tar

July-September, 2005 The Magazine of the NORTH COUNTRY TRAIL ASSOCI~

My eyes lit up when I read Clare Cain's resume (article on our two new staffers on Page 8) and noted a degree in English. Aha, here's our new "On the Road" columnist, a thing we lost when Rob Corbett got promoted to executive director. Her first piece appears on page 16.

There was another little gem in that resume: training in conflict reso­ lution. That will come in handy, too. Grumpy hikers (and I am told that I am one of them) can be a quarrelsome bunch.*

•

NCT office, my route was blocked by a cruiser and the swan/boy spectacle. And like all good North Starmen, I most always carry a camera. Hence these historic photographs.

Can you lead a swan to water? the asphalt lanes of Lowell.

Mute swans aren't very mute. They can sound pretty hissy especially when approached by a policeman who thinks swans don't belong on city streets. With neck drawn back and wings spread out they look pretty aggressive, too. (When I lived on a river inhabited by swans some years ago, they used to scare the fur off my dog who wasn't ever smart enough to back off a rac­ coon but tucked his tail between his legs when confronted by a swan.)

But I digress. There appeared on the scene a fearless lad on a small bicycle whom the swan approved of and followed, more or less. At this the police swung into action and blockaded every cross street until the piper and his charge had returned to the river in about a half hour. That's how I came upon the parade. Trying to leave the

WERNER VEIT

EDI10R'S ~@)u~

"\Tou never know what you're going I. to find on the North Country Trail

(NCT). Would you believe a mute swan being herded back onto the trail-yes, our trail-by a little kid on a bicycle? With the cops stopping traffic while Cygnus olor waddled by?

It really happened and I've got the pictures to prove it. And pictures (at least my pictures because I'm not very good at Adobe Photoshop, a software program that lets you manipulate images) don't lie.

As you may know, the NCT runs along the Flat River in downtown Lowell, Mich., site of our headquarters. The river is the home of a quartet of mute swans. They live just offshore next to the Lowell Riverwalk, a pleas­ ant stroll marked by our blue blazes.

For reasons known only to herself (or himself, I have never learned to dis­ tinguish girl swans from boys) this bird came ashore and wandered five blocks away from the trail and the river. He/she couldn't have been looking for lunch. While swans occasionally vary their diet of small fish, mollusks, tadpoles and insects with grass or field stubble, there isn't much of that among

the North Country Trail It Takes All Kinds to Walk Police escort for drama on the way to the North Country Trail.

The North Scar, Summer Issue, Vol. XXIV, Issue 3, is published by the North Country Trail Association, a private, not-for-profit 50l(c)(3) organization, 229 East Main Street, Lowell, Ml 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 rhe North Country Trail Associarion.

Werner Veit, Editor Irene Szabo, Associate Editor Jennifer Tripp, Associate Editor Roger Meyer, Contributing Editor Joan Young, Contributing Editor Aaron Phipps, An Director

The North Star Staff:

About the Cover Sheyenne River Valley Chapter, N.D., members practiced trail building tech­ niques by doing bench work on a 300 yard segment of trail outside Valley City, N.D., on National Trails Day. Photo by Alicia Hoffarth.

Departments Milestones 5 Hiking Shorts 6 Trail Shop 31 Who's Who at the NCTA 36 Trail Supporters 38

Columns Editor's Note 2 On the Road with Clare 16 Reaching for the Gold 17 View from Lowell 27 Trail Craft. 28 Trailhead 29

Celebrating Trails Day 19 Tale of Two Termini: N.D 24 Board Report 30

This year's annual conference offers a stop at the historic Mill Creek saw mill. For more information the conference see page 11.

Articles Hiking with the Hutchins .4 Meet the New NCTA Staff 8 Trailside Gourmet 10 Annual Conference Update 11

The Sheyenne River Valley Chapter, N.D., constructed trail in the morning and hiked on the new trail in the afternoon on National Trails Day. Find out how other Chapters, Partners, and Affiliates celebrated National Trails Day, see page 19.

A Glance Inside

Terms Expiring 2007 Lyle Blalk Michigan Rep.,

(810)679-2401 · lylebailk@sbcglobal.nec 54 Wells Sr., Croswell, Ml 48422

Carl Boesel, Ohio Rep., (740)385-0074 · gboesel@hocking.net

863 Northbridge Lane, Columbus, OH 43235

Bobby Koepplin, At Large Rep., (701)845-2251 · bkoepplin@kwh.com

230 15th St. NE, Valley City, ND 58072

John Leinen, President, At Large, (651)433-4456 · foocpachpal@msn.com

14205 St. Croix Trail, North Stillwater, MN 55082

Joyce Appel, Pennsylvania Rep., (724)526-5407 · joyceappel@arm-cek.nec

PO Box 204D, East Brady, PA 16028

Irene Szabo, VP East, At Large Rep., (585)658-4321 · creeweenie@aol.com

6939 Creek Rd., Mt. Morris, NY 14510

Terms Expiring 2006 James Baldwin, At Large Rep.,

(269)382-3808 · jgbaldwin@earchlink.com 6163 Taylors Grove, Richland, Ml 49083

Sarah Julien, At Large Rep., (616)676-0172 · juliensarah@yahoo.com

1650 Tammarron, S.E., Grand Rapids, Ml 49546

Christopher Klein, Minnesota Rep., (218) 738-3988 · kleinll@midwescinfo.com

P.O. Box 62, Eagle Bend, MN 56446

Al Larmann, At Large Rep., (315)697-3387 · AFLarmann@msn.com

7169 Forbes Rd., Canastota, NY 13032

National Board of Directors Terms Expiring 2005

Howard Beye, New York Rep., (585)288-7191 · flrc@frontiernet.net

202 Colebourne Road, Rochester, NY 14609

Derek Blount, At Large Rep .. (248)548-1737 · djblount@sbcglobal.nec

906 N Alexander, Royal Oak, Ml 48067

Helen Coyne, At Large Rep., (724)776-0678 · hbcoyne@zbzoom.nec

212 Willow Circle, Cranberry Twp., PA 16066

Alicia Hoffarth, VP West, North Dakota Rep., (701)490-3889 · cahoffarrh@hocmail.com

435 Fifth Avenue NE, Valley City, ND 58072

Mary Lucas, Secretary, At Large Rep. (715)362-0616 · dsmlucas@newnorth.com

753 West Davenport, Rhinelander, WI 54501

NCTA Staff Rob Corbett, Executive Director Tiffany Stram, GIS Coordinator

Clare Cain, Director of Trail Management Jennifer Tripp, Development and

Communication Coordinator Bonnie Wayman, Office Manager

Bill Menke, Trail Foreman Glory Meyer, Public Services Coordinator

Allison Barr, Bookkeeper Sherry Staal, Office Assistant

Matt Rowbotham, GIS Assistant

*~ coUNTf?y

~ •ASSOCIATION•

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

www.northcountrytrail.org

way I could ever keep up with them. Interviewing the couple, I learned that it was leader Margaret's pace they measured! This is the woman who thought she couldn't do backpack­ ing, of course.

Obviously this has not been a business the Social Security Administration should be leery of, since, as Byron says, last year they may have sold 1,000 guides, but netted only $100 after the expenses of running a copier and buying the plastic binders.

Theirs is clearly a labor of love, intended to help open up long hiking trails to more people. And the guides have done just that, especially those that were published years before our own Association's mapping department got underway.

Now that he is 83 and she 74, the Hutchins have entrusted the Association's staff with publishing the guide­ books. The Lowell office will depend upon volunteer input to keep the guidebooks updated. If you are interested in volun­ teering to help with the guidebooks, please contact the office at 866-445-3628.

Byron and Margaret are still hiking. They will continue to verify sections of trail for the NCT but their work has become a more leisurely pursuit. The two continue to spread their passion for the NCT and its history, a history that they have become intrinsically tied to.

Keep you eyes peeled for these two tireless hikers in your area as they continue to put mile after mile of the NCT on their very, very worn boots. *

Byron and Margaret Hutchins have traveled far and wide while writing guides to their travels for others to enjoy. They are pictured here on the top of Mt. Whitney on the Pacific Crest Trail several years ago.

In 1978, Margaret Hutchins left a 30-year nursing career in her mid-fifties because her husband Byron had just taken early retirement from his job as a county extension agent with the University of Illinois and had a bee in his bonnet that they should take up backpacking

While she was sure she couldn't do something like this at her age, she didn't want to say anything negative. Margaret figured her inability to do it would prove him mistaken, so gamely went on a weekend Sierra Club trip with brand new equipment.

They both loved it, and immediately planned a 240-mile trip on the Florida Trail, "learning everything we should not take." This hike was followed quickly over the next few years by long backpacks on parts of the Appalachian Trail, 1,400 miles in Europe from Holland to the Mediterranean, and the entire Pacific Crest Trail (PCT).

While chipping away at the 2,400-mile PCT over five years, in three-month chunks of remote backpacking with food cached in two-week increments at houses and ranger stations along the way, they began their first guidebook.

The existing guide was too heavy to carry, forcing hikers to tear it apart into lighter segments, which is why Hutchins guides are all loosely bound in plastic covers, with replace­ able pages should a section change, and published in sections of trail that make for a lightweight booklet. So they walked all 2,400 miles taking notes and pushing a measuring wheel, bought a copier, and started making guides.

Many of us have gratefully used their booklets to navi­ gate parts of the North Country Trail (NCT) in six of our seven states, because fortunately the Hutchins heard of the NCT and decided to walk all of the certified portions.

They started with guides to the Chippewa and Allegheny National Forests, and eventually walked 1,605 miles of the NCT. Young whippersnappers who are accustomed to com­ puter graphics and GPS renderings of topographical maps may scoff at their simple typed pages (yes, with a typewriter!) and hand-drawn simple route maps that show all intersecting roads and rivers, but once they get over it they can appreciate the usefulness of these guides.

The hiker won't get lost even if blazes fail, can plan an accurate day's walk because mileage increments are shown in small chunks between features, can estimate time of comple­ tion because increments are also measured in elapsed walking time, AND learn something about the area they are walking through in the text!

I've used Hutchins guides in Pennsylvania, both parts of Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, and always thought the timed increments especially funny, since there was no

4···:r·h·~···N~-~t·ii···5t·~~····j~i;~-s~r~~;;;;;~-~--~~~~-

By Irene Szabo Associate Editor

Authors Margaret and Byron Hutchins retire from publishing but continue hiking

Hutchins' hike to second retirement

Mary Kunzler-Larmann 579 Al Larmann 401 John Leinen 305 Ron Rice 245 Kathy Eisele 196 Ed Scurry 132 Rich Pfeiffer 128 Vern Killinger 88 Arlen Matson 73 Carter Hedeen 72 Ruth Macfarlane 72 Richard Kroener 67

Volunteers on the Trail Thanks to the following volunteers who have reported the most hours during the first quarter of 2005:

Finger Lakes Trail Conference .. 161 Buckeye Trail Association 102 Superior Hiking Trail Assoc 68 Kekekabic Trail Club 10 NW Ohio Rails-to-Trails Assoc 10 Parks & Trails Council of Minn 2

Partner Support We work closely with several

organizations where the NCT coincides with other trails. Many members generously

support both the NCTA and these partners. Here is what we show

for overlapping membership:

Itasca Moraine 56 Clarion 35 Butler 33 Peter Wolfe 30 Hiawatha Shore-to-Shore 25 Central New York 23 Spirit of the Woods 22 Sheyenne River Valley 15

Volunteer Hours per Chapter Member

These are the NCTA Chapters with the highest number of volunteer

hours per member for the 12 month period between April 1, 2004 and

March 31, 2005! Congratulations!

Adams County 15% Allegheny National Forest 14% Peter Wolfe 9% Sheyenne River Valley 7% Central New York 4%

John Heiam 2 John Leinen 2 Keith Klos 2 Ted Soldan 2

Fastest Growing Chapters Highest percentage growth among

our chapters since the last issue:

Recruiting Members Top recruiters

since the last issue and the number of members rhey recruited:

otals -5.0%

37). 324 Pennsylvania

1,472 Michigan Ohio

276 Wisconsin -4.5%

64 247

NorttLPakota_ Minnesota

-0.9%

Current Change Since Members Last Quarter

64 0 236 -11 273 -3

1,467 -5 37 324 0 333 -4 152 -8

-30

Percent Change

0%

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.

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

Percent Change Other Total Marked Done and Miles Since Last Off-Road Off Road Road

State Certified Certified Issue Miles Miles Miles North Dakota 46.1% 219.1 0 1.8 220.9 0 Minnesota 28.4% 106.6 0 3.4 110.0 0 Wisconsin 55% 109.9 2.0 7.5 117.4 4.9 Michigan 54.2% 623.3 0.2 125.4 748.7 9.0 Ohio 30.2% 317.5 0 39.6 357.1 0 Pennsylvania 47.5% 126 0 44.6 170.6 4.9 New York 41.7% 260.9 1.3 87.2 348.1 0 Totals 42.6% 1,763.3 3.5 309.5 2,072.8 18.8

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.

-·-·························

Along the North C untry Trail MILES TON Es

home in Park Rapids. In fact, he has a trail from his back door through an urban forest to the DNR building itself.

Carter and Florence have estab­ lished a conservation easement with the Minnesota Land Trust that covers their 190 acre forest property including one mile of shoreline on Skunk Lake. Carter has a passion for the forest and for the North Country Trail that is just unmatched. (Information provided by jerry Trout.)

Mary Kunzler- Larmann, from the Central New York Chapter, was the recipient of the 2005 Volunteer of the Year Award for the Northeast Region. As Trail Planning and Development Chair since 1998, Mary has led the chapter to completion of approximately 22 miles of the 30 mile Link Trail, connecting the Finger Lakes Trail in Chenango County with the Erie Canal Towpath in Canastota.

A major project for the last two years has been the restoration of sec­ tions of the former Lehigh Valley railbed using, in part, a $15,000

Left: Jerry Trout, right, congratulates Carter Hedeen on winning the AHS award. At center is Carter's wife, Florence.

Larmann, left, was presented her American Hiking Society award by Central New York Chapter's President Kathy Eisele, right.

equipped to select the best path for the trail. Finding just the right route is so important for him that he combines multiple walkers' opinions of a given segment, then flags potential routes as much as three times before he selects the most desirable route from all design and aesthetic standpoints.

Carter has also worked to improve the NCT within Itasca State Park, and has actively supported the NCT re-route in northeastern Minnesota. He serves as vice-president of the Itasca Moraine Chapter, is past chair of the Urban Forestry Council in Park Rapids, and is current chair of the Hubbard County Woodlands Council.

An ambitious organizer, Carter schedules work sessions with stu- dent groups from two universities in Minnesota, and also led the effort in 2004 to construct a campground and a connector trail. This required gaining approval from state and local govern­ ment, but he is practiced at that, too: he maintains excellent rapport with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Forestry Division near his

HIKING~

• • •

AHS 2005 Volunteers of the Year

Through 2004, the American Hiking Society was awarding Volunteer of the Year to as many as fifty people a year, at the rate of one per state, but this year's round of awards has been changed into a much more exclusive club! In 2005 only nine honors were granted, one per several-state region, yet our NCT volunteers still won two of them.

We are proud to tell you about the deserving recipients.

In the Great Lakes Region, Carter Hedeen was honored as a tireless trail builder with a genuine passion for the forest and the North Country Trail. Carter has been the key individual in recent years in designing and build­ ing approximately 15 miles of certi­ fied trail in the Paul Bunyan Forest in Northern Minnesota. After receiving training from the Minnesota DNR in woodland management, he felt better

M embers of the North Country Trail Association elected Mary

Coffin of New York and Terry Serres of Minnesota to their national Board of Directors and confirmed the nomina­ tion of incumbent Alicia Hoffarth of North Dakota for the Board.

Coffin has been involved for over 20 years, maintaining and building trail along the Finger Lakes Trail, working with landowners and state agencies, and planning and leading hikes.

Hoffarth is currently the President of the Sheyenne River Valley Chapter of the NCTA and has served on the board since 2003.

Serres is at the University of Minnesota studying forest ecology. He has been active in the Kekekabic Trail Club and joined their board last year.

The directors will assume office during the annual conference.

Two new board members added in the NCTA election

The Votes are In

For several years, the Tittabawassee Chapter has displayed a booth at Jay's Sporting Goods in Clare, Michigan. Annually, Jay's holds "Backpacking Days" with manufacturer representatives displaying the latest outdoor equipment. The Chapter sets up a display about the North Country Trail to introduce people to the trail and Chapters. This year, using the NCTA's Chapter Field Grant Program, the Chapter received funds to purchase a new display system and literature holders. The Chapter reports the new display system is quick and easy to set up at events. Pictured from left to right John Geers, Camp Manager of Jays Sporting Goods, Jerry Allen, Tittabawassee Chapter President, and Connie Allen.

We Did it with a Field Grant!

New Hiking in Ohio The Buckeye Trail Association

(BTA) has added two new sections to the 1,436 mile Buckeye Trail (BT) that circumnavigates Ohio.

Both sections are in Southeast Ohio and connect with, and include the North Country National Scenic Trail (NCNST) in the Marietta Section of the Wayne National Forest. The first section called Road Fork departs from the existing BT in Noble County and runs 57.3 miles through scenic Noble, Monroe and Washington Counties.

The other section, Whipple is 57.7 miles in Washington, Noble and Morgan Counties. With the exception of the 31 miles of the NCNST this is almost entirely a road walk but it is so remote that it is highly likely that in a day's hike only one or two vehicles will be seen.

These two sections make up a side trail that may be termed the North Country Trail Connector. The existing BT between where this loop leaves and where it returns will be maintained.

These two sections were blazed in March by Buckeye Trail volunteers Garry Dill, Mary Hamilton, Herb Hulls, Jim Runk and Gary Williams.

Maps are available by order from the Buckeye Trail Association at www. buckeyetrail.org. *

saw, volunteers are "within the scope of their position description." Because the NPS and USDA Forest Service require all sawyers to have approved safety training, hold a current First Aid and CPR card, and are using the required safety equipment, before they may operate saws, the agencies do not cover un-certified sawyers.

Another exception, is the volunteer who is not a member of a chapter and who chooses to do solitary trail main­ tenance on his/her own time, not as a part of an organized activity. Since, there is not likely to be any record of this volunteer's actual hours on the trail, the NPS is unable to attest that the volunteer was working within the scope of a position description. The solution is to sign the volunteer up either as a member of a chapter or as a solitary volunteer with an agreement with the NPS directly.

Finally, workers, volunteer or paid, are protected by Workers Comp for injuries on the job and are entitled to be represented by the U.S. Attorney in the event of a tort, again as long as they are working within the scope of their position description. Horseplay is not covered. Tort protection might come up if another volunteer or a bystander were injured by the action of the volunteer. As long as the volunteer was performing their job within established guidelines for the use of the equipment they were assigned, they would be protected.

-Fred Szarka

Volunteer Liability Issues When volunteers work on orga­

nized chapter work projects, whether or not they are members of the NCTA and sign in on the project roster, they are automatically covered as Volunteers in Parks for the purpose of both Worker's Comp and liability as long as they are working within the scope of their position description. All volun­ teers are expected to use appropriate safety equipment at all times, for exam­ ple, gloves, hearing protection, safety glasses, and chaps.

OK, what does that mean? Well, for trail construction and maintenance activities, except for operating a chain-

Recreation Trails Program grant secured by Mary. Since the Central New York Chapter's charter extends to the border of the Adirondack Park,

Mary has organized individuals and small groups who are currently scouting for NCNST routes in the Rome/Boonville/Forestport area to the park's border. She is also the chapter's lead contact with the 28 private/public landowners and managing agencies whose lands the chapter's trail crosses.

When it comes to volunteer hours, Mary almost always tops the chapter's list each quarter. Her long-stand- ing leadership and dedication to the NCNST in Central New York make Mary a very deserving recipient of the American Hiking Society's award. (Information provided by Kathy Eisele)

Long Trail: the three-sided Adirondack shelter, an enclosed shelter (with mice and all), and a beautiful lodge. Butler Lodge, on the trail with a caretaker, is situated on the side of a mountain with a spectacular view of Lake Champlain and the Adirondacks. It was extremely hot and humid but we hiked to Mount Mansfield and enjoyed the great scen­ ery.

"Every fall I take my mom on a trip to Michigan's Upper Peninsula. We have a girls' trip of hiking on the NCT, camping, and taking in a few of Michigan's 101 waterfalls. At last count, we have about 83 waterfalls left to visit. On our last trip, we ran into a couple of active NCTA members at Laughing Whitefish Falls. I always enjoy meeting other NCTA volunteers!

"Last year, Max and I traveled to Newfoundland to enjoy the remote and rugged hiking. It offered a rare variety of hiking from fjords and glacial valleys to alpine plateaus and coastal lowlands. On one hike, we failed to heed warning signs and ended up bushwhacking as the trail had been washed into the river by recent hurricane-driven rains."

Clare's outdoor enthusiasm started even earlier. She has been active since high school when she volunteered on trails in Arizona with Backcountry

right, enjoy a soggy hike near NCTA headquarters. New staffers, Jennifer Tripp, left, and Clare Cain,

school to work on a mas­ ter's degree in non-profit management at Grand Valley State University. While going back to school, she worked as assistant store manager for Eastern Mountain Sports and became employed on a contract basis for the Association to work on communication projects, including many of the brochures and mailings you're seeing today.

All that furious activity has not stopped her outdoor life and she has enjoyed memorable hiking experiences from Vermont to Alaska. She recalls:

''After graduating from college, I had the opportunity to spend time hiking in Alaska. Before this experi­ ence, I would not have called myself 'outdoorsy' or seriously considered backpacking. Over the course of three weeks, I was able to see some of the most beautiful sites in North America and I realized there was a vast wilder­ ness that was available for explora- tion only by foot. After hiking in the Badlands of South Dakota, a dried riv­ erbed in northern Alberta, and through the great views and wildlife in Denali National Park, Alaska, I was hooked!

"Shortly thereafter, I discovered the NCT was literally in my backyard. I signed on as a member and volunteer. I have hiked with many great people on the NCT and participated in a couple of Bill Menke's famous trail building workshops.

"For vacation one year, my partner Max and I ventured to the nation's oldest hiking trail, the Long Trail in Vermont. This was a great experience as it was our first time on trail with shelters. We had the opportunity to stay in all three types of shelters on the

These are no armchair hikers, these new women on the staff of

the North Country Trail Association (NCTA).

First came Jennifer Tripp to the position the Board of Directors has dreamed of and planned for years: Development and Communications Coordinator. That's a fancy title for someone who will raise money and tell the public and the members about the NCTA.

Next came Clare Cain, Appalachian Trail thru-hiker, trail worker and conservation team leader from New England to Montana who succeeds Rob Corbett as Director of Trail Management.

The women are trail people, through and through.

Jennifer's involvement dates back several years from the day she walked into the Lowell office unannounced and volunteered her extensive skills to the NCTA.

Before long, she became associ­ ate editor of the North Star and, with her companion, Max Boyd, adopted a 3-mile section of the North Country Trail in the Huron-Manistee National Forest. Although both avid backpack­ ers, neither Jennifer nor Max had been members of the NCTA before, but once they joined, they quickly became heavily active.

Max designed a flag for the Western Michigan chapter, designed a traveling trail exhibit for outdoor shows and permanent displays for Lowell and White Cloud, and is serving his first term on the Board of Directors of the chapter.

After volunteering for the North Star for a couple of years, Jennifer left her job as a production manager for a magazine publisher and went back to

Werner Veit Editor, The North Star

Hiking's Their Game, Inside and Out

Our New Staffers:

Clare Cain, the NCTA's new Director of Trail Management, takes in the vista on her Appalachian Trail hike in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.

j~i;~s~~~~~b~~··;~·~·;···· rh~--N"~~th.st~-~- g

ning of fire season in August 2003 and it was a very dynamic time to be in the forest."

"I spent four months working in Hawaii as an SCA Intern on a habitat management project in the jungles on the Big Island. On my time off I was able to explore the really unique land­ scape of the Big Island and the Hilina Pali Trail and Keauhou Trail. One trip was a three day walk in Hawaii's Volcanoes National Park that took me through the lava desert and along the coast. It was a beautiful hike that included sleeping on the beach, eat- ing coconuts for dinner, and watching Pacific sunsets. It was also fraught with large attacking cockroaches, a broken stove, running out of water, and the bright idea of drinking wine to try to stay hydrated under the Hawaiian sun."

If you read her thoughts on hiking, you come to understand what a great fit she is for our Association and com­ munity of hikers. She wrote:

"I can't help but believe that when people take the time to wander out into the natural world on trails they are deeply affected by these untamed surroundings. I believe the act of walking and carrying your necessary wares on your back teaches simplicity that we bring back to our everyday lives. The paring down we learn and come to embrace on the trail directly translates to how we consume and impact our lives at home. These are the lessons of the trail."*

Jennifer Tripp, the NCTA's new Development and Communication Coordinator, with her partner Max Boyd on Vermont's Long Trail.

literature and creative writing from the University of North Carolina at Asheville and holds a minor in biology.

She is responsible for field man­ agement all along the North Country Trail's 4,600 miles, helping to coordi­ nate new trail construction, assist with developing access agreements and forg­ ing alliances among chapters and local agency units.

If you come to the annual confer­ ence this August, you'll meet her there and share a little trail talk.

Perhaps she will share with you details of some of the memorable hikes. She recalls three of them here:

"I hiked the Appalachian Trail when I was 21 years old. It was a six month, 2,160 mile long journey along the backbone of the Appalachian Mountains. It was amazing to walk through the seasons, live entirely out­ doors and I met many wise and quirky folks along the way. I can say that since my walk on the A.T. I have become particularly passionate about long dis­ tance trails and how they enable dis­ covery, insight, and conservation."

"Another memorable trip was four days through the Bob Marshall Wilderness in Montana on the Continental Divide Trail. We entered the Wilderness over Headquarters Pass and traveled over to and along the Chinese Wall (an amazing 20 mile stretch of limestone cliff that falls 600 feet from the Continental Divide to the valley floor). I traveled this section of trail with a few friends at the begin-

Volunteers. She served as a crew leader with the Montana Conservation Corps and the Maine Conservation Corps. As crew leader, she oversaw three to five person crews. She was responsible for team production and safety in the backcountry and taught crews back­ country living skills, trail maintenance and construction, and conservation ethics. She has had the opportunity to be involved in designing and building large bridges, using high-line rigging to install rock stairs, designing and laying out trail and using various techniques to improve the integrity of existing trail.

Clare also worked as a crew leader for the Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation in Montana. That involved leading various volunteer groups into the backcountry to work on trail main­ tenance projects. She has extensive experience working with many land managing agencies and organizations to design and maintain trails of all types.

Of particular interest to the Association, of course, is Clare's knowl­ edge of construction and maintenance of trails and trail structures to Forest Service and National Park Service stan­ dards, as well as other outdoor skills like native plant seed collection and promoting re-vegetation. She is also experienced in conflict resolution, has her Wilderness First Responder certifi­ cation, and is a Leave No Trace Master Trainer.

She earned dual degrees in English

bmit your hours online at www.northcountrytrail.orq or call us at 866-HIKE-NCT to request forms.

As a volunteer, you contribute invaluable time to the North Country Trail. hether you work on the trail, lead activities, participate in planning, produce newsletter or lead the work of others, you are the soul of the trail. In fact, volunteer service is the best measure we have to demonstrate

lie support for the trail. However, if you aren't letting us know about the rs you put in, you are weakening our stance when we approach legislators,

ations, and potential sponsors to ask for their financial help. So please, report your hours, if not for your own recognition, then for the

d of the trail.

~ttention Volunteers: he North Country Trail needs your help!

I I ---------------------------·

On the trail: Add the spice-flour mixture to the crabmeat together with the liquid in the pouch and mix, and let sit for ten minutes. If you substitute canned crabmeat, you have to drain most, but not the entire can's, liquid. Cut each bagel in half, fry each bagel in a generous dab of olive oil, and set aside. With a large lightweight plastic serving spoon drop half of the crab mixture into a hot skillet previously greased with a generous amount of olive oil. With the bottom of the spoon form the crabmeat into a flat round shape the size of your bagel. Fry each crab cake over low heat about three minutes per side in the remaining olive oil until golden brown. Eat the two fried crab cakes in the bagels like a sandwich wrapped in a napkin. One of my backpacking partners likes his crab cake sandwiches with a slice of red onion. You can eat better on the trail than at home.

Also bring: Two 3.53 oz. Chicken of the Sea Pouch Premium Crab 2 bagels 2 ounces of olive oil. Napkins or paper towels

o !:: -c )> z 0

~ m -t ::c (ii :ti m Q -c m

At Home: Place in a snack sized ziploc bag:

1 teaspoon dried onion powder 2 tablespoons of flour 1 teaspoon of celery flakes 1 teaspoon finely chopped dehydrated red bell peppers 1/8 teaspoon lemon juice powder 1/2 teaspoon black pepper 14 teaspoon salt

CRAB CAKES

B ackpack cooking differs from regu­ lar cooking in that not only must

the recipes be tasty, but the best recipes must also be lightweight, not spoil in weeks of high heat or humidity, be com­ pact, use little fuel, prepare quickly, and consist of ingredients that are relatively easy to find. In addition to those cri­ teria, the recipes should be healthy and low in cholesterol and saturated fat.

Bored with your typical freeze dried meat meals and standard recipes? The following recipe won First Place in the 2004 Titanium Chef Backpacking Cooking Contest. This tasty recipe cooks up fast and the bagels will keep up to a week in cooler weather on the trail. Everything is lightweight. *

Edward Ronkowski Superior Hiking Trail Association

Crab Cakes on the Trail

·---------------------------

a morning training workshop with NCTA Director of Trail Management, Clare Cain, and NCTA Trail Foreman, Bill Menke. The workshop will start with a classroom session on the basics

her backpacking adventures along the NCT. The book is available for pur­ chase from the Trail Shop. (See page 13 to preorder your copy!) The evening will also include a barbecue dinner fol­ lowed by an evening presentation on local Michigan history.

Friday morning starts early with a selection of activities. A challeng- ing eight mile day-long hike, hikers will take in the scenic views along the Jordan River Valley Pathway. You can also opt for the more relaxing day­ long trip to famous Mackinac Island. The Island offers a journey back in time with transport confined to foot, bicycles, and horses. Cross the Straits of Mackinac on a ferry and explore all this scenic, historic island has to offer. Another option for the day is to attend

feature some popular hikes in north­ ern Lower Michigan. The Conference also offers a relaxing day in downtown Petoskey with museums, antiques, and shopping!

I f you hurry, you can still help cel­ ebrate the 25th anniversary of the

North Country Trail (NCT) by registering for the North Country Trail Association's (NCTA) Annual Conference in Petoskey, Mich., Aug. 11- 14 (even though the deadline will have actually passed by the time you read this).

It's a time to renew memories and greet old friends. If you're new to the North Country Trail Association (NCTA), come see what we're all about and make new friends.

To participate, fill out the registra­ tion blank on page 15 of this issue of the North Star and follow the instruc­ tions to register by mail, telephone or online.

The conference will be held at North Central Michigan College and the college will provide the accommo­ dations, meeting rooms and food. For those who prefer to stay off-campus or camp nearby, day rates for registration are available.

There will be three days of fun and informative daytime activities, includ­ ing some great hikes featuring the Lake Michigan countryside and shoreline.

The conference opens on Thursday with an afternoon tour of colonial Fort Michilimackinac on the Straits of Mackinac, which separate Lakes Michigan and Huron. The Fort is an authentic French fur trading village.

Back at campus there will be a book signing with long-time NCTA member and long-distance hiker, Joan Young. Joan's will be debuting and autographing her new book, North Country Cache. The book chronicles

Times running out to register for the Annual Conference

Left Behind Don't Get

Annual Conference "*- Petoskey, Michigan "*- August 11~14, 2005

- Tom Gilbert

Author and Adventurer Ron Strickland, to be Featured Speaker at Conference

Author, adventurer, and explorer, Ron Strickland has had a spec­ tacular career. A Rhode Island native, Ron has always enjoyed hiking. His experiences hiking and working on the Appalachian Trail ignited his passion for long-distance trails and he became active in the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club.

In 1968, Ron spent a month hiking the Pacific Crest Trail in Washington. When 1970 brought the first observance of Earth Day, Ron felt a strong desire to return to the Pacific Northwest for more hiking. In the process, he conceived the idea for the Pacific Northwest Trail, that would extend from the Pacific Ocean in Olympic National Park to the Continental Divide in Glacier National Park. He launched the effort to create and promote the trail and founded the Pacific Northwest Trail Association.

In 1996, it occurred to Ron that if a trail could be developed to fill two gaps, America would have an amazing trail spanning the con­ tinent-7,700 miles from the Atlantic Ocean in Quebec, Canada, to the Pacific Ocean in Washington. He envisioned a link between the Continental Divide Trail and the western end of the North Country Trail (NCT). He imagined a shorter link between the NCT and the Appalachian Trail in Vermont. Ron called it the "Sea-to-Sea" Route.

He began promoting the idea in Backpacker Magazine. A 2003 article captivated a reader named Andrew Skurka. Andrew later explained, "The article absolutely inspired me." After months of preparation and training, Andrew set out in August 2004 from the Atlantic Ocean. An account of his trek appeared in the April issue of the North Star.

At the conference Ron will share his passion for hiking and for making his transcontinental dream a reality. His work echoes the original intent of the National Trails System Act to create a National Scenic Trail spanning our northern tier of states "from sea-to-sea." In words and photos, Ron will condense a lifetime of adventure for you into his vision of the Sea-To-Sea Route.

Last year, Ron Strickland thru-hiked a 1,500 mile section to complete the 2,600-mlle Pacific Crest Trail. Hear Ron at this year's Conference as he talks about his vision for the North Country Trail and the Sea-to-Sea Route.

of good trail design and how to con­ struct trail. In the afternoon, Clare and Bill will take the participants to the trail for a hands-on trail critique. Friday also offers several half-day activities: a moderate 4.1 mile hike near French Farm Lake, a challenging 3.1 mile hike from Landslide Lookout to Pinney Bridge, a morning workshop on basic map and compass use and an afternoon on GPS use.

The Annual Membership Meeting, including presentation of some awards, will take place Friday night after din­ ner. A speaker new to the program, since the last issue of the North Star, is Ron Strickland, who conceived the idea of a "Sea-to-Sea," route spanning the American continent. (See the side article on Ron Strickland on page 12.)

Saturday's schedule offers many exciting activities; one highlight is a morning workshop by the Top of Michigan Trails Council and the Little Traverse Conservancy on the success achieved by the two groups in the Petoskey area. Highlighted will be the cooperation to link trails and conserved land. The afternoon field trip will fea­ ture a section of the NCT that was cre­ ated by the Council and Conservancy, and will afford the participants a look at the trail as well as some beautiful preserved property along the route.

Saturday, downtown Petoskey will be the focus for this relaxed, day-long tour. The tour will visit Crooked Tree Arts Center, the Little Traverse History Museum, the See North Exploration Center, and shopping in the Gaslight District of Petoskey.

A day at the beach will be Saturday's day-long hike to Sturgeon Bay. At times a challenging hike, with climbs switch-backing the dunes, the kids will enjoy the easy hike and fun in the sand. North Central Michigan College Biologist Kathy Colby will lead hikers along the 2.6 miles of NCT on campus explaining the flora and fauna along the way. The afternoon hike will be a challenging 3.8 miles on the Warner Creek Pathway featuring tall hardwood trees and gentle rolling hills.

Tom Haxby and Steve Engle will show you "How to Take Better Photos On Your Hikes" in the morning Gear

i2 .. rh~ .. N ~~t·h·. st~~ .•.. j"~-i~·~·5·~·~·r·~~ b~~- -~~~~-

Annual Conference ~ Petoskey, Michigan ~ August 11~14, 2005

L---------------------------------~ Your book{s) will be available for pick up at the Annual Conference in Petoskey!

Card Number ------------------ Expiration Date _

Name on Card ------------------ Signature

D Check enclosed D Credit card (American Express, Discover, MasterCard, or Visa)

Payment Information: Number of Copies

Amount Enclosed

Mail completed form to: Trail Shop - North Country Trail Association

229 E. Main St., Lowell, Michigan 49331

Or order online at www.northcountrytrail.org

City _

State Zip _

Email

Pre-Order Your Copy of North Country Cache for $24.95 - , r---

* Pre-order the book from the NCTA, * Pick it up at the Annual Conference, * Have it autographed at the Conference by Joan Young!

Highlights of hiking experiences on the North Country Trail Association by member Joan Young

North Country Cache: Adventures on a National Scenic Trail

country cooking at the Trailside Gourmet Workshop.

Following the day's events, Saturday evening kicks off with the final bids on the annual silent auction. There will be a wide variety of outdoor­ related merchandise. All proceeds from the auction will benefit the NCTA Land Trust Fund to help protect and preserve the treasured land of the trail.

The major annual awards will be announced at the Saturday banquet, which also will include a presenta­ tion by Harbor Springs native Lou Kasischke.

Lou participated in one of the most fateful 1996 Mt. Everest expedi­ tion. His mountaineering adventures present a gripping story.

Don't miss out on the fun as we celebrate the North Country Trail!*

from the Rocky Mountain School of Photography and has won several awards for his outdoor photography.

The afternoon Gear Guru will teach you how to spice up your back-

Guru workshop. A presentation with question and answer time will be fol­ lowed by a trip outside to practice your new skills. Tom is a semi-professional photographer, and has taken courses

Neither rain nor sleet nor hail nor bushes nor bugs will prevent this Historic Conference Group Photo from taking place. Wear your Blue Blazes shirts for this traditional photo. As the NCTA President himself was heard to remark, "Wear 'em If you got 'em and If you don't the Trail Shop does." (See the Trail Shop on page 31 to order your Official Blue Blazes Shirt!)

Join us on Friday for the

Second Annual President's Photo!

Annual Conference "*- Petoskey, Michigan "*- August 11-14, 2005

9:30 Trail Shop Closes and Check Out

7:30 Breakfast

Thursday, August 11 10:30 Registration Opens 1:00 Afternoon Tour: Colonial Michilimackinac I Board of Directors Meeting 5:00 North Country Cache Booksigning with Author Joan Young 6:00 Barbecue Dinner 7:30 Michigan History Program

Friday, August 12 7:30 Breakfast

8:15 Day-long Hike: Day-long Tour: Half-day Hike: Morning Gear Guru: Jordan River Mackinac Island French Farm Lake Workshop Map & Valley Pathway & Afternoon Compass

Hike: Building 12:00 Lunch and Deisngin Lunch

1:00 Half-day Hike: Trail with Bill Gear Guru: Landslide Lookout to Menke & Using GPS Pinney Bridge Clare Cain

5:15 President's Photo: Wear Your Blue Blazes Shirt! 6:00 Dinner 7:00 Annual Membership Meeting with Awards Presentation 8:00 Evening Program: Ron Strickland

9:30 Take a Self-Guided Tour of Local Petoskey Establishments

Saturday, August 13 7:30 Breakfast

8:15 Day-long Hike: Day-long Tour: Half-day Hike: Morning Gear Guru: Sturgeon Bay Hike Crooked Tree Arts Interpretive Hike with Workshop How to Get

Center, Little Traverse Biologist Kathy Colby & Afternoon Better Photos History Museum, See Hike: on Your Hikes North Exploration Successes with Tom Haxby Center, Shopping in of the Little and Steve Engle

12:00 Downtown Petsokey Lunch Traverse Lunch

1:00 Half-day Hike: Conservancy

Gear Guru: and Top of Warner Creek Pathway Michigan Trailside

Trails Council Gourmet

6:00 Dinner, Silent Auction Closes

7:00 Annual Awards Presentation: Part 2

7:45 Evening Program: Lou Kasischke

Sunday, August 14

•ASSOCIATION•

2005 Conf ere nee Schedule Annual Conference ~ Petoskey, Michigan ~ August 11~14, 2005

ONLINE: www.northcountrytrail.org

PHONE: 866-HikeNCT

FAX: (616) 897-6605

Register MAIL:

North Country Trail Association, 229 E. Main St.

Lowell, Ml 49331

Tour Fees Additional entrance fees are required for some day-long tours. Participants will pay individually at whichever sites they choose to enter.

*The NCTA will not assign roommates

To get the double room rate, please fill in your

roommate's name here:

If children stay in the resi­ dence hall they are assessed a discounted rate provided the beds in the rooms are used by the parents at the regular priced rate. Sleeping bags or cots are not provided by the College.

$58 Full conference offsite $91 Full conference onsite $30 Per Day onsite $20 Per Day offsite

Childrens Pricing (Under 10 Years of Age)

Signature: -------------------------

Name as it appears on card: _

Method of Payment: ___ Check payable to NCTA enclosed Charge my MasterCard, VISA,

Discover or American Express

Card#: Exp.Date: _

Total Amount Enclosed:

$ 91 $ 30/Day

$58 $20/Day

If you have a Child/Children Attending: OnSite - Full Conference OnSite - Partial Conference OffSite - Full Conference OffSite - Partial Conference

$ 50 $ 65 $ 75

$115 $105

If you are Arranging Your Own Lodging Full Conference (4 days)

Partial Conference (3 days or less)

Day of arrival: Thur Fri Sat One Day Package

Thursday Friday Saturday (includes banquet)

$170 $150

$ 200 $175

If you are Staying On Campus Full Conference (3 nights)

Single Room Share a Double Room*

Partial Conference (2 nights or less) Day of arrival: Thur Fri Sat

Single Room Share a Double Room*

Cost per Person Total Cost

Number of People

Name(s): _ Address: _

City: State: Zip: _

Phone: E-mail: _

Each registration package includes meals, a conference collectible, and program and registration fees. If you are staying on campus, the package also includes lodging. Full Conference packages cover Thursday afternoon through Sunday morning. Partial Conference packages cover up to three days participation and, for those staying on campus, up to two nights lodging.

NCTA's 2005 Conference Registration Form

High Peaks Wilderness Area/ No V le-. I Pac d ra I

Adirondack State Park

Peaks area of the Adirondack Park but the High Peaks considered too heavily used to support the NCT.

Currently, there are two potential routes for the NCT to follow through Adirondack Park, the Southern and Central Routes. Barbara McMartin, an author of many Adirondack books, proposed the Southern Route. In 1996, the Central Route was pro­ posed by the NPS with Adirondack Mountain Club (ADK) input. Both routes have their merits and each deserves further consideration. (See the January-March 2005 issue of the North Star for detailed descriptions of the possible NCT routes through

with Clare Cain Director of Trail Management

The Adirondack Park planning trip was a great opportunity for the North Country Trail to bring a variety of dif­ ferent groups and agencies together to get the project rolling. Pictured in the back row, left to right, Fred Szarka, Ben Thomas, Tom McGuire, Peter Frank, Al Larmann, Mike Curley, and in the front row, left to right, Ken Howell, Jim Sessions.

Adirondack Mountain Club volunteer, Tom McGuire, studies the proposed trail routes for the NCT through Adirondack Park.

Adirondack Park.) The meetings I attended in May

were the second phase of a collaborative planning process that was jump-started in mid-January 2005 when the DEC and NCTA met to embark earnestly on the NCT plan for laterally crossing the Adirondack Park.

On this three day whirlwind tour, the DEC, NPS, and NCTA wanted to walk a few sections of each proposed route, get a feel for the landscape, and sit down with each other and talk about specifics. And, of course, we wanted to hike around the Adirondacks with Fred as our personal naturalist to identify every unusual spring bloomer.

ON THE [I@&[B

A fter only three weeks on the job, I was thrown from the safety of

the North Country Trail Association (NCTA) office in Lowell, Mich. out to the eastern fringes of the North Country Trail (NCT). I joined Fred Szarka and Ken Howell from the National Park Service (NPS) office in Madison, Wisc., and Al Larmann, NCTA Board member from the Central New York Chapter, in Campbell's Diner in Forestport, N.Y. We drank a bit of coffee and got acquainted before we were joined by the New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) foresters and managers from Albany and Watertown. Jim Sessions, Rob Messenger, and Peter Frank joined us from Albany and David Smith from Watertown, NY We spent the morning in the diner unrolling maps and discussing the Adirondacks before we headed out to the Stone Dam trailhead to walk a section of trail.

The initial Congressionally des­ ignated route proposed that the NCT pass through the NY State Adirondack Park and travel through the High

The Adirondacks: How the NCT gets from here to there

Travel and planning activities Ken Howell and I traveled to New

York's Adirondack Park in mid-May to meet with New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to work out a method to evaluate the numerous potential routes across that vast wild part of the state. New Yorkers are proud to point out that the Adirondack Park is the largest wilder­ ness complex in the U.S. outside of Alaska. We were joined by the North Country Trail Association's (NCTA) new Director of Trail Management Clare Cain and Board Member Al Larmann. We met with staff from both the DEC office in Albany led by Peter Frank and Rob Messenger and local foresters in the three field areas we visited.

Without going into extensive

Traverse Hiking Club also submit­ ted 0.6 miles of new trail in the Pere Marquette State Forest just north of the Manistee National Forest.

Upper Michigan got into the act as well and we now have 0.8 miles of additional trail in the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park because of relocation near Summit Peak Road. Thanks to the Peter Wolfe Chapter and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources for those improvements.

The Sheyenne National Grassland in North Dakota combined two seg­ ments and that led to a reduction of 0.8 miles of certified trail in the grass­ land. The net change because of all those adjustments is an increase of 4.3 miles of certified trail. I am pleased to report that chapters all along the trail are working to add new miles of certi­ fied trail this year.

FRED SZARKA NPS Trail Manager

Great news! Right after I completed my last article on new segments,

we completed a new list of additional certified segments. On February 23, 2005, we posted seven reductions and six increases to certified miles along the route of the North Country Trail (NCT).

In the last issue, I began the description of the new segments in the west so this month I will begin in New York. The Finger Lakes Trail Conference added two miles of new certified trail across three private parcels between Weber Road and Fairbanks Road in Madison County, New York. Also, in New York, a number of adjustments were made. In the Robert Treman State Park and Connecticut Hill Wildlife Area, trail relocation and boundary clarifications led to 0.4 miles of additional trail in Treman and a reduction of 0.2 miles in Connecticut Hill. In the Sugar Hill State Forest, trail relocation within the forest and on adjacent private land led to a reduction of 1. 7 miles of certified trail; however, by next issue we expect to see the private parcels certified. GPS data revised the mileage for Goundry Hill State Forest downward by 0.3 miles while in the Birdseye Hollow State Forest the mileage increased by 0.1 miles. Trail relocation and new GPS data reduced total certified miles by 0.2 miles on trail on private lands in Schuyler County. Finally, in Tompkins County, splitting of a segment on pri­ vate lands resulted in a reduction of 0.4 miles, due to road walk and withdrawal of landowner permission.

In northern Lower Michigan, the folks in the Grand Traverse Hiking Club Chapter succeeded in relocat- ing two sections of trail in the Pere Marquette State Forest because of high­ way improvements to U.S. 131: this led to certification of 6.9 miles of new trail that replaces 4.1 miles east of U.S. 131. The club also built 4.2 miles of new trail to relocate a 3.0-mile section off the Shore-to-Shore (equestrian) Trail. Finally, the busy folks at the Grand

More New Segments and Improvements on the Trail

GOING FOR lnJD

We began in the western part of the Adirondack Park and worked our way east.

Our troop was joined every day by new faces from the DEC. Tom McGuire, an ADK volunteer also joined us for a day of bush whacking in search of an elusive river ford. Tom has an extensive knowledge of the Adirondack Park backcountry, Mike Curley, Ben Thomas, Rick Fenton, and Tom Kapelewski, all DEC planners and foresters, also joined us.

Both routes possess positive attributes. The NCTA cartography staff created enhanced GIS maps and distributed them to the DEC planners for review. We are acquir­ ing local planner input to include in trail planning. The next step will be to have a roundtable meet­ ing with the DEC managers, DEC planners, NPS, and NCTA to update the current maps with spe­ cific field knowledge and the DEC planner perspective. We hope to have this accomplished by the end of July 2005!

The entire trip was a success. There is a palpable enthusiasm among all parties involved in the planning process and a commit­ ted resolve to put the NCT on the ground in the Adirondack Park.

We hope to present our route or routes (depending on what emerges from our meetings with DEC planners) to the Adirondack Park Authority (APA) this fall. We will need the approval and support of the APA before we can continue to move forward.

So far this process has been amazingly successful and DEC has been a great partner to work with. Matt and Tiffany in the NCTA GIS department are working hard to generate complete and layered maps for us to use in our upcom­ ing meetings with the DEC.

The three days of driving and hiking all over the Adirondack Park were very productive, very scenic, and very inspiring. We are getting closer every day to reach­ ing Crown Point State Historic Site in New York, our eastern ter­ minus, our great beginning. *

A trailside stream on Peaked Mountain Brook in New York State Adirondack Park's Siamese Pond Wilderness Area.

GPS and me On my way to the April

NCTA Board meeting, I tried my hand at GPS on the NCT in the vicinity of Petoskey, Mich. While I can't say I am truly confident with the equip­ ment, I was able to bring back data on three segments of trail. One of those segments will be the training ground for our first group of volunteer trail evalua­ tors in August. *

Chapter President Kathy Eisele, Mary Kunzler-Larrnann, and Al Larmann in Canastota, N.Y. The next morning, Al led Ken and I on a whirlwind tour of planned and existing trail sec­ tions between Canastota and Cazenovia. From the trail, it is difficult to believe that it is going through an agricultural area that is being discovered by more urban dwellers. The huge wind generators on the horizon were quite a contrast to the abandoned railroad grade we were hiking. Several of the planned sections are well along and I expect to receive applica­ tions for certification soon.

Particpants on the NCT route scouting trip survey conditions on local existing trail in New York State Adirondack Park's Black River Wild Forest.

detail, the visit was very productive and, for me at least, highly informative as well. Time didn't allow for hiking deep into the park but we were able to visit trailheads and walk short sec­ tions of trail to develop a clearer mental image of the resources.

By the time this article is out, we will have assembled a great deal of baseline data on things like existing trails and their uses, land ownership outside the state lands, and some of the private land uses in the Adirondack Park. We hope to meet again with planning staff from the Adirondack Park Agency and DEC to evaluate and select a corridor for the North Country Trail.

The visit to the Adirondack Park was the focus of the nine day long trip, but en route to eastern New York, Ken and I also visited with folks from the Great Trail Sandy Beaver Canal Chapter and walked a portion of trail that they have under development and a nearby section of certified trail. Brad Bosley showed us a campsite he main­ tains beside Little Beaver Creek. We also visited the Davis Hollow Cabin on North Country Trail Appreciation Day. Volunteers were a little disappointed by the public turnout due to the weather, although I saw some folks walk up to ask for information about the trail and volunteering.

We had an opportunity to stop at the new North Country Brewing Company in Slippery Rock, Penn., as we had a motel in the area. Their newsletter makes a point of welcoming hikers from the NCT and they offer to assist hikers with finding a B&B in town where they can stay and get a shower. We had a pleasant dinner, but caution fellow hikers about simply ordering the beer "sampler:" the night we were there it numbered 10 selec­ tions!

We also visited trail sections on the Allegheny National Forest, Cook Forest State Park, and some Pennsylvania Game Lands. All were scenic and when we talked to hikers, they were enthu­ siastic about their experiences. We saw many new register boxes near trailheads on the Allegheny, some so new that they didn't have registers in them yet.

Returning from the Adirondacks, we met with Central New York

An engraved sandstone monu- ment was unveiled in the forest uphill from the Genesee River, along one of the first sections ever built on the Finger Lakes Trail. It honored the man who thought up the whole notion of a footpath across upstate New York,

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- fay Zitter

Finger Lakes Trail A dozen hikers joined the

Marshfellows, the FLT's volunteer caretakers of the Queen Catherine Marsh Trail Loop, south off the main trail of the FLT in Watkins Glen, N.Y. A mom and her sixth grade daughter read about the hike in a local news­ paper and joined us at the marina, while other participants enhanced our walk with local historic informa­ tion. Some even volunteered to help with maintenance! Our walk followed the annual meeting of the Catherine Valley Trail, which is a rail/trail being built between Watkins Glen and Horseheads, with several miles shared with the Queen Catherine Marsh Trail of the FLT.

- Gary Mallow

Cayuga Trails Club Thirteen members of the Cayuga

Trails Club and other friends per­ formed some arduous physical labor when they began construction of a new outhouse to serve the Chestnut Lean-to in Danby State Forest along the FLT/NCT. These energetic vol­ unteers transported a large amount of lumber needed a half mile or so into the woods. They dug the latrine pit, constructed the base, built the frame and completed the subroof. To com­ plete the job, club members returned the following weekend to finish the roof, nail up the siding, and build a door and a "throne."

point and others opting for rides back arranged by chapter members.

-Kathy Eisele

Kathy Eisele, Chapter President, began the program by presenting Mary Kunzler-Larmann, Trail Planning and Development Chair, with the American Hiking Society's Volunteer of the Year Award for the Northeast Region.

Chittenango Falls State Park's Stephanie Chapin, Park Supervisor, presented a program relating some of the history of the park. Originally owned by a series of private landown­ ers, in 1922 the Park was acquired by the state of New York due to insurance concerns faced by the last private group, the Chittenango Falls Association. The park is now 192 acres with the truly spectacular 167 foot Chittenango Falls as the focal point. Three endangered species are protected in the park: Heart's Tongue Fern, Rose of Sedum, and the Chittenango Ovate Amber Snail. Stephanie described the studies and efforts made to protect the snail. Approximately 100 species of birds have been identified in the park, which also offers two miles of hiking trails, picnic facilities, and camping. NTD 2005 ended with some par­ ticipants hiking back to the starting

Ameriun Hilling Society

Chittenango Falls Park Manager, Stephanie Chapin, addressing the NTD attendees.

Central New York The Central New York Chapter

of the NCTA celebrated with a 3.4- mile hike led by John Scott along the NCT/Link Trail. Enroute, Al Larmann and others showed off trail improvements made by the chapter, such as the drainage project on the former Lehigh Valley railbed. A 0.8 mile road walk then brought the group to Chittenango Falls State Park where they had a picnic with dessert arranged by Nancy McCain, Social Chair, and Pat Hudelson, Membership Chair of the Chapter. In all, twenty-three people participated. For several people, NTD was an introduction to chapter events.

ADK - Onondaga The Onondaga Chapter of the

Adirondack Mountain Club gave back to their community by performing trail work at Green Lakes State Park outside Syracuse. They did trail work on their section of the Finger Lakes Trail.

O n June 4th, North Country Trail Association (NCTA) chapters,

affiliates and partners held celebrations to mark National Trails Day (NTD). Chapters participated in several ways including trail construction and main­ tenance, dedications, hikes, presenta­ tions and picnics. Here are the submis­ sions we received describing how sev­ eral groups along the North Country Trail (NCT) celebrated.

NCTA Chapters participate in National Trails Day Celebration

National Trails Day®

National Trails Day 2005

Richard Naperala, far right, of the Grand Traverse Hiking Club Chapter In Michigan explains how new trail will connect the Muncie Lakes trall system with Sand Lakes trail system.

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The North Country Trail Hikers in Marquette, Mich., celebrated NTD with a four-mile hike on the Little Garlic River.

Left: The members of Wisconsin's Brul~St. Croix Chapter, from left to right, Peter Edmunds, Lynne and Peter Nason, Dave Zosel, and Chuck Zosel, at the Douglas County Bird Sancturary Clubhouse.

The Foothills Trail Club c'elebrated NTD with a 25th anniversary cake for the NCT. Hikers earned their cake on one of three offered hikes on the FLT /NCT in beautiful Allegheny State Park.

Particpants hiking the Queen Catherine Marsh Trail in Watkins Glen, N.Y., through a profusion of shoulder-high dame's rocket.

Hikers turned out in llght rain to celebrate a ribbon cutting across new trail on the NCT, and hear remarks by Roger Reinert, Duluth City Council,and Byron Stadsvold, SHTA Board President.

Hikers with Minnesota's Itasca-Moraine Chapter enjoyed a very remote and scenic hike on NTD.

Long-time NCT supporter Michigan Senator Carl Levin was presented with a plaque by Joan Young. Afterward, Senator Levin addressed the NTD crowd at the Spirit of the Woods event before lunch.

Great Tratl- Sandy Beaver Canal

After advertising a five-hour hike in the local newspapers we had only a small group show up for our hike on the NCT in Beaver Creek State Park, Ohio. Nine people plus a Husky hik­ ing companion "Kiska" hiked along the Vondergreen Trail to Sprucevale Park on the eastern part of the Park. We had snacks and refreshments and then a return hike. The hike passed vari- ous Sandy-Beaver Canal locks and the foundations of the lock master's quar­ ters from this early 19th century canal project. Some of these preserved canal locks are a stonemason's work of art.

Our hike along the Middle Fork

The Foothills Trail Club cel­ ebrated NTD with a 25th anniversary celebration for the NCT. With all due respect for the official motto of NTD "Take the Path to a Healthier You," Foothills decided that an NCT anniversary party sounded like more fun. A large cake with the NCT logo scanned into the frosting was acquired. Hikers had to earn their cake, though. Foothills offered three hikes of varying lengths on the FLT/NCT in beautiful Allegheny State Park. After the hikes, there was a potluck supper, a camp­ fire, and CAKE! Several participants earned extra pieces of cake by chain­ sawing for hours and hours to get the trail in shape during previous weeks. Trails, food, and good fellowship - a perfect anniversary celebration.

- Ellen Gibson

Wallace Wood. Several generations of the landowner's family attended the unveiling hosted by the Genesee Valley Hiking Club. Bruce Hesse surprised Ron Navik, Trail Chair of the club and organizer of the event, by handing him a signed permanent trail ease­ ment, something this generous land­ owner had been thinking about for a long time. Thus, the event became a truly historic celebration of great sig­ nificance!

Naturally, a hike followed going up and down the convoluted forested hillside descending to the river itself.

-Irene Szabo

National Trails Day 2005

-Tana Turonie

Chequamegon NTD 2005 came with a weather

forecast of isolated thundershowers throughout the day in our part of Wisconsin. Chequamegon Chapter had scheduled a workday.

So, four people were at the planned meeting place, which was at a NCT parking access on a forest road in the Chequamegon Nicolet National Forest. Our intent was to replace a small eight-foot bridge. This section of the trail receives more use from hikers and fishermen than the neighboring sec­ tions and we wanted to have the bridge improvements done at the summer.

The U.S. Forest Service was an accommodating partner with this project. They provided the wood materials cut to size and brought it to the site. Our volunteers provided the labor, nails and tools needed to install the bridge sills, stringers and decking pieces.

Things the volunteers thankfully noted were: 1) the mosquitoes were less than anticipated, 2) the forecasted rain waited until the bridge was finished, 3) the small creek drainage that the bridge crossed was currently empty of water, and 4) tools and materials to correctly complete the task were at hand.

Project completed!

-Denise Herron

North Country Trail Hikers The NCT Hikers celebrated NTD

with a public hike on the Little Garlic River, north of Marquette, Mich .. The trail is a beautiful four-mile stretch along the river gorge; hikers were able to proceed just as far as they chose and then return to the parking lot. Spring flowers and melodious birds, along with good weather, made it a most enjoyable hike.

served, followed by games and crafts for kids. In the afternoon, Jim McGrath of Nature Discovery brought a hands-on presentation about Michigan snakes. Eight kinds of live native snakes were explained, and eight Michigan turtles were displayed.

This was our best turnout ever! -Joan Young

Spirit of the Woods The Spirit of the Woods Chapter

hosted all day events, and attracted over 125 people to the woods! Morning hikes included one to see the largest suspension bridge in the Lower Peninsula (not counting the Mackinac Bridge, of course) over the Manistee River, the other was a guided nature hike. Senator Carl Levin joined the festivities, greeted people and spoke about his commitment to the NCT.

A free traditional picnic was

Corporation. The Nature Conservancy is the current owner, and is turning the property over to the Forest Service for inclusion in the Huron-Manistee.

After the cookout lunch, guests enjoyed a short program on the NCTA and applauded an outdoor cooking demonstration on a pop can stove by member Matt Hahnfeld. Attendees also watched an ultra lightweight backpacking routine by Paul Haan, the Chapter's trail manager.

The day began with the dedica­ tion of a kiosk about the NCT built by an Eagle Scour candidate on a highway rest area between Newaygo and White Cloud. There is a 14-mile spur trail from the rest area to the NCT.

Chapter members were encouraged to bring relatives and friends while the general public was also invited through articles in local newspapers.

-Werner Veit

Patricia Ruta McGhan, a National Forest Service Botanist stationed at the Baldwin Ranger District, guided NTD attendees from the Western Michigan Chapter on a flora identifica­ tion hike.

Western Michigan The Western Michigan chapter

celebrated NTD by inviting the pub­ lic to a hike in the Huron-Manistee National Forest and then cooked lunch for visitors at the old schoolhouse near White Cloud, Mich., the chapter's shelter and meeting facility on a spur of the NCT.

The chapter is working with the Forest Service to map spur trails that will connect to the NCT and has already blazed a 1 Vi-mile trail from the schoolhouse to the NCT. The NTD hike served as a preview of some of the possibilities for outdoor recre­ ation on the property popularly known as Camp Swampy when it was owned and used by employees of the Steelcase

-Rick Adamson

of Little Beaver Creek was very pleas­ ant. We all kept a keen eye out for birds, snakes, and whatever strange plants we could find. At our halfway break we were discussing our hike and how everyone was holding up in the muggy heat and Keith Brown from Wooster mentioned he was feeling fine and dandy. After Mr. Brown disclosed that he was 80 years old, it made a few of us feel a little timid that we were carrying only water and not a back­ pack like he was. His fitness motto was "use it or lose it."

The day's event ended with every­ one feeling content that we got a little exercise by celebrating 25 years of the NCT. Our efforts to pull this event off allowed our group to make new contacts with other organizations with similar outdoor interests, and we may have gained a permanent meeting place at the Wildlife Center for our efforts.

-Brad Bosley Buckeye Trail

Sixteen members of the Buckeye Trail Association spent five days building 3.1 miles of new trail in the Belle Valley/Stockton Section of the Buckeye Trail in Ohio. It took 496 man-hours to replace those miles of road walk!

As new state trail coordinator for the BTA, I'm always so excited when our Trail Crew gets together to build new trail in Ohio!

National Trails Day 2005

Grand Rapids, Itasca County: While Grand Rapids is beyond the Chapter boundary we hold events there in anticipation of a chapter and trail there some day. Two hikers completed a 4.5-mile segment of the Mesabi Trail from the Itasca Fairgrounds to the Gunn Park connection, led by Ken and Barbara Zimmer. Many birds and flowers were observed as well as the fast-flowing Prairie River.

-Ken Zimmer

Lake Bemidji State Park, Beltrami County near Bemidji: John Fylpaa and Harvey Tjader led a hike in Lake Bemidji State Park. The three-mile hike took three hours. As we walked through an old growth red pine stand, Harvey, NCTA member and DNR forester, offered some woodland plant identification, explained how various plants are used as indicators to deter­ mine native plant communities and how information about the native plant community's natural history and ecology is then used in making forest management decisions.

John, a DNR naturalist, shared plant identification and interpreta­ tion as we walked on a boardwalk through the bog. We saw stemless ladyslippers, buckbean, pitcher plants, dragon's mouth orchids, and Labrador tea in bloom. John described the ecol­ ogy of carnivorous plants such as the pitcher plant and the tiny sundew and the ecological services provided by bogs. Perhaps because of threatening weather, the turnout was light.

-Harvey Tjader

Sheyenne River Valley The Sheyenne River Valley

Chapter (SRV), along with the Corps of Engineers, hosted this year's NTD celebration at Lake Ashtabula, north of Valley City, N.D. Twenty people attended the events.

The day began with a trail build­ ing workshop on a segment of the NCT north of the Baldhill Dam office. The workshop familiarized members with trail building tech­ niques, introduced them to the trail­ building tools, and demonstrated how to safely use them. We did this through a 20-minute introduction to the Chapter's tool trailer and a discus­ sion on safety followed by benching work on a segment of trail.

After lunch, the celebration con­ tinued with an afternoon hike. Due to rain the night before the route was changed in an attempt to keep our feet dry. Instead of the planned eight-mile hike and a shorter hike, we combined for a short hike of four miles which took us across the newly benched sec­ tion of trail. The hike was pleasant with signs of moose but no moose were spotted. There had been a small bull moose in the area but we didn't find him on our hike. (As it turned out the reason we didn't find the moose was due to the fact that he had met an untimely death and was found later that day floating in the lake.)

The hike was completed by 3 pm and everyone went to prepare for the final event of the day, an evening pic­ nic with a barbecue. Following dinner there was a short presentation on the NCT and a drawings for great prizes from the American Hiking Society.

The NTD crowd was smaller than expected, but those who attended had a great time. -Scott Tichy *

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-Jerry Trout

Chippewa National Forest, Cass County just southeast of Walker: Beth Trout, a Master Gardener and wild­ flower aficionado, led the hike in the Walker area in the Chippewa National Forest. We had four hikers, identified 24 wildflowers, and saw a black bear in a tamarack swamp in the Shingobee River valley.

forest was logged. We had eight hik­ ers at the start of the day and picked up two more along the way. The two hikers we met were Judy from Florida and Adele from Pennsylvania. They had started hiking in April at Lake Sakakawea, N.D. and were heading east hiking sections of the trail each day while staying in campgrounds along the way. They plan to finish the entire NCNST in 2006. In addition to the hike, we enjoyed listening to Judy and Adele's experiences along the trail.

-Ray Vlasak

Bad Medicine Area, west of Itasca State Park in Clearwater County: This is a very scenic and remote 8-mile sec­ tion of forested trail with scenic views of several small lakes. The trail, in several locations, follows old narrow gauge rail grades used when the virgin

Itasca Moraine Chapter The Itasca Moranie Chapter

offered four different hike on NTD:

-Gayle Coyers

Superior Hiking Trail The Superior Hiking Trail

Association (SHTA) hosted two events for NTD.

The first was the official opening of a new section of trail in Duluth, Minn. About 60 hikers turned out in fog and light rain (which turned into a downpour) to celebrate and hike on a four-mile or a two-mile section of the new trail. Opening remarks by Roger Reinert, Duluth City Council, and Byron Stadsvold, SHTA Board President, a ribbon cutting across the new trail, refreshments and door prizes led off the celebration. Now that the first 8.5 miles are complete, SHTA is building 14 more miles of trail this year.

The second event was a trail main­ tenance project near Little Marais. Groups of youth had hauled in lumber the previous day and then ten people assisted Trail Maintenance Supervisor Ken Oelkers in replacing a deck at a sensitive wetland called Alfred's Pond and replaced aging boardwalk along the trail.

- Chuck Zosel

Brule-St. Croix The Chapter's event was at the

Douglas County Bird Sanctuary Club House near Solon Springs, Wisc. We had a low turnout but a reporter from the local newspaper came.

Our planned events were to build new trail through the bird sanctuary area in the morning and a nature hike in the afternoon. It rained most of the day and we did not end up doing much except hanging out together. We did have a picnic lunch with soda pro­ vided by the Chapter.

National Trails Day 2005

pleted in June 1975 and recommended that Congress authorize it as part of the National Trails System. Congress did so in 1980.

The Lewis and Clark Trail study was not completed until 1978, ten years after the original Act. Its completion­ along with studies of other historic routes such as the Oregon Trail and Mormon Pioneer Trail-was delayed because those conducting these stud­ ies were coming to the conclusion that it was not feasible to establish these routes as continuous, on-the-ground hiking trails like the Appalachian and Pacific Crest. Yet, there was a clear sense that these routes, so important

Appalachian National Scenic Trail on its eastern end and Lewis and Clark's historic route in North Dakota on its western end. Those who helped frame the system in the 1960s made these connections with the intention that a cross-continent hiking trail through our northern tier of states would thus be created, assuming that studies of the Lewis and Clark and NCT returned positive recommendations to establish them as National Scenic Trails. Thus, when a hiker reached one end of the NCT in North Dakota, he or she could just continue on to the Pacific Coast on the Lewis and Clark Trail.

The study of the NCT was com-

This tlpl village Is on display just outside the stockade of Fort Union, with surround­ ing prairie In the background. This Is an example of a historic site that might be along an extension of the North Country Trall westward across North Dakota and Montana.

Part 1-The North Dakota Story

Many have wondered over the years about the beginning and ending

points of the North Country National Scenic Trail (NCNST) (I won't say which is which-beginning or end­ ing). At neither point does the NCNST connect with another trail and, thus, become a part of a connected system. Oh, yes, at its western end, it con- nects to the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail, but the Lewis and Clark Trail is an historic route, not a trail on which to continue hiking. Not surpris­ ingly, there are stories behind the loca­ tions of each of the two termini.

When the National Trails System Act (Public Law 90-543, as amended; 16 U.S.C. 1241 et seq.) was passed on October 2, 1968, it provided for three categories of trails: • National Scenic Trails, which were

intended to be long-distance, multi­ state trails for hiking and backpack­ ing and other compatible uses.

• National Recreation Trails, which were intended to be shorter trails located in or near urban areas or in federal and state parks and forests.

• Connecting or Side Trails, which were intended to be trails that pro­ vided public access to scenic and rec­ reation trails or connections between such trails.

The Act immediately desig- nated two long-distance trails-the Appalachian in the east, and the Pacific Crest in the west-as the first National Scenic Trails. The Act listed 14 other trail routes that were to be studied as potential National Scenic Trails. Included in the list were the Lewis and Clark Trail and the North Country Trail (NCT).

The Lewis and Clark Trail was established in American history, so its route was well known. The NCT was a concept route connecting with the

By Tom Giibert Superintendent,

North Country National Scenic Trail National Park Service

A Tale of l

It Doesn't Have to End There But could the NCT be more?

Could it also be part of fulfilling the original design of having a trans­ continental hiking route across our country's northern tier? There are new

possibilities that did not exist when the NCT was studied and authorized. In 1976, the Act was amended to autho­ rize a study of a Pacific Northwest Trail, envisioned and proposed by Ron Strickland, extending from the Pacific Coast in Olympic National Park, Washington, to the Continental Divide (now a National Scenic Trail) in Glacier National Park, Montana. The study was completed in June 1980 and concluded that establishing the trail was not feasible. That did not discourage Ron and the trail's growing proponents and supporters! They have been working on it for the past three decades and have made significant

every bit of the public and private effort being invested to create and maintain it. It provides magnificent opportuni­ ties to explore, experience, and enjoy the beauty and wonders of our "North Country." As it moves forward to com­ pletion, the NCT will attract more and more attention as one of the best and longest (if not the longest) non-motor­ ized foot trails in the world.

Gulf of Mexico MEXICO

North Pacific Ocean

North Atlantic Ocean

c== Proposed Sea to Sea Trail - North Country Trail - Appalachian Trail - lnt'I Appalachian Trail

~.-----____, - Continental Divide Trail - Pacific Crest Trail - Pacific Northwest Trail = Undefined Route

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--- North Country Trail --- Continental Divide Trail ••••• Lewis and Clark Trail

to the history of our Nation, should in some way be marked and developed for public use and appreciation. Out of the dialogue and discussion over this mat­ ter in the mid-1970s came the concept we now know as National Historic Trails. Once this concept crystallized, legislation was introduced to add this category to the National Trails System and the study reports for the historic routes were finalized with the recom­ mendation that each be authorized as a National Historic Trail. The legislation creating the new category and authoriz­ ing those first historic trails was passed in November 1978.

The authorization of Lewis and Clark's route as a National Historic Trail in 1978 meant that it would not serve as the continuation of the National Scenic Trail route across our northern tier. When the North Country National Scenic Trail was authorized in March 1980, based on the 1975 study, it fostered the effort to create a magnificent long-distance hik­ ing trail with outstanding scenic, natu­ ral, and cultural resources. But in the absence of a Lewis and Clark National Scenic Trail, the NCT that Congress authorized terminates somewhat arti­ ficially in North Dakota after travers­ ing more than half the breadth of our country. Does that diminish the NCT in some way? Not at all. The NCT, just as it is today, in its own right, is one of America's premier trails and worth

Wyoming

Montana

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

229 East Main Street Lowell, Michigan 49331

•ASSOCIATION•

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D Member of a specific Chapter : ------------

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

SPONSORED MEMBERSHIP FORM

now embrace? It should be energizing. It is not unlike the grand vision of the first transcontinental railroad, with the Union Pacific Railroad building westward from the Missouri River and the Central Pacific Railroad building eastward finally to meet and make the transcontinental, the sea-to-sea, connection. The NCT, in this vision, would be the centerpiece-the major component-of this grand route known around the world. To borrow the title from the late historian Stephen Ambrose's book about the building to the transcontinental railroad, there would be "Nothing Like It in the World."*

How long is the connection that would need to be made across western North Dakota and most of Montana? Roughly 500 miles "as the crow flies." Depending on how direct the actual route is, approximately 670 to 750 miles of new trail would need to be established. It could be longer if a route meandered to connect with significant scenic, natural, and cultural resources that would add interest to the trail.

Adding more miles to the already daunting task of establishing 2,000 more miles to complete the NCT could seem a bit intimidating. But it need not be. How is a yet grander vision more intimidating than the one we

The Bourgeois House in Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site in North Dakota.

progress. Like the NCT, it is becoming a reality upon our landscape, even with­ out Congressional authorization and National Scenic Trail designation.

The Pacific Northwest Trail, extending from the West Coast east­ ward to the Continental Divide, gives vitality to the hope that the original vision for the transcontinental route is still possible. The next step would be a study to examine optional routings for a trail connecting the western end of the NCT to a point on the Continental Divide Trail, or, put another way, a plan for extending the NCT westward to the Continental Divide Trail. From the point of connection, the hiker could go north on the Continental Divide Trail to Glacier National Park, and then continue west on the Pacific Northwest Trail.

Pacific Northwest Trail visionary, Ron Strickland, conceptually proposed this connection a few years ago, calling the combination of trails the "Sea-to­ Sea Route." It would also include con­ nections east of the NCT following the AT and what is called the International Appalachian Trail extending to the Gaspe Peninsula in Quebec, Canada. There has been a lot of interest in and publicity about this route in 2004 and 2005 because a young man named Andy Skurka is undertaking a journey along this 7,700-mile route. You can track his progress by going to www. andrewskurka.com.

In this issue of the North Star, you'll read about the planning process to put the NCT on the ground in the Adirondack Park, ending a 20-plus year impasse in eastern New York.

Together the NPS, NCTA, New York Department of Environmental Conservation and the Adirondack Park Agency are gathering the information needed to select a route for the trail from Rome, to Crown Point, N.Y.

Here in Lowell, Matt Rowbotham and Clare have been working hard to produce the 96 detailed planning maps to flesh out the potential routes. Developing a plan for selecting a route for 180 miles of trail is a daunting task

•

Scenic and Historic Trails in Las Vegas. The conference theme is utilizing trails to connect with communities through tourism, education, and stewardship.

Unlike most Vegas excursions, this one will be short on Elvis imperson­ ators and heavy on workshops on work­ ing with the tourism industry, educa­ tors and community greenway planners to inspire communities to use, appreci­ ate and partner with the national scenic trails. Along with learning how to bring the communities along the NCT into the fold, we hope to convince the Partnership for the National Trails Systems to bring the l lth Conference on National Scenic and Historic Trails to a location along the NCT in 2007.

It's high time folks from other trails had a chance to experience the mixed hardwoods and trout streams of the north country!

Contact These Congressmen on the Minnesota Route Adjustment

Representative James L. Oberstar, fax (202) 225-0699 Senator Norm Coleman, fax (202) 224-1152 Senator Mark Dayton.jfax (202) 228-2186

If you've been keeping abreast of developments with the Arrowhead Route Assessment in Minnesota, you're aware how confident we are that Senators and Representatives in Minnesota will soon introduce legisla­ tion to include the Kekekabic Trail, Border Route Trail and Superior Hiking Trail into the route of the NCT.

The Arrowhead Route Adjustment has been 12-plus years in the making; the last and most critical step is the introduction of a bill so Congress can vote the change into reality.

If there ever was a time for NCTA members to take pen in hand and write their representatives, this would be it.

I cannot stress enough the impor­ tance of this appeal, particularly to our members and their friends in northern Minnesota. If you need help drafting your letter, call me toll free at 866-445- 368 and we'll work one up over the phone! Once this legislation is passed, we can look forward to developing the NCT in Minnesota.

Send a fax asking the Senators and Representatives to introduce legislation to make the Northeastern Minnesota Route Adjustment the new authorized route of the North Country National Scenic Trail. Don't send your letter via mail because it takes six weeks for mail delivery due to the mail screening pro­ cess. Sending a fax is the quickest way to make your voice heard.

Together with our members and volunteers, we've been doing a great job of maintaining the course for 25 years. Our work has paid off and con­ tinues to bear fruit in the form of new breakthroughs in trail development. Everyone who has supported the NCT to date has good reason to be proud. *

•

that, not long ago, seemed a far off dream beyond the of capabilities of our small staff Now it's coming together with a spirited multi-agency team effort, hard working NCTA staff, and the support of our volunteers.

Executive Director

VIEW FROM [1@~[1[1

ROB CORBETT

A s we continue to grow our mem­ bership, welcome new partners into

the effort and strike agreements with agencies and landowners to put more North Country Trail (NCT) on the ground, we find that the scale of the work ahead of us grows at an exponen­ tial rate. After 25 years of trail advocacy and development, we've gained a good deal of momentum. Now the challenge will be to keep that momentum going and continue to meet the ever-increasing challenges that lay ahead.

I remember when I returned from my first multi-state tour as Director of Trail Management. It seemed every chapter meeting, trail inspection or talk with a landowner had served to spawn several new opportunities to move the NCT forward.

That's because the communi- ties that our trail connects have come to recognize the NCT's value and have voiced a desire to get on board and push to see the trail completed. Current interests in green tourism, liv­ able communities, and passive outdoor recreation have brought about a tidal shift in the way people view trails and our Trail in particular.

To capitalize on opportunities for outreach the North Country Trail Association (NCTA) recently welcomed Jennifer Tripp aboard as our new Development and Communications Coordinator. Jennifer has taken on the task of building an outreach program to focus on communities, economic leaders, and corporate interests that are ready to support the NCT. Our tough­ est task in outreach is not getting the attention of local interests, but putting those interests to work.

Already moving ahead with devel­ oping a communications strategic plan, Jennifer is making our long held goal of consistent coverage of our Trail a reality. At the same time, she's leading our outreach staff team in creating a badly needed corporate sponsorship program.

To bolster this effort Jennifer, Clare Cain, new NCTA Board Member Chris Klein and I will be attending the Conference on National

Kick It Up a Notch

the best trail route, which the land­ owner accepted. Unfortunately, the stipulated alignment passed a large, unsightly and illegal dump.

Seeing the problem, Wampum Chapter Treasurer Gail Blakeley arranged for a trail clean-up event and applied to Pennsylvania CleanWays, Inc., for a grant to help fund and co­ sponsor the clean up. Pennsylvania CleanWays is a non-profit organization whose mission is to work with commu­ nities, or a group, to encourage people to join the fight against dumping and littering.

With much publicity in local news media, the Chapter was able to obtain donated food, snacks, bottled water, gloves, and miscellaneous supplies. Grant money was used to rent two large dumpsters. The result was that 35 volunteers showed up to work on a rainy mid-May morning.

After four hours, a significant amount of trash had been removed. Both dumpsters were filled with over nine tons of trash, tires, and appliances. The result: the wooded area regained its natural beauty and the route of the NCT is much more attractive.

So, if you find yourself in a similar position, consider borrowing from the experiences of the Wampum Chapter. They assure me they will be happy to share their secrets for success. *

Pennsylvania's Wampum Chapter removed nine tons of trash from near the NCT. Funding for the clean-up project was secured from grants.

packing trail. But what do you do when a whole

truckload of illegal junk magically appears along your section of trail? Or, what do you do when you realize your beautiful section of trail also includes a not-so-beautiful old dumping site from an earlier time when rural homes dotted the hills and each family had a place to dispose of their trash. After all, modern day trash removal services didn't exist and the trash had to go somewhere.

Or, what do you do when you look to build a new segment of trail across private property and you find the best route also passes an unsightly dump? The quick answer is that you, as an adopter, should recognize when it is time to call for help from your chapter and organize a clean-up day. These large dumps are normally more than one adopter can handle and there is no expectation that cleaning up a large dump is the responsibility of an indi­ vidual adopter.

I mentioned a recent Wampum Chapter activity prompted this topic. Let me tell you about their success and, if needed, you can borrow from their experience to clean up an old dump if you run into a similar situation.

Wampum members had been given permission to build new trail across private property and had flagged

This re-emergence is prompted by a successful activ­ ity conducted by Pennsylvania's Wampum Chapter. You may recall the Trail Craft series on "how to" topics that provide useful information for our indi­ vidual Trail Adopters. Previous articles focused on the aspects of trail main­ tenance. Litter removal is yet another aspect of the adopter maintenance.

Yes, it may sound like patting our­ selves on the back but I think it is well understood that hikers are respectful of the environment and seldom litter on the trail. On occasion though, a hiker or hunter who uses the trail to access their favorites spot inadvertently drops something like a candy wrapper.

As an adopter, it is your job to pick up and carry out this light trash. It is a good habit to carry a grocery-store plastic bag to segregate the trash from the rest of your trail treasures. As I see it, compared to the many demanding jobs that are adopter responsibilities, this incidental litter removal is a VERY minor part of the job. But it's an important touch that helps keep our trail in tip-top shape and fosters the image of a premier hiking and back-

S everal issues of the North Star have gone to press since I last wrote a

Trail Craft article.

Trail Craft with Bill Menke, NCTA Trail Foreman

This facility is .maintained by tbe generous efforts of

NCT A~ Pennsylvania State Trail Council

lmatchett®zoominternet.net

/ Forinfonnation: 1-866-HilceNCT ' I'· \\ orema.ilLindaM.tchett

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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 hail-related outing, or reserve a single bunk for lJOur PA hike!

- - '"Thfr stone, fo:J anl sfate ca6in was built 6e{ore {he :American 'R.ftvo(ufion anl currenfl.J serves as {he 'Penns~fvania Slate .COdje {or North Countr:J '"Tra;( :Associafion vo(unleers anl hikj"3 refatelouftl0or3roufs· .COcatelin Moraine Slate 'Par~ri!Jhlon {he North Country '"Tra;{ff

Stal] at the Historic Davis Hollow Ca.bin!

If you're a chapter leader and want to improve your effectiveness for building the trail, or a new member who has just found their calling, you'll want to attend our workshops. Also there are sessions by

JQHN LEINEN the Gear Guru offering suggestions sure President to increase your safety and enjoyment on

the trail. Lastly, the Annual Conference affords you a convenient opportunity to attend the meeting of your Board of Directors to hear the issues of the day, to witness the decision-making process or to raise a concern you may have.

What a value! When you consider a four day conference with private dormitory rooms, all your meals, shuttles for the hikes, tours, workshops and programs all for $175 double occupancy, with discounts for children, you'll begin to realize what a good deal this is. There are also packages for arrang­ ing your own lodging that are a great value.

To top it all off, we have the great evening programs. This year we'll learn about local Michigan history, Ron Strickland will share his vision of the Sea-to-Sea route, and Lou Kasischke will recount an amazing adventure on Everest. Later, if you still have energy, I'm sure there will be those who will undertake the evenings self-guided tours of Petoskey's local establishments.

Yes, we have a good time and I'd like to encourage as many of you to attend as possible. We will be continuing the tradition we began last year of taking a President's Picture with all the conference attendees and we want each one of you to be included. All of the President's Pictures will be trea­ sured by the NCTA for their historical, value but the 25th Anniversary photo will be one to cherish. When it is scruti­ nized at the 50th Anniversary Conference, make sure your smiling face is one that greets everyone then.

In my last piece I informed you that soon we would be hiring a Development and Communication Coordinator and a Director of Trail Management. Two individuals,

who each greatly impressed the Candidate Search Committees and our Executive Director, filled these positions in April. If you haven't met them yet, let me introduce Clare Cain, our new director of Trail Management, and Jennifer Tripp, our first Development and Communications Coordinator. Clare and Jennifer, along with the rest of our loyal staff, will be at the conference. They all want to meet and welcome you, put a face to your name, and ensure you have a great time at the conference.

All of our members can be proud of their involvement in this innovative, effective, and grow­ ing organization. Now is the perfect time for all of us to recognize this impressive milestone for both the Trail and the Association. Plan on joining us in Petoskey, where together, we'll celebrate the North Country Trail's Twenty-fifth Anniversary. Pat and I are planning on seeing you there. *

If you've read any of my Trailhead pieces, you know I like to report on

the current state of the North Country Trail (NCT) and our organization. It seems that there are always current issues, which require a lot of hard work by our staff and your Board of Directors. These efforts have led to great progress building, maintaining and protecting the NCT and I want to make sure you are aware of this effort and these results. But this time I'm going to focus on our most fun time.

For my wife, Pat and I, this enjoyment part culminates with our North Country Trail Association (NCTA) Annual Conference. This year we are especially looking forward to the event when we will be celebrating the twenty-fifth anni­ versary of the North Country National Scenic Trail. The conference site, Petoskey, Mich., a wonderfully scenic area, promises a weekend to be remembered.

It is my great hope that many of our early members who remember the earliest successes and struggles of the NCTA, will be able to attend and share their memories with us. I'd also like to extend this personal appeal for attendance at the conference to all our Life Members as well. I've already sent these members a letter encouraging them to attend this con­ ference but I still wanted to ask again. In fact, I'm encourag­ ing all of our members to join us, too. Non-members are also welcome and invited to attend. Let's all come together, our founders and early leaders, today's active volunteers, other members and the general public, to celebrate our anniversary.

We have a wonderful conference which always proves to be a great amount of fun - wholesome family fun - with activities everyone in your family will enjoy. The area's parks and forests, the Manistee and Jordan River valleys, offer spec­ tacular hikes that will astound all of your senses. Even if your partner isn't a hiker, bring them along; there's plenty for them to do, too. The day-long tours will include Mackinac Island, museums, forts, galleries, and the mighty Mackinac Bridge.

Join Us in Petoskey to Celebrate 25 Years

fer the stock shares over the DTC to our financial firm; 2) You can forward a signed stock certificate and Stock Power to NCTA directly; or 3) You can request your stock company to transfer ownership of the shares to NCTA and send the NCTA a proceed check once they sell the stock.

If you have any question about making a gift of stock or any other planned giving opportunities, please call 616-897-5987 and we will be happy to help you. *

ance was covered. Chris Klein stated that the issue at hand is how difficult it may become for the NCTA to find and maintain insurance if it has a track record of purchasing chainsaws. Consensus was reached after exten­ sive discussion that no chainsaws are to be purchased with NCTA money. Members using personal chainsaws need training and certification. Field Grant applications may be changed to state what types of items are not eligible for purchase with Field Grant money.

NCTA staff members and contrac­ tor's reports were given.

The Board set meeting dates for the next two years as follows: April 22 and Dec. 2, 2006, April 21 and Dec. 1, 2007. All August meetings will continue to take place at the Annual Conference.

A report from NPS Superintendent Tom Gilbert discussed adding an NPS staff person to assist the NPS in establishing greater visibil­ ity for the NCT. This will potentially reduce NCTA 2006 budget by $35,000 to $40,000.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between NPS and the International Mountain Bike Association was discussed. Trail advocacy groups were not included in formation and review of the MOU but there are sections that seem to protect the NCT.

The next Board meeting will be August 11 at the Annual Conference in Petoskey, Mich. The Board meeting is open to the public. *

Did you know you can make gifts of stock to the North Country Trail Association (NCTA)? Gifts of cash and securities are both tax deductible. However, with a gift of appreciated stock (stock held for at least one year that has risen in value since it was purchased), you can deduct the full fair market value of the stock on your tax return and also avoid capital gains tax.

You can make a gift of stock to the NCTA in one of three ways: 1) Your financial agent can trans-

I t was a cold and blustery April 23rd when the North Country Trail

Association (NCTA) Board of Directors held their spring meeting.

The meeting kicked-off with the acknowledgement of Howard Beye, Derek Blount, Helen Coyne, and Mary Lucas, four Board members, terming off the Board of Directors. The Board and staff thanked the departing mem­ bers for their service to the NCTA. A brief introduction followed welcom­ ing the newly hired Development and Communication Coordinator, Jennifer Tripp, and Director of Trail Management, Clare Cain. Chris Klein of Minnesota, newly appointed by NCTA President John Leinen, was welcomed to his first Board meeting. Chris will fill the position left vacant by Darrell Williamson.

The Board discussed appoint­ ments: Irene Szabo of New York will fill the position of Vice President of Finance leaving the position of Vice President East vacant.

The Board approved an Executive Committee endorsement of the Itasca Moraine Chapter's grant to the Minnesota DNR for new trail construction. The Board also made a motion to encourage chapters to apply for any grant applicable to NCTA goals and objectives with the Executive Committee authorized to endorse future support with Board review.

The 2004 end- of- year financial report was discussed. A motion was approved to move surplus revenue from 2004 into the cash reserve. The Board reviewed the 2005 financial report.

Rob Corbett gave a brief expla­ nation about the staff reorganization, reasoning behind the process and how it would be implemented. The reorga­ nization will place more emphasis on achieving the NCTA's strategic plan­ ning goals and objectives.

Tiffany Stram discussed the annual Trail Inventory and Adopter Surveys. Each year NCTA sends out a Trail Inventory survey to all chapters

36 .. ih~· N~-~th.st~~····'j·~-i~~se·~-;~~b~~ ~~~~-

but normally receives a low response rate. This year maps were sent on CD and were returned with a good response. Trail Adopter surveys were also distributed. The Board discussed the importance of these Inventory Surveys. They allow for the necessary budgeting to maintain trail structures and to project replacement costs. Rob re-emphasized the need for chapters to provide inventory data. This inventory is crucial information for the Director of Trail Management and GIS depart­ ment to prepare for trail-wide plan­ ning. Completion of the NCTA's Trail Inventory form is now being tied to eligibility for field grant funding.

Rob reviewed the status of accom­ plishing the goals and objectives in the Strategic Plan. Rob stated that the Planning and Alliance Teams would be working on the land trust initiative in the future.

John Leinen discussed the May issue of Backpacker Magazine. The magazine has gone to a regional for­ mat for their "Great Hikes" section. The NCT falls within two of the Backpacker's regions and it is a good way to get the word out about the NCT. The NCTA will reach out to chapters to generate hike descriptions for submission.

The Board discussed the topic of purchasing chainsaws for chapters with NCTA Field Grant money. Rob provided some background on the topic. The issue of liability and insur-

NCTA Board covered variety of topics at meeting

Board Moves Ahead with Issues

Make a Gift of Stock to the NCTA

S, M, L, XL.. .. $11.95, XXL... $12.95 natural.

NCTA T-Shirt (Not Pictured) (c101) Pre-shrunk cotton "Beefy-T," Three-color NCTA logo on front and two-color map on back. Color:

Midnight navy, full zipper fleece, lined jacket with marching collar, cord drawstring at hem, elasticized cuffs, inside pocket, zip outside pockets. Embroidered with the 7-state trail logo. S, M, L, XL: $55.00, XXL: $60.00

NEW FLEECE JACKET! SHIRTS A. Blue Polo Shirt (c112) Cotton/Poly pique polo with collar. Embroidered with seven state logo. Color: blue S, M, L, XL, XXL.. $39.95 B. Fleece Vest (ctos) Embroidered trail logo. Color: grey M, L, XL, XXL.. $38.95 C. Polo Shirt (c106) Cotton/Poly pique polo with collar. Embroidered association logo. Color: tan M, L $31.95 D. Compass T-Shirt A simple design done well. 100% Cotton. Willow Green, Short sleeve (C-113) Pumpkin, Short sleeve (C-114) L, XL $15.95, XXL $19.95 Willow Green, Long sleeve (C-113A) S, M, L, XL. $21.95, XXL ..... $24.95 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. 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 G. "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

Limited Edition 25th Anniversary Mug (P-2007) This hefty cobalt blue ceramic coffee mug features the seven-state map 25th Anniversary logo. Perfect for your morning coffee! $6.00

Limited Edition 25th Anniversary Bobcat (P-2005) Celebrate the 25th anniversary of the North Country National Scenic Trail with our first limited edition "furry friend," the Bobcat. About 12" in length. Comes with adoption papers. This is the first in what will be an annual offering of a North Country Trail plush animal.. $12.00

Wllere in tile /J/11e-/Jl11ze1

llt1ffe you been1

Rediscover Nature.

North Country National Scenic Trail

Proceeds benefit the North Country Tr~il Association in it,s efforts to bUJld, maintain, ang promote the North Country National Scenic Trail

The Appalachian Trail Food Planner Follow the Blue Blazes by Lou Adsmond by Robert J Pond Proven food tips for ~-----~~~ A guide to hiking Ohio's a short backpack to a "''- Buckeye Trail. Beginning with six-month thru-hike. startling rock formations and Includes recipes for easy graceful waterfalls, this 1200 trailside cooking. 128 mile loop provides a captivating look at each see- pages (L126) $16.95 tion of the trail. 300 pages. (L130) $19.95

Backpacking Wisconsin by jack P. Hailman & Elizabeth D. Hailman 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

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

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

America's National Scenic Trails by Kathleen Ann Cordes History, the present condition, points of interest, and other details for each of the eight national scenic trails. 306 pages (L122) $12.95

111 II I , , '.it I I I

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The Well-Fed Backpacker by June Fleming Make ahead meals as well as on the trail. It is packed with tons of recipes and food tips for the out­ doors. 181 pages (L128) $12.95

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

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

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

Lipsmackin' Backpackin' 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

Great Wisconsin 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

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

Atlas of Michigan by Dennis R. Hansen This third edition has descriptions and maps for over 600 hik- ~~ ing, biking, skiing, "' and nature trails in Michigan. 789 pages (L102A) $34.95

Hiking Minnesota .,

.. I GarJ FalllA!l

Hiking the Highest Summits

In New York, County by county

DPEllEICH

Hiking Minnesota by John Pukite This edition has descrip­ tions, maps, and basic elevation profiles for 87 hikes in Minnesota. 273 pages (L132) $14.95

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

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

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

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

e-mail: hq@northcountrytrail.org ORDER TOLL FREE! 1-866-HIKE NCT www.northcountrytrail.org

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/s" and features the North Country triangle design. (P102) $3.00

MEDALLIONS AND PINS

NCTA PEN Labeled with North Country Trail Association and web site (P106) $5.00

Patch ofTrail Emblem 3'12 " bottom measure North Country Trail emblem triangle design (P125) $3.50

VOLUNTEER PATCHES2.ooea. Volunteer 2000. (P133) Volunteer 2003. (P140)

Volunteer 2001 . (P134) Volunteer 2004. (P141) Volunteer 2002. (P135) Volunteer 2005. (P142) Trail Crew (P136)

Hike Leader (P137) Trail Mapper. (P138) Organizer (P139)

NCT PATCH

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

North Dakota (P132)

Solid navy with cream trim and NCTA silhouette logo with adjustable buckle $14.95 D. Khaki Cap (C211)

Stone washed cotton khaki hat with North Coun­ try National Scenic Trail emblem with adjustable buckle $14.95

HATS A. Sun Protection (czio) Wide bill, Supplex® tan nylon, soft and breathable. Adjustable clip back $18.50 B. The Aussie Hat (C209) Natural color, cotton canvas with full brim and rope cord with adjustable slider. $24.50

A GUIDE NATIONAL LAKEStlORE

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

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

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GUide 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 guide lists all the hikeable segments of the trail and presents accurate mile­ ages along and between seg­ ments. Each trail segment on the map is numbered and corresponds to a description of that segment. 112 pages (L133) $5.95

North Country National Scenic Trail Vinyl Sticker (P-2006)

Decorate your favorite water bottle with this North Country National Scenic Trail sticker! 50¢ each or 12 for $5.00

e-mail: hq@northcountrytrail.org ORDER TOLL FREE! 1-866-HIKE NCT www.northcountrytrail.org I

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end

Map shown: 1:100,000 scale, Ml-10

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

PENNSYLVANIA NCT in Pennsylvania, 37 pages (M201) $6.00

CERTIFIED SECTIONS OF THE NCT

By Byron and Margaret Hutchim 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.

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

1:63,360 SCALE One inch to a mile. 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 $3.50 per map

NORTH DAKOTA Showing four sections of trail (ND-SE)

MINNESOTA Chippewa N.F. to Paul Bunyan S.F (MN-09)

State Highway 64 to Many Point Lake (MN-10)

WISCONSIN Together these maps cover the

Chequamegon National Forest Ironwood to Long Mile Lookout (Wl-01)

Long Mile Lookout to Solon Springs (Wl-02)

MICHIGAN Marshall to Bowne Township (Ml-02)

Bowne Township to M-37 (Ml-03) M-37 to Freesoil Trailhead (Ml-04) Freesoil Trailhead to Cedar Creek Road (Ml-05) Cedar Creek Road to Charlevoix County (Ml-06)

Charlevoix County to Mackinac Bridge .. (Ml-07) Mackinac Bridge to Whitefish Bay Scenic Byway (Ml-08) Curley Lewis Road to Grand Marais (Ml-09) Grand Marais to Au Train Lake (Ml-10) Au Train Lake to Little Garlic Falls (Ml-11) Alberta to Cascade Falls (Ml-13) Cascade Falls to Ironwood (Ml-14)

PENNSYLVANIA Allegheny National Forest (PA-01)

Allegheny National Forest to

State Game Land 95 (PA-02) State Game Land 95 to Pennsylvania/Ohio Stateline (PA-03)

NEW YORK Rome to Finger Lakes Trail (NY-04)

1:100,000 SCALE One inch to 1.578 miles. Printed in full color on durable paper, this pocket size map unfolds to

a full n" x 17", doublesided. These maps do not come in a plastic bag $3.50 per map

NCT TRAIL MAPS

e-mail: hq@northcountrytrail.org ORDER TOLL FREE! 1-866-HIKE NCT www.northcountrytrail.org

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

Name on Card

Expiration Date

Charge Card Number

Please mail, fax or phone your order to: 229 East Main Street Shipping and Handling Charges

Amount of Order Charge Lowell, Michigan 49331 $00.00 to $10.00 $2.50

Toll free telephone: 866-HikeNCT (445-3628) $10.01 to $25.00 $5.00 If ordering by credit card, $25.01 to $50.00 $6.00

$50.01 to $100 $8.00 you may fax your order to: 616-897-6605 over $100 $10.00

j~i·y~-s~r~-~~b~~-~~~; ·r·h·~·N·~~th. st·~~- 35

TRAIL SHOP PURCHASES Item Description I Item Number Size Quantity Price Each Total

Merchandise total:

*~coUNTf?y NCTA Members deduct 10%: -

[II] [ w~] Subtotal after discount:

~. r. 0 Check or money order enclosed ~~

Ml Residents add 6% sales tax: + (Made payable to "NCTA") Shipping and handling: +

D Please charge my credit card •ASSOCIATION• (See shipping info below)

Membership dues (if included): +

GRAND TOTAL:

D Member of a specific Chapter : _

D Member of my closest Chapter (If one exists)

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

Please choose your Chapter affiliation:

0 $45 Organization

0 $150 Business

0 $250 NCT Patron

0 $30 Regular

0 $50 Trail Leader

0 $100 Pathfinder

Membership: Please mark one of the boxes below if joining or rejoining the North Country Trail Association

Name {Please Print) Home Phone with Area Code

I I 1-1 I I 1-1 I I I Address E-mail

City I State I ZIP

The top form maybe used for new and renewing members. The lower portion of the form is for Trail Shop Merchandise.

MEMBERSHIP Be TRAIL SHOP ORDER FORM

Ohio State Line at Waldron to Augusta (M411A) $4.00 Augusra to Rogue River State Game Area (M412A) $4.00 Rogue River State Game Arearo M-115 Wesr of Mesick (M413A). $4.00 M-115 Wesr of Mesick ro M-32 Wesr of U.S. 131 (M414A) $4.00 M-32 Wesr of U.S. 131 ro Mackinaw City (M415A) $4.00 Sr. Ignace ro 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 suggesrs on-road routes where the trail is incomplete. Also provides good general information about access points, terrain, markers, camping and water, ere.

NORTH DAKOTA NCT in North Dakota, 15 pages (M701) $5.50

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 (M501B) $5.00

MICHIGAN NCT in Lower Michigan, 81 pages (M401) $13.00 NCT in Upper Michigan, 88 pages (M402) $14.00

e-mail: hq@northcountrytrail.org ORDER TOLL FREE! 1-866-HIKE NCT www.northcountrytrail.org

GREAT LAKES Trail Council Chair:

Mikel Classen · shores@jamadots.com State Trail Coordinator: Doug Welker · dwelker@up.net 9. Brule-St.Croix Chapter:

Chuck Zosel · zayforestry@yahoo.com 10. Chequamegon Chapter: Tana Turonie · tjt@baysac.net 11. Heritage Chapter: Keven Steffens · sceffens@wi.net 12. Peter Wolfe Chapter: Doug Welker · dwelker@up.net 13. North Country Trail Hikers Chapter:

Denise Herron · dherron906@aol.com 14. Grand Marais Chapter: Vacant 15. Hiawatha Shore-to-Shore Chapter:

Roger Morrison · rmorrison@sault.com

MINNESOTA Trail Council Chair and State Trail Coordinator:

John Leinen · foocpathpal@msn.com 4. Star of the North Chapter:

Gerald Johnson · johns018@umn.edu 5. Itasca Moraine Chapter: Jerry Trout · jbrroutts'tds.ner 6. Kekekabic Trail Club (Partner):

Terry Bernhardt · info@kek.org · (800)818-4453 Parks and Trails Council of Minnesota (Partner):

Dorian Grilley · dgrilley@parksandtrails.org • (651)726-2457

7. Rovers Outing Club (Partner): John Elliott · (612)829-5142

8. Superior Hiking Trail Association (Partner): Gayle Coyer • suphike@mr.net · (218) 834-2700

NORTH DAKOTA Trail Council Chair: Alicia Hoffarth ·

cahoffarth@hotmail.com State Trail Coordinator: Lisa Ringstad ·

lisaringstad@invisimax.com 1. Lonetree Chapter:

Elden Ehrman • ejje@ndak.net 2. Sheyenne River Valley Chapter:

Alicia Hoffarth · cahoffarch@hotmail.com 3. North Dakota Sandhills Chapter:

Cunis Vanek • go4trails@sbcglobal.net

700 Rayovac Drive, Suite 100, Madison, WI 53711 (608) 441-5610 Fax: (608) 441-5606

Tom Gilbert, Superintendent: tom_gilbert@nps.gov Fred Szarka, Trail Manager: fredrick_szarka@nps.gov

Ken Howell, Land Protection Specialist: ken_howell@nps.gov

NCTA Chapters: For information about local activities or volunteering, contact the Chapter representative for your area of interest. We have more than two dozen local volunteer trail clubs scattered along the trail that are Chapters of the NCTA. NCTA members can affiliate themselves with any Chapter they'd like, Whether or not the member volunteers, a portion of their dues will help support Chapter activities. Chapters build and maintain trail, host hikes and ocher events, and work to promote the trail and the Association in their areas.

Partner Organizations: The NCTA enters into affiliate agree­ ments with ocher organizations who envision the completed trail. Trail Maintaining Affiliates are independent organizations who also work to build, maintain, and promote sections of the trail. Supporting Affili­ ates are independent organizations who work with us to help fulfill our Mission, but are not responsible for a specific section of trail. Each has its own membership program, so we encourage NCTA members to sup­ port chem as well. If you have questions about a section of trail that is managed by one of these organizations, your best bee is to contact our Partner directly.

Trail Council Officers: Our Chapters and Partners work together to achieve common goals through statewide Trail Councils. Each state has its own Trail Council, though Wisconsin and Upper Michigan share the "Great Lakes Trail Council." Trail Councils have one or more officers, typically including a Chair and a State Trail Coordinator.

North Country Trail Association 229 E Main St, Lowell, Ml 49331

Toll-free: (866) HikeNCT Fax: (616) 897-6605 www.northcountrytrail.org HQ@northcountrytrail.org

Visit our website; it's a sure bet that you'll find most of what you need. Here you can join or contribute to the NCTA, browse the events cal­ endar, explore NCTA Chapter pages, purchase maps and trail-related produces, follow links to Partner organizations, read up-to-date news items, report volunteer hours, and, of course, learn more about the trail itself!

National Park Service: The NPS office in Madison is an excellent technical resource for volunteers, agencies, partner organizations, and the media. As our official trail administrator, the NPS sets trail standards, determines the trail route, and provides the overall vision for the trail.

When in Doubt, Try NCTA Headquarters: If you're not sure whom to contact, or prefer to talk with an office instead of contacting a volunteer at home, your best bet is to connect with the NCTA's National Office. If we can't help you, we'll be able to get you in touch with someone who can. Staff members are listed on page 3 (table of contents page).

If you have questions about the North Country Trail, there are many different places to go for information.

This directory provides you with key contacts.

Who's Who Along the North Country Trail?

NEW YORK Trail Council Chair and State Trail Coordinator:

Howard Beye · fltc@frontierner.net 34. Finger Lakes Trail Conference (Partner):

Gene Bavis · information@fingerlakestrail.org · 585-658-9320 Additional Maintaining Organizations Coordinated by FLTC: Adirondack Mrn 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

35. Central New York Chapter: Kathy Eisele · eiselek@dreamscape.com

Michael Kaizar · gprncta@yahoo.com 31. Rock Chapter: Vacant 32. Clarion County Chapter: Ed Scurry · edsdc85@yahoo.com 33. Allegheny National Forest Chapter:

Keith Klos · klos@westpa.net

davmyers@state.pa.us State Trail Coordinator: Ron Rice · ricel@nauticom.net

28. Wampum Chapter: Paul Henry · joyceappel@arm-tek.net 29. Butler Chapter: David Myers · davmyers@state.pa.us 30. Greater Pittsburgh Chapter:

Trail Council Chair: David Myers ·

LEGEND -chapters 11111 Partners =Not Yet Adopted

Trail Council Chair: Garry Dill · vetfarm@starband.net

State Trall Coordinator: James Sprague • jimsprague@msn.com

23. NW Ohio Rails-to-Trails Association (Partner) Vacant

24. Buckeye Trail Association (Partner) Garry Dill · vetfarm@starband.net · (937) 834-2891

25. Adams County Chapter: Myrna Hixson · myrna@brighr.net 26. Ohio Valley Chapter: Ryan Smith · rsmith365@hotmail.com 27. Great Trail-Sandy Beaver Canal Chapter:

Brad Bosley · bbosley@cceng.org

OHIO

LOWER MICHIGAN Trail Council Chair:

Lyle Bialk · lylebialk@sbcglobal.net State Trall Coordinator:

Joan Young • jhy@t-one.net 16. Harbor Springs Chapter:

Jerry Keeney • keeneylO@charrer.net 17. Tittabawassee Chapter:

Jerry Allen • hikershaven@m33access.com 18. Grand Traverse Hiking Club Chapter:

John Heiam · johnheiam@charrer.net 19. Spirit of the Woods Chapter:

Richard Krieger · rndkrieger@jackpine.com 20. Western Michigan Chapter:

Chuck Vannette · cvann30643@aol.com 21. Chief Noonday Chapter:

Tom Garnett · garnetrr@rrinity-health.org 22. Chief Baw Beese Chapter: Steve Vear · steve@vear.com

*Includes cumulative gifts, membership contributions and grants received berween June l, 2004 and May 31, 2005.

Lee's Sports and Sportswear Marietta Area Chamber of Commerce

$150 to $249 Marquette Board of Power and Light Michigan Mountain Bike Association

Moraine Sailing Club FS 80 The Outfitter

Pfizer Foundation Strlders, Inc.

Three Creeks Cabinetry Villaume Industries Inc.

AntiGravity Gear, LLC Bill Prall Touring Gear

Bill and Paul's Sporthaus Butler Outdoor Club

Campmor Inc. Eagle Optics

North Country Trail Relay Rochester Area Community Foundation

Sedona Trading Company T & C Markets IM, Inc.

Adirondack Mountain Club Central NY Community Foundation

National Cherry Festival North Country Music Association

$250 to $999

$1000 to $2.499 Eastern Mountain Sports

Finger Lakes Trail Conference Mead Witter Foundation, Inc.

Universal Forest Products

$2.500 to $9.999

Booth Newspapers Keeler Foundation

Madison County (NY) Board of Supervisors

Businesses, Foundations, and Agencies

$10,000 or more

National Park Service

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

Joseph Raynor Todd Reich Paul & Evelyn Reid Mark Reist Douglas & Kathleen Rhine Michael Rochowiak Walter & Jodell Rockenstein Anthony Rodriguez Christine Rundblad & John Brander Michael & Erica Sandretto Frank Sargent Edward Scanlan Mike Schaeffer & Debby Page Merl & Pat Schlaack William Schmidt Peter & Emily Schmitz Mary & Carl Schroeder John Schroeder Michael Schultz Richard Schwaab Richard Seabold Gary Segall David & Elvera Shappirio Richard & Marty Shaw Jeffrey & Frances Shepard Randy Shoemaker Jonathan Sledge Kevin Smith Kelvin Smyth James Sprague Carol Stetter Nancy Stewart John & Nancy Strom Larry Swisher Betty Tableman Bob Tait John Tanton Jay Taylor William Thomas David Tonnies Arvid Tronnes Jerry & Beth Trout Kenneth Udell John Underhill Betty Van der Smissen Gail VanHaren Yerian VanRheenen John & Diane Vanderveen Steve Vear Michael & Diane Veen Nils Vos Jerry Wachter Jacque Wallace Gary Werner Neil Whitbeck Donald Wickstra Kevin, Robin,

Kate & Morgan Wilson Dewey & Kay Wobma Rodger & Denise Wolf Gary Wright George Zacharek Thomas Zander Reynold Zeller Beverly Zelt

Chris & Alicia Hoffarth James Hoogesteger Tom & Mary Hord Keith & Katherine Horngren Murray Howe Theodore Hullar Larry Huston David Irish Michael Jarden Jan Jefferson Ken Jeffery Richard Jester Martha Jones John Judd Ruth Justice Thomas Kaiser Hans Kappus Jerry Keeney Shawn Kelly L. Bill Kick Brooks & Margie Kindel David Kinnamon Pollie Knight Stephen Kobylarz Bobby & Deborah Koepplin Andrew & Nancy Kosseff Karen Kress Kay & Stanley Kujawa Jeff & Janet Lalonde Gordon Lachniet Raoul & Jan LePage Laura Leso & Family Christopher & Margo Light Harlan Liljequist John & Marianne Ludwick Mary Lunt Gary & Barbara Lyall George & Patricia Maas Angus MacDonald Mary MacDonald Tom Mack Raymond & Kristen Majkrzak John Malcolm Duane & Beverly Mattheis Fred & Kathy Maynard Laurie McMurray Larry Meyer Pat & Kathleen Miller Diane Morand John & Carol Morris Denice Nelson John Norlund Anthony & Kim Notario Martin O'Toole Eugene Ollila Thomas & Maren Ortmeier Roberta Padur Nelson Paguyo Rolf & Carolyn Peterson Richard & Kaye Pfeiffer Aaron & Sharon Phipps Thomas & Diane Piquet Randal Podoll Chris Puehler William & Avis Rambo

Individuals Carl Boesel Richard & Sue Boettner Robert Bolding Ren & Carol Brander Kristen & Glen Bruxvoort Brian & Barb Buchanan Robert Burpee Robert Burris Brian Burt Tom Busse James Byrne Joe & Sharon Callahan Jay & Mary Campbell Frances & Steve Cheyne Tim & Christine Conners Robert Cooley Mark Dallara Mary & Bill Davis Robert Davis John & JoAnne Davis Dale DeGirolamo Claire Dedow Patrick Delaney Michele Dienno Stewart DeWitt Dinger William Dixon Jack & Karen Dixon Joe & Stephanie Dixon Cathy Drexler Greg & Lynne Durham William Eisenman Duane Elenbaas Gerard Engler Myron Erickson Paul Erisman Randal Eshuis Alan Fark Joan Filla Frank Fishman Douglas Flanagan Jeff Fleming William Fletcher Joanna Frank Eric Frick & Pam Salaway Sue Funk & Wood Kidner Tom Garnett William & Joanne Gerke Tom & Janis Gilbert Marc Gilbert George Girod James Glockner Donald Gore Lorna Goshman Paul & Julie Nietling Haan Scott Haebich John & Mary Ellen Hagner Mary Hamilton William Hamilton Marshall Hamilton Jeff Hammond Dennis Hansen Rich Harris Paul & Jerry Henry Denise Herron J. Daniel Hitchens

$100 to $249 David & Jean Adams Alan & Lou Adsmond Walt Alexander Pat Allen & Mark Miller John Allen & Edith Maynard Kimberly Arbour Daniel & Constance Arnold Charles Axthelm Aileen Baesemann R. Alan Baker Eleanor Bauer Dan Baumhardt & E. Joyce Krause

Brian Becker Lewis & Mary Bender Bruce Bishop Bert Bleke Richard Bliley Derek & Margaret Blount

$250 to $499 Jerry & Connie Pausits Allen Len & JoAnne Baron Richard Beil & Dana Burkley Howard Beye LeRoy Bliven John Diephouse Garrett Dill Kathleen Eisele Loyal & Bonnie Eldridge Richard Flinn Daniel Gold Peggy Jones & Andy Zeek Sarah Julien Al & Mary Kunzler-Larmann William Lynch James & Elizabeth Mackey Guyer & Kimberly McCracken Roger & Glory Meyer Linda O'Donnel Timothy O'Rourke Derrick Passe Joseph Raught Frank Smiddy Rolf Swanson Roger Tuuk

$500 or more Richard Ashbacker James Baldwin Bob & Judith Bredeweg Melissa Cardon Dave & Jan Cornell Bobbie Hineline Lou & Sandy Kasischke John & Pat Leinen Rod & Margaret MacRae Atley Oswald Bob & Annette Papp Dan Rogalla Irene Szabo David Tattan Werner & Marianne Veit Jim Weiske

Trail Supporters

NONPROFIT U.S. POSTAGE

PAID Grand Rapids, Ml

Permit 340 North Country Trail Association 229 East Main Street Lowell, Michigan 49331

Each week, year round, you'll find outdoor sections inside the pages of eight major Michigan newspapers. Experience everything from day hikes and overnight backpacking trips to child-friendly nature walks and rugged trails. The great outdoors, find it right inside the pages of your newspaper.

&HERE &HERE

• Jackson Citizen Patriot

,,,,...,,.

Bay City GV ~ Times• •Saginaw & HERE

News i •Flint

Journal & HERE Ann Arbor

News •

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Experience it \ HERE~ &HERE

------ & HERE!

The Grea utdoors