North Star Vol. 21, No. 2 (2002)

EDITOR'S ~®u8

WERNER VEIT

Meet the Moberlys: Hikers, Bikers and Peninsula Crossers

J

ean and Al Moberly, who sent me the Lake Michigan to Lake Superior account starting on Page 10, are enthusiastic hikers and bikers who joined the Harbor Springs chapter at its inception after having been members-at-large of the North Country Trail Association "for about eight years," Jean thinks.

Says Jean: "We have been hiking since first married in the late sixties and have hiked in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Porcupine Mountains and Isle Royale in Michigan; the Superior Hiking Trail in Minnesota; the Wisconsin-Michigan border area; the Finger Lakes region, some hiking out West and in 1999 in England." Winter doesn't stop them.

That's the time for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.

They're busy volunteers too, having helped with maintenance on the Pictured Rocks section of the North Country Trail, turned out for Nature Conservancy projects and participated in the Piping Plover project in Wilderness State Park.

They're not the only persistent hikers among the group on the shore-to-shore trip. Christine Kahn, another member of the Harbor Springs chapter along on the journey, hiked 1,328 miles last year.

Jean has retired as a librarian at Cheboygan Area Schools and Al is semiretired but still serves as school psychologist in the Cheboygan-Otsego-Presque Isle Educational Service District.

• If you haven't run across Irene Szabo, the Finger Lakes tornado that rages across our trail in New York, you haven't ranged east of the 81 st Meridian.

If you have, you must have been confronted by lrene';'heating/air con-

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Shore to Shore Group Included (left to right) Al Moberly, Dale Landes, John Davis, Joey Davis, Bonnie Brunett, Gloria Landes, Mike Brunett, Marilyn Florek, Hll Florek, Jo Scott, Jean Moberly, Ken Scott, Christine Kahn and Sam King.

ditioning contractor, President of the Finger Lakes Trail Conference, a director of the North Country Trail Association, maintainer of 20 miles of trail-yes, 20 miles (I can hardly keep up with my less than three) indefatigable hiker, frequent North Star contributor, teacher of maintenance, exhorter of laggards, columnist of the Finger Lakes Newsletter, fundraiser, landowner negotiator and sometime sufferer of fools like me who try, maybe once, to keep up with her. I love Irene but she exhausts me. I'm even tired after reading her e-mail.

Her account of the 40-year history of the Finger Lakes Trail Conference begins on Page 34. She had a little trouble with identifying the individuals in the picture that runs with it. Seems there are twins in the group and she couldn't figure which of the two was in the photo.

The minutes rescued her.

Nothing like being inconsistent.

Before sending the last issue to the printer, I sent a photograph of JoePye weed to Joan Young, my resident botanist, to make sure I wouldn't misidentify it for a caption on Page 2.

Wouldn't you think I'd be equally careful with the picture of a flower on Page 23, identified as Prairie Phlox? Well, I didn't and sure enough I made a fool of myself. The plant is actually Dame's Rocket (Hespris matronalis) Joan points out pointedly; "it's got five petals not four," (as if I should learn to count; and I should). Joan also found a number of rypographical errors in the issue, which earned her, not my gratitude, but a volunteer job of helping to proof the magazine. When you catch typos in this issue-and I promise you there will be some-write her.

•

Ending on a happier tone: Got a gracious, complimentary note from Wes Boyd, who edited The North Star before me. Wrote Wes: " ... Reading through it (The North Star), I detect a maturity and fullness we long sought to achieve ... I have often said that we needed to develop a vision of the whole trail in the eyes of members, not just a vision of each individual's part of it ... I think the organization is reaching the point where this can be accomplished ... " Wes, who also served several terms on the Board of the North Country Trail Association, was one of the important individuals to set us on that course.

Kirk Johnson, author of the proposal for a wilderness designation described on Page 16, is the Director of the Friends of the Allegheny Wilderness, an organization some people call a little radical.

But don't say that to Bob Tait, the North Country Trail Association's coordinator for Pennsylvania. Bob says Kirk, a member of our Association's Clarion Chapter, is one of his most valuable allies.

He was instrumental in scouting for the trail route in the Pennsylvania gamelands, and currently is working with the U. S. Forest Service, according to Bob, in the design and planning for two important trail reroutes.

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A Glance Inside

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•ASSOCIATION•

229 East Main Street, Lowell MI 49331 Ph. (888) 454-NCTA, Fx. (616) 897-6605 hq@northcountrytrail.org www.northcountrytrail.org

NCTA Staff: , Bob Papp, Executive Director Margie Kindel, Project Manager Tiffany Halfmann, GIS Coordinator Bonnie Wayman, Office Manager Bill Menke, Trail Foreman Glory Meyer, Public Services Coordinator Allison Barr, Bookkeeper

North Country Trail Association National Board of Directors Terms Expiring2002 Derek Blount, at Large· 906 N. Alexander, Royal Oak, MI 48607 · (248) 548-1737 · djblount@aol.com Helen Coyne, at Large· 212 Willow Circle, Cranberry Township, PA 16066 · (724) 776-0678 · hcoyne@zbzoom.net Mary Lucas, at Large · 753 Davenport St., Rhinelander, WI 54501 · (715) 362-0616 · myrigemary@netscape.net HowardBeye, New York · 202 Colebourne Rd., Rochester, NY 14609 · (716) 288-7191 · f!tc@axsnet.com Jon G. Lindgren, North Dakota · Vice President, West· 2001 N. Seventh St., Fargo, ND 58102 · (701) 232-7868 · jon_ lindgren@ndsu.nodak.edu

Gooseberry Falls: A showcase on the Superior Hiking Trall -

Features It's Registration Time Hiking Shore to Shore A Wilderness Proposal State Profile: Minnesota Of Privies and Bridges FLTC's 40th Birthday Training to Be Leaders

Page 21

Departments Page 7 Page 10 Page 16 Page 19 Page 24 Page 34 Page 36

Heart and Sole Trail Calendar Trail Log Trail Craft Hiking Shorts Trail Shop Milestones Trail Supporters

Page 14 Page 17 Page 18 Page 23 Page 28 Page 29 Page 38 Page 39

Columns Editor's Note Trail Head View from Madison View from Lowell

Page 2 Page 4 Page 26 Page 27

Terms Expiring2003 WernerVeit, at Large · 229 E. Main St., Lowell, MI 49331 · (888) 454-6282 · wv12@aol.com

Joan Young, Secretary· 861 W USIO, Scottville, MI 49454 · (231) 757-2205 · jhy@t-one.net RichardHarris, at Large· 974 SOM Center Rd., Mayfield, OH 44143 · (440) 449-7467 · richhohi@concentric.net Daryl Williamson,Minnesota· 5901 Timberglade Dr., Bloomington, MN 55438 · (952) 835-2186

Terms Expiring2004 John Leinen, Jr., at Large . Vice President, Finance · 14205 St. Croix Trail, Stillwater, MN 55082 (651) 433-4456 · patleinen@msn.com Irene Szabo, at Large · 6939 Creek Rd., Mt. Morris, NY 14510-9638 · (716) 658-4321 · treeweenie@aol.com GaylordYost, at Large · 2925 W Bradley Rd., River Hills, WI 53201-1013 · (414) 354-8987 · gaylyost@aol.com Bob Norlin, Great Lakes· PO Box 718, Iron River, WI 54847 · (715) 372-5229 · rnorlin@ir onriver.baysat.net GarryS. Dill Jr., Ohio · 4070 TraicorsvilleBrighton Rd., London, OH 43140 · (937) 834-2891 · vetfarm@starband.net Bob Tait Pennsylvania · Box 2968 Butler, PA 16001-2968 · (724) 287-3382 · Bobtait@zbzoom.net

Sen. Levin Accepts Vanguard Award -Page 5

About the Cover The cover shows a portion of the trail maintained by your editor in the Nichols Lake Recreation Area of the Huron-Manistee National Forest in Michigan. (He took the picture after he regained his composure lost when following ATV tracks in his non-motorized area).

The North Star Staff: Werner Veit, Editor Sharon Froeligh, Contributing Editor Roger Meyer, Contributing Editor Joan Young, Contributing Editor Aaron Phipps, Art Director Jennifer Tripp, Production Manager

The North Star, Spring Issue, Vol. XI, Issue I, is published quarterly by the North Country Trail Association, a private, not-for-profit 501 ( 3 ) organization, 229 Ease Main Street, Lowell, MI 49331. The North Star is published for promotional and educational purposes and as a benefit of membership in the Association. All rights reserved. No pare of chis publication may be reproduced in any form without written permission of the North Country Trail Association.

New Broom Has New ldeas.But Won't Sweep EntirelyClean T've been asked several times since last !August's change of officers what "new" things might now be in store for the Association. With most of 2002 ahead, that's a good question. Most new officers and Board members come on the scene with ideas of what they'd like to see happen but, as always, new ideas have to fit into the existing set of goals and objectives past Board members, officers and staff have agreed on, and are working toward.

The Association is bound closely to the National Park Service in the construction, maintenance, and completion of the North Country National Scenic Trail. We're also bound to educate the public about the trail's presence, potential and possibilities and to promote it as a premier hiking experience. Given those basics, here are some of the current officers' ideas on the future.

First, the Board reorganized the Association's structure several years ago.

The new organization provides a twotiered approach to get our work done.

The Board is one tier and the seven Trail Councils-generally one in each stateare the other tier. The intent is that the Board deal with general policy, finances and other trail-wide considerations.

Since it's apparent the Association has grown so fast the Board can't possibly handle all of the on-the-ground issues across seven states, the Councils were created to work on these day to day, month to month trail matters.

So far, Councils are up and running but there has been some confusion as to what their role is. We're hoping to clarify this and encourage each to continue to grow and fully take on their role in our organization. I'd love to hear from Council members as to how they feel they are doing and what are some of the stumbling blocks to Council operations.

Second, it's obvious that government assistance and funding for our trail (and all trails) may be tough to get in the years ahead. Therefore, our organization is committing itself to the creation and activation of a development program.

After careful planning, we hope to hire staff to work on such a program, a direction the Board sees as high priority. .

We hope to identify other private funding sources and try to commit them to our cause. If we're successful, these sources will supplement government

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President

funding and help us to build the organization in a number of ways we can't at present.

With additional private funding, we'll be able to maintain the level of assistance we're giving our chapters and affiliates and to expand it. We're moving now to expand our staff and provide more services to our chapters and the public. The added staff will act as regional trail coordinators for the Eastern and Western trail councils. They'll work with chapters to help them grow, help out on trail corridor property acquisitions, and work to elevate the public's awareness of the Association and the North Country Trail.

There's more than enough work out there to keep them busy for the next century. We're hoping, with new funds, to eventually expand the staff so each state will have its own staff trail coordinator. It won't happen this year or next but the more energy and dollars we push at it the sooner it will happen.

A third item on our agenda will be to maintain and build the Association's membership. We've seen a rapid growth in our chapters. We now have 21 chapters across seven states and another one is about to be chartered in the St. Ignace/ Sault Ste. Marie area of Michigan.

Through hard work and recruitment, using a variety of methods, staff and existing members have gotten us well over the 2,000 membership mark.

We can't rest on our laurels or become complacent. Every one of us needs to keep up our awareness and efforts on

this. We need members, whether in passive or active volunteer roles. We have a trail to build and maintain. We need new members to continue to help us get the job done.

The final item is the need to begin doing a more systematic preservation of our organizational history and heritage.

We've worked at this off and on over the last few years. Pieces of our history are here and there, stored in a variety of places and even in some homes. We need to have a central repository for keeping important materials from harm. We need to have a plan for our chapters and organization to follow. It needs to identify what sources are critical, what needs to be collected, where it is to be kept, and give other direction as needed.

The record of our organization is a one of many people investing their valuable time for the sake of building our trail through some of America's greatest landscapes. We don't want that to be lost because of neglect or poor stewardship.

Several members have expressed an interest in kicking off this effort. We hope to have more to report in subsequent issues of The North Star.

• On Page 13 in this issue, The North Star pays tribute to Arden C. Johnsonfriend, volunteer, Board member, and North Country Trail supporter and builder who died in Jaunary. Arden, who lived in Rochester Hills, broke me in to trail work and trail coordinator duties on the portion of trail he was building north of Traverse City, Michigan.

I camped with Arden and his wife for three or four days while we visited various portions of already built trail and worked on several sections in progress.

His interest in seeing the trail completed was intense as was his love of the outof-doors. He will be missed. His dedication and service to our Association was outstanding.

"... With additional private fonding, we'll be able to maintain the level of assistance we're giving our chapters and affiliates and to expand it. We're moving now to expand our staff and provide more services to our chapters and the public... "

Public Affairs

Sen. Carl Levin and his staff discuss budget outlooks with Bob Papp, the NCTA's executive director, and Tiffany Halfmann, Its cartographer and GIS specialist.

NCTA Honors Sen. Levin, One of Trail's Oldest PoliticalFriends Vanguard Award Also Presented to Ohio's Rep. Ralph Regula "[iach year, the NCTA recognizes one or two .4ublic servants for their outstanding support of the North Country Trail. In 200 I, our Board voted to give the Vanguard Award to Senator Carl Levin (D-MI) and Representative Ralph Regula (R-OH).

Senator Levin has been intimately involved with the North Country Trail for more than a decade. He's been instrumental in our efforts to increase federal funding for the trail. Over the past several years, we've been able to triple base federal funding to the National Park Service for the NCT.I n addition, he has twice introduced legislation in the Senate to provide the National Park Service with the authority to purchase land and easements from willing sellers to permanently protect the trail. He's always been enthusiastic about attending events along the trail, to try to help drum up public interest. We work closely with his staff on a number of issues, and, with the Senator's encouragement, they have consistently been extremely supportive of our cause. Senator Levin even produced a video on his own to help promote the trail.

We're truly fortunate to have such a strong and reliable supporter working for us in Congress.

Senator Levin visited our national headquarters to receive his award at a special event planned in his honor, on January

22. We gave him the award on trail itself, as it passes through downtown Lowell on the "Lowell Riverwalk." Senator Levin commented, "It means a lot to get thanked for something I love to do and for something greater than ourselves."

For 200 l, we also presented a Vanguard Award to Congressman Ralph Regula. Congressman Regula is known for his longtime support of trails. During his days in the Ohio state legislature, he was instrumental in the passage of legislation to establish the Buckeye Trail. In more recent years, he has been extremely effective at raising federal support for the National Park Service and trails, through his role on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior. Much of the funding provided by the federal government to complete the

After receiving the Vanguard award, at left, the Senator chats with Bob on the North Country Trail located just steps from the Association 's national headquarters In Lowell.

Appalachian Trail was due to Congressman Regula's keen interest in the AT. The recent increases in base funding that we've seen for the North Country Trail simply could not have been possible without Congressman Regula's active backing and the involvement of his staff. We are extremely appreciative of his continuing interest in the success of the North Country Trail.

Our Executive Director, Bob Papp presented Congressman Regula with his 2001 Vanguard Award at the Congressman's offices in Washingron, D.C. Mary Margaret Sloan, President of the American Hiking Society, and Celina Montorfano, AHS's Alliance Policy Manager also attended the presentation, demonstrating AHS's own appreciation of Mr. Regula's long history of supporting trails.

We are sincerely honored to have these true friends working on our behalf in Washington, and thank them both for their ongoing dedication to the North Country National Scenic Trail.

Mary Margaret Sloan, President of the American Hiking Society, and Cellna Montorfano, Alliance Polley Manager with Rep. Ralph Regula during the presentation.

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2002 Election to NCTA Board of Directors The nominating committee of the Board of Directors of the North Country Trail Association has nominated the candidates to run for the four at-large seats on the board to be filled in the 2002 election.

Please mark your choices on the left side of the ballot below. You may vote for the nominees, or write-in a different name, if you wish.

In addition, the New York Trail Council and the North Dakota Trail Council each nominated members to fill the two trail council seats open this year.

These selections require ratification by the membership at large. Your approval can be indicated on the right side of the ballot below. No write-ins can be counted for these positions because the bylaws require nomination by the individual trail councils.

The background of the nominees is as follows:

Derek continued to serve the Association as its Legislative Chair and represented the NCTA on the board of the Partnership for the National Trails System, a position he still holds. In 1991, Derek received the Association'sDistinguished Service Award and in 1998 the NCTA'.s Lifetime AchievementAward.

Council and served as board secretary in 1994. After its formation in 1997, Helen joined the Butler County Chapter and served as its Treasurer. In 1999, she was elected to an at-large seat on the board.

Besides her interest in hiking, Helen also is a long-distance cyclist whose travels cover several continents.

Dave Cornell, Delton, Ml

Mary Lucas, Glidden, WI

Dave Cornell, a former Vice President, Finance of the Board, served two previous terms as a director of the North Country Trail Association and continued to serve as President of the Chief Noonday Chapter after he left the Board. A founder of the chapter, he has long been active in the Association and served for many years as a full-time volunteer with the National Park Service.

His degrees in accounting and law have provided much needed expertise for the Association over the years.

Mary Lucas is seeking her first full term as an at-large director of the North Country Trail Association. She was originally appointed to the board to a partial term to fill a vacancy. With an educational background in urban forestry and forest recreation she joined the USDA Forest Service, which she has served for more than 20 years, largely in the Chequamegon National Forest. A member of the Chequamegon Chapter of the North Country Trail Association, she's had wide experience in trail building and maintenance and served as an "on the ground" advocate of the North Country Trail in her professional work, as well.

Derek Blount, Royal Oak, Ml Derek Blount, who served as President of the North Country Trail Association Board from 1992 to 1997, has been on the NCTA'.s Board on and off since 1987. He is currently running for his second straight term. During his time off the Board,

Helen Coyne, CranberryTwsp, PA Helen Coyne is running for her third term and second consecutive term on the Board of Directors. She first joined the NCTA Board in 1993 representing the American Youth Hostel-Pittsburgh

Howard Beye, Rochester, NY

Ballotfor 2002 Electionto NCTA Board of Directors Reproduced here Is the official ballot for the annual Board of Directors election. You wlll not receive a separate ballot in the mall. Because all our memberships are categorized as households, our bylaws permit only one ballot 路per membership. Please mark and mail to: Election 路 North Country Trail Association , 229 East Main, Lowell, Ml 49331 At Large Nominees - (Vote for 4)

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Derek Blount, Michigan Dave Cornell, Michigan

Trail Council Nominees - (Vote for 2)

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Howard Beye, New York Jon Lindgren, North Dakota

Jon G. Lindgren, Fargo, ND

Helen Coyne, Pennsylvania Mary Lucas, Wisconsin Other

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Ballot Is not valld without your name and/or membership number.

Name(s) Slgnature(s) -------------------

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Howard Beye, New York State Trail Coordinator for the North Country Trail Association, has been involved on and off with the NCTA's Board of Directors since 1988 and has been involved with the Finger Lakes Trail Conference, an NCTA affiliate, since 1976. He still serves as the Conference Trail Committee's Chair and directs its Alley Cat Trail crews in their frequent, week-long trail construction and maintenance sessions. He has been a Boy Scout Master for well over 40 years. During last year's annual conference of the NCTA, the Association honored him with its Lifetime Achievement Award.

.J

Jon Lindgren, who serves in the dual role as North Dakota State coordinator and chair of its trail council, is a director of the Garrison Conservancy Districtwhich provided much of the land for the North Country Trail in North Dakotaand serves as the chair of its public relations committee and sits on the executive committee. A former mayor of Fargo, he is a former faculty member of North Dakota State University.

It's Time to Sign Up for Annual Conference in â&#x20AC;˘ North Dakota T

he time has come to dream up many things, especially the delights of the North Country Trail Association's annual conference to be held this year in Valley City, ND, Aug. 15-18.

Registration time is here. The registration form is on Page 9.

Please fill in and mail along with your check or credit card authorization to the address listed. The price is reasonable and the rewards great-rewards in outstanding hiking experiences, in exposure to new country-in useful learning experiences and, especially in camaraderie with fellow hikers.

Headquarters for the conference is Valley City State University, one of 11 campuses, that make up the North Dakota University system. The 5 5-acre campus, considered one of the most attractive in the state, is bordered on the south by forested hillsides and on the north by the Sheyenne. River. Best of all, our North Country National Scenic Trail is within striking distance.

Our host chapter, the Sheyenne River Valley Chapter, and our North Dakota coordinator promise memorable experiences, both on the trail and off, both indoors on the comfortable campus and outdoors on the state's expansive landscapes. Sign up today and look forward to a great vacation.

Accommodations Overnight lodging will be available in dorms at VCSU. Rooms will feature twin beds and can accommodate up to two people. Linens (pillows, sheets, towels and blankets) will be included. There is no air conditioning in the dorms so participants will want to bring fans if possible. Motels, B&Bs, and campgrounds are also available.

Meals All breakfasts and dinners will be served in the VCSU cafeteria. Box lunches will be available for Friday and Saturday lunch.

Garrison Diversion, host of Saturday's bus tour, will be underwriting Saturday's lunch. All meals should be purchased in advance. A limited number of meal tickets will be available at the conference.

GettingThere

BY AIR: Several airlines fly into Fargo International Airport. If making your own arrangements, travel south on 1-29 to 1-94.

Take 1-94 West for approximately 60 miles to Valley City. Take exit 292, tum right onto Eighth Avenue SW to Viking Drive. Turn right and proceed for three blocks to campus.

BY TRAIN: From the Fargo, ND train station, travel 1-94 West for approximately 60 miles to Valley City.

BY BUS: Greyhoundstops in Valley City, five blocks from campus. From the bus stop, head south three blocks on Third Avenue

Highlights Friday's activities include a daylong session of workshops designed with the "serious volunteer in mind" to provide training and information indicated by a recent survey as topics of greatest interest to chapter leaders. For others, Host Chapter President Lisa Engel and her Sheyenne River Valley volunteers are planning a variety of hikes and workshops to showcase the beauty of the area. On Saturday participants will be given a rare opportunity to see and learn about the Trail in North Dakota and about the incredible history between it and the Garrison Canal. Jon Lindgren who serves on both the NCTA Board and Garrison Diversion's board has orchestrated a bus tour of the segments of Trail in central North Dakota donated by Garrison Diversion stretching from New Rockford Canal west to Garrison Dam. The tour will include stops at the western terminus of the Trail and in the Lonetree Wildlife Management Area allowing opportunities for touring as well as hiking.

Registration Participants can now register for the Conference by completing the form on the next page and mailing it, with payment, to NCTA. Forms are also available online at www.northcountrytrail.org.

Deadline for regisuation is July 15th. Confirmation letters will be sent to all participants the end of July. Cancellations will be accepted until August 7th. Meal and accommodation fees will be fully refunded up to that date. Registration fees, however, cannot be refunded.

SE, then turn right for two blocks on College Street SE to the main campus.

BY CAR: From East: Take 1-94 West for approximately 60 miles to Valley City. Take exit 292, turn right onto Eighth Avenue SW to Viking Drive. Turn right and proceed for three blocks to campus.

Off Campus AMERICINN:1-800-634-3444 PRAIRIEINN: (701) 845-1560 FLICKERTAILINN: (701) 845-5278 SUPER8 MOTEL:(701) 845-1140 WAGONWHEELINN: (701) 845-5333

VALLEY BED & BREAKFAST: (701) 845-5893 VICTORIANCHARM GUESTINN: (701) 845-0887

Camping MUNICIPALTOURISTPARK: On Business Loop 94. No reservations required. All hook-ups (electricity,water, sewer), showers, water available.

(Additional room and camping list in nearby communities available from the Valley City Area Conventionand Visitors Bureau (701) 8451891.E-mail:vccofc@hellovalley.com)

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2002 Annual Conference Schedule

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Name(s): Address: City, State Zip:

Phone:

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REGISTRATION FEE Full Conference Registration

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$30.00

Fee

#

,,

$

Fee includes embroidered patch , map to Valley City and college campus guide, admission to all workshops and hikes, and/or inclusion on Saturday bus tour (lunch provided) .

AIRPORT/RAILWAY SHUTTLE REQUEST

Indicate if you need a ride from the airport or train station in Fargo, ND. Arrival date: Time: __

Thursday night

Alone in Single Room

$30.00

$

$

Friday night

Alone in Single Room

$30.00

Saturday night

Alone in Single Room

$30.00

$

_ AM /PM

Carrier:

_

Flight/Train#

_

Departure date:

_

Time:

AM/PM

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Lodging Total $

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*Roommate's Name (required for Double Rate): ---------

Friday Breakfast

$4.00

Friday Box Lunch

$6.00

# #

$ $

Friday Supper

$8.00

#

$

ACTIVITY PRE-REGISTRATION To help us plan, please indicate which activitiesyou thinkyou andyourparty mightattend.

Activity

$4.00

Sunday Breakfast

#

Number attending

$

Meals Total Special Diet(s) Describe:

_

$ Lodging

$

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Meals $

Mail to:

@

NCTA 229 East Main Street Lowell, Ml 49331

* Questions?

Call NCTA 888 454-6282 *Email NCTA HQ

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It was bear hunting season-hence the bright orange vests, not to scare the bears away but to keep the hunters at bay.

Shore to Shore HikingAlongThe North CountryTrail

By Jean Moberly Harbor Spring Chapter

I

n England there is a popular walking trail that takes you from the Irish Sea to the North Sea known as the Wainwright, Coast to Coast, or Sea to Sea, Trail. After my husband and I had the wonderful experience of hiking that trail in 1999, the natural next step was to hike another shore-to-shore, this time closer to home: the North Country National ScenicTrail, from Lake Superior to Lake Michigan.

We had friends who were also interested. Our group ranged in age from 55 to 74 years old (though we did allow a couple of youngsters in their 30s to join us for the first day). The group now included two friends with bad backs, one with sore knees and one recovering from a broken ankle! Bowing to the realities, we decided to tackle the trail as a series of day hikes rather than as a heavy-duty backpacking challenge.

We have the advantage of living just 15 miles below the Mackinaw Bridge, which connects Michigan's two peninsulas, so after crossing the bridge we had only 14 more miles to the beginning of the hike in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

That convenience enabled us to take our

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camper and bicycles and pedal down gravel roads to set up beginning and ending sites for each day well ahead of our departure date.

Each hiking day began with spotting of a vehicle wherever we would end the day's walking. We camped each night

A beautiful suspension bridge crosses Naomlkong Creek, one of the many Improvements to the trall made by the Hiawatha National Forest crews.

either at Brevoort Lake National Forest Campground at the southern end of the walk or at Soldier Lake National Forest Campground near the northern end.

The trip began last Sept. 21 with a ceremonial dipping of our boot heels into Lake Michigan and ended 61 miles later on Sept. 26 with dipping our toes into frigid Lake Superior. Five couples completed the walk, and two additional couples joined us on the first day's hike so there was quite a gathering at Lake Michigan National Forest Service Campground on US-2.

The dates coincided with bear hunting season so we made quite a sight - 14 people dressed in hunter orange, bright yellow and red walking a few hundred yards on the edge of busy US-2 until we turned onto Federal Forest Road 3108 and caught the North Country Trail near Brevoort Lake.

This section of the trail-just under seven miles-is dearly marked; it's a wide and dear path through wooded, rolling hills. Car access for the end of this day is at the trailhead parking on Forest Road (FR) 3124.

Day Two The 10.5 mile hike on the second day

began where we ended day one. It had

rained during the night but by morning the weather had partly cleared although a light rain fell from time to time. Soon after our start we crossed the Carp River on a 50-foot wooden bridge where we stopped to admire the fast-flowing water.

After crossing State Highway 123, we entered a large low area, the Mackinac Wilderness, a section that would have been difficult with full packs. Long high boardwalks (at times two feet above the ground) are in bad condition. We had to hop off broken boards, skirt missing sections or avoid thick brush growing over the boards. In some sections, the boardwalks were in better condition, but so slippery because of the rain that three members fell into the muck.

It's clear that this section of the trail will be improved because we came to a segment where the boardwalks are new and others where new boards were stacked awaiting installation. The sun was actually shining as we neared FR 3122, so we stopped, rested on the stacked boards and felt grateful to the people who would soon be fixing the boardwalks and keeping the trail open and accessible for others to enjoy.

We continued through the woods on a good trail passing Guard Lake on our right. Had we been backpacking, it would have been difficult to get water from the lake because it is marshy and mucky around its shore, but unencumbered we just looked down on the small lake and enjoyed the view before arriving back at our cars on FR 3114.

rocks. Two inches of water was rushing over the dam. The water proofing of our boots, which had been tested all day, was tested even further.

This would have been a wonderful lunch spot, but the cold rain persuaded us to press on. We crossed a paved road, H 40, and came to the NCT trailhead at Trout Brook Pond. It has parking for about seven cars and is complete with an outhouse well ventilated by holes from a shotgun blast!

Afterward, we had some difficulty locating the blue diamond trail markers.

Whenever this happened a few times each day, we spread out and the person who found the blue diamond would give a loud Ed McMahon-like "hay-ooh."

The area between Trout Brook Pond and our cars was hard going, with lots of downed trees and deep standing water. The waiting cars were a very welcome sight.

to the Pine River, a distance of 7.9 miles, with parking at FR 3141. This was a cold morning. When we spotted our car at the Pine River, a flurry of snow was in the air.

Following a two-track made for easy walking as we left Biscuit Creek. Near the halfway mark of the day's hike we

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Day Four Day four stretched from Biscuit Creek

Aftersix days, the Lake SuperiorShore

IDAY1

Lake Michigan Campground on US-2 to Trailhead parking at FR Road 3124.

IDAY2

Trailhead Parking at FR Road 3124 to FR Road 3114.

IDAY3

FR Road 3114 to FR Road 3339 at Biscuit Creek.

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DAY4

Day Three On the third day, we covered 11.9 miles from FR 3114 to FR 3339 near Biscuit Creek. If we had not been with a group on a schedule, we would have been tempted to stay dry in our dry camper and read. We walked in a cold, and at times, driving rain but still managed to share some good laughs and enjoy the special beauty of the landscape.

We passed through a part of the Niagara Escarpment, a sheer rock wall with several crevices and small cave openings. One could easily imagine earlier explorers making their way along the trail, spending the night in the protection of the caves.

Further on along the path we found to our delight that we crossed the fast flowing Little Bear Creek on a beaver dam, reinforced by man with lots of

Biscuit Creek to FR Road 3141 at Pine River.

IDAYS

Pine River to Soldier Lake Campground.

DAY6

Lake Michigan

I'\ ~acklnac '-v)laland

Soldier Lake Campground to Tahquamenon Bay on Lake Superior.

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Near the Beginning: Lake Michigan National Forest Service Campground is accessible from US 2 about 14 miles west of St. Ignace, Ml. Good parking is available in the picnic area.

At the End: Taquamenon Bay can be reached by car from FR 42 approximately six miles east of the junction of M-23 and FR 42.

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came to a primitive campground on the Pine River. We now had sunshine and it felt wonderful. The bridge across the river was a pretty place to soak in the sun's warmth. The weather and scenery, as the trail closely followed the river, combined to make it a perfect day.

Day Five

Day Six On day six we hiked about 13 miles from the Soldier Lake Campground to Tahquamenon Bay on Lake Superior, right off Highway 42. This was a pleasant walk. We climbed hills, but seemed to have more down than up as we traveled to the lake. Crossing Highway 42, not far from the bay, is a NCT trailhead with a large map of our walk. At this point there is an overlook with a spectacular view of Lake Superior.

We descended many steps to lake level and the trail now followed closely along the shore. An impressive suspension bridge took us across Naomikong Creek. My feet, unscathed by the hike so far, were hurting during the final miles, and a cold rain now fell on us.

This discomfort was far overshadowed by the sense of joy and accomplishment that we all felt as we dipped the toes of our boots into Lake Superior.

A celebration was in order. Soldier Lake Campground has a picnic shelter built by the Civilian Conservation Corp in the 1930's. They built it well, open on the sides with a solid wall on each end. On one of the walls is a large stone fireplace. Friends that had hiked with us on the first day drove up with homemade soup, homemade bread and peach cobbler. The warmth from the fireplace felt good, a meal had never tasted better, and we all basked in the camaraderie of our shared achievement.

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Slowdown (below) gets attention from a Forest Service Crew.

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On day five we hiked from the Pine River to Soldier Lake Campground, a total of 10.8 miles. We didn't have to spot a car on this morning as some of us were camped at Soldier Lake Campground. For the most part, this day was an easy walk with nice views of Betchler Marsh and Betchler Lake.

The exception to the easy walk was a portion of the trail that goes through an area of the forest that had been clear-cut many years earlier. Very little has regrown in the poor soil and the ground is furrowed, providing uneven footing - tough on the ankles!

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Volunteers and staffers gather for a maintenance day In the Hiawatha National Forest.

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Forest Service, VolunteersContinue Trail Improvementsin Hiawatha NF Editor's Note: As the group surmised during its hikes, a great deal of trail maintenance has been accomplished in the Forest and more is on the way.

By Patty VerWlebe Recreation Technician, Hiawatha NF

tarting in 1999, the Easrside of the Hiawatha National Forest added an accessibleroute to the Lake Superior shoreline of the North Country National Scenic Hiking Trail. The project started as a way to protect the vegetation growing in the shifting beach sands of Lake Superior.This section of the NCT receives more visits than any other segment on the Hiawatha National Forest, suggesting that it also receivesmore user impacts than any other segment on the Forest.

Because of the popularity of this trail segment, the District felt that making the trail accessible to all would benefit plant, watershed, and visitor. Starting from the trailhead, locally known as "The Shallows" and heading east, the hiker now enjoys a walk upon a mixture of gravel, clay, and sand forming a hardened surface that can accommodate those with crutches or a wheelchair.

Approximately . 7 mile of trail is accessible including a boardwalk,which travels over wet terrain for approximately230 feet. The hardened surfacecontinues to the crossingover Naomikong Creek A beautiful suspension bridge spans the Naomikong and has become the destination of many day hikes throughout the years.

Another section of trail that has received much needed attention this year is between the Shallows trailhead and the Hiawatha National Forest boundary near M-123. The trail corridor in this area had been brushed over so badly that the trail was non-existent in most places.

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Hikers were forced to either take the road or walk along the beach through difficult sand. The crew re-established the trail corridor and built boardwalks over wet areas. Work will continue into next year in this area.

Although these were the most noticeable projects on the North Country Trail for the district, they were not the only ones accomplished in the last couple of years. The district also boasts of completing 45 miles of trail maintenance in 2001, which included clearingwindfalls, brushing, marking, and mowing! One bridge near St. Ignace, over Brevoort River, has been replaced and several thousand feet of boardwalk have been constructed between the Carp River and East Lake.

The crew is looking forward to a busy 2002 season too! On the list is the remaining 40 miles of trail maintenance along with additional boardwalk replacement/construction, and (hopefully, budget depending) the replacement of the Silver Creek Bridge.

The Eastside of the Hiawatha National Forest appreciates severalvolunteers who help out our maintenance crew by reporting problems, replacing confidence markers, and clearing and brushing sections of the North Country Trail. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, applications may be picked up at either the St. Ignace or Sault Ste. Marie ranger district offices.

In Memoriam: Arden C. Johnson 1922-2002

Trail Builder, Mapper, Mentor, AssociationOfficer, Friend rden C. Johnson, who died last January at the age of 80, left an indelible mark on the North Country Trail as a state coordinator, and an officer and board member of the North Country Trail Association, but most of all, as a builder of trail in Northern Michigan.

Known throughout the Lower Peninsula where he laid out, mapped and helped to construct many a mile of trail, Arden was particularly active near the tip of the mitten, where he maintained a headquarters during construction season near his summer home in Charlevoix.

His friends, colleagues and co-workers offered many a remembrance of his vigor and dedication. Here is a sample of their tributes:

Bill Menke, NCTA Trail Foreman:

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Rick Seibert, Harbor Springs Chapter: "I met Arden in 1993 at a trail building weekend when we built a mile-long segment in three days. Since then I've helped Arden build more than 100 miles of trail in Michigan. He streamlined the process of trail building to a mile a day.

He spent most of his summers building trails and most of the winter doing the paper work, working on committees and thinking about building trails. I don't know of any one single person who has done as much for the North Country Trail as he has. I can't say any more than, I will miss him."

Bob Papp, NCTA Executive Director: "Over the past decade, Arden poured a lot of his soul and passion into building the NCT and strengthening the NCTA. He first joined our Board of Directors in the fall of 1990 and then served continuously until stepping down due to term limits in 1998 ...

"In his roles as Membership Coordinator, Treasurer and State Coordinator for Lower Michigan, Arden's love for the trail shone through his leadership and inspiring accomplishments. Working on his own, he developed and contributed our first set of border-to-border maps in the Upper and Lower Peninsulas of Michigan.

Throughout the years, his continuing

Arden received the Association's DistinguishedService Award from Wes Boyd during the annual conference In 1997.

updates helped to insure the popularity and utility of the maps.

"Recently, he stepped in to fill a leadership void in our Lower Michigan Trail Council by volunteering to serve as chair. He also had begun a survey of the status of completed and planned trail in all seven states of the NCT. His ingenuity and accomplishments in trail construction, maintenance and improvement are legendary among our volunteers ... "

Arlen Matson, Traverse City Chapter (GT Hikers): "In the early 90s, shortly after we became members of the NCT, Arden visited my wife and me and laid out the grand scheme for the NCT. During the following months, Arden rode with my wife and me over a variety of bumpy and unknown two-tracks to the NCT along the Manistee River. Arden became mentor and friend as we learned the skills of the trade: scouting, flagging, brushing and blazing. Reroutes and new trail building became a lifestyle for us.

"One day in early Fall, I asked Arden: 'How are we going to maintain all this trail? There are only three of us.' He replied: "Form a club." And we did and in 1994 the Grand Traverse Hiking Club was established... Year by year after that, this quiet man with his immense knowledge monitored our progress and provided tools and leadership and encouragement and prodding. I can still hear his voice saying: 'Why don't you?' ... "

"Arden (or A. C. Johnson as he identified himself when calling) was one of the earliest Association members I met .. .it seemed as if he was always in the midst of some big NCTA project-such as volunteering to prepare a draft revision to the bylaws. Soon, I learned that each summer he moved to the northern Lower Peninsula where he spent untold time working to forge a trail route in the vast "no chapter land" between the Mackinac Bridge and the north boundary of the Manistee National Forest, years before the time of the several chapters that now cover that area.With only minimal assistance from a few people that he recruited, he marked new connecting trail, mowed existing trail, reblazed what he could, and in general tried to tie loose ends together.

Arden was probably one of the first people who experimented with mechanical equipment to build the trail. He and Rich Siebert modified and re-modified a rear-tine rototiller so that it would auger dirt to the side and thus do a large part of the side-hill benching task. .. "

Wes Boyd, former Editor of North Star.

"Arden Johnson was at the head of the list of retiree that have accomplished so much volunteering for the North Country Trail. Through much of the '90s, Arden was the core of the trail building effort in lower Michigan. He was the key to developing much of the trail as it now exists on state lands. He was a hard and effective worker, and there were a lot of younger people that found him tough to keep up with.

"But Arden did more than build trail. He was the Treasurer for the Association during the difficult years when the association was changing from a simple club with a mission, to a nonprofit organization with paid staff and regular offices. It would have been easy to lose track of finances in those years, but Arden kept us on the straight and narrow...

"He was an enthusiast and a hard worker. He and his spirit of accomplishment will be missed."

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Making Connections...

That's the Strength of Our Volunteers

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he theme of a past NCTA Annual Conference was "Connecting People and Places." And that's just what the trail does... it connects places of interest. But a trail that is intermittent, or lost or blocked can't be a good connector. This issue's volunteers each have a specialty that focuses on those connections, helping to make the trail an unbroken conduit for hikers. The first featured person'sspecialty is building bridges. Second we give you an expert blazer, and the last person has focused on clearing obstacles from the trail. (If you haven't noticed, the order the volunteers are presented in each time is geographical, simply moving from east to west along the trail.) Each of these workers is relatively new to the North Country Trail community. Two protested that they hadn't been involved long enough to be featured but we assured them that length of service is not a requirement for quality service.

If you spend even a few hours painting blazes or clearing brush, you are doing a job that might not have been done until later. Your volunteer effort might just prevent a hiker from losing the way or being injured. That's what Heart and Sole is all about ... demonstrating the worth of all who this trail and make the effort to connect that sentiment with physical action. We also believe that the trail connects people.

Volunteers usually find new friends, others who share their ideals and pleasures.

lOv~

Butler Chapter DAN MOURER isn't fond of inaction.

He likes things that get somewhere, and that includes trails. In order for the North Country Trail to get across moving water, bridges are necessary, and Dan decided to do something about that. He and his family, wife Peggy and sons Jesse and Ben, had hiked on the Quehanna Trail and crossed some bridges that

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Dan Mourer enllsts his wife, Peggy, and sons Jesse and Ben (left) for h~lp In bridge bulldlng. Dave Rodgers was also a big help.

they liked. They had also recently been introduced to the North Country Trail

by Pennsylvania'sindomitable Bob Tait (featured January 1998).

Although Dan works now as a rural mail carrier, he has past experience as a builder and cabinetmaker. So he realized that it would be possible for him to build the needed bridges. In fact, he built them in his home workshop with the help of the whole family. Dan wanted me to be sure to mention the careful cutting and tight joints fitted by friend Dave Rodgers.

The bridges were then disassembled, taken to the trail and put in place. Not

too difficult you say? These are 48-foot clearspan, arched truss bridges. Now what do you think? Even dismantled the sections weigh 300 pounds, and the site was a half-mile from the road. No problem ... Dan designed special dollies to distribute the weight, and recruited workers to walk the sections to the creek.

About 20 volunteers built scaffolding in the creek to Dan's specifications and they bolted the bridge back together all in one weekend. One chapter member says Dan's "leadership, engineering, and dedication'' were responsible for getting the job done.

The bridges are now in place on a

Blazlng turned out a bigger job than Sheryl Drenth Imagine but she remained undaunted.

three-mile section of trail in Gamelands #95, also built by the Mourers. One bridge is named the Bear's Mouth Bridge, since it crosses the north branch of Bear Creek where it enters the Allegheny River. While they were scouting for the best location for the other crossing one site was easily identified by the remains of a dead crow; when that spot was selected it was just natural to name it Dead Crow Bridge!

Dan has made a personal commitment to see the nine miles of trail west of the Allegheny River completed. He sees himself as a stabilizing force. "I won't burn out; I'm in for the long haul," declared Dan.

Chief Noonday Chapter "Everyone has things they are good at," SHERYL DRENTH cheerfully proposed. Then she added that having a sense of direction is not one of the things she is good at. But Sheryl is an art teacher and so she decided that she could paint good rectangles, and knew that her desire to make the way easy to find would make her a conscientious painter of blazes.

She was asked to blaze a section where the trail still follows a road. "It

sounded like a simple thing," Sheryl Dennis has always enjoyed the outcommented with a laugh. She checked doors, and even helped put himself through out the section ahead of time; it was a college by cutting trees for the DNR Those chain saw skills certainly were back road with little traffic. So far so good. But when she went to start her needed in the Porcupine Wilderness area section she discovered steep ditches of the Chequamegon Forest where a blowdown had seriouslyblocked the trail. Since potentially filled with poison ivy. She this is a National Forest, their chain saw had spread a protective "goop" on her certification is required, and Dennis comskin to ward off the dreaded P.I. rash. It was beastly hot, and the goop got gooier pleted the training to be a Class A Feller.

Like many members in Wisconsin, and slimier, while bark chips from scraphe does not live near the trail, so each ing the trees rained on her and stuck. work trip requires a two hour drive each Then the county trucks began to roar way. Despite the distance, Dennis made past, spraying gravel and dust.

The job was "much a preliminary scouting trip harder than I expected," in order to plan more efficient work parties. He noted Sheryl added, but she was the location of each large still laughing! "And I had blue paint everywhere, even downed tree using GPS. the bottoms of my shoes, When the crew of 16 people went to dear the trail it was even.... " Well, everywhere!

Sheryl joined the NCTA in easy to zoom right in on the spots that needed atten1998 at the urging of Barb tion with the right size crew, VanDyken (featured August thanks to the advance work 1998). She thought she done by Dennis. would just pay her dues and His greatest satisfaclet it go at that. But after Dennis Chapman puts tion is to see the trail being reading the first newsletter she got "sucked in" to the chain saw skills to kept open and useable. He also commented on the projects and the adventure of good use. seeing what's around the next idea of making connections with people who are enthusiastic about corner on the trail.

"It makes me feel like I'm doing the trail. "Somebody new shows up all something good for the future," she the time, but they always have similar interests," he noted. We've heard from acknowledges. Sheryl also takes advananother chapter member that the reason tage of every opportunity she can to tell others about the Trail. If someone shows new people show up is often because Dennis has brought them. "He's out the slightest interest, they get a brochure! there recruiting members right now!"

She enjoys knowing that she is a good advocate for the trail. "The more people get outside in a natural environment, the Have you felt a connection with more they know about it, and the more Dennis, Sheryl and Dan? Don't you want they will want to save it." Well spoken, to meet them? Hike the section of trail Sheryl. that they have prepared for you? The connections ofphysical trail are real and Chequamegon Chapter so are the connections of the soul Each volunteer who makes even one small piece DENNIS CHAPMAN has only known of trail more user-ftiendly is important. about the North Country Trail for less As the 2002 work season begins, ponder than two years. But that certainly doesn't all the connections you are making as you disqualify him from being outstanding! clear, blaze, build or mow your section.

He heard Mary Lucas (member Board of Directors) give a program about the trail Maybe you maintain just a couple of miles. and decided that he would like to hike Nevertheless, without your two miles the and do maintenance. He's also a profestrail will never stretch unbroken for 4, 600 miles. ~nt to nominate someone who has sional photographer, and has hopes of worked hard? Contact me, Joan Young, at using those skills to record some of those scenic spots along the trail.

231-757-2205 or jhy@t-one.net.

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AlleghenyFriends Call for Wilderness in Tionesta Area U.S. Forest Service's First Reaction Wary

By Kirk Johnson Friends of Allegheny Wilderness Member, Clarion Chapter

Tn northwest Pennsylvania'ssprawling .lA.llegheny National Forest, the North Country Trail (NCI) runs for 95 miles and passes through the northern portion of one of the largestremaining intact parcels of old-growth forest in the eastern United States. At 4, 100 acres, the Tionesta Scenic and ResearchNatural Areas is a wildlife haven of ancient eastern hemlock and American beech trees never logged during the 1890-1930 era of intense dear cutting that occurred in the region.

A paper, composed by this author and published in the October 2001 issue of the Natural Areas Journal, the peer-reviewed scientific quarterly of the Natural Areas Association, proposes designating the Tionesta old-growth and surrounding Forest Service land as wilderness under the Wilderness Act of 1964 to permanently protect this important piece of our natural heritage. The publication coincides with the process of revising the Allegheny's forest management practice.

Located just west of Kane, the tract is the largestremaining old-growth forest in the eastern United States between the Adirondacks and the Great Smoky Mountains. Situated in the upper reaches of the Tionesta Creek watershed, the Tionesta area is dominated by immense hemlock and beech, some 500 years old and approaching four feet in diameter.

Wilderness is defined by the Wilderness Act as "an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain."

There is no logging, drilling for oil, ATV or other vehicle use allowed in Congressionally designated wilderness areas. The designations are intended to preserve the areas in perpetuity, with only the forces exerted by the natural environ-

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Friends of the Forest want to designate this section as wilderness.

ment shaping their development and maturation. Wilderness areas are managed so to preserve their natural conditions and wilderness character.

With less than 2% of its land base designated as wilderness compared with the national average in national forests of 18%, the Allegheny is underrepresented in terms of wilderness designation. As early as 1986, the Allegheny's forest management plan stated that it " ... must be concluded that the demand for wilderness experience on the ANF is very high, given that half the country's population lies within a day's drive of the Forest.... It seems obvious that the demand for wilderness designation on the Forest is high, and the available supply in the regional area is low."

John C. Romanowski,Wilderness Program Manager, of the Forest Service's Region 9, had this reaction to the proposal: "I have reviewed the article by Kirk on the proposal .... The Forest Service as part of the Forest Plan revision process is required to revisit the wilderness question again. The Forest would prefer that this topic be addressed as part of the plan revision process rather than a separate issue or study process. Kirk's article and comments are considered as one type of public input on a variety of issues that will be addressed in the revision process.

"The Forest Service has developed a specific protocol to inventory and evaluate proposed wilderness and applies these protocols throughout the Eastern Region on each National Forest undergoing forest plan revision. Without having detailed maps and information about the existing roads and pipe/transmission lines

that seem to be throughout the proposed area, it does seem that the area in question would not meet our protocols for wilderness consideration. However, I am not saying that it will not be considered because there are mechanisms in place that allow areas outside the protocols to be considered. But at first glance and based on very limited information, it seems the Tionesta area is questionable at best."

More than a century ago, the oldgrowth parcel was part of a colonial grant to the Holland Land Company. Later, tanneries in Sheffield held it as a reserve for hemlock tanbark. Still later the U.S. Leather Company purchased it and thereafter turned it over to the Central Pennsylvania Lumber Company.

Finally it was purchased by the U.S. Government in 1936 to be made a part of the then thirteen-year-old Allegheny National Forest. In 1940 the northern half of the Tionesta tract was formally dedicated as a scenic area; the southern half was dedicated as a research natural area. In 1973 the Tionesta Scenic and Research Natural Areas were added to the National Registry of the Natural Landmarks Program.

In: 1997, the U.S. Forest Service characterizedthe Tionesta Research Natural Area as "one of the most valuable old-growth remnants in the eastern U.S. ... evidenced by the 10-fold increase in researchactivity ... over the past decade."

However,loggingcontinues to this day adjacent to the area, and drilling for oil and gas continues within its boundaries.

Today'sproposal asks that existing Forest Service roads within the proposed

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April 6,7-Workshop: Trail Building and Maintenance for Novices, Old Schoolhouse, White Cloud, MI, Werner Veit, (616) 897-6849, Northstareditor@aol.com April 20-Annual meeting, Buckeye Trail Association, hhullss@frognet.net April 21-27-Crew Leader Training, Moraine State Park, hosted by North Country Trail Association, American Hiking Society and Student Conservation Association (See article on Page 36.) AHS, (301) 565-6704, or http:// www.americanhiking.org/ events/vv/index.html April 24-27-Crew Leader Training hosted by the Cumberland Trail Conference in the Southern Appalachians. (See article on Page 36.) AHS, (301) 565-6704, or http: //www.americanhiking.org/ events/vv/index.html Dave Saville of the West Virginia Highlands Conservancy hikingthe North Country Trail In Tionesta'sold growthforest.

April 26-28-Finger Lakes Trail Conference annual meeting, Mt. Morris, NY, (716) 658-9320, or gbavis@rochester.rr.com.

wilderness area be permanently closed and rehabilitated and that non-federal inholdings should be purchased from those willing to sell, with a goal of designating a 20,000 to 30,000 acre area as wilderness.

This would permanently protect tributary streams of Tionesta Creek and surround the Tionesta old-growth core with a protective wilderness buffer.

Most of the forestland surrounding the Tionesta old growth is now dominated by second growth stands of shade intolerant tree species as a result of clearcutting a century ago. By the inevitable process of natural succession, these evenaged second-growth stands will progress toward a hemlock-beech climax forest like that of the Tionesta tract if they are left undisturbed long enough.

Of particular interest to North Star readers, the proposed Tionesta Wilderness Area would also increase the amount of federally designated wilderness along the NCT. Currently the NCT does not pass through any wilderness areas in Pennsylvania, although it does farther west in Michigan and Wisconsin.

The proposed Tionesta Wilderness Area would permanently protect a significant area of high natural integrity along the NCT that would attract new hikers, members, and volunteers for years.

April 27-Quarterly meeting of Board of Directors, North Country Trail Association, Mt. Morris, NY, (616) 897-5987, or hq@northcountrytrail.org.

For a reprint of the Natural Areas journal article or for more information, contact Friends ofAllegheny Wilderness at 220 Center Street, Wtirren, PA, I 6365.

Or reach them via the Internet at allegheny friends@earthlink.netorwww.pawild.org.

April 29-May 3-Brule-St. Croix Rovers working in Brule River State Forest.

BDMenke@aol.com, or (608) 441-5610

April 28-May 4-Work week with American Hiking Society at Tappen Lake, OH, hhullss@frognet.net May 1- 5-Crew leader training hosted by the Pacific Crest Trail Association on the Forest Service's Sloan Ranch near Lion Peak on the Desert Divide and the Pacific Crest Trail. (See article on Page 36.)

June 8-Buckeye Trail Association, Board of Directors meeting, Alcor Corp. offices, Columbus, OH, hhullss@frognet.net June 8-14-AHS Volunteer Vacation, Bayfield County (WI) Forest. AHS, (301) 5656704, or http://www.americanhiking.org/ events/vv/index.htrnl June 17-21-General trail improvement, Alley Cat Trail Crew No. 1, FLTC, Swain, NY. FLTC Service Center, (716) 658-9320.

July 17-22-Brule-St. Croix Rovers at Whitecamp Mountain Ski Area, BDMenke@aol.com, or (608) 441-5610 Aug. 15-18-North Country Trail Association annual conference, Cooperstown, ND, (616) 897-5987, or hq@northcountrytrail.org Aug. 19-23-New bridge construction over Deveraux Creek, Alley Cat Trail Crew No. 2, FLTC Service Center, (716) 658-9320.

Aug. 23-25-Buckeye Trail Association, Board of Directors retreat, Malabar Farm State Park, Mansfield, OH, hhullss@frognet.net Sept. 11-15-Crew leader training hosted by the Ice Age Park and Trail Foundation in Maywood Wilderness Scout Camp in Deerfield Township, Wl. (See article on Page 36.) AHS, (301) 565-6704, or http://www.americanhiking.org/events/vv/ index.html Sept. 16-20-Trail Improvements within Allegany State Park, Alley Cat Trail Crew No. 3, FLTC Service Center, (716) 658-9320.

Oct. 17-21-Conference on National and Scenic Historic Trails, Fort Smith, AK, National Trail ofTears Association, (501) 666-9032.

Oct. 27-Adirondack Mountain Club Trails Day, High Peaks Wilderness Area, Adirondack State Park ADK Trails Program, (518) 523-3441.

Dec. I-Quarterly meeting of Board of Directors, North Country Trail Association, Lowell, MI, (616) 897-5987, or hq@northcountrytrail.org Dec. 7-Buckeye Trail Association, Board of Directors meeting, Alcor Corp. offices, Columbus, OH, hhullss@frognet.net April-June

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Western Michigan Chapter Key Re-route Planned In Huron-Manistee NF

T Central New York Chapter Kiosk Marks New Welcome To the North Country Trail CAZENOVIA, NY-Those of us fortunate enough to have attended the North Country Trail Association's 2001 annual conference here recall with fondness the segment of the North Country Trail leading to the Stone Quarry Hill Art Park, a marvelous venue for displaying sculpture outdoors on the area's open, rolling hills.

The Central New York Chapter has now erected a two-sided kiosk, protected with Lexan plastic, to the trailhead leading to the park on the south end of the village of Cazenovia.

Drilling with a power augur for the kiosk posts was an interesting challenge-the ground is a mixture of stone, some steel matting, and concrete, with minor amounts of dirt found occasionally. After adding additional concrete mix, the volunteers are confident the posts will remain solidly in place for a long time.

The kiosk stands on a half-acre plot that provides off-street parking, convenient access to the segment leading to the park and an opportunity to distribute information about the North Country Trail. The trail register receives frequent entries. Additional maps showing the NCNST/Link Trail and connections with area trails owned by the Cazenovia Preservation Foundation will be added shortly.

Brule-St. Croix-Heritage Rovers Establish 2002 Sked, Invite Participation Attention members in Wisconsin, Upper Michigan and nearby points: The Brule-St. Croix Rovers are putting together their 2002 construction/ maintenance schedule and you are all invited to participate, whether you're an at-large or chapter member.

You can either join at the location or if you live between Madison and the·

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Placing the kiosk proved to be a challenge for the volunteers.

destination, Trail Foreman Bill Menke invites you to hop a vehicle with the group.

Writes Bill: "There is a never-ending list of things to do so that we can work in any variety and location into our trips.

Food is provided. All you need to bring is your own personal gear and sleeping arrangement."

One of the highlights of the trail season in Wisconsin will be an American Hiking Society Volunteer Vacation, hosted by the Rovers and the Brule-St. Croix chapter June 8-14 in the Brule River State Forest and the Bayfield County Forest.

Other dates this year: April 29-May 3: Work in either the Brule River State Forest (BRSF) between Rush Lake Road and Tray Pit Road or in the Solon Springs/ Douglas County Wildlife Area west of New Hwy 53. We may also split our time and work in both locations. Camp: Bluff Campsite or Bird Sanctuary Campsite or both.

July 17-22: Work in Heritage Chapter Area west of Casey Sag Road.

Camp: Whitecap Mountain Ski Area where we camped last year.

August 5-9: Most likely work will be in BRSF with camp at Bluff Campsite.

Sept. 30-0ct. 4: Exact location of work and camping to be determined later based on previous trip accomplishments.

November 11-15: Exact location of work and camping to be determined later based on previous trip accomplishments.

For further information, or to sign up, get in touch with Bill Menke at bill_menke@nps.gov, or (608) 4415610.

WHITE CLOUD-The Western Michigan chapter, working with the National Forest Service, local government officials and the National Park Service, has begun the planning for an important re-route of up to eight miles of the North Country Trail in southern Newaygo County.

The new segment, which will take the trail offroad and bypass an expanding resort development the trail now traverses, will be rerouted through a segment of the Huron-Manistee Forest and a section of Brooks Township which was acquired by the township for recreational and preservation purposes through the Michigan chapter of The Nature Conservancy.

Chapter members, Chad Hudson, trail coordinator for that section of the Huron-Manistee, and a Forest Service intern whose stipend is financed in part by a donation from the West Michigan chapter, have begun defining and flagging the route. The Park Service's planner Ken Howell will be assisting.

The plan calls for completion of planning and paper work, including the necessary environmental impact statement which calls for botanical analysis through three seasons, this year.

Construction, by the chapter volunteers, is scheduled to begin in 2003.

Using native materials found on location, the Forest Service will direct the building of several bridges within the National Forest. At least one other bridge will be required in the Brooks Township portion.

The township segment of the trail will connect with loops planned for the township.

American Hiking Society More Work Trips Added To National Schedule The American Hiking Society has added work trips at Haleakala National Park in Hawaii, the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee, Denali National Park in Alaska, Mt. Rainier National Park in Washington and in Florida on the Florida Trail. To reserve your week please visit: http://www.americanhiking.org/ events/vv/index.html

Portrait of Our Trail

'Sky Blue Water,' That's What's in the State Name Hike Grassland plains and prairies, coniferous and hardwood forests and a thunderous shore.

EDITOR'S NOTE: This is the second in a series of articles that profile the seven states traversed by the North Country National Scenic Trail

By Sharon Froeligh Contributing Editor

M

innesota, the North Country at its finest, a land of" 10,000 lakes", pristine wilderness, and the North Country Trail.

There are currently 90 miles of certified trail in Minnesota. A 3.1-mile segment in Jay Cooke State Park allows hikers to observe the rugged, water eroded gorge of the St. Louis River. Farther west, is a 68-mile segment in the Chippewa National Forest.

This is the longest segment of certified trail in the State.

This very scenic segment takes the hiker through a variety of terrain and diverse vegetation. It offers views of a number of wetlands, lakes, and streams, as it skirts south of Leech Lake, which is the third largest lake in Minnesota.

A short distance west of the Chippewa is Itasca State Park where the hiker will find the headwaters of the mighty Mississippi River. A 13-mile segment has been completed in Itasca State Park. It passes many scenic small lakes, some with walk-in campsites.

Continuing from the , west boundary of Itasca State Park, a recently completed 5.9-mile segment of trail extends through Clearwater County Forest land and ends

at Anchor-Hill Road. Trail volunteers are working to extend the trail west of Anchor-Hill Road, and also to complete the missing link east of Itasca State Park, through Paul Bunyan State Forest to the Chippewa National Forest.

When the "Comprehensive Plan for Management and Use of the North Country Trail-1982" was published, a route heading generally west from near Duluth to the Chippewa National Forest was envisioned.

Over the years, the National Park Service heard from various agencies, including the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and others, that the original route has several disadvantages.

At the August, 1993 Minnesota Summit Meeting, it was agreed by those attending, that the Congressionally designated route of the North Country NST, from near Duluth to the Chippewa National Forest, was probably

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not the best choice for the Trail. It passes through vast wetland areas. Trail development would be slow and very costly, if not impossible.

Alternatively, a route through the Arrowhead region using the Superior Hiking Trail (SHT), the Grand Portage, the Border Route Trail, and the Kekekabic Trail, was proposed. While this relocation could add 400 miles to the trail route, most of it already exists, and would require less development of new trail than the present route.

Consequently, the Superior Hiking Trail Association, the Kekekabic Trail Club and the Rovers Outing Club all became affiliates of the North Country Trail Association in anticipation that the NCNST will pass through their areas.

However, the Arrowhead study did find that significant new trail will be needed, primarily from Ely to the Chippewa National Forest. This would take the North Country NST into territory that is superlative "North Country'' and provide the hiker with a higher quality experience than the original route.

The Superior Hiking Trail traverses a rich variety of terrain and has gained the reputation as one of Certified North America's Potential Route finest trails. It is Superior, Border Route, & Kekekabic Trails characterized by ascents to rock outcroppings and cliffs, and descents into numerous creek and river valleys, which it may follow for a mile or more, and showcases spectacular waterfalls, rapids, and deep gorges. Panoramic overlooks of Lake Superior and the Sawtooth Mountains are abundant along the trail, as well as views of inland woodlands, lakes, and rivers.

Much of the route passes through public lands including several state parks, state forests, and the Superior National Forest.

The route of the NCT in Minnesota can embody the best

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Minnesota of the "North Country." It will encompass samples of Minnesota's renowned "10,000 Lakes," high escarpments overlooking Canada, expansive views and boreal vegetation.

As envisioned, the reroute will take in the largest stretch of wilderness along the entire 4,600 miles trail. The hiker will have the possibility of hearing or seeing wolves, finding moose tracks, hearing loons and spotting bald eagles.

There is currently only one North Country Trail Chapter in Minnesota, the "Star Of the North" Chapter. ''As the only chapter in Minnesota, we speak for the entire Trail across Minnesota

CITYSCAPE:The trail follows the boardwalk

that is not handled by an Affiliate," says John Leinen Jr., Minnesota State Trail Coordinator for the North Country Trail Association.

"Our Star of the North Chapter, I feel, is a Twin Cities metro chapter with a large percentage of the total Minnesota membership. Hopefully, we can develop a number of small local chapters that monitor a manageable section of Trail and plan work projects. They can be backed up by the large metro chapter that publishes a Minnesota statewide newsletter with reports from all the state's chapters and recruits participants for the local chapter's work projects. I think of the Star of the North Chapter as a hybrid chapter with a statewide focus and strong ties to the state coordinator and the State Trail Council.

"Besides building and maintaining the Trail, Minnesota volunteers are helping the National Park Service to complete the planning process that will reroute the NCT through the Minnesota Arrowhead. This reroute will take the NCT up the North Shore along the SHT, across the Boundary Waters Canoe Area on the Border Route Trail and the Kekekabic Trail, and on new trail from Ely through Grand Rapids connecting back to the NCT in the Chippewa National Forest," John noted.

At the January 22, 2002 "Star of the North" chapter meeting, the new chapter charter was approved. Chapter elections were also held. John and Jean Dreher were elected as Chapter Co-presi-

dents, Ginny Ruppe was elected to the Secretary position, and Paul Wright will continue as Treasurer. Giriny Ruppe will also be maintaining the Minnesota Page of the NCTA website.

A tentative list of 2002 goals for the Star of the North Chapter include: exhibiting at the spring and winter Midwest Mountaineering Expos, to have a presence at the Superior Hiking Trails Association's Annual meeting, to provide volunteers and crew leaders for the MWTA spring maintenance trips, continue to work to form new chapters: tentatively called "Paul Bunyan," and "Headwaters," to conduct trail building trips on both the Paul Bunyan and Bad Medicine sections, to partner with the Superior Hiking Trail Association to start construction of the new NCT/SHT in Jay Cooke State Park, to do all things necessary to complete the Minnesota Arrowhead reroute planning process, to partner with the Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota to acquire monies to route and build the trail in Itasca County, to plan at least four fun hikes both on the trail and some close to the Twin Cities metro population, to publish four issues of the Minnesota statewide NCTA newsletter, to support the efforts of any new local chapter and to attempt to provide volunteers to populate any work trips they may plan, and to have a large Minnesota presence at the 2002 NCTA Annual meeting in North Dakota."

In an editorial response printed in the January 10, 2002 edition of the

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that traverses the busy harbor In Duluth.

-u "Pilot-Independent," John summed up §:;,- the situation of the NCT in Minnesota

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by saying, "All volunteers from the state coordinator on down enjoy their work ~ and feel fulfilled as we seek to provide a ~ quality footpath through Minnesota and ~ across this tier of seven northern states. c .i5.

"We all feel it's important to provide friends and neighbors, communities and all fellow countrymen an opportunity to set off on a grand backpack adventure or just the opportunity to enjoy a quiet afternoon's stroll in the forest. While there, hopefully we all can reflect on the wonders of our natural world and connect with ourselves, our feeling and what's really important in our lives." g.

WATERSCAPE: Northern Clouds reflected In a march In the Chippewa National Forest.

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(Please see page 21 for an account of a splendid through hike on the Superior Hiking Trail).

Paralleling North Shore, Truly a Superior Trail Editor's Note: The North Country National Scenic Trail is scheduled to be rerouted over the Superior Hiking Trail once all the paperwork is completed for a major reroute. The Superior Hiking Trail Association is an affiliate of the North Country Trail Association.

By Glenn Oster (Photographs by the Author)

T

he Superior Hiking Trail is that indeed! However, it takes its name, not from the Sawtooth quality of the trail but from its proximity to Lake Superior. It begins just northeast of the city of Two Harbors, Minnesota and when finished will extend to the Canadian Border. A sector near Two Harbors is yet to be finished as is a segment above Judge C.R. Magney State Park. However, from Lake County Road 301 to Magney State Park, you can hike to your heart's content for 180 miles. That's just what I did in August, 2001.

The trail climbs to ridges of the Sawtooth Mountains and beyond, flanking the western shore of Lake Superior. It's never far from the Lake and Minnesota Route 61 which follows the Lake's shoreline. Moreover, the trail crosses many state, county and forest side roads, making access convenient. Parking areas are provided at most of these road crossings. Parking is also available in the seven state parks (fee charged) through which the trail crosses.

Further facilitating trail use, the Superior Shuttle operates on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays during the Summer hiking season. It routinely stops at the major trail crossings on a strict schedule. (Reservations are needed for pickups at the Trail's extremes, County Road 301 and Magney State Park.) This enables day hiking and is a real help for through hikers. As I did, you can spot your vehicle at the end point of your hike, shuttle to its beginning and hike back. Works out great.

Developed campsites are provided and you are expected to camp only at these designated sites. Most days I found the sites sufficiently close to allow my old bones reasonable distances, as challeng-

Mountain's ridges provide expansive views.

ing or wimpy as I cared to make them.

Occasionally, there are sectors with no streams or lakes from which to get water, and, as a result, no campsites.

The sites generally include four or more cleared pads of bare soil, a fire ring, an "L" shaped bench around the fire ring and a latrine that consists of a plastic toilet (not a building) out in the open, but sufficiently far from the fire ring to allow privacy. One site even has a cable strung between two trees for hanging food bags to keep them away from the bears.

The trail is well laid out and constructed. The Superior Hiking Trail Association, the sponsoring organization, is serious about trail maintenance. One morning I was hiking through an area that had become overgrown, and, wouldn't you know, it was just after a night of rain. I was being soaked as I hiked through the wet weeds and was fussing about the need for trail brushing.

Then I heard it, the unmistakable hiss of a power weed whip. It was in the skilled hands of Ken Oelkers, the trail's maintenance supervisor.

Ken is a dedicated, full time trail worker and loves the trail; his interest is evident. We became friends for life when I told him what I was doing. I knew from hiking other trails that over as short a time as a weekend tree branches and limbs can fall on the trail. On that expectation, I had decided at the start of my hike to take along a "flicking stick" and use it to remove every fallen tree branch, limb or trunk that I could flick off the trail. I kicked what I couldn't flick and

lifted off what I couldn't flick or kick - so long as it didn't require removing my backpack. I did that for the entire 180 miles.

Ken was most appreciative. He even offered to help me with shuttling if I became out of phase with Superior Shuttle's weekend service.

The trail is often steep.

Wooden steps and rock steps help but some climbs and descents require grit and determination. In certain places, the trail is switchbacked, but in others you must go straight up and over. It isn't an easy trail as it climbs up onto ridges, drops to lowlands and climbs back up again. The lowlands tend to be very wet, and miles of board walks (a.k.a. puncheons - bog bridges) have been placed to cover most of them. Every stream and gully crossing is bridged; some are real engineering works of art. There is even a covered bridge.

Ken is especially proud of it.

The ridges offer expansive vistas overlooking Lake Superior, the mountains east and west as well as inland lakes, rivers and ranges. The lowlands have beautiful lakes and huge beaver dams, but to me the lowland magic lies in its rivers. They start out as placid streams meandering until they get closer to their descents into Lake Superior. There, they have carved gorges through which the water charges furiously over cataracts and waterfalls. Most of the great waterfalls can be accessed from Minnesota Route 61. Trails lead from parking areas and are well worth the effort to hike.

At one point, the trail drops onto the shore of Lake Superior, but walking with a heavy pack on its loose gravel is most difficult. I enjoyed having lunch on the beach, but I returned to walk the road after another half mile.

The beaver pond at Jonvick Creek has an interesting history. Initially, the trail builders constructed a boardwalk across the broad beaver dam. However, the beavers became more active at dam building, and the following Spring the walkway was six feet under water. How to cross the pond? They brought in a canoe with a long rope at each end so that hikers could pull it to themselves April-June

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from either side of the pond and paddle back. That didn't last long. The beavers chewed off the rope and wove it into their dam.

The next effort was to install a steel cable that hikers could hold onto while working the canoe to the opposite side.

Not sure how they dealt with the problem if the canoe was on the opposite side. Finally, the beaver activity stabilized and the boardwalk was once again put in place on top of the elevated dam.

The canoe remains as a reminder of the beaver pond's history.

The area remains true to form for the "Land of 10,000 Lakes." It has lots

of mosquitoes. I went through a bottle of repellent the first week on the trail.

The label claims an application is effective for 10 hours, but at about three hours, I'd feel bites. I kept that bottle where it was easy to reach. I also had three severe horsefly bites, two yellow jacket stings and the only one tick bite (no, not a deer tick), the first in all my years of hiking.

Earlier in the year, as is typical in the northern tier of the USA, one has to deal with the vicious black flies. So, it would pay you co check out the optimum time to hike the trail. Lace September seems to me ideal with fewer insects and the onset of color.

Although this is the upper reach of bobcat territory and the lower for lynx, I saw neither. I did notice moose droppings and bear scat at times, but no such critters in the flesh. A couple lucky backpackers I met did see a black bear near Lake County Road 6. I saw many deer, one snake three-foot long, and non poisonous snake and dozens of chipmunks and red squirrels, but no rabbits.

On one sunny morning, a mink crossed in front of me with breakfast in its mouth. Beaver lodges are common, but no one was out for a swim when I went by. I was often startled by grouse, I saw woodpeckers doing their pecking and heard a pileated woodpecker, but, true co form, never saw it. I heard endless bird calls, but I'm not a birder and couldn't identify them. I saw a bald eagle, lots of crows and larger crow type birds that I believe were ravens. At Sonju Lake and again at Agnes Lake, I heard the eerie, unmistakable call of loons. At Sonju Lake, I swear a number of them were having a contest to determine which could sound the looniest for 30 minutes or so.

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Ken Oelkers, SHT trall supervisor

A great variety of wildflowers was evident - orange and yellow hawkweed, fireweed, evening primrose, pearly everlasting (in abundance), daisies, orchid and white asters, joe-pye weed (but very short compared with Pennsylvania's version that is six feet or more call), black eyed Susans, sunflowers mullein, pilewort, bunchberry, goldenrod and others I could not identify.

White paper birch trees, standing out strikingly in the sunlight, especially when viewed against a deep blue sky, dominate but there are many other tree species - maples, quaking aspen, alder, red oak, various pines, blue and other spruces, fir and cedar.

There is a great variety of fungi, most were mushrooms of various sizes, on whose identities I couldn't begin to speculate. I took a picture of what I assume to be shelf fungus about the size of a dinner plate, brown with a beige ring around it about an inch from the periphery - much like a dinner plate. My favorite is a fungus about seven inches across, bright orange, and in various shapes, some with the edge curled up all around, some curled up on only one side like an Aussie soldier's hat, and some like a ball.

The trail guide describes one sector as a mushroom fancier's heaven and sure enough I passed a young Frenchman with a basketful of mushrooms. He was concerned about how long it was going co take him co reach the highway. Apparently, he had lost all sense of time and distance in his search for this treasure. He was much relieved when I assured him that he could reach the parking lot within an hour's walk.

I'm up in years but still can't discipline myself to carrying a light pack.

Accordingly, I laid out a hiking plan of about nine miles a day. When I started the first sector, I was carrying food and fuel for seven days, and my pack weighed in at 52 pounds. I was hiking alone and couldn't share the tent weight with anyone. The first was a difficult week for me. I've been doing more bicycling in recent years than backpacking, and my body reminded me of that face from minute to minute.

My pack on subsequent sectors was lighter by about a pound of food per day and a bit less in the way of clothing.

Also, my cell phone wouldn't work there.

So, my GPS would have been of little use in case of an emergency. Both remained in the van for the remainder of the hike.

After that first cough week, my body seemed to get the message as to why it was there, and I did the next planned five-day screech in three days, the following three-day sector in two days, added a 12-mile sector that I hadn't planned to do, and completed the final five-day sector in two and a half days. Yes, I did better than I had expected, but my bruised shoulders will never forgive me.

The trail draws national attention.

On the basis of a readership survey, the December, 2000 issue of Backpacker magazine identifies the top 20 trails in conterminous United States. It lists The Superior Hiking Trail as first and equal co The Appalachian Trail in the quality of signage. I have completed both trails and believe the Superior Trail to be the better.

It truly is a superior trail.

(Additional information is available at www.shta.org, the website of The Superior Hiking Trail Association. It describes the geology of the area, and the trail shows maps and provides a trail guide. It also has a link to the Superior Shuttle with its schedule and charges.)

Trail Craft with Bill Menke

Spring: When Trail AdoptersTurn Thoughtsto Cleanup Editor's Note: This the second in a series of "how to" articles on trail construction and maintenance. Today, our trail foreman focuses on Spring needs, particularly for new maintainers.

'\VJhat is involved when you agree to W become an official "adopter" or "steward" or "maintainer" of a segment of North Country trail? The duties are straightforward. The only real variable time because the time required will vary by the length that adopted and the condition of the trail.

Adopters can take on whatever length they are comfortable with-subject to the approval of a chapter or affiliate officer or trail supervisor to insure that boundaries are defined and coordinated with other trail adopter's areas.

Responsibilities: An adopter usually is responsible for all routine trail work, including routine clearing and brushing, mowing, blazing and other sign maintenance, maintenance of registers and other trail support features such as bulletin boards or trailhead signs, inspection of bridges (subject to qualifications), and in general just keeping an eye on things.

The adopter should be alert to and report on special needs such as the requirement for another bridge, or a reroute to avoid a wet area, or a grade reduction. His or her job is to ask for help and see that the tasks are scheduled.

Adopters usually are not responsible for major tasks such as re-opening the trail after a severe windstorm or any but the most minor of reroutes to correct small problems. Major projects usually require help particularly from people with special qualifications, like chainsaw certification. Depending on location, the adopter may be able to call on special organized crews such as the Buckeye Trail Crew, the Finger Lakes Alley Cat Crews, the Brule-St. Croix Roving Trail Crew, AHS Volunteer Vacation participants, and others.

What's mostly needed is a critical eye. Train yourself to see the trail as if you were a stranger seeing it for the first time. Ask yourself: Are the blazes appropriately spaced so that a stranger could

Seth Hopkins, Spirit of the Woods Chapter, saws off overhanging branches .

easily follow the trail-without being so close as to create "blaze pollution"? Will a stranger understand key turning points?

Sometimes adopters become so familiar with their adopted segment that they can no longer recognize shortcomings.

Time Commitment: Persistence is the key to successful maintenance. As long as the trail is not allowed to deteriorate by skipping routine, periodic maintenance, the time commitment is not burdensome. A persistent adopter may not have to spend more than about three days per year per one to two-mile segment. Do visit and work on your segment at least three times per year (after spring runoff and before Memorial Day, mid-summer, and fall) and preferably four. Now lets get to the heart of the topic-Spring Maintenance.

Make your first trip as soon as the snow melts and before Memorial Day. Either inventory and work concurrently or schedule an earlier visit to walk through and get a handle on what is needed. With Memorial Day as the absolute deadline, complete the following to assure the trail is in good shape for early Spring users: 1. Clearing: Remove trail obstructions and trim brush. During Winter, limbs will have broken off and even some whole trees may have fallen across the trail. Use appropriate tools to remove them. Some adopters make a first pass with lighter weight tools like a bowsaws or an axe. If larger trees are encountered,

make a note and return later with heavier tools like a crosscut saw or a chain saw if certified to use one.

2. Blazing: Make sure blazes are still bright and in place. Otherwise, repaint them during the first Spring trip. Be alert for twigs and brush that obscure them or other trail markers and trim obstructions back if needed.

3. Signs: Check that trailhead signs like those found on bulletin boards and destination signs are well-maintained and in place. Inspect Carsonite posts at trailheads, road crossings and trail junctions to make sure they are secure and their decals in good shape. If the segment is certified, see that the appropriate nine or 3 Y2-inch emblems or the official blue and gold decal emblems are present.

4. Structures: Bridges, boardwalks and other structures should be clean, free of debris that could accelerate rotting and, most of all, safe. Safety concerns should be addressed promptly, or if beyond your immediate capability, flagged and signed as unsafe.

5. Registers: Make sure they are well-maintained and stocked with unfilled register books and writing instruments. Books should be in waterproof containers. A heavy duty, plastic Zip lock bag does nicely. Full books should be replaced and turned over to who ever is the keeper of filled registers. They provide a valuable historical record of trail use and unique conditions over the years.

They should not be misplaced: Next issue: Maintenance needs in Midsummer.

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There's plenty of debris to pick up when the snow melts.

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ABOVE: The Grand opening was cause for dancing on the Tiffin River Bridge.

LEFT: Gene Cornelius at a new FLTC-bullt lean-to In Allegheny State Park.

Need to Build a Privy? A Bridge?

Transport Tools? NPS Can Help Editor's Note: While serving as the NPS' Trail Manager for the NCNST Bill Menke reviewed each one of the hundreds ofproposals for trail improvement that came to the Madison NPS office for part funding.

By Biii Menke NCTATrail Foreman

"'\VJhac do privies, stairways, bridges W and tool trailers have in common?

Or stiles, puncheon, register boxes, picnic tables or shelters?

If you've been on the North Country National Scenic Trail you have a pretty good idea. They are all examples of trail projects funded by the National Park Service's Challenge Cost Share Program, known far and trailwide as the CCS. CCS is a pool of funds allocated to the National Park Service to be used as matching funds on a 50:50 basis with those receiving grants. The trail organizations which receive the grants can match the NPS share with cash, or more typically with volunteer labor, calculated at $15.39 per hour.

The popular program began in 1993 with one project: trail construction and three small bridges within Beaver State Park in Ohio. The Park Service provided $3,255 and the partners matched it with labor actually valued at a lot more than that - $8,864.

Since that groundbreaking award,

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the program has grown to the point where 12 to 15 projects on the North Country Trail are now funded annually.

Through fiscal 2001, 122 projects have been approved in all the North Country Trail states except North Dakota. There have been 39 in New York State, six in Pennsylvania, eight in Ohio, 43 in Michigan, 12 in Wisconsin and two in Minnesota. Another 12 projects-which beneficed all seven states-were approved for the NCTA's national office. Those grants amounted to $331,459 - a third of a million dollars.

Just as impressive-and perhaps more so-has been the partners' side of the matching program. That has totaled $741,693, almost three-quarters of a million dollars, most attributed to the value of volunteer labor.

In small pieces over a million dollars has been poured into improving the trail.

Projects have ranged from as small as $100 to as large as $15,000 on the NPS side of the equation.

So, what kinds of projects have been funded? First, let me cite some more summaries. In the "trail improvement" category,the funding has facilitated:61 bridges, 4 stiles, 9 privies, 2,260 feet of puncheon, 73 register boxes, 670 feet of boardwalk, 54.2 miles of trail construction or improvement, 9 lean-cos, 33 kiosks, 685 linear feet of stairways, 12 fire rings,

6 picnic tables, 149 destination signs, 435 Carsonite posts and decal sets, 8 large highway signs, 12 interpretive wayside exhibits, 70 miles of reblazed trail, 10 barricades or gates, repaire of a large washout across the trail, and winterizacion of the Old Schoolhouse at White Cloud.

In the "administrative" and "public service" categories, the grants have enabled the production or acquisition of 47 new maps, five tool trailers, one mower, seven brochures; addition of pages and color to The North Star, the publishing of the Chapter Presidents Handbook, funding for the Millennium Trail Event at Mackinaw City, projects to upgrade software and furnishings in the National Office, two early GPS projects, and a planning project in southern Michigan.

It may not be fair to single out just a few projects-all have been worthwhile. But describing a handful helps to illustrate what has been accomplished.

Bridges, for example, are especially spectacular projects and some really neat structures have been built, but they are not necessarily more important than less showy projects. I selected, from the long list, the following three projects to demonstrate the wide variety of projects and to provide some geographical spread:

Tiffin River, Brush Creek Bridges This was one of only three projects that were funded at the maximum $15,000 level. Both bridges are located along the former Wabash-Cannonball rail line in northwest Ohio and the work was completed by one of the NCTA's affiliates in Ohio, the Northwestern Ohio Rails to Trails Association (NORTA).

When NORTA acquired the old rail

The Manistee Boardwalk

Spirit of the Woods chapter members mark completion of their splendid boardwalk.

bed, most of the train bridges remained in place-but the exposed-and in some cases rotting-ties were not suitable for hiking or biking, which is acceptable on the rail trail. New decking was installed on the 210-feet long Tiffin River Bridge and enough funding remained to also allow decking the 49-foot Brush Creek Bridge. Tie retaining walls and gravel surfacing was also installed at the bridge approaches to improve safety.

(I was invited to attend NORTA's "neighbor appreciation'' chili feed that was held at the Tiffin River site. Lots of interesting activities have taken place along our trail but one of the more unusual was watching some of the NORTAmembers dancing to the music of YMCA and the Macarena on the new bridge deck.)

Stoney Brook Lean-to Out of nine Iean-tos funded through CCS, eight have been in partnership with the Finger Lakes Trail Conference. FLTC's Alley Cat Crews have become experts at building the beautiful milled log shelters, which exhibit the best design for leantos I've ever seen. Not only is the design aesthetically pleasing, but also very functional. The Stoney Brook lean-to was funded with $3,000 from the NPS side of the equation. Considering the value of labor and other contributions (including material contributions from Allegany State Park), the total project value was around $8,900. This project replaced an old, very deteriorated and leaning leanto and now serves as a respite from long periods of rain experienced by hikers.

SPONSORED

MEMBERSHIP

Ever since the late l 980's when I was the District Ranger at Manistee, this section of the trail crossed a seasonally flooded area known locally as Dead Horse Marsh.

Funding was never available to correct the problem. But the solution finally arrived with the formation of NCTA's Spirit of The Woods Chapter.

In 1999, through the cooperation of the Huron-Manistee National Forest, and funding from the National Park Service the then brand new chapter took on this large and challenging project with outstanding results. A beautiful 4foot wide boardwalk now winds its way for 600 feet across the marsh, which often has water 18 or more inches deep in the spring.

The boardwalk provides dry walking for hikers and equally important, it protects sensitive plants growing in the wetland. Upon inspecting the finished project, I was impressed with the pains taken by the chapter to create a more aesthetically pleasing, gently curving boardwalk-rather than building a straight shot across the marsh.

Their craftsmanship was exemplary. In total, the NPS provided $6, 730 for this project.

Well, I hope you have enjoyed this glimpse of projects and are inspired with the kinds of things that can be accomplished through the CCS program.

FORM

Our Sponsored Membership Program allows current members to sign up new members at an introductory rate of just $18.00. To qualify, Sponsored Members must be new to NCTA, or not have been members for at least two years. The $18.00 rate is good only for the first year of membership. To use the program, just fill you name in the "Sponsored by" box. Then, give the form to a friend to finish.

Please choose your Chapter affiliation:

D D D

Member

of a specific Chapter

:

â&#x20AC;˘ASSOCIATIONâ&#x20AC;˘

_

To begin your membership, complete this form and send It with your $18 payment to: 229 East Main Street Lowell, Michigan 49331

Member of my closest Chapter (If one exists) At-Large Member (Not affiliated with any Chapter)

Sponsored by Name (Please Print) Address

Daytime Phone (Area Code First, Extension at End)

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City

State

Skills to Volunteer

E-mail Address

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Cooperating Landowners - VIPs in More Ways Than One

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olunteers fill and perform many important jobs in our National Parks.

They are formally recognized for their work by being designated Volunteers in Parks, or VIPs. The VIP program was established by Congress in 1969 to encourage volunteerism and provide two important protections - for purposes of workers' injury compensation and tort liability for performing their job, VIPs are treated as if they are Federal employees.

When Congress created the National Trails System (NTS) in 1968, it recognized the important role volunteers were already playing in the development and management of the Appalachian Trail and similar trails.

The NTS Act clearly indicates that volunteers should have a key role in the creation of other National Scenic Trails (NSTs). Individuals and organizations like the North Country Trail Association answered the call. The North Country NST would not be in as good condition, or even exist, without the enormous commitment of many volunteers.

Our increasingly lawsuit-prone society over the past 30-40 years has raised everyone's concern about liability for what we do. Even trail volunteers became concerned about the possibility that someone might sue them, or their trail organization, claiming that the way they constructed or maintained a section of trail or a facility like a bridge was the cause of their injury. The owners of the lands crossed by the trail, particularly private landowners (YeryImportant Persons, indeed!), also became alarmed about their potential liability.

In the early 1980s, this concern came to the attention of Congress. It was evident that the volunteer commitment and the cooperation of private landowners so essential to NSTs might decline. While Congress could not constitutionally eliminate this liability, they found a way to reduce or mitigate it. In 1983, Congress amended the NTS Act to extend the VIP program to volunteers who work on national trails and cooperating private landowners who allow such trails to cross their lands. If the National Park Service (NPS) has a written agreement with volunteers for work on the trail or with a landowner who permits the trail to cross their lands, plus a writ-

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ten "agreement for voluntary services" granting them VIP status, then they are treated as if they are Federal employees for the purposes of workers' injury compensation and tort liability for causing injury to another person.

Under the provisions of the Federal Employees Compensation Act, a volunteer trail worker or landowner can be reimbursed for their reasonable medical expenses if they suffer injury while working on the trail in accordance with their responsibilities outlined in the written agreements. It does not cover lost time from a regular paying job. Claims are to be submitted as soon after the injury as possible to the NPS office in Madison.

Since 1990, there has been only one claim from a volunteer working on the North Country NST and it was paid.

In regard to the liability feature, Congress' intention can be found in Senate Report 98-1: "One problem with [previous] cooperative agreements has been that the private participants are placed in an uncertain position with regard to their personal liability ... Private landowners are reluctant to voluntarily allow trail crossings or to sell a partial interest in their land for trail purposes when these questions remain unanswered. Similarly, volunteer trail clubs ... are also concerned about these uncertainties. " ... this amendment encourages

the expanded use of the provisions of the Volunteers in the Parks and Volunteers in the Forests Act as a part of these cooperative agreements. This approach will protect the parties to these cooperative agreements from personal liability arising out of actions undertaken as a part of such an agreement. Should a farmer agree to allow trail passage across his land, for example, and to provide for routine management of that trail area, his actions in doing so would come under the provisions of the volunteer program and he would not be personally liable should activities taken within the scope of that agreement result in injury to another."

The liability risk of landowners who allow the trail to cross their lands is very low. There are very few cases where people recreating on private land have sued the landowner. There are essentially none where the injured person won the suit, unless there was gross negligence or malicious action by the landowner.

A landowner's primary protection is their state's recreation liability law. Every state has one, although the provisions vary somewhat. These laws specify that a landowner who allows the public on their lands for recreation, without having to pay a fee to the landowner (some state laws even allow payment of a nominal fee), is not liable for any injury to them.

However, there is another very legitimate concern-the landowner may have to spend a lot of money for an attorney to defend him in court.

The VIP status provides volunteers and landowners additional liability protection, Under the provisions of the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA), any tort ("a wrongful act") claim filed by a citizen, against a trail volunteer, volunteer

Our increasingly lawsuit-prone society over the past 30-40 years has raised everyone's concern about liability for what we do. Even trail volunteers became concerned about the possibility that someone might sue them, or their trail organization, claiming that the way they constructed or maintained a section of trail or a facility like a bridge was the cause of their injury.

organization, or cooperating landowner with VIP status, for personal or property injury sustained while using the North Country Trail would be handled by the NPS as it does claims against employees.

After an investigation, a determination of Federal Government liability is made and any award paid to a claimant(s) is borne by the government.

If the injured party files a legal action against the VIP, rather than following the FTCA procedure, the VIP should normally be represented in court by the U.S. Department of Justice. Court costs, along with any judgment against the VIP, would be covered by the government. As with Federal employees, VIPs are protected for their negligent actions as long as it can be shown that they were acting within the scope of their responsibilities as stated in the written agreements.

It is important to note, as stated above, that it requires two written agreements to provide VIP status. With landowners, we use a standard agreement in which he/she grants permission for the trail for 5 years. It is not legally binding; it can be terminated earlier by the landowner or NPS. While it is an agreement with the Federal Government, it does NOT give the U.S. any legal interest in the property - title to the property remains unchanged. Some landowners may not be willing to sign such an agreement with the Federal Government.

However, only those who do can become VIPs and receive the protections provided by that status.

It is also important for our partners, who are working to lay out the trail across private lands, to understand that it is not the desire of NPS to enter into a written agreement with every private landowner along the trail. That would create an enormous workload that could preclude other work we do on behalf of the trail. The possibility of VIP status should only be mentioned to a landowner when it seems it might make the difference between getting or not getting permission to route the trail across their lands, i.e. the landowner's major concern is liability and VIP status might help satisfy that concern. Our partners should also clearly understand that we only have authority to extend VIP status to private landowners. The NPS cannot take on the liability of any public agency or government organization that manages lands crossed by the trail.

Our Volunteers List Their Needs from the National Association

FROM

A couple of issues ago, I wrote about .r\a survey we were sending to our Chapters and partners, asking them to prioritize the types of assistancethey needed from the national NCTA. The results will help us develop a new strategic outline for the organization. In the meantime, I thought you'd enjoy a glimpse of what these leading volunteers had to say.

Seventeen of our Chapters responded. Eight more came from partners and lead volunteers. The survey suggested two dozen different forms of assistance, and asked respondents to rank each with a score of 0-5. We also provided room to suggest new ideas.

With 25 responses, each item could score 0-125 points. Actual scores ranged from 58 to 100. At a glance, the results confirmed that each of our Chapters and partners has a unique set of strengths and weaknesses. Overall, though, five suggestions rose to the top: • monitor and influence state legislation to benefit the trail, • major funding for land and easement acquisitions, • proactive contacts and relationship building with state and local agencies, • direct training and assistance in landowner negotiations, and • produce brochures with local emphasis.

While these ideas scored highly in all states, some states had different suggestions in their top three. In Minnesota, help with fund raising was the top need, and more media coverage to help build public awareness was #3. In North Dakota "greater direction and assistance to State Trail Councils" and "produce maps on the fly to help with local planning and presentations" tied at #3.

Respondents from Ohio saw the need for a high quality "PowerPoint" presentation to help promote the trail, scoring it highest overall. In Wisconsin, training or idea-sharing workshops to enhance leadership skills scored #3.

Clearly, we have a lot of work to do. Our volunteers and partners in the field are becoming more experienced and effective. They are reaching for higher goals that require more powerful!skills, more proactive assistance, and greater resources. Our challenge will be to grow

QJ1

our organization to better meet these heeds, before opportunities are lost.

We hope to carry some of these ideas forward at our Annual Conference this August in Valley City, ND. Usually we offer various skill-building workshops, but this year we're planning a single, intensive, day-long workshop on Friday.

This will be a great opportunity for active volunteers to soak up some really substantive ideas, both from one another and from our workshop leaders.

Following opening remarks, the day will be divided into three main themes: Building Support for the Trail, Extending the Trail, and Issues of Common Concern. The workshop will be interactive, and we'll use various techniques to explore our subjects, including video and PowerPoint, panel discussions, and work groups. We'll also leave time at the end of the day to brainstorm on ideas suggested by participants.

If you're in a leadership role, or would just like to expand your own skills and ideas, this definitely is the place to be on August 16! Note, that we also have a lot of recreational events planned at the conference, including a day long bus and hiking tour on Saturday, and hikes and other activities for folks who don't participate in the workshop on Friday. You may register for the Conference using the form on page 7.

If you'd like a copy of the complete results of the survey, just contact our office at HQ@northcountrytrail.org, or 888-454-NCTA. We'll even throw in the results of a similar survey from 1997 to compare. In 1997, "producing high quality hiking maps" was at the top of the list. Today we have a skilled cartographer, a growing geographic information system database, a lot of good equipment and a cartography internship program.

So, while these surveys may identify needs that seem a stretch, they certainly are not beyond our reach.

April-June

2002

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==="'-..-er-:::--,-,--,,-:----~

::r

~iil PA Interns Publicize Trail

g. The Pennsylvania Chapter of the North

National Park Service Gets Back on Line The National Park Service'sweb site and email address, along with those of the others of the Department of Interior, were shut down for months because of a court order but the silencewas broken in late February.

Wrote Tom Cilbert, Superintendent of the Ice Age and North Country Trails: "The USS Interior has been lost in a time warp since encountering it on stardate 12-05-2002. With good fortune we have finally found our way out and are now back in the 21st Century. Ahead of is the familiar cyberspaceof the Internet and World Wide Web. We were thrilled this morning when the captain once again gave his familiar order, 'Engage!' It's good to be back in communication with all of you."

Tom's e-mail addressin Madison, WI is Tom_Giiben@nps.gov.The telephone number ofthe Madison officeis (608) 4415610 and the postal addressis National Park Service,700 RayovacDrive, Suite 100, Madison, WI 53711.

Trail Adoption Program The Canalway Trails Association of New York, a group including NY Parks, NY State DEC, NY State Canal Corporation, and several other organizations, resulted from ongoing efforts by New York State to develop a 500-mile multiple use trail system along former major canals. The 350-mile east-west portion, follows where feasible the original Erie Canal. Segments in eastern and western New York have been developed extensively.

Now the central region is receiving major attention with the formation of regionalgrpups "to adopt trail sections."

The Old Erie Canal Towpath Park (NY Parks owned) is a major link in the effort, Regionalsupport for the total project reportedly is good, with State funding assured.

Since the Old Erie Canal Towpath Park is the planned route for the NCNST between Canastota and the Rome, NY area,.the CNY Chapter is participating in the proceedings.The chapter'sefforts are focused on actions that will be synergistic overalland beneficialfor the NCNST. -Allarmann

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~ ~ ~ ~ ~ :;路

Winds estimated at up to 100 mph, or perhaps a low-grade tornado, flattened trees along the North Country Trail along the section maintained by the Chief Noonday chapter. A stile they had built survived even though 10 trees fell on It.

Wind Repairs in Michigan

By Christmas, the Chief Noonday Chapter has nearly finished repairs to the North Country Trail caused by high winds or a tornado on Oct. 25.

The storm which resulted in extensive uprooting of trees, north of Augusta, MI for about a mile, followed the North Country Trail from EF Avenue, thru the Kellogg Biological Stations of Michigan State University Experimental Forestry Farm.

Chainsaw crews from the farm and the Chief Noonday Chapter cleared most the damage. The trees, some as large as 20 inches in diameter, were uprooted and laid in impenetrable piles. This created great pressures on the downed trees and the chainsawers had to use very precise safety measures, including viewing videotapes and wearing all required safety equipment.

- CharlesKrammin

Heritage Election The Heritage Chapter in Wisconsin has reelected its officers, as follows: Jim Burow, President; Gaylord Yost, Vice President; Michael Stafford, Treasurer, and Sarah Gokey, Secretary.

County Trail Association is taking a new approach to getting the word out about the Trail and outdoor events. State Coordinator Bob Tait has been working with two Slippery Rock University Journalism students in an effort to educate the surrounding communities of Western Pennsylvania about the outdoor programs involving the NCNST. In October of 2001, a partnership was formed between Bob Tait and two SRU students, Jessica Oates and Kaled Bidar. The two parties met via an Americorps service project at Moraine State Park that involved trail work and environmental education. Through Americorps, Tait found the two individuals who were interested in getting media experience that applied to their Journalism major.

From the Fall of 2001 until present, the "student media specialists" have worked on projects such as: news releases for NCT events, interviewing NCT volunteers for news letter articles and making contacts with local news organizations.

"Working on behalf of the North Country Trail Association has heightened my journalistic abilities," said Kaled Bidar. Jessica Oates said: "I've been taking what I am learning about journalism in school and applying it to real-world situations. This has been a great learning opportunity."

Future plans for the students include taking part in a media-training seminar where local chapter members will learn techniques for effective writing skills and journalistic judgment.

Memorial Open for Hikers Although the Wright-PattersonAir Force base is closed to automobile traffic, the Wright Brothers Memorial remains open for hikers, according to the base commander. Parking is available at the Air Force Museum on Springfield Street, or in Parking Lot 20 at Wright State University near Kauffman Avenue in Fairborn.

The new Visitors Center on top of Wright Brothers' Hill probably will not be open to the public until June of 2003, the 1 OOth anniversary of the Wrights' first flight and the 200th anniversary of Ohio becoming a State.

- WoodyEnsor

E

A. Royal1 Mesh-Back

Cap

(C201J

Mesh back, cotton twill front, royal blue, plastic snap strap $10.95 B. Moss Green Cap (C206J Embroidered association logo. Low profile distressed washed cotton twill.

Constructed with soft lining. Adjustable buckle on fabric strap $14.95 C. Ught Khaki/Navy Cap (C207J Trail emblem design. Low profile washed cotton, unconstructed. Light khaki crown with washed navy bill. Adjustable buckle on fabric strap $14.95 D. Denim Blue Cap (C203J Pro-washcotton twill with extendedbill, deep blue crownand bill (lookslikedenim),adjustable buckleon a leatherstrap $15.95 E .. Naturat Col'ored Bucket Hat (C208J The North Country National Scenic Trail compass point design on a bucket hat in a tone on tone khaki color. Washed cotton, one size fits most $16.95

SHliR1S F. TrairCrew T-shirt (C102) A trail crew shirt for volunteers! 50/50 blend. Two color design on front with map and a "fired up" volunteer. Color: tan.

M, L, XL $8.95, XXL $9.95 G路. NCTA T-Shlrt. (C101J Pre-shrunk cotton "Beefy-T". Three-color NCTA logo on front and two-color trail map on back. Slogan on back reads "Going the Distance on the North Country National Scenic Trail" and includes the sevenstate map of the trail. Color: natural.

S, M, L, XL $11.95, XXL $12.95 F

H. Sweatshirt M, L, XL $34.95, XXL

TWO NEW T-SHIRTS! $37.95

Goldenrod

(C107A)

Khaki Green

(C107B)

Denim

(C107C)

Light Raspberry

(C107D)

I. Polo Shirt Color:Tan (C106) $31.95

M, L, XL XXL

J. Fleece Vest Color:Grey (C108)

G*~~

$38.95

M, L, XL, XXL

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Front.

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Full colorpictures taken by our own members illustrating the beauty found on the NCNSI 100% pre-shrunkcotton.

PATCHES

State Patches 2" x 2" $2.00 ea.

New York (P126) Pennsylvania (P127) Ohio (P128) Michigan (P129) Wisconsin (P130) Minnesota (P131) North Dakota (P132)

MEDAWONS AND PINS Add the North Country National Trail insignia to your hiking stick.

A. Painted color (P105) $4.00 B. Brass (P104) $4.00 C. The Trail Emblem doisonne pin is ?,Is" and features the updated North Country triangledesign. (P102) $3.00

A

MUG North Country National Scenic Trail plastic trail mug tapered to fit in cup holder.

(P103) $5.00

Gulde to the NCT, Chippewa Natlonal Forest, Minnesota

NCTATrall Bulldlngand Maintenance Manual

By Roderick MacR.ae

By Thomas Reimers

Description of the route and trail log, east · to west. Wonderfully written by a Chippewa National Forest expen.

12 pages (M611) $1.25

This great manual for volunteers provides helpful guidelines and suggestions for planning, construction and continued maintenance of the North Country Trail. It covers rural and roaded natural, semi-primitive and primitive trail.

22 pages (L101) $2.00

Buck Wiider'sHiking & Camping Gulde

By Tim Smith and Mark Herrick One whole lot of fun! Buck Wilder and his pal Rascal the Raccoon share their considerable wisdom and wit. Wonderful color illustrations are filled with humor and countless tips and trivia. Though at first glance this looks like a book for kids, adults also find this guide irresistible and informative.

64 pages (L103) $12.95

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Followingthe NCT By~sBoyd Third Edition of Following the North Country National Scenic Trail. A Classic!

Includes general descriptions of the trail and efforts to build it in each of our seven states.

This new edition also includes appendicies on through-hiking the NCT and the history of the Trail and Association.

96 pages (L112) $4.95

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ORDER TOLL FREE! 1-888-454-NCTA ( 6282)

Upsmackln' Backpackln'

By Tim and Christine Connors Tired of gorp, cereal bars, and jerky?

Dayhlker's Handbook

By J Long and M Hodgson Comprehensiveguide for beginning

Would you like to dine on spaghetti, chicken salad, and cheesecake in the backcountry? Here is a guide to satisfying, sumptuous dining on the trail. You no longer have to sacrifice nutrition for taste. A new kind of outdoor cookbook, this all-in-one guide is filled with trailtested recipes providing at-home preparation directions, trailside cooking instructions, and nutritional information.

232 pages (L118) $15.95

wanderers and those exploringnew country. Choosing proper clothing, selecting footware and raingear, using a map and compass, predictinghike difficulty, managing fuod and water, weatherlore, walking techniques, traveling with kids, first aid, and more.

Many short features, fun tips and anecdotes.

216 pages (L107) $14.95

Hiking!

By Philip Farranti and Cecilia Leyva A truly fresh look at hiking. Read about: philosophy of hiking, stress management, creativity and hiking, and trail romance. Also, explore today's issues through hiking: strengthening family ties, improving communication, a healthy lifestyle for kids, an inexpensive pastime and providing seniors with a natural prescription for health. A new twist for anyone who currently enjoys hiking and for those who are thinking about starting out. 245 pages (L106) $14.95

,,.. An All·Terratn, l>.ll·Season Gulde JataC..,,.,_,fliid!rcMll"..,,..

Revised Edllioe

First Aid and Famlly FIRST AID Emergency Handbook The urgent need for treating lifeA l'AMILYDIUGENCY threatening situations makes it the BANJ>9001t responsibility of everyone to be able WITH SUPPORT GROUP to give proper emergency care unitl REFERENCE GUIDE the victim is transported to a medical facility. First aid does not replacea physician, but it protects the victim until medical assistance can be obtained.

This compact book, 3.5 inches wide •ASSOCIATION• and 5.5 inches high, also contains information about support groups and diseasecontrol. ~--------~ 252 pages (L125) $6.00

+

_

'l1ie Counttg 'Dot:toT

Stories recount the full spectrum of humankind's experiences. Sometimes informative and educational, frequently humorous, often whimsical, the stories will entertain and charm you with their simple philosophy, wisdom and wit.

Includes adviceon home remedies, herbal and alternative medicine that promotes the common sense caring of one's self 363 pages (L115) $19.95

iAYBIKER'S _ . DBOO

New

The One Pan Gounnet

By Don Jacobson Fresh Food on the Trail.Tired of eating dried and preserved goods in the back-country?

Here's an alternative from an outdoor chef who takes his spice rack and fresh food with him. Covers planning, packing, preparing and, most important, eating savory meals on the trail. Geared toward the three-day trip, this book includes over 150 trail-tested recipes,prepared in one pan, pot or oven.

157 pages (L114) $12.95 The Country Doctor, Allve and Well By john G. Hipps MD.

www.northcountrytrail .org

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Great Minnesota Walks

By Wm. Chad McGrath Follow in the footsteps of the early voyagers, ramble beside river rapids, trek through tall trees, and savor a scenic overlook as you discoversome of Minnesota'sfinest walking trails. In this book, Chad McGrath guides you to some of the state's most beautiful and interestingpaths.

168 pages (L117) $16.95 America's National Scenic Trails

By Kathleen Ann Cordes The history, its state today, a geographical description, points of interest and all the statistical particulars for each of the eight National Scenic Trails is detailed, including, of course, our own North Country National Scenic Trail.

306 pages (L122) $19.95

e-mail: HQ@northcountrytrail.org

ORDER TOLL FREE! 1-888-454-NCTA

Take A Hike!

By Rich and Sue Freeman With this guide, you'll be able to explore the Finger Lakes and Genesee Valley Region with ease and confidence. Each of the 51 walks is rated for difficulty,type of terrain, and described by length and estimated time required. In addition, you'll know how to easilyfind the trails and parking. The hikes in this book are designed for people who delight in exploring unique or little known places.

264 pages (L119) $16.95 !Peak :EX;perlences

By Gary Pallesen A hiking guide to the highest summits in each of New York's counties, including the highest point in Manhattan, a large rock in Bennet Park at 265.05 feet above sea level. This guide includes maps, written directions to trail heads, elevation profiles, mileage, as well as alternate routes to some peaks. In this book you'll meet the people populating the high points today and yesterday, discover how to find the high point, what you're likely to see, and the origin of the peak's name.

288 pages (L120) $16.95

(6282)

www.northcountrytrail.org

Hiking with 1K1ds

By Robin Tawney Are you thinking of introducing a child to the wonders of hiking? Hiking with Kids answers any questions you may have and provides valuable tips on what to bring and how to keep your young hiker safe and happy on the trail. 70 pages (L123) $6.95 'Edible Wiid 1Plants and Useful Herbs

By Jim Meuninck Discover how to identify more than 100 wild plants and useful herbs, prepare recipies using your wild harvest, identify poisonous plants, and make wild plants and herbs a part of your diet. 68 pages (L124) $7.95 Porcupine Mounta'lns

By Jim DuFresne

This detailed guidebook provides backpackers, hikers, campers, and skiers with all the information they need to plan a trip to the tranquil Porkies in Michigan's Upper ,....,,..~.,.,.â&#x20AC;˘-.pi.0:---e-~-~ ----.,.............

Peninsula. Includes history, wildlife in the lYi!d.~S1a.tePatJ<, park, fishing opportunities, cabins and shelters, camping areas, family day hikes with complete information on trails, access points, waterfalls and backcountry trecks.

160 pages (L108) $11.95

50 Hikes In Ohio

ByRalph Ramey The 50 hikes in this guide are grouped geographicallyand range over the entire state, from the rugged Appalachian plateau of Shawnee Forest in the south to the Ottawa Wildlife Refuge on the shores of Lake Erie. Many of the hikes are a short drive from each of Ohio's major metropolitan areas. There are outings for every ability, from easy walks to rigorous overnight backpacks.

272 pages (L121) $14.95

Trail Atlas of Michigan

By Dennis R. Hansen Michigan trail enthusiasts, don't get caught --without this atlas! Second Edition includes maps and descriptions for over 600 hiking, biking, skiing, and nature trails in Michigan. Search by location or types of use.

581 pages (L102) $29.95

50 Hikes In Michigan ByJim DuFresne From one of Michigan's leading outdoor writers comes this comprehensive guide to the best trails in Michigan's Lower Peninsula. Each hike write-up contains all the basic information you need: access, parking, trail distance and difficulty,hiking time, contour map, and explicit trail directions.

Formerly titled 50 Hikes in Lower Michigan.

252 pages (L109) $17.95

Great Wisconsin Walks

By Wm. Chad McGrath Experience the serenity of a stately birch forest, the rush of a river in spring and the excitement of an urban amble as you discover Wisconsin's finest walking trails.

In this book, Chad McGrath guides you to some of the state's most beautiful and interesting paths. Whether you are in search of a long, healthful hike in the woods or a short, casual stroll in the city. Great Wisconsin Walks will help you plan your route. 160 pages (L116) $16.95

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e-mail: HQ@northcountrytrail.org

ORDER TOLL FREE! 1-888-454-NCTA (6282) New York

to

Rome to Finger Lakes Trail (TNY-04) Michigan Bowne Township to M-37 (TMl-03) Freesoil Trailhead to Cedar Creek Road (TMl-05) Grand Marais to Au Train Lake (TMl-10) Alberta to Cascade Falls (TMl-13) : Cascade Falls to Ironwood (TMl-14) : Wisconsin 路 Ironwood to Long Mile Lookout (TWl-01) Long Mile Lookout to Solon Spring (TWl-02)

NCT Trail Map Sets

$3.50 $3.50 $3.50 $3.50 $3.50 $3.50 $3.50 $3.50

(Together these maps cover the Chequamegon National Forest)

1:24,000 Scale

Printed in full oolor on durable paper these new maps come in a dear plastic bag to assure complete water protection. They have been carefully field checked fur acruracy. Each map unfulds to a full n" x 17''.

Pennsylvania McConnells Mill and Moraine State Parks (T201) Allegheny National Forest North Section (T202) Southern Allegheny National Forest and Cook Forest State Park (T203) Michigan Huron-Manistee N.F.: North Segment (T401) Battle Creek to ChiefNoonday Road (T402) Huron-Manistee N.F.: South Segment (T403) 1:100,000 Scale

$5.00 $6.50 $8.00

Minnesota Chippewa N.F. to Paul Bunyan S.F. (TWl-09)

$3.50

Certified Sections of the NCT

By Byron and Margaret Hutchins .

Detailed information and maps highlighting the longest and best off-road segments of the Trail.

These are accurate route descriptions by experienced guidebook writers who have walked the sections with a measuring wheel, In easy to use loosdeaf form.

Pennsylvanla

$8.00 $6.50 $8.00

Printed in full color on durable paper, this pocket size map unfolds to a full n" x 17'', doubleside.

These maps do not come in a plastic bag.

www.northcountrytrail.org

NCT in Pennsylvania, 37pp (M201)

$5.25

Ohio

Wayne National Forest, 14pp (M301) $3.00 From Burr Oak Seate Park to Milford on the Buckeye Trail, 38pp (M3032) $14.00 Milford to lake Loramie S.P., 42pp (M304A) $7.00 Miami & Erie Canal from lake Loramie S.P.

Napoleon, 3opp (M305A)

$5.00

Michigan NCT in Lower Michigan, 8rpp (M401) NCT in Upper Michigan, 88pp (M402) Wisconsin

$12.50 $13.00

Iron County Forests; Chequamegon N.F., Brule River S.F., 27pp (M501A)

$4.50

Minnesota

Chippewa National Forest, Itasca S.P., 24pp (M601)

$4.00

North Dakota NCT in North Dakota 15pp (M701)

$5.00

Michigan Map Sets

By Arden [ohnson An excellent reference for the entire North Country Trail in Michigan. Includes all off-road segments and suggests on-road routes where the trail is incomplete. Also pr.ovides good general information about access points, terrain, markers, camping and water, etc $4.00 per set Ohio State Line at Waldron to Augusta (M411A) Augusta to Rogue River State Game Area (M412A) Coates Highway at Manistee River to M-115 West of Mesick (M413A) M-115 West of Mesick to M-32 West of U.S. 131 (M414A) M-32 West of U.S. 131 to Mackinaw City (M415A) St. Ignace to SE Marquette (M416A) Marquette to Ironwood (M417 A)

Merchandise total:

D Check or money order enclosed to D Please charge my credit card (Made payable

NCTA Members deduct 10%: Subtotal after discount:

"NCTA")

Ml Residents add 6% sales tax: + Shipping and handling: + (See shipping Info below)

1-------IC----I

Membership dues (if included): + Charge Card Number

GRAND TOTAL: Expiration Date

Name on Card

Signature (We cannot process your order without a signature and the expiration date.)

Please mall, fax or phone your order to: 229 East Main Street Lowell, Michigan 49331 Toll free telephone: 888-454-NCTA (6282) If ordering by credit card, you may fax your order to:: 61~97-6605 April-June

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Shipping and Handling Charges Amount of Order Charge $00.00 to $10.01 to $25.01 to $50.01 to Over $100

2002

$10.00 $25.00 $50.00 $100

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$2.50 $4.00 $5.00 $6.50 $8.50

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Finger Lakes Trail Conference Celebrates Anniversary

By Irene Szabo President,

Finger Lakes Trail Conference

T

he Finger LakesTrail Conference, one of the North Country Trail Association'slar~st and earliest affiliates, celebratesits 40 anniversary this month.

The Finger Lakes Trail wanders rural New York across mostly forested, hilly terrain, generally east-west, and features several major north-south branch trails, too.

The North Country National Scenic Trail route uses almost two-thirds of the main east-west trail before it veers northward toward the Adirondacks on our Onondaga Branch. The whole system has now passed the 800-mile mark, but we had been pecking away at it over both private and public land for 30 years before the last gap in the main trail was closed.

The concept for the trail was the inspiration of Wally Wood, who organized the first meeting in late 1962 of the widely scattered hiking clubs that were to become the Finger Lakes Trail Conference.

Since then the trail has been slowly built and maintained by a highly assorted and idiosyncratic collection of clubs, outdoor organizations, individual volunteers, and Scout troops.

The umbrella organization operated in its early years with a manual typewriter, a mimeograph machine, and a rotary telephone in Wally's home, where Korbi Wade performed for secretarialwork and Francis Jacobi typed up articlesfor the FLT News on her own home typewriter.

Early Trail Chair and News editor Erv Markert made a wonderful iron measuring wheel with annular thrust bearings in a brass housing and an antique counter that clicked off revolutions of a wheel six feet, seven inches in circumference. Erv's wheel is still in frequent use along the FLT, but the clicker yields no answers until the user gets home to a calculator to multiply every reading by 6.5833333.

Eighteen years ago the Service Center, as it came to be called, was moved into Howard and Dorothy Beye's basement in Rochester, and because Howard also became Trail Chair, the whole operation was finally centered in one tiny low-ceilinged room between the washing machine and the furnace. Their phone was the FLT information number, their basement produced and mailed all

3~ii"····N·~-~th·····5t·~-~-···

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maps and guidebooks purchased, and between them they handled almost all FLTC correspondence, trail problems and map changes, landowner questions, mailings to the Board, and new member enrollments. Other jobs, like annual member renewals and map copying, were farmed out to volunteers. Sending out while information packets fell to Helen Brooks from her home.

Ever faster copiers next to the Beyes' pantry and finally a computer followed over the years. Every time Dorothy threatened to "retire," Howard would beg her to stick with it because he wanted all the records in one place. Meanwhile both of them worked fulltime jobs elsewhere, and Howard maintained a section of trail himself and ran two, then three trail work weeks per season, AND spent years on the Board of the North Country Trail Association, where he still serves.

They were endlessly patient even with those who would call at any hour.

One caller even telephoned at 2 a.m. to complain he couldn't find a trailhead in the dark, and wouldn't Howard give them better directions than the map showed?

After they both retired from their "real" jobs, it soon became apparent that they didn't dare go away for more than a week at a time, since the entire operation of the FLTC was in their home. They deserved a break and it was time for the Conference to grow up. That happened at the same time that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at the Mt Morris Dam one hour south of Rochester was looking for not-for-profit tenants for a house they no longer needed.

The Dam is on the Genesee River within huge Letchworth State Park, where one of the FLT branch trails cov-

ers 25 miles of scenic forest AND passes right next to the house. The Corps recently opened an interpretive visitor center and wanted to increase user traffic there, so saw our presence as another draw, while we thought exactly the same thing, especially if they publicized nature walks and introductory hikes which we would run.

Although a low-cost home for an office had plopped into our laps, we still needed to duplicate Howard, Dorothy, and several other legendary longtime volunteers who were each at least eighty years old! Obviously there would never again be anyone so dedicated ... not for free ... even though Howard remains Trail Chair to our immense relief Thus in our 39th year, the FLTC finally hired its first employees, a parttime executive director, Gene Bavis, and a two-day per week Office Manager, Gert Hauck, and therefore has had to raise an extra $25,000 per year to pay for this "luxury." (When I was first a Board member back in 1990, our whole budget for the year was only $16,000!)

We also needed to duplicate much of the office equipment since Howard needed to keep a computer and at least the older, slower copier for his Trail Chair chores. Generous members have given us whole new computers, phones, lamps, an air conditioner, file cabinets, a fax/printer, a refrigerator, and even paintings and photographs for decorating our new headquarters. And we've also learned to be fund-raisers, applying for grants, for instance, and have conducted our first two annual appeals to the membership, with gratifying results from our generous supporters.

Moving day last April was a massive undertaking involving two dozen

The Board of Managers and officers of the Flnger Lakes Trall Conference, In front of their new office. In the front row (left to right) are Ron Navlk, Ellen Gibson, Matt Underwood, Scott Laufer, Vicky Gaeta, Steph Splttal, Kathy Eisele, Jack VanDerzee, Peter Wybron and John Anderson. Second row: Mary Domanski, Howard Beye, Mark Hittle, Margaret Watrous, Dawn Bennet, Lynda Rummel, Walt Burgess and Tom Reimers.

people, several pickup trucks, a horse trailer, and a few vans. Somehow the Beyes' tiny basement room disgorged via its narrow steep stairway that causes tall Howard to duck or be beaned, a behemoth volume of furniture, file cabinets, tables, chairs, office machines, and FLT merchandise like guidebooks, T-shirts, hats, and embroidered patches. It seemed as if 17 years' accumulation of office stuff exploded when it reached sunshine and grew to twice its previous size.

On moving day many of our members also brought donated desks and shelves, so at the Mt Morris end there was a lot of activity putting back together desks which had been dismantled to get them up stairways.

Simultaneously our new roommates, the Friends of the Genesee Valley Greenway, were moving their own office in, too, and volunteers from both groups pitched in everywhere. We invited this other notfor-profit trail support group to share our space (and split the heat bills), because there is plenty of room for both.

Our Letchworth Branch Trail ends two trail miles away from the new office in downtown Mt. Morris right on their 90-mile Genesee Valley Greenway, an old railbed atop a previous canal towpath, so the marriage seemed obvious. Our two trails also share a mile on the main FLT that is certified NCT. The rest of last summer was spent sprucing up the place and making it our own home. Volunteers planted flow-

ers, cleaned up abandoned foundation plantings, painted and stained window and door trim. Two stunningly beautiful carved relief logo signs were made, one for each organization, by FLTC Board member Ernest Mahlke, for permanent display on our front deck, where I spent a delicious sunny weekend painting those signs and watching a steady stream of visitors to the Dam's Center slow down as they drove up, each one, and saw our vivid trail signpost.

It is a crowd-stopper indeed: a stained (with NPS gubmint brown, of course) 6x6 post rises 12 feet from the ground. Bolted to it at various cockamamie angles are nine four-foot signs painted in appropriate blaze colors with hand-lettered descriptions of legendary hiking trails that can be reached from this very spot ... and we left some out! Of course the bottom two yellow signs point out the yellow-blazed Letchworth Branch Trail of the FLT that passes within feet of the signpost, while green signs above point north and south along the Genesee Valley Greenway. White signs inform those who may never have known it that the main Finger Lakes Trail, blazed white, goes 565 miles across the state, an orange sign tells of the Conservation Trail, a branch that reaches Niagara Falls, and the top two vivid blue signs let visitors know that they could indeed walk to North Dakota from this very spot via the North Country Trail.

Over the weekend of April 26-28,

2002 the FLTC will celebrate not only its 4oth anniversary as a trail organization but also its first year at the new Service Center in Mt. Morris within Letchworth State Park. So our usual spring weekend of hikes and the members' annual meeting will be a much bigger bash than normal, with hikes all over this spectacularly scenic area (wait till you see the river gorge that dam crosses!), special evening programs featuring members' photographic memories of their special trips on both the FLT and in the Himalayas, and pithy ceremonial moments celebrating our historic growth up to that moment and place.

One such celebratory moment I look forward to will plop soil from each of the seven NCT states into a planter at the bottom of the trail signpost, after which water from each of the seven states will be used to start flower seeds there. Cool, eh? The Board of the North Country Trail Association will be meeting at our humble digs that very Saturday, so maybe we can get Jon Lindgren of North Dakota to take back some New York soil from the FLT to his prairie for our August NCTA meeting there.

We have noticed with considerable amazement and gratitude that it takes Gene and Gert 50 hours each per month, plus volunteers another 10 to 20 hours, to do what Howard, Dorothy, Helen Brooks, and Francis Jacobi used to do for us for many years. The FLTC had indeed outgrown its britches!

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Need to Improve Your Skills? Manage It in Great Surroundings

C

rew leader training, offered by the American Hiking Society in partnerships with various trail organizations, including the North Country Trail Association, has proved one of the most popular workshops for our members.

Last year's session, for example, in Pennsylvania, proved so popular and beneficial for the participants, that it will be repeated later this month.

The sessions,typically, are conducted in scenic locations throughout the United States so that members may experience some of the most interesting back country in America. The students mostly camp with their fellows and hike to their locations.

(For information call American Hiking Society, (301) 565-6704, or log on to its web site, www.americanhiking.org) This year's sessions are as follows:

Pennsylvania, April 21-27 Located within Moraine State Park north of Pittsburgh, this session will be hosted by AHS, the North Country Trail

" Cumberland Trail Conference. Details ~ ~ are still being worked out; however par~ ticipants will have the option of cabins or ~ tent camping for this location. ~ ~ California, May 1-5

~ Hosted by the Pacific Crest Trail ~ Association, participants will set up a base ~ camp in the backcountry on the USDA ~ Forest Service Sloan Ranch. The site is Q' near Lion Peak on the Desert Divide and Last year's participants move a 700-pound 2 the PCT. This is a drive-in location with rock with an Austin, a sling like tool ~ no backpacking involved. There is a small named after Its inventor, Steve Austin. ~ cabin located in the area that will serve ~ as the camp kitchen. A lake is nearby for Association and Student Conservation ~ swimming. This is a perfect opportunity Association. Participants will have the to learn the fundamentals of setting up a option of a bunk room at Davis Hollow backcountry camp.

Center or to put up their tent outside on the lawn. The cabin will sleep 16 adults Wisconsin, September 11-15 and has two bathrooms and one shower Hosted by the Ice Age Park and Trail in the building. Additional showers are Foundation, participants will have the located at the marina. For an added fee option of sleeping in a remodeled barn there are 11 modern cabins available for that has a downstairs kitchen and an rent within the park. These two-bedroom upstairs loft and sleeps 30+ people, cabins have heat, a bathroom with shower, or you may choose to put up your kitchen, dining/living area and a dock on tent outside. There are outhouses here Lake Arthur. with outdoor showers. This site is the Maywood Wilderness Scout Camp Tennessee, April 24-27 located in rural Hancock, township of Located in the Southern Appalachians, Deerfield and is approximately 5 minthis session will be hosted by the utes from the IANST.

MEMBERSHIP If you are purchasing or renewing your membership,

FORM

please fill out this

form and send it with your payment to the address below. If you are also purchasing merchandise, please add your dues to your Trail Shop Order form and include the above form with your order.

D $30 Regular D $50 Tran Leader

D $100 Pathfinder D $250 NCT Patron

D $45 Organization D $150 Business

•ASSOCIATION• Please mall your completed form with payment to: 229 East Main Street Lowell, Michigan 49331

Please choose your Chapter affiliation:

D Member of a specific Chapter ._· D Member of my closest Chapter (If one exists) D At-Large Member (Not affiliated with any Chapter)

Credit Card payments can be made by phone or fax at: Toll Free 888-454-NCTA (888-454-6282) 616-897-6605

Daytime Phone (Area Code F!rst, Extension at End)

Name (Please Print)

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Address

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State

Skills to Volunteer

E-mail Address

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North Country Trail Association Trail Councils Chapters of the North Country Trail Association are like local trail clubs.

They build and maintain trail, host hikes and other events, and work to promote the trail and the Association in their areas. For information about local activities and volunteering, contact Chapter representatives. Partner organizations are independent nonprofit organizations that are working to build and maintain certain sections of the trail.

NORTH DAKOTA North Dakota State Coordinator Jon G. Lindgren· 2001 North Seventh Street, Fargo, ND 58102 · (701) 232-7868 · jon_ lindgren@ndsu.nodak.edu 1. Sheyenne River Valley Chapter Lisa Engel· P.O. Box 100 Cooperstown, ND 58245 . (701) 797-3530

MINNESOTA MN State Coordinator John Leinen · 14205 St. Croix Trail, Stillwater, MN 55082-9587 · (651) 433-4456 · jleinen@mcn.org 2. Star of the North Chapter John Leinen · 14205 St. Croix Trail, Stillwater, MN 55082-9587 · (651) 433-4456 · jleinen@mcn.org 3. Kekekablc Trall Club Peter Sparks· (651) 739-0378 · pjsparks@isd.net 4. Rovers Outing Club Pat Ryan· 2021 James Ave., St. Paul, MN 55105 · (651) 699-9800 · Pat.x.ryan@HealthPartners.com 5. Superior Hiking Trail Association Gayle Coyer· (218) 834-2700 · suphike@mr.net

WISCONSIN & UPPER MICHIGAN WI State Coordinator Lisa Williamson· P.O. Box 416, Cable, WI 54821-0416 · (715) 798-3890 · ncuail@cablemuseurn.org 6. Brule-St. Croix Chapter Charles (Chuck) Zosel· 6697 S. Degerman Rd., Lake Nebagamon, WI 54849 · (715) 374-3489 · ezosel@presenter.com 7. Chequamegon Chapter Tana Turonie · P.O. Box 475, Mellen, WI 54546 · (715) 274-2521 · tturonie@centuryinter.net 8. Heritage Chapter Jim Burrow · 7067 Oakwood Circle, Neskoro, WI 544196 • (920) 293-8023 • glorim@wirural.net Upper Ml State Coordinator Doug Welker · 26344 Tauriainen Rd., Pelkie, MI 49958 · (906) 338-2680 · dwelker@up.net 9. Peter Wolfe Chapter Doug Welker · 26344 Tauriainen Rd., Pelki, MI 49958 · (906) 338-2680 · dwelker@up.net 10. North Country Trall Hikers (Chapter) Jan Wester· 352 E. Hewitt Ave., Marquette, MI 49855. (906) 225-1295 Bettie Daly· 126 HC 1, Marquette, MI 49855 · (906) 228-9018 .

Denise Herron · 423 W Park St. · Marquette, MI 49855 · (906) 225-1030 · dherron906@aol.com

LEGEND Chapters '"'""" Partners = Not Assigned

LOWER MICHIGAN 11. Harbor Springs Chapter Jerry Keeney · 2385 Manitou Trail, Harbor Springs, MI 49740 · (231) 526-9597 · Keeney@freeway.net 12. Tittabawassee Chapter Jerry Allen· 1561 Bomanville Rd., Gladwin, MI 48624. (517) 345-2677 13. Grand Traverse Hiking Club (Chapter) Rick Halbert · 7385 S. Whispering Hills, Traverse City, MI 49684 · (231) 947-8485 · homes5@charcermi.net 14. Spirit of the Woods Chapter Joan Young· 861 W US10, Scottville, MI 49454 · (231) 757-2205 · jhy@t-one.net 15. Western Michigan Chapter Werner Veit · 229 East Main Srreet, Lowell, MI 49331 · (616) 897-5987 · wv12@aol.com 16. Chief Noonday Chapter Dave Cornell · 514 Cordes Road, Delton, MI 49046 · (616) 623-8659 · Janc128@aol.com 17. Baw Beese Chapter Richard Saur · P.O. Box 673, Hillsdale, MI 49242 . (517) 437-5033

PENNSYLVANIA PA State Coordinator Bob Tait· Box 2968, Butler, PA 16001-2968 · (724) 287-3382 · BobTait@zbzboom.net 21. Wampum Chapter Richard Lutz. Route #l, P.O. Box 1341, Wampum, PA 16157. (724) 652-8185.Lutznctl@lcix.net 22. Greater Pittsburgh Chapter Michael Kaizar. 933 Norfolk St., Pittsburgh, PA 15217 . (412) 321-0842.mike@greenmarketplace.com 22. Rock Chapter Frank Cetera. P.O. Box 151, Forestville, PA 16035 . (724) 735-1133 . frcetera@hotmail.com 23. Butler Chapter Ron Rice. 111 Ash Stop Rd., Evans City, PA 16033 . (724) 538-8475 . Ricel@nauticom.net 24. Clarion Chapter Carol Atwell. 18141 Rt 208, P.O. Box 15, Marble, Pa 16334. (814) 354-2778. acwell@mail.usachoic e.net 25. American Youth Hostels-Pittsburgh Council Bob Roth. 80 Rose Leaf Rd., Pittsburgh, PA 15220 . (412) 279-6219

OHIO

NEW YORK

Ohio State Coordinator Jim Sprague· 4406 Maplecrest, Parma, OH 44134 · (440) 884-4757 · jimsprague@msn.net 18. Northwestern Ohio Rall-to-TrailsAssoc.

Gene Markley· 22266 County Rd. 5, Delta, OH 43615 · (800) 951-4788 · 140years@powersupply.net 19. Buckeye Trail Association Garry Dill· 4070 Tradersville-Brighton Rd., London, OH 43140 · (937) 834-2891 · vetfarm@starband.net 20. Great Trall Sandy Beaver Canal Chapter Brad Bosley · 50900 Pancake-Clarkston Rd., Negley, OH 44441 · (330) 227-2432

NY State Coordinator Howard Beye . 202 Colebourne Road, Rochester, NY 14609. (585) 288-7191.fltc@frontiernet.net 26. Finger Lakes Trail Conference Irene Szabo . 6939 Creek Road, Mt. Morris, NY 14510-9638. (585) 658-4321. treeweenie@aol.com 27. Onondaga Chapter, ADK Mary Coffin · 328 Deepsrings Dr., Chittenango, NY 13037 · (315) 687-3589 · mcoffin72l@worldnet.att.net 28. Central New York Chapter Al Larmann. 7169 Forbes Road, Canastota, NY 13032-9999 . (315) 697-3387.

Along the way to building the longest continuous hiking trail in the country, we pass many milestones. This page marks some that show our progress.

Trail Building Progress on the North Country Trail The National Park Service certifies those completed miles that satisfy its standards.

In addition there are many more completed miles that may be enjoyable to hike but cannot be certified for a variety of reasons.

State

Miles Certified

Percent Done & Certified

1,680

Totals

40.2

Other Off Road Miles

Marked Road Miles

202.7

94.7

Total Hikable Miles

1,978

BIG

State by State Membership Membership in the NCTA demonstrates public support for the trail. Membership dues help fund activities that benefit the trail. Here's how each state stacks up.

State

Current Members

Change Since Last Issue

Totals

2,335

32

Percent Change

1

• A new chapter, the 22nd for the North Country Trail Association, is about to be chartered by the Board of Directors. To be known as the "Hiawatha Shore-toShore Chapter," the new group hopes to adopt the section of the North Country Trail from the Mackinac Bridge, at the tip of Lower Michigan, to the trailhead at the Two-Hearted River in the Upper Peninsula's Luce County. Kirt StageHarvey, a member who lives in St. Ignace at the Straits of Mackinac, took the initiative to organize the chapter.

The organizational meeting was held in March, bylaws adopted and proposed charter sent to the Board which will act upon it at its meeting at the end of April.

• A 23rd chapter may be underway in North Dakota, the second in that state.

Elden Ehrman, a McHenry County commissioner who lives in Anamoose in the north central part of the state, has taken the lead to try to get a chapter started there. Any of our North Dakota readers who may be interested in joining the potential chapter there can telephone Elden at (701) 465-3387, or e-mail him at ejje@ndak.net • The American Hiking Society celebrated its 25th Anniversary with a reception and silent auction last month in Washington, DC.

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Trail Supporters We gratefully acknowledge the support of all our members and donors, and especially wish to recognize the following individuals, businesses, foundations and agencies, for their generous contributions over the past twelve months":

INDIVIDUALS $500 or more Garrett Dill William and Donna Menke Val Rauceps Janette Sweasy Irene Szabo Werner and Marianne Veit

$250 to $499 David and Jan Cornell Loyal Eldridge Gene and Jean Elzinga Lou and Sandy Kasischke John and Pat Leinen Philip Lenko Bob and Annette Papp Raymond and Elaine Papp Michael Schuler Maureen Smith Marianne Veit Gaylord and Marlene Yost David Younger

$100 to $249 David and Jean Adams Jerry Allen and Connie Pausits-Allen Pat Allen and Mark Miller Daniel and Constance Arnold Thomas and Patricia Backe Len and JoAnne Baron Richard Beil and Dana Burkley Charles Benjamin Bert Bleke David Blewett LeRoy Bliven Richard Boettner Ren and Carol Brander Baxter Brings Barb and Brian Buchanan James Byrne Ed and Nancy Chappel Walter Clawson John M. Conway Anthony Cook Daniel Dardio Richard and Ann DeBoer Susan Derro John Diephouse Joe Dixon Dennis Donathen Kathleen Eisele William Eisenman Duane Elenbaas Richard Flinn Jon and Ellen Flood Douglas Fraits John Gall Marc Gilbert Tom and Janis Gilbert Anita Gilleo George Girod Robert Glesne Harry Gubbins Robert Hangel Chuck Hayden

Paul and Jerry Henry Denise Herron David Hutchinson Joe Hyrman Hans Kappus John and Nancy Kennedy Brooks and Margie Kindel Stephen Kobylarz Kay Kujawa Dale Lack Ned Liddle Christopher and Margo Light John and Marianne Ludwick Curt and Julie MacDougall Rod MacR.ae Don and Patsy May John and Diana Meyer Pat and Kathleen Miller Ray Miller Al and Jean Moberly Larry Mulder Linnea Newman and Tony Malikowski Peter O'Rourke Timothy O'Rourke Peter and Susan Ordway Robert Papapanu Fred Peachman Richard Pfeiffer Aaron Phipps Tim Pond Joseph Raught Margaret Root J .Robert Routt Bob and Grace Rudd Michael and Erica SanDretto Edward Scanlan Merl and Patricia Schlaack Peter Schmitz Richard Schwaab Richard Seabold Stephen Selden Tom Simpkins Joseph Smith James Spencer James Sprague Harmon Strong Rolf Swanson Betty Tableman David Tattan Jerry and Beth Trout Donna Tuttle RogerTuuk Betty VanderSmissen John and Diane VanderVeen Steve Vear Anthony Veit Jim Walke John Wallace Doug Welker Gary Werner Donald Wickstra Daryl Williamson Jim and Bonnie Wilson Rodger and Denise Wolf Walter Zarnoch Reynold Zeller

BUSINESSES, FOUNDATIONS AND AGENCIES

$:10,000 or more National Part< Service Grand Rapids Foundation

Haworth, Inc. Lowell Area Community Fund

$2,500 to $9,999 Conservation Technology Support Program(CTSP) Environmenta l Systems Research Institute(ESRI) Hewlett Packard

$:1,000 to $2,499 American Hiking Society Universal Forest Products Ameritech Exxonmobll Foundation, Volunteer Involvement Program

$250 to $999 Eastem Mountain Sports Erie PA (SH) 866-7600 Pi Mo

Northwestem Ohio Rall&-to-TrallsAssociation

. PA (412) 364-8078 e PA (412) 380-4012

POBox234 Delea OFI 435l5-023

Econo-Foods

Strlders, Inc.

1401 O'Dovero Dr. P.O. Box 939 Marquette MI 49855 (906) 226-9969

4045 Chicago Drive SW Grandville MI 49418

$150 to $249 Butler County Chamber of Commerce

Kenmac Rentals and Sales 414 S. Main St. uder, PA 16001 24) 282-2020

281 South Main Street Butler, PA 16003 (724) 283c2222

Lee's Sports and Sportswear Butler Outdoor Club

311 Kilgore Portage MI 49002 (616) 381-7700

P.O. BOX243 Butler PA 16003-0243

Mountain Dreams lntematlonal , Inc 5500 Walnut St.

Biil Prall Touring Gear 108 E. Third Sc. Harbor Springs MI 49740 (231) 526-2594

Pittsburgh PA 15232 (412) 621-4878

Sandhlll Marketl,_ communications .

1715 Olendale Blvd Kalamazoo MI 49004 (616) 382-2561

Exkurslon Outfitters 4037 William Penn Highway Monroeville PA 15146 (412) 372-7030

*Includes cumulative gifts, membership contributions and grants received between Jan. 1, 2001 and Dec. 31, 2001.

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Spring through fall, Booth Newspapers' weekly Venture Outdoors section covers the best day hikes and overnight backpacking trips in Michigan. From child-friendly nature walks to the most rugged trails on Isle Royale, Venture Outdoors is your source for information.

Your guide is Jim DuFresne, hiking expert for Venture Outdoors since 1989. Jim has spent a 路 lifetime trekking across Michigan and is the author of more than a dozen guidebooks including 50 Hikes in Michigan and Michigan's Best Hikes with Children.

So lace up your boots and explore your adventurous side with Venture Outdoors-every week in the eight Booth Newspapers.

NONPROFIT U.S. POSTAGE

PAID North Country Trail Association 229 East Main Street Lowell, Michigan 49331

Grand Rapids, Ml Permit 340