. EDITORS P.O. BOX .243 EMPORIUM, PA. 15 e~1·

OF T.HE

NEWSLETTER

SPRING, 1988 VOLUME VII, NUMBER 1

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NCTA

NCTA NCTA NCTA NCTA

NCTA NCTA NCTA

NCTA NCTA NCTA NCTA NCTA NCTA NCTA NCTA NCTA

BTA BTA OHC BTA

NCTA NCTA AYH WPC NCTA

USS SA CTA

North Dakota Linda Vargason

Minnesota Chris Bredlow Ruo Macrae Tim Knupp Ed Solstad

Wisconsin Robert Dreis Steve Sorenson Gaylord Yost

Michigan Virginia Wunsch Pat Allen Ken Gackler Jim Warmels Art Holland Ruth Sack Derek Blount Wes Boyd Martha Jones

Ohio Emile S. Gregor Cecil Dobbins Tomi Lou Spyker Herschel A. Rubin

Pennsylvania Barbara A. Smith John G. Hipps Glenn Oster Paulette Johnson Brita and Don Dorn

New York Candice Bowen Bosworth Thomas J. Reimers

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Lance Feild Founding President

Martha Jones, Chairperson Membership Derek Blount, Acting Coordinator 1990 End-To-End Trail Hike

Virginia Wunsch, Hdq. Manager Route #4, Mundy Lane White Cloud, MI 49349 (616) 689-6876

Kenneth R. Gackler, Treasurer 413 West Johnson St. Caledonia, MI 49316 (616) 891-1366

Tomi Lou Spyker, Secretary 7044 Africa Rd., R.D. #1 Galena, OH 43021 (614) 882-8023

Glenn Oster, Vice President 84 Olive St. Pittsburgh, PA 15239 (412) 364-2864

Thomas J. Reimers, President 30 Wildflower Drive Ithaca, NY 14850 (607) 272-8679

OFFICERS

CO-EDITORS BARBARA ANN SMITH JOHN G. HIPPS P.O. Box 243 Emporium, PA 15834

***

ORGANIZATION NORTH COUNTRY TRAIL ASSOCIATION P.O. Box 311 White Cloud, Michigan 49349

SPRING, 1988 VOLUME VII, NUMBER 1

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SUBMITTED BY (Name/Address):

Please submit your idea, using the following format, to Acting Chairman Deret Blount before the Spring meeting; address on Organizational page.

Many suggestions have been submit­ ted to date; we would like many more.

The 1990 Hike Name Contest is begin­ ning to pique our membership's in­ terest and to pick up speed.

!CONTEST! Name The Hike

SUBMITTED BY (Name/Address):

Please submit your idea, using the following format, to Acting Chairman Deret Blount before the Spring meeting; address on Organizational page.

We are in need of your ideas about a Logo that will be used on posters and other promotional material.

The 1990 Hike is beginning to pique and pick; interest and speed.

!CONTEST! Write The Logo

SPRING, 1988

Addresses and phone numbers of officers and board members can be obtained from Treasurer Ken Gackler.

Please report any errors or omis­ sions to the Editors.

Linda Vargason North Dakota

Chris Bredlow Minnesota

Upper Peninsula Pending

Western Jim Warmels

Southern Wes Boyd

Southeastern Martha Jones

Michigan

Buckeye Trail Association: Emily Gregor

Ohio Barbara A. Smith/John G. Hipps

Pennsylvania

Finger Lakes Trail Council: Tom Reimers

New York

REGIONAL CHAPTERS/COORDINATORS/ AFFILIATES

VOLUME VII, NUMBER 1

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As envisioned in "Trails for America", National Scenic Trails are to be very special trails: ·"A standard of exc€11.ence in the routing, construc­ tion, maintenance, and marking consistent with each trail's character

With input from public and private interests, Congress spent 2 years working on the national trails legislation. Finally, on October 2, 1968 the President signed into law the National Trails System Act which Con­ gress had passed. The act established two National Scenic Trails -- the Appalachian and the Pacific Crest -- and called for studies of 14 other routes. It also established.two other categories of trails in the na­ tional system -- National Recreation Trails and Connecting or Side Trails. Overall administration of the system is the responsibility of the Secretary of the Interior. Some authorities in the act, however, are shared with the Secretary of Agriculture.

The nationwide trails study led to publication of a report in December, 1966 entitled, "Trails for America". The report called for Federal legislation to foster the creation of a nationwide system of trails. In fact, earlier that year the Secretary of the Interior had already submit ted proposed legislation to the Congress to accomplish this. The report and the proposed legislation proposed three categories of trails for the nationwide system -- National Scenic Trails and two other categories . that were different from what eventually came to pass. The report heav­ ily emphasized National Scenic Trails and the role that they should play in meeting the Nation's needs for trail recreation. The Appalachian Trail was to be the first National Scenic Trail. The report proposed three other National Scenic Trails -- Pacific Crest, Continental Divide, and Potomac Heritage -- and identified five other routes which exhibited high potential -- Lewis and Clark, Oregon, Santa Fe, Natchez Trace, and North Country.

In April 1965, the Secretary .of the Interior directed the former Bureau of Outdoor Recreation to take the lead in conducting a nationwide trails study. This was in response to President Johnson's Natural Beauty Mes­ sage of February 8, 1965, in which he called for development and protec­ tion of a balanced system of trails -- in the Nation's metropolitan areas as well as in the countryside -- in cooperation with State and lo­ cal governments and private interests. In part, the President said: "We can and should have an abundance of trails for walking, cycling, and horseback riding, in and close to our cities. In the back country we need to copy the great Appalachian Trail in all parts of America''. This need f~r trails as well as other types of recreation facilities was clearly visible in the post-war boom in recreation participation. In a survey conducted in 1960 for the Outdoor Recreation Resources Review Commission, created to assess this need, walking for pleasure ranked second among all recreation activities.

THE NATIONAL TRAILS SYSTEM What It Is and How It Came to Be

by Thomas L. Gilbert

Regional Coordinator, National Trails System Midwest Region, National Park Service

SPRING, 1988 VOLUME VII, NUMBER 1

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Unlike National Scenic Trails, National Historic Trails can include water routes. The Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail, for example, is primarily composed of the Missouri and Columbia Rivers and their tri­ butaries because these are the routes the expedition actually traveled. National Historic Trails can also include highways that follow or paral­ lel the historic route and are marked for travel by automobile. Thus, a

Like National Scenic Trails, National Historic Trails can only be author­ ized by Congress and are assigned to either the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture with most of the same administrative au­ thorities as for National Scenic Trails. To qualify as a National Historic Trail, a route must have been established by historic use. It must be nationally significant as a result of that use, i.e., it must have had a far-reaching effect on broad patterns of American culture (including native American culture). It must also have significant po­ tential for public recreational use or historic interest based on his­ toric interpretation and appreciation.

The act provides that only Congress may authorize the establishment of a National Scenic Trail. Overall administration is assigned to either the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture, each of whom assigns the responsibility to a particular agency within their depart­ ment. The act directs these agencies to encourage State and local gov­ ernments, private organizations, and landowners to become actively in­ volved in the development and management of segments of the trails. The original 14 studies of potential National Scenic Trails, plus others authorized since 1968, have been completed. Today, there are eight National Scenic Trails in various stages of development. Only the Appalachian and Pacific Crest Trails are nearly complete. The studies of several of the historic routes of our Nation concluded that it was not feasible to establish them as National Scenic Trails (i.e., continuous land-based trails). However, because of their impor­ tance to our Nation's history, many people felt something should be done to preserve, mark, and commemorate them. In 1978, Congress amended th~~ National Trails System Act to create the category of National Historic Trails. At the same time they authorized the Oregon, Mormon Pioneer, Lewis and Clark, and Iditarod (Alaska Gold Rush) Trails as National Historic Trails.

and purpose should distinguish all national scenic trails. Each should stand out in its own right as a recreation resource of superlative quali­ ty and of physical challenge". According to the act, National Scenic Trails "will be extended trails so located as to provide for maximum out­ door recreation potential and for the conservation and enjoyment of the nationally significant scenic, historic, natural, and cultural qualities of the areas through which such trails may pass". "Extended trails" was defined in a 1983 amendment to mean at least 100 miles long. National Scenic Trails are to be land-based (i.e., not waterway routes) and gen­ erally are to be continuous. However, the 1983 amendments provide that studies of potential National Scenic Trails may conclude that it is feas­ ible to propose one or more trail segments which together are 100 miles long.

SPRING, 1988 VOLUME VII, NUMBER 1

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January, 1988

There are no specifications in the National Trails System Act describing where a Connecting or Side Trail may be located, what uses may be per­ mitted, etc. Neither has any supplementary descriptive information, guidelines, or criteria ever been promulgated. Perhaps it is because of this vagueness that the category has remained unutilized. No Connecting or Side Trails have ever been designated. Another reason may be the fact that any such trail could generally just as easily (or more so) be designated a National Recreation Trail.

Connecting or Side Trails are intended to provide additional points of public access to National Scenic, Historic, or Recreation Trails, access from such trails to nearby points of interest, or connections between such trails. They may be designated by the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture upon application from the administrator of the trail.

National Recreation Trails are designated by the Secretary of the Interior or, where National Forest lands are involved, by the Secretary of Agriculture. Applications for designation are prepared and submitted by the agency, organization, or individual owning or managing the trail. The program and process established to designate National Recreation Trails does not necessarily foster the development of new trails, since only trails which already exist may be designated. However, the nationa recognition which accompanies designation often results in greater com­ munity/public support for trails and their development. Today, there are more than 760 National Recreation Trails totaling more than 8,350 miles administered by Federal, State, and local agencies, p~i vate organizations, and corporations.

National Recreation Trails may be in a variety of locations, including some which might not be considered scenic. Unlike National Scenic Trails, there is no m1n1mum length and they may be open to motorized use if permitted by the manager of the trail.

The category of National Recreation Trails was designed into the or1g1- nal legislation primarily to incorporate trails in and near cities into the National Trails System. Trails in Federal and State park and forest areas or on private lands away from cities may also become National Recreation Trails.

Today, there are seven National Historic Trails.

National Historic Trail is a marked route which may not always be the same as the actual historic route. It is a linear network of historic and recreation sites which serve to preserve and commemorate the trail and which are connected by various types of routes (land and water trail and highways) providing for retracement or approximate retracement of the historic route.

SPRING, 1988 VOLUME VII, NUMBER 1

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Happy Hiking,

you all come May.

Robert Dreis Certified Wildlife Biologist 632 Smith Street Spooner, WI 54801 (715-635-8193)

Copy for the Newsletter

Further details are available in th form of a prospectus for each trip. Prospective participants are invi­ ted to send a business-size SASE fo each prospectus to the leader: Richard G. Terwilliger 7339 Pinecastle Rd. Falls Church, VA 22043 (703) 560-6325

Barbie/John

The second trip will occur on August 20-27 and will be hut-to-hut, six-day traverse of the rugged Presidential Range of New Hampshire White Mountains. Participants will stay overnight in the enclosed, commodious huts of the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC), which will pro­ vide shelter, meals, and bedding. Participation is limited to 12 hardy mountain hikers without sig­ nificant speed, stamina, or strength shortcomings.

The first trip will occur on June 5- 22 and will take participants to Poland's Tatra Mountains, a Carpathian range. The trip's con­ cept involves air travel on the event's 1st and 18th days; 16 days will be spent in Poland (6 days sightseeing/travel, 4 days of hiking in the picturesque Goree, Beskids, or Bieszczady ranges, and 6 days of hiking in the dramatic Alpean land­ scapes of the Polish Tatras). Day­ hikes will follow the two-party ap­ proach (one party doing moderate hikes, the other doing moderate-to­ strenuous hikes, each with a biling­ ual guide - an experienced mount­ aineer). Trip capacity will be 20 serious, competent hikers.

The NCTA's hiking members are cor­ dially invited to participate in two multi-day hiking events to be organized and conducted by the Regional Outings Program (ROP) of the Washington-area Sierra Club Groups. In each case, the hiking trip will be led by Dick Terwilliger, a NCTA member, an experienced leader of multi-day hiking events, and an avid, longtime hiker of European and American mountain trails.

SPRING, 1988 HIKER'S ALERT

VOLUME VII, NUMBER 1

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AHS Volunteer Vacations PO Box 86

No. Scituate, MA 02060

Tom Reimers

The 155-page document contains a lot more interesting information on the National Trails and trail users. It is worth reading. The Assesssment is available by writing to U.S.Department of the Interior,National Park Service, P.O. Box 37127, Washington, DC 20013-7127.

Public Law 90-543 of 1968 divides the national trails into three compon­ ents: National Recreation Trails and Connecting and Side Trails, which can be designated by the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture,and National Scenic Trails, which can be designated only by·. an act of Congress. National Historic Trails were eatablished in 1978. Since 1968, Congress had identified 30 long-distance trail routes to be studied for designation as National Scenic and Historic Trails. Only 13 were so designated, including the North Country National Scenic Trail. These 13 trails total 23,620 miles; about 10,300 miles are marked and ready for use. Over 750 National Recreation Trails totally well over 8,000 miles have been established.

The Fall meeting of NCTA was a great success! I was very pleased with our accomplishments, particularly our discussions of the 1990 End-to-End Hike. I receive copies of correspondence from the committee in charge so I know planning and work are continuing. I also was happy that Wes Boyd wan ts to write a trai 1 guide for the North Country Trai 1. I hope those who are asked for information will cooperate. It's a big under­ taking. Wouldn't it be great to have a trail guide for 1990 or sooner! A 1983 amendment to the National Trails System Act (Public Law 90-543) called for the Secretary of the Interior to submit to Congress a National Trails System Plan indicating the scope and extent of a com­ plete nationwide trails system. The 1986 document that resulted from the amendment is called National Trails Assessment. Several issues were raised by this interesting and important study that will require future consideration. The greatest concern of trail users in the survey was funding for trail planning, acquisition, development, and maintenance. Most useres~said they were willing to provide funds through excise taxes on trail-related equipment, user's fees, etc. However, this willing­ ness was contingent on the funds being specifically used for trails and not going into a general fund. Another need perceived by users was a lack of adequate information about trails, such as "Where can I find bicycle, or horse, or hiking trails in my home state?" Two Federal agen­ cies and two states do not have inventories of their trails and the U.S. Forest Service's inventory is not directly accessible to trail users.

TRAIL HEAD II A Letter From the President

SPRING, 1988 VOLUME VII, NUMBER 1

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•: •: ••• ••• ... .. • •r ,• • • • ... 9' • • • #. • :. ·- -~ 9: ••

Think about it------ Please. Do something about it------ Please. Tomi Lou Spyker

Sure, it is an unfair burden - there will seem to be less time to enjoy the trails as you spend more time working on them. But we are a statis­ tically small user group - what we do not use and help to protect (that is called trail maintenance) for future horsemen we will lose.

By doing more than your fair share of trail building,maintenance and public relations. Mix with other trail users - make them see horsemen are people they know and like - people who are working just as hard as they do to maintain the trails. Talk with land managers who oversee the areas you ride in - make them aware you are there and like what they have done for you - or help them handle problems that arise because of your (and other horsemen's) use of the trails.

seem to have a bad image with other trail users How do you fight that?

Unfortunately, horsemen and many land managers.

With the NCT Association, we have the same problems that occur with the Buckeye Tra~l Association; we are a few horsemen dealing with an organi zation that is dominated by hikers. When trail routing and other deci­ sions are made the hiker's view and prejudices create many barriers. Many of the hikers' complaints are justified - from their view and ex­ perience. Why should they have to expend effort to repair or re-route a trail damaged by horse use or keep searching for a private landowner who will allow both hiking and horse use?

As horsemen, we once more find ourselves facing the problem that our trail needs will not be met or maintained unless we become vocally and physically involved in the job of planning, maintaining and using the trails we want.

HORSE SENSE Report From The North Country Trail

Since being elected to the Board of Directors of the North Country Trail Association, I have found myself delighted with the open-mindedness of many of the other board members yet also discouraged by the many ob~ stacles to horse use along its length. In a nutshell, the problem is this: the managing agency for each section of trail determines what type of use is allowed on that section of NCT - very few agencies even think of horse use. In fact, the NPS does not feel that even the federa land managers are obligated to put in a true multipurpose (non-motorized) trail.

SPRING, 1988 VOLUME VII, NUMBER 1

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Linda Vargason 1031 1st St. E. #124 West Fargo, N.D. 58078

Looking forward to seeing you in Michigan in May.

Chris Bredlow suggested we try to organize a volksmarch at Maplewood State Park in conjunction with our summer ronde-vous. It could be billed as the "FIRST OFFICIAL AVA­ IVV VOLKSMARCH ON THE NORTH COUNTRY TRAIL". With that in mind, I will work with Kay Zwernik of the Minnesota Recreation and Park Assn. and Don Guttormson, President of the Minnesota State Volkssport Assn. in hopes that we can make it come to pass. It would be the week-end of June 18 and 19. I'm working wit Minnesota people just because we only have three clubs here in North Dakota and each of them only hold one event each summer and so already have plans for walks this year. Perhaps, if North Dakota gets a Walk North Dakota program going like Minnesota and South Dakota, we can get one or two events in North Dakota next year. I'm also sending a past issue of the American Wanderer. Several things are circled for you. If there is anything in the magazine that you wish to use in the Newsletter, the editor is happy to let people re­ print.

Dear Co-Eds,

Linda Vargason Red River Volkssports 1031 1st St. E, #124 West Fargo, N.D. 58078

Waiting to hear from you, and HAPPY WANDERINGS,

As the president of our local club and the new board member from North Dakota to the NCT Assn., I'd like to personally help organize this kind of multiple event. Please let me know what your feel­ ings are about something of this scope.

Their immediate goal is planning an end-to-end (in segments) hike on Labor Day week-end of 1990. And this is where I think volkssvor­ ters could get involved. Wouldn t it be exciting if we could sanction at least one volksmarch per state on the North Country Trail on that week-end.

The people we met from the NCT are a dedicated group of hikers with a vision of a 3,240 mile non-motorized trail from the east border of New York, to Lake Sakakaweja in North Dakota, where it will connect up with the Lewis and Clark Trail.

This past October, on a week-end when the nearest volksmarch was a seven hour drive away, three of us from the Red River Volkssport Assn. attended a different hike and meet­ ing. We met with the North Country Trail Assn. here in north central Minnesota at Lake Itasca State Park, where the Mississippi River starts its journey southward.

Dear Fellow Volkssporters in New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and North Dakota,

January 18, 1988 January 11, 1988

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Thomas L. Gilbert Coordinator, North Country National Scenic Trail

Sincerely,

You have written and called me about several other matters on which, re­ gretfully, I have not yet followed through. I hope you are planning to be at the meeting in Minnesota so that we can discuss these matters and move forward on them. If you are not there, I will contact you by tele­ phone after I return.

If a decision is eventually made to establish such routes, we will want to be directly involved in identifying/planning such routes and their marking. We have specific ideas in these areas. If this subject comes up at the NCTA meeting in Minnesota, I will be prepared to discuss it.

We would like to explore this further and get input from the NCTA, our North Country National Scenic Trail Advisory Council, the Buckeye Trail Association~ the Finger Lakes Trail Conference, and others. Many consid erations would have to be weighed. Among other considerations, we are concerned that the existence of marked temporary routes could erode in­ centive to work to establish an off-road certifiable route. I am part­ ticularly concerned that our and your willingness to accept temporary routes on roads may even undermine efforts to establish segments across public lands, such as Lost Nations State Game Area, by giving officials an additional rationale to not cooperate. However, from another perspec tive and over the long term, perhaps continuous temporary routes would increase the incentive of all to work toward certifiable trails. We are concerned about our liability and yours if we "invite" people to walk on roads following a marked route. Regardless of all these concerns, the issue deserves to be reopened. After all, even if we complete 100 certi fiable miles of trail each year, it will be 25 years before the trail is finished.

I read with interest your article, "Second Best Now: A Proposal for Temporary Route Development" in the recent issue of the North Country Trail Association (NCTA) Newsletter. Along with other considerations an perspectives that have come to my attention during the past year, it has sparked me/us to do some rethinking on the pros and cons, the benefits and pitfalls of allowing or fostering the establishment of temporary routes for the North Country Trail on roads for the purpose of creating a continuously marked trail now.

Mr. Wes Boyd 14845 Rome Road Manitou Beach, Michigan 49253 Dear Mr. Boyd:

VOLUME VII, NUMBER 1 SPRING, 1988 SECOND BEST NOW: AND THEN

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HOLLAND'S HIKERS

At our dinner party at the end of our 4th day in Ellis Restaurant, Trout Lake, Michigan, our waitresses made up and sang us the following song:

Over the river and through the woods, A hiking you will go.

You tripped on a root and broke a foot A hiking you will go.

EDITORIAL COMMENT: There are additional verses to this song that are deliberately deleted so that Art and his wife's accompaniment can sing them to us at the Spring meeting. And that is just like Art Holland and his hiking groups; to inspire waitresses to compose and dedicate songs to them, something that can happen only in the North Woods.

The hike was from Tohquamenon Falls to the Mackinac Bridge and nine hikers made it the whole distance out of our group of eighteen.

We were not able to scout the whole distance, so we took a chance in a few areas hoping that we would be able to get through okay. The trail hadn't been cleared or hiked for many years, but with our trail-wise crew, we made it before darkness each day.

In February, we will snowshoe on Sunday the 14th, meeting at 9:00 A.M. and try to finish by 5:00. This will be a ten miler for the ones that want to go for it; but arrangements will be made for anyone that wishes for a shorter trip. If you don't have snowshoes, I will have some avail­ able from Jim Carlson to rent. Any questions, please contact Art Holland at 616-784-6441, 492 Four Mile Road, New Comstock Park, Michigan 49321.

1987 - 100 Mile Long Distance Hike Our 4th ann~al long distance hike of August 22 to 27 was very successful and we all enjoyed many new experiences on some tough parts of the trail.

We will stay overnight at the headquarters, or camp out on the trail, or you may either motel it or go home for the night. We will all meet at 9:00 A.M. on Sunday and snowshoe until 1:00 P.M. If we are unlucky and don't have enough beautiful snow, then we will hit the trail on foot.

On January 16 & 17, we are planning on meeting at the headquarters at 12:30 on Saturday and start out on snowshoes at 1:00 and travel until 5:00. After a dinner break, we will go out for a moonlight trip for an hour from 8:00 until 9:00.

SPRING, 1988 VOLUME VII, NUMBER 1

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How About This!, For Headquarters Carpentry!

Tom Reimers, President NCTA

I have a small committee formed to make plans for the meeting. Members can call me at 607-272-8679 or write for information about the beautiful Finger Lakes Region of upstate New York.

The motel also has a restaurant which normally is open only on Saturday night and for weekday lun­ ches. We can use the restaurant for our executive board meeting and gen­ eral meeting. Meals will be served for us exclusively on Friday evening Saturday for lunch, Sunday morning (donuts and coffee), and sack lun­ ches can be prepared for the hikes on Sunday. There will be no charge to use the restaurant for our meet­ ings.

NCTA at ATC, 1987

For reservations before June 1, 1988 the rates are $40.00 per night for a single and $50.00 for a double. After June 1, the rate will be $65.00, regardless of the number of people in the room. The telephone number for the motel is 607-273-3885 When making reservations, members should indicate that they are with the NCTA meeting.

The fall NCTA meeting will be held at the Meadow Court Motel from October 7 to 9, 1988, in Ithaca, NY. Because Cornell University and Ithaca College are both in Ithaca, a relatively small city, October is the busiest month for motels in the area. There are Parent's Day Week­ ends, football games, Homecomings, etc. It is advisable to make motel reservations early to assure accom­ modations and to get a better rate.

!FALL MEETING, 1988; ALERT!

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Volkssporting is inexpensive and free. There is not any entry fee charged. Participants pay for what they intend to receive. An event a­ ward is no more than $5.00; IVV credit is no more than $1.50; and non­ award recipient participants are free.

Every volkssporter is a winner and is recognized with awards for parti­ cipating. At each event you may choose to earn an event award upon com­ pletion. The event award is a patch or medallion depicting the theme, location, or honoree of the event. Event awards are like mini vacation pictures and will always bring back memories of good times. The other award offered through volkssporting is individual accumulative awards.

Events trails vary in location and theme. AVA clubs have used state, lo­ cal, and national parks, downtown areas, historical areas, ranches, zoos, and anything that can route a 6.5 mile trail. These trails provide sightseeing for out-of-towners and even local citi­ zens. The trails can also highlight new parks, or city areas. Volks­ sporting is not laps around a track or block but rather scenic trails that allow participants to enjoy the out-of-doors and enjoy exercise.

The fundamental difference and attraction of volkssport as opposed to competitiver-sports formats is that virtually everyone can participate. The Volkssport philosophy simply recognizes that everyone cannot and should not attempt to compete in timed events in which competition and awards are based on order of finish. On the other hand, everyone can and should participate in some lifetime program of exercise and volkssport is meeting that need for millions worldwide. Normally a volkssport event will have two distances (10k and 20k) from which to choose. A 10k is approximately six miles and usually takes two to two-and-one-half hours to complete. Within that time frame you can enjoy the uninterrupted company of friends and family. Also, you may stop at check points or any spot on the trail to picnic, visit, shop or rest.

A volkssport is an organized event designed to appeal to everyone, to people of all ages and it is not a contest of speed or endurance. Parti­ cipants go at their own pace but must complete the volkssport by the an­ nounced finish time. Adequate time is provided to complete the volks­ sport event and there are usually several distances for people to select from.

The term Volkssport literally means a sport of the people. Currently there are four types of volkssport events: Volkswalking, swimming, bi­ cycling, and crosscountry snow skiing. Participants are from the general public and this means everyone: Mom and dad, grandfathers, grandmothers, aunts, uncles, children and even your pets.

From The American Wanderer, Vol. 10, Number 5, Sept.-Oct., 1987:

VOLKSSPORT An Introduction

SPRING. 1988 VOLUME VII, NUMBER 1

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If you think you might be interested in participating in such a trip next summer, you can write to Vince Smith to let him know. His address is: Box 76, Whitmore Lake, MI 48189.

Vince has one explanation why people enjoy trips such as these. "Proba­ bly one reason is that it's so satisfyin? to walk back out on a cleared, leveled trail where one had to fight ones way in through the brush and around the humps, and also to reflect that future backpackers will find their way cleared and their path smoothed". Vince £miJ:h began planning these trips early last spring when he realized ;that neither the Sierra Club or American Hiking Society had any service trips scheduled for the NCT. Currently Vince is in the process of plati~ ning and organizing an outing for next year. Tentatively he hopes to schedule a trip for the two weeks just before Labor Day in Baraga State Forest which abuts the Ottawa National Forest near the Sturgeon River and which as yet has no trail.

Not all the crew's time, however, was spent working. Swimming was the most popular leisure activity which is understandable given the hot temp­ eratures of·last summer. The groups also enjoyed hiking unfamiliar sec­ tions of the NCT as well as picking blueberries (and one would guess, eating them).

The crew whose size varied from seven or eight down to three and even one at times worked at digging and raking to level the trail, pruning and dragging branches off the trail, and putting up trail markers. Approxi­ mately 20 percent of their work time was spent following ribbons which had been placed by a ranger through thickets and over hummocks, and clearing new trail. The rest of the time the trail crew worked at re­ storing trail which had become grown over with vegetation and blocked by fallen logs.

Last summer a handful of volunteers spent part of their vacations im­ proving and extending parts of the North Country Trail (NCT) in Michigan's Manistee, Hiawatha and Ottawa National Forests. Three service outings which were lead by Vince Smith of the Huron Valley Group contri­ buted about 400 man~hours towards the completion of the 3,200 mile hiking trail.

SIERRANS WORK ON NORTH COUNTRY TRAIL

Volkssport events are a community service. Because it is inexpensive and enjoyable it appeals to the whole public; not just a selct group (as in marathons, health spas, etc.).

The American Volkssport Assn. is the governing body of volkssport events throughout the U.S. The AVA is made up of clubs that conduct the events. The AVA is one of 15 countries involved in this international sport.

SPRING, 1988 VOLUME VII, NUMBER 1

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Strong participation in the work of the President's Commission on Americans Outdoors. AHS carried the message of the need for trails to the commission's hearings across the country, and fhe GOmmission's report

,;; :~~~~favorable for trails.

s FACTS

• Since 1940 forty thousand miles of trails have disappeared. • Since 1969 the number of hikers has more than doubled • ._, .-··-- • Since our beginning in 19n, The American Hiking Society has b88n th8ontr­

national organization dedicated to protecting the interest of hikers.

RECENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS AHS federal legislation to increase the number of trails and to assist with turning abandoned railroad rights-of-way into trails. Every year the administration has: tried to cut or eliminate funding for trails; we've convinced Congress to fund them.

AMERICAN 'HIKING ~(O)CllETY Wes Boyd

If work is far enough along, it is hoped that NCTA members will be able to make pre-publication orders for the NCTA guide at the Spring meeting.

According to Wes, the initial printing will be small, and kept as cheap as possible; maps will be fewi small-scale and rudimentary. "I kind of think of it as the 'minus-one edition", he says. "There are bound to be errors, and the sooner we can get this book in the hands of users, so they can give us feedback, the better. Once the first edition is paid for, we can put profits into upgrading typesetting and artwork in future editions".

Wes, a professional newspaperman, reports that progress has been steady so far. Rough drafts of the four chapters comprising Michigan, Ohio and New York are nearing completion, and researchers are pulling together data for the other states. Working with Wes are NCTA President Tom Reimers in New York, Barb Smith and John Hipps in Pennsylvania, Tomi Lou Spyker in Ohio, Bob Dreis in Wisconsin, and Linda Vargason in North Dakota. Wes is still looking for a Minnesota researcher. The guide will discuss all current certified and connecting sections of the trail, and will describe "suggested routings" that a user can follow between marked trail sections.

The long-needed "Guide to the North Country National Scenic Trail" may become a reality before the end of the year. At last October's NCTA meeting in Minnesota, Michigan's Wes Boyd agreed to chair an effort to put together the first end-to-end user's guide for the trail.

PROGRESS REPORT ON NORTH COUNTRY TRAIL GUIDE SPRING, 1988 VOLUME VII, NUMBER 1

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!SALUTE! to the star of the NCTA Fall Meeting, Lake Itasca, October, 1987

When a new segment of trail is ready for public use, the managing author­ ity responsible for that segment should apply to the National Park Ser­ vice's Midwest Regional Office in Omaha, Nebraska, to have it certified .. The instructions for applying are in the comprehensive plan. Most appli­ cations can be completed in 2-3 typewritten pages. A map of the segment, preferably drawn on a topographic map, is also required. When the appli­ cation is approved, a supply of the official NCT marker is sent to the managing authority for placement along the segment.

Certification means that the trail segment has been developed and is managed in gCcordance with the requirements of the National Trails Sys­ tem Act and the policies and guidelines in the Park Service's "Compre­ hensive Plan for Management and Use" of the NCT. Therefore, in addition to being an administrative tool for the National Park Service, certifica­ tion tells a potential user several things about the segment: that it is off-road, it is not (legally) open to any form of motorized use, it is marked with the official NCT logo, it has been developed and maintained in a manner to provide for reasonably safe use for the activities permit­ ted on it, and there is an identifiable manager responsible for the seg­ ment.

Certification is an administrative procedure established by the National Park Service for officially recognizing segments of trail as part of the North Country National Scenic Trail (NCT) and, therefore, eligible to be marked with the official NCT marker. It is a way for the National Park Service to control the use of the marker (which it must do) and to cre­ ate official records of what portions of the NCT are completed.

In her letter to the Editor in the Autumn, 1987 issue of the North Country Trail Association ''Newsletter'', Laura Cross asked what is invol­ ved in certifying a segment of trail.

CERTIFYING TRAIL SEGMENTS by

Thomas L. Gilbert Coordinator, North Country National Scenic Trail

National Park Service

CHRIS BREDLOW

SPRING, 1988 VOLUME VII, NUMBER 1

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WANTED - Items for the classified section of the Newsletter by Co­ Editors Smithipps.

The first item to appear in this new service is as follows:

!CLASSIFIED!

We are looking forward to hearing from you all.

We'd like to get letters from you all putting emphasis on your per­ sonal side (e.g. your hobbies, your favorite things, etc.). If you don't mind, please stick this on a bulletin board or on the wall.

We are a group of Japanese youths who would like to make friends with people of your country and other nationalities.

Dear friends:

NCT Association or any other trail group a Challenge Grant and join with the Forest in a partnership to maintain the entire Trail for cross­ country skiing. The Challenge Grant concept permits the Forest Service to provide matching funds for fur­ thering National Forest related ac­ tivities to organizations interested in promoting certain activities or interests. Gaylord Yost

EDI-NOTE SIGMA INT'L. PEN PAL CLUB 2-20-14-305, Minami-karasuyama Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 157, Japan

October 6, 1987

****

Manistee NF District Rangers plan on constructing 14 miles of NCT dur­ ing 1988. The work will be accom­ plished just south of the Udell Hills in the Manistee Ranger Dis­ trict. An additional 8 miles of the existing NCT will be upgraded to make sure the segment is not lost due to vegetation growth and other factors. The upgrading will be done on all three of the Manistee NF Ranger Districts by prison crews and volunteers. In addition, the White Cloud District Ranger will be plan­ ning to obtain a right-of-way across a private tract and bridge Biglow Creek to extend the Trail southward.

****

The Wayne National Forest in Ohio will be the scene for a volunteer group to continue a labor of love this coming year. For the past five years, the volunteers have come to­ gether on five weekends per year to work on North Country Trail con­ struction and maintenance. This year the group, coordinated by Mary Ann Wendeln, will be working on the Athens Ranger District of the Wayne NF. The group is hoping to complete from 3 to 5 miles of the Trail dur­ ing their work weekends.

NATIONAL FOREST NEW NOTES

In response to a question regarding Sincerely, why the NCT is not maintained for crosscountry skiing on the Masaaki Koroki Chequamegon NF, Recreation Staff Manager Officer Joe Watkins noted that part of the NCT in the vicinity of Penokee Mountain is maintained for this activity. The Penokee Mountain Crosscountry Ski Trail was developed A section of the NEWSLETTER will be several years ago and is routed a- available for free classified items long the NCT for a way. Crosscoun- for any NCTA member to include items try skiing is a recognized form of wanted, for sale, etc. activity for the NCT on the Chequamegon Forest but use levels are not high enough to justify spending Forest trail maintenance funds for the purpose at this time. Joe Watkins says the Forest Supervisor would love to offer the

SPRING, 1988

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VOLUME VII, NUMBER 1

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Phone

Address ~----------------------------- Name ------------------------------- The following person(s) want to become members of NCTA:

Please complete: I dm interested in furthering the work of the NCTA by:

Constructing and maintaining trails Building and maintaining shelters and campsites Regional Newsletter reporter Clerical, secretarial, typing work Membership·Development Liaison with area trail organizations Other: ~--------------------------

ZIP CODE ADDRESS NAME

for NCTA PATCHES ($3.25 each, in- Enclosed is$ eluding posta_g_e_)-.------ Send to:

Phone

Address Name

Adult $ 10.00 Family ........•........ $ 15.00 Student .....•.....•.... $ 5.00 Organization .......•... $ 25.00 Supporting •..••••...•.. $ 50.00 Donor ..••...•.....•.... $ 250.00 Life $ 300.00 Patron .••.•..•.••....•• $5000.00 Commercial. •..•.....•.. $ 500.00

I wish to join the North Country Trail Association. Enclosed is$ for a

membership.

Date ------

NCTA P.O. Box 311 White Cloud, MI 49349

Annual Dues (membership year runs from October 1 to September 31)

APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP SPRING, 1988 APPLICATION VOLUME VII,NUMBER 1

...

RIDI/ RUN! SXIt HIKE/ SNOWSHOE/ BIRK!

.'3160 M88 lYIARTHA K. JONES 1857 TORQUAY AVE ROYAL OAK MI 48073

Non-profit Urg. U.S. Postage

PAID Permit No. 47 Caledonia, MI

NORTH COUNTRY TRAIL ASSOCIATION P.O. BOX311 WHITE CLOUD, MICHIGAN 49349

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