North Star Vol. 23, No. 3 (2004)

July - September, 2004 The Magazine of the NORTH COUNTRY TRAIL ASSOCIA

I bet you believe there is no such thing as an official NCT flag ... and you're right, there isn't. But my Western Michigan chapter now has a flag it will fly during its events at the White Cloud schoolhouse, the NCTA's founding location, in White Cloud, Mich., about halfway between New York and North Dakota, the East-West ter- mini of the NCT. The Western Michigan Chapter Flag

•

mize inconvenience to users. This year, Global Warmer or whoever is the villain did

it to us again. Torrential spring rains and resulting floods washed out the North Country Trail in many locations. I'd appreciate a report about conditions in your area, so please e-mail me at [email protected] to let me know the extent of the damage. In my own area of Western Michigan, puncheons floated away down temporary creeks, boardwalks are still awash as of this writing and bridges we built just last year were in danger.

That's one of the principal reasons our Chapter aban doned Trail Day events this year and concentrated on trail repair and reroute.

Among the repairers, as always, is Julie Haan (nee Nietling). That's significant because neither floods nor child bearing prevent Julie from joining her husband, Paul, on a work crew. Julie worked alongside her husband, the NCTA's 2003 Trail Builder of the Year, during the dozen or more workdays held by the Western Michigan Chapter since the Fall of 2003 and in 2004.

That's particularly remarkable since for most of the period Julie was carrying their first baby, a daughter born last April. Julie participated to the last moment, working on a section on the Saturday before the baby was born on Monday!

The following Saturday, Julie came again, with her new daughter Abigail Violet!

Julie Haan with our newest member No, dear reader, you can't eat a Buckeye nut-or you

certainly wouldn't want to-but in some Ohio circles, it's considered good luck to keep one in your pocket. You may want to keep that in mind when you head for the North Country Trail Association's annual conference in Marietta, Ohio, Aug. 5-8.

Last year when we met in Marquette, Mich., I advised loyal North Star readers to eat a Cornish pasty, the delicacy favored by all true Yoopers (Upper Peninsula of Michigan residents) and all UP pretenders. Garry Dill from the Buckeye Trail Association (BTA) and one of the hosts of this year's conference didn't think much of my advice.

"Tasted awful," he told me with Ohioan disdain. So what do you eat in southeastern Ohio? Garry didn't

(or was afraid to) offer much but he did allow that the Bob Evans empire was founded not far from Marietta.

That intelligence required a trip to the Internet and the Bob Evans web site where you can learn that the very farm where Bob Evans first made sausages to serve in his 12-stool diner in Gallipolis is open to visitors just a few miles down the Ohio River from our conference site in Marietta. If you're inclined to such a pilgrimage before or after the conference somehow, the destination got left off the list of tours during our event=rhe farm is on State Road 588, just off US-35. Me, I like pasties, with gravy that is.

As for the Buckeye Tree (Aescu!us g!abra), which you can encounter through much of the state, it looks like a horse chestnut to me, and it's actu ally of the horse chestnut family (Hippocastanaceae).

This is probably the appro- The lucky Buckeye Nut priate place to send kudos to the BTA, an affiliate of the North Country Trail Association (NCTA), for the heroic clean up work needed after the devas tating ice storms a year ago.

Thanks in large part to the Buckeye volunteers, the trail through Shawnee State Forest has reopened. However, because salvage operations continue, hikers are asked to check the Shawnee State Forest web site for possible local closures. While Ben Hamilton, Forest Manager, reports that signs will be posted at trailheads noting temporary reroutes around closed areas, he suggests that advance information will mini-

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Inedible Buckeyes And Other Tales Of Ohio

WERNER VEIT

EDITOR'S ~@)L:J[3

Werner Veit, Editor Irene Szabo, Associate Editor Jennifer Tripp, Associate Editor Joan Young, Contributing Editor Aaron Phipps, Art Director

The North Stas, Summer Issue, Vol. XXIII, Issue 3, is published by the North Country Trail Association, a private, not-for-profit 501 (c)(3) organization, 229 East Main Street, Lowell, MI 49331. The North Star is published quarterly for promotional and educa tional purposes and as a benefit of membership in the Association. All rights reserved. No part of this publi cation may be reproduced in any form without written permission of the North Country Trail Association.

The North Star Staff:

Departments Hiking Calendar 7 Milestones 13 Trail Shop 29 Hiking Shorts 38 Who's Who at the NCT 36 Trail Supporters 39

About the Cover This scene overlooks Bean Lake near Beaver Dam from the Superior Hiking Trail, which will become part of the Arrowhead route of the North Country National Scenic Trail. It was photographed by Rob Corbett, Director of Trail Management of the North Country Trail Association, while hiking the Superior Hiking Trail during an Arrowhead scouting trip. Stories on progress of the reroute appear on pages 14 and 15.

Read the first in an occasional series of articles as

backcountry chefs share their recipes and tips for making

you an "Outdoor Gourmet"

New Feature!

Columns Editor's Note 2 View from Lowell .4 Trail Head 8 Reaching for the Gold 16 Outdoor Gourmet 23 On the Road with Rob 24 Trail Log 28

Articles Remembering Dave Bos 5 Making "A Trail, Not a Trial" 6 Heading for the Hills of N.D 9 NCT's Arrowhead Route 14 National Trails Day Highlights .18 Keeping the NCT Scenic 26 2004 Annual Conference:

Highlights 24 Schedule 25

A Glance Inside

Terms Expiring 2006 Al Larmann, At-Large Rep.

7169 Forbes Road, Canastota, NY 13032 (315) 697-3387 · [email protected]

Daryl Wiiiiamson, Vice President, West, Minnesota Rep.

5901 Timberglade Dr., Bloomington, MN 55438 (952) 835-2186

Terms Expiring 2005 Derek Blount, At-Large Rep.

906 N. Alexander, Royal Oak, MI 48607 (248) 548-1737 · [email protected]

Helen Coyne, At-Large Rep. 212 Willow Circle, Cranberry Township, PA 16066 (724) 776-0678 · [email protected]

Mary Lucas, Secretary, At-Large Rep. 753 Davenport St., Rhinelander, WI 54501 (715) 362-0616 · [email protected]

Howard Seye, New York Rep. 202 Colebourne Rd., Rochester, NY 14609 (585) 288-7191 · [email protected]

DaveCornell, VicePresident,Finance,At-LargeRep. 514 Cordes Rd., Delton, MI 49046 (269) 623-8659 · [email protected]

Allcla Hoffarth, North Dakota Rep. 435 Fifth Ave. NE, Valley City, ND 58072 (701) 845-0286 · [email protected]

North Country Trail Association National Board of Directors

Terms Expiring 2004 John Leinen, Jr., President, At-Large Rep.

14205 St. Croix Trail, Stillwater, MN 55082 (651) 433-4456 · [email protected]

Irene Szabo, Vice President, East, At-Large Rep. 6939 Creek Rd., Mt. Morris, NY 14510 (585) 658-4321 · [email protected]

Gaylord Yost, At-Large Rep. P.O. Box 1013, Milwaukee, WI 53201 (414) 354-8987 · [email protected]

Garry S. Diii Jr., Ohio Rep. 4070 Tradersville-Brighton Rd., London, OH 43140 (937) 834-2891 · [email protected]

Bob Tait, Pennsylvania Rep. 380 West Park Rd., Portersville, PA 16051 (724) 368-3709 · [email protected]

NCTA Staff Bob Papp, Executive Director

··.Rob Corbett, Director of Trail Management Tiffany Stram, GIS Coordinator

;. · Bonnie Wayman, Office Manager Biii Menke, Trail Foreman

Glory Meyer, Public Services Coordinator Allison Barr, Bookkeeper

Sherry Staal, Office Assistant

229 East Main Street, Lowell MI 49331 Ph. (866) HikeNCT, Fax (616) 897-6605

[email protected] www.northcountrytrail.org

Mainella, Director of the National Park Service, Tim Pawlenty, Governor of Minnesota, and about a dozen oth ers, including yours truly. What drew all these dignitaries to this one event? Well, I'm fairly sure that it wasn't an irresistible urge to hear my own two minute speech (which I managed to draw out to a full two minutes and 20 seconds).

The purpose of Get Fit with US is to create a platform for linking health and fitness initiatives with recreation on public lands. As you may know, ris ing obesity rates are drawing attention to the need for expanded opportuni ties for activities that benefit public health. While many outdoor recreation organizations traditionally have been linked in the public eye with environ mental movements, more and more of these organizations are seeking to ally themselves with public health interests.

In addition to those named above, Get Fit with US included representa tives from the American Academy of Family Physicians, the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, the National Recreation and Park Association, OIF, and various public agencies and manufacturers of outdoor recreation products. I was there representing both the North

We just won't be able to complete the North Country Trail unless we get this acquisition authority for the federal government.

Trails and Health On June 5, I was honored to

participate in an event in St. Paul, Minnesota, called "Get Fit with US." Hosted by the Outdoor Industry Foundation (OIF) at Harriet Island, Get Fit with US featured several prominent speakers, including Gale Norton, Secretary of the Interior, Fran

Representatives co-sponsoring the bill that the momentum of support

. will compel the Subcommittee to act. Frankly, we'd like to see all of the 29 Representatives who have the NCT in their Districts listed as co-sponsors of the bill. So far, eleven have signed on.

To help with this vital effort, please visit the special section we've created on our website, at www.north countrytrail.org/willsell/WS _index. htm. Or, if you don't have Internet access, give us a call toll-free at 866- HikeNCT, and we'll send you some information.

Bob addresses the crowd at Get Fit with US. Seated In the front row are: Frank Hugelmeyer, President of the Outdoor Industry Association; Jim Donohue, President of the National Recreation and Park Association; Major General Carl A. Strock, Director of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; and John Keys Ill, Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation.

Update on Willing Seller Bill Unfortunately, we haven't seen

much progress on the National Trails System Willing Seller bill since the last issue of the North Star. We have picked up a few new co-sponsors for the bill, namely Representatives Boehlert and Reynolds from New York and Representative Nick Smith from Michigan. The down side is that there hasn't been any progress in moving the bill forward in the House subcommit tee to which it is assigned.

As a quick refresher, when Congress authorized the North Country National Scenic Trail in 1980, it prohibited the Federal gov ernment from acquiring any land or easements for the trail route. Eight other trails, of the 26 in the National Trails System, have the same prohibi tion. We've been working with other organizations for many years to pass a bill that would provide the government with the authority to buy land and easements, but only from people who want to sell; i.e. "willing sellers." We've passed two such bills in the House, but both died. Last summer, we passed a bill in the Senate, and now we're work ing to pass a companion bill in the House.

Although we've certified about 1,750 miles of the North Country Trail (NCT), we have more than 2,000 miles left to go, and most of that will cross what currently is pri vately held lands. We just won't be able to complete the NCT unless we get this acquisition authority for the fed eral government.

Our best chance of moving this bill forward is to have enough

July-September 2004 * The North Star 5

This lacilit9 is.maintained by fhe IJenerollS efforts of

NCTA~Pennsglvanid State Trail Cau',,cil •,.

for tnlormatton: 1-866-IiikeNCT oremail Linda.Matchett

Ima [email protected]!eruet.net

1iifr stone, fo3 anlsfale CtJbin was buift 6e{ore lhe 11.merican 'l?.pvofulion anl current§ serves as lhe 'Penm1/vania Stale f.odje {or North Count'"!! "Traif 1foocialion vofunleers ana hik.;n_rJ refatel outdOor 3rou('s. f.ocalelin "Moraine Stale 'Par~ ri3ht on lhe North Count'"!! "TraiT!!

facilities include 11 bunk beds, full kitchen, 1-1/2 baths with shower and a great room with fireplace. Tent pads and lean-to shelter are available for hikers on the

North Countni Trail. Make the cabin the site of lJOUr next trail-related outing, or reserve a sinale bunk for lJOUr PA hike!

Sta.tJ felt tb.e· Histo.ric Davis Hollow Cahin!

In Memoriam: Dave Bos

D ave Bos, 48, passed away on February 15, after a six-month

battle with cancer. Dave was trail maintenance leader at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore for 16 years. His National Park Service career spanned 22 years, working on trail projects in 11 national parks including Grand Teton National Park, Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, Padre Island National Seashore, and Olympic National Park. As a trail worker over the years, Dave worked with groups includ ing the American Hiking Society, the Sierra Club, the North Country Trail Association, Wilderness Volunteers, the Student Conservation Association, and the Youth Conservation Corps. He was recently recognized for his work in trails maintenance with the 2003 Richard Douthit Public Service Award through the American Hiking Sociery.

North Country Trail Association members and volunteers who worked with Dave remember his enthusiasm and willingness to go

Dave Bos remembered the extra mile to assist volunteers. Dave developed a site bulletin for Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore that recognized the efforts of vol unteer groups who worked on the trail. He saw to it that their col leges and sponsoring organizations

received copies of the bulletin recognizing their groups. Dave was an enthusiastic student of trail development often spending his own time and

money to attend the annual meeting of the Western Trailbuilders

Association. Survivors

· include his wife, Dianne Carlson Bos, and daughter Kendra (Randy)

Johns. The Dave Bos Volunteer Vacations Fund has been set up through the American Hiking

Society, which recruits and deploys volunteer trail maintenance crews across America to repair trails and construct new ones as part of Volunteer Vacations.

Contributions to the fund can be made to: American Hiking Society - Dave Bos Volunteer Vacations Fund, 1422 Fenwick Way, Silver Springs, MD 20910.

- Fred Szarka

New Study Reveals Trends in Recreation

In related news, the OIF has released an executive summary of an extensive survey conducted last year to study active lifestyles, with the goal of developing strategies to increase par ticipation in human powered outdoor recreation activities.

The two most popular activities were "hiking/backpacking" and "bik ing on paved surfaces," followed closely by "camping." The study identified these three activities as the most popu lar, accessible and affordable, and sug gested that participation in all human powered outdoor recreation activities could be increased by targeting these three "entrance activities."

Interestingly, the study found that different age groups have different lev els of participation. For instance, those in the 16 to 24 age group averaged 64 outdoor activities in the past two years. For the 25 to 34 age group, this number dropped to 40 activities. From there, it climbs back up, to 53 activi ties for the 35 to 44 group, and 55 for the group aged 45 or older.

It may come as no surprise to learn that, when asked what factor prevented them from participating in these activities, respondents most often cited a lack of time. The second most common inhibiting factor? They didn't have the necessary gear or equipment. Ironically, the third most common rea son that people no longer participated in outdoor activities was poor physical shape or health!

As you might conclude, we defi nitely have some round pegs and round holes to put them in. One of our challenges in the coming months and years will be to find appropriate ways to benefit our work on the NCT by improving participation in hiking and backpacking, and linking our efforts to broader public health initiatives.

Country Trail Association, and the American Hiking Society, for which I serve as Board Chair. It truly was exciting to be a part of this event, which clearly showcased outdoor rec reation organizations, agencies and companies as credible players in a mainstream movement to improve public health.

trail was boggy in sections, had two crumbling step structures, passed along a gravel driveway and was steeper than ten percent for more than 100 feet.

When we assessed the second trail, we were now "experts" and could see the clear benefits of the new pathway. The grade was generally ten percent and there were no structures and only the signage was lacking.

Bill challenged all of us to discuss what we saw and then come to a con sensus decision as to which trail was a better relocation. It took a mere five minutes to decide. We unanimously agreed the second pathway should be the new NCT. The relocation would come near, but not right past the DHOC.

With a catlike grin on his face, Bill took us back up to the second trail and asked us to reassess parts of the trail again. We were amazed as he showed us how the trail needed more work. "Never lose altitude. Once you

Below: Clinometer Practice - How can I keep both eyes open and still see llne?

Left: NCTA Tran Foreman, Biii Menke, demon strates proper Pulaski use.

wisely and well." In order to ensure that we

learned what the standards were, he taught us how to read a cli nometer and encouraged us to plan any trail with the ten per cent grade in mind. The impor tance of this gradual ascent was pointed out in many of the slides that he showed us.

To provide a practical appli cation of this principle, Bill took everyone outside and demonstrated how to use the clinometer. Once we were "competent" in reading the instru ment, he divided us into groups of five. Each group was instructed to start at the same point and then take readings of five, ten, twenty, thirty and forty five percent. We were told to mark the trail with orange blazes as we took our readings. Within 15 minutes, we were done. The five percent crew was barely up the incline we were working on, but the forty-five percent team was already at the crest of the hill.

"Yes, the Appalachian Trail is mainly up and down, but the new standards require that we build to this ten-percent grade for obvious reasons. The NCT isn't a ridgeline route, so there is no reason we cannot make it as manageable a walk as possible."

We spent considerable time study ing two recent trail relocations. On the first one, we stopped every 50 or 100 feet and assessed what we saw. The first

"A trail should be a trail, not a trial," 1'"\..Bill Menke said turning to Irene Szabo, who coined the phrase. She agreed and with that Bill began his weekend training for the North Country Trail Association's Pennsylvania Trail Council at the Davis Hollow Outdoor Center (DHOC).

Menke was in Pennsylvania to attend the Council Meeting and to provide his famous workshop on "Trail Design, Construction and

1

Maintenance." All Pennsylvania chap ter presidents were in attendance and a host of other volunteers.

The first part of the program gave the history of the North Country Trail (NCT) and its fledgling efforts. We quickly realized how much was accomplished in the 24 years since the NCT was added to the National Trails System Act.

"Trail design is both art and science," Bill told the audience. He explained how important it was for a trail designer to walk and re-walk a section of proposed trail many times before actually deciding on the path way. He encouraged budding designers to study the natural topography and keep an eye open for rock structures, large trees and any other natural objects that would add some distinc tion to the section being considered.

Bill emphasized the need to build new trail to National Park Service (NPS) standards so, once finished, it could be certified immediately. "Every foot of trail is a part of the greater whole NCT. As you construct any part of it, you are exposing the casual or serious hiker to the entire trail. Build it

Article and Photos by Cheryl and Bert Nemclk

Allegheny National Forest Chapter

Pennsylvania chapter members gather for training workshop

"A Trail, Not a Trial!"

site, www.northcountrytrail.-0rg

September 24-26 - FLTC Fall Cam pout at Frost Valley YMCA in the Catskills. Early pre-reglstretlon is recom; mended. Pre at www.fingerla~es rg;;

Oct. 4·8 - Brule St. Rovers, New trail construction, Bayfield County Forest, Bill Menke, bdme @charter.net

August 5-8 - North Country Trail Association annual

a,Gpjo.

placing the large NCT emblem on any trail that did not meet NPS standards. "When people see that emblem, they are led to believe that they are hiking a certified section of the trail. Unless it is really certified by the NPS then it can not be signed that way." We clearly got the message.

The final act was going back to the new pathway we marked on Saturday and watching as Bill gracefully swung the mattock and marked the new con tour, used the Macleod and scraped the material away from the cut in the hillside, and then, with a stroking motion that looked as easy as sweeping a floor with a broom, moved the mate rial across the two-foot pathway until a new treadway magically emerged.

Many of us got a chance to prac tice, but we were humbled by the master's stroke and knew that there was a need to practice and practice and practice to get really good at using these simple but efficient tools.

We were blessed with lovely weather all weekend and because of it, many of the participants slept in tents on the DHOC lawn. It was quiet and peaceful awakening to the songbirds.

As we parted on Sunday, each one of us was inspired to use what we learned on our sections of the trail and make sure that we are designing with art and science in mind, constructing to NPS standards, and maintaining the NCT in such a way that any person who walks any distance on the trail will utter with delight, "This is a trail, not a trial."

Pensylvannla Trail Council Members and volunteers take a break from their weekend workshop to pose In front of the Davis Hollow Outdoor Center.

gain height, don't give it away unless you have to do so."

We saw how a minor curve in the trail at a trail intersection could main tain the altitude gained on the climb up, and be even more aesthetically pleasing as it passed near a large boul der and a huge oak tree growing 20 feet uphill. We marked the new pathway.

"We'll come back here tomorrow and practice constructing the trail."

With that we ended the first day of our training.

Throughout the weekend, Dave Myers, Butler Chapter President, Linda Matchett, a wonderful cook and DHOC coordinator, and Joe Horton, master hiker in residence and caretaker of the center, graciously hosted us.

On Sunday, Bill finished his presentation with the essentials of maintenance and a primer on signage. He emphasized the importance of not

Biii "The Master" Menke enlightens volunteers on trail design, construction and maintenance.

there's a much brighter picture where you live?

I don't care if you believe in big government or small government. The discussion I want to have is what is appropriate for government support. To that end we must take action!

With the national election tak ing place this fall, the wheels of gov ernment are slowly coming to a halt and soon everyone in Congress will be returning to their local districts to rub elbows with their constituents and to find out what's on their/your mind. All of them, from the most conservative to the most liberal, need to be told that we strongly believe in the importance of parks and trails. They need to have the relationship between our parks and trails and the tourism economy explained to them, to learn that tour ism is one of the main economic activ ities in our rural communities.

Once you've made those points you can move on to quality of life issues and how quiet outdoors recre ation provides us with opportunities to get fit, to change our sedentary life styles that have so contributed to our national flabbiness.

Every dollar spent on this type of program returns mightily to our econ omy. By the time you consider federal and local taxes, the sales and the wages associated (both directly and through its ripple effect) with this spending, our society is already coming out way ahead. When you also add the mental and physical benefits and the associ ated health care cost savings to society to this equation, one quickly realizes that this is an investment we have to make.

Now is the time for us to take this message to our elected officials, that our investment in parks and trails, in quiet outdoors recreation is an invest ment that we must make. If we are unable to make this case to our elected officials then our only recourse is to throw the bums out and to elect some one who understands our concerns, who understands the huge dividends we'll all enjoy through this type of investment.

club with stadium seating would be opened at Old Faithful where they'd have a stand-up comedian to entertain you while waiting for the main act.

Ridiculous? Consider that since· Sept. 11, 2001, Congress hasn't sent the NPS any extra money for home land security, even though it costs them $66,000 a day adding rangers to guard our nation's symbols like the Statue of Liberty, the Liberty Bell and the Washington Monument when the terrorism alert rises from yellow to orange. Also during this same time, Congress hasn't increased the NPS appropriation to cover the $170 million in mandatory federal pay raises, an unexpected $50 million in firefighting, or the $150 million for Hurricane Isabel clean-up last year. The National Parks Conservation Association reports that parks are underfunded by as much as $600 mil lion, leading to staffing shortages and deterioration of park facilities. This summer we will find reduced hours and closed buildings with fewer sea sonal workers offering tours. If this downward spiral is allowed to con- - tinue, how much longer will it be until the only two choices left are conces sionaire or closed?

Closer to home the outlook isn't any better as all the states are scram bling to find the funding needed to provide even basic services. It becomes all too easy to cut funding for Departments of Na rural Resources, for parks and trails; after all, these are non-essential services. In my state, Minnesota, the parks budgets have already been cut to a level of funding equal to 1997 (over 35% lost), while the state trails budget has fallen to a 1995 level while mandatory wage increases have continued to rise to the 2004 level. Can anybody tell me

There is a trend that is taking place in our country that I find disturb

ing, and in the aftermath of 9I11, our invasion of Iraq, budgetary shortfalls, and soaring gasoline prices; this trend has gotten lost in our national discus sion. Some elected officials seem to have the opinion that after national defense and maybe police and fire pro tection it isn't appropriate for the gov ernment to fund any other prpgrams. OK, maybe that.is a little overstated b\lt as it pertains-to us and our Trail, this trend has affected the funding provided to the National Park Service (NPS) while at the same time nearly all the states are reducing funding for their state parks, trails and outdoors recreation in general.

I think before the decision is made to cut budgets for these agencies and programs, nearly to the point where they haven't the funding to operate, maybe there should be a bipartisan discussion on just what is appropriate for government support. If our govern ment officials are just going to make these cuts without seeking our input then I believe it becomes our job to take this discussion to them.

If you are a member of an advo cacy organization whose mission it is to further a National Scenic Trail, a trail that has been authorized by Congressional action, a group like ours, then you most probably believe it's appropriate for the federal gov ernment to support and protect this type of recreational infrastructure. However, some, including some elected officials, believe the government should not operate National Parks, but rather private concessionaires should be contracted to operate the parks instead. Is this what we want? I can see it now: Disney or Six Flags operating Yosemite National Park or Gettysburg Battlefield National Military Park. Of course, the Park Ranger with his/her drab uniform will have to be replaced by someone a lot glitzier and to maxi mize profits. They'll probably need to install a moving walkway (with admis sion) to view the geysers and paint pots at Yellowstone. And maybe a supper

What's Appropriate For Government Support?

Ever since we visited North Dakota in August, just when immense yellow faces were ripe and turned toward the sun, feeding sunflower seeds to winter birds back home has taken on a new dimension.

Outside of the few cities (Bismarck, Fargo) most people live in such splendid spread-out isolation that we remain curious about what life is like there. How do children who live miles apart get to school? We've

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Left: Rough Blazing Star

Above: The driving route through the Arrowwood National Wlldllfe Refuge, northwest of Valley City, takes birdwatchers through the refuge's buffalo herds, too. Cars cross grating at gateways in the fence, which cattle and buffalo won't walk across.

divisions. Whatever the administra tion of these non-agricultural tracts our trail wanders, the fact remains that sunburn is likely after a day's walk, for this is hiking in the wide open spaces indeed.

Farms are immense, and often visible from the trail route: one fam ily will plant and harvest hundreds and hundreds of acres of wheat, soy and pinto beans, hay, and most visu ally appealing, miles of sunflowers.

Let me see: about 150 NCTA mem bers visited the 59 North Dakota

members' territory in the summer of 2002 for the annual bash, so that leaves at least 2,650 members who probably have not been on the trail in the farthest west of our seven states. Well, the members of the three North Dakota chapters sure wish the rest of you would visit and see their trail!

The state offers trail that is unde niably different from anything the other six states feature, because it is, after all, the remains of the prairie where buffalo once roamed. Trees are at a premium and exist primarily in planted windbreaks or along river val leys. Vast grasslands and impounded waterways are protected variously by the federal Corps of Engineers or Bureau of Reclamation, some trail lands are National Wildlife Refuges, others National Grasslands, while still other spots are protected as state parks or managed by North Dakota Wildlife

By Irene Szabo Associate Editor

Se.e.the Trail Shop on page 30 to order a 1:100k topo map of trail sec;tions in North Dakota.

-- North Dakota Sandhills Chapter

-- Sheyenne River Valley Chapter

- Lonetree Chapter

- Chapters Still to be Formed

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. NCTA's North Dakota Chapters

he tells us that moose have begun to wander into the Lonetree WMA: wildlife technicians tagged eleven last year! Let us try to imagine the first epic confrontation along the NCT between a moose and a buffalo.

Meanwhile the original chapter in North Dakota, the Sheyenne River Valley Chapter, has continued to add more trail within its area. North of Valley City, Lake Ashtabula is a Corps of Engineers project that regulates the Sheyenne River and provides not only the lake, but also miles of trail. Five

enjoy it. Lonetree Chapter members were

given a IO-minute spot on TV, on The Noon Show, but still visitation and local knowledge remain low. Because the WMA is open to all users other than motorized, Elden has even invited horse-riding clubs to enjoy the firm grassy trail, so far to no avail.

He reads of dog sled races and cross-country skiing in North Star with envy and wonders how to pro mote their piece of trail for such win ter uses, too. To tease up our curiosity,

learned from Alicia Hoffarth, NCTA board member from North Dakota, that she routinely walked a half-mile to their mailbox while growing up on her family's ranch.

What is it like to live where everything is bigger than imagination? After all, this state and its farms are so immense that its tiny population, only 638,000, cannot even harvest the crops, so English-speaking young men from the southern hemisphere, Australians and South Africans, come to North Dakota during their winter to earn August harvest wages.

Just how cold and snowy are the winters? How do the beef cattle fare through the winter? At North Star, we continue, topine away, hoping for an article.by''a North Dakotan about winter life on the plains. .

In fact, 'inviting people to -nse their trail has turned out to be the biggest task for NCTA chapters, Elden Ehrman of the Lonetree Chapter · tells us that members have almost no trail work to do, other than keeping signage In good shape, because the Bureau of Reclamation even mows the · trail for them! Much of their route walks grasslands above the long lake of the Lonetree Wildlife Management Area (WMA), which offers 33 miles of trail surrounded by 33,000 acres of protected land, yet their biggest task remains that of getting people to come

Traveling the Scenic Backway takes visitors along the scenic banks of the Sheyenne River In North Dakota. Marie Altenau, a frequent NCT hiker, enjoys the view.

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A glimpse of the Sheyenne Grasslands shows why they call the NCTA's new North Dakota chapter the "Sandhllls" Chapter.

Above: Trallhead sign in Sheyenne National Grasslands. In the background is the faint gravel and sand trail they have cre ated to delineate the trail, hard to blaze through a grazing prairie!

new miles were added in 2003, and ten more are part of 2004 dreams.

Once again, much of the trail along Lake Ashtabula is open grass" land, so requires mowing, mostly by Corps personnel with a combination of their mowers and ours. Within Valley City itself, last year the steep wooded trail behind the Valley City State University was rebuilt with expert input and help from Bill Menke and Fred Szarka, while the chapter continues to hold frequent hikes for the public. Projects in 2004 include continuing work to plan the trail route more than ten miles between Valley City and the dam at the south end of Lake Ashtabula, where permis sions from private landowners will be required.

The Sheyenne River Valley Chapter's natural area of concern continues south of Valley City into Fort Ransom State Park, all of it along the river, but after that the trail route turns eastward and crosses the Sheyenne National Grasslands, administered by the National Forest Service.

For the last several years agency personnel have been enthusiastically marking the route of the NCT with nice signage, people-gates into fenced pasturelands, occasional

So please, report your hours to us, i recognition, then for the good of the mu

To submit your hours, visit: www.northcountrytrail.org/voluntrs/ or call us at 866-HIKE-NCT to reques

As a volunteer, you contribute i~V,~~~b.je ti North Country Trail. Whether Y1l%;.vork o activities, participate in planning, produce lead the work of others, you are the soul of

Ohio Pennsylvania Michigan Wisconsin Minnesota North Dakota

.·~ Minnesota (#1) and North Dakota (#2) are t)y far the two largest states along the f!lorth Country Trail, and the least populous, to no one's surprise. But how much our seven states differ in population density may surprl u.

People Per Square Mile on the NC blue-blazed field posts, and have even built up faint sand/gravel pathways through wet areas where a better treadway is appreciated. Until now, however, they have had no volunteer helpers. There, too, the trail suffers from lack of use, so a local chapter could poke Fargo's population into a new level of interest.

At their April meeting, the board of the NCTA approved the charter of a new chapter to tend the trail through the Sheyenne National Grasslands to the Minnesota border, the North Dakota Sandhills Chapter. Undertaking the daunting task of finding a route through unbroken farmland remains a concern.

Curt Vanek, chair of the new North Dakota Sandhills Chapter, said the inspiration for .his mostly retired chapter members was to help the agencies that never have enough staff to tend trails. After all, he said, North Dakota has a relatively high number of certified miles for so few NCTA members, so they formed the new chapter to help make the trail more visible and get more projects done.

Among their current ambitions are aiding the rangers at Fort Ransom in their effort to clean up storm-dam aged trees, helping the Forest Service to build reroutes around seasonally flooded portions, and cleaning up old barbed wire from the Sheyenne Grasslands. The latter project is fur ther complicated by some party-trash spots from an earlier era when kids could drive deep into the interior of the National Grassland, so the sheer mass of what needs to be cleaned up is daunting for a group who wants to provide a good example by NOT using now-banned motorized vehicles. So they plan to use pack mules with containers to haul out the trash! We look forward to pictures from THAT trail work party.

They, like the other two North Dakota chapters, know one of their chief missions is to promote the trail and encourage more people to use the trail, which remains underused so far. They even dream of building some shelters deep within the Grassland for those who might be caught by the scary storms that can pop up on the plains.

12···rh~--N~~ih .. st~~-- * July-s~~~~;;;b~~-;~~~

218 225 Minnesota

Percent Change Since Last

Current Members

Members Last Issue State

State by State Membership Membership in the NCTA demonstrates public support for the trail. Membership dues help fund activities that benefit the trail. Here's how each state changed since the last issue of The North Star.

20.4 296.7 2,044.5 0 42.2% 1,748.1 Totals

Marked Road Miles

Total Off Road

Miles

Change Other Since Last Off-Road

Issue Miles Miles

Certified

Percent Done and Certified State

Trail Building Progress on the North Country Trail The National Park Service certifies those completed miles that satisfy its standards. In addition, there are many more completed miles that may be enjoyable to hike but have not be certified for a variety of reasons.

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

ES MIL~

ers urged the NPS to consider a new route. Their proposal ran northeasterly along the north shore of Lake Superior following a trail being developed by the newly formed Superior Hiking Trail Association (SHTA) and then con nected with the existing Border Route Trail and Kekekabic Trail, before head ing toward the Chippewa NF.

In 1993, a "Summit Meeting" about the NCNST was held in St. Paul, Minn. The participants, includ ing the DNR, USDA Forest Service, NPS, SHTA, NCTA, and other hik ing enthusiasts, unanimously agreed the ''.Arrowhead Route" was a better path for the trail. In December 1993, the NPS sent letters to the three Arrowhead Region trail clubs soliciting input on the use of their trail systems as a part of the NCNST. Within 14 months, the three trail clubs had sent

In one sense, planning to relocate the North Country National Scenic

Trail (NCNST) in northeastern Minnesota began five years after the Comprehensive Plan for Management and Use (CP), the trail's "master" plan, was issued in 1982. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) as well as trail supporters told the National Park Service (NPS) of the difficulty of constructing trail through the areas of Black Spruce/Tamarack swamp proposed in the CP between Jay Cooke State Park and the Chippewa National Forest (Chippewa NF).

At a 1987 meeting of the North Country Trail Association (NCTA) held at Itasca State Park, trail support-

by Fred Szarka North Country NST Trail Manager

National Park Service

History of the NCT in Northeastern Minnesota

from the State of Minnesota. We'll also ask some of our other strong sup porters in Congress from other states along the trail for their help. We believe the House and Senate Resource Committees will be unlikely to stand in the way of a bill that affects only one state, which all that state's Senators and Representatives are supporting. Starting this month, we will hopefully begin to build this coalition and move the bill.

If you'd like to help, you can send a brief letter supporting the new Minnesota route to our office. We'll coordinate the letters and get them where they'll do the most good. Be sure to include your name and address, with your zip code. You can send these by e-mail, regular mail, or fax, using the contact info provided in the table of contents of this North Star.

At that scale, all the minor route adjustments we make as we develop and improve the trail just don't show up. Or, if they do, they still can be said to follow "the approximate route depicted on the map."

The route change in northeast Minnesota, on the other hand, stretches the meaning of the word "approximate" beyond the limits of credibility. So, our next step will be to introduce a new bill in Congress to change the language in the authorizing paragraph for the NCNST to refer to a new map, which will show the new route in Minnesota. This may sound like a simple "no-brainer" but it's a technical step we can't escape.

Our strategy will be to seek sup port for this new bill from all U.S. Representatives and both Senators

For the past seventeen years, the North Country Trail Association

and our partners in Minnesota have been working with the National Park Service to change officially the route of the North Country National Scenic Trail (NCNST) in Northeast Minnesota. Now, at long last, the end of this arduous planning and review process is at hand! As described in the accompanying article by Fred Szarka, North Country Trail Manager for the National Park Service, we expect the official planning process to be complet ed by the time you read these words.

We owe our deepest gratitude to our many partners in Minnesota, whose patience, perseverance, and vision have helped carry us over the

1

many long years to this point. In particular, the Superior Hiking Trail Association, the Rovers Outing Club, the Kekekabic Trail Club, the City of Duluth, the Superior National Forest, the Chippewa National Forest, Parks and Trails Council of Minnesota, and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources all deserve a very hearty shake of the hand.

Now we must take a deep breath and turn to our final challenge. As Fred mentions in his article, in order to formalize this new route for the NCNST, we will need an Act of Congress. Literally.

Here's why. The NCNST was authorized by an Act of Congress, through an amendment to the National Trails System Act (NTS Act). Basically, this amendment added a paragraph to the NTS Act that states that the NCNST must follow "the approximate route depicted on the map identified as 'Proposed North Country Trail - Vicinity Map' in the Department of the Interior 'North Country Trail Report', dated June 1975." As it turns out, the map referenced in this lan guage is on an 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper.

By Bob Papp Executive Director, NCTA

The 'Arrowhead Re-route' After years of planning in Minnesota, new NCT route close

and 2002 and one more connecting corridor alternative, the Vermillion Lake Route, was identified. Six open house meetings were held in 2003 to present the alternatives and solicit any public input. Three of these meetings cook place in conjunction with the SHTA's efforts to determine the route of its trail through Duluth. Well over two hundred people attended these meetings and numerous written com ments were received.

In February 2004, the NCNST staff shared an initial draft of the plan with the NPS Regional Director and his staff The Regional Director instructed the NCNST staff to revise the plan to request Congress make the change. He would then approve the act of recom mending a change to Congress.

In May, NPS Regional Office staff officially reviewed the revised plan and the planning team finalized the document for release. The plan was officially released the week of May 24, and was available fop public review and comment through June 30.

In the next issue of North Star we will have an update on the progress of Arrowhead Reroute.

0000 1982 Plan Trail

• • • • Potential Route

North Country Trail

of members from the various federal and state agencies, trail groups, and interested individuals.

In July 1998, the NPS published a Notice of Intent in the Federal Register announcing its intent to study the pro posed change in the route of the trail and to prepare an amendment to the 1982 CP. As part of the public scoping process, letters were sent announcing the study and requesting input.

In 1998, three planning team meetings were held, with four addi tional meetings in 1999. A major pur pose of these meetings was to identify possible alternative connections from the end of the existing trail near Ely co the existing NCNST segment in the Chippewa NF. Once alternative connecting corridors were identified, a series of open houses were scheduled and held in Duluth, Ely, and Grand Rapids in July of 1999. After the open houses, NPS funding for the planning project was curtailed and planning was halted until 2001 when funding permitted the NPS to hire staff and resume the study.

Once the project resumed, plan ning team meetings were held in 2001

letters of support for becoming a part of the NCNST.

In 1995, the NPS requested sup port from the Superior National Forest (Superior NF) and the Minnesota DNR. Letters affirming chis support were received from the DNR in May of 1995 and from the Superior National Forest in June of 1995.

In 1996 the NPS made contacts with Congressional staff to inform chem of the grassroots interest in changing the route of the NCNST in Minnesota and to obtain their perspec tives. During these discussions, the NPS was advised co undertake a public process to amend the 1982 plan.

In January 1998, the NPS sent letters to Minn. DNR, Superior NF, Chippewa NF, SHTA, the Grand Portage Band of the Lake Superior Chippewa, Minnesota Rovers Outing Club, Kekekabic Trail Club, Itasca County Trails Task Force, Regional Planning Commission, Grand Portage National Monument, and others, requesting input and a representative co attend an initial meeting. This meeting was held in March 1998, and a core planning team was formed, consisting

Northeastern Minnesota Proposed Route North Country National Scenic Trail

Funding the Trail I thought it might be useful to

discuss a little bit about our funding of trail projects and trail building equipment. The NPS North Country National Scenic Trail (NCNST) office is a small one and we get relatively little money with which to support the maintenance of over 1,700 miles of certified trail or development of the 2,500+ miles yet to be built. It is through the support and hard work of

requesting NPS funding that would construct new trail 100% to standards. If you or your chapter has a sugges tion for an incentive or other

recognition that you think would be appropriate, please contact me about it.

Left: Proper slgnage Is Impor tant In certified trall segments.

Above: Scott Tichy operating DR fleld and brush mower as part of regular trall mainte nance In North Dakota.

and about eight volunteers in this group. The people who will be invited to participate in the first training for trail evaluators will have to commit to making at least two inspections per year, to scheduling inspection trips in cooperation with sponsoring organiza tion representatives in a timely man ner, and to provide education on trail standards as a part of the site visit. Training dates have not been estab lished but it will likely be in late summer or autumn.

We have developed preliminary standards for our evaluations. Initially, each evaluation will be conducted by at least two evaluators work ing together. This will allow the evaluators to share impres sions and discuss standards as they work. They will walk the trail with local trail sponsors who built the trail and discuss strong points and possible needs for improvement. Upon completion of the inspection, the evaluators will make their recommendation to the NPS on certification.

We will award "Gold Star" certifi cation to segments of trail that meet all of the standards outlined in the hand book. I will list Gold Star segments in this space in future issues plus we are considering other forms of recognition. This year, for the first time, we gave additional rating points to projects

National Park Service

"Gold Star" Certification The North Country Trail

Association (NCTA) Board of Directors passed a resolution in December 2003 requesting the National Park Service (NPS) adopt new certification standards and definitions. We have begun work on developing the necessary framework to implement that request. In coop eration with Tiffany Stram, NCTA Cartographer, we have developed a hierarchy of descriptive definitions for trail sections for use with the GIS program. The top level of these defini tions is "Certified to Standards." The NCTA and the NPS want to use this new level of certification for two goals: first, it will be a tool to educate trail builders along the entire length of the trail in the qualities of first class trail building, and second, it will recognize the accomplishments of the folks who build trail to the handbook standards.

One of the prerequisites we need in order to implement the new stan dards is a group of trained trail evalua tors to do inspections of segments sub mitted for the "Certified to Standards" or "Gold Star" certification. I feel it is very important that all of these evalu ators incorporate the same guidelines for evaluating trail. In addition, it is important that we take full advantage of the opportunity for training that accompanies the evaluation.

We will begin with about a dozen people who will serve as our test group of trail evaluators. We plan to have two NPS staff and two NCTA staff

The winter months are a time of limited trail construction and we

receive few applications for new certifi cations. This year none was received in the first three months. What do I do? I promised an article for the North Star!

A look at new trail building standards and funding options

No New Segments - Now What?

Service (NPS) receives a portion of its budget to support the Volunteer in Parks (VIP) program. Each year, the NCNST office gets about $7,000 for this activity. These funds are used to help purchase the annual awards for volunteers presented at the annual meet ing of the NCTA and for a number of volunteer support activities. For exam ple, we purchase small and medium size orders for blazing paint, and Carsonite posts and signs to mark the trail. (Large orders for Carsonite posts and signs are usually routed to Challenge Cost Share projects.) New chapters can request a basic stock of tools funded by the VIP program. Finally, we use these funds to support major volunteer work proj ects such as work weeks by Volunteer Vacations, Alley Cat Crew, and Roving Trail Crew.

Juiy~-5~~-~~~b~~--~~~4 ····:rh~--N~;t·h··5t~~··17

Below: Points of Interest along the trail route add to the hiking experience.

Left: Board member Alicla Hoffarth puts the finishing touches on a relocated section of trail in Valley City, N.D.

Volunteer in Parks Every year the National Park

Cyclic Maintenance The NPS has funds set aside to

repair long lasting but replaceable prop erty. Recently the NCNST has received $18,000 in these Cyclic Maintenance (CM) funds. The procedure is the same as CCS, but the program require ments call for the funds to replace durable assets. In many parks these dollars go to repave roads and parking areas, repair various infrastructure components such as water lines or elec trical wiring, replace roofs, and repaint buildings. We have used the funds to replace or relocate worn out or dam aged trail tread or structures. We have also used CM funding to replace and upgrade trail signs.

Challenge Cost Share The mainstay of our support for

chapters and affiliates is our Challenge Cost Share (CCS) program. It is inter esting that only about a quarter of the NCTA chapters take advantage of this source of funding for materials and tools, and even fewer do so regularly. The NPS purchases supplies and mate rials up to 50% of the estimated value of the project and local chapters, land managers, and affiliates match the NPS funds in a variety of ways. Most often the local chapter provides a local match using the value of volunteer labor to build the project. This year an hour of volunteer labor is valued at $17.19 and volunteers can legitimately count hours spent traveling to the worksite as well as time actually constructing trail. However, in addition, we have seen local matchs using donated funds or services, "in-kind" services, grant funds, and so on. The only source that cannot be used for the local match is other federal funds. This year we received a little over $40,000 for CCS, which is down from the previous cou ple of years.

our volunteer partners that the work gets done. We have three main sources of funding for trail projects that I will discuss in descending dollar amount.

Finger Lakes Trail Conference - Cayuga Trails Club

The Cayuga Trails Club (Ithaca area, central NY) spent the day building a new outhouse at hemlock-shrouded

-Mary Domanski

Finger Lakes Trail Conference - Foothills Trail Club

Foothills Trail Club has participated in National Trails Day since its inception by the American Hiking Society. The club sponsored three hikes of varying length, to mirror the theme Trails and Health: A Natural Connection. At the same time the club wanted to honor the memory of two of its founding members who passed away this year, Art and Olga Rosche,

A section of the Conservation Trail, a branch off the Finger Lakes Trail and NCT in western N.Y., was dedicated to their memory, a piece of trail next to the Mabel James

is··· Th~· ·N~;t'h. ·st~~-··*· 'J'~-,;~s~~~~~b~~ · ;~~~

JuneS,2004 American Hiking Society

Central New York Chapter The New York State Department

of Environmental Conservation and the Central New York Chapter co-sponsored the dedication of the 0.7-mile trail loop within the Nelson Swamp Unique Area

.. I (NSUA) southeast of Cazenovia.

Accessible from the North Country Trail/Link Trail near the west entrance to the NSUA, this levelwide trail, topped with stone dust, is accessible by people with physical disabilities, It offers trailside segment~ of native brush'species, a mature forest, and a working meadow with a developing wetland. Informational signage along the way provides information about historic use and ongoing ecological trends, the former including a gravel mining oper ation in the early 20th century. A viewing platform overlooking Chittenango Creek provides a fine spot for quiet relaxation. The NSUA has 400 identified vascular plants, 105 species of birds, and stands of pine and cedar.

Greg Owens, DEC Senior Forester, provided a guided tour of the trail for the 37 attendees. Greg has primary DEC responsibility for the NSUA, and he was the project leader for the "interpretive trail loop" design and installation.

-Al Larmann Jr.

National Trails Day®

Section which was the origin of the Conservation Trail, so we re-dedicated this section at the same time. Hand-carved signs were placed at each terminus to designate the sections.

Special invitations were sent to the origi nal club members who are still active and all the trail landowners along these sections.

The program began with Boy Scout Troop 1776 of Orchard Park, N.Y., parading in the flag and leading 'the. audience of sixty with the Pledge of Allegiance. A welcome and a history of the Rosches was given by Mary Domanski.' Karen Wallace of Buffalo Museum of Science/Tifft Nature Preserve then made remarks. Among her accolades for the Rosches conserva tion wo,rk, Karen announced that the Rosches book collection has been placed on a special.shelf at Tifft Nature Preserve for anyone ~o borrow. Following these remarks Itma Fix (Art's sister) unveiled the sign designating the Rosche section. Then Taps was played.

Mary next explained that Mabel James was the inspiration for the creation of the Conservation Trail. James Joyce, Deputy Supervisor of Holland, N.Y.,

then spoke: as a child he knew Mabel James and today he is one of our generous permitting landowners.

Six of the original members of Foothills were present, along with Dennis Becker. He is not only a current land owner of the original section of trail, but as a Boy Scout, he helped lay out the trail in 1962. These people came forward and unveiled the new Mabel James sign. Shirley and Carl Schlitz, neighbors of the Rosches, rescued some daylilies from Olga's garden that will be planted under the sign.

Mary thanked the landowners for their continued trail permissions. Each landowner of these sections was named and those present received an FLTC license plate holder.

After the flag was retired jubilant hikers took off for the trail. All met later for a potluck dinner.

O n June 5th, North Country Trail Association chap ters held celebrations to mark National Trails Day.

Chapters participated in several ways, including: trail con struction and maintance, dedications, hikes, presentions and picnics. Here are the submissions received on how several groups aong the NCT celebrated:

NCTA Chapters participate in National Trails Day Celebration

National Trails Day

Mountain Sports team give their presentation on staying put and staying dry when lost.

tion, a group of middle school students llsten to the Eastern

At the Spirit of the Wood celebra-

Spirit of. the Woods Chapter The Spirit of the Woods Chapter hosted what many

agreed was their best · eventever, Four hikes were offered of vary ing lengths. Three were on the North Country Trail, one including a canoe trip on the Pere Marquette River that returned participants to the event site. The fourth hike took in a loop on seasonal roads and a river edge pathway that all agreed was particu larly scenic since the Pere Marquette is a National Wild and Scenic River.

At the event site visitors could learn about Rivers and Watersheds, the theme for this year's event. The Pere Marquette Watershed Council, the Mason-Lake Conservation District, and the U.S. Forest Service brought displays to the site. A poster showing the four major continental watersheds of the North Country Trail was displayed. It featured photos of significant locations on those watersheds or the divides between them.

Additionally, Eastern Mountain Sports of Traverse City brought their new "Stay Put, Stay Dry" safety program for kids. This national endeavor is aimed at helping young chil dren understand how they can help themselves be found and prevent injury if they become lost.

Games, a free picnic lunch, and a self-guided nature trail were also featured. The weather cooperated, after what has seemed like un-ending rain this spring, and the day was dry and sunny. Everyone who came had a great time!

-Joan Young

-Bert Nemcik

and teased one another. Given that many of us never met before that morning, it was amazing how easily we bonded with one another. This was trail community at its finest. Each person, now a little tired and covered with mud, was enjoying the moment.

Eric distributed commemorative tee shirts to all of us, and then as an added attraction, held a raffle. We cheered and clapped each time someone won one of the simple but special prizes. It was a nice touch ending a marvelous day along the North Country National Scenic Trail in the last few miles in the Allegheny National Forest.

Chapters show off their com moratlve National Trails Day T-shirts.

Volunteers from Pennsylvanla's Allegheny National Forest

Allegheny National Forest Chapter The morning dawned with clouds and a strong hint of

rain, but 30 hearty trail folks gathered at Willow Bay boat launch and prepared to spend the day working on the NCT in the Allegheny National Forest just a mile and a half south · of the New York border.

Eric Flood, Wilderness Ranger and liaison between the NFS and the Allegheny National Forest Chapter, arranged for all trail vol unteers to be ferried from the campground to the trail a few miles down the Kinzua Reservoir. Curt Bowley, trail crew coor dinator on the Bradford Ranger District, arrived right at 10 a.m. and picked up the first boat load of volunteers.

A great young Americorps crew was the first to head down the waterway to the trail. By the time we got to the work site, these young men and women were working on a long uphill ascent to the side hill where we planned to do extensive contouring.

Throughout the morning, volunteers worked feverishly to widen the trail to meet NPS tread way standards. As each section was finished, the volunteer would leap frog forward to another ten to twenty foot area that Eric Flood marked for us. Before the morning was over, Eric had to scoot ahead and mark more trail because we were moving so fast.

The morning passed and before we all knew it, Eric was telling us that we were essentially out of side hill trail. As we walked back toward the landing where we were being picked up, we marveled at the amount of work that was completed by all of us. Measured by strides, we completed almost a half-mile of trail. It was no mystery how we got so much done so quickly. Every person worked hard to complete the marked sections before we were ready to quit.

As we waited for the boat to ferry us back again, a light rain started to fall, but no one seemed to notice. We sat along the shoreline and shared trail stories and laughed

-John Andersson

Shindagin Hollow in preparation for the FLTC Alley-Cat crew's project later this summer to replace the shelter there. It was a joint effort by CTC and Eastern Mountain Sports, both financially and muscle-wise. About fifteen people car ried building supplies and snacks about one mile to the site. A new pit was dug and the new board-and-batten building was nearly completed. The old privy had a collapsing roof and rotten foundation.

National Trails Day

July-September 2004 * The North Star 21

-Doug Welker

Peter Wolfe Chapter Our chapter led a hike on the North Country Trail

across Baraga Plains in the Western U.P. of Michigan.

Attendance was low, perhaps due in part to the threat of rain, and to the bugs (whoever decided National Trails Day should be in early June must not have been from the North Woods!). We did see a lot of beautiful woods, wetlands, wildlife openings, and interesting birds. We crossed seven wetlands on new boardwalks we had built last summer. We did encounter an area of recent logging, but Michigan DNR had kept the trail route clear of logs and cut branches, and had preserved our blazes by cutting the jack pine they are on just above the blazes. Thanks to them!

-Denise Herron

Finger Lakes Trail Conference - Foothills Trail Club original members gathered for a dedication ceremony. From left to right: J.ohn Beverage, Tina lgullden, Elma Bowen, Walt lgullden, Dennis Becker, Ralph Mahler, and Marie Hayes.

Good weather allowed the Sheyenne River Valley Chapter, N.D. to enjoy a day of hiking and an evening of barbeque and bonfire at Medicine Wheel Park.

North Country Trail Hikers A public family hike was planned and drew about 12

hikers to the meeting site at Sugarloaf Mountain. Several leaders were available to take the participants on any assort ment of hikes the group opted for.

Two separate routes were agreed upon, each about three

-Kay Kujawa

be having guided hikes, a "Treasure Hunt" hike for children, art activities led by two art educators, and other family activities.

Naturalist Josh Mcintire led an interpretive hike on the Portage Trail for the Brule St. Croix Chapter.

Left: Greg Owens, DEC Senior Forester, provided a guided tour of the Nelson Swamp Unique Area for the Central New York Chapter.

Above: Fran Mainella, Director of the National Park Service, visited our Star of the North Chapter's Minnesota exhibit. She's flanked by Bob Papp, NCTA Executive Director, and John Leinen, President of NCTA's Board.

miles, one along the Lake Superior shore and the other on an inland trail.

Trail brochures were distributed to those who were interested in joining NCTA and the hikes gave the partici pants an opportunity to get a bit of trail experience. Leaders and hikers felt it was an enjoyable event.

Hiawatha shore-to-shere Our chapter has been very busy installing regulation

roadside North Country Trail signs from the Big Mac to the Two-Hearted River, and plans to do individual and small group hikes to check out our adopted sections of the trail.

Due to the mosquitoes and inclement weather at Tahquamenon Falls last June, it was decided to celebrate trail day August 14th. Our goal this year is to introduce families to hiking and generate interest in the sport. It is hoped that an interest in this healthy activity will get fami lies out on the trail and involved in local chapters. We will

zo ... Th~. -N~;th• St~~- ..•.. J~i;~s~p~~;;;b~~. ;~~~

Right: Members of the Allegheny National Forest Chapter celebrat ed National Trails Day by constuct lng trail. Using skills they learned at an NCTA work shop in May, they masterfully benched this sec tion of trail. (See page 10 for more details on the workshop.)

National Trails Day

Sheyenne River Valley Chapter

Beautiful weather, hiking, good company and food - can it get better than that? Those attending National Trails Day events in the Sheyenne River Valley don't think so.

Participants enjoyed a beautiful day as we hiked three sections of the North Country Trail. Local volun teers as well as outdoor enthusiasts attended the hikes from the region.

The morning started in Fort Ransom State Park with a short hike and lots of good conversation with Park Manager, John Kwapinski. We followed part of the NCT as well as other park trails and even went off trail to find the park's geocache and learn some history.

An afternoon hike along Lake Ashtabula was led by Park Ranger, Scott Tichy. Hikers took in one of the most scenic areas of the trail from Karnak Bridge to Sibley. Participants were given gifts donated by local mer chants.

A perfect day ended with a perfect evening in Valley City. Participants enjoyed a short hike through town and then were treated to a barbeque and bonfire at Medicine Wheel Park. Good food and good company were abundant but thank fully the mosquitoes weren't!

-Alicia Hoffarth

-John Leinen

I~

teers for all their hard work building and maintaining the NCT and NPS Director, Fran Mainella, graciously agreed to have her photograph taken with NCTA Board President, John Leinen, Jr. and NCTA Executive Director, Bob Papp, in front of the Minnesota NCTA exhibit.

We applaud the timing of the event so close to the NPS release of the "Northeast Minnesota Route Assessment" and the opportunity it provided to expose this influen- tial audience to the NCNST and the wonderful improvement to the Trail we're working towards here in Minnesota. All of the volunteers pres ent felt the day's work had indeed been important.

Star of the North Chapter To celebrate NTD 2004, the Star

of the North Chapter exhibited the Minnesota NCTA display at "GET FIT with U.S." at Harriet Island Regional Park in St. Paul. The event, which focused on healthy lifestyle choices, celebrated the connection between public health and public lands and waters.

The event provided an excellent opportunity to present the North Country National Scenic Trail and the NCTA to a very impressive list of dignitaries and all of the citizens of St. Paul who attended.

The dignitaries included Gayle Norton, Secretary, Department of Interior, United States Representative Mark Kennedy, Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, St. Paul Mayor Randy Kelly, National Park Service Director Fran Mainella, USDA Forest Service Region Nine Recreation Director Donna Hepp, and American Hiking Society Board of Directors Chair Bob Papp among many others.

In the Exhibit Tent, we landed a wonderful spot between the National Park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. While on their way through the Exhibit Tent, the USDA Forest Service's Donna Hepp went out of her way to thank the NCTA volun-

learned about the geology of the region, identified wildflowers, hiked along the cascades of the Beaver River, and took in sweeping vistas of Lake Superior and vast forests.

Fifteen volunteers helped SHT Trail Maintenance Supervisor, Ken Oelkers, put in 125 steps along a steep section of the trail on the east side of the Cascade River and installed 100 feet of boardwalk in low sections.

The volunteers had to quit because of the rain but some of them came back the next day to fin ish off the project. This was quite a project because the lumber had to be carried in over a mile. Minnesota Conservation Corps crews helped haul some of the materials in prior to the start of the work project.

-Gayle Coyer

Superior Hiking Trail Association

Thirty-six stalwart hikers walked in the rain on a beautiful 4.7-mile section of the Superior Hiking Trail (SHT) in a light but steady rain. The rain didn't seem to dampen the enthusiasm of the hikers as they

-Chuck Zosel

Brule St Croix Chapter The day started out at 8 am near

Brule where chapter president, Chuck Zosel, and Brule River State Forest Superintendent, Steve Petersen met U.S. Park Service Regional Director, Ernie Quintana and Madison National Park Service staff Tom Gilbert, Ken Howell, and Fred Szarka for a short round-trip hike to the Winneboujou Bluff campsite on the NCT. Though it was a beautiful hike, darkening skies and light showers set the tone of the weather for the day.

Simultaneously, Chapter mem bers Peter Edmunds and Peter Nordgren were leading Bill Meller's scout troop in setting up two newly constructed trailhead kiosks, while chapter members Lynne and Peter Nason, Sue Breskin, Bob Norlin, Bea Laakkinen, Barb McDaniel and new est member Kirsten Standen were holding the fort at the St. Croix Lake Trailhead.

At 10 a.m., there was to be a dedication of a new plaque mounted on stone commemorating the involvement of the Daughters of the American Revolution in reestab lishing the historic Brule-St. Croix Portage Trail, which is now a part of the NCT. However, due to a heavy downpour, the ceremony took place later. Following the dedication, Josh Mcintire, Brule River State Forest naturalist, conducted an interpretive hike that was brought to a hastened conclusion by more rain.

All enjoyed the rest of the day, socializing under a tarp in the, at times, not so gentle rain at the trail head and picnic area. We were able to inform at least five attendees regard ing NCT membership. All in all, we had a good time considering the weather.

National Trails Day

Fry 1 1/2 to 3 minutes per side until golden brown and crunchy. You can eat this dish as finger food right out of a napkin, so you have less clean up afterwards. The recipe serves two. Each taquito is 115 calories.

On the Trail: Mix all ingredients together (except olive oil and tortillas) with 5 ounces of water in the chicken foil pouch making sure all the chicken at the bottom is mixed well. Let sit 10 to 30 minutes. So the tortillas won't crack when you roll them, fry the tortillas in a dab of olive oil for four seconds each side and set aside on the paper towel. Spoon two level tablespoons of chicken tomato mixture into a tortilla and roll tightly into a cigar.

2 teaspoons garlic 1 teaspoon cilantro 1/2 teaspoon salt

In a snack sized ziplock bag: 1/4 cup tomato powder 2 tablespoons dried onion flakes 2 tablespoons chili powder 1 teaspoon cumin

At Home: Package:

10 fresh Corn Tortillas 6 inches in diameter 1 seven-ounce pouch of Tyson's Chicken in a pouch 3 ounces of olive oil 2 napkins and 1 paper towel

CHICKEN TAQUITOS From Edward Ronkowski

Ed offers to send the complete cook book with this and other prize winning recipes to hikers who e-mail him at [email protected].

aluminum fry pan works well over a one burner stove or over a campfire. Cover it with aluminum foil and heat at a simmer, and you can bake scones or a cobbler in it.

The following recipe won 2nd place and most creative dish honors in the 2003 Titanium Chef Backpacking Cooking Contest held on October 11, 2003 at the Martins Fork Campground in Cumberland Gap National Park, Tennessee. All ingre dients are relatively light and will not spoil on the trail. The dish is a great crowd pleaser.

you must have a good fry pan. There is none better than the GSI Hard Anodized Teflon coated 8 V2 inch fry pan. Thinner fry pans do not retain enough heat to prevent a pancake from sticking, nor will they hold up to the occasional campfire heat. On a small one burner stove, the larger fry pans won't conduct enough heat to the perimeter to cook completely around the edges.

This 8 1/2 inch diameter thick

Igrew up taking summer vacations every year since 1955 at the family

cabin in the Chequamegon National Forest in northern Wisconsin. I hiked the old logging trails around Porcupine Lake and the town of Drummond on what later became the first certified section of the North Country Trail.

After graduating from law school, I ended up prosecuting felonies in Chicago and raising a daughter and a son which occupied most of my free time. In 2003 the State of Illinois allowed government employees with 20 or more years of service to retire with full benefits, so I quit the rough and tumble life of daily criminal prosecu tion to take up backpacking full time.

With all that backpacking came a lot of trail cooking. My wife is more likely to join me if I promise her deli cious food, and in the Titanium Chef competitions, the oldest and biggest backpacking cooking contest in the world, some of my outdoor recipes won pnzes.

Backpacking cooking differs from regular cooking in that the recipes must not only be tasty, but the best recipes must also be lightweight, not spoil in weeks of high heat or humid ity, be compact, use little fuel, prepare quickly, and consist of ingredients that are relatively easy to find. The backpacking recipes should be low in cholesterol and saturated fat so as not to offset all the healthy benefits that come with the exercise.

One of the first things I learned is that to cook while backpacking,

v

By Edward Ronkowski Superior Hiking Trail Association

(Editor's Note: There are some great outdoor cooks in the hiking community whose succulent meals are a great treat for tired backpackers. Today's article, by Ed Ronkowski, is the first in an occa sional series of articles by or about these backcountry chefs.)

From Filling Up jails, to Filling Up Hikers

Ed's Prize-Winning Taquitos on the Way

Natural Bridge, only one of seven nat ural bridges in Ohio. The trail takes the hikers over the arch.

Ohio View Trail-This hike is a 7-mil~ largely downhill trek. There are spectacular views of the Ohio River valley, shady coves of big trees, a wildlife pond, and interesting rock outcroppings.

While only 2.5 miles shorter than the day-long hike, it will be less chal lenging because it runs down to the river valley.

Garry assures one and all that if they choose to hike on Friday, they will have plenty of time to shower before leaving for the boat trip and dinner there. That's particularly reas suring for those who don't plan to hike.

The deadline for registration for the conference is past but it's possible there are a few berths left, if you hurry. To try to get aboard, please telephone the North Country Trail Association at (866) HikeNCT and tell them, "Werner sent you." That may not work, but it will prove to the office you're reading the North Star.

-Werner Veit

2005 Annual Conference August 11-14

North Central Michigan College Petoskey, Michigan

Trail in the Marietta Unit of the Wayne National Forest.

This will be a challenging 9.5-mile loop hike over very hilly terrain. It is highly recommended that individuals who are not used to hills, heat and humidity not undertake this hike.

There are no 1,000-foot climbs in Ohio but there will be a lot of ups and downs. One side of the loop is on the NCT and includes the Irish Run

This year's annual conference will feature two hikes in Ohio's Wayne Natlonal Forest.

Mark Your Calendar

The schedule for the annual North Country Trail Association

(NCTA) Conference in Marietta, Ohio, has been pretty well firmed up and old and new friends, some 125 strong, are expected to gather on the banks of the Ohio River Aug. 5 and 6.

While the conference schedule is full of goodies (see page 25!!), hikes on the North Country Trail (NCT) usu ally are among the biggest draws for the annual event.

This year the hikes will have a special flavor: long and short, faster and slower, all will take place on the same stretch of the Buckeye Trail, coincident with the NCT there, in the Wayne National Forest.

The main difference among the hikes is their degree of difficulty, since the half-day events are pretty much downhtlland the full-day hike does prove the old saw that what goes down must have gone up, or at least will eventually. The hikes, as the schedule shows, are scheduled Friday and Saturday.

Garry Dill, one of our stalwarts from the Buckeye Trail Association, an affiliate of the NCTA, describes the hikes as follows:

Archers Fork Trail-The day-long hike will be over the Archers Fork

Head to the Ohio River Valley Annual Conference • Marietta, Ohio • Aug. 5-8, 2004

9:30 Trail Shop Closes and Check Out 7:30 Breakfast

Siturday, AUg!JS~ 7 ... ". . « ~~ i»~::::~~;;x ~

' > :;, :::: ;; '<:: ""~ . h ~ « :o:; ~» " . .. . .. .. « ~ ~ ~

7:30 Breakfast (on campus) Long Hike: Themed Hike: Themed Hike: Themed Hike: Heritage Tour: Ohio View Trail Outdoor Route Planning for GPS on the Trail (with bag lunch)

8:45 (with bag lunch) Photography a Trail Town (with bag lunch) * Campus Martius (with bag lunch) Case Study: Museum

Marietta * Cemetery Mound (restaurant lunch) * Ohio River Museum

2:00 Free Time * Henry Fearing House

Workshop: Workshop: Workshop: Workshop: Big Help on Big Ohio Trails Backpacking GIS Tools and

3:00 Jobs, Tapping Partnership - Using GPS data Outside Groups Finding Common

Ground 5:00 Cash Bar and Live Music 6:00 Dinner (on campus)

7:00 Awards Part 2 7:30 Live Auction Sunday, August 8 .. .. . ..

9:00 Return to Campus or take "Self-Guided Evening Tour of Marietta Establishments" 8:00 Annual Membership Meeting & Awards Part 1 (on the riverboat) 6:30 Dinner on Valley Gem Stern Wheeler 5:00 Free Time

12:00

Day-long Hike: 8:45 Archers Fork Trail

(with bag lunch) I---___,

Day Long Tour: (with bag lunch) * Blennerhassett

1--Ba-g-Lu_n_c_h __ __, Island Historical State Park

Half-Day Hike: * Henderson Hall Ohio View Trail

Discussion and Education Hike: Trail Design and Improvement at Archers Fork Trail (with bag lunch) 1:00

Self-Guided Walking Tour: Downtown Marietta (with bag lunch)

Half-Day Hike: Archers Fork Trail

7:30 Breakfast (on campus)

5:30 Free Time

2004 Conference Schedule

·: 6:00 Dinner (on campus) Evening Program: Meet the Ghost of Commodore Abraham Whipple

Annual Conference • Marietta, Ohio • Aug. 5-8, 2004

The "Adopt a Forest Program" can provide funds for heavy equipment such as front loaders and dump trucks if a contractor will cover some of the costs in the form of a donation. We are presently awaiting approval for such funds to remove 60 cubic yards of loose trash consisting of shingles, cans and bottles from the site near Wilderness State Park.

We have two sections of trail in the Harbor Springs Chapter's territory that contain areas for dispersed camp ing. They are more than a mile from Wilderness State Park and campers are supposed to post a permit that is eas ily visible for Conservation Officers to see. The problem is that most people don't even know about the permit or where to get one if they did know of its existence. The result has been rampant littering and "squatters" who remain in the areas all summer. One area has been permanently closed to camping and the other beautiful lake area is threatened with closure because of con tinued "squatters" and litter.

We are working with the MDNR

or commercial services in the cleaning up of the forestland. 3) Contribute monetarily to a special account to assist in paying for trash hauling and landfill space.

Volunteers from our chapter have adopted sections of forest and will con tinue to maintain and monitor those areas at least twice a year. Members have donated the use of their own trail ers, trucks and tools to help clean up the sites. We will seek funding to help offset the costs for the use of a front loader and dump truck donated by a local builder.

To date we have removed 15 appli ances (six involving the refrigerant, Freon), 30 tires, four couches, 5.5+ cubic yards of compactable and non compactable trash, six cubic yards of scrap metal and two automobile bat teries from a site at the east end of the NCT leading out of Wilderness State Park. The transfer station and recycle center for Emmet County was able to recover $ 405.75 in tipping fees for the trash and the tires and appliances from the "Adopt a Forest Program."

To date, Michigan's Harbor Spring Chapter has removed 15 appliances, 30 tires, four couches, 5.5+ cubic yards of trash, six cubic yards of scrap metal and two automobile batteries from the NCT at Wilderness State Park.

The Harbor Springs Chapter is working on the problem of litter

ing and dumping of trash on or near sections of the North Country Trail (NCT) on state land in Michigan. We are working with the "Adopt a Forest Program" to help with the cost of the removal of trash and with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) on the enforcement of litter laws in dispersed camping areas.

Meeting in 1991 at the MDNR Ralph A. MacMullan Conference Center in Higgins Lake, represen tatives from the Michigan United Conservation Clubs, the Huron Manistee National Forest, Region II of the MDNR, several private corpora tions and media personnel formed a coalition, with the goal of eliminating (or at least significantly reducing) trash being dumped on public lands in northern lower Michigan.

In 1992, an upper peninsula group was formed adding 20 agencies, corpo rations and environmental/civic groups to the cause, including Region I of the MDNR, the Ottawa and Hiawatha National Forests and several large land managing corporations. The two groups merged to pool their resources and became the Michigan Coalition for Clean Forests (MCCF). The MCCF believes that healthy forests and wildlife depend on an unpolluted environment. Cleaning up the public land is essential to restore and maintain its beauty and recreational value. The "Adopt a Forest" program provides help to those who engage in this endeavor.

There are three ways that an indi vidual or group can be an adopter. 1) Be responsible for the physical cleanup and ongoing maintenance of an adopted portion. 2) Donate equipment

Article and Photographs By Jerry Keeney

Harbor Spring Chapter

DNR program aids with trash removal

Keeping the North Country Trail Scenic -------------~-~··· ----------------------------

Sponsored by

Name (Please Print) Daytime Phone (Area Code First, Extension at End)

I I 1-1 I I 1-1 I I I 1-1 I I I Address

City State I ZIP

Skills to Volunteer E-maH Address

To begin your membership, complete this form and send It with your $18 payment to:

229 East Main Street Lowell, Michigan 49331

D Member of a specific Chapter: _

D Member of my closest Chapter (If one exists)

D At-Large Member (Not affiliated with any Chapter)

•ASSOCIATION• Please choose your Chapter afflllatlon:

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

SPONSORED MEMBERSHIP FORM

for The Michigan Coalition for Clean Forests, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, 8717 North Roscommon Road, Roscommon, MI 48653, (989) 275-5151 Ext 2049 for more information. Chapters in other states should contact their Department of Natural Resources to get more information on an ''Adopt a Forest Program" and safe and effective means of enforcement for littering and removal of "squatters" from dispersed camping areas. Ask your Department of Natural Resources for a card to see what regulations your state has over dispersed camping.

Let's all work to keep the North Country Trail SCENIC!

jerry Keeney serves as President of the Harbor Springs Chapter of the North County Trail Association. He and his trail partner Lee Milner are known locally as the "Barons of Blight."

The "Adopt a Forest Program," spon sored by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, provides funds for heavy equipment used to clean local forests and the NCT.

report to the MDNR if they see viola~' tions. Dispersed camping permits in\: ', Michigan state that a party may stay Jh one area for no more than fifteen days from May 1 to Labor Day. The card !.s' called a "Camp Registration Card" in Michigan.

Michigan chapters may contact Ada Tackas, Volunteer Coordinator

to reopen the one area and to monitor the second. The permits are to be avail able at the road entrance to- the areas. The areas will have signs stating there will be fines for anyone camping with out a permit and outlining areas where camping is not permitted. We have groups from several organizations who have agreed to hike in the areas and

.,

liaison with N.Y. Parks exists and will be maintained.

Rome Urban Trails, including Fort Stanwix: The Canalway Trail group, North Country Trail Association (NCTA), National Park Service Rivers & Trails, City of Rome Planning Dept., and others are involved with several issues: (1) Primary concerns include a safe, attractive route linked to historic pre-canal use from Erie Village through a busy area and alter nate routes possibly involving major funding needs. Both are committed to having a connection to Fort Stanwix, a revolutionary war era replica historic site. (2) An urban trail connecting the active N.Y.S. Barge Canal northward, a connection with Fort Stanwix, and a continuous off-road trail to the north boundary of the City of Rome. This concept will be reviewed with local supporters, followed by public meet mgs.

Rome North to the Adirondack Park Boundary: The Rome North Task Group is functioning well, with Mary Kunzler- Larmann as coordi nator. Tax map analyses, fieldwork, interaction with local governments in Boonville and Forestport, and contacts with groups in the Boonville area are examples of work in progress. To the extent feasible, the general route of the Black River Canal between Rome and Boonville will be used, thence the segments of the former feeder canal to Forestport and beyond to the Adirondack Park western boundary. The major challenge is the trail route from the City of Rome to below Pixley Falls State Park; much of it is private land with multiple owners. Beyond that point, existing trail systems offer viable routes, with some concerns about the nature of uses permitted.

Adirondack Park: Notwithstanding many past disappointments, bases for progress now exist: A number of con ceptual routes have been detailed with supporting data and options, providing a basis for quantified review of realis tic options by state agency personnel. Add to this an emerging group of vol unteers truly interested in developing the NCT, plus mutually advantageous cooperation between NCTA and the Adirondack Mountain Club.

-Al Larmann

Progress Eastward in N.Y. There are four major geographic,

politically separate areas involved over all. The Central N.Y. Chapter has char ter responsibility for three now, with support for the pending efforts in the fourth as is appropriate.

Canastota to Rome via the Old Erie Canal Historic State Park: Working in concert with the Canalway Trail project and N.Y. Parks, the trail uses the old towpath, with short road links where necessary. Improvements are scheduled for 2004-05 by the Canalway Trail project. The towpath is a multiple use trail, including snowmo biles; hence, it will serve as a connector. This trail segment terminates at Erie Canal Village, a privately owned re creation of a canal village of yesteryear. Blue blazes have been placed on the trail, but full marking and related sig nage has been deferred until Canalway Trail construction work impact is complete. Local government support for this effort is broad-based. Excellent

Thanks to a talk by the park naturalist Heidi Solley, two bat boxes were placed in the proper location in an effort to encourage the bats to move from the cabin to these new homes.

A well-deserved break was in order for Friday afternoon. Some of the group decided to go to Falling Waters, a home designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Unfortunately a severe storm struck that evening and knocked the power out for five hours.

Overall, well done. The work that was completed made a huge difference on the trail and at the shelter. My thanks to the American Hiking Society for their contribution to the North Country Trail and Moraine State Park.

- Dave Myers, Butler Chapter

The American Hiking Society Volunteer Vacation from May 16th thru May 22nd started with members arriving at the Davis Hollow Outdoor Center (DHOC) in Pennsylvania's Moraine State Park as a base of operations. Joe Burton, the American Hiking Society team leader, led nine volunteers for the weeklong event.

Two work crews were created: one, to begin the repair work on a 16-foot bridge and the other to begin con struction of four six-foot free standing benches and four-foot trail benches for use at the DHOC and the new Link Road shelter.

The mud, high water, bugs, and humidity made the bridge work dif ficult and the structural damage was more extensive than previously thought. Therefore, the two crews were rotated to give them a break and a change in tasks. The bridge took two days of hard work to rebuild. On Wednesday, one of the crews remained at the DHOC to continue construction and the other took two of the finished benches and a new wood rake over to the Link Road shelter. Wood chips were placed under the picnic table and on a path up to the new fire ring loca tion. The group excavated the area for the picnic table and rebuilt the rock retaining wall. The fire ring area was. expanded and a water point created from a spring on the hillside above. A pole was installed between the fire ring and the side of the picnic table so that a tarp could be hung over the table and the front of the shelter.

This effort finished the work started by the American Hiking Society crew from 2003. The shelter is now ready for use. What a difference!

The crew at the DHOC continued the construction of two shower pans to be used by the Student Conservation Association (SCA)later this summer. The SCA will be working on wet areas on the section of trail in Moraine State Park between the new Link Road shel ter and West Park Road. They also will be recoating the new shelter since it is untreated wood.

AHS Volunteer Vacation Visits Pennsylvania's Moraine State Park

"Blue Blazes" 50/50 Poly Cotton blend on ash gray shirt. Short sleeve (C-109) S, M, L, XL: $11.95, XXL $13.95 Long sleeve , (C-109A) M, L,XL: $15.95,XXL $17.95

Rediscover Nature The 100% cotton "leaf" shirt available In: Dusty Blue (C-110) Pale Plum (C-110A) S, M, L, XL: $15.95, XXL: $17.95

T-SHIRTS

SHIRTS E. Trail Crew T-shirt (c102)

A trail crew shirt for volunteers! 50/50 blend. Two color design on front with map and a "fired up" volunteer. Color: tan. L, XL ...... $10.95, XXL.. ... $12.95 F. NCTA T-Shlrt ( c101)

Pre-shrunk cotton "Beefy-T", Three-color NCTA logo on front and two-color map on back which reads "Going the Distance on the North Country National Scenic Trail," includes seven state map. Color: natural. S, M, L, XL.. .. $11.95, XXL ... $12.95 G. Sweatshirts M, L, XL.. $34.95, XXL. $37.95 Goldenrod (M & L sold out) ( C107A)

Khaki Green (L sold out) (C107B) Denim (L sold out) ( C107C) Light Raspberry (XXL sold out) ( C107D) H. Polo Shirt (c106)

Embroidered association logo. Color: tan H M, L, XXL $31.95

I. Fleece Vest (cros) Embroidered trail logo. Color: grey M, L, XL, XXL $38.95 J. Blue Shirt (c112)

Embroidered NCTA logo. 100% cotton, collard polo shirt. Color: blue S, M, L, XL, XXL $39.95

HATS A. Light Khaki/Navy Cap (C207)

Trail emblem design. Low profile washed cotton, unconstructed. Light khaki crown with washed navy bill. Adjustable buckle on fabric strap . .................................................. $14.95 B. Grey-Moss Green Cap (C206)

Low profile distressed washed cotton twill. Adjustable buckle on fabric strap ....... $14.95 C. Sun Protection rczio: Wide bill, Supplex® tan nylon, soft and breathable. Adjustable clip back $18.50 D. The Aussie Hat (C209J Natural color, cotton canvas with full brim and rope cord with adjustable slider.. $24.50

Map shown: Grand Marias to Au Train Lake

PENNSYLVANIA McConnels Mill and Moraine State Parks (T201) $5.00

MICHIGAN Huron-Manistee N.F.: South Segment

(T403) $8.00

PENNSYLVANIA NCT in Pennsylvania, 37 pages

(M201) $6.00

1:24,000 SCALE Printed in full color on durable paper these new maps come in a clear plastic bag to assure complete water protection. They have been carefully field checked for accuracy. Each map unfolds to a full

CERTIFIED SECTIONS OF THE NCT

By Byron and Margaret Hutchins Detailed information and maps highlighting the longest and best off-road segments of the Trail. These are accurate route descriptions by experienced guidebook writers who have walked the sections with a measuring wheel. In easy to use looseleaf form.

1:63,360 SCALE One inch to a mile. These maps will be available starting August 1, 2004.

OHIO Ohio Stateline to Minerva (OH-101) Wayne National Forest-Marietta Unit (OH-105)

NORTH DAKOTA Showing four sections of trail

(ND-SE) $3.50

NCT TRAIL MAP SETS 1:100,000 SCALE

Printed in full color on durable paper, this pocket size map unfolds to a full n" x 17'', doubleside. These maps do not come in a plastic bag.

NEW YORK Rome to Finger Lakes Trail

(NY-04) $3.50 PENNSYLVANIA

Allegheny National Forest (PA-01) $3.50

Allegheny National Forest to State Game Land 95 (PA-02) $3.50

State Game Land 95 to Pennsyylvania/Ohio Stateline (PA-03) $3.50

MICHIGAN Marshall to Bowne Township

(Ml-02) $3.50 Bowne Township to M-37

(Ml-03) $3.50 M-37 to Freesoil Trailhead .

(Ml-04) · $3.50 Freesoil Trailhead to Cedar Creek Road

(Ml-05) : $3.50 Cedar Creek Road to Charlevoix County

(Ml-06) $3.50 Charlevoix County to Mackinac Bridge

(Ml-07) $3.50 Mackinac Bridge to Whitefish Bay Scenic Byway

(Ml-08) $3.50 · Curley Lewis to Grand Marais

(Ml-09) , $3.50 Grand Marais to Au Train Lake

(Ml-10) $3.50 Au Train Lake to Little Garlic Falls

(Ml-11) $3.50 Alberta to Cascade Falls

(M1:13) ~,. $3.50. Cascade Falls to Ironwood

(Ml-14) $3.50 WISCONSIN

Together these maps cover the Chequamegon National Forest

Ironwood to Long Mile Lookout (Wl-01) $3.50

Long Mile Lookout to Solon Spring (Wl-02) $3.50

MINNESOTA Chippewa N.F. to Paul Bunyan S.F.

(MN-09) $3.50 State Highway 64 to Many Point Lake

(MN-10) $3.50

e-mail: [email protected] ORDER TOLL FREE! 1-866-HIKE NCT www.northcountrytrail.org

A GUIDE NATIONAL LAKESl10RE

PICTURED ROCKS by Olive Anderson An illustrated guide to the centerpiece of the North Country National Scenic Trail. Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is a rug ged, beautiful, and unique coast on the Lake Superior Shore. Revised in 2002, this guidebook includes maps and excellent descriptions of recreational oppor tunities available at Pictured Rocks. 56 pages (L110) $6.95

Pictured Rocks National Lakesbore

Add the North Country National Scenic Trail insignia to your hiking stick. A. Painted color (P105) $4.00 B. Brass (P104) $4.00 C. The Trail Emblem cloisonne pin is 7/8' .and features the updated North Country triangle design. (P102) $3.00

MEDALLIONS AND PINS

Full color pictures taken by our own members illustrating the beauty found on the NCNST. 100% pre-shrunk cotton.

CLEARANCE!!!

Patch of Trail Emblem 31/2 " bottom measure North Country Trail emblem triangle design (P125) $3.50

STATE PATCHES 2.00 ea. New York ..................................•........ (P126) Pennsylvania (P127) Ohio (P128) Michigan (P129) Wisconsin ..•..................•.................... (P130) Minnesota (P131) North Dakota (P132)

VOLUNTEER PATCHES2.ooea. Volunteer 2000 (P133) Volunteer 2001 (P134) Volunteer 2002 (P135) Volunteer 2003 , (P140) Volunteer 2004 (P141) Trail Crew (P136) Hike Leader (P137) Trail Mapper (P138)

NCTA PEN Labeled with North Country Organizer. (P139)

Trail Association and web site (P106~) $!!5~.0~0~~!!!!l'll!liiiilllllll

Ohio State Line at Waldron to Augusta (M411A) $4.00

Augusta to Rogue River State Game Area (M412A) $4.00

Rogue River State Game Area to M-115 West of Mesick

(M413A) $4.00 M-115 West of Mesick to M-32 West of U.S. 131

(M414A) $4.00 M-32 West of U.S. 131 to Mackinaw City

(M415A) $4.00 St. Ignace to SE Marquette

(M416A) $4.00 Marquette to Ironwood

(M417A) $4.00

MICHIGAN MAP SETS By Arden Johnson An excellent reference for the entire North Country Trail in Michigan. Includes all off.road segments and suggests on-road routes where the trail is incomplete. Also provides good general information about access points, terrain, markers, camping and water, etc.

NORTH DAKOTA NCT in North Dakota 15 pages

(M701) $5.00

MINNESOTA Chippewa National Forest, Itasca S.P., 24 pages

(M601) ................•.......................•......... $4.00

WISCONSIN Iron County Forests; Chequamegon N.F., Brule River S.F., 27 pages

(M501A) ........•................................•.•.... $4.50

MICHIGAN NCT in Lower Michigan, 8r pages

(M401) $12.50 NCT in Upper Michigan, 88 pages

(M402) ........................................•...... $13.00

OHIO Wayne National Forest, 14 pages

(M301) $3.00 From Burr Oak State Park to Milford on the Buckeye Trail, 38 pages

(M3032) ..•.............•............................ $14.00 Milford to Lake Loramie S.P., 42 pages

(M304A) .......•........................................ $7.00 Miami & Erie Canal from Lake Loramie State Park to Napoleon, 30 pages

(M305A) ........•....................................... $5.00

Follow the Blue Blazes by Robert J Pond A guide to hiking Ohio's Buckeye Trail. Beginning with startling rock formations and graceful waterfalls, this 1200 mile loop provides a captivating look at each sec tion of the trail. 300 pages. (L130) $19.95

Atlas of Michigan by Dennis R. Hansen This third edition has rlP<,rrmr1on

for over 600 hik ing, biking, skiing, and nature trails in Michigan. 789 pages (L102A) $34.95

The Appalachian Trail Food Planner by Lou Adsmond Proven food tips for a short backpack to a six-month thru-hike. Includes recipes for easy trailside cooking. 128 pages (L126) $15.95

Hildng Minnesota

Backpacking Wisconsin by jack P. Hai/man & Elizabeth D. Hai/man The authors provide first-hand information for trails in every cor ner of the state - from the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore to Newport State Park. (L129) $19.95

Hiking! by Philip Farranti and Cecilia Leyva A fresh look at hiking includ ing its philosophy, health aspects for kids and seniors, and stronger family ties. 245 pages (L106) $14.95

.Hiking Minnesota by John Pukite This edition has descrip tions, maps, and basic elevation profiles for 87 hikes in Minnesota. 273 pages (L132) $~4.95.

Edible Wild Plants by James Kavanagh This pocket-size guide is perfect for identifying the various plants you see while out walking. (L127) $5.95

Porcupine Mountains by Jim DuFresne Describes the Porkies for hikers, campers, skiers, and backpackers. Includes his tory, cabins, camping areas, day hikes, and waterfalls. 160 pages (L108) $11.95

The Country Doctor, Alive and Well by John G. Hipps M. D. His stories will entertain and charm you. Has advice on home remedies and alterna tive medicine for self-care. 363 pages (L115) $19.95

Babes In the Woods by Bobbi Hoadley The women's guide to eating well, sleeping well, and having fun in the backcountry. 125 pages (L131) $12.95

Hiking with Kids by Robin Tawney Introduce your children to the wonders of hiking. This answers any questions and gives valuable tips. 70 pages (L123) $6.95

50 Hikes In Michigan by Jim DuFresne Describes the best trails in the Lower Peninsula. Includes access, parking, hik ing times, contour maps, and explicit trail directions. 252 pages (L109) $17.95

America's National Scenic Trails by Kathleen Ann Cordes History, the present condi tion, points of interest, and other details for each of the eight national scenic trails. 306 $19.95 ~~~=

Lipsmackln' Backpackln' by Tim and Christine Connors Dine on spaghetti, chicken salad, and cheesecake in the backcountry instead of gorp, cereal bars, and jerky. 232 pages (L118) $15.95

Peak Experiences by Gary Pallesen A guide to the highest points in every New York county. Includes maps, directions to trailheads, and some alternate routes. 288 pages (L120) $16.95

Great Minnesota Walks by Wm. Chad McGrath Describes some of the state's most beautiful and interest ing paths. Includes walks beside river rapids and scenic overlooks. 168 pages ( L117) $16.95

Take a Hike by Rich and Sue Freeman Explore N.Y.'s Finger Lakes and Genesee Valley with ease and convenience. 51 walks are completely described. 264 pages (L119) $16.95

First Aid and Family Emergency Handbook This compact book tells you what to do in emergency and then what to do to protect a victim. 252 pages (L125) $6.00

Great Wiseonsln Walks by Wm. Chad McGrath Describes some of the state's most beautiful and interesting paths. Includes walks in the woods and in the cities. 160 pages (L116) $16.95

0


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Guide to NCT, Chippewa National Forest, Minnesota by Roderick MacRae Description and trail log written by an expert. 12 pages (M611) $1.25

Hikeable Segments of the North Country National Scenic Trail This new guide lists all the hikeable segments of the trail and presents accurate mileages along and between segments. Each trail seg ment on the map is num bered and corresponds to a description of that segment. 112 pages (L133) $5.95

Buck Wilder's Hiking & Camping Guide by Tim Smith and Mark Herrick Great color illustrations filled with humor with tips and trivia. Appears to be a book for kids, but adults find it's lots of fun and informative. 64 pages (L103) $12.95


small towns and remote townships cre ate value in their communities.

Finished for the time being in Marietta, we packed up and headed·

'to Adams County, of course, Adams is two-thirds of the way to Cincinnati across the southern portion of Ohio, far west of Marietta.

-On the way there I stopped at the headquarters for the Wayne National Forest, to meet with Forest Supervisor Mary Reddan and her staff and deliver NCTA's official comments on the Forest Plan Revision currently under way there. Every 10 to 15 years the management plan for the Wayne is revised and public comment figures heavily into the revision process.

Having maintained the trail there for many years, the Buckeye Trail Association is well aware of the forest planning process and jumped at the chance to make its feelings known. Inundating the Wayne with letters commenting on the needs of the trail, the BTA made the forest planners aware of what changes we wanted.

Prior to the meeting with the Wayne NF, I hooked up for breakfast with Rich Pfeiffer, a BTA/NCTA member familiar with the NCT in the Wayne. We grabbed some breakfast at The Coffee Cup in Nelsonville, (a favorite stop for BTA President, Herb Hulls) and pored over some maps of the trail in the National Forest.

Rich knows his trail so proceeded to itemize the Off Road Vehicle (ORV) damage, dumping sites, and the other problem areas along the trail. A dogged maintainer of the New Straitsville sec tion of the Buckeye Trail, Rich doesn't miss much when walking a trail and his advice and comments went a long way toward explaining our concerns to the staff at the Wayne.

Our meeting with the Wayne National Forest planning team lasted almost 4 hours. Fred Szarka and Ken Howell from the National Park Service office in Madison, Wisc., joined the meeting by phone.

The Wayne planning team showed us how the protective language, trail standards and management practices and release pleasure.

Looking south from our 'cabin porch at Unity Woods. Jeff Cates stocks his pond with lunkers for your catch

she called to say she had everything .· .. confirmed, I could only bring myself to · say "yes, ma'am," and get busy packing the truck.

Packing up in freezing rain and intermittent snowfall, I knew that southern Ohio would be starting to bud and bloom soon. Because it was spring break for our boy Benjamin, I packed him, the dog, and my wife in the truck with the gear and headed out in freezing rain for Ohio.

The time in Marietta was hectic with conference preparations, hike planning and other issues, but I had the incredible help of Ms. Cindy Hunter with the Marietta Conference and Visitors Bureau. In a flash, in addition to helping me locate some key conference services, Cindy got me a meeting with Marietta Mayor Mike Mullen and a number of other people involved in Marietta's economic future. I wanted to make them aware of the NCT and the annual conference and introduce the idea of trail development through the area.

To my delight the trail was embraced and plans made for form- ing the Historic Marietta Chapter of

the NCTA. Mixing historical tourism, nature-based activities and active outdoor recreation destina tions like the NCT brings added depth to Marietta's already powerful impression as a vacation destina tion. The NCT may come to serve as the backbone of a regional approach to a destina tion development plan, a plan truly aimed at helping the region's

I f you look at the North Country Trail map for Ohio, you won't see much

activity around Marietta and Adams Counties, Ohio ... yet. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't expect to see some real soon. It was just turning from white to brown on the ground around head quarters here in Lowell, Mich., and I was working on planning my chapter visits. The calendar starts to fill up quickly but it's hard to predict when it will be all firmed up for the season. I didn't have much scratched onto my calendar when I received a call from one Myrna Hixson in Adams County, Ohio.

A local resident involved with the chamber and the visitors and tourism group, she was wondering why the trail had yet to be completed in her neck of the woods. As we talked it became rdqjly lpparent that Myrna is on fire 'fq~ Adams County and is equally cer tain that we ought to be, too! With the

4cer~itude of a Pentecostal preacher she mad~:]ne bow to the inevitable truth that I· must come to Adams County and help her and a small band of like-minded locals bring the trail into being there. I told her I was headed to Marietta to do preparations for our annual conference to be held there, and if she could pull together some inter ested people, I would make a stop on my way back to Michigan.

In the matter of a few days, Myrna had a series of meetings put together and wanted to know what time I would arrive so we could get started. When

New Enthusiasms Busting Out in Ohi·o·

Unity Woods (www.unitywoods.org.) and the Adams County Travel and Visitors Bureau (www.adamscounty travel.org ) offer help in planning your trip to Adams County and can keep you current on NCT development in the area through their web sites.

Myrna Hixson and Cindy Cates are well on their way to getting a chap ter started in Adams County, while Marietta Mayor Mike Mullen is creat ing a new chapter in his town.

The Buckeye Trail Association is pressing on with development and maintenance issues in the Wayne and all over the state. Ohio is ready for the trail to be completed and Ohioans are making it happen. If you want to help, give me a call at headquarters and I'll hook you up with some of my friends down on the southernmost reaches of our trail.

Below: A hand full of geollgic time, fossil hunting In southwest Ohio is about as easy as it gets!

Left: Looking west from the obser vation tower at Serpent Mound. Ohio Brush Creek meanders through the valley beyond the bluff.

release of course) and there are trails reaching the woods, meadows and streams that cover the property. Unity is just a short drive from the Serpent Mound National Monument and the Buckeye Trail so we were able to squeeze in a visit to this pre historic Indian construction that depicts a snake swallow ing an egg.

Growing up in Ohio, I always wanted to visit this site but never made it. Now, living in Michigan I traveled twice the distance to make the stop. Go figure.

While I beat the bushes of Adams County for trail supporters, my wife, son and dog played at Unity Woods, spending most of the time rooting around for fossils and trying to identify spring plants. The dog does most of his plant identification by chewing them while my wife, Nan, prefers to use a field guide. Ben much preferred the fossils which cover nearly every stone in every streambed.

Having hosted Buckeye Trail sec tion hikers in all seasons, the folks at Unity Woods welcome the creation of the NCT in Adams County as a way of promoting the area's natural beauty and bucolic tranquility. The folks at

needed to protect the trail would be included in the plan. It was clear that the Wayne is interested in the NCT and its protection.

This summer will see some action on many fronts including law enforce ment efforts aimed at stopping dump ing and ORV damage as well as out reach to Marietta and other towns in the forest's region where nature-based tourism can make sound use of the Wayne's public resources.

After the meeting it was a twisty, windy drive through the Appalachian foothills to meet Myrna and her gang in Adams County.

Virtually the whole county is farm and forest. Small towns spot the land scape at crossroads and river crossings in an otherwise rolling topography dot ted with cattle and ancient barns.

We came to a stop just south of the town of Unity, one of those itty bitty towns you find all over Ohio's country side. A couple blocks long and not as wide, you are through it in seconds but remember it forever.

We stayed at Unity Woods, a quiet retreat operated by Cindy and Jeff Cates and located on 175 acres of roll ing woodland immediately adjacent to a 200 plus acre Johnson Ridge State Nature Preserve. Jeff has a large pond stocked with even larger fish (catch and

LOWER MICHIGAN Trail Council Chair: Lyle Bialk · [email protected] State Trail Coordinator: Joan Young • [email protected] 16. Harbor Springs Chapter Chapter:

Jerry Keeney • [email protected] 17. Tittabawassee Chapter: Jerry Allen • [email protected]

GREAT LAKES Trail Council Chair: Mikel Classen • [email protected] State Trail Coordinator: Doug Welker • [email protected] 9. Brule-St.Croix Chapter: Chuck Zosel • [email protected] 10. Chequamegon Chapter: Tana Turonie · [email protected] 11. Heritage Chapter: Jim Burow · [email protected] 12. Peter Wolfe Chapter: Doug Welker · [email protected] 13. North Country Trail Hikers Chapter:

Denise Herron • [email protected] 14. Grand Marais Chapter: Mikel Classen • [email protected] 15. Hiawatha Shore-to-Shore Chapter:

Kirt Stage-Harvey · [email protected]

MINNESOTA Trail Council Chair and State Trail Coordinator:

John Leinen • [email protected] 4. Star of the North Chapter:

Gerald Johnson • [email protected] 5. Itasca Moraine Chapter: Jerry Trout • [email protected] 6. Kekekablc Trail Club (Partner):

Peter Sparks • [email protected] · (800) 818-4453 7. Rovers Outing Club (Partner): John Elliott • (612)829-5142 8. Superior Hiking Trail Association (Partner):

Gayle Coyer · [email protected] • (218)834-2700

NORTH DAKOTA Trall Council Chair:

Chris and Alicia Hoffarth • [email protected]

State Trail Coordinator: Lisa Ringstad • [email protected]

1. Lonetree Chapter: Elden Ehrman • [email protected] 2. Sheyenne River Valley Chapter:

Lisa Ringstad · [email protected] 3. North Dakota Sandhills Chapter:

Curtis Vanek • [email protected]

Who's Who Along the North Country Trail?

Trall Council Chair: Bert Nemcik • [email protected]

State Trall Co-Coordinators: Bob Needham · [email protected] Ron Rice • [email protected]

26. Wampum Chapter: Paul Henry · [email protected]

NEW YORK Trall Councll Chair and State Trall Coo'rdlnator:

Howard Beye • [email protected] ~ 33. Finger Lakes Trall Conference (Part er):

Gene Bavis · information@fingerlakescra'lorg · 585-658-9320 Additional Maintaining Organizations Coordinated by FLTC: Adirondack Mm Club (ADK)-Finger Lakes Chapter, ADK Genesee Valley Chapter, ADK-Onondaga Chapter, ADK-Niagara Frontier Chapter, Adventure Recreation Club at Ithaca College, Cayuga Trails Club, Fillmore Boy Scout Troop 748, Foothills Trail Club, Genesee Valley Hiking Club, Hammondsport Boy Scout Troop 18, and Town & Country Bushwhackers

34. Central New York Chapter: Kathy Eisele · [email protected]

PENNSYLVANIA

Trall Council Chair: Garry Dill · [email protected]

State Trail Coordinator: James Sprague · [email protected]

23. NW Ohio Ralls-to-Tralls Association (Partner) Gene Markley • [email protected] • (800) 951-4788

24. Buckeye Trall Association (Partner) Garry Dill • [email protected] • (937) 834-2891

25. Great Trall Sandy Beaver Chapter: Brad Bosley • [email protected]

27. Butler Chapter Chapter: David Myers · davmyers@state. pa.us

28. Greater Pittsburgh Chapter: Michael Kaizar • [email protected]

29. Rock Chapter: Robert McCaffeny · [email protected] 30. Clarion County Chapter: Ed Scurry · [email protected] 31. Hostelling International USA - Pittsburgh Councll

(Partner): Bob Roth • (412) 279-6219

32. Allegheny National Forest Chapter: Bert Nemcik • [email protected]~t

OHIO

18. Grand Traverse Hiking Club Chapter: John Heiam · [email protected]

19. Spirit of the Woods Chapter: Richard Krieger • [email protected]

20. Western Michigan Chapter: Werner Veit • [email protected]

21. Chief Noonday Chapter Chapter: Tom Garnett • garnetttts'rriniry-healrh.org

22. Chief Baw Beese Chapter: Steve Vear • [email protected]

=Not Yet Adopted

LEGEND - Chapters '""" Partners

comments on Chris, "North Dakota is becoming a place of much volunteer enthusiasm for the North Country Trail...now they are looking for more hikers. Chris Hoffarth is co-chair of the Valley City committee of the Sheyenne River Valley Chapter. He was instrumental in the rehabilitation

1 project the chapter ded last year to close trails behind Valley City State

. University. He worked with commu nity service individuals to plant trees and shrubs in the old trails and spent many hours carrying five-gallon buck ets of water to keep the trees alive. He also assisted with other trail building projects and coordinating events such as community hikes and awareness .. ,, visits.

Doug Welker of the Peter Wolfe Chapter was honored by the AHS as the top volunteer in Michigan.

"Doug is a long-time familiar face, involved with the NCT in the 1980s. He served six years on the NCTA board of directors then Doug decided to concentrate his efforts locally. He was a primary organizer of the Peter Wolfe Chapter, of which he is President and webmaster. Welker has great vision for the NCT. "We need continuity," he notes. He has created large routed signs to be placed at major trailheads. He's built trail shelters. He knows every inch of their chapter's trail well enough to draw it accurately on a 1:24,000 topo map from memory. Welker believes that some of the most significant work he does is to be willing to organize projects, do the paperwork and make contacts. Although he loves the physical work involved in scouting and laying out trail he knows that the organizational expertise is needed, in order for the actual trail building to be accomplished.

In his spare time Doug is on a quest to hike around Lake Superior!" commented Joan Young.

AHS Volunteers of the Year For the tenth year, American

Hiking Society conducted a nationwide search to find the top volunteers in the United States. The search covered all 50 states. The award honors volunteers for their tireless efforts to preserve and maintain America's trails and nomina tions were received for many qualified candidates.

Award recipients were presented with a special award certificate, a Volunteer of the Year T-shirt, and a copy of "Get Outside!," a directory of volunteer opportunities on public lands across America. The awards were made on National Trails Day, June 5, 2004 to two of our own:

Chris Hoffarth of the Sheyenne River Valley Chapter was recogonized as top volunteer in North Dakota.

Alicia Hoffarth submitted these

-Al Larmann

Wallace Wood Award was established in 1984, given to Wood himself as the initial honoree. Since then, this annual award is presented to an individual for "outstanding contributions to the FLT." Bill Coffin's long decades of service to the FLTC, as trail steward, committee member, board member, and liaison with permitting landowners, qualify him for this honor.

HI Mary and Bill Coffin Honored By ADK

The March 2004 Adirondack Mountain Club (ADK). President's Dinner in Albany provided a fine occa sion for honoring eight individuals for their sustained contributions in areas of true importance to ADK. Keynote speaker Fred LeBrun, distinguished columnist for the Albany Times Union, pointedly addressed the press's respon sibility for informing the public about environmental issues and highlighting their long-term significance. He also noted the unfavorable consequences when groups with shared goals do not recognize emergent threats and fail to join forces in opposition: ATV access to public lands is an illustrative exam ple. Fred received the Eleanor F. Brown Communications Award for his past and ongoing work.

Seven others were also honored, including the Distinguished Volunteer Award to Mary Coffin for ongoing efforts that are almost too numerous to cite. A sampling includes Chapter Chair, Director, group trip leader, chair of many committees, and trail steward. Mary's response when presented with the award provides good insight into an important element of her success as a volunteer and leader. She noted that all of her efforts have involved many volunteers, and that she is impressed by how easy it is to get volunteers to help with a project. Her success is a reflec tion of her commitment and personal contribution to each undertaking.

Bill Coffin was awarded the Wallace Wood Distinguished Service Award at the Finger Lakes Trail Conference (FLTC) annual meeting May 1st. Wally Wood conceived the concept of the Finger Lakes Trail (FLT) and founded the effort in 1962. The FLT main trail system spans 563 miles, with branches and loops bring ing the total to approximately 875 miles, truly an impressive achievement with about a 60/40 split between pri vate and public lands traversed. The

as··· rh~· ·N~rt·h· ·st~~-···· 'J'~i;~s~~~~~b~~- ;~~~

Presented With Awards NCTA Members

*Includes cumulative gifts, membership contributions and grants received between June I, 2003 and May 31, 2004.

•

We gratefully acknowledge the support of all our members and donors, and especially wish to recognize the following individuals, businesses, foundations and agencies, for their generous contributions over the past 12 months":

Trail Supporters

NONPROFIT U.S. POSTAGE

PAID Grand Rapids, Ml

Permit 340

the author of more than a dozen guidebooks including 50 Hikes in Michigan and Michigan's Best Hikes with Children. So lace up your boots and hit the trail with Venture Outdoors.

Your guide is Jim duFresne, hiking expert for Venture Outdoors since 1989. Jim has spent a lifetime trekking across Michigan and is

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

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

Every week, spring through fall, you'll find Venture Outdoors inside the pages of the Ann Arbor News, Bay City limes, Rint Journal, Grand Rapids Press,Jackson Citizen Patriot, Kalamazoo Gazette, Muskegon Chronicle and the Sagi,naw News.

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North Star Vol. 23, No. 3 (2004)

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