points of local interest. There are, unfortunately, a few glitches, some understandable. Perhaps the most notable and irritating is 路the decision to publish the Huron-Manistee and Chippewa forest maps with north to the right, and west up. This is very corifusing, and and can be expected to cause problems for casual trail users. As these are the only national forest segments of the NCT that are oriented north-south, printing these maps in the common mariner would have caused diffi~ culties with the format for the rest of the series, Another glitch is that there are occasional maps that show completed trail where the trail has not yet been completed, but where completion is planned soon. The maps bear a warning to check with the local forest office for the latest details, but this could be easily overlooked by the casual user. Finally, Minnesota users have been critical of the Chippewa National Forest map, as some see it as being of poorer quality than the previous map published by the USFS/LSIA. Quibbles aside, these maps provide a badly needed compendium of map information on the North Country Trail, 路 available to the general public. Their availability, for free, in adequate numbers, is probably the biggest and most important shot of the recent revolution in information on the North Country Trail, and will be the basic trail information used by the majority of trail users for years to come, and the US Forest Service and the Lake States Interpretive Association can be commended for their effortsIn developing and providing these maps.

North Country Tran Association Newsletter, Summer, 1991

Page9

Which route in Hillandale County? Imagine, if you will. Hillandale County. The North Country Trail is well esuoJishOO in the Good Jlqle State RJrest. and the local chapter of the North Country Trail Assoeietion wants to push the trail on over privately held lands, but is unsure of which route to take, so goes to the Hillandale County Council to request their guidance, and perhaps, assis. tance, in working out which of three possible routes to pursue. One route is a r~il-trail conversion, one along a stream and lake, and one follows a high ridge. The Hillandale County Council is really a mixed lot, ranging from outdoor people with enthusiasm for the plan to .an old fuddy-duddy chairman that is downright obstructive; he doesn't want "hikers dressed like prostitutes scattering beer cans all over the place". The other council members have their own personal agendas, as well, that are not necessarily favorable to the trail. One, for instance, doesn't want to spend any public money on the trail, but sees as imperative more expenditures on the county human resources plan, Another would like to see more interest given to senior citizen concerns.· · There are plenty of local interests coocemed about the trail, not all of them positive. There are Jak:efroot property owners that don't want to be disturbed, an elderly farm couple concerned about what the trail might do to their property value, as they're planning to sell their farm to create a nest egg for their retirement, a mall developer that sees ooe of the routes as a ~ible walkway to the mall, a subdivision developer that is less than happy about a trail invading bis high-rent district, and snowmobilers that think: a trail for them is fine. At a public bearing on the pJan, all the cbictcm come home to roost, and the traildeveiripers and county councilmen have to wend their way through a forest of conflicting views on their way to coming out with a simple amwer, and "We don't want a trail here" :ia very much one of the possibilities. Sound familiar? Been there before?

THERE'S PLENTY OF public ~omment at a public hearing to held td decld•. the beat route of the North Couf'.ltryNational Scenic Trail In Hlllandale .County, as- •county Planner• Derek Blount explalns the potential routes-to •council membera• Emily Gregor, Wea Boyd, Rod MacR.ae and Doug Welker. The·eeulon was actually a role playing exercise held at the spring meeting of the NCTAto explore some of the . Issues lnvolv8d in routing a trail acroM prlvat81y-heldlands • Well, everyone at the Spring Meeting of the NCTA -'ot a taste of the problems and conflicting views, even though Hillandale County exists only in the fertile imagination of National Park Service Trails Director Steve Elldntoo,who coordinated the exercise a role-playing experience to give NCTA members a taste of the political . problems and differing . motives involved in routing the trail over private land. About 26 differ'." cot roles were assigned, from chairman of the council (Newsletter F.ditor Steve Elklnton Wt:S Boyd, who's NPS Trall1 Chief sat in enough government meetings to be really cranky about them), council members Ruth Sack, Emily Gregor, Rod MacRae and Doug Welker, p~ director Dack Blount (who's much too realistic to ever make a government planning director), and representatives of various organi2.ations,homeowners, and the like being played by many of the attendees at the. meeting. 'It was .fun, and a learning experience. A few of the points that developed out of the play-by-play were not really

the obvious ones that might have been toought of: _ .• Tbere is a need to have a pretty good idea of what trail interests want to accomplish before presenting it to local government. - •Trail developers need to take time, ahead of time, to cultivate favorable localinterests toward trail development: •Support and opposition can come· from unexpected areas and groups, sometimes forreasoas that do not neces· sarily have to make sense. • It's important to have a solid idea of bow the project is to be funded. •It's also necessary to have an idea of what objectiom· to a. trail may be raised, and bow to counter them. • Trail development 'needs to be presented man asset to the community, • The impact of trails on property values is almost always a key issue. • Fear of unknown consequences may alter perceptions of a trail's community impact. · · They're all important issues, and will grow exceedingly more important to the development of the trail as completion on publicly held lands nears, and more and more work will have to be done in arc:aa that are pedorninantly in private owncnbip, where local coordiaation and cooperation will be an ever more import.mt factor.

Page 10

North Country Traff Association Newsletter, Summer 1991

NCTA has busy spring meeting at White Cloud The North Country Trail Association again packed a lot into a short time at the annual Spring Meeting. Perhaps the most notable was the visit and brief speech of Michigan Senator cart Levin, who spoke of his commitment to the trail and its development. Levin's interest in the trail -- he and his family have hiked several segments and plan to hike more -could possibly open some big doors toward its completion. Some highlights of the meeting: • The search for an executive director has been delayed, and a new announcement for the position was posted, -The headquarters buildirighad 74 overnighters last year; 50 paid and 24 trail workers. Much painting and upgrading of the building has been done by volunteers in the past year. · • Membership has reached 572, up from·420 a year ago. • It was agreed that the organization would be willing to · pay extra to have the newsletter printed on recycled paper; therefore, this newsletter is printed on it. • Private interests that work on any part of the NCT can be recognized as Volunteers in the Parks (VIP), the same as volunteers in visitor centers, etc. This gives .a protestion against liability or injury. Some landowners can also have recourse through this agreement, at the discretion of the NPS. Watch for more information in a future newsletter. • Derek Blount and Tom Reimers received awards in recognition of their outstanding service to the NCT. Vince Smith received a National Park Service award in recognition of bis trailbuilding efforts. Suggestions for future awards are being sought; suggestions should go to Ruth Sack. • It was requested that all organizations maintain records of volunteer hours spend on the trail. • Nancy Schuler was named secretary and a member of the board, following the resignation of Tomi Lou Spyker. •All board members with expiring terms, with the exception of Ed Solstad, who resigned, were re-elected to new three year terms. • NCTA will have a table at the ATC biennel conference July 19-26 at Williamstown, MA. . • National Scenic and National Historic Trails Conference will be held November 14-17 near Portland, OR. The conference will be preceded by a two-day training course for private organizations whose members work on trails. The event is not open to the public, but NCT A will be represented. <The 1991 Fall meeting will be held in Fargo, ND. The Park Service will be paying for a bus tour to visit several points of interest in eastern North Dakota. • It is anticipated that the 1992 Fall Meeting will be at Cook Forest State Park in Pennsylvania. Watch for further details. · <Ideas for Sierra Club outings on the North Country Trail were requested to be to Vince Smith by July 25. • The North Country Trail Hikers (Marquette, MI) were designated a chapter of the NCT A. • A committee was formed, chaired by Jim Sprague, to establish and refine guidelines for organizing chapters. On the committee are John Hipps, Rod MacRae, Tom Reimers, Gaylor Yost, Linda Mieke, Darlene Snyder and Don Elzinga. •A long-range planning committee for the NCTA was

MICHIGAN SENATOR CARL LEVIN was a guest speaker at the spring meeting of the Association. He spoke briefly on his commitment to the goals of the NCTA and entertained questions from the membership. organizeds. On the committee are Derek Blount, Arden Johnson, Howard Beye, Tom Gilbert, Linda Meike and Barb Smith. • John Hipps also is to chair another new committee, looking at ways of changing the format of the NCTA meetings, which seem to jam too much into too short a period. Comments were requested on how to improve the meetings, and a number received. Further suggestions are requested from association and committee members, and should be to Committee Chairman John Hipps not later than August 1. Committee members will receive a summary by Sept. 1 and are to report back to Hipps not later than Oct. 1, so the report can be presented at the fall meeting. .. ···.;.:.;.;,.:•:·:·:·.<·:·

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North Country Troll Association Newsletter, Summer, 1991

Trail

Head A letter from the president

Those of you who were not able to attend the Annual Spring Meeting in White Cloud this May missed the opportunity to meet U.S. Senator Carl Levin from Michigan. Senator Levin opened our meeting Saturday morning with a few words to express his interest in the NCT and his desire to help in its completion. We are delighted to have his backing and sincerely appreciate the time he took from his busy schedule to stop in White Cloud and address the members who were present. We hope to see him hiking or working somewhere on the trail this summer. Other good things happened in White Cloud, also, including the signingof a Co-operativeAgreement with the National Park Service which will provide protection for NCT Trail Workers under the "Volunteers in the Parks" program. We are happy to have this protection - but we will be happier still if sufficient precautions arc taken so no one is injured. Eligibility for this protection requires the "Trail Boss" to fill out and submit a Daily Workers Sheet which should be sent to Nancy Schuler, PO Box 194, Warren, PA 16365 at the conclusion of each work session. All work-trip leaders should request a supply of the "Worker's Sheets" from Tom Gilbert, National Park Service, North Country NST, 700 Ray-0- Vac Drive, Suite 100, Madison WI 53711. It will be appreciated if all workers will help the leader by providing the required information. We are happy to welcome Nancy Schuler from Warren, PA as our new secretary to fill Tomi Spyker's remaining term, through May, 1992. Because of the pressure of work and numerous other activities, Tomi asked to be relieved of this responsibility.Tomi bas served as Secretary to the NCTA for several terms; we appreciate her past dedication to a rather demanding job, and will miss her. Hope we'll see you at a

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Page 11

meeting now and then, Tomi. I know you are all interested in the progress of selecting an Executive Director for the NCTA. I can only report at this time that your search committee is still receiving applications and evaluating them. For various reasons, top candidates have been unable to accept the appointment. We continue to search and trust that a selection will be made before the October meeting. As I write this message to you from Waitsville, VT, a lovely little village in the heart of the Green Mountains, where it takes three or four villages to fill a telephone directory page, where the Long Trail traverses the mountain. ridge, I am thinking of the North Country Trail. By comparison, the Long Trail is a mere 265 miles in length, versus the NCT of 3200+ miles. The Long Trail was started some 95 years ago versus the NCT with a history of only approximately 10 years. The Long Trail is still working on trail protection, relocation, and fighting the battle of "invasion" by undesirable actions of "progress", versus the NCT, that is approximately 1/3 to on the ground, with the opportunity to protect the trail corridor as we build. But most importantly, the Long Trail is a delightful experience of beauty and solitude for those young and old alike, able to reach the heights, over 4000' to some mountain tops over very rough and challenging terrain, versus the NCT, which also has its many diverse areas of beauty, solitude, and history of a growing nation. What a gift from the seven states supporting the NCT to the people of this country who choose to enjoy it. In closing, I'd like to borrow from the "Florida Trail Footprints" - "Be Generous: Share the NCT/NCTA with a friend. THINK MEMBERSHIP."

in.

NCTA Fall Meeting to be in Fargo, ND Plans are still coming together, but the fall meeting of the NCTA will be held October 18-20 in Fargo, North Dakota (and not Wahpeton, as previously announced.) Plans for the meeting are still coming together, but one of the items on the agenda is a bus tour of some of the interesting places the NCNST passes in southeastern North Dakota. Some of these will include the Sheyenne National Grasslands, Ft. Abercrombie and Fort Ransom historic places, and the Sheyenne State Forest. There will be several short walks at various locations. Eastern members attending the meeting might wish to avoid the long drive by using Amtrak; their "Empire Builder" stops in Fargo. Several interesting speakers are also tentatively scheduled to be at the meeting, which is hoped will spur interest in trail development in the state. Look for further information on this most interesting meeting in the next newsletter. For more information, though, contact Linda Mieke, 1536 Second Ave. South, Fargo ND 58103 (701) 232-8513. Linda is putting together an information packet with data on hotel and motel rooms, meeting schedules, other interesting activities in the area, and other such items. This packet should be available by midsummer, so contact Linda to get on the mailing list.

Page 12

Trail Tech:

Building the Coweta Dip As readers of American Hiking Society publications well know, many of our nation's hiking trails are poorly maintained, due in part to budget shortfalls. Trail volunteers are doing a great job, but falling behind in their efforts as the number of trail users increase. To help reduce trail maintenance requirements, many trail clubs are turning to trail design and maintenance techniques that reduce, or, in some cases, eliminate the need for future treadway maintenance for many years, other than clipping and weeding vegetation along the trail on a seasonal basis. The "coweta dip" is a technique of trail development in which a trail is located so as to undulate up or down the

North Country Trail Association Newsletter, Summer. 1991 side of a mountain, allowing drainage at trough. Dig your way down the trail, each low point (See illustration 1.) The removing more soil incrementally until the trough is about six inches deep. All steeper the grade, of course, the shorter the while, pile the removed dirt in a the space between the undulations. mound on the far side of the trough to a This type of dip effectively discourages erosion, but is difficult to use on a height of about six inches, with the peak poorly designed trail which goes straight of the mount about three feet downhill from the trough. Both the trough and the up a hill or mountain. Nevertheless, mound should angle off about 30 to 45 coweta dips can be constructed by relodegrees from the direction of the trail, as cating a short section around the downhill side of a fallen tree, returning to the is done in traditional waterbars. If the grading from this style wateruphill side of the trail. (See illustration bar is smooth and well-constructed, two 2.) The labor of removing or sawing desirable results will occur: First, casual through the deadfall is eliminated, but new treadway construction is required hikers will hardly notice the waterbar for a short distance around the fallen and their stride can remain unbroken. tree. Standing dips can also be used to Second, the wind will tend to blow dry create a coweta dip by relocating the leaves out of the waterbar, thereby retrail downhill from the middle tree, which ducing somewhat the need for regular will discourage shortcuts down the trail. maintenance. - Bill Wilcox; with technical assis(See illustration 3.) Another nearly maintenance-free trail tance from Bill Kruszka; George Washdesign involves a sort of miniature coweta ington National Forest, Virginia; Illusdip -a broad waterbar. Start removing trations by M.P. Krouse. soil in small amounts about eight or nine - Reprinted from American Hiker, feet above the place selected for the February, 1991

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North Country Troll Association Newsletter, Summer, 1991

Page 13 route are complete, with more going down every year.

New trail projects busting out all over New trail projects, and long-dormant trail projects coming to life show promise of much expansion of the North Country National Scenic Trail over the next few years. There are probably more active trail projects under way now than at any time previously in the history of the North Country Trail. A quick survey of new plans, many discussed at the NCTA spring meeting, in White Cloud, and recent progress shows that the next few years could be some of the most exciting in the history of the trail:

NEW YORK: Half of the trail route in New York is about as advanced in completion as could be hoped for, along the Finger Lakes Trail. The other half, in the Adirondacks, remains sunk in bureaucracy. Still, usability of the western half of the trail in the state nears completion. The "M-22 Gap": Only one major gap remains on the part of the Finger Lakes Trail that will be shared with the North Country Trail, an 11.3 mile gap near Blodget's Mills, New York. Over the past year, members of one of the FLTC affiliate clubs have been exploring possible routes for closing this gap, but no construction project has been announced. The "M-12 Gap". For many years, the FLTC did not even issue map M-12 of their excellent map series, since there was no trail located on it. Over the past two years, a group of volunteers and boy scouts has pecked away at this gap, with closure coming last fall. Closure of this gap has strung together a continuous 439.9 mile segment of the North Country NST, Blodgett's Mills to Pennyslvania's Cook Forest State Park, the longest segment largely located off road.

PENNSYLVANIA: New trail activity has long been dormant in Pennsylvania, but the state has recently turned into a hotbed of new trail activity, at least partly in response to activities associated with the North Country Trail Association Tenth Anniversary last year. The Keystone State could yet win the race to have com-

pleted trail border to border! Allegany - Cook Forest segment is being prepared for certification. Franklin-Baker Rail Trail A local group new Lo the North Country Trail, the Allegany Valley Trail Association, is busy working of two rail-trail conversion projects, one of 15 and the other of 20 miles of railbanked rail lands owned by the state. While not exactly on the projected route of the NCT, is is not far away, and will provide part of the needed link between Cook Forest State Park and the Glacier Ridge Trail. Glacier Ridge - McConnel's Mill State Park. Groups affiliated with the Keystone Trails Association have been working on a short trail segment connecting these two western Pennsylvania parks. Status of completion of this project, about 1.5 miles, is unknown. McConnel's Mill extension: The Keystone Trails Association will sponsor a work party this fall in the western part of McConnels Mill State Park, to extend the trail westward. It is expected that this project will take several years to complete.

OHIO: There are always projects going on about upgrading and improving the Buckeye Trail in Ohio, but we often forget that the Buckeye is not all of Ohio. Two of the projects of special attention are not on the Buckeye at all: Sandy and Beaver Canal: Groups of interested local people, coordinated by the Sandy and Beaver Canal Association, are organizing across Columbiana and Tuscarawas Counties to lay down a trail route for the North Country' Canal along the general route of the canal. They have been meeting with some difficulties, but major construction of at least some segments is expected to get under way soon. Wayne National Forest: National Forest officials are continuing work on their trail segment in the forest in southeastern Ohio, which will provide a longer, but off-road alternative to the Buckeye Trail in this area, which is largely located on roads in this area. At last count, about 25 out of 65 miles of the planned

MICHIGAN: The Wolverine state continues to be a hotbed of trail construction activity, with several older projects nearing completion and new ones getting under way. City of Hillsdale: One project dormant for several years has come to live in the last year or so as an unlikely combination spearheaded by city recreation department and an electric util- . ity have made great strides in putting together an urban recreational pathway I bikeway that will connect the certified M-99 bikeway and proposed trail in the Lost Nations State Game Area, seeking a large state grant and raising over $50,<XX) from local sources in matching funds. Kent County: The Kent County Parks and Recreation Department is working with the Park Service lo develop a route across the county. Manistee National Forest: The 路 Manistee has tended to lag behind other National Forests in getting their sections of the North Country National Scenic Trail completed, but victory is now in sight. At the southernmost border of the forest, White Cloud Ranger District hopes to finish their last three mile segment between Croton Dam and M-37 this summer. In the Baldwin Ranger District, trail was completed between the Big Star Lake Trailhead and Timber Creek Camp Ground in the past year, making the trail complete between White Cloud and McCarthy Lake. A six-mile gap remains from McCarthy Lake to the end of the trail in. the Manistee Ranger District, but Baldwin District Officials hope to close this gap this year, which will finally bring the trail in the Manistee to near completion. Manistee NF - Shore to Shore Trail: The Manistee National Forest has held off on completing trail north of Beers Road until it's determined how the trail will connect to the Michigan Shore-to-Shore Riding Hiking Trail; the initially planned route, utilizing a rail grade, has become impossible. Over the past year, an ad-hoc group of Michigan enthusiasts has been able to identify twenty possible routes, then narrow them down to a single preferred route, with one alternate, in order to be able to make a single formal proposal to the Michigan DNR. If the paperwork and planning can be completed, it's hoped to start work next year. Shore-to-Shore to Jordan River Pathway: After several years, this proj-

North Country Trail Assoclotlon Newsletter, Summer, 1991

Page 14 ect nears completion. See the discussion elsewhere in this issue. Emmet Countyr Some work remains on the segment between Wilderness State Park and the Straits of Mackinac. It's hoped that some work can be started south out of Wilderness State Park this year. Marquette and Baraga Counties. The North Country Trail Hikers of Marquette, Michigan, in conjunction wilh the Sierra Club and the NCTA have beenworkingatthisremotetrailthrough privately-held timber lands and state lands. The project, tentatively identified as the "Superiorland Trail", keeps growing at several miles per year, but in fragments. Another work session will be held in August, and you're invited! Ottawa National Forest: Much trail completion has been done here in the past yearor two, including the completion ofa spectacular 110' bridge over the middle branch of the Ontanagon River. Other bridges and detailing work remain, but the trail is nearing completion here, as well.

WISCONSIN: There's been but little activity in the Diary State for several years, as the Ice Age Trail tends to siphon off enthusiasm, but things are picking up. Mellen: The city of Mellen is working on a short trail segment that will connect Copper Falls State Park and the ChequamegonNational Forest Trailhead. No further details are available. St. Croix River: Tom Gilbert of the National Park Service reports that work is expected to begin soon on the long-anticipated trailway down the route of the St. Croix National Scenic River. In addition, Gilbert reports that a route may have been identified for a longsought connection between the Ice Age and North CountryNational Scenic Trails.

is complete here, but effort is being put into the construction of hiker campsites along this trail, in order to avoid some inconvenient or uncomfortable campsites. Paul Bunyan State Forest: Work is still under way in working out the best route here, connecting the Chippewa National Forest and Itasca State Park, but. it is hoped that construction, by volunteers, can start this summer. Itasca State Park: Tom Gilbert reports that park officials are considering a new route for the NCT through the park, that would take the NCT past the Headwaters of the Mississippi and connect up a hiking route around the lake. Bad Medecine Lake: This 15-mile project is now over half done, with considerable funding and local support.

MINNESOTA: Trail activity continues on the upswing in Minnesota, where the deviation of the N CT north through the Superior National Forest is still under discussion but which may be some time before taking place. Chippewa National Foresti Trail

NORTH DAKOTA: No active trail projects are under way in North Dakota at this time, but several are under consideration.It's hoped that holding the NCTA Fall meeting there this fall may cause one or another project to gell.

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North Country National Scenic Trail

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National Scenic Trail Pin,@ $3.95 each Trail Patch @$3.00 each Trail State Segment Patch@ $1.25 each Trail Window Sticker@ $1.00 each Trail Supporter Cloisonne pin@$3.95 each

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City, State, Zip :........................ North Country Troll 10fh Anniversary T-Shlrt (circle size): Adult, S. M, L. XL, XXL, l 00% cotton, It. blue only@ $9.95 each Child 6/8, 10/12, 14/16 -- 50/50 cotton@ $7.95 each Phone....................................................... Please enclose for shipping & handling: Michigan residents include 4% sales tax Send order to: NCTA Trail Shop $0.00 -$10.00 $2.00 $25.01 -$100.00 $4.00 Make check/money order payable to: PO Box 311 $10.01 -$25.00 $3.00 Over $100.00 $5.00 'North Country Trail Association Whtte Cloud, Ml 49349

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Page 15

North Country Trau Association Newsletter, Summer, 1991

North Country Trail Bookstore JUST PU8LISHEDUW • t/EWIUI • JUST PUBLISHEDUUI CERTIFIED SECTIONS OF THE NORTH COUNTRY TRAIL by Byron and Margaret Hutchins.The long-awaited start to a trail guide for the entire trail. Accurate route descriptions by an experienced guidebook writer who's walked the sections with a measuring wheel, covering many certified sections of the long €1nough to be a hiking destination. published in an easy to carry loose-leaf form. Individual map sets at various prices (see order form); whole set, including binder, is $15.40, plus $2.00 shipping. Sorry, no direct wholesale. GUIDE TO THE NORTH COUNTRY TRAIL -- CHIPPEWA NATIONAL FOREST by Roderick Mac Rae. Discussion of the route and trail. log from east to west in the Chippewa National Forest. Wonderfully written by a Chippewa National Forest expert. 12 pages. $1.25 each; Whqlesale (10 or more) $.75 each MICHIGAN MAP SETS developed by Arden Johnson. Maps to·follow the N CNST in the Manistee, Hiawatha and Ottawa National Forests, and the trail between St. Ignace and Munising. and northern lower peninsula. Four separate sets, part of a 1" per mile. series to be developed for the whole state. Order from Croton Dam to Hodenpyl Dam, Interlachen to Boyne Falls, St. Ignace to Harvey or Marquette to Ironwood sets. $5.0() per set; $18.00 for all four. Binder with indicies, $2.50. Contact bookstore for information on ordering individual maps. OTHER GREAT TRAIL INFORMATION AYAILABLE FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY TRAIL BOOKSTORE FOLLOWING THE NORTH COUNTRY NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL by Wes Boyd. NCTA Newsletter Editor. Packed full of information about the NCNST. "The aim is to give the reader the information necessary to find out what they need to know to follow the trail" - - and lots of other useful information. The most inclusive and up-to-date information on the whole trail. November 1989 printing. $2.95 each;Wholesale (10 or more) $2.00each. THE NORTH COUNTRY TRAIL -- MANISTEE NATIONAL FOREST by the Michigan Trailfinders. Offers a detailed description of the trail from the White Cloud trailhead to Big Star Lake, and from US 10 to McCarthy Lake. Current through June. 1989. $2.00 each, no wholesale available. GUIDE TO THE PICTURED ROCKS NATIONAL LAKESHORE by Olive Anderson. Includes revised Lakeshore Trail Guide. The Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is the centerpiece of the North Country Trail·· a rugged, unique coast on the wild Lake Superior shore. Updated in 1988, this 56 page book by Pictured Rocks enthuslost Olive M. Anderson gives the reader revised maps and up-to-date information about this Michigan section of the North Country Trail. $5.95 each: Wholesale (10 or more) $4.25 each.

r•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• I ORDER FORM -- NORTH COUNTRY TRAIL BOOKSTORE I __ copies of 'Following the North Country NaNonal Scenic Troll' I $2.95 per copy ($2.00 per copy if ten or more)

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copies of "tne North Country Troll -- Manistee National Forest" $2.00 per copy. (no wholesale) copies

of 'Gulde

copies of Michigan mapsets (check appropriate ones:) Croton Dam • Hodenpyl Dom lnterlochen - Boyne Falls O St. Ignace· Harvey Marquette - Ironwood $5.00 per set. All 4 sets, $18.00; Binder, $2.50 No wholesale

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I I I __ copies of 'Certified Sections of the North Country Troll' {Check appropriate sections:) D Allegheny NF & Cook Forest, $2.90 O Wayne NF, $1.50 o Little Miami Scenic Park, $1.15 I o Miami and Erle Canal, $1.BO o Manistee NF $2.20 I o Hiawatha NF, $2.20 o Chequamegon NF, $1.80 I o Chippewa NF. $2.20 o Sheyenne Grassland, $1.15

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copies of 'Gulde to tile North Country Troll-· Chippewa National Forest" $1.25 per copy ($.75 per copy If ten or more)

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Michigan resk/ents jnclµde 4% sales tax Make check/money order payable to: "North Country TrailAssociation• Send order to:

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NCTA Trall Shop I PO Box 311 WhHe Cloud, Ml 49349 •

.......................... --·········Complete set with binder, $15.40, plus $2.00 shipping.

D. Totakes build a 3,259 mile National Scenic Trail great teamwork. Join our team I v Ji NR

ODN\. OtU() OCh•T•C'WT()I :ICATl••L Al90t.•CU

A National Park Service Project

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Contactthe North Country Trail Association PO Box311 White Cloud, Michigan 49349

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r--------------------------------------, APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP ArnJal Dues: membershipyear runs from July 1 through June 30. Dues paid from April 1 on are valid through June 30 of the following year. Adult Family (includes children under 18) Student and Senior Citizen................... Organization......................................... Supporting............................................ Donor Life Commercial.......................................... Patron

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North Country Trail Association PO Box311 White Cloud, Ml, 49349 I wish to join the North Country Trail Association. Enclosed is $ for a

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