north star vol. 18, no. 1 (1999)

' ' ( r

We gratefully acknowledge the support of allour members and donors who share with \JS the vision ,of the North Country National Scenic. Trail! . . . -, ' ''. . . , '

Paul and Jerry Henry Diane Hiener Dale Hockenberry A. Elaine Houston Sandy Houting Paul Jackowski Chris Johnston Caroline Jordan Lori Kincaid Ron Kinczyk Martha J. Kinsman Jim and Mabelle Kirk Christopher Kuvlesky Clifford I. Larvia Patrick Leehey Walter Leinberger David H Lower

. John Malcolm James Malebranche Michael McDonald Will McGee Vaughn A. McGraw Judith Minton Lee Ann Minton Bill Moorman Lawrence V. Morton Jim Mudgett Adam Niemer North Dakota Forest Service Tom Northam Patrick O'Hara Outside Adventure Learning, W PA Robert W. Papapanu William G. Perry Bohdan W Petryszak Timothy R. Pierce Timothy T. Pohmer Bob and Rita Pratt Roger Raehl Lisa Raycraft & Stephen O'Reilly Frank and Peggy Rens David M. Rettell · Jeremy Robbins Robert- J . Roth S.O.L.A.R Roy Salmon Michael Sanders _ Carl Scarbro and Karen L. Reese Brian J. Seely Jeffrey & Frances Shepard Jaime Smith Shari Stelzer David Strauss Marty T Swank

·Emil Tracy Mike Trenshaw Scott VanDam Michael T. Walenta Donald B. Watkins Dale E .. Whipple Daryl Williamson W.Polk Wright Lawrence Young Patricia Yunkes Kay Zimmer David Zosel

New Members: Jack N. Adams Martha Aiken Clifford A. Aldrich Bob Backman David Barndollar Lester Barnes David and Judi Bass Paul Bidell

. Gail Blakeley Sandi Brack . Dan Branson Kelly Breit Lee and Jenny Bristol Eric Dan Burrows

· Mary Cardwell · · Mary Caris Julie and Rusty Carr Chicago Area Council BSA

. Tom Ewan, Hoove(Outdoor E.C. Fred Crawford Robert L Crawford Barbara Cummings Deborah J. Del Zoppo Ray and Barbara Dereske Kim L. Dixon · · Larry and Donna Dodd Sandra Downs Joe and Marilyn Dressel Raymond Duflo Roh and Jane Dziurda Liz Elling George Elliott Andrea Erratt

· · Helen- V .. Fish Pat Fluette Paul Gadola James and Lauren Garnett Chris and Patti Gilson Linda Greer Doug and Linda Guenther Jules Hanslovsky Edward Hargis Donald and Ronnee Harrell Larry Hawkins

Organizations: American Youth Hostels,

Pittsburgh Council Barnes Co. Wildlife Federation Michigan Mountain Biking Assoc:

NE Chapter · North Dakota Forest Service S.O.L.A.R.

Frank Blumenthal Barbara Hawka Meegan Holland Michael McDonald Fred Muschenheim William Perry David Rettell Michael and Erica SanDretto Irene Szabo Curtis Vanek Reynold Zeller

Trail Leaders: Dr. Charles Benjamin

·Pathfinders: · Loyal Eldridge Tom Garnett Jeffrey and Francis Shepard

New Life Members: Bob Tait Gaylord and Marlene Yost

98 Auction Donor: Joan .Young!©

Edith Maynard and John Allen Daniel and Tina McFadden Lee Milner Lee Ann Minton Al and Jean Moberly

. Chuck Moll J Robert Muller Richard Naperala Gary E Nichols Edna Northrup · Diane O'Hara and Dave Pierzchala Karen Ottenweller Bob and Annette Papp Mary K. Peterson Mary Ellen Powers Mark S Putvin

.• Mid)ael A Reed Thomas J Reimers Michelle Robbins Bob and Grace Rudd William and Sue Sanger Mike Schaeffer · Merl and Patricia Schlaack Peter J Schmitz Joseph C Schott Richard D Seabold Cheryl Sharrow Michael Shaw David B Sheldon Maxine Sherburn Allen and Mary Shoup Edward J Sidote · James Siegel Joseph J Smith Scott SIT\it~ Lewis J Snyder Dominic Sosnowski James W Sprague Gary Talsky

· Kenneth Terpstra Stella K Thelen Charles A Thompson Leonard and Joan Vetrone

· CliffWelch Gail Werner Dana Wilson Jim Wilson Kathryn G Woodruff Gaylord and Marlene Yost Reynold Zeller

Regular Donors: David E Adams Jerome E Allen Pat Allen and Mark Miller Richard W Almquist Charles E Axthelm Lori Baker. Donald G Beattie Craig Begeman Renee Bercury Jim Serles Howard S Beye Jay and Joyce Billingsley Derek and Margaret Blount Richard D. Boettner Suzanne C Boley Andrey.-Todd Borsum Seth D. Braun Baxter Brings Donald L Bussies John Carr Edward and Nancy Chappel Kenneth and Maura Davenport James W Davis Otwell Derr Barbara Dilworth Cecil and Joanne Dobbins Eries Doyle Susan S. Drobny Terry and Mary Jo Dunlap William P Ehling Bryon and Amy Ennis Virginia and Art Fish Don Flyckt Tom Garnett William and Joanne Gerke Tom and Janis Gilbert Gilson Graphics Doug and Linda Guenther Robert Gurk\Neitz Patricia. Gutierrez Paul Haan · , · · Martha E Hale . William D Hamilton Alonzo Hannaford Donald and Ronnee Harrell Barbara Hawke Denise Herron Debra Heym and Douglas Huff . Earl and Miriam Hilton Ken and Mary Hinchman John· Hipps and Barbie Smith Micki Holder. . . . . . , -, , , James and Gladys Hoogterp Keith and Katharine Homgren Herbert and Suzanne Hulls David A Hutchinson David Irish Seth and Karen Johnson Cora J and Vern Killinger Peter and Paula Klima Thomas and Geraldine Kurdelski Edward J, Lawrence John J Leinen Susan D. Mabee Roderick MacRae James Mackey and Dena Smith

Contributions, Special Renewals and New Members since our last issue of the North Star

Trail Supporters NORTH STAR: The Magazine of the North Country Trail, January-March, 1999 Page2

Cover Photo: Members of the Chief Noonday Chapter work to dismantle a replica covered bridge that has a new Mure on the North Country National Scenic Trail.

5 6 7 8

28 32 36

Regular Departments The View from Monroe Center Keyboard Trails Trailhead Hiking Shorts North Country Trail Shop Heart and Sole Coming Events

35 Highlights of our 1998 Annual Report

1998 Trail Status Report 21 2,000 by 2000 got a lot closer in 1998

Breaking the Ice Along the Road 24 Joan Young shares a tale and thoughts about getting along with landowners

Work Crews build several new bridges in the Allegheny Nat'I Forest

Trail Focus: Warner Creek and Jordan River Pathways 19 The NCT uses two of Michigan's better known State Forest

Pathways in the northern Lower Peninsula

17 The Year of the Trail

BTA Cartography Team building new maps 16 Buckeye Trail Association section maps are undergoing a massive

revision, and it's not a simple task. Here's how it's done.

Just Around the Block 15 Historic Pennsylvania buildings highlight the site

of the NCTA's 1999 Annual Conference

Bushwhacking to Bodi Lake 13 Following faint trail in Michigan's Upper Peninsula

The National Trails System at Thirty Years 11 Reflections on the past and future of National Scenic Trails

Features

January-March 1999 The Magazine of the North Country Trail Association

hStar·

Page3

PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER .._ WITH NATURAL SOY INK ,,,j

Published five times annually in January, April, June, August .and October by the North Country Trail Association, a private, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization for promotional purposes and as a benefit of membership in the organization. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without permission

of the North Country Trail Association.

Vice President of Trans (West) John Leinen, Jr.

14205 St Croix Trail North Stillwater, MN 55082-9587

(612) 433-4456 • [email protected]

Vice President of Trans (East) Lynn Waldron

8133 Norris Road, Delton, Ml 49046 (616) 623-5340 • [email protected]

Secretary Joan Young

861 West US 10, Scottville Ml 49454 (616) 757-2205 • [email protected]

Vice President (Flnanclal) David Cornell

1-31 Estate Carolina, Coral Bay, St. John US 00830 • [email protected]

President Werner Veit

49 Monroe Center NW, Ste 200B <;;rand Rapids, Ml 49503

(616) ·.454-5506 • [email protected]

OFFICERS

Contributing Editor: Joan Young, 861 US 10

Scottville, Ml 49454 (616)757-2205 [email protected]

Editor: Wes Boyd, 14815 Rome Rd

Manitou Beach, Ml 49253 (517)547-7402 [email protected]

Executive Director Bob Papp Recreation Planner Dirk Mason Project Manager Margie Kindel Office/Membership Coord. Carol Gibner Bookkeeper Joan Buenavista

"49 Monroe Center NW, Suite 200~ Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503

(888) 454-NCTA • Fax: (616) 454-7139 NCT [email protected]

www .northcountrytran.org

•ASSOCIATION•

NORTH STAR: The Magazine of the North Country Trail, January-March 1999

PA State Coordinator Bob Tait

277 S Duffy Rd. Butler, PA 16001 (724) 287-3382

Bob_ T [email protected]

Central New York Chapter Randall Brune, President

01 Dorset Rd, Syracuse, NY 13210-3047 (315) 476-9483

Finger Lakes Trail Conference Harmon Strong, Council Rep. 76 Shellwood Dr., Rochester, NY 14618

(716) 586-3846

Clarion County Chapter Carol Atwell, President

P.O. Box 15, Marble PA 16334 (814) 354-2778, [email protected]

Chair & NY State Coordinator: Howard Beye

202 Calebourne Rd Rochester, NY 14609

(716) 288-7191, [email protected]

American Youth Hostels Pittsburgh Council

Bob Roth, Council Rep. 80 Roseleaf Road

Pittsburgh, PA 15220 412-279-6219

Allegheny-Adirondack 'Irail Council

0~ Buckeye Trail Association ~Vo<~~ Dana Zintek, Council Rep.

o'l-cl' 2369 Suncrest Dr., Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44221 '"'~~ (330) 928-8931 t!<~

Chair, Ml (Lower) State Coordinator & Council Rep. For Chief Noonday Chapter

Lynn Waldron 8133 Norris Rd, Delton, Michigan 49046 (616) 623-5340, [email protected]

Heritage Chapter Jim Burow, President

6841S111th St Franklin, WI 53132

(414) 425-5146

Chief Noonday Chapter Dave Cornell, President

514 Cordes Rd., Delton, Ml 49046 (616) 623-8659, [email protected]

OH State Coordinator Jim Sprague

4406 Maplecrest, Parma OH 44134 (216) 884-4757

Northwestern Ohio Rails-to· Trails Association

Gene Markley, Council Rep. PO Box 234, Delta, OH 43515

(800) 951 -4788, [email protected]

Len Baron, Council Rep. 10822 26th Ave

Grand Rapids Ml 49544 (616) 677-3598

Grand Traverse Hiking Club (Chapter) Richard Naperala, President

1086 Quaker Volley Drive Traverse City, Ml 49684

(616) 223-7903

OB-MI 'Irail Council

Brule-St.Croix Chapter -----+~~-,A~ Peter Nordgren, President

1 BOO Grund Avenue, Superior, WI 54880 (715) 394-8340, [email protected]

Chequamegon Chapter Kurt Schmitt, President

2121 S 87th St, West Allis, WI 53227-1719, (715) 769-3527

Ml (Upper) State Trail Coordinator & President, North Country Trail Hikers

Gene Elzinga 12 Middle Island, Marquette, Ml 49855 (906) 225-1704, [email protected]

Chair: Pat Miller RR#4 Box 135, Cliffwood Dr Prairie DuChien, WI 53821

(60B) 326-7354

Great Lakes 'Irail Council

WI State Coordinator Gaylord Yost

2925 W Bradley Rd River Hills, WI 53217-1719


'Superior Hiking Trail Association f\ll~'TE Nancy Odden, Council Rep.

"tJ 01tG· 731 7th Avenue Two Harbors MN 55616 (218) 834-2700

MN State Coordinator & Headwaters Chapter

Rod MacRae 1210 W 22nd St., Minneapolis, MN 55405 (612) 377-0130

Chair: John Leinen 14205 St.Croix Trail North Stillwater, MN 55082-9587


West End 'Irail Council ND State Coordinator

Jon Lindgren 2001 N 7th St, Fargo ND 58102-5075 (701) 231-8809

To be assigned: Rovers Outing Club Kekebabk Trail Club

NCTA Thall Council Directories NORTH STAR: The Magazine of the North Country Trail, January-March, 1999 Page4

I) Because we can't tally public use of the Trail, we use volunteer hours to demonstrate support. Be ing able to report lots and lots of hours is critical to our success when we approach Congress, Foun dations, or Corporations for funding.

2) Total volunteer hours also directly affect the funds from the "Volunteers in the Parks" program our National Park Service Office receives to purchase tools and assist volunteers.

3) When your hours accumulate, you receive awards from the NCT A as expressions of our gratitude.

We've just simplified our forms (again) to make it even easier to report your hours. Now, you may use either an Individual form, if you're working on your own, or a Group form if you are part of a crew. Hours for adminis trative work, planning, leading hikes or presentations, and editing newsletters all count too!

Speaking of Super Volunteers, we have one who is interested in hanging up his cape after more than a decade of work for the Trail. Rod MacRae has been serving as State Trail Coordinator for Minnesota, and has been lead ing the Headwaters Chapter in outstanding fashion, but now he'd like to step into "semi-retirement." So, we're looking for two volunteers to fill his shoes in Minnesota.

Specifically, we need someone interested in becoming our new volunteer State Trail Coordinator. In this role, you would serve as a liaison to state agencies, as a local contact for the Trail, and would help to coordinate efforts to build and maintain the Trail statewide in Minnesota. You also might help to get one or two new Chapters off the ground, if local interest should arise. You wouldn't be alone as a new State Trail Coordinator, since we've just appointed a new Coordinator in your neighboring state of North Dakota. Also, I'm sure Rod would be happy to pro vide assistance, as would Gaylord Yost, veteran State Trail Coordinator of Wisconsin.

The other role we'll need filled as Rod steps down is that of President of Minnesota's Headwaters Chapter. Currently, this is the only Chapter in the state. As Chapter President, you would set goals for the Chapter, motivate and coordinate Chapter volunteers, oversee the Chapter's activities and help to promote membership and the Trail itself. The Headwaters Chapter is one of our first, and it has tremendous potential to continue growing and flour ishing. We just need a Chapter member to step forward and accept the challenge.

Despite all my embellishments about "Super Volun teers" in this column, ordinary people would do just fine in these roles as well (remember, Rod has been doing both jobs!). If you'd like more information, please call me or our President Werner Veit (both at 888-454-NCTA), or contact Rod himself (info on the adjacent page).

Anyone who's worked with Rod knows the state and Trail owe him a great deal. We're very grateful for his continuing support and for his willingness to stay on while we search for replacements.

Page5

In pulling together our Annual Report for 1998, I was struck by a deep irony. Each year, we accomplish more and more as an organization. Membership climbs by more than 30% per year. We quadruple our number of Chapters in less than three years. Certifications are on the upswing and we're gaining ground on our goal of 2,000 miles. Pri vate support of the NCT A and the Trail grows by leaps and bounds. Yet, despite all this activity and success, our number of reported volunteer hours is barely creeping up.

Clearly I can draw only one conclusion from these conflicting observations. Our people must be getting so good that a single NCT A volunteer now can do the work of four ordinary volunteers, and in less time, too! I know that may sound hard to believe, but what else could it be?

It seems reasonable, since I can easily think of several NCTA volunteers who I'm sure feel like they're doing the work of four ordinary volunteers. Chances are, many of you who volunteer can think of some people like this too. These Super Volunteers are easy to recognize by the traits that they hold in common:

• a spouse or significant other who is VERY tolerant; • an unnatural level of energy and passion for the

trail (often infectious); • the apparent ability to bend time in order to add

hours to the day; • able to leap wide streams in a single bound; • faster at coming up with ideas than a speeding bul

let; and • when the dust settles and you find yourself standing

in their wake, you might occasionally catch your self thinking about strange visitors from other plan ets (how else can you explain it, right?).

You'll usually find the Super Volunteers mingling with their peers among Chapter Presidents, State Trail Coordi nators, Board Members, Trail Crew Leaders and other Su per Heroes.

Anyway, we know that Super Volunteers exist. So, since we're getting so much more done and reported vol unteer hours aren't increasing by much, is it possible that all our volunteers are mutating into Super Volunteers?

Well, as much as we value the contributions of all our volunteers, I suspect that most of you actually are ordinary humans who simply have a weakness for filling out forms. Ah, there's the rub. It's another plea to report your volun teer hours. You know the drill, but here again are the main points:

by Executive Director Bob Papp

The view from Monroe Center

NORTH STAR: The Magazine of the North Country Trail, January-March, 1999

While I'm thinking about it: the old website will be essentially taken down about the end of January, and replaced with a page that will forward you to the new site. Virtually everything of importance has been transferred from the old site to the new one, anyway, and in some cases improved and updated along the way; a few things that are left that haven't been updated have gotten pretty stale. The forwarding page will probably go down at the end of April, and all you'll get at the old site will be the dreaded "404-Not Found" ., ..


respond to requests for information, i.e, "Anybody know where I can find a left-handed wiget?" "Yeah, I custom make them. How big do you need it?" Keep it low-key.

• Be courteous. This message area is for everyone, not someone's private preserve. Be friendly and helpful; try to be positive.

<Obey the Golden Rule. You know, "Do unto others as you would have done unto you."

To get to the message center, all you have to do is to go to the main North Country Trail page, and click on "Bulletin Board". From there, it's pretty straightforward.

So, we'll see how it goes. Until now, I've checked the board occasionally, but once this sees print, I'll check it regularly and serve as a sort of moderator.

Anyway, the discovery of the message board script led to the awareness that there are several otherneat and unexpected things that can be done. For example, there will eventually be a new links submission page, where links from readers can be submitted and followed. Sooner or later, we're going to set up a guestbook. When the details get sorted out, you'll be able to order stuff from the North Country Trail Shop online.

This all takes work. Frankly, we've already dumped enough of it on Bob Papp to hold him for a while; I've been doing some things on the site that I hadn't intended to do, just to lighten his load a bit. There's still quite a bit that needs to be done, and we could use a volunteer or two to help out.

For example, we need a links page editor badly. The links page on the new site is the same one as on the old site, except that I killed out a few locations that I knew had gone dead. It's getting pretty stale; it needs to be checked and updated, and I just don't have the time to do it right now. All it really is going to take is someone that can surf around and look for new sites, and has a nodding acquaintence with HTML--you don't have to be an expert, since all you have to do is work in the existing format. I'll be glad to hold a volunteer's hand for a while. We also need a" coming events" editor, to collate the coming events from several areas and concentrate them into-a master list - and this will do double duty with the newsletter. I have this dream of just downloading a single site, stripping the HTML, and dropping it into the North Star.

There are other places that we need help on the main pages -- plus, there's space on the server for each chapter to put up its own web page. You'll have to talk to Bob about all of this.

The new North Country Trail Association website is already a huge improvement over the old one, and there's tons yet to do. This is a far more ambitious website than the old one on Delphi, and though it's only barely started, there's already more on the new one than the old one, with much more to do.

The difference in the new site is that there are several people working on various parts of it, where the old one, I mostly did myself. This brings more experience, a broader range of perspectives, and the chance for more local input.

One of the things that I wanted to have on the new website that wasn't possible on the old site was to have a "message center" or "forum" where we could post messages, like in a newsgroup, and get a series of discussions going. Somehow, when the new site got going, setting up such a discussion group wound up in my lap.

I will admit, I put it off as long as I could. From what I could learn, setting up such a discussion group took a lot of CGI scripting and setup, and since I don't know much about web scripts, I figured it was going to be a hassle.

I won't go through the steps that got me from here to there, but let's just say that it started when I was trying to sell a Christmas greeting ad where I work. Slowly I learned that there were already a number of scripts already on our website that only had to be configured to use -- and one of them was for a message center. The whole process turned out to be disgustingly simple, and we've had the message center work ing since late November, although traffic has been light since until now we haven't made any effort to promote it. My experience, though, with other such boards and newsgroups is that once you get half a dozen regulars, you get some pretty good discussions.

The message center is intended to supply a forum for discussion of topics pertaining to the North Country National Scenic Trail. We don't want to be too authoritarian, but would request a few things to help things go smoother for everyone:

• Keep it on topic. This means that the topic should somehow relate to the North Country Trail.

• Keep it clean. Kids may be watching; 'nuff said. • No advertising. However, a commercial source may

The deadline for the April-May issue of the North Star is March 15, 1998. Items received well before that date are much appreciated. The deadline for the June-July issue will be May 15, 1999.

by the Editor

Keyboard Trails

Country Trail route; ( 3) where bicycles could be physically restricted to the designated section; and ( 4) where bicycle use would not adversely affect the recreational experience of hikers. We realize these conditions generally are not found on the typical single-track forested and rural segments of the North Country Trail and we believe bicycle use on such segments is inadvisable at best."

In explaining its position, the Association on a number of occasions, has offered the following:

"The vision that the Association and the National Park Service have is that of a premier hiking trail patterned after the Appalachian Trail. The Trail is meant to provide and protect an experience that more and more is lost in our busy and growing world. Whether exploring wilderness or rural land scapes, for an afternoon or weeks on end, hikers should expect to find peace, solace, insight, and a reconnection with the natural world as they journey along the North Country Na tional Scenic Trail. Many trails offer the opportunity for exercise in a natural environment, but few seek to protect this type of experience that we feel is a crucial and growing need in human nature.

"Part of the reason the Association discourages bike use is that it threatens to displace hikers seeking the type of experience for which the Trail is intended. In addition, heavy use by mountain bikes can quickly lead to trail erosion and degradation. The degree of such damage depends on soil conditions, and the level of responsibility and extent of bike activity. However, the North Country Trail generally has not been constructed to withstand bike traffic. Tire tracks can provide an uninterrupted course for water flow, quickly leading to trail erosion. This has led to poor walking conditions, unsightly views, and an overall degradation of the hiking experience.

"This Policy does not represent a ban on mountain bikes on the trail, as the local managing authority has the final decision over whether or not to permit bike use. It does mean that the Association is on record as opposing mountain bike use in most situations.

"With its tremendous growth in recent years, mountain biking clearly is in need of the support of related organizations and agencies if opportunities for biking will ever meet demand. The North Country Trail Association remains supportive of expanded bike trails in the vicinity of, but not coinciding with, the North Country National Scenic Trail. By working to gether, hikers and bikers can ensure that adequate sustainable opportunities exist for both types of use."

Opponents of that policy, including some of our members, sincerely believe multiple use-the stated objective in a number of state forests and some portions ofnational forests-would be a more reasonable position that would lead to greater coopera tion among all levels of users. Our Board and officers respect that position. But at every opportunity, including most re cently in December, our directors repeated the vision for a premier foot trail, not multiple use.

"Our vision for the North Country National Scenic Trail is that of a premier footpath of national significance, offering a superb experience for hikers in a permanently protected corridor, traversing and interpreting the richly diverse envi ronmental, cultural, and historic features of the northern United States."

That is the vision statement for our trail adopted unani mously by our Board of Directors at their Winter meeting in Milwaukee last month. (Notice I wrote "their." Bob Papp, Director Joan Young and I spent much of the weekend fogged in at the Grand Rapids Airport. It was humbling to note that the Directors managed our business just fine without their President or Executive Director and newly elected Secretary).

Please note the statement printed in full on page 10 in the North Star. It was written by a committee composed of Joan Young, chair; Tom Reimers and Derek Blount, both ex Presidents of our Associations; Bill Menke served ex-officio. It was not a quickly written and adopted statement. The committee began work last Spring, presented preliminary ideas at our annual conference in August and then offered the final draft at the Winter board meeting.

We expect that at least the first paragraph, quoted above, will be printed in each issue of The North Star so that our vision and goals will remain at the top of our minds.

The words are apt today as we struggle to accommodate as much as we can conflicting opinions regarding the advis ability of mountain bike use on our trail. Some of you may have heard that the President of our Harbor Springs (Michi gan) chapter felt compelled to resign after I noted that his views expressed in a local newspaper about the splendid opportunities for staying in shape by mountain biking on the NCT conflict with the policy of our association, which offi cially promotes "foot travel," and not multiple use.

The Association adopted its policy on mountain bike use years ago and has never modified it, despite attempts by avid mountain bikers to get us to change our minds. Perhaps, it may be apt, to reprint the policy here. It reads:

"The policy of the North Country Trail Association is that bicycling is best accommodated as a use on the North Country National Scenic Trail on rail-trail segments and on other short segments of hardened surface ( 1) specifically designed for wheeled vehicles, where the bikes would not damage natural or trail resources; (2) that are previously established multiple use trails that become part of the North

by President Werner Veit

Trail Head


Editor's note: The "Smithipps" as they were known, were the first editors of the Newsletter of the North Country Trail Association, which Later became the North Star. We've missed them; it will be good to see them again. Oh, and we'll take you up on that offer of a reprint from your book sometime. -- WB

Dear Wes and Friends: We miss you physically, mentally and spiritually, so much that we have felt a

growing need to reconnect in some way at long, long last. We have vowed our presence at the August 1999 meeting in Prospect, PA.

Physically, we are doing well. Barbie has settled in on thirty-something and John will celebrate his next birthday fifteen years younger than five years ago, and that makes him a short tall tail.

Mentally, things are good, also having just completed a 350 page book called "The Country Doctor: Alive and Well." If agreeable to Wes and the rest of you, NCTA members can have a preview of the book by the North Star publish ing one of the chapters that celebrates the North Country Trail.

We both have a lot of hugs and love for all of you. All our extras have been used on each other since we last met, and that's not a bad thing, either.

We have immense admiration for what Wes has done with the North Stat. What a long way it's come since the pioneer paste and patch days, and for the leaders and members of NCTA. The labor pains of the '80s were indeed worth it.

Barbie Smith and John Hipps

Letter to the Editor:

TWO AND TWO TOGETHER: Chief Noonday Chapter members knew of a spot where they were going to have to build a fairly substantial bridge for the North Country Trail. Then, a disused, 30-year-old privately owned covered bridge replica over Augusta Creek, near Battle Creek, Ml, was made available, if the chapter members would move it to the new site. Here the first piece of bridge decking gets taken up to be moved to storage.


Certification Report The Madison NPS office wound

up 1998 with even more trail certifi cation action, bringing to a close the busiest year in this department since the original 1983 trail certifications.

In certification activity: -The mileage in Ohio's Ft. Hill

State Memorial was increased by 0.4 miles due to relocation and remeasurement.

•The mileage in Pennsylvania's Moraine State Park was increased by o .. 5 miles, due to relocation.

•Three additional miles were certified along the Bad Medicine Trail in Minnesota's Clearwater County Forest. (This certification brought the total NCNST certifica tion to over 1500 miles!)

• Two segments, totaling 1.3 miles, were added in the village of Solon Springs, Wisconsin.

The big action, though, was along the Finger Lakes Trail in New York, were there has been a concen trated effort to certifiy existing trail segments located on private lands. These certifications include:

• Fifteen segments totalling 17 .5 miles in Tompkins County;

•Six segments totalling 6.3 miles in Schuyler County;

<Seven segments, totalling 8.9 miles in Cortland County;

•Two segments, totalling 5.9 miles in Allegany County.

<One segment, of 0.1 mile, in a section of the Danby State Forest.

Also, an 0.5 mile segment in the Taylor Valley State Forest was decertified due to ownership prob lems.

The actions bring the total certified length of the NCNST to 1539.5 miles. An additional 19.5 miles is in "Marked Connector" status, for a total length of 1559 .0 miles.

Hiking Shorts PageB

Progress on northwest Ohio's Cannonball trail develop ment in 1998 exceeded all expectations.

• Two bridges were finished, one of them being the trail's longest bridge at 200 feet.

•Railings were installed on the bridge at West Unity to discourage ATV trespass.

• The last remaining large ballast was removed from the trail in Williams County, leaving behind a smooth surf ace of cinder ballast.

•A steel-sided storage building was erected near the trail in South Delta to house equipment.

• A volunteer appreciation party was held at the Tiffin River bridge, completed with the help of a NPS Challenge Cost Share Grant.

During the winter, the Northwest Ohio Rails to Trails Association will be making plans for next season's projects. The group hopes to finish two more bridges next year.

Cannonball Trail making progress

"Along the way, I earned awards for team leadership and commendations for educational presentations. Pres ently, I am once again in the midst of change, this time into the GIS arena. My goal for the future is to immerse myself into people-focused work: partnerships, communications, publications and teaching.

"When I give it some thought, I'd have to say that trails are one of my top loves in life. That's because trails accommodate the adventures for my other loves in life: hiking, x-c skiing, mountain biking, dirt biking, pet walk ing, and horseback riding. As such, I understand and respect the need for designated uses and conflict resolution.

"I have always supported the North Country Trail for the niche it provides and I am proud and grateful for the accomplishments toward its ultimate completion. I wish to be a positive influence and be a supportive member of the board of the North Country Trail Association."

--Werner Veit

pleasure day tripping in the great outdoors with my two children."

"During my early Forest Service years my job offered the greatest variety. I was able to participate in trail assessments, develop plans for campground management, and even oversee trail reconstruction. I then moved on to oversight of the district reforestation program, vegetation inventory, and database management. Later, I agreed to switch once again, this time to coordinate all of the long range district planning and environmental assessment work.

New extention to Little Miami Scenic Trail has ribbon cutting

The ribbon cutting ceremony for the Little Miami Scenic Trail between Yellow Springs and Springfield was on Saturday, Nov. 14, 1998 at Yellow Springs Fairfield Road Bikeway Bridge. Certification has been applied for. The City of Springfield has paved the bikeway from John Street at the south edge of town to the Springfield Library in the downtown area.The Simon Kenton Trailblazers from Urbana are reportedly very interested in getting the trail from Springfield to Urbana. All of this trail follows the old Little Miami Railroad, the first north-south railroad in Ohio. This corridor was also part of the underground railroad escape route.

Mary Lucas is welcomed to NCTA's Board of Directors Directors of the North Country Trail Association

welcomed new board member, Mary Lucas, at the Board's meeting in Milwaukee Dec. 5.

Mary, who will be working with geographic informa tion systems (GIS) with the Forest Service, fills the unex pired term of Susan Nelson, also with the Forest Service, who resigned because of the press of other duties.

Mary has had a long association with the North Country Trail. She oversaw reconstruction of segments on our trail in the Chequamegon National Forest in Wisconsin during her early career with the Forest Service and served with Bill Menke, now our trail manager for the National Park Service; on a fire crew in Northern California.

Like many of our members, Mary is not only a hiker and cross-country skier, but enjoys mountain biking and horseback riding. But that does not keep her from support ing our association's vision: that the North Country trail is primarily a hiking trail and that other uses are inappropri ate except in limited areas.

"I have been living in northern Wisconsin and working for the Forest Service in Glidden since 1981," Mary writes. "At that time I was an employee of the Glidden Ranger District on the Chequamegon National Forest. I am still in the same place, but I am now an employee of the Great Divide District on the Chequamegon-Nicolet.

"Prior to my Forest Service career, I attended college at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, majoring in forest recreation and urban forestry. Even though I grew up in the Chicago metropolis, I always knew there was a streak of rural in my veins. My interest in the outdoors developed through weekend campouts, summer camp, and day hikes with my family. To this day I find my greatest

Page9

Hiking Shorts NORTH STAR: The Magazine of the North Country Trail, January-March 1999

4 ... a model of resource protection and quality recreational opportunities of national significance with emphasis on identifying, interpreting and promoting features for educational and recreational benefit;

3 ... unique among National Trails in showcasing the rich variety of historical, cultural, and environmental features in the northern United States;

2 ... a corridor of consistently and clearly marked treadways, blending with local character as appropriate and permanently protected, whenever possible, as a public hiking trail;

1 ... a continuous hiking trail of the highest caliber with foot travel accorded the highest priority to the exclusion of other uses except in short, specifically designated sections;

To meet this vision, our goals are for the trail to become:

~ ili I Our vision for the North Country National Scenic Trail is that of I

a premier footpath of national significance, offering a superb I experience for hikers in a permanently protected corridor, ~ traversing and interpreting the richly diverse environmental, '-:~·_.!.•.

cultural, and historic features of the northern United States. .~: I ~

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I ·~~ 5 ... an example of highly successful partnerships among the a I various entities providing funding, management of and service to «i

the trail.

NCTA Vision for the North Country National Scenic Trail


wide system of trails. It heavily emphasized what it called "National Scenic Trails" -- long-distance trails that would serve as the backbones or framework of the entire system. The report envisioned National Scenic Trails (NSTs) to be very special trails:

"A standard of excellence in the routing, construction, maintenance, and marking consistent with each trail's charac ter and purpose should distinguish all national scenic trails. Each should stand out in its own right as a recreation resource of superlative quality and of physical challenge."

Congress spent 2 years working on the legislation before enacting the National Trails System Act (16 U.S.C. 1241 et seq.). The Act immediately established two NSTs -- the Appalachian and the Pacific Crest -- and called for studies of 14 other potential routes. It also established two other catego ries of trails in the national system -- National Recreation Trails and Connecting or Side Trails. Overall administration of the system is the responsibility of the Secretary of the Interior. Some authorities in the Act, however, are shared with the Secretary of Agriculture.

Rightly, NSTs have been viewed as the "flagships" of the National Trails System. Their sheer length, complexity, and their association with the most outstanding and often remote scenic resources of America give them a mystique that sets them apart from other trails. There is an inherent romance associated with walking on one of these trails. Even in spite of their incomplete status, a special adventure seems to beckon because of their distant horizons.

As originally passed, the Act presented a relatively straight forward strategy for ensuring the establishment of a NST, once authorized by Congress. Where the trail is located inside Federally-administered areas, those agencies would work to establish their sections of the trail. Outside of Federal areas, the secretary charged with overall responsibility for a NST (either Interior or Agriculture) would encourage State and local governments to ( 1) enter into agreements with landown ers, private organizations, and individuals to provide the lands for the trail, or (2) acquire the necessary lands or interests. If State and local governments fail to accomplish this task within two years, then the responsible secretary could enter into the necessary agreements or acquire the lands.

Thirty years ago, on October 2, 1968, President Lyndon Johnson signed into law the National Trails System Act. How did the National Trails System come about? How has the "trails landscape" in the United States changed in the last 30 years as a result? What will it look like in the future?

The idea for a national system of trails had its beginnings in 1945, when a Pennsylvania Congressman introduced a bill to establish a "national system of foot trails." It was never reported out of committee.

In the post-WWII years, public participation in all types of outdoor recreation, including trail recreation, boomed. Places and facilities to accommodate this demand were lack ing. In its 1962 report to the President and Congress, the Outdoor Recreation Resources Review Commission recom mended new and revised policies and significant increases in the investment in outdoor recreation facilities to meet the growing demand.

However, it was principally the growing concern over the protection of the Appalachian Trail that eventually led Con gress to authorize the National Trails System. Wisconsin's Senator Gaylord Nelson introduced legislation to protect the Appalachian Trail during the 88th and 89th Congresses (1963-1966).

The attention Senator Nelson and the Appalachian Trail community brought to this issue was reflected in President Johnson's 1965 Natural Beauty Message. He said, "We can and should have an abundance of trails for walking, cycling, and horseback riding, in and close to our cities. In the back country we need to copy the great Appalachian Trail in all parts of America."

In April 1965, in response to the President's message, the Secretary of the Interior initiated a nationwide trails study. Senator Nelson, meanwhile, revised his bill to include autho rization of a national system of trails. In its December 1966 report, "Trails for America," the Interior Department recom mended Federal legislation to foster the creation of a nation-

by Thomas L. Gilbert Superintendent, Ice Age and

North Country National Scenic Trails National Park Service

The National Trails System at Thirty Years Reflections on the Past and Future of National Scenic Trails


should be only for purchase from willing sellers, believing the controversy surrounding the use of eminent domain would doom the cooperative effort to establish the trails, if not the very legislation needed to effect the restoration of this author ity. In 1994, near the end of the 103rd Congress, Senator Carl Levin of Michigan introduced a bill to amend the Act to restore "willing seller only" land acquisition authority. Congress took no action on the bill. It was not reintroduced in the I 04th or 105th Congresses. Senator Levin reportedly is willing to reintroduce the bill with bipartisan support from his col leagues

The Act has been amended 21 times, but the amendments of 1978 have had the largest impact on the complexion of the system. Not only did the legislation designate the first addi tions to the system since the original Act, it also added the limitation on land acquisition authority, and it created a new category of long distance trails within the system -- National Historic Trails (NHTs), which follow routes that are nation ally significant in terms of our nation's history. In contrast to NSTs, NHTs do not have to be continuous land-based trails. They can also include water routes and portions of highways that follow or approximate the historic route. The purpose of a NHT is to identify and preserve any historic remnants of the trail and provide for public use and enjoyment primarily through historic interpretation.

On the near horizon is the creation of another category within the system. On July 17 of this year, the Senate passed S. 1069, a bill to create a category of National Discovery Trails (NDTs) -- long-distance interstate trails located to include metropolitan, urban, rural, and back country regions of the Nation. Motorized use by the general public on or along a NDT would not be prohibited by the Act (it might by a local manager) and, therefore, roads could be officially included in the route of a discovery trail. The bill passed by the Senate would also authorize the first trail in this category--the Ameri can Discovery Trail. The House of Representatives did not pass a bill. Undoubtedly, similar bills will be introduced during the next Congress.

Some in the trails community express concern about the fact that NDTs can be rather easily established along existing roads. They wonder whether Congress will ever make the more difficult and potentially more expensive decision to authorize a NST. Yet, NDTs would bring a different dimen sion into the mix of the National Trails System that could provide trail opportunities to additional geographic areas and portions of our population.

Will there be any more NSTs? There are no feasibility studies completed or underway at this time that are likely to result in a recommendation for a NST. Wil 1 the North Country NST forever remain one of the" elite eight" or will it be part of an expanding NST network? We will have to wait and see while we continue to work diligently to establish and protect what Congress has already authorized.

NORTH STAR: The Magazine of the North Country Trail, January-March 1999 :~ ...... :!•. Needless to say, the Act envisioned a concerted partner- - E: •' ship effort that would create major new trail opportunities :• within a relatively short period of time. This pace was never .. realized. Ten years after the original enactment, amendments

deleted the "two-year" period reserved for State and local action. The same amendments established a specific land acquisition program to complete protection of the Appala chian NST and declared that it was the intent of Congress that this work be "substantially complete[d]" within 3 years. This

· ambitious timetable, too, was not met. Twenty years later the land acquisition for the Appalachian NST is still going on, but the end is in sight.

If the realities of acquiring so much land and the politics of obtaining the needed appropriations were not enough to slow down the establishment of NS Ts, imagine what the pace would be if the Federal prerogative to acquire land, in the absence of State and local action, was entirely removed. That is what Congress did when it authorized the Continental Divide NST in 1978, the North Country and Ice Age NSTs in 1980, and the Potomac Heritage NST in 1983 by prohibiting Federal Agencies from spending funds to acquire lands for the

"'""" trails outside existing Federal areas. For the Florida NST, also ~ authorized in 1983, Congress only prohibited the use of eminent domain.

These authorizations reflected a changing philosophy in Congress with regard to the Federal role in these trails, and a very real shift in the roles of the partners involved in develop ing and managing them. In an absence of State and local action, it was now up to private organizations to establish and maintain the trails outside of Federal areas.

Some say that now, under these requirements, the trails will be built and completed at a pace that reflects real user demand for new trail opportunities. On the other hand, 18 years after· the Ice Age and North Country NSTs were authorized only one-quarter and one-third of their lengths, respectively, are officially recognized as completed, and most of this is· located on already publicly-owned lands. In many areas, the exact alignment for the trails has not even been determined and potentially critical linkages are undergoing rapid development. Cooperating private trail organizations are strugglio~ to adjust to their role of having to function as land conservancies and raise enormous sums of money. Their

- success in being the principal protector of trail lands has been - marginal and often has not kept pace with the loss of needed

lands to other uses. The authorized length of the present eight NS Ts totals

14, 458 miles. Today, 30 years after creation of the system and 15 years since the last authorization of aNST, only 60percent of that mileage is usable by the public.

In a growing number of peoples' minds, the present eight NSTs will only be completed if the authority for the Federal agencies to acquire lands for them outside Federal park and forest areas is restored. Most believe the restored authority

We didn't sit under them though because the mosquitoes were thick. After a while we got to the spot where the NCT heads west. The arrow on the sign pointed into ferns and brush. There was no path, but there was a faint blue marker on a tree. Well we were fresh and optimistic. "We can make our own trail" and "this will be a real wilderness experience" we said. How true those words turned out to be! The paint was worn and old. Some places only one tiny little blue paint chip would be left. Sometimes there'd be no paint, but a shadow of a trail remained. You couldn't be really sure if it wasn't an animal trail. When we didn't see blue paint for a while we'd put down our packs and one of us would stay put while the other circled out, trying to find the trail. Lots of times we'd have to back track to the last blue paint chip and go from there It's quite a wild area of ridges and swamps. The trail was using the ridges to get through on dry land. When the trail petered it was usually because we'd missed a tum that led over to a new ridge. We had to use our compass and our wits to locate the trail. Then we'd find just the tiniest trace of blue paint and know we were OK.

The spot where we had lunch was high on a ridge overlooking a foggy lake to the south. The breeze kept the mosquitoes away. In the sun the temperature climbed to 60 after the 40 degree night. We knew this is black bear country because I've seen bear twice when we were camping at Bodi Lake. We've been coming up to Bodi for about twelve years RV camping and fishing. I had noticed the NCT trail coming out at Culhane Lake and always wanted to follow it. So this

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I read in our "North Star" how many members the NCTA has, and I wish more members would write of their adventure. Just being out in the woods and following a trail you've never been on before is fun. Our last trip was printed in the "North

Star" (taking it easy in the Manistee) with the ending of "to be continued."

v---- So here's what we did this summer of '98.

In June we wanted to hike the NCT between Tahquamenon Falls

, ·---··· and Culhane Lake in the Upper Pen \ insula of Michigan. We called the

NCT headquarters and the DNR in Newberry. They both said that as far as they knew the trail was OK. So our husbands dropped us unsuspecting, overly adventurous backpackers off at Tahquamenon Falls.

We started at the trailhead park ing lot just east of the Upper Falls on M-123. The trails for the Tahqua menon Park system were well used,

with "you are here" maps on posts along the way. The old fir trees were a pleasure to walk under.

By: Cora Killinger

Bushwhacking to Bodi Lake Looking for a piece of trail to adopt? Cora Killinger and Connie Sehl found a great candidate when they went


sunk to the bottom of the lake. His feet got tangled in fishing line. He was too embarrassed to shout for help, so he wasted a lot of energy trying to right the boat and climb back into it. By the time the other two guys came to his rescue and hauled him out he was grateful for the help. They took him back to camp and took pictures of him dumping water out of his boots. They nicknamed him "BOB" for bobbin' around in the water.

We did two other sections of the NCT this summer. We hiked the part of the trail that goes through Porcupine Moun tains in MI upper peninsula. It was a beautiful rugged trail with a lot of climbing and river crossings. We hiked with a black German shepherd dog named Bear. I would go across the stream or up/down the hill first, then my sister would turn Bear loose and let her pick her own way to me. That worked better than keeping her leashed in really rough areas.

The other section of NCT we hiked was over on the west side of Michigan in the lower peninsula. Last year we did the Manistee Forest. When we went back to take up where we left off, we found the trail closed because of storms that had broken trees over. We had intended to go from US-10 to M-55.

Being the versatile people that we are, we went on to M- 55 and hiked to M-115 In this section you hike along the Manistee River, only you're way up high on the hills. They are really steep. To camp we had to go down totheriverforwater, which we did where the road crossed the river at bridges. One section of trail was right along the river in a beautiful flat valley. We must like the hills because we hauled our waterup to the top of the hill and camped. It was an old overgrown campground and had a gorgeous view of the river and valley below. We sat in the woods just existing and being content like the forest around us until it got dark. I just like being out in the woods. All the scenery is a bonus.

A group of us hikers on the east side of middle lower Michigan started a hiking club, The Tittabawassee Chapter. We're adopting a part of the NCT. Now we get to take care of a part of the trail that we've been having so much fun hiking.

Cora Killinger, Connie Sehl, and Bear


is my dream come true. Hope it don't turn out to be a nightmare, I'm thinking as we sit on the ridge admiring the scenery and scanning for black shapes moving through the fog. This whole thing appeals to my sense of adventure and I'm having fun. We had a map of the area and know County Road 500 lies to the west. We just have to keep moving in that direction. We passed some more hidden lakes tucked away in the spruce trees. A person could camp there as some of the lakes looked as if you could get to them for water.

We came to a logging operation. The forest was a mess. I feel sad when I see the stump of a big pine and try to imagine what it looked like before they cut it down. We couldn't find any blue markers. We concluded that they chipped them all up and sent them to the city to burn in their factories. That's why you see all the blue smoke coming out of smoke stacks down there. We stayed on the logging trails, it was a relief from bushwhacking. We kept taking trails that headed west and north. It was a fresh road in many places. We felt fortunate to have it, as there were swamps on both sides of the road. A couple places they put down culverts to get through wet spots.

We walked past an old trailer with a private keep out sign. About half a mile further we came to a metal gate across the road with a sign on the opposite side saying NO TRESPASS ING. Well, we'd just trespassed all the way there, so we stepped to the other side of the gate and became law abiding citizens. If anyone was going in their opposite direction they wouldn't have a clue where the trail went.

The two track trail came out on 500 and we found a place to camp in the woods near the bridge and Betsy River. When setting up our tents we checked for dead branches in the trees above. This time my sister, Connie, said "Oh heck, let the tree fall on me and put this miserable mosquito bitten body out of it's misery!" We were both tired but I wasn't too tired to play a little trick on her. It was her birthday that day and I had put a folding cake box, wrapping paper and a plastic bag in my backpack. I tucked these items under my jacket, took my towel and went out into the woods. There I proceeded to make a very heavy birthday present with sand in the plastic bag. I presented it to her later after supper and said I carried it all the way here and now it was hers to carry. She didn't know what to think. We had a good laugh after she opened it. I did include a good card.

The next morning was sunny again. The trail started on the other side of Betsy River over the bridge. From there to Culhane it was well marked by blue paint recently sprayed. Lots of times there was no real trail, but it didn't matter because before we left one blue marker we could see the next one in the distance. It was a beautiful hike. We passed so many hidden lakes trimmed with spruce trees that we lost count. We've planned to hike this stretch of trail again and camp at one of the lakes. The guys were camped at Bodi Lake, fishing. We hiked to Bodi and found that they'd had their own adventure. One of them overturned their boat while fishing. His tackle

beautiful, beautiful area. The Mill and the bridge will be part of the tour for those who take the historical tour. What we're going to do is have people get on a bus at the conference site. A tour guide dressed in period costume will be on the bus talking about the history of the places that you will visit. The stops will include the Mill, the state headquarters housed at the Davis Hollow Cabin, which was built in the early l 800's and the Old Stone House.

I have a block replica of the Mill and the Stone House above my desk. I was looking at it and I thought about the trail being certified except for two miles of road between those buildings; it's about 18 miles. We'll have some hikes so people can hike that whole distance.

I was sitting there looking at the block buildings, and I thought what we need is a blockhouse of the Cabin so you could buy all three. In fact, what we might do is take orders for these three buildings. They will be little blockhouses right along the North Country Trail in western Pennsylvania for those who want to buy them as souvenirs of their trip to western Pennsylvania. They can pretend, take their fingers and walk between the Stone House, Davis Hollow Cabin, and McConnell's Mill on a day that they are cooped up in their office and can't get out for a hike. They can pretend - I do it every once in a while. I look at them and dream about what it would be like to be on the North Country Trail.

See you at the National Conference August 26-29 '99. Bob Tait

In the Butler area, a little business started making minia ture block buildings of some of the historical sites in our area. There are about 20 of them - the courthouse, some churches, and many famous landmarks. The name of the company is "Around the Block."

There are two of the historical landmarks that are right smack on the North Country Trail in Pennsylvania. The first, the Old Stone House, built in 1822 and administered by Slippery Rock University, was once a stop off for British and French Soldiers during the French and Indian War, and for some 50 years, a stagecoach stop, tavern and lodging house. Sam Mohawk committed the "Wigton Massacre" a few miles from the inn. The house has been restored as colonial tavern and museum displaying artifacts of pioneer life and it's a gathering place for concerts, craft fairs, military reenactment and other cultural events. It is the meeting place of the Butler County Chapter

When you come to the conference, you will get to see the little blockhouse and tour the real thing or hike by it. The other one, McConnell's Mill, was built in 1868. It uses a water turbines and rolling mills. It processed buckwheat.corn.oats and wheat until 1928. It is an operating historical landmark mill on the Slippery Rock Creek. It was made a State Park in 1957. A covered bridge is a few feet away from the mill. The trail crosses in front of the mill and goes through the covered bridge and continues along the Slippery Rock Gorge, which was created by glaciers as they withdrew from this area. It's a

Just Around the Block Some interesting historic landmarks aren't far from the 1999 meeting site. In fact, they're

Models of McConnell's Mill and Old Stone House, near the 1999 meeting site in western Pennsylvania. Attendees to the meeting will get to see the real thing.


also adds the USGS Quadrangles for those hikers who like to use topographic maps in conjunction with the BT maps.

Jim then sends Jack the preliminary log, to which Jack adds emergency phone numbers, plus details regarding facili ties at public and private campgrounds (water, restrooms,etc.) and in small towns (grocery stores, restaurants, motels or ice cream stores).

Once the length of the log is determined, Jack figures out the map sizing, either blowing up or reducing the scale of the ODOTmaps.

After the preliminary log has been checked, John Paton creates an electronic file that can print out our standard section map format, making sure that the column widths will not exceed the widths of the folds of the map. Jack then takes the final printed log and cuts and fits it and the maps onto a special backing to make it "print ready," with usually half a section on each side of the 11x17 waterproof paper.

The final step comes when Josh does the artwork - adding arrows, point numbers and campsite symbols to each map. He also draws in the black dots indicating the BT on-road route as well as the solid black line showing the off-road route. He uses black diamonds to indicate a segment of the North Country National Scenic Trail (NCT) that is certified (i.e., off road) and which follows our Buckeye Trail.

After the artwork is complete, it is sent to the printer with instructions to print 350 copies. After printing, the maps are sent to the Map Sales Manager, the invoice is sent to Connie Pond, our Treasurer, and the artwork is returned to Jack.

Since December, 1995, the Team has published 14 new maps out of the 24 sections. Within two years all sections will be in the new format. This has truly been a team effort and has been done so quickly because 3 members of the team are retired, with John still running his computer business. Without the free time of the retirees, the process would take much longer.

Particular mention should be made of Brad Jones, our former cartographer. While having help on the log from Bob Paton, John's father, Brad managed to publish a map a year until his workload in Columbus got too heavy. He was holding a full-time job in Columbus and commuting from his home in Yellow Springs every day, a total of over 2 hours driving time. It was a truly dedicated effort and symbolic of the efforts of many volunteers of the Buckeye Trail Association!!!

-- Reprinted from BTA Trailblazer

The actual maps that the BTA uses as base maps for individual sections are county maps published by Ohio De partment of Transportation (ODOT). In 1995 ODOTupdated all the Ohio county maps. This means that each section map must be revised, since the previous artwork on the old ODOT maps will not relate to the new county maps.

A new section map is published whenever the supply of maps for that section is depleted. This requires close commu nication between the Map Sales Manager, who maintains the inventory, and the Cartography Team, since each new map usually takes 9 to 12 months to rework.

The first BT map published using the revised ODOT county maps was the Burton Section in Decemberof 1995. In 1996 new maps were released for Belle Valley, Caesar Creek, Delphos and New Straitsville.

In 1997 Bedford was published (replacing Chapin Forest and Tinker's Creek), along with Norwalk, Old Man's Cave, and Pemberville, which replaced Fremont. In 1998 they publishedAkron, Defiance, Medina, Scioto TrailandStockport.

For 1999, the team has Sinking Spring and West Union well under way. These two sections will be divided into three sections, with the new section to be called Shawnee. This is because the Shawnee State Forest people have allowed much of our on-road trail in Adams County to be relocated onto State Forest land which will give hikers 13 miles of off-road hiking and access to many campsites. Also scheduled for 1999 are Loveland, Massi/ion, Burton (again) and possibly Mogadore.

The Cartography Team is made up of Josh Gille, John Paton, Jim Sprague and Jack Watkins. Here is a short sum mary of each person's input in the map process:

Dana Zintek, Map Sales Manager, notifies Jack that the supply of maps for a particular section is down to 100 maps.

Jack sends Jim copies of the new ODOT maps for the particular counties involved. Jim then prepares an electronic file of a new written log or description of the section, assigning "point" numbers to road intersections, river crossings, camp sites, park entrances, etc.

With the introduction of the new maps, all mileages are being verified either by auto odometer or measuring wheel. Jim

The BTA Cartography Team has made tremendous progress with revising and reprinting section maps. Here is Jack Watkins' account of the people and the process that have made this effort such a success.

New Ohio maps are better than ever

BTA Cartography Teant Making Great Strides with New Section Maps


NCT. Three sites along the trail received extra attention. At the southern boundary of the ANF, the trail crosses

Coon Creek. This area has an interesting story. On our topo maps, the trail is shown crossing Coon Creek immediately after leaving the National Forest. A sign at the boundary told hikers they were leaving the ANF. Several years ago, I got a request from a Boy Scout who wanted to fix up the section of trail between the ANF and Cook Forest State Park. Having never gone beyond the boundary sign, I told the Boy Scout I would get back to him after I had a chance to hike that section and find out who was responsible for maintenance. I was surprised to find the NCT re-entered the ANF after a short stretch on State Game Lands. It seems the trail was rerouted upstream by hikers after a beaver built a series of dams on Coon Creek. We had another half mile of trail! That last half mile was in rough shape. In September, we built a bridge over Coon Creek, relocated a quarter mile of trail leading to the bridge, cleared and marked the other quarter mile, and we moved the boundary sign to the real boundary. The bridge was built by the Marienville District Leadership Team with help from the trail crew and a few of our engineers. Having fallen

This has been an excellent year for the North Country Trail on the Allegheny National Forest (ANF) in Pennsylva nia. This last spring, a new source of funding was made available to us to correct soil and water problems on trails and roads. The trails needed a lot of attention and money for salary has always been in short supply. We saw this as the perfect opportunity to fund two hiking trail crews to correct these types of problems. We had also been awarded aSymms Grant to replace three foot bridges on the North Country Trail. And the Allegheny Outdoor Club was awarded a Challenge Cost Share project from the National Park Service to help with the bridges and some signing.

Work on the trail had just started when Bob Tait and his group hiked the NCT through the ANF. He called me shortly after finishing the hike. Lots of trees down, some sections nearly impossible to follow, failed bridges ... we had lots of work ahead ofus. By September, the trail crews had brushed, removed all down trees, marked and signed every mile of the

By Brenda Adams-Weyant


build a bridge on a forest trail to promote team building. They cook all their meals and camp overnight at the site. The NCT bridges at Chappel Fork and Nelse Run are other examples of their team building projects.

Anyone familiar with these areas is probably wondering how we got the materials to these sites. The bridges have a substantial, heavy duty appearance and are built entirely of treated wood. The Symms Grant gave us the resources to carry out this project in the most desirable way. Each of the bridge sites was at least a half mile from the closest road. This was a challenge. How do you build a bridge that will last for

many years in a place where road ac cess is nonexistent? The answer - a helicopter! Over the course of two days, our hired helicopter transported mate rials to each bridge site. This is not an inexpensive proposition, but when we considered the alternatives, it was well worth the cost. We were not open to building the bridges with trees found at the sites because this would shorten the life-span of the bridges, and building roads to the sites would not only be expensive, but would alter the remote character of the sites

When I think about all the work we accomplished this summer, I get a warm feeling inside. It is great to see all of our hard work come to fruition. Next time you are in the area, take a look, and let me know what you think of our new bridges.

in Coon Creek trying to cross, this is a bridge I can personally appreciate.

A few miles north, the NCT passes through Little Salmon Creek valley, a sce nic and remote section of the trail. Unfor tunately, most hikers never had a chance to en joy the scenery, they were too busy dodg ing mud holes and wading through tall grass. The valley has been home to the NCT since its construction in the 1970's. However, the valley has not been all that hospitable to the NCT. The wet soils and grassy savannas have challenged trail man agers for years. Throughout the valley there is evidence of many trail relocations. The new bridge was built downstream of the old bridge location. A quarter mile of trail was built to connect the NCT to the bridge. This alone has made a tremendous difference in the character of the trail. The new trail is dry and offers some nice views of the valley, and it allowed us to close a half mile of wet, poorly located trail. Five puncheons were constructed in the valley to bridge small boggy areas. All of this work was accomplished by the Forest Leadership Team, the trail crew and many other forest employees. We now have a trail location we can be proud of, and one that will allow hikers to appreciate the beauty of the valley. Travelling farther north, on the other side of Minister Creek, the trail crosses Lower Sheriff Run. Several years back a flood washed this bridge a couple hundred feet down stream where it came to rest against a large rock. This bridge was built by the Forest Operations Team. Every year they


5.8 [1.2] JOIN JORDAN RIVER PATHWAY The trail follows the west loop of the Jordan River

Pathway southwest. This long-established trail has long been a Michigan favorite, but there are many exposed roots and soft areas, especially where the trail goes along the riverbank. The

4.6 [1.2] O'BRIAN POND DAM The trail continues south on an old railroad grade, then

southwest on an old two-rut for about .5 mile, crosses a road bridge on Old State Road over the Jordan River, and continues for about 1.1 mile south through the woods to Dead man's Hill on the Jordan River Pathway. The trail is joined in an aspen forest on the side of Deadrnan's Hill, (a great view can be had by climbing the hill to the east).

3.4 [3.4] CROSS M32 South ofM-32, the trail picks up the long-certified Warner

Creek Pathway, developed as a cross-country ski trail, marked by skier symbols on a blue background, and follows it to the west, where there is a parking lot, then to the south through hardwood hills and a flooded area. It leaves the path at O'Brian's Pond, crossing Warner Creek at the dam.

0.0 [0.0] HEAD WEST FROM US131 This trail description begins at the US-131 crossing,

about a mile north of where M-32 turns to the west. However, US-131 isn't a real good place to park, due to the heavy traffic. It's recommended that you park on Doblesky Rd., which parallels about 0.2 mile to the east. Leaving US 131, the trail plunges up Elmira Hill, winding around through a hilly, second growth brush and timber section generally heading west for about three miles, then turns south and crosses M32. In the middle of this section, the trail follows a road through an oil well complex.

THE JORDAN RIVER near Dead man's Hill. In addition to the hiking trail, the river is a popular fishing and canoing stream.

"f-,,--.,--,,..---L i RichafdsonRd

!

Old State Rd

Warner Creek and

Jordan River Pathways

One of the most popular loop hikes in lower Michigan is the Jordan River Pathway -- and it's become more popular since getting a Backpacker Magazine "Weekend Wilderness Review" not long ago.

The North Country Trail uses 11.2 miles of the 18-mile pathway, mostly following the river, which is full of beavers and trout. There are, however, interesting sections of the North Country Trail adjoining, especially to the north, where the NCT uses a section of the Warner Creek Pathway, as well.

Trail Focus: Warner Creek and Jordan River Pathways

The North Country Trail uses two of Michigan's better known State Forest Pathways


There's an amazing amount of items on the Internet about the Jordan River Pathway and the Jordan River area. Two good web sites to try are:

http://my.voyager.net/jacobjans/jordan.html http://www. michigannorth. com/mapslantrim/jordanriver/

The former site is a part of the "Michigan Benchmark" website put together by Grand Rapids, MI, NCTA member Paul Haan; it also includes information on several other Michigan hiking opportunities, both on and off the NCNST. The latter site is more canoeing and fishing oriented, but has some useful area information. A search engine looking for "Jordan River Pathway" will tum up several other URLs.

INFORMATION AND MAPS: Michigan Mapset D, available from the North Country Trail Store covers this area nicely. Also, the The Hutchins Guide for lower Michigan, also available from the North Country Trail Store, covers the area. The sketch maps in either, as well as the map here, should be adequate to find the trail, but a compass and a good county map may prove useful.

The trail skirts the south side of the small Five Lake. A spur trail follows the east side of the lake north to a small campground, where there is a pump, and not much else. There are no other water sources along this leg. However, this can serve as a parking area, or as overflow camping if Pinney Bridge is full.

20.2 [4.2] REACH FIVE LAKE

ALBA, MI 49611. Small town with convenience store.

16.0 [3.1] LANDSLIDE SCENIC VIEW PARKING LOT

Blazes are reportedly confusing in this area, with the east leg of the Jordan River Pathway loop heading off to the northeast. The North Country Trail route heads south as a roadwalk out of the Landslide ScenicView parking lot on Harvey Road, and after 1.5 miles, crosses Alba Road. Alba is one mile to the east. The route continues south on Harvey Road, crosses US 31, and becomes Corey Road, which continues south for another mile. The route then turns east on Doerr Road and the Doerr Road Extension, until reaching trail on the west side of Five Lake. South of Alba Road, the public rights of way on the roads are poorly maintained.

of Pinney Bridge. If continuing back to Deadman's Hill, the trail proceeds

northeasterly from the overlook over rolling hills on top of the escarpment. It's not level; there are numerous small creeks and drainages. About halfway back to Deadman's Hill, the route recrosses Jordan River Road; there's a nice stand of white spruce.


LOOKING OUT over the valley and forest from Landslide Scenic View on the Jordan River Pathway.

13.9 [8.1] PINNEY BRIDGE Drinking water, a pit toilet and fire rings are available at

the walk-in only campground, which has eight sites; a fee is charged, however. It was a logging camp a century ago during the great clearcut that devestated virtually all of the tall virgin timber in northern Michigan. Sixty men worked here, includ ing loggers, a blacksmith, cooks and teamsters. Much of the woods in this vicinity was scorched or burned in a large fire in 1909. More recently, it was a CCC camp.

The trail heads southwest to Pinney Bridge across the Jordan River, then turns south, going through fields, forest, and a large, wet area full of cedar groves, crossing Cascade Road and Cascade Creek after 1.5 miles, then climbing up an escarpment southeast to another 1.6 miles to Landslide Scenic View. There are several large springs that emerge to form Landslide Creek,just before climbing the hill to the overlook. The trail then turns east to the parking lot for the overlook. The section is all heavily wooded, except for a short stretch south

The trail proceeds southwest and descends to the river, which it follows near the bank, sometimes on boardwalks for 2.3 miles, then climbs up to cross River Road, crosses to the north bank. River Road may be used as a crossover for day hikers to the other half of the loop trail. The trail continues on another 5. l miles along the north river bank through a variety of forested areas as it climbs up the northern escarpment for a stunning view to the south. Pinney Bridge Campground is a little to the west.

section ranges from high lookouts to riverbanks, and is hilly and heavily wooded. Trailside camping was permitted until recently, but has had to be restricted with increasing use to the Pinney Bridge Campground, a State Forest campground where a fee is required. Hikers planning an overnight loop hike should figure on starting at the parking area at Deadman's Hill, so they can overnight at Pinney Bridge.

a new trail route mostly across county forest lands has been recently identified, is there currently much buildable potential.

Looking ahead, state by state, to future prospects: •New York has much potential for future certifications,

with a decision near on the route east of the Finger Lakes Trail to Old Erie Canal State Park. In addition, once this has been passed, there are potential future certifications between the Old Erie Canal and the Adirondacks. The Adirondacks, themselves, also offer potential.

•Pennsylvania has recently undergone a setback with an unfavorable decision on multiple use trail on state game lands. However, there is still considerable potential for trail develop ment here in the next few years.

• Ohio has some interesting prospects. The eastern Ohio project, with a plan published in I 995, is showing signs oflife. New certification, and trail upgrading, is proceeding in many spots on the Buckeye Trail. In northwest Ohio, several new miles of the Cannonball Trail should be opening soon.

• Michigan retains the lead in certified miles of trail, although little was certified this year. The big new potential here is in the southern part of the state, which has been nearly static for many years, until new chapters got several trail development projects under way.

• Wisconsincontinues to be a hotbed of trail development, with several projects under way. With the northwest Wiscon sin plan complete, the potential exists for many new miles of certified trail there, once built.

• Minnesota will have a considerable amount of trail building ahead, once the western part of the Arrowhead route is finalized, hopefully in the next year. In addition, there's still work to be done west of the Chippewa.

<North Dakota still has a few potential miles of trail to be built on public lands, but private land development will probably have to wait until the development of a strong chapter there.

So, 1998 ends with a feeling of accomplishment, and much promise for the future of the North Country National Scenic Trail.

1314

2000 by 2000 ~~~~-+~~~~---~~~__, Behind Schedule. but gaining ground

1998 will be remembered as a milestone year on the North Country National Scenic Trail, and for a number of reasons:

«The record amount of certification: With the exception of the 1983 certifications that came with the publication of the Comprehensive Plan, certifications in 1998 were the highest yet attained in the development of the trail -- a total of 189 new miles certified. The 115 mile certification of the McCluskey and New Rockford Canals in North Dakota certianly made up a big chunk of this, but for the first year since 1983, as well, there was certification activity in every state.

»Private land certifications: For the first time ever, there was a really significant amount of private land miles certified in 1998. While there were a few certified in the past, 1998 proved to be a record here as well, especially due to the intensive program of the Finger Lakes Trail Conference to certify trail segments located on private land, which brought New York into second place in new certifications for 1998.

• NCTA and Affiliates as managing authorities: In the past, virtually all certification has been done on public lands, with the public land manager serving as the managing author ity for the trail segment. Again, 1998 was a record year for trail certification where the NCTA or an NCTA affiliate is the managing authority for a trail segment, tying in with the increase in private land certification. Though a small segment of the total, it's a category that will -- and must -- increase in the years to come.

It's been seen for a number of years that the supply of public lands to build trail on is running low. Though scattered patches of potential trail on public lands remain, the bottom of the barrel is clearly in sight, with the exception of trail building in three areas, two of which don't have the trail route thor oughly worked out as of yet. On the Arrowhead project in Minnesota, five corridors for connecting the west end of the Kekekabic Trail with the Chippewa National Forest have been worked out, and one of these has already been pretty well rejected. In the new route through the southern Adirondacks, route planning is proceeding slowly, with the final general route yet to be identified. Only in northwest Wisconsin, where

Status Report 1998 Trail

It's been a good year in many ways, even though much still remains to be done on the NCNST.


NORTH STAR: The Magazine of the North Country Trail, January-March 1999 FLT-Pvt. Land in Steuben Co. FLTC 1.2

North Country National Scenic Trail FLT-Pvt. Land in Steuben Co. FLTC 1.4

Certified and Connecting Sections FLT-Pvt. Land in Steuben Co. FLTC 1.9 FLT-Burt Hill SF FL TC/DEC 0.8

As of 12/31 /1998 FLT-Bully Hill, Klipnocky SFs FL TC/DEC 5.9 FLT-Bully Hill, Klipnocky SFs FL TC/DEC 4.7

Segment Man. Auth Length FLT-Genesee Valley Greenway FL TC/DEC 0.9 FLT-Pvt. Land in Allegany Co. FLTC 1.4

NEW YORK FLT-Pvt. Land in Allegany Co. FLTC 4.5 FLT-Cuyler Hill SF FL TC/DEC 6.4 FLT-Swift Hill SF FL TC/DEC 1.6 FLT-Private land, Cortland Co. FLTC 0.4 FLT-Farmersville SF FL TC/DEC 2.6 FLT-Taylor Valley SF FL TC/DEC 2.8 FLT-Bush Hill SF FL TC/DEC 3.5 FLT-Taylor Valley SF FL TC/DEC 0.2 FLT-Bear Creek SF FL TC/DEC 1.9 FLT-Private land, Cortland Co. FLTC 0.5 FLT Boyce Hill SF FL TC/DEC 2.6 FLT-Taylor Valley SF FL TC/DEC 4.0 FLT-Pvt. Land in Cattaraugus Co. FLTC 1.2 FLT-Private land (3), Cortland Co. FLTC 1.1 FLT-Pvt. Land in Cattaraugus Co. FLTC 0.3 FLT-Baker Schoolhouse SF FL TC/DEC 2.4 FLT-Rock City & Bucktooth SF FL TC/DEC 7.5 FLT-Private land (8), Cortland Co. FLTC 4.3 FLT-Bucktooth SF FL TC/DEC 3.0 FLT-Hoxie Gorge SF FL TC/DEC 0.6 FLT-Allegan)'. State Park FL TC/OPRHP 20.6 FLT-Hoxie Gorge SF (SUNY) FLTC 1.0 Total - New York 196.3 FLT-Private land (4), Cortland Co. FLTC 1.2 FLT-Tuller Hill SF FL TC/DEC 0.5 FLT-Tuller Hill SF FL TC/DEC 3.5 PENNSYLVANIA FLT-Private land, Cortland Co. FLTC 1.4 Allegheny National Forest USDA/FS 86.8 FLT-James Kennedy SF FL TC/DEC 0.9 Baker Trail-Clear Creek SF DER-Forest 1.5 FLT-James Kennedy SF FL TC/DEC 0.4 Baker Trail - Cook Forest SP DER-Parks 8.0 FLT-James Kennedy SF FL TC/DEC 1.0 Jennings Environmental Ed. Ctr. DER-Parks 1.0 FLT-Baldwin to Daisy Hollow Rds. FL TC/DEC 6.5 Moraine St. Pk. DER-Parks 14.9 FLT-Private Land, Tompkins Co. FLTC 1.3 Moraine St. Pk. DER-Parks 1.4 FLT-Potato Hill SF FL TC/DEC 2.0 Connector (2.6) FLT-Private Land, Tompkins Co. FL TC/DEC 1.4 McConnel's Mill State Park DER-Parks 7.6 FL T-Shindagen Hollow St. Forest FL TC/DEC 5.7 Total - Pennsylvania 2.6 121.2 FLT-Private Land, Tompkins Co. FLTC 1.0 FLT-Private Land, Tompkins Co. FLTC 0.7 FLT-Private Land, (3) Tompkins Co. FLTC 1.0 OHIO FLT-Private Land, Tompkins Co. FLTC 1.5 Beaver Creek State Park DNA-Parks 6.3 FLT-Danby State Forest FL TC/DEC 8.2 BT-Tuscarawas CR82 to CR109 BTA 5.3 FLT-Private Land, (?}Tompkins Co. FL TC 3.6 BT-TR 213 to TR288 BTA 6.0 FLT-Private Land, (9}Tompkins Co. FL TC 2.5 BT-US22 to Guernsey CR893 BTA 4.4 FLT-Robert H. Treman State Park FLTC/OPRHP 3.5 BT-Salt Fork State Park BTA/DNR 2.7 FLT-Private Land, '(15)Tompkins Co. FLTC 3.0 Wayne NF - Poulton to Co. Line USDA/FS 5.2 FLT-Private Land, (6) Tompkins Co. FL TC 1.0 Wayne NF - CR 128 to SR 26 USDA/FS 31.3 FLT-Private Land, (2}Tompkins Co. FLTC 0.4 BT-TR23 BTA 1.0 FLT-Robert H. Treman State Park FLTC/OPRHP 0.6 BT-TR232 to TR377 BTA 2.1 FLT-Connecticut Hill Wild. Area FL TC/DEC 7.5 BT-Wayne NF USDA/FS 1.0 FLT-Private Land, (3) Schuyler Co. FLTC 3.0 BT-Burr Oak State Park BTA/DNR 10.9 FLT-Texas Hollow SF FL TC/DEC 1.8 BT-Jenkins Dam, to SR13 BTA 0.4 FLT-Private Land, (5) Schuyler Co. FLTC 1.5 BT-Wayne FN SR13 to boundry USDA/FS 3.0 FLT-Finger Lakes Nat'I Forest FL TC/USDA 2.4 BT-Athens CR92 to Salem Rd. BTA 2.5 FLT-Private Land, (3) Schuyler Co. FLTC 0.5 BT-Wayne National Forest USDA-FS 15.8 FLT-Private Land, (2) Schuyler Co. FLTC 0.8 BT-Nunamaker Rd to Hunter Rd BTA 1.0 FLT-Private Land, (2) Schuyler Co. FLTC 0.1 BT-TR44 to TR39 BTA 2.0 FLT-Private Land, (3) Schuyler Co. FLTC 0.4 BT-Lake Logan Rd to Murphy Rd. BTA 1.2 FLT-Watkins Glen State Park FLTC/OPRHP 4.5 BT-Starr Rd to Kreachbaum Rd. BTA 3.2 FLT-Sugar Hill State Forest FL TC/DEC 8.4 BT-Big Pine Rd to Ash Cave BTA 7.3 FL T-Goundry Hill State Forest FL TC/DEC 0.6 BT-Clark Rd - Clark Rd BTA/DNR 4.4 FLT-Goundry Hill State Forest FL TC/DEC 2.1 BT-Sugar Run to Bluelick Rd BTA/DNR , '2.7

FLT-Goundry Hill State Forest FL TC/DEC 9.5 BT-Bluclick Rd to Buffalo CG BTA/DNR 1.5 FLT-Birdseye Hollow SF FL TC/DEC 9.1 BT-Musgrove Rd to US35 BTA/DNR 2.9


BT-Woods Hollow Rd-Prussia Rd. BTA 2.6 Tahquamenon Falls State Park DNR-Parks 21.5 BT-Davis Rd - Bell Rd (Pike SP) BTA/DNR 12.7 Lake SuperiorSF - SP - Swamp Lk DNR-Forest 7.2 BT-Lapperell Rd-Bell Hollow Rd BTA/DNR 5.5 Lake Superior SF Sec 13 to SP DNR-Forest 22.4 BT-Bell Hollow Rd-SR41 Pike SF BTA 1.5 Muskallonge Lake State Park DNR-Parks 1.5 BT-Fort Hill State Memorial BT A/OHS 4.5 Lake Superior SF-SP to H-58 DNR-Forest 21.2 Shawnee Trail (Shawnee SP/SF) DNR 14.5 connectors (3.8) BT-East Fork State Park BTA/DNR 7.9 Pictured Rocks Nat'I Lakeshore NPS 43.8 Little Miami Scenic Park DNR 44.8 connector (4.8) Little Miami - Yellow Springs Greene Pks. 13.7 Hiawatha NF - M-94-Buck Bay Cr USDA-FS 9.6 BT-Statler Rd. to Piqua Hist. BTA 6.3 City of Marquette Marquette 1.3 BT-Miami and Erie Canal Trail BTA/DNR 42.0 connector (1.9) BT-lndependance Dam State Park BTA/DNR 7.0 City of Marquette Marquette 3.1 Henry Co. CR6A-Lucas Co Line NORTA e.i Little Presque Isle DNR-Forest 6.8 Total - Ohio 293.2 Ottawa NF-McCormick Wilderness USDA-FS 8.1

Craig Lake State Park DNR-Parks 7.5 Ottawa NF Kenton, Ontanagon RD USDA-FS 42.5

MICHIGAN Ottawa NF Sec. 12 to S. Bdry Rd USDA-FS. 27.6 Baw Beese Trail Hillsdale 4.0 Porcupine Mtns SP DNR-Parks 21.5 M-99 Bikeway MOOT 5.0 Ottawa NF CR519 to Bridge USDA-FS 5.9 Battle Creek Linear Parkway Battle Creek 8.2 Ottawa NF Svs. Br. to Old 513 USDA-FS 5.9 Chief Noonday NCTA-CN Ch. 4.0 Total - Michigan (15.0) 580.7 Yankee Springs SRA DNR-Parks 2.5 Rogue River State Game Area DNR-Wildlife 7.0 Manistee NF - Croton-Spruce St USDA-FS 6.3 WISCONSIN

(connector) (2.0) Iron Co. Forest - Uller Trail Iron Co. 5.1 Manistee NF - 4othSt-5 Mile Rd USDA-FS 66.6 Copper Falls State Park DNR 4.4

(connector) (2.5) Copper Falls Park to Mellen Mellen 2.2 Manistee NF - 5 Ml Rd to RD Bdy USDA-FS 1.0 connector (1.9) Manistee NF - RD Bdy-Riverside USDA-FS 10.3 Chequamegon National Forest USDA-FS 60.0 Manistee NF - Udell-Pine Creek USDA-FS 7.2 Bayfield County Forest County 0.6 Manistee NF - Chicago-Beers Rd. USDA-FS 23.9 Brule River SF DNR 7.0 P. M. SF Sec12 to No 16 Rd DNR-Forest 0.8 Village of Solon Springs Village 0.5 P. M. SF Sec32 to 2-track DNR-Forest 0.8 Lucius Woods Co. Park Douglas Co. 0.7 P. M. SF Sec20 to No 8 Rd DNR-Forest 1.3 Village of Solon Springs Village 0.8 P. M. SF Wheeler Cr to Sec 19 DNR-Forest 0.6 Total - Wisconsin (1.9) 81.3 P. M. SF Sec 2 to Sec 21 DNR-Forest 0.9 P. M. SF Anderson Cr. to Sec 23 DNR-Forest 1.0 P. M. SF Dell Rd to Sec 2 DNR-Forest 1.1 MINNESOTA P. M. SF Sec 2 to Sec 1 DNR-Forest 1.3 Jay Cooke SP DNR 3.1 P. M. SF Sec 1 to Old 131 SFCG DNR-Forest 7.0 Chippewa National Forest USDA-FS 68.0 P. M. SF Sec. 3 to Sec 34 DNR-Forest 1.3 Itasca SP DNR 13.0 P. M. SF Sec. 33 DNR-Forest 1.3 Bad Medicine - Clearwater Co For. NCTA 5.9 Shore-to-Shore Riding-Hiking Tr DNR-Forest 23.4 Total -- Minnesota 90.0 PM & Mac. SF: Starv. Lk-Sec29 DNR-Forest 2.5 Mackinaw SF - CR38 - Doerr Rd DNR-Forest 5.5 Jordan River Pathway DNR-Forest 12.3 NORTH DAKOTA Warner Creek Pathway DNR-Forest 2.4 Sheyenne National Grassland USDA-FS 25.0 Mackinaw SF - Sec. 9 DNR-Forest 0.4 Sheyenne State Forest NDFS 1.0 Mackinaw SF - Sec. 10 - US 131 DNR-Forest 0.7 Fort Ransom State Park ND P&R Dept. 2.5 Mackinaw SF - CR48 - Sec. 21 DNR-Forest 4.6 New Rockford Canal BOR 41.0 Mackinaw SF - Springvale-Harmon DNR-Forest 4.9 Lonetree WMA ND G&F 32.0 Stinner land (Sec. 25-Sec 24) NCTA 0.4 McCluskey Canal BOR 74.0 Petoskey - Sec. 25 to Sec 24 Petoskey 1.1 Lake Sakakawea SP ND P&R Dept. t.a Petoskey- Krause Dr to Brubaker Petoskey 0.6 Total -- North Dakota 176.8 NC Mich College NCM Coll. 1.7 Petoskey-Sheridan St to US 31 Petoskey 2.2 Wilderness SP S bdry to E. bdry DNR-Parks 10.8 TOTAL CERTIFIED MILEAGE 1539.5 Mackinaw SF- SP Bdry to Sec.24 DNR-Forest 9.0 Signed as Connector 19.5 Hiawatha NF - FR3104 to N Bdy USDA-FS 77.4 TOTAL SIGNED MILES 1559.0

and my car are located. A county Sheriffs Department car is coming toward us. I joke to Jerry, "They probably called Omer to report an abandoned car. He's getting pretty calm about explaining that all is well -- his wife is just hiking." Sure enough, as we pull up to my car the deputy comes back and parks there as well.

"Is this your vehicle?" he asks. "Yes," I reply. "Well, these people want to have the car towed and to

charge you with criminal trespass." There was a time in my life when this news would have

made me cower and begin feeling guilty like 0 Ii ver Twist, just because I was accused. However I'm older now, and either tougher or dumber. Without the faintest twinge of concern I counter, "No, no, no. I have permission to put the car here for the afternoon and I'm just leaving anyway."

"Fine with me," the deputy says, with a somewhat super cilious look that seems out of place.

I begin to walk around the car to unlock it and notice a lady walking up the service drive. "Are you the owner?" I call cheerfully.

"I certainly am." She hammers each word in like a spike through the heart of a vampire.

"I spoke with a man who said he was your father, and he said that I could leave the car here for a few hours."

"Well, I don't have a cell phone. How am I supposed to know that? I thought you were a deer hunter. I haven't seen my father."

"All I can say is that he seemed to feel he had authority to allow me to park here, and I'm sorry. I'm leaving now."

"My father was here this afternoon," she admits reluc tantly. She begins lamenting about how other people have trespassed and vandalized the property ever since they bought it, so I am getting the picture. Here is someone, me, who is finally a potential object of prosecution for all their frustra tion. Her tirade never slacking, she asks why i'needed to park at this spot. I try to tell her about the Buckeye Trail, and the North Country Trail, that pass right in front of the camp, on the road. She says she's never heard of them. Unfortunately that is a common response. She demands to know why the Buckeye Trail people don't provide parking for their hikers. I suggest that this might be a goal, but it is a small group of volunteers and this is not currently possible. Asking permis sion usually is acceptable. She is calming down a bit, or at any rate, needs to pause and regroup before the next verbal assault. I ask if we can exchange names and if I can give her a flyer about the trail. Jerry is introduced. Her husband has also now joined our cheerless party. At this point the law steps back in. A backup unit has arrived so there are two deputies present. The new arrival says to me, "Why don't you just leave?"

Apparently, today, nothing can daunt me. "No," I stub bornly insist, "We need to have a good relationship with these folks. The trail goes right in front of their camp." Jerry and I


- ,-

by Joan Young Pre-arrangements for this walk are nearly in place. Ear

lier this Monday morning I had driven the Canal Road south of Tipp City, Ohio and obtained permission to leave my car at a home near an intersection later in the day. Working my way north I had stopped at a farm just past Troy and arranged to put my tent down in their fence line the next night. A permit to camp at Lockington Dam County Park for tonight is already in my pocket. All that remains is to leave my car at the north end for the day until Jerry Starcher of the Buckeye Trail Association can meet me and help me move it to the south end. I drive to the house where I had left my car at the end of the previous hike. I had not been able to reach these people by phone, but was hoping that someone would be there, or perhaps I could just leave the car with a note attached. Their dogs are loose, though, and greet me rather too exuberantly. Chips is inside with me, racing from windshield to hatchback and back, while the other dogs do the same outside. All are barking and snarling. I decide that trying to get our packs out and on will be too difficult with a canine side show to deal with, so I leave and look for another place to park along this short stretch of road.

The entire east side of this half-mile of road is part of a campground. Jerry had also helped me spot my car on the previous hike and had told me that the BTA had used this facility for a conference one year. Now the camp is empty and locked up. He has heard rumors that someone else bought it and he hopes that the Buckeye folks can form a good relation ship. Today I find that the main gate is open, so I decide to investigate. A pickup truck is visible at the waterfront, and sure enough, three men are fishing out on the lake. One of them rows in to talk with me. I explain that I am hiking and ask if I can leave my car at the end of their service drive just for the rest of the afternoon. "Sure, no problem," he says. "My daughter and son-in-law just bought this camp and they want to re-open it for small groups." We chat for a few more minutes about the trail and the camp. As I back the car up to the cable gate I feel a sense of satisfaction that this may be an initial contact with the camp owners for Jerry.

I now have eight miles to hike in the next three hours, so Chips and I get into the business of walking. This hike is to be mostly road miles: not our favorite, but there they are. The weather is mild for November; I know the route; my pack is light-- things could be lots more difficult. We reach Lockington with just time to setup our tent before Jerry arrives at5:00p.m. By 5:30 we are turning on to the road where the campground

Breaking Ice Along The Road

A few more miles, another walk completed successfully. A long drive home for Thanksgiving punctuated by a hot shower and a few hours of warm sleep in a bed at the home of some friends in Indiana. A parting thought: how much more pleasant, efficient and less stressful it would be if we could assume something better than the worst when evaluating an unfamiliar situation. If the person who saw Chips and me in the ditch could have rolled down the window and simply called out," Are you o.k?" the police would not have been needed. If the camp owners could have reserved judgement about my car until they had some information that whole incident might never have involved the police. But fear and defensiveness have built walls that keep us from approaching each other. When the camp owner stopped me on the highway she also asked, "Aren't you afraid to be out like this? I wouldn't feel safe." My standard answer is, "You are not really safe anywhere." She grudgingly acceded to the truth of this state ment.

Instead of causing others to feel threatened and defensive of their own space, how much better if we give people a chance to show us their better side. Instead of reacting to the unfamil iar with fear and retreat, how much better if we embrace new situations, expanding our wealth of experiences. Instead of cowering in our suffocating, musty towers of the familiar, how much better to breathe the fresh air of new worlds. To me, to breathe the air of the new is to live.

I flinch a little, but this time my activities are of no interest to the Jaw enforcers. I am not sorry. One more episode rounds out this adventure. On state route 41 there is a brief respite from the traffic at least. Although it is a very busy highway there is a wide paved shoulder so the dog and I can walk without having to concentrate on every approaching vehicle. Thus I am day-dreaming, probably singing to myself, when behind me I hear a shout. I tum and see that a car has pulled off the road and stopped. The driver is beckoning me to walk back that way. Resistance is definitely high to backtracking, but I wave and retrace a few steps, hoping that the instigator of this meeting will take a hint and walk towards me. This tactic works. Within a few more steps I can tell that it is the lady from the campground. "Wow!" she exclaims. "I saw you walking and said to myself, 'I know who that is!"'

I diffidently mention that I had told her I was hiking. "I know, but, I mean, to really see you ... You do remember

who I am?" My initial thoughts are perhaps unkind. Internally my

cynical side declares, "If you think that I could forget YOU after two days you are certainly mistaken." But outwardly I just answer, "Oh yes, you are the owner of the campground." We talk for a while and I do assure her that I also think the deputy was out ofline to make the comment he did. This gives us a common "enemy," so with promises to correspond about the trail we strengthen the fragile relationship.

are scrambling to find trail brochures, paper and pens. The supercilious deputy suddenly makes a regrettable

comment. "The neighbors don't think much of the way you are managing this property, either." With this provocation, the owner and her husband "go ballistic." The yelling match is under way with both deputies participating. Jerry and I share a furtive look as if to ask, "What is going on here?" Accusa tions are falling around our ears as thick and brittle as the dead oak leaves under our feet. Sentences overlap in angry disorder making it difficult to distinguish legitimate commentary.

"What neighbors? We haven't talked to any neighbors." "The neighbors just don't like you." "They're angry because someone else bought the place." "What right have you to say that? ... " I purposely block out the words because I am watching the

husband. He's built like a pro wrestler, blocky, muscular, barrel-chested; an aggressive looking guy. He and one deputy are practically chest to chest, and frankly I hope we are not going to progress to fist-fighting. As ifunderneath the main storm of accusations Jerry and I return with trail information. I get the owner's attention and she and I do exchange names and addresses. We part with a tentative smile for each other, and Jerry and I drive away. The screaming match continues, but we gladly leave it behind. This is one time I can easily pass up knowing the final outcome of a situation since the outcome for me is settled and does not include fines or charges.

Before parting that evening, Jerry and I comment that if we managed to salvage a positive relationship out of that shaky beginning we have done well!

A chilly night, colder than predicted, means restless sleep for me. The Tuesday miles seem Jong and weary, and pavement walking is always tough on feet and knees. Little or no road shoulder means that the traffic is constantly in our faces, and I must be ever-vigilant to keep Chips and myself out of the path of cars, vans, and gravel trucks. My last rest stop of the day is a short snack and water break while sitting on the bank of the ditch. Shortly after resuming my walk I am approached by a Sheriffs car. "Now what?" I wonder.

"Are you all right?" the deputy asks. "Sure." "We got a report that there was a lady lying in the ditch

who looked like she was in trouble," I assure him that we are fine, and mention that I was not

even lying down ... just sitting there eating and having a drink of water.

"Well, some people really exaggerate, you know." he comments as he waves me on my way.

A few miles later I pass a State Police car parked by the road near an interstate exit. We chat briefly and-I am frankly relieved to find that they are not looking for me. Their prey is speeders. Well, we won't make that category this afternoon.

Yet another chilly night and more bone-thumping road miles on Wednesday. When a Sheriffs car passes me slowly


Stepping Up to the Plate By Bob Tait

The reason I'm writing this little article is to provide you with some of the things that may have worked in Pennsylvania and give you the opportunity to tell us about what you have done to "stepuptothe plate" to make peopleawareoftheNorth Country National Scenic Trail. We are sending ournewsletter to all the state and federal officials to make them aware of what we're doing in Pennsylvania. We have received letters from both our U.S. Senators, but more importantly, two of our state representatives have published articles on the North Country Trail Association in their newsletters to their constituencies.

We have received several requests for information, so I think this is an opportunity for people to work with their government officials to provide information on the North Country Trail. We all need to "step up to the plate." Another way is to approach other organizations by asking them to speak at their meetings. It can be other outdoor clubs, service clubs, Boy Scouts or Sportsman's Clubs - the-list is endless. We need to take the time to develop a speaker's group within our chapters that will get out and preach the gospel of the North Country Trail.

If you have a newsletter, you need to use this newsletter to make people aware of what you're doing. It's going to cost you in printing, mailing, and time to get this newsletter out to people, but you never know when somebody is going to say, "I ought to look into that. 11 Send it to some businesses. Send it to the tourist groups, the Chambers of Commerce, anybody along the trail or proposed trail who will some day help you out. These are a few things that might help you when you 11 step up to the plate."

We have had a display at our Public Library, best of all the local Chamber has allowed us to have one of their large windows for a display I have a few more ideas I will pass along next issue, and if you come to Pennsylvania I will tell you about how they work.


Or if you'd be interested in one of the MWTA trips this May you can contact: for MNPTC information, Carl Ander son, 6511739-5006; [email protected]; for Rover information contact Ralph Pribble at 651/644-9598; ralph.pribble@ pca.state.mn.us; for the KTC call 800/818-HIKE; www.kek.org. This work also helps the NCNST. Both the Rovers and the KTC are soon to be NCTA affiliates and both the Border Route Trail, built and maintained by the Rovers and the Kekekabic Trail, maintained by the KTC are part of the soon to be adopted Minnesota Arrowhead Reroute. The MNPTC maintained Sioux Hustler Trail also could become a NCNST spur trail if the "Echo Lake Trail Corridor" is chosen as the Trail route between Ely and the Trail in Chippewa National Forest, (it currently is one of five possible routes identified in the planning process.

The Minnesota Parks and Trails Council and it's partnership with the Headwaters Chapter have combined to help build new miles of NCNST in Minnesota's Bad Medicine section the last two years. The Council's volunteer trail maintenance coordinator, John Leinen, has recruited and lead a late sum mer/early fall crew in each of the last two years. After each visit by the Counci I's crew, B ii I Menke has been able to certify new trail mileage on the section worked. The mileage certified this year was the official mileage that extended the trail over 1500 miles. The Headwaters Chapter, the MNPTC and all of Minnesota are proud that they were able to be part of this accomplishment.

Leinen feels that this new undertaking by the Council is a natural progression of the volunteer trail maintenance program that already is in place with the Council's partnership with the Minnesota Wilderness Trails Alliance. Alliance members, (the Council is joined in the Partnership by the Kekekabic Trail Club and the Minnesota Rovers) sponsor annual spring trips to maintain trails in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. With tight federal budgets, volun teers working within the Alliance, do most of the maintenance on the hiking/backpacking trails in the Boundary Waters, (most federal dollars go to the much greater used canoe route portages and campsites).

Bad Medicine volunteers have been graciously hosted by Jo and Del Bjerkness, (Del is past NCTA Vice President), at their beautiful home on Bad Medicine Lake less than a mile from the Trail. All have found the work interesting and fulfilling. So far Council crews have scouted route fornew trail, cleared and brushed through new trail, rebuilt trail in a clear cut and have finished up and blazed trail begun by others in preparation for certification. The varied types of work have been enjoyed by those veterans of our Boundary Waters effort, (that effort concen trates on clearing tree falls and bushing). The different tools used and the chance to become familiar with them has also been appreciated, (federal wilderness regulations limit tool options).

Later this year the MNPTC will continue it's work building new Minnesota sections of the NCNST. In an effort to give everyone the most time to plan and participate, the Council has already announced dates for this year's trip. The trip will be four days, September 16-19, and the B jerkness' on Bad Medicine Lake will again be our hosts. All of the volunteers who joined us the last two years for the NCT work trips enjoyed the countryside, were fascinated with the trail work and were nurtured by Del and Jo's hospitality. If you'd like more details on this trip please contact John Leinen at 65 l/4334456;[email protected].

Minnesota Parks & Trails Council's Volunteers Help Produce Certified Miles

1996: April - May • Mountain Bikes and

Horses • Trail Systems Around

the World • Charitable Trusts

1995: Oct. - Dec. • Chet Fromm - End-to-

End #4 •ND Lonetree County • Sites on the WWW •Pennsylvania NCT • Hunting and Fall Hiking

1995: Aug. - Sept. • Through-Hiking NCf

WI to End • Trail Building with

Power Equipment • WWW and Trails • NCT in Michigan

); •. ,,. ...•. ·1 l ., l :1-1 ~

3)

2)

49 Monroe Center NW, Suite 200B Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503.

On a sheet of paper, write your name, address, and phone. List each issue you'd like. Also, tell us how many copies of each you want. Use the table above to figure out your charge. (We're grateful for extra donations!)

4) Make a check or money order out to N.C.T.A. and send it with your sheet of paper to:

N.C.T.A.

TO ORDER: 1)

1997: Oct. - Dec. • Taking it Easy in the

Manistee • NCT's Early Years • Miami and Erie Trail • '97 Conference and

Awards

1997: June - July • Reorganization • Progress on an Adiron-

dack Route • Push for Endto-lind Marking •Cannonball Trail • Three New Chapters

1997: April - May • Adirondack Encounter •North Country Trail -

Scenic or Historic? • Giving Options • Changes in Membership

Policies

~ 1996: Oct. - Dec. • Decision in the Manistee • End to End Trail Mark

ing - Workshop Report and Editorial

~ Report on Joint Confer ence with Ice Age Trail

$1.50 $1.75

1995: April - May • The Schoolhouse • East End Through Hiking • Old Victoria Village • MN and WI Reports -Trail Adoption Oppor-

tunities

1995: Tan. - March • Progress in Lower Mich. •Northern Coast-to-Coast

Trail • 199 5 Annual Report • 1995 Trail Status •Eastern NY Trail Issues

1993: Autumn • Info for Casual Trail User • Mountain Bikes & Hikers • Liability Issues and Trail

Management • Hiking FLT End-to-End • Nonprofit Political Pointers

$1.00 $1.25

More than 12

11-12 8-10 4-7

$2.00

1-3 Total# of Magazines:

Cost per Copy: (Shipping Included)

1111(~1{ ISSIJI~ S1ll~I~! Proceeds benefit the NCTA

1993: Summer • Environmental Policy • Annual Meeting Report • Peter WolfJournal • Hiking Finger Lakes •Volunteer Guidelines • Interpreting Scenic Trails

1992-93: Winter • Death of Vince Smith -

Trailbuilder • Bad Medicine Section

work begins - MN • Senator Levin visits Trail • Grassland Trail Info.

1992: Autumn •Trail Running in New

York •Logging Along the NCT •Pennsylvania NCT • 1992 Trail Status Survey

1992: Summer • 1992 NCTASpring

Meeting Report • Incident at Chandler

Hill • Little Miami Scenic Trail • Painting Blazes

1992: Spring • NCT at Winter's Macki

naw Mush •Finger Lakes Trail 30th

Anniversary • Ohio Canal Society -

North Country Trail

1991: Summer •Summer on the NCT • Shore-to-Shore to Jordan

River, MI • Trail in Hillandale Co. • Building the Coweta

Dip


~:: :~::: .. ~; :::::··~:.:"" ~

Wisconsin ·: " ... l

~~~~u~~:~~~t(~5~~L $3.oo ·.[ .~ .~::::.,[/ r: Minnesota

Chippewa National Forest, · Itasca S.P. (M601) $3.50

North Dakota "' =-~fP NCT in North Dakota (M701) $2.50 ....,.__----~~=.

Sage NCNST T-shirt (C-103) (center) New t-shirt reads: North Country National Scenic Trail - Just Beyond Your Backdoor. It's made of heavyweight, 100% cotton, color sage, and features a front design in brick red, forest green, and ivory. The trail line on the map is actually a list of all seven state names. Designed by Jeannie Thomas. (color: sage) S, M, L, XL: $10.95 XXL: $11.95

Trail Crew T-shirt (C102) (left) A TRAIL CREW shirt for volunteers! Tan 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

NCTA T-Shirt (C101) (right) 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 seven state map of the trail. (color: bright white) S, M: $10.95, (color: creme white) L, XL: $10.95 XXL: $11.95

Certified Sections of the Navy cap (c204) $12.95 North Country TraU Low profile cotton twill, solid navy

crown and bill, plastic snap strap. bv Byron and Mar,garet Hutchins Kh ki/G c $14 95 J a reen ap (c202) •••• ••••• • Detailed information and maps Low profile washed cotton, khaki highlighting the longest and best crown, dark green bill, adjustable off-road segments of the Trail. These buckle on fabric strap. are accurate route descriptons by "Den;m" Blue Cap (C203) ••••••• $15.95

"Pro-wash" cotton twill with extended· experienced guidebook writers who bill, deep blue crown and bill (looks have walked the sections with a like denim), adjustable buckle on a measuring wheel. In easy to use leather strap. looseleaf form. Khaki Cap (c205) •••••••••••••••••• $12.95 Pennsylvania Low profile cotton twill, solid khaki

NCT in Pennsylvania (M201) $5.00 crown and bill, plastic snap strap. Ohio Royal Mesh-Back Cap (c201) •••• $10.95

Wayne National Forest (M301) $3.00 Mesh back, cotton twill front, royal Burr Oak - Sinking Spring (M302) $5.50 blue, plastic snap strap. Sinking Spring to Milford (M303) $5.50 (Clockwise from bottom) Little Miami Scenic Park (M304) $2.50 Miami & Erie Canal (M305) $3.00 .-----------,

Michigan NCT in Lower Michigan (M401) $8.00 NCT in Upper Michigan (M402) $9.50

Proceeds benefit the North Country Trail Association in its efforts to build, maintain and promote the North Country National Scenic Trail.

NCTA Tr:ail 18uilding and Maintenance !Manual by Thomas Reimers (L101) 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. 22pp $2.00

Vofonteer Patch (P121) ......•..•.•..............•.••••••••...•.. $1.50 ea. . State Patches

New York (Plll}, Pennsylvania (P112), Ohio (P113}, Michigan (P114}, Wisconsin (P11s), Minnesota (P116}, North Dakota (P117) ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• $1.50 ea. 3" Round Patches North Country Trail Association (P122), North Country Trail (P123)$3.00 ea.

Trail Supporter Pin (P102) 3j4" cloisonne, gold color lettering and star. $3.00 ea.

North Country Nationall Scenic JraU Mug (P101)

Official trail emblem on both sides in three colors.$5.95 ea.

Finger takes Trail Resources !Map Sets These excellent looseleaf ma s of the trail in New York pub· ed by the Finger Lake rail Conf rence. $4.00 per set

(Mfi"lf"'PA-,oo~ r - Portageville (Mi13.2) Portageville - Watkins Gle

13) Watkins Glen - NW of Cuyl

deeeeks··- ~ Published by the Finge Conference, these helpful li various parts of the North C ntry Trail where it overlaps the Finger Lakes Trail (FLT) in western and central New York.

FLT in Cortland County (M121} ...•..••••..•. $5.95 FLT End-to-End Guide for Backpackers (M122} ..•.•••.••..•.••.•••••. $2.50 FLT: Conservation Trail to Hornell (M123} .....••...••••.....•.••••••••• $7 .95 FLT in Steuben Co. (Hornell-S.Bradford) (M124} •.••..•.•••••.••• $6.95

(M411) SE Lenawee Co. to W. Calhoun Co. (M412) NE Kalamazoo Co. to SE Newaygo Co. (M413) SE Newaygo Co. to NW Wexford Co. (M414) NW Wexford Co. to SE Charlevoix Co. (M415) Charlevoix Co. to Mackinaw City (M416) St. Ignace to SE Marquette Co. (M417) Marquette area to Ironwood

Minnes 1Nor1h, Nation MacRae (M611) Descriptiqn of the r. ute and trail log, east 1fo west. W~nderfully written by a Chippe National Forest ex~er:t. \2,JU! 1.25

Scioto Trail Sinking Spring

St. Marys Stockport

Troy (M324)

West Union (M325) Williamsburg (M326)

Delph s

Lovela d

Bowerston

Buckeye Trail (Ohio) Section Maps These convenient and detailed maps cover the North Country Trail where it overlaps with the Buckeye Trail. they are published by the Buckeye Trail Association. Each map $3.50 Belle Valley (M311)

From one of Michigan's leading outdoor writers is a 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 dis tance and difficulty, hiking time, contour map, and explicit trail directions. Formerly titled 50 Hikes in Lower Michigan. 252pp, (L109) $15.00

50 Hikes in Michigan By Jim Dufresne

Michigan trail enthusiasts, don't get caught without this atlas! 2nd Edition includes maps and descriptions for over 600 hiking, biking, skiing, and nature trails in Michigan. Search by location or types of use. 581pp, (L102) $29.95

Trail Atlas of Michigan By Dennis R. Hansen

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 Peninsula. Includes history, wildlife in the park, fishing opportunities, cabins and shelters, camping areas, family day hikes with complete information on trails, access points, waterfalls and backcountry treks. 160pp, (L108) $11.95

Porcupine Mountains By Jim Dufresne

Comprehensive guide for be~inning JUl'YHJKER'S wanderers and those explonng new UA count:Y. Choosing proper ~lathing, HANDBOOK selecting footware and raingear, - >.n J>.H terrom. au-seoscn ().Vldo

using a map and compass, predict- _,,.,_,.~ .. -- ing hike difficulty, when to turn around, managing food and water, weather lore, walking techniques, traveling with kids, first aid, and more. Many short features, fun tips ~==-=::::::.c:=-===~ and anecdotes. 216pp, (L107) $14.95

Dayhiker's Handbook By J. Long s M. Hodgson

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 inexpen sive 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. 245pp, (L106) $14.95

Hiking! By Philip Farranti and Cecilia Leyva

Subtitled A Traveler's Guide to Our National Scenic and Historic Trails, this book is the first to provide engaging descriptions and advice on all 19 trails in our National Trail System. Includes North Country, Morman Pioneer, Pony Express, Appalachian, Iditarod, Lewis and Clark, Pacific Crest, Trail of Tears, Florida Trail, Continental Divide and many others. 308pp, (L105) $r·1n

.. ~, I ,

Trails Across America By Art & Margie Miller

Winner of the Outdoor Writers Guild Award for Excellence! Extremely thorough, up-to-date guide covering basics of backpacking. Information on the latest gear, cooking techniques, skills, and environmental hazards, with an emphasis on minimizing impact and enjoying the outdoors. This book is highly educational whether you are new to backpacking or an experienced "pro". 340pp, (L104) $18.95

Backpacker's Handbook By Chris Townsend

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 illus trations 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. 64pp, (L103) $12.95

Buck Wilder's Hiking & Camping Guide

Please mail your order (or phone in) to:

49 Monroe Center NW, Suite 200 B Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Toll free telephone: 888-454-NCTA e-mail: [email protected]

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[VJ~ l ~-~

Help i~ Needed

MARY KUNZLER-LARMANN: This photo· was taken a little ways off the North Country Trail, but really in the north country -- Baffin Island in Canada's Northwest Territories last summer, to be precise.

web. Some of the specific contributions she has made are in route development, landowner negotiations, county planning, trail construction, and corridor protection. One unusual aspect of this was the preparation of documents including aerial photographs showing where a quarrying operation was intruding on the trail right-of-way. Mary served as the Director of the CNY Chapter and as Chair of the Madison County Environmental Council, maintaining open communi cations and an excellent working relationship. Her degree in Communications from Syracuse University and experience as a manager for a manufacturing company (from which she is now retired) have undoubtedly contributed to her expertise. Like so many energetic people, Mary couldn't decide what aspect of trail work gave her the greatest satisfaction. I think

MARY KUNZLER-LARMANN is a lady uniquely comfortable in the woods. She began roaming the hills and forests at the age of four, accompanied only by the family dogs. "That is perhaps the greatest gift from my parents, 11 she reflected. It's easy to see why she now values trails as way for people to "experience the freedom to bea whole person. 11 Mary laments the change from open agreements with neighbors who allowed movement through the wooded landscape. First came the "no trespassing" signs, then vacation homes, and now her childhood hillside haunts are covered with houses. Thus she is very interested in preserving wilderness areas. She has adopted a section of wild land in the Adirondacks through a NY Department of Environmental Conservation program. She is a licensed guide in both New York State and the Northwest Territory of Canada, and frequently leads back packing ventures. In addition to all this experience Mary understands that trails are not available without a lot of behind-the-scenes work. Her main effort has been the Link Trail in Central NY. This is one possible route for the North Country Trail to connect from the Finger Lakes Trail to the Adirondacks. Mary learned that a chapter of the NCTA could be formed to aid in the efforts to develop trail by surfing the

Central New York

In the North Country winter is often the "slow season." For gardeners winter is a time for ogling seed catalogs and dreaming of warm earth. Runners splash and slide through messy slush or move to indoor tracks. But whenever our hearts are fixed on an activity or project we find some way to keep in shape or in touch with the focus of our desire. We find a way to apply the sole-- the shoe leather of tough day-by-day effort.

Those of us who love trails are no different. Although bridge building or afternoon strolls in sneakers and shorts may not be possible, there are grant applications to complete, letters to congressmen to write, contacts to be made for trail development, and wonderful snowy walks with just a few more clothes involved in the preparation. The folks who have a heart for trails find ways to help trails, as well as ways to enjoy them. Here then, are a few more of our sole-full volunteers.

···ART OLE.-_

Edited by Joan Young


GENE ELZINGA could hardly believe that someone had nominated him for this feature. "I've really done very little," he repeatedly protested. But another chapter member said of him, "no one has worked as hard or accomplished as much for the trail." He is currently the President of the North Country Trail Hikers, and is Trail Coordinator for Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Gene is a retired chemical research engineer . from Exxon. His love for the outdoors is long-standing, being a hiker, backpacker and canoeist. When he lived on the east coast he was able to enjoy the Appalachian Trail, and while working in Europe he saw both the positive and negative results of a well-developed system of trails. All this experience was like raw data waiting to be developed. Gene saw the initial publicity about the commissioning of the North Country Trail in 1980 while he was still in the East. But when he retired to Marquette, Michigan he said, "the NCT will be my chance to pay back all the benefits I received from trails." Every time that I asked Gene about something he was involved in he began telling me what someone else had done. When I tried to steer the conversation to his accomplishments he quietly said," it's hard to talk about just one person." This is one of his greatest gifts. He is good at recognizing the strengths of individuals and then organizing people in ways that are effective in realizing those strengths. There are "many talented people here; we work together," he continued. He really enjoys contacting land owners, selecting and laying out routes.

North Country Trail Hikers

Akron and is also the Akron Section Supervisor. This means that he is responsible for making sure that all maintainers on that section are keeping their miles in good repair. He is also the BTA map sales manager. His home is Cuyahoga Falls where he is the Town Mason. He says that he hiked trail from Akron to Cuyahoga for ten years before knowing about the Buckeye Trail. About three years ago he stopped at a Youth Hostel and found a BTA brochure, and joined almost immedi ately. After receiving a few newsletters he decided to go on a work weekend to the Wayne National Forest and there discov ered that many miles of the BT are also part of the North Country Trail. Dana and his wife Lisa love to hike. They met in the 70's and Dana recalled, "We had to hike, we were too broke to do anything else!" He loves the way the trail allows them to see more of rural Ohio, and his goal is to walk the entire Buckeye Trail. Toward this goal he also leads groups of circuit hikers. Dana tries to get people involved in trail work. He says that he knows a lot of people who want to hike, but who won't help to maintain or develop trails, and he would like to educate them into participating. When I asked why he valued trails, in his quiet laid-back manner Dana replied, "Well, shucks, if the people who use them don't think they are important, who will?"

DANA ZINTEK on the NCT at Pictured Rocks.

Currently a member of the board of directors of both the Buckeye Trail Association and the NCTA, DANA ZINTEK brings a ready smile and even a song to the trail community. He plays guitar and sings the folk tune he wrote, "The Trail I Love," for personal enjoyment. When asked ifhe brings his music to group activities he joked, "I did, but they put a halt to it!" He and wife Lisa also create a puzzle page for the BTA Newsletter, called "Brambles," a word jumble based on Ohio trail awareness. His love for the trail works itself out in more familiar ways as well. Dana maintains eight miles of trail near

Buckeye Trail Association

she mentioned just about everything! This suggests that Mary is fully engaged in whatever is the project of the moment, but she called me back later to explain that she loves to see people come out to work, saying "I'm amazed to see how many people come when they probably had half-a-dozen other things they could do." She jokingly suggested that her most valuable contribution was "getting Al [her husband] involved." With such an impressive record it is no surprise that Mary received the 1998 Volunteerofthe YearawardfortheCentralNewYork chapter.


Two more sentences from featured volunteer Dana Zintek seem to sum up the heart and sole for everyone in this issue, probably in every issue. "I love the trail," he said. And when asked to consider what he had contributed he quickly chal lenged, "Let my actions speak for me." All our great volunteers are raising a loud chorus of action. Amen.

Peak with the Lieutenant Governor. He was a member of a paid crew which began to build the trail in 1987. "We received $6 an hour," he recalled. Two crews of six members each worked for two years to get the trail built. When the grant money ran out he just continued giving his time voluntarily. He says that he spends four or five days a week on the SHT, which is about 200 miles long. He is also in charge of maintaining many pieces of equipment including chain saws, a brush cutter, and an ATV. "This is an expensive hobby!" he chuckled. Like so many good volunteers he was also very reticent to talk about his own deeds. He has a close relation ship with the SHT staff, sharing ideas and concerns with them, and also works on the trail with young people (Minnesota Conservation Corps) in the summer. He considers his time working on the trail to be good exercise. "I used to run marathons," Toivo explained, "but this gives a far greater sense of accomplishment." He also acknowledges the great satisfaction of looking behind you and seeing a piece of trail that you have just put into good shape. He likes interacting with the wildlife seen along the trail, but is saddened that there are so few birds and rabbits compared to when he was younger. Another person said of Toivo, "He is a good person to work along-side-of, and to learn by doing that." So much of the trail experience is to be learning things by doing, by being WITH someone else, that we are thrilled to welcome Toivo and others of the Superior Hiking Trail community to the larger North Country Trail family.

TOIVO SAVONEN on one of his fine bridges on the Cross Creek Trail in 1996.


The SHTA has just become an affiliate of the NCTA due to the inclusion of the "Arrowhead" reroute through Minne sota. The first featured volunteer for this group is TOIVO SAVONEN. Toivo is retired from the Reserve Mining Company where he was a welder and maintenance supervisor. He has been involved with the Superior Hiking Trail since its beginning, attending the organizational meeting at Brighton

Superior Hiking Trail Association

Organizing work crews involves maintenance challenges from "wetlands tori vers," he said. The NCT Hikers also co-sponsor one of the largest National Trails Day events involving activities all day for many age and interest groups, and he is always involved in that project. Gene believes trails are a way for people to share outdoor experiences with each other and with their families. He says that his own appreciation for trails began that way but has grown into "a spiritual thing." Hiking gives him a means of communicating with a personal God and of appreciating the things that he has. We certainly appreciate people like Gene!

GENE ELZINGA sharpening a fire rake on a work trip in the Ottawa National Forest.

a Includes a correction of ($4817.50) due to an overstatement of revenues in our 1997 Annual Report

Revenues and Expenses

REVENUES -1998- -1997- Support from Individuals $ 45,870 $ 31,425 Support from the Nat'I Park Service 128,105 79,180• Private Grants 19,800 8,331 Programs and Events 8,839 4,735 Merchandise Sales 9,332 6,113 Other Income 1,323 3 274

TOTAL REVENUES: $ 213,269 $ 133,058

EXPENSES Payroll and Related Expenses $ 86,300 $ 58,470 Contractual Services/Consultants 2,775 4,925 Office Rent and Supplies 6,119 6,108 Utilities (includes telephone for 1997) 651 3,608 Telephone 2,740 Postage 7,430 4,288 Printing and Photos 6,510 3,388 Computer Equipment and Software 8,293 Equipment Maintenance & Service 1,378 Membership Magazine 6,978 4,381 Merchandise for Resale 7,302 2,540 Program and Event Expenses 6,927 4,474 Volunteer Recognition & Training 2,814 Trail Supplies, Tools and Equipment 7,439 2,206 Construction Materials 24,720 4,771 Board Meeting /Travel 3,923 2,607 Other Travel and Meetings 5,032 3,947 Organizational Memberships 1,355 2,312 Service Charges, Licenses and Fees 1,153 Insurance 1,265 Other Expenses 619 4,293

TOTAL EXPENSES: $190,458 $ 113,583

The Following statement of Revenues and Expenses covers activities of the entire organization, including all Chapters and all activities related to restricted grants. Although our organizational balance sheet and cash flow statements are omitted here, they are included in the full Annual Report, which is available free of charge upon request. The full An nual Report also includes an accounting of funds that are re stricted for specific uses, such as a direct mail campaign, video production, land trust, etc. The Revenue and Expense figures in the full Annual Report may change slightly over those reported here, due to 4th quarter reports from a couple of Chapters managing their own funds which had not been received at the time this went to print.

Financial Statement

Fund Development • We received a grant of $14,250 from R.E.I. to fund a

large direct mail campaign in early 1999. • Trail Shop revenues grew by 45%, totaling nearly $9,000. • Donations from individuals also climbed dramatically, to

$11,000 - a 51 % increase over last year!

Trail Work and Planning • The "official" trail surged forward, gaining a whopping

188.9 certified miles. This brings our total to 1,539.5. Great work, everyone!

• For the first time, the NCTA began offering grants to its Chapters for trail work and special projects.

• Planning for the Minnesota reroute steamed ahead. Teams selected a preferred route from Jay Cooke State Park to the Superior Hiking Trail. Work also began to identify a route from the west end of the Kekekabic Trail to the Chippewa National Forest.

• A new route for northwest Wisconsin was chosen and the final implementation plan was completed.

Education and Promotion • We enjoyed excellent media coverage this year, including

articles in Backpacker Magazine, the Chicago Tribune, and countless other local and regional sources.

• Our web site moved to www.northcountrytrail.org, with many improvements and new features being added, in cluding free space for Chapter pages.

• Our mapping project picked up steam, with development started on our first prototypes.

Members and Volunteers • Paid memberships increased by 34%, reaching 1, 140 on

January 1, 1999. • We added six new Chapters, bringing our total to 16.

We've now quadrupled our number of Chapters in less than three years.

This year, we're printing our Annual Report as a publi cation separate from the North Star. Highlights of the Report are induded here. If you'd like a copy of the full report, just call our office toll-free (888-454- NCTA) or send us an e-mail message (NCTAssoc@aol. com) and we'll send one right out to you, free of charge.

Highlights of NCTA's 1998 Annual Report

NORTH STAR: The Magazine of the North Country Trail, January-March, 1999

OHIO January 16-17. BTA Circuit Hike. Belle Valley & Stockport Sections. Saturday, meet at 10:00 AM near Point 22, Belle Valley Section. Hike is about 12.8 miles. Sunday, meet at Point 9, Stockport Section. Hike is about 12.9 miles. For questions or more information, contact Dana A. Zintek, 2369 Suncrest Dr., Cuyahoga Falls, 44221; 330-928-8931. FAX 330-926-957 4. February 6, 10:00 a.m. BT A co-sponsored 19th Annual Winter Hike at Findley State Park. The entrance to the park is on Route 58, 2 miles south of Wellington in Lorain County. The hike is free and the public is invited. There will be 3 hikes to choose from: 2 distance hikes of 6 miles and 3 miles; and a Naturalist-led hike, to leisurely enjoy the unique features of the park. After the hike, State Park employees will provide lunch: bean soup, cornbread and hot drinks. Feb. 27, BTA Circuit Hike. Defiance Section, 1998 Map. Saturday, meet at 10:00 AM west of Point 20. Hike is 12.3 miles. Sunday, meet around Point 19. For questions or more information, contact Dana A. Zintek, 2369 Suncrest Dr., Cuyahoga Falls, 44221; 330-928-8931. FAX 330-926-9574. April 23-25. BT A Annual Meeting. Butler Springs Christian Camp and Retreat Center, Hillsboro, Ohio. The Meeting starts at 1 :00 p.m. Friday and runs until Sunday afternoon. Mary Hamilton, Chairperson, 330-602-4071, 717 E. Third St., Dover, Ohio 44622. May 15, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. BT A co-sponsored. Hike, Bike & Ride Fund raiser being organized at locations throughout the state to benefit trails. More information to come. $1 o entry fee per participant. Register with Steve Miller by E-mail: smiller1 @fuse.net or Herb Hulls, 38450 CR 46, Lower Salem, Ohio 457 45. 7 40-585-2603, FAX 7 40-585-2021.

PENNSYLVANIA Jan. 19: Wampum meets 7:00 PM - Richard Lutz 625-8185 Jan. 20: Butler Chapter mtg Stone House 6:30 PM Jan. 23: Gamelands #3, 3 to 4 miles Bob Tait 724 287-3382 Feb. 1: Clarion meeting at CU C. Atwell 814-354-2778 Feb. 7: Gamelands #4 Bob Tait 724 287-3382 Feb. 16: Wampum meeting 7:00 PM - Richard Lutz625-8185 Feb. 17: Butler Chapter mtg Stone House 6:30 PM Feb. 21: Gamelands # 5 Bob Tait 724 287-3382 March 1: Clarion meeting at CUC. Atwell 814-354-2778 March 7: Gamelands #6 Wampum Chapter March 13: Clarion Hike Carol Atwell 814-354-2778 March 16: Wampum meeting 7:00 PM - Richard Lutz (724) 625-8185 March 17: Butler Chapter mtg Stone House 6:30 PM March 20: Spring Trailwork tune up and sharpen the saws camp out March 20: Basic Trailwork Training 1/2 day DHOC March 26-28: KT A meeting in Renovo April 5: Clarion meeting at CU C. Atwell 814-354-2778 April 10: Clarion Hike Carol Atwell 814-354-2778 April 15: Basic Trailwork Training 1/2 day DHOC 5:30 PM April 20: Wampum meeting 7:00 PM - Richard Lutz (724) 625-8185 April 21: Butler Chapter mtg Stone House 6:30 PM April 30: May 1 & 2 State Spring Meeting & Campout Davis Hollow Outdoor Center May 1: Basic Trailwork Training 1/2 day DHOC May 3: Clarion meeting at CUC. Atwell 814-354-2778 May 8: Clarion Hike Carol Atwell 1314-354-2778 May 14-16: Trailwork Training Davis Hollow Outdoor Center planning for the 99 conf. May 18: Wampum meeting 7:00 PM - Richard Lutz 625-8185 May 21: Butler Chapter mtg Stone House or DHOC 6:30 PM June 5: National Trail Day Moraine State Park, Cook Forest & ANF,Hikes Demos

NEW YORK January 22-23: FL TC Board of Managers, officers, and committee chairs retreat. February 1: All FLT system trails on private land closed for 24 hours.

NCTA March 15, 1999: Newsletter deadline. May 15, 1999: Newsletter deadline. July 15, 1999: Newsletter deadline. August 26-29, 1999: NCTA National Conference, PA. September 15, 1999: Newsletter deadline.

ITEMS FOR THIS COLUMN must be received before the deadline date . We welcome listing activities of affiliated organizations, but we must be aware of them in sufficient time for publication.

CTA TRIPS AND ACTIVITIE

rr;;tmmmamgmmBEBBmEBEBmml] NORTH STAR: The Magazine of the North Country Trail, January-March 1999 II June 20-25: Volunteer Vacation Crew Moraine State Park

115 Mile Hike in NCT in ANF/Cook Forest need leader and date July 19: 99 Conf planning meeting DHOC July 6-16: Appalachian Trail Conference Virginia July 30-1: Conf Planning at DHOC Chairpersons Aug. 2: Conf Planning at DHOC 6:00 PM for all hike leaders Aug. 17: Conf Planning 6:00 PM Aug. 23: Conf Planning 6:00 PM Aug. 26-29: NCT A National Conf. Penna. Lutherlyn "off the beaten path" Sept. 24-26: KTA meeting at Camp Kanesatake (Spruce Creek). This schedule subject to change - call to confirm work times with leaders or visit our web Site at http://users.penn.com/ -prof/NCTPAI to check dates and changes.

Where do I get * coUNTRr . more information? ~~~ ~-

Just call our office at 888-11511- ? t...Y NCl'A and ask for a copy of ~ _ <' the Schoolhouse Brochure! • N•~• !'...! .~ .. .:,~ :~.~~~··'~~~'"·

Ohio • Pmnllv:n!'ll.a • Nrw Ymk

Whonmsit? The Schoolhouse is maintained and managed by volun

leers from our own Western Michigan Chapter.

Is it close to the North Country Trail? You bet! Just one and a half miles from U1e NCNST!

Where is it? 5 miles NW of White Cloud, Michigan, nestled in the

southern region of the 1 luron-Manistce National Forest

NCTA's Schoolhouse makes an ideal hostel for your hikes through lower Michigan. lt includes a shower, cots, and a kitchenette. It's also a great site for meetings or retreats!

What's it for?

Some risks are inherent in any NCTA, chapter or affiliate activity. Each Association member, guest, or non-member participant agrees to accept personal responsibility for his or her safety and the safety of minors accompa nying such persons. The Association cannot ensure the safety of any partici pant or hiker or activities. In participating in Association or Association-related activities, each such person agrees to hold harmless and free from blame the activity leaders and the Association, its officers, directors and members, for any accident, injury, or illness that might be sustained from participating in hikes or other Association activities.

Jan. 23: Western Michigan Chapter Schoolhouse Annual Snowshoe Outing. Potluck Saturday. 5 mile snowshoe hike along NCT. Overnight at schoolhouse available. Call Darlene at (616) 784-5050 orTurh at (616) 453-8622 tor reservations. Jan. 23: North Country Trail Hikers (Marquette) Big Island Lake Ski. Strenuous, off trail. Call Richard (906) 226- 7934. Jan. 27: North Country Trail Hikers (Marquette) Easy ski or snowshoe at Peters property. Call Kathy (906) 228-9018. Jan. 30: Western Michigan Chapter hikes or skis (depending on snow cover) Cadillac Pathway. For information, call Dave Sheldon, (616) 784-8978, or Mary Payne, (616) 773-6986. Jan. 30: North Country Trail Hikers (Marquette) Three Lakes Snowshoe. Easy and near Marquette. Call Richard (906) 226-7934. Feb. 2: Western Michigan Chapter meeting at Faith United Methodist Church, 2600 7th St NW, Grand Rapids, 7:30 PM. Feb. 6: Western Michigan Chapter hikes or skis (depending on snow cover) McKenzie National Recreation Trail. For information, call Dave Sheldon, (616) 784-8978, or Mary Payne, (616) 773-6986. Feb. 6: North Country Trail Hikers (Marquette) Harlow Lake Area Ski or Snowshoe.Joint outing with Michigan Outdoor Writers Association arranged by Freda Waara.Optional pasty lunch- call one week ahead for pasties in warm DNR cabin. Call Richard (906) 226-7934. Feb. 10: North Country Trail Hikers (Marquette) Pot Luck Membership Meeting. 6 P.M. at the Internet Bagel Cafe. Club will provide tablewear. Bring your favorite ethnic dish .Call Carol (906) 226- 7934. Feb. 12-18: Western Michigan Chapter weeklong trip to Ellis Lake. Call Mary Payne, (616) 773-6986 for information. Feb. 13: North Country Trail Hikers (Marquette) Craig Lake Ski. Long, strenuous. Call Richard (906) 226-7934. Feb. 20: Western Michigan Chapter hikes or skis (depending on snow cover) Allegan State Game Area. For information, call Dave Sheldon, (616) 784-8978, or Mary Payne, (616) 773-6986. Feb. 20: North Country Trail Hikers (Marquette) Donelly Tract Snowshoe. Moderate, 5 miles. Call Richard (906) 226- 7934. Feb. 26-28: Western Michigan Chapter hikes or skis (depending on snow cover) Big Mand McKenzie Trail. For information, call Dave Sheldon, (616) 784-8978, or Mary Payne, (616) 773-6986. Feb. 27: Pictured Rock Ski Loop route around Chapel Lake and Chapel Rock. Moderate 6 miles. No dogs allowed in Pictured Rocks. Call Gene (906) 225-1704. Mar. 6: Western Michigan Chapter hikes or skis (depending on snow cover) Saugatuck Dunes State Park. Call Dave Sheldon, (616) 784-8978, or Mary Payne, (616) 773-6986. Mar. 6: North Country Trail Hikers (Marquette) Make UP Ski Day or Surprise Location. Call Gene (906) 225-1704. Mar. 10: North Country Trail Hikers (Marquette) Canada Lakes Ski Trail. Near Newberry; groomed; easy to intermediate. Two hour drive to trailhead. Call Betty (906) 228-9018. Mar. 13: North Country Trail Hikers (Marquette) Yellow Dog Ski. Moderate. Gene (906) 225-1704.

MICHIGAN NORTH STAR: The Magazine of the North Country Trail, January-March 1999

Mar. 13-17: Western Michigan Chapter hikes or skis (depending on snow cover) Stokley Creek, Canada. For information, call Dave Sheldon, (616) 784-8978, or Mary Payne, (616) 773-6986. Mar. 20: North Country Trail Hikers (Marquette) McCormick Wilderness Ski. New route in area of Gordon Lake. Moderately long, on and off trail skiing. Call Richard (906) 226-7934. Mar. 24: North Country Trail Hikers (Marquette) Ski or Snowshoe on Compeau Creek- Forestville area woods roads. Easy Y2 day. Call Betty (906) 228-9018. Mar. 27: North Country Trail Hikers (Marquette) Mulligan Highlands Ski. Remote area filled with lakes. Call Richard (906) 226- 7934. Mar. 27:Western Michigan Chapter hikes or skis (depending on snow cover) Pigeon Creek Park. For information, call Dave Sheldon, (616) 784-8978, or Mary Payne, (616) 773-6986. April 3: Western Michigan Chapter hikes or skis (depending on snow cover) Lost Lake Nature Pathway. For information, call Dave Sheldon, (616) 784-8978, or Mary Payne, (616) 773-6986. May 22-29: Western Michigan Chapter project, led by Tom Learmont, Call (616) 984-5917 for details.

2,000 miles certified by the year 2000 State Miles Change %

certified since last issue Done North Dakota 176.8 0 37.2 Minnesota 90.0 + 6.1 24.0 Wisconsin 81.3 + 2.0 40.7 Michigan 580.7 + 2.8 50.5 Ohio 293.2 + 4.2 27.9 Pennsylvania 121.2 + 1.9 40.4 New York 196.3 + 38.1 31.4 TOTAL 1539.5 + 55.1 36.9

State Current Change Members members since last issue Trail miles to goal

North Dakota 12 0 475 463 Minnesota 49 0 375 326 Wisconsin 75 + 2 3% 220 145 Michigan 614 + 15 2% 1150 536 Ohio 59 0 1050 991 Pennsylvania 149 + 18 12% 300 151 New York 79 - 2 (2%) 625 546 Other 90 + 4 5% n/a n/a TOTAL 1127 + 37 3% 4195 3158

One 2,000 by

2000

for One

NCTA's goals for m.emberships and new trail One member for every mile of trail projected

Our Top Recruiters to Date: 8 David Adams 3 Dennis Donathen 3 James McMellen 7 WernerVei 5 Jerry Allen 10 Gene Elzinga 15 Bill Menke 3 Doug Welker

10 Carol Atwell 4 Tom Garnett 99 NCTA Office 3 Ginny Wunsch 7 Len Baron 9 Richard Grau 10 Bob Papp 16 Gaylord Yost 3 Dennis Bell 5 Grace Hutchinson 16 Kathy Sabel 13 Joan Young 3 Bob Benham 70 John Kincaid 5 Anne Saltman 9 Derek Blount 4 Bryan Koehler 19 Richard Saur 4 Wes Boyd 11 Mary Kunzler-Lannann 17 Dave Sheldon 4 Jim Burrow 12 Allannann 4 Darlene Snyder 14 Dave Cornell 4 John Leinen 66 Bob Tait 5 Claudia Day 8 Rod MacRae 11 Barb VanDyken

Public support is critical if we are to complete the North Country Na tional Scenic Trail, so, we now offer awards to people who help re cruit new members to our organization. Those listed in bold below already have qualified for prizes. We've also listed everyone who has recruited at least three new members, so you can keep an eye on where you stand. To receive credit for recruiting a new member, just write "recruited by" or "sponsored by" with your name somewhere on the new member's form. (All types of new memberships count for credit, not just the $15 introductory ones!)

Awards Given to NCTA's To Recruiters!

NORTH STAR: The Magazine of the North Country Trail, January-March, 1999 Page38

(607) 272-8679, [email protected] (608) 326-7354, [email protected] (414) 354-8987, [email protected]

(616) 623-8659, [email protected] (724) [email protected]

(616) 623-5340, [email protected] (612) 433-4456, [email protected] (612) 835-2186 (330) 928-8931

(616) 235-2330, [email protected] (616) 757-2205, [email protected]

(716) 288-7191, [email protected] (716) 586-3846

(715) 264-2003, [email protected] (701) 223-8659, [email protected]

David Cornell, 514 Cordes Rd, Delton Ml 49046 Bob Tait, 277 S Duffy Rd, Butler PA 16001 Appointment in progress Tom Reimers, JC Wildflower Dr, Ithaca NY 14850 Pat Miller, RR#4 Box 135, Cliffwood Dr, Prairie DuChien WI 53821 Gaylord Yost, 2925 W Bradley Rd, River Hills WI 53201-1013

Werner Veit, 49 Monroe Center Ste 200B, Grand Rapids Ml 49503 Joan Young, 861 West US 10, Scottville Ml 49454 Appointment in progress Lynn Waldron, 8133 Norris Road, Delton Ml 49046 John Leinen, 14205 St. Croix Trail North, Stillwater MN 55082-9587 Daryl Williamson, 5901 Timberglade Drive, Bloomington MN 55438 Dana Zintek, 2369 Suncrest Dr Cuyahoga Falls OH 44221

Ai-Large: At-Large: At-Large: OH-Ml Trail Council Chair: West End Trail Council Chair: West Division: At-Large (temporary seat): Terms Expiring in 2001 At-Large: At-Large: At-Large: East Division: Great Lakes Trail Council Chair: West Division:

Terms 'Expiring in 1999 At-Large: Mary Lucas, P.O. Box 54, Glidden WI 54527 At-Large: Amy Clark, 1646 Capitol Way Apt. 101, Bismarck ND 58501 At-Large: Nominee has been received to fill this position in the 1999 election Allegheny-Adirondack Trail Council Chair: Howard Beye, 202 Colebourne Rd., Rochester NY 14609 East Division: Harmon Strong, 76 Shellwood Dr., Rochester NY 14618 Terms Expiring in 2000

North Country Trail Association Board of Directors

'98 '99

.. • • • •• • •

• •

12001 1100

10001 900 800 700[ 600 500 ...... 4001 ' ' ' '

'94

• .. • • • • .. .. • • t t

'95 '96 '97

Thanks largely to the recruitment efforts of our volun teers and the strength of our many Chapters, paid memberships in the North Country Trail Association continued to climb steadily throughout 1998. In fact, we've now enjoyed 31 consecutive months without a decline in membership. Public support definitely is on the rise, and each of you working to spread the word deserve tremendous credit!

Please choose your affiliation (check one): 0 Member of a specific chapter::------- 0 Member of my closest local chapter (if one exists) 0 Member-at-Large (not affiliated with any Chapter)

WELCOME, NEW MEMBERS! ~ 'l?r To begin your membership, please complete this form and send it with your $:15 payment to: ~~•-tf...\ North Country Trail Association • 49 Monroe Center NW, Suite 2008 • Grand Rapids, Ml 49503 • Ass 0 c 1 AT 1 0 N.

NCTA Memberships Continue to Climb

Name(s) of New Member(s):

Address:

City, State Zip: .. -- Phone:

I'd like to volunteer the following skills (optional):

""'couNr

Our Sponsored Membership Program allows current I Sponsored hy: members to sign up new members at an introductory rate of ~. ---------------------~ just $15. To qualify, Sponsored Members must be new to NCTA, or not have been members for at least two years. The $15 rate is good only for the first year of membership. To use the program, just fill in your name in the "Sponsored by:" box. Then, give the form to your friend to finish.

$15 Introductory Rate • Who Do You Know? , NORTH STAR: The Magazine of the North Country Trail, January-March 1999

North Country Trail Association 49 Monroe Center NW Ste 2008 Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503 888-454-NCTA • www.northcountrytrail.org

Nonprofit U.S. Postage

PAID Grand Rapids, Ml

Permit 340

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I d d

A American H Hiking S Society

Quality Outdoor Gear and Clothing Since 1938

H

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North Country Champions (min. $1,000 support from organization, agency, or corporation):

1

With sincere gratitude, the North Country Trail Association recognizes the following contributors

· for their generous support over the past year:

NORTH STAR: The Magazine of the North Country Trail, January-March, 1999 r r1 -r r 1 i: L...L_J 1 1 1 1 1 1 -cr::r r r r :r=rr r x..-rr:rr 1 r 1.:.L r r ·1 1 J___I_.I__T_l___l T I_J_ _1 J_____l_____l___J I r____i:::::r:::: ~

north star vol. 18, no. 1 (1999)

Documents

peggy rens david

pohmer bob

fred crawford robert

w pa robert

annette papp mary

bob tait gaylord

r roy salmon michael

papapanu william