North Star Vol. 29, No. 1 (2010)

See What Made Our Members Proud in 2009: State of the TrailCatch up with the NCTA Board and Staff

Rescue Fun?Visit Our Northernmost States in January

This may be the “spring” issue but most of us haven't escaped winter yet!

January-March, 2010 The magazine of the North Country Trail Association

Volume 29, No. 1

north star

2 The North Star January-March 1

We’ve all heard it said

that money is the root of all evil. Unfortunately we need money to do anything, especially when our organiza-tion is spread out over seven states, building and maintain-ing trail, doing advocacy, branding, development, market-ing, outreach, promoting, providing member/partner sup-port and more…I know many of you give countless hours of time, equipment or financial resources to make a difference at your respective Chapter or Partner levels, for which NCTA’s Board of Directors is deeply grateful.

We received a wonderful Christmas present this year. I am proud to learn that one of the NCTA’s stalwart supporters, the late Harmon Strong, willed a gift of over $18,000 in cash to continue his trail legacy in supporting the NCTA. Harmon hailed from New York and was known by many for his numerous contributions of time, talent and financial generosity. But perhaps he was known best for his love of the trail and the folks who made a difference in building the trail. By looking ahead, Harmon ensured through his will that his several favorite organizations shared in the proceeds from the sale of his property. Has each of us remembered the North Country Trail in our wills?

It also brings me great pleasure to announce that all members of our Board of Directors contributed to the 2009 Annual Appeal. Thanks also to the 225 members who chose to do likewise and assisted us in raising $17,534.

The Board of Directors is in the process of updating our strategic plan under the leadership of First Vice President, Dr. Larry Hawkins. We are planning for an extended Board meeting in May in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to update,

Development Dollars: A Necessary Element for Any Business Including the North Country Trail Association

The Lowell office is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.229 East Main Street, Lowell, MI 49331

(866) HikeNCT • (616) 897-5987 • Fax (616) 897-6605

The North Country Trail Association develops, maintains, protects and promotes the North Country National Scenic Trail as the premier hiking path across the northern tier of the United States through a trail-wide coalition of volunteers and partners. Our vision for the North Country National Scenic Trail is that of the premier footpath of national significance, offering a superb experience for hikers and backpackers in a permanently

protected corridor, traversing and interpreting the richly diverse environmental, cultural, and historic features of

the northern United States.

Come Visit Us!

prioritize and create a working plan as to how we intend to grow the NCTA over the next several years.

A key responsibility for the Board of Directors in non-profit organizations is that of DEVELOPMENT (raising money). The BOD realizes that we cannot sustain and grow our organization simply on membership income and baseline funding from our NPS partner. The next staff position the Board expects to fill (mid 2010) is a Director of Development to help the Board raise money from private and public sector sources. We are planning a development workshop in May to help educate the Board on all aspects of a successful development program. Grants, corporate sponsorships and individual gifts and bequests (such as Harmon Strong’s) will all be part of the fund raising mix. We need to learn to ask the right people and organizations to further our cause. Private donations are the biggest source of giving nationally and most successful development efforts focus on personal relationships, which take time and effort to create and fully develop.

So in the interim, on behalf of the NCTA Board, I would ask that you continue your membership, and consider starting or maintaining a membership in the Founders Circle at the Trail Blazer ($1,000) or Trail Builder ($500 to $999) for a period of 5 years or more, and to give during the 2010 Membership Appeal.

In 2009 Founders Circle had 23 members (goal of 46) contributing a total of $18,109.58. Founders Circle was created in 2008, when we had 24 parties contribute a total of $17,020.44.

Please join my family and me in making a difference by giving financial assistance to grow our beloved North Country Trail. (Your contributions are tax deductible if you are able to itemize on your tax return). Thank you and may you all have a most blessed and rewarding 2010. Look forward to hearing from you ( [email protected]) or seeing you on the Trail!

BOBBY KOEPPLINPresident

TRAIL HEAD

January-March 1 The North Star 3www.northcountrytrail.org

Staff Andrew Bashaw,

Regional Trail Coordinator Ohio/[email protected]

Jill DeCator, Administrative Assistant/Membership Coordinator

[email protected]

Matt Davis, Regional Trail Coordinator Minnesota/North Dakota

[email protected] Ketchmark,

Director of Trail [email protected]

Laura Lindstrom,Office Manager/Financial Administrator

[email protected] Matthews,

Executive [email protected]

Bill Menke, Regional Trail Coordinator Wisconsin/Michigan UP

[email protected]

Matt Rowbotham, GIS/IT/Communications

[email protected]

National Board of DirectorsTerms Expiring 2010

Larry Hawkins, First VP, Lower Michigan Rep.,(69)945-5398 · [email protected]

Terms Expiring 2011Lyle Bialk, Lower Michigan Rep.,(81) 679-41 · [email protected]

Mary Coffin, VP East, New York Rep.,(315) 687-3589 · [email protected]

Dave Cornell, Immediate Past President, At Large Rep., (39) 561-651 · [email protected]

Garry Dill, At Large Rep.,(614) 451-3 · [email protected]

John Heiam, At Large Rep.,(31) 938-9655 · [email protected]

Lorana Jinkerson, Secretary, At Large Rep.,(96) 6-61 · [email protected]

Terms Expiring 2012Joyce Appel, Pennsylvania Rep.,

(74) 56-547 · [email protected] Jack Cohen, Pennsylvania Rep.,

(74) 34-5398 · [email protected] Koepplin, President, North Dakota Rep.,

(71) 845-935 · [email protected] Moberg, Minnesota Rep.,(71) 71-6769 · [email protected] Pavek, Minnesota Rep.,

(763) 45-4195 · [email protected]

Lynda Rummel, New York Rep.,(315) 536-9484 · [email protected]

Gaylord Yost, VP West, Great Lakes Rep.,(414) 354-8987 · [email protected]

Hike with Bill Menke at 2010 Conference!

About the Cover Frozen Munising Falls near Munising, Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Our trail crosses just above the falls. Photo by John Heiam.

ArticlesThank You, NCTA Donors! ........5New York's Lynda Rummel Joins Board of Directors .......................6Pennsylvania's Photography Contest....................79 State of the Trail .................8The Other Half: Facing Winter on the NCT .......14Register Tidbits ..........................9Favorite Places ............................3Winter Wedding on the Trail! ...31Rescue Fun? ...............................3Injury Reporting Kits for All .....3 Hiawatha Shore to ShoreWinter Trails Day ......................33 Board of Directors Initiates Strategic Planning Effort ...........34 Bring on the Bridge! 1 ..........35Tour de NCT continues in PA ...35

ColumnsTrailhead ......................................Matthews’ Meanders ....................4Going for the Gold ....................18DepartmentsWho's Who Along the Trail ......

North Star StaffIrene Szabo, Volunteer Editor, (585) 658-431 or [email protected]

Peggy Falk, Graphic Design

The North Star, Spring issue, Vol. 9, Issue 1, is published by the North Country Trail Association, a private, not-for-profit 51(c)(3) organization, 9 East Main Street, Lowell, MI 49331. The North Star is published quarterly for promotional and educational purposes and as a benefit of membership in the Association. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without written permission of the North Country Trail Association.

Join Bill Menke, pictured above, on the Brule Bog Boardwalk when you visit northern Wisconsin this coming August...without the snow!

Bill Menke


2010 NCTA Annual Conference in Ashland, Wisconsin, August 5-8

Let Us Tempt You To Visit! Yes, our resort hotel is right on the shore of Lake Superior,

where we’ll have a bonfire one night.

Two thousand and nine was a good year for NCTA. Elsewhere in this issue you’ll read about our chapter and

affiliate accomplishments. You’ll also read about the board’s strategic planning effort, now well underway under the leadership of first V-P Larry Hawkins. We’re preparing for our annual visit to Washington, DC to “Hike the Hill” and convince Congress we’re worth continued funding. Here are some highlights we’ll be sharing with your representatives about what you’ve accomplished in 2009.

NCTA is sporting a new look—with a brand and logo emphasizing “your adventure starts nearby,” and our unique connection to America’s northern heartlands, serving our rugged red plaid nation.

A new NCTA website is spearheading much expanded social networking on all things North Country Trail.

More volunteers contributed more hours to the Trail than ever. Volunteer hours rose a whopping 22% over 2008! Their efforts are valued at $1.14 million. And if you like more numbers that’s $3.64 returned on every dollar invested by the National Park Service.

Member giving rose 26% in 9.NCTA’s revenues exceeded projections again, and expenses

came in $5 less than budgeted, enabling the association to enter 2010 with a surplus of $64,.

7 year-old “Eb” Eberhart, aka “Nimblewill Nomad,” completed the North Country Trail in less than ten months, becoming the 8th ever to hike the entire length.

Senator Carl Levin (Mich., D) attended two National Trails Day ’9 events in northern Michigan.

Volunteer Adventures hosted six projects attended by 69 volunteers!

The Sheyenne River Valley Chapter hosted an outstanding annual conference in North Dakota, where 154 NCTAer’s experienced prairie hiking on a big sky scale.

BRUCE MATTHEWSExecutive Director

MATTHEWS’ MEANDERS

Premier hiking segments of the North Country Trail are now being highlighted on the NCTA website.

Major media coverage included Wisconsin and MN Public TV as well as local features following Nimblewill Nomad.

Two new NCTA chapters were formed—The Arrowhead Chapter in northern Minnesota and in the western most U. P. of Michigan there is now the Ni-Miikanaake Chapter—Ojibwa for “I make a trail.”

The “Golden Aspen Spike” was driven by the Itasca Moraine Chapter, capping an eight-year effort to close the 4 mile gap between the Chippewa National Forest and Itasca State Park.

Grand Traverse Hiking Club chapter completed their Hodenpyl-Manistee River Re-route, a two-year, 15.5 mile labor of vision and love.

Urban NCNST signs were installed in Mellen and Solon Springs, WI, and Lowell, MI.

A new partnership Memorandum of Understanding was consummated between the Finger Lakes Trail Conference and the NCTA, heralding a new era of cooperation in managing the 4-plus miles of premier shared trail tread in New York’s southern tier.

Central New York Chapter’s Al Larmann received the 9 Lifetime Achievement Award.

North Country Trail Hikers Chapter’s Lorana Jinkerson wrote and published Nettie does the NCT, the first children’s book about the trail.

But then there’s membership growth. Or, more to the point, there isn’t.

Yes, we’re down about 3 members from where we were a year ago in spite of all these successes. The NCTA cannot sustain its efforts, not to mention grow them, if we cannot grow our membership. Expect to see a major effort underway soon, including a member-get-a-member campaign, to help address this challenge.

We’ve got a great story to tell, and a solid and strong cadre of members to tell it. More than half of NCTA’s members have belonged to NCTA for 6-plus years! And based on past experience more than 8% of NCTA’s membership will renew this year. We need to enlarge this base of support, and we’ll need every member to help do it. Stay tuned!

Ashland


Pat Allen & Mark MillerPhilip Anderson

Joyce AppelDr’s Arnold Arnold

Steve BadeKen Ballema

Len & JoAnne BaronDon & Kathy Bashaw

Gene & Liz BavisDonald Beattie

Thom & Mary Lou BelaskyDawn BennettBetty Benson

Lyle BialkCarol Blair

Thelma BoederRichard & May Bohjanen

Sally BrebnerBonnie Breed

Doug & Kathy BrehmBelinda Brewster

Jeff Briner & FamilyJim Bronson

Keith & Dorothy BrownBob & Ruth Brown

Jason BucknerRobert Burris

Donald BussiesKay Caskey

Stephen CathermanDavid Chalk

Bill & Mary CoffinJack Cohen

Butler County TourismDonald CollinsRobert Cooley

Dave & Jan CornellHarold Cotant

Bill & Anne CourtoisLarry Cross

Bill & Beva DahnkeCarl Daiker

William DainesRodney Dale

Matthew DavisDarl & Jill DeCator

Robert DeckerRoland Derksen

Mike & Linda DibbleJohn Diephouse

Garry DillLou & Jewel DiOrio

Cecil & Joanne DobbinsRoy Dray

Michael DundasScott & Terri EdickDonald Edwards

Kathy Eisele

Gene ElzingaMaureen Engle

Richard EngstromAlan Fark

John & Patricia FeyJeff Fleming

John & Marge ForslinTeri Foust

Claudia FryWilliam Gambert

Tom GarnettLouis Geeraerts

William & Joanne GerkeTom & Janis Gilbert

James GilkeyAnita Gilleo

Donald GodfreyJames GregoireGeorge Haberer

Chris & Helen HallerMarshall HamiltonGordon HamiltonMary HamiltonDan Hamilton

Dennis HansenMick HawkinsLarry Hawkins

John Heiam & Lois GoldsteinEllen Heneghan

Alicia & Chris HoffarthDan Hornbogen

Byron & Margaret HutchinsGrace & Ronald Hutchinson

Barbara & Charles Todd IsomLorana JinkersonHarvey JohnsonMartha Jones

Lois JuddThomas Kaiser

Lou & Sandy KasischkeDavid KauppiRobert KazarArnold Kepple

Andrea KetchmarkVerlyn & Dorothy Kicker

Kristine KipkaEric Kirchner

Peter & Paula KlimaBobby & Deborah Koepplin

David KubicekRonald KulakBob La Fleur

Harold LaFleurNicholas & Debra Lam

Kurt LandauerMichael Landry

Harold LaneAl & Mary Larmann

Phil & Penny LarsenGayle Larson

Edward & Catherine LawrenceRobert Lazar

John & Pat LeinenLaura Leso & Family

Mary LettsChristopher & Margo Light

Dick LightcapJan Lindstrom

Phil & Laura LindstromNelson Lytle

Mary MaddenHugh Makens

Linda Masser-WilliamsJim & Norma Matteson

Duane & Beverly MattheisBruce Matthews

Lucy McCabeMaureen McCarthy

Jean McLeanRobert & Pat McNamara

Bill & Donna MenkeEeva & Bob Miller

Tom & Mary MobergEdward MoelleringJean-Pierre MoreauKathryn MorrisonRoger Morrison

Larry & Sophia MortonDan & Peggy Mourer

Dick NaperalaThao NguyenCharles Otis

Ralph & Ethel OttenBrian Parks

Brian & Barb PavekPatty & Bill Peek

Lew & Kathy PetersWilliam PetersonThomas PitchfordPatricia RathmannKen & Kay ReaderJohn RegenhardtDaniel RehnerBrian RobertsDan Rogalla

Donald RouthRobert & Grace Rudd

Gregory RussoRandy Ryan

Tom SalwasserLarry Sampson

Philip & Elizabeth SamuelsMerl & Pat Schlaack

John SchroederGeorge Schubert

JJH Schwarz

Leann ScottJeffrey Seiple

Mary Ann Sheets-HansonMary & Carl Shroeder

Edward SidoteWilliam SlausonMartyn Smith

Ronald & Amy SnyderTed & Alice Soldan

Ron SootsmanLeslie & Bonnie Spitz

James SpragueRobert Steeneck

Wayne & Nancy StegerNeil Steinbring

Ellen StephensonCarole Stevens

Mark & Tiffany StramKathryn Strom

Craig & Tanna SwaggertRay & Marvel Swanson

Irene SzaboDouglas Szper

Jay TaylorJohn TeitschStella Thelen

Charles ThompsonTurkey’s CaféJerry Valka

John & Ayleen VanBeynenTheresa Vanveelen

Jeff & Nancy VanWinkleWerner & Marianne Veit

John VoseJudith Waddington

Linda WalmaJim Weiske

Doug & Marjory WelkerJacqui Wensich

Gary WernerScott & Julie Wilhelmsen

Michael WilkeyLarry Willis

Daniel WillshireGene WimmerMarjorie WrightRonald WurstJeffrey YoestGaylord Yost

John Young William YoungGeorge ZacharekCharlene Zebley

Mary Zuk Domanski

Thank You, 2009 NCTA Donors! Thank you for responding to NCTA's Annual Appeal!


Without your material, we cannot have a magazine, so we eagerly request your submission of pictures

and text for every issue. Please send both to my email address, [email protected], fax (585) 658-4438, or to this street address:

Irene Szabo 6939 Creek Rd., Mt. Morris NY 1451

Because the capabilities of both my ancient self and my computer limit what I can handle, please PLEASE do not send documents that end with .docx, but only .doc, or I’ll just have to ask you to re-send. Please don’t embed pictures within your article, but send them separately as .jpg attachments. Do not send your North Star submissions to the NCTA office, because they will just have to forward them to me, and it HAS happened that precious articles have thus been lost in the shuffle.

Next deadline for Vol. 9, Issue , is April 9th.Thank you!

—Your volunteer editor, Irene (585) 658-431

The bylaws of the North Country Trail

Association permit a variable number of seats on its board, so with no new NY candi-date after Al Larmann had served the maximum number of years allowed, the board searched for an additional far eastern representative to join Mary Coffin.

NCTA is pleased, and the Board of the Finger Lakes Trail Conference enthusiastically agrees, to learn that Lynda Rummel has agreed to serve, especially considering how many trail hats she already wears. For some years now she has been busy along the Finger Lakes Trail tending her own section west of Watkins Glen, managing sixty miles worth of other trail caretakers, and planning and conducting several MAJOR trail improvement projects. Her projects have included relocating five miles of trail across both state forests and private lands (getting the NCT off horse/snowmobile trails and leading to one Trail Easement), securing funding for and laying out another relocation (11 switchback legs) that got the trail onto its own single-use track, and writing and overseeing a federal Recreational Trails Program trail relocation/rebuilding grant (leading to two Trail Easements). Her work earned her the FLTC’s highest award (the Wally Wood) and the NCTA’s Trail Builder of the Year in 7.

The more she undertook after an early retirement, the more she got into. She assisted with GPS’ing segments of the NCT and attended several trail building workshops (including NPS “Gold Star” certification training and

“Archeology for Trail Builders”), to prepare her to lead trail worker sessions and handle NCT certification paperwork for the FLT. At the same time, she was working on yet another trail, the Keuka Outlet Trail, which follows along a canal towpath/rail bed within a stream gorge near her home. Lynda served as newsletter editor/writer, grant writer, outhouse cleaner, and president of the land trust that owns and manages this trail for many years. For her work on the Keuka Outlet Trail and the Finger Lakes Trail, Lynda was named “7 Conservationist of the Year” by the Yates

County Federation of Sportsmen.In recent years she has chaired the NCTA Field Grant

Committee, which reviews chapter applications then meets by phone to discuss their merits. Naturally when the Finger Lakes Trail Conference was left with a major administrative void upon the death of Howard Beye over a year ago, Lynda was a logical choice to handle one of the four new jobs created to handle what he did, so she is now also Director of Trail Quality and in that role creates a newsletter for trail workers, too!

The Board is happy that one with such breadth of experience has chosen to add this job to her list of responsibilities. Moreover, while it’s not a skill she should find many opportunities to use during Board meetings, Lynda wants us to know she is most proud to be a certified chain sawyer.

New York’s Lynda Rummel Appointed to Board of Directors

Lynda has taken the big plunge and accepted a seat on the NCTA board. Photo Irene Szabo

NORTH STAR SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

www.northcountrytrail.org January-March 1 The North Star 7

My motivation for holding a photography contest may have been slightly underhanded; I desperately needed

pictures of the trail to use in promotional materials. I also love photography, and from meeting with chapter members across PA, I learned that many other NCT enthusiasts enjoy taking pictures as they hike along the trail, or as a way to document their hard work. Thus, as a way to engage chapter members, collect photos for promotions, and do something fresh and fun for the holiday season, I started a small, internal photography contest for Pennsylvania members of the NCTA.

The rules were simple: send in up to 5 pictures taken along the trail in PA. The pictures did not have to be new, or

First Place: Circle of Life by John Stehle

The 2009 Pennsylvania

Photography Contest: A fun and engaging way to promote the trail

Julie Elkins, PA Communications Coordinator

Second Place: Wood Sorrel by Brett Watson

Third Place: by Tammy Veloski

taken within a certain time period. (Remember, I needed stock photos!) The fee for each submission was $.. The winner received exactly one-half of the proceeds I collected from the entry fees (in cash!). Additionally, the top three pictures earned a

Continued on page 19


State of the Trail 2009

Finger Lakes Trail ConferenceNEW YORK - Thanks to NCTA Field Grants, Volunteer Adventure funding and Challenge Cost Shares from the National Park Service, two segments of the NCNST in New York's Southern Tier were improved significantly this past summer, a stretch near Syracuse (central NY) was rehabilitated, stepping stones were placed across a problem creek, and volunteers were certified or recertified as chain sawyers. • First, a work party organized by Finger Lakes Trail

Conference (FLTC) volunteer Dave Potzler built and placed puncheon over a persistently wet stretch of trail in Allegany State Park. Potzler reports that the repaired segment is once again one of the most popular in the park.

• Secondly, an FLTC "Alley Cat" crew (named for the main trail that runs from Allegany State Park to the Catskills), organized by FLTC volunteer project manager, Lynda Rummel, built new and rebuilt old trail on the steep side of Mt. Washington, near Hammondsport. The property's topography —a narrow ridge with steep ravines on each side—gave the crew no choice but to build what Bill Menke calls a zipper, 8 short switchback legs stacked one above the other, with steps at the turns. With the grades now reduced from 35-4% to 1%, this stretch of trail is now almost enjoyable!

• Third, a segment of the Onondaga Trail portion of the FLT/NCT south of Syracuse was greatly improved. Local labor was provided by FLTC volunteers Mary Coffin, Tony Rodriguez, and others from the Onondaga Chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club. This segment, in Morgan Hill

Central New York ChapterNEW YORK - Trail Accomplishments:• The long-sought junction of the NCNST/

Finger Lakes Trail-Onondaga Branch and the Link Trail/NCNST makes it possible for the first time to hike the NCNST from the Pennsylvania state line to the outskirts of Rome, NY, approximately 45 miles!

• The + mile NCNST/Link Trail in Madison County is now open from Cazenovia to Canastota, including a 6 mile segment which is in the final certification stage.

• Certified: The 6.-mile BREIA Black River Canal Trail connecting Pixley Falls State Park and Boonville, just outside the Adirondack Park.

Trail Set-backsIn mid-December, NY Parks announced that its assessment

of the one-year “horse use pilot plan” imposed on a section of certified trail in 8 concluded that no significant damage to the trail occurred. Simply stated, the horse group restricted its use of the trail; hence, the result. We will continue to monitor and document trail conditions.

“Happy” New Year—a week after NY Parks officially opened up a section of the NCNST to horse use, it issued a permit to a local snowmobile club to use that same section despite our expressed concerns about trail damage, hiker/cross-country skier safety and the fact that doing so would cause that section's immediate de-certification. NY Parks asserts that multiple uses are compatible and is consistent with their agency's mission statement. We disagree and will pursue our options vigorously but intelligently at the local level. Promotion/Communications: • Mary Kunzler-Larmann redesigned our brochure into a

color, multi-map format. It's proved so popular that we're having difficulty keeping them in stock.

• VP Eileen Fairbrother redesigned our web site to include suggested full and half-day hikes, the best sections to cross-country ski and even links to hiker blogs complete with video, seasonal trail pictures, nature sightings. (www.cnyncta.org)

• Volunteer Bettina Frisse has graced two of our kiosks with her wildflower and wildlife photos.

Moving Ahead:• November: the Boonville Village Board agreed to have

a one+ mile, foot-travel trail along the Black River Canal carry the NCNST. Marking/certification will commence soon. This trail connects with a 1+ mile long NCNST-carrying designated connector trail from Boonville to Forestport, just outside the Adirondack Park. The net result is 17. miles of continuous off-road hiking.

• Our trail stewards, led by Kathy Eisele, continue their valued contribution.

• Steve Kinne has helped address several needed trail enhancements and his "Strike Force" of accredited sawyers has been an integral part of keeping the trail clear.

—Kathryn G Woodruff, President

2

Frequently violent Cheningo Creek has torn out every previous attempt at a conventional bridge, so we all hope these monster stones will provide a safe FLT crossing henceforth.

2

DEC Forester, Richard Pancoe


State of the Trail 2009

Finger Lakes Trail dog, Ajax, inspects a cairn built atop Mt. Washington (southeast of Hammondsport, NY). The Inukshuk's arms, at right angles, mark a 90-degree turn in the trail. ‘Inukshuk’ is the Inuit word for a cairn made out of stones that suggest the human figure. (‘Inuk’ means an individual Inuit.) Such figures used to dot the bare, treeless northern landscape. Inuit built them to show a route or mark a special spot; i.e., early trail signage! I built two on Mt. Washington: “Top of the Climb” Inukshuk, the one in the photo with Ajax, marks the high end of the rebuild/reloca-tion, which coincides with the end of the steepest part of the hillside and signals a right angle turn in the trail, as well.

State Forest, was both rebuilt and relocated to repair heavily used steep portions where people visit a beautiful waterfall.

• Fourth, at the suggestion of the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC)and with the help of their heavy equipment operators, large (.5-3.5 feet in diameter!) stones were placed across Cheningo Creek, in Taylor Valley State Forest, forming a "bridge" of stepping stones that hikers can use to cross the creek in all but the highest waters. (A road bridge nearby can be used when the creek floods.)

• Lastly, through two chainsaw certification courses organized by FLTC volunteer Marty Howden, twenty individuals were certified to use their chainsaws on the NCNST. Six of those trained put their skills to work right away by clearing dozens of trees that had been taken down by a "microburst" in Bush Hill State Forest (Cattaraugus County).

• Meanwhile, the Onondaga Trail continues to be extended toward its intended meeting with the CNY chapter’s trail.

—Lynda Rummel

Allegheny National Forest ChapterPENNSYLVANIA - The Allegheny National Forest Chapter in Pennsylvania is putting plans in motion to move a one-mile section of the trail off a dangerous stretch of road that lacks a sufficient shoulder. According to chapter president Keith Klos, the project will move the trail “off the road and into the woods where it belongs.”

On December 26, 2009, Keith, five others, and Bear the dog ventured out to map the course for the re-route and mark the potential path with ribbons. This process works best during the winter, when it is easiest to see through the trees and visualize the new route. Once the snow clears, the ANF chapter will return to the prospective path along with representatives of the US Forest Service, who must approve the chapter’s plans.

Once the final path for the re-route is determined, the group will complete the re-routed portion of trail. Tentatively, the re-route project is scheduled for June 5, 2010, this year’s National Trails Day. The chapter hopes to recruit local Boy Scout troops to help with the project, but welcomes any and all volunteers interested in helping with the project. This re-route is something the chapter has been working towards for seven years, a project that, in 2010, will finally become a reality!

—Julie Elkins

Clarion Chapter PENNSYLVANIA - “Scurry Sticks” The Clarion Chapter has begun a fund raising project to supplement petty cash. The chapter is offering walking sticks made to order from trees indigenous to Pennsylvania. The branches were located along the North Country Trail as storm debris, timbering tree tops, or removals adjacent to the trail during trail maintenance. The sticks are available in maple, oak, elm, crab apple, birch, witch hazel, black cherry, ironwood, and sassafras, and come in lengths from 36 to 66 inches. Glossy or satin finishes are available, polyurethaned clear over natural wood. The cost is $5; however, there is an inventory of about twenty sticks of various lengths and types available for $. Interested hikers can contact Ed Scurry at (814) 437-1168 or [email protected]. The Clarion Chapter displays the sticks at promotional events.

—Julie Elkins

Clarion Chapter's Ed Scurry makes his poles from a variety of woods gathered while clearing the trail, to raise funds for the chapter.

Lynda Rumm

el

Arnold Kepple


Wampum Chapter PENNSYLVANIA - Holds Annual Community Fall Hike on October 18, 2009. Our hike began with a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate a recently rerouted section of the NCT near Wampum, Pennsylvania, on land owned by the Gateway Commerce Center. The reroute offers hikers several scenic views of the Beaver River Valley. With fall foliage in full color hikers were able to see the valley at its best.

At least sixty people attended the ribbon cutting. Chapter President Lee Fairbanks introduced Wampum Borough Mayor Jeff Steffler, Borough Councilman James Ferrante, and representatives from Gateway Commerce Center, co-owner Dan Bruce, Vice President and Chief of Operations Officer Tom Roth, and Office Manager Deborah Sudano, who cut the ribbon to officially open the Gateway Commerce Center reroute.

Then 39 hikers took off into the woods following Bob Cody, who is also one of Wampum’s two Trail Work Coordinators. The trail traversed land owned by Gateway Commerce Center, Inc., Mines and Meadows, Inc., State Game Lands # 148, and the Edwards Family. John Edwards served as Sweep and faithfully maintains his family’s section of the NCT.

Wampum’s Gail Blakeley organized the event. Gail has always organized our hikes so, as usual, everything ran smoothly. There were drawings for two NCT T-shirts. Snacks and hot beverages were served before the hike and at the 3 ½ mile stop.

New Ohio boardwalk, Little Cities of the Forest Chapter project.

Wampum Chapter hike: isn't it amazing what potential disasters are revealed as leaves gradually depart the trees in autumn?

G. W

arren Smith

Andrew Bashaw

Car shuttles were available at the 1 ½, 3 ½ and 4 ½ mile stops. JoEllen Sokoloski, Joyce Abels and Tom Snarey staffed the registration and refreshment tables and placed directional signs, balloons and ribbons where needed. Ron Justi was in charge of parking and helped shuttle hikers to their cars. Terry Jones permitted us to use his property for registration and parking.

Special thanks go out to Wampum Police Officer Terry Bush who did an excellent job of directing traffic and protecting hikers on the road walk portion of the hike. And we thank Wampum Borough Council for their help and cooperation. Good fellowship and fine weather made for a great day on the NCT!

Plans for next year’s hike are already underway and will include a newly opened -mile section of the NCT in the Darlington, PA area.

—Bob Cody


Let Us Tempt You To Visit!

...LOONS...


Little Cities of the Forest Chapter OHIO - The Little Cities of the Forest Chapter has been busy with multiple activities this year, including meetings and several hikes along our section of trail. We’ve taught classes on trail development to students at Hocking College and have cooperated with the Buckeye Trail Association on work parties. We have done display presentations at various events throughout the year. We’ve completed GPS’ing approximately 4 miles of trail that include the loop around the lake at Burr Oak State Park as well as the Wildcat Hollow backpacking loop. The most significant chapter development this year is that we have obtained permission to construct a trail which will link these two backpacking systems together. The connector trail will include approximately seven hundred feet of boardwalk along a beautiful wetland area on the upper end of the lake at Burr Oak State Park, as well as a fifty-foot bridge crossing the east branch of Sunday Creek, the tributary of the lake. We have already started working on this project, and have involved a local Boy Scout troop in the effort, one of whom is helping to organize and complete construction of two hundred feet of the boardwalk as his Eagle Scout project.

—Travis Neely

Buckeye Trail AssociationOHIO - As a result of an invitation from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, we are in the process of moving the North Country Trail from back country roads in northwestern Ohio to the scenic, historic and safer Miami and Erie Canal towpath for about 1 miles. This canal and towpath has been abandoned for about 13 years, along with its hidden locks buried in the now wooded towpath that is being uncovered, including mile posts from the 18’s. Over the past four years the Buckeye Trail Association has been very successful in this mammoth project moving about 3 miles of trail to the canal towpath with approximately another 7 miles to go. Although there have been many problems, nearly all of them have been resolved with assistance from the ODNR and other local government agencies as well as private land owners.

There are usually about 1 to 15 work parties a year throughout Ohio with a few of them 4-5 days long while some are maintenance weekends. Two of the longer work projects are set aside for constructing new off-road trail along this abandoned canal corridor. One private company in Paulding County has seen the value of this huge project and has donated all the culverts needed, of various diameters and lengths worth

Buckeye Chapter: Lesser mortals might have built a reroute around THIS monster fallen tree, but sawyer Rick Adamson cut a passage through.

Debbie Zam

pini


from Harvey Bridge, you will discover two very special places. We call them Deena’s Bridge and Sara’s Steps, a most surprising legacy indeed; our crew and club are grateful.

An outstanding feature of this reroute is that there are at least twelve scenic vistas along the Manistee River. At the eastern end of this section of trail, where the new trail joins the existing NCT, coming from Wheeler Creek, there is a fantastic overlook which some of us believe exceeds even the Highbanks Rollway site. You may wind up with muddy boots, but the hike is worth it.

In an effort to share this trail with others we are leading a backpack on this section, and invite other NCTA members to join us. See our trip listing below.

—John Heiam

Phase 3 of last year’s Hodenpyl Reroute was completed on November second. This reroute was built from August to November by our Trail Crew of thirty two workers. It is our most rugged section of hiking trail and involves eleven stream crossings, and numerous steep ravines. Bridges are in place, water bars built, steps installed, trees blazed the familiar blue, and signage erected where necessary.

We have never built a section of trail that involved so much benching into clay. While working through an unusually wet October, our shoes were heavy as they became laden with Manistee River clay, but the views of the river, and the sound of rushing creeks in the ravines gave us an inspiring contact with a truly wilderness setting. On two occasions we brought an orange plastic sled from home to help carry decking to the bridge sites, while we used Ed’s wagon to do the same. The skillful use of four by sixes, two by fours, two by sixes, six by sixes, nails, spikes, drills, Pulaskis, McCleods, bow saws, loppers, levels, hammers, flagging, plus miles of walking classify all of this crew as “Pros.”

We secured two grants from the NCTA totaling $1,36 to pay for some of the materials. The more we worked, the more needs we discovered, so another grant from the NPS for $86 was secured. The ravines and streams challenged us again for more funding. As we began to approach rifle deer hunting season, a 16-foot bridge needed to be built and adjacent 17 steps up the Big Ravine. Deena Barshney and Sara Cockrell came to the rescue and wrote checks to cover an additional $85. So, when you are out hiking the new NCT, about a mile

Grand Traverse Hiking Club LOWER MICHIGAN -

several thousand dollars.In southern Ohio we have purchased 19 acres of land

from the Riddle Lumber Company, a very supportive company that gave us a deal there and has given us permission to move the trail off country roads to other properties of theirs. The BTA acquired a loan from the Conservation Fund to purchase the land from Riddle, and has received approximately $3, in donations from our members so far. The BTA Trail Crew constructed 3.8 miles of trail on this piece of property over the last several years. Of course the bigger trees were harvested but even with that the deal was very handsome for us. There have been black bear, badgers and bobcats spotted on this piece of land along with the endangered timber rattle snake.

Last year the Buckeye Trail Association’s Trail Crew was very successful. There were a total of 15 different volunteers who contributed more than 3,87 hours of trail work with an additional 897 hours of travel time for a total of 4,769 hours worth $96,583. at 8 figures. This is for advertised work parties ONLY, so does not include all the trail maintenance work throughout the year from approximately plus trail adopters.

—Rick Adamson, State Trail Coordinator

Grand Traverse Hiking Club Backpacking Trip Invitation

Join us April 3 – May 3, 1, for a backpacking trip along a very scenic section of the NCT. We will hike approximately 3 miles, including 18 miles of newly rerouted trail, almost all of which follows the beautiful Manistee River in northwest lower Michigan. The terrain is varied so that there are sections where the trail is just a few feet from the river, and others where the trail crosses high bluffs providing wonderful vistas of the river and surrounding countryside. Our hike will begin at the Highbanks Rollway in Wexford County and end at the Red Bridge access after four days and three nights on the trail, hiking from six to twelve miles each day.

If you are interested, or would like more information, contact Rick Halbert at [email protected] (31) 947-8485 or Dick Naperala at [email protected] (31) 3-793.

Proud Grand Traverse Hiking Club crew admires their own considerable work.

Marilyn H

oogstraten


Hiawatha Shore-to-Shore ChapterUPPER MICHIGAN - Like preceding years, the Hiawatha Shore-To-Shore Chapter scheduled and hosted organized hikes the second Saturday of each month. Up to thirty people participated in these hikes during any given month. We kicked off 9 in January by observing Winter Trails Day at Soldier Lake. (See photo page 12)Forty-one souls braved below zero temperatures to snowshoe or cross-country ski into the Hiawatha National Forest and were rewarded with roasted hotdogs in a shelter, by a warm fire. The chapter observed National Trails Day with a Hike Between “da Falls” in conjunction with Project GO at Tahquamenon Falls State Park. Over 1 people rode the school bus to the Upper Falls to hike back on five miles of the NCT to the Lower Falls.

Chapter members were busy in 9 promoting the North Country Trail to organizations and groups. Presentations were made before the St. Ignace Kiwanis Club, the Paradise Chamber of Commerce, the Gaylord Edelweiss Garden Club, and the Petoskey Lions Club. The chapter promoted the NCT at the Quiet Waters Symposium in Lansing, the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians Fun Day, the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians Super Saturday, and “Lakerpalooza” on the campus of Lake Superior State University.

Three local libraries opened up their display cases to our promotions for which members created impressive informational and pictorial displays

The chapter has also seen fruit from the efforts of all this promotional work by realizing a 3% increase in memberships in the past year.

Our trail saw many improvements in 9. In addition to blazing work done in the downtown St. Ignace area, extensive work completed by the US Forest Service along White Fish Bay includes a stairway, boardwalks, new kiosks, road signs, and improved restroom facilities. The chapter is reaping the benefits of their hard work on trail, since Nimblewill Nomad wrote in his online journal, “…what a remarkable trail, what beautiful work—thank you, thanks all! These last days have turned it; a delightful, glorious hike through your section of trail. Open (blow-downs cleared), well marked trail through interesting and varied terrain, memorable, absolutely memorable!” We hope that other hikers have had similar experiences.

In September, the Chapter hosted the inaugural “Bring on the Bridge” event. NCTA members from multiple chapters camped at former county fairgrounds and walked the Mackinac Bridge, a part of the NCT, on Labor Day morning, the only day of the year when this five-mile section is open to pedestrians.

The chapter would like to thank Lynwood Leightner and his shop class at St. Ignace LaSalle High School and Mike Lilliquist for their aid in the construction of the completed informational kiosk located at the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) St. Ignace Welcome Center.


Let Us Tempt You To Visit! Boat Ride to the Apostle Islands National

Lakeshore, twenty one islands both forested and sandy out in Lake Superior, with eight lighthouses,

trails, beaches, and one of the newest federally designated wilderness areas, named for Senator

Gaylord Nelson.

Winter Trails Day, 9 January 2010, for the Hiawatha Shore to Shore Chapter in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, where par-ticipants snowshoed inland to a picnic pavilion for hot dogs, a warm fire, and fun together. Low winter sun at the end of the afternoon gave Kay Kujawa this great picture.

…continued on page 22


The Other Half: Facing Winter on the North Country Trail


Middle left: The High Line carries BNSF freight trains over the entire valley at Valley City, North Dakota. Glam queen Pearl, always hogging a photo op, was frequently surprised at Chautauqua Park when she tried to leave the plowed park road to romp in the deep snow, from which I wasn’t about to rescue her.

Middle right: With an air temperature of 14 below, the Sheyenne River appears to steam below Baldhill Dam, which forms Lake Ashtabula. There are miles of trail along the lake, and this viewpoint is part of our route. The Karnak railroad trestle, shown in last year’s post-conference issue, is near the north end of this lake, about a dozen trail miles away.

Irene Szabo

Photos by the Author

Top: Quintessential North Dakota at north Valley City Canadian Pacific road crossing below grain elevator, this time with a magnificent snow plow in front.

“Fargo public schools use fifteen below as the outdoor recess threshold. Above that, they play outside.” KVLY 11 Fargo TV

“If they’re from around here, they’re SUPPOSED to be prepared.”

Barb Pavek, Star of the North Chapter

Lower right: Same place, January 2010, through my windshield. This was a sunny day but wind made blowing snow the predominant feature. You didn’t expect me to get OUT to take this picture, did you?

Lower left: Approaching thunderstorm over field of sunflowers, Wahpeton, North Dakota, August 2009.

In 1888 there was a sudden mild day in January across the northern plains, sunshine, no wind, and tempera-

tures in the upper 30's, so children went to school in a rapture, some of them even leaving their heavy coats at home. However, shortly after midday a ferociously sud-den and severe front swept across several states, dropping temperatures to well below zero with high winds and a dry snow so like dust that it made breathing nearly impos-sible. Nearly every one-room schoolhouse teacher made the mistake of sending the children home, hoping they would arrive safely before the worst of the storm arrived. Most of them, by the hundreds, never made it.

The Children’s Blizzard by David Laskin was a depressing read, and ends with a glum conclusion—“The truth was beginning to sink in: The sudden storms, the violent swings from one meteorological extreme to another, the droughts and torrents and killer blizzards were not freak occurrences but facts of life on the prairie. This was not a garden. Rain did not follow the plow. Laying a perfect grid of

mile-sided squares on the grassland did not suppress the chaos of the elements.”

I finished this book shortly after the 9 annual conference in Valley City, North Dakota, my second trip there with others to northern Minnesota in between, and it only reinforced my growing conviction that I knew nothing about life in our westernmost states if I saw them only in the benign seasons.

So I drove to North Dakota and Minnesota just for fun over the first twelve days of 1.

Most of my childhood was spent in southern New Jersey, where six inches of snow would cancel school and cause roadway crises, while most of my adult life has been spent in western New York, gradually moving inland away from the worst of lake effect snow storms. Only occasionally does the temperature fall below zero in the winter, and snow is highly variable, little some years and absolutely FEET others. The blizzard of ‘76 remains vivid for me: I was stuck less than two miles from home, staying with our 8-year-old plant foreman and his wife, who had only a twenty-year-old bottle of icky sweet Mogen David wine in the house. Once my country road was plowed the next day, I was able to see the remains of a full-sized car (back when that meant a car seventeen feet long) that had stopped dead in a drifted dip in the road, only to have its rear end cloven from bumper to back seat by the prow of the plow since it was buried invisible in the drift. But those storms are rare here.

While I’ll still never know what the residents of our north and westernmost states do with themselves to while away the long dark hours, now I know what their wind and cold are like.

The week of January 4th through 9th looked okay on internet ten-day forecasts, very cold in the middle of the week, but mostly sunny with only a few “snow showers.” Wednesday however was spent in a motel in Wahpeton, North Dakota, watching the occasional nearly invisible train leave town through horizontal whiteness (and one moron snowmobiler go down the tracks after dark). Air temperatures on days both sunny and stormy were below even in the morning, with two days of wind chill closing in on 4 below. Snow plows were pulled off duty along Interstates 9 and 94 in the Dakotas due to zero visibility, even though the eventual snowfall was only 7 inches. If you’ll remember, the entire eastern half of the nation was shocked by cold that week.



When travel was possible again, in Thursday’s brilliant sunshine but with unabated wind, I stopped at Casselton, North Dakota, to photograph a standing Red River Valley & Western train at its intersection with BNSF main line tracks. By the way, near enough that I could see through binoculars, just west of there I suspect “our” Ladies Line from last summer’s walk at Kathryn ends at its prior junction with the main, at what is now a huge circular “balloon track” where tank car trains over a mile long are parked surrounding what looked like an ethanol plant, a sign of our times. The dogs and I walked south for about a third of a mile to get the picture I wanted; my layers of clothes worked well in the wind, and the dogs were miraculously happy. However, the return walk northward was painful: what TV news said was still a wind chill nearly 4 below truly hurt those tiny bits of skin exposed on my face, so I had to walk with one double-gloved hand before my face.

Drifts were beautiful, their southern vertical faces seeming illuminated from within by the low slant of sun against them. It didn’t seem as if snow could be any brighter, but those south-facing drift faces were indeed. The undulating and voluptuous landscape north of Valley City, away from the f lat open plains, was even more clearly visible under snow, dotted with patches of river edge trees and black cattle in outdoor feed lots, and reminded me of the pillowy landscape surrounding Lake Ashtabula during our Karnak hike last summer, tawny then, not white. On a two-lane road, a kind local man stopped to make sure I was okay since I had pulled halfway off the road (needless to say, the luxury of wide shoulders wasn’t available); when I told him that I was taking pictures he eagerly told me where I could see bald eagles in the Sheyenne River just upstream. Friendliness was not in short supply.

The Sheyenne River “steams” below Lake Ashtabula’s Baldhill Dam,

I cannot pretend to know how remote farm families deal all winter with the vast distances between their homes and schools or towns without biting one another on the elbow eventually one dark winter evening, but I’ll share these observations:

They have no fear of liquid water. Ice fishing shanties by the HUNDREDS are scattered about lakes in Minnesota, and are even clustered at the bridge over the Bois de Sioux River just below where it meets the Ottertail to form the Red River of the North at Breckenridge. In my long experience, water nearest bridges tends to be more turbulent, so remains liquid longer, yet in Breckenridge on any given weekday, there were a dozen pre-fab or homemade shacks clustered close to the highway bridge AND at least four pickup trucks parked near one another.

Pardon my evidently sissy self, but no way am I putting MY truck on ice! Bruce, does this mean I have to give up my red plaid wool shirt on account of general wimpiness? The woman at Burger King told me there is a horlumpulous daily fine of something like $15 for any truck dumped into a lake until it’s removed. Or was it $15,? She wasn’t quite sure. But she did know that her family’s ice shack had table, chairs, a heater, and TV inside.

There is barely any unmarked pure snow in Minnesota, either. Snowmobiles had criss-crossed every bit of it. There is also an excellent statewide system of trails throughout the state, built upon old railroad beds, great for walkers or bicyclists in the summer, and perfect for snowmobilers in the winter. In fact, the dogs and I enjoyed an early-morning walk on the Lake Woebegone Trail (once the Great Northern RR) at Sauk Center, sunny but 18 degrees below zero according to the bank’s display. I’m pleased to report that my sissy truck, contentedly planted on terra firma, started up fine soon after, but groaned and creaked in a chorus of unaccustomed racket when I dared ask it to steer and move.

I missed the January 3rd Christmas Tree Bonfire at the Golden Valley County Fairgrounds in far western North Dakota, when they fire a special collection of pottery in the conflagration, which is then sold at a charitable auction. What a creative idea! Our own Valley City hosts the North Dakota Winter Show in early March, kittycorner from the Medicine Wheel Park (which was buried under white anonymity during my visit), the world’s largest crop and livestock show with rodeo thrown in along with horse and tractor pulls.

Bill Geist reported on CBS Sunday Morning that Minnesotans spend their winter competing jealously for record cold bragging rights, in his January 4th piece titled “Northern Minnesota, cryogenics for the living.”

Valley City and Detroit Lakes have a full half hour less daylight than I do at home, just because they are farther north. So I suppose this means Marietta, Ohio, has a half-hour MORE than I do, and the north end of the Superior Hiking Trail has maybe a full hour less? Egad.

And for those who don’t like to spend the long hours of darkness reading or playing Solitaire? Or get enough exercise snowshoeing along the trail? Stories I’ve heard: a new Corps of Engineers employee at a remote post in western North Dakota was handed an envelope full of cash upon his employment in October. Why? He would need it to bail out his staff every winter weekend after bar fights.

Also read a book by a man who paid for college by working as a brakeman on a North Dakota railroad. He eventually became a lawyer in a state significantly south of there, but he reported long winter weekends among railroad crews where continual drinking and wife-swapping was routine. Ewww.

Luckily you and I have a hobby.

So What Do Minnesotans Do All Winter?The Other Half… continued from page 15


due to a few turbulent patches of open water meeting air a dozen degrees below zero, where I could at least look at our trailhead inviting serious stompers into a deeply buried walk. Valley City’s Christmas present was 1 inches of snow, not a molecule of which had melted, so with this latest smaller storm, there was little room left for piles of municipally-arranged snow. Salt doesn’t work in such temperatures, so town roads were hard-packed frozen snow with a little sand tossed at intersections.

Have a laugh on me: at one intersection in Breckenridge, Minnesota, I thought I was seeing a new kind of dark red grit spread to help us stop in time, but it was only kidney beans spilled by a truck on its way to the parade of giant silos in that railroad town. Incidentally, pheasant can be seen frequently along railbeds, picking up fallen corn, and at one rail junction precisely in the middle of absolutely nowhere, soybeans decorated the “diamond” two tracks make as they cross one another after coming from miles away, visible forever. The parade of sugar beet trucks continued toward processing plants, even on the blizzard day, their full-size trailers made of giant wire baskets to hold tons of that ugly gray thug of a vegetable.

I got to see three different kinds of railroad snowplows! While barely 1% of our readership would be as excited, that sure made my trip. Every switch on the railroads, where a train can depart main tracks for a siding, has its own broom, shovel, and a propane-fired gas heater ducted to the moving parts. A crew of track workers on the Dakota Missouri Valley & Western saw me taking pictures of them cleaning out a switch, so one guy walked over to me—to holler at me for being a terrorist like might happen in the eastern states? —no, to tell me proudly that their 193 Russell snowplow would be coming through in about two hours if I wanted a picture of that. Isn’t that sweet?

9-11 is a distant event here.Stabled at the very nice AmericInn in Detroit Lakes,

Minnesota, across the street from their incredibly busy rail lines so I could see poor Amtrak arrive from the west seventeen hours behind schedule two days after the storm, I was able to attend the Laurentian Lakes Chapter’s Winter Trails Day meeting at Maplelag resort near Callaway, “where the prairie ends and the forest begins,” as their town sign proclaims. This was a kind of resort new to me, with a huge central lodge, cabins for sleeping, and miles of wooded trails for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing only, NO snowmobiles allowed. Minnesotans were in their glory: in sunshine and warmed up to 9 degrees above with no wind now, Carter Hedeen walked around without a hat.

“I’m Minnesotan,” he explained. From what I’ve seen here in New York, few enterprises would dare to try survival without the income from downhill skiers or snowmobilers, but Maplelag seems to prosper while preserving that best quality of wintertime, QUIET. A couple hundred lodgers agreed, including over sixty Chapter members.

Loved so many of the place names, like Wild Rice or Prairie Rose (can’t you hear Emmylou Harris singing

The Other Half… continued from page 15


Let Us Tempt You To Visit! A canoe trip on a wild and scenic river, and a

chance to walk the famous Brule Bog Boardwalk we’ve been reading about in these pages.

in the background?) but saw only a few birds this time, lots of pheasants and clouds of snow buntings erupting from road edges, especially compared to the spectacularly populated prairie potholes in SE North Dakota I treated myself to last summer. One winter event I enjoy some years at home is the annual Christmas Bird Count conducted by the National Audubon Society, when volunteers scour the countryside within specified circles to keep up statistical records of what birds remain just before Christmas. At home, when there is any open water in the lakes around here, we’ll “score” about sixty species.

By chance I ended up at the Tewaukon National Wildlife Refuge, near the border with South Dakota and near only ancient near-dead villages in all directions, with only old grain elevators to mark their location, where I was astounded to find a staffed visitor center. They said their Christmas Bird Count usually gathered only about twenty species. From the 19th Christmas Bird Count, published by Audubon for the 8 season: “In the Dakotas, frigid, snow-bound conditions were responsible for the cancellation or rescheduling of many of the counts...” The Minnesota entry in the same edition said “Several circles called it quits early; others valiantly pushed on through blowing snow and subzero temperatures…Open water was a challenge to find anywhere in the state.” Hardly sounds like fun birding to me.

The riskiest winter travel I experienced was of course closer to home, where bands of lake effect snow from Lakes Erie and Michigan caused intermittent bad spots around northwestern Indiana, northeastern Ohio, and far western Pennsylvania and New York. On the way westbound on New Year’s Day, I thought the dreariest possible sight was choppy gray Lake Erie at Cleveland, showing little white caps in the harsh wind, but on the return trip on the 1th, I could see that hell had frozen over while I was gone. The lake was white ice as far as I could see.


This will be my final submission to the North Star as Trail Manager,

since my retirement takes effect January 1, 2010. As I move on to spending increased time gardening, home brewing, and hiking, I want to thank everyone I have worked with over the last eight years. I also want to urge everyone to keep “happy trails” in mind.

Build friendshipsI think that the most important

thing that can be done to increase awareness and use of the trail is good maintenance. It is all very fine to work building new trail and it feels really great to know that you worked to add new miles to the trail, but maintaining a great hiking trail will do more to build support. Remember: “If you build it, they will come. But if you don’t maintain it, they won’t come back.” We need to be sure that every mile of trail is well marked, cleared of encroaching vegetation, free of ruts, broken boards, and muddy spots, and pleasant to hike. That will make the trail a valued community asset, bring friends for the trail, and help control incompatible uses.

Have funAbout once a year it seems that

I remind readers that it is important that they have fun working on and for the trail. I don’t think it can be over emphasized. Make it a point to schedule social events as well as work parties. Take a hike as a group on your segment of trail and another on a different trail. Have a picnic, or a beach party, or cabin fever party. Make it potluck or organize a barbecue to keep costs down. Involve folks who don’t have trail to maintain or build, and make them a part of the inner circle.

Happy Trails!Learn by doing and do while learning

Don’t just hike looking for briars or branches encroaching on the trail; take a field guide with you or take a hike with a local naturalist or forager and get to know the local flowers, vines, berries, mushrooms, birds and mammals along the trail. Of course some you will learn to hate, but even thorny blackberries produce tasty fruit. You can also develop strategies to deal

with your worst problems by learning to understand why they occur. Water runs down the trail because we didn’t provide enough cross slope to let it escape. Certain vegetation is favored by external factors like sunlight or moisture, or the lack of either. You might be able to correct a problem by changing those conditions. Of course, you might also be able to correct it by adding an extra trail care visit.

Don’t work too hard I’ve been using a quote from Theodore Roosevelt on my emails: “Do what you can, With what you have, Where you are.” Don’t burn out a few volunteers leaving them to do all the work. Share the work. Not everyone is cut out to paint blazes or run the DR mower or even walk extensive segments of the trail, but there are lots of things that people can take part in to share the workload and build ownership in the trail.

Chapter officers shouldn’t have to do all the mailings, contact the trail adopters, prepare reports, organize activities or work days. If you haven’t been asked to take on a part of the workload, you should offer to assist. If you are already doing way more than you can handle, ask for assistance. It is a two way street; share the workload regardless of which side of the load you land on. And don’t be afraid to create new titles to go with the tasks, then remember to recognize those who do the work.

Tom Gilbert, NPS Superintendant for our trail:

For the past 8 years, Fred Szarka has served as our Trail Manager for the North Country National Scenic Trail. We appreciate all that he has done for the trail and our partnerships over these years and we wish him well as he moves into a well-deserved stage of his life.

For the next several months while we work to staff the Trail Manager position, I would ask that you direct your inquiries and requests (emails and phone calls) to me. See the Who’s Who pages for contacts.

FRED SZARKANational Park Service

GOING FOR THE GOLD

Work smarter not harderThis is an application of what I

call “creative laziness.” Sometimes it is better to redesign a section of trail to fit the landscape better rather than trying over and over to correct a recurring problem. One definition of insanity is “Doing the same thing over and over yet expecting different results.” If you have a problem that seems too big to solve, step back at least mentally and look at the big picture. It may take time to get the situation changed, permissions may have to be obtained, but by using creative laziness, you should eventually find a solution.

Take a hikeIn addition to organizing a group

outing or event, you should take a hike for the pure joy of it, with a compatible hiking companion if possible. Just go out walking and looking at the wildflowers, listening to the birds and insects, watching for squirrels, garter snakes or other critters. Even in the winter there is much to see and hear. Enjoy your trail; refresh your soul—Happy Trails!

—Fred


spot on the NCTA Insight blog!Tremendously, by the end of the submission period, I had

received approximately 15 entries, featuring everything from wildlife to scenery to trail work. At that point, I needed to determine a way to pick a winner. I decided to leave it up to you, the people who love the trail the most! I posted 5 of the submissions on the NCTA facebook page, including instructions for voting. All one had to do to vote was click on a “like” button beneath the picture.

Aye, there’s the rub: not many of the folks in PA were registered for facebook. I say “were,” because now they are! In seven days of voting, 53 new members “became a fan” of the NCTA facebook page, at a rate of approximately seven times the average rate for the page! After tallying up the 371 votes, I interviewed the winners and announced the top three pictures:

First Place: John Stehle’s “Circle of Life” picture of a decaying log nourishing a bed of moss and mushrooms along the trail.

John had this to say about enjoying the trail through photography: “One of the nice things about taking pictures along the trail is that you get the opportunity to stop and smell the roses. Especially with a nature shot, you can study and savor the subject.”

Second Place: Brett Watson’s macro picture of an inquisitive common wood sorrel peeking out of a sea of green.

When asked what he thought the North Country Trail offers to photographers, Brett surmised: “I think that it provides a way for them to get to new places and new experiences, and it allows them easy access into the outdoors where they can find new subjects to photograph.”

Third Place: Tammy Veloski’s picture of her four-year-old son, Dale, wielding a stick and seeking adventure along the trail.

According to Tammy, “I think we need to get kids and young people more interested and involved.” Her thoughts echo the hopes of many NCTA members and volunteers.

Note: Although I received submissions from throughout the state, the three winning pictures all feature scenes at McConnells Mill State Park in Lawrence County, PA.

This spring, I will be hosting an even bigger contest. It will be open to anyone from any state, NCTA member or not, with the caveat that all photos in the contest must be taken along the North Country Trail section in Pennsylvania. (You will just have to plan a trip out here if you want to participate!) This

time, picture submissions will be restricted to a certain time period (probably between March and the beginning of May), so anyone who wants to participate will have to physically go out and experience the trail this spring. If advertised in local media outlets, think of how many new people that will bring onto the trail! I am also planning a children’s division, a direct way to get families and young people out to experience the trail. If all goes as planned, the 1 contest will have legitimate judges (plus a fan-favorite competition!), bigger prizes, and an even higher number of participants and entries.

As a volunteer organization, we are always looking for more people to get involved. A photography contest is a fun, easy, and interactive way to do just that. Not only can members get out and view the trail from new angles, it can prompt photography hobbyists, families, and other community members to venture out on the trail for the first time! If you want more people to experience the trail, learn to appreciate its value, and fall in love with it the same way you did, consider hosting a photography contest in your state or chapter.

Julie Elkins is a full time AmeriCorps volunteer serving as the Pennsylvania Communications Coordinator for the four PA chapters of the NCTA. In this newly-created position, Julie is working with the PA chapters, building their capacity for communications, and helping them learn ways to promote the trail better and bring in new volunteers.

Julie’s AmeriCorps term of service began in November 2009, and she will remain with the NCTA through August of 2010. AmeriCorps is a federal program that focuses on improving US communities by building the capacity of community organizations. AmeriCorps members volunteer a set amount of hours, and in return, they get a living stipend (to offset costs of volunteering full-time) and an academic scholarship. Julie’s position is jointly funded by the NCTA and a PA state AmeriCorps grant.

Certain Minnesotans—who shall remain nameless—saw this GIHUNORMOUS vehicle and immediately thought of Bobby Koepplin, sure as they were that he'd like to apply for a Challenge Cost Share for this vehicle as a chapter and equipment transportation device, if only he had seen it before they did. Ha! Dibs!

Photography Contest…Continued from page 7


Let Us Tempt You To Visit! And did we tell you our hotel is right on the shore

of Lake Superior?


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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.

When in Doubt, Try NCTA Headquarters: If you’re not sure whom to contact, or prefer to talk with our 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 put you in touch with someone who can. Staff members are listed on page 3 (table of contents page).

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

Toll-free: (866) HikeNCT Fax: (616) 897-6605www.northcountrytrail.org [email protected]

Visit our web site; 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 calendar, explore NCTA Chapter pages, purchase maps and trail-related products, 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.

700 Rayovac Drive, Suite 100, Madison, WI 53711

(608) 441-5610 Fax: (608) 441-5606Tom Gilbert, Superintendent: [email protected]

Ken Howell, Land Protection Specialist: [email protected]

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 other events, and work to promote the trail and the Association in their areas.

Affiliate Organizations: The NCTA enters into affiliate agreements with other 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 Affiliates 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 support them as well. If you have questions about a section of trail that is managed by one of these organizations, your best bet is to contact our Affiliates directly.

NORTH DAKOTA1. Lonetree Chapter Scott Peterson • (701) 324-2211 • [email protected]. Sheyenne River Valley Chapter Deb Koepplin • (701) 845-2935 [email protected]. North Dakota Prairie Grasslands Chapter Ron Saeger • (701) 232-1612 • [email protected]

MINNESOTA4. Star of the North Chapter Brian Pavek • (763) 425-4195 [email protected]. Laurentian Lakes Chapter Ray Vlasak • (218) 573-3243 • [email protected]. Itasca Moraine Chapter Jerry Trout • (218) 675-5448• [email protected] 7. Arrowhead Chapter Doug Baker • (218) 326-4030 • [email protected]. Kekekabic Trail Club (Trail Maintaining Affiliate): Mark Stange • [email protected]. Border Route Trail Association (Trail Maintaining Affiliate): Ed Solstad • (612) 822-0569 [email protected]. Superior Hiking Trail Association (Trail Maintaining Affiliate): Gayle Coyer • (218 )834-2700 • [email protected]

GREAT LAKES11. Brule-St.Croix Chapter Tim Mowbray • [email protected] 12. Chequamegon Chapter

Marty Swank • (715) [email protected]

13. Heritage Chapter Michael Stafford • [email protected]. Ni-Miikanaake Chapter Dick Swanson • (906) 229-5122 [email protected]. Peter Wolfe Chapter Doug Welker • (906) 338-2680 • [email protected] 16. North Country Trail Hikers Chapter Lorana Jinkerson • [email protected] 17. Grand Marais Chapter Bill Menke • [email protected]. Hiawatha Shore-to-Shore Chapter Charlene DeWitt • [email protected]

Who’s Who Along the North Country Trail?


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PENNSYLVANIA32. Wampum Chapter Lee Fairbanks • (724) 847-0589 • [email protected]. Butler County Chapter Dan Mourer • (724) 445-3315 [email protected] Butler Outdoor Club (Trail Maintaining Affiliate): John Stehle • (724) 256-0674 34. Clarion County Chapter Ed Scurry • [email protected]. Rachel Carson Trails Conservancy (Trail Maintaining Affiliate): Patty Brunner • (724) 325-3224 • [email protected] 36. Allegheny National Forest Chapter Keith Klos • (814) 484-7420 • [email protected]

NEW YORK37. Finger Lakes Trail Conference (Trail Maintaining Affiliate): Gene Bavis, Executive Director • (585) 658-9320 [email protected] Additional Maintaining Organizations Coordinated by FLTC: Adirondack Mountain Club (ADK), ADK-Genesee Valley Chapter, ADK-Onondaga Chapter, Cayuga Trails Club, Foothills Trail Club, Genesee Valley Hiking Club, and Hammondsport Boy Scout Troop 1838. Central New York Chapter: Kathy Woodruff • (315) 697-7017 [email protected]

LOWER MICHIGAN19. Harbor Springs Chapter Jerry Keeney • (231) 526-9597 [email protected]. Tittabawassee Chapter Gary Johnson • (989) 842-3478 [email protected] Friends of the Jordan River National Fish Hatchery (Trail Maintaining Affiliate): (231) 584-246121. Grand Traverse Hiking Club Chapter John Heiam • (231) 938-9655 • [email protected] 22. Spirit of the Woods Chapter Joan Young • (231) 757-2205 • [email protected] 23. Western Michigan Chapter Werner Veit • (616) 776-1630 • [email protected]. Chief Noonday Chapter Larry Hawkins • (269) 945-5398 [email protected]. Chief Baw Beese Chapter Ryan Bowles • [email protected]

OHIO26. NW Ohio Rails-to-Trails Association (Trail Maintaining Affiliate): Tom Duvendack • (419) 822-4788 [email protected]. Buckeye Trail Association (Trail Maintaining Affiliate): Patrick Hayes • (937) 962-4884 • [email protected]. Adams County Chapter Andrew Bashaw • [email protected]. Little Cities of the Forest Chapter Travis Neely • [email protected]. Ohio Valley Chapter Ryan Smith • (740) 374-5666 • [email protected]. Great Trail-Sandy Beaver Canal Chapter Brad Bosley • (330) 227-2432 • [email protected]


North Country Trail Hikers ChapterUPPER MICHIGAN - Once again, with the cooperation and help of our trail adopters and trail crew members, we successfully maintained our 1 miles of trail. In September we held a very productive Volunteer Adventure where we built approximately 1.75 miles of trail that will eventually connect from County Road 55 west across to Country Road 51. Scouting for new trail in that area as well as west of County Road 51 towards the Silver Lake Basin, including crossing the Mulligan Plains, located some interesting terrain with more moose droppings than can be imagined, a couple of waterfalls, and rock outcroppings that will be in keeping with our rugged north country location.

As the trail here travels primarily through private lands, all landowners were contacted for the first time in several years to reconnect and attempt to move from mostly handshake agreements to signed trail agreements. We were able to secure three new signed agreements and have had positive interactions with some landowners where we hope to get off current road walk onto their property.

For greater recognition of the trail, we designed and published a new chapter brochure in full color that includes two recommended short day hikes with maps to help users get started in our segment while Marge Forslin and Lorana Jinkerson presented a session on the trail at “Celebrate UP!” a conference sponsored by the Upper Peninsula Environmental Coalition.

Lastly, our connection with Northern Michigan University has grown stronger. We hosted a table for the second year at their Fall Fest and now have 9 student memberships. Three students came to help at least one day on the Volunteer Adventure and one student, Tara Laase, actually earned one credit through an internship class with us. She worked on the VA, helped us do trail maintenance, blazing, and scouting as well as participated in our monthly Board of Directors’ Meetings. She also became involved in our cooperative efforts with NMU’s Organization for Outdoor Recreation Professionals to finance and bring Andrew Skurka to a joint meeting in January 1.

—Lorana Jinkerson

Ni-Miikanaake ChapterUPPER MICHIGAN - Our Chapter name means “I Make A Trail” in Ojibwa. We want to connect the original trail makers with today's trail makers. Our section of the trail passes through the Ottawa National Forest and a portion of the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. We are working with the National Park Service to build a new section of trail going west to tie our present trail all the way to Copper Falls State Park in Wisconsin.

This year our brand new chapter has logged over 6 volunteer hours and has grown to 18 members. We have cleared, blazed, and evaluated our section. Over the winter we will be planning next summer’s activities which will include building some bridges, adding more blazes for our winter hikers, clearing blow downs & mowing and starting to build our new section. We will finish our chapter’s area guide book and forward this to the NCTA for inclusion in the trail wide guide book. We are working with neighboring chapters in Wisconsin to help with the 1 conference in Ashland.

—Dick Swanson

Hiawatha Shore To Shore Kudos for 2009:• Charlene DeWitt for leadership during her first year as president. • Glenn Cornwell, vice-president, for organizing our annual

dinner and drawing up maps of day hikes.• Stan Kujawa for stepping into the vacant treasurer’s position

and countless hours doing trail maintenance. • Roger Blanchard for coordinating trail adoptions and

for improvements near the Lower Tahquamenon Falls Campground.

• Don Sandberg as webmaster. • Marilyn Chadwick for keeping the tool trailer.• Kay Kujawa for planning the monthly hikes with Marilyn,

writing the chapter newsletter, and for always thinking; the list could go on and on.

• Marv DeWitt for organizing “Bring on the Bridge” and for coordinating First Aid/CPR training for sawyers.

• Greg Smith for keeping the chapter Yahoo page up-to-date and spam free.

• Bill Courtois for documenting the trail in photographs.

The Hiawatha Shore-To-Shore Chapter began 1 on a heartbreaking note with the passing of Colleen Seltzer. Colleen loved hiking with her family and friends on the North Country Trail. She built trail, maintained a seven-mile section, led hikes, hosted events and actively attended chapter meetings. Her son, Lukas, was the 8 Rising Star award recipient. Colleen will be deeply missed.

—Roger Morrison


Let Us Tempt You To Visit!

Two-day backpack with Bill Menke.

State of the Trail…continued from page 13


Chequamegon ChapterWISCONSIN - The Chapter completed four trail relocations that solved various existing trail problems including wet areas, steeply graded trail and a field full of ankle twisting hummock mounds that also made the trail confusing and hard to follow.

The Chequamegon also worked to mark better a section of NCT that intertwines with the Drummond Ski Trail. We had received many reports of hikers becoming confused and ending up on the ski trail. This was accomplished with carsonite posts at confusing intersections and complete blazing, lopping and brush mowing to make the NCT well defined. In 1, we have a similar problem with the Penokee Mountain Ski Trail to complete.

Near the end of the 9 maintenance season, the Chapter took the beginning steps at reclaiming a “lost” section of NCT along the Bad River in the City of Mellen. This started with a major lopping effort and was followed by removing some of the deep ATV ruts. Winter cut this effort short of completion but we will continue.

9 witnessed a continued up-tick of hikers using our

Heritage ChapterWISCONSIN - The Heritage Chapter applied to the Forest County Potawatomi Community Foundation for a grant for the purpose of constructing and maintaining new trail, along with interpretive signage and facilities like bridges. The Potawatomi Tribe operates a casino in downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and the proceeds from the operation are used to fund tribal and surrounding Wisconsin community needs. Many thousands of dollars have been pumped into tribal projects as well as other worthwhile projects in Wisconsin. The Foundation awarded the Heritage Chapter a large grant in 8 so much of the new trail construction work accomplished since then was funded by the Potawatomi Foundation grant, matched by other funds of the National Park Service Challenge Cost Share Program and the NCTA. Additional construction work will be enabled by funds from the grant during the next several years. Chapter President Michael Stafford was very grateful for the funds advanced by the Foundation and their generosity will be recognized by signs placed on the sections of the trail constructed with their funds.

—Gaylord Yost

NCTH: This is Tara Laase, intern from Northern Michigan University, working with the NCT Hikers chapter.

Lorana Jinkerson

Chequamegon Chapter: Tall trees! Hikers enjoy NCT along Lake Owen in the Chequamegon National Forest. This section is one of the half day hikes planned for the 2010 National NCTA Conference and encompasses large old growth white pine, red pine and hemlock spared from the major 1880’s clear-cutting in the region.

Vickie Swank


Border Route Trail Association MINNESOTA - The Border Route Trail—Thirty Years On: 1 marks the 3th Anniversary of the completion of the Border Route Trail, rated by Backpacker Magazine as one of the top wilderness hikes in the country.

For those of you not familiar with the BRT, it is a 65-mile long hiking trail, 37 of which cross the eastern portion of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) in the far northeast corner of Minnesota.

The trail was planned and built in the 197's by the Minnesota Rovers Outing Club (www.mnrovers.org) with the cooperation of the US Forest Service and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. It was the first long-distance, wilderness backpacking and hiking trail in Minnesota planned and constructed by volunteers.

In 4 the Border Route Trail Association was formed as a spin-off from Rovers to become a 51(c)(3) corporation. This facilitated tax deductible and public donations, and narrowed the focus to maintenance and increased public awareness of the trail.

Upon Congressional approval of the Arrowhead Re-Route the BRT along with its connecting trails, the Superior Hiking Trail (www.shta.org) to the east and the Kekekabic Trail (www.kek.org) to the west, will become part of the NCT.

At the beginning of the 9 season the Border Route Trail Association found itself in need of a greater number of volunteers in order to deal with a maintenance backlog caused by wind storms and the resulting brush growth.

This is not a major problem outside the BWCAW because chain saws and power brush cutters can be used. We had the

Superior Hiking Trail AssociationMINNESOTA - It was a good year and a bad year for the Superior Hiking Trail. We experienced the worst two storms of the trail’s history in 9. An ice storm in March broke thousands and thousands of young birch and aspen over a 1-mile swath. A wind storm in September broke hundreds and hundreds of big old spruce and aspen over a different 1-mile swath. We had good volunteer help in clearing the trail but it was a major effort (See photo page 17).

On the good side, we opened new miles of trail in September that we had been working on for the past three years. We also completed another 6.4 mile section of new trail that will open in May of this year. We had over 1, hours of volunteer labor on this section.

We also offered eight guided hikes and one backpack trip. The Superior Hiking Trail is still a North Country Trail wannabee, but we’re hoping the legislation to make it official will pass in 1.

—Gayle Coyer

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sections of NCT in the Chequamegon National Forest that kept us busy answering email questions and shuttling. On September 3rd, we even guided hikers from Israel through the Porcupine Lake Wilderness sections of NCT.

Outreach efforts continued. We held our Annual “Spring Fever Hike” and Fall “Discover the NCT Hike” (that kind of got rained out this year - two soaked hikers!). The most successful outreach effort was provided by the Iron River Hikers Club, a separate organization started by some exceptional members of the Chequamegon Chapter. The Iron River Hikers Club has brought many very dedicated volunteers and trail adopters into the NCTA fold. We also advertised our Midwinter Meeting (our more casual meeting that we open up to the public) and gained some new members, and were also much more visible on the Internet thanks to efforts of our Chapter’s “Internet NCT Information Specialist” Ed Ronkowski.

A major push by volunteers in 1 will be preparing our sections for the next annual NCTA Conference. Because the Chequamegon’s sections are the closest to the Conference site, a majority of the planned half-day hikes will be on our sections. If you love woods, water and wildlife ...we have the trail for you!

—Marty Swank, Chair

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As we can see, Superior Hiking Trail's executive director Gayle Coyer practices understatement and economy of words. This is an example of the first of their two trail disasters this year! Wow.

Beth Honetschlager


New Arrowhead Chapter MINNESOTA - This fall, the Arrowhead (ARW) Chapter formed in northeastern Minnesota to tackle the roughly 15-mile portion of the Arrowhead Re-route from the Chippewa National Forest near Remer northeast to Ely. This is the part not taken care of by the three affiliate partners (Superior Hiking Trail Association, Border Route Trail Association, and Kekekabic Trail Club). Since they didn't want anyone to think they are not ambitious, the chapter also decided to adopt the easternmost 8-miles of the NCT within the Chippewa National Forest in their chapter coverage area.

The loose-knit group was formerly the Grand Rapids Area Hiking Club but they decided to form an NCTA chapter in October and they officially became one at the December board meeting. With the financial support of the Itasca County Trails Task Force, the Hiking Club had been doing lots of outreach in the Itasca County area for the past year and a half and had generated a lot of interest in the NCT and in hiking events. Because of that and membership transfers from other chapters, they are already up to 18 members and growing.

In October, they drafted a “5-year plan” for developing the NCNST within Itasca County and elected temporary officers including Doug Baker President, Ken Zimmer VP, Gabe Doty, Secretary, Craig Dingman Webmaster and Events coordinator, and Larry Best Quartermaster/Trailblazer.

The Chapter is currently working to scout and flag the trail route southwest and north of Grand Rapids. They hope to commence construction in late 1. Their very first North Country Trail workday in Itasca County was held on October 3rd and went very well. A total of people worked on a “fisherman’s trail” along the bank of the Mississippi River within the Bass Brook Wildlife Management Area near Grand Rapids. The work made the trail more sustainable and involved installing crib walls, steps, performing basic maintenance, and installing a short bog bridge in a low, wet spot. The project materials were funded by the Itasca County

Trails Task Force. More information on the Chapter

is available on their Facebook page (www.facebook.com/pages/Grand-Rapids-MN/Grand-Rapids-Area-Hiking-Club/14158). You should definitely be hearing more from the ARW chapter in the future!

—Matthew Davis Regional Trail Coordinator for MN & ND

The new Arrowhead crew is ready to tackle maintenance. They certainly don't look like beginners, do they?

Matt D

avis

equipment but we were still low on volunteers. By forming an alliance with the 15+ member Minneapolis Hiking Meetup Group we obtained enough recruits to become sufficiently successful. The 35 miles of BRT and connecting trails outside of the BWCAW are now in good to excellent condition.

Inside the Boundary Waters Wilderness, maintenance crews are required to use hand tools only. Minnesota Conservation Corps crews funded by the USFS spent a week inside the Wilderness while BRTA crews put in 88 man-days. That left perhaps a half of the Wilderness section in reasonably good condition with a few dead falls and minimal brush, a quarter in fair to good condition with a few dead falls and medium brush, and a quarter in poor condition.

As part of the 3th Anniversary we’re launching the 1 BRT Wilderness Maintenance Initiative, our largest coordinated effort since the construction of the trail in the Seventies. We are determined to bring the entire 65 miles of trail up to excellent hiking conditions.

The Initiative involves recruiting maintenance trip volunteers through our traditional sources as well as through Twin Cities and NE Minnesota Meetup Groups. We’re also establishing a presence on Twitter to augment the BRT website. In order to increase the efficiency of this hoped for new army of trail maintainers we’ll use NCTA grant monies to purchase a greater number of good quality loppers, cross cut saws, and other tools.

It all starts with a reconnaissance through hike as soon as the snow leaves in late April followed by both Wilderness and mechanized trips in May. Visit us at www.borderroutetrail.org to check the schedule or just to catch up on how we’re doing. Maybe you’d even like to spend a week in the Boundary Waters!

—Ed Solstad, Director at Large, BRTA


Laurentian Lakes Chapter MINNESOTA - Plans for the year were to construct 5 miles of new trail, four new campsites, replace an 84 foot boardwalk, and install feature signage on 15 miles of trail in addition to normal maintenance.

The boardwalk was an early priority, because a section had collapsed during the 8 National Trails Day hike. This boardwalk had originally been about 4 ft. long and constructed of rotting logs that required considerable agility for hikers. The new boardwalk, consisting of two 35 foot spans and 7 foot ramps on each end, will last for many years. The long stringers are salvaged power poles and the rest is treated lumber.

Construction plans were adjusted during the year to concentrate on forest clearing rather than treadway construction. The chapter was having difficulty maintaining a flag line due to heavy public use of County tax forfeit land, so sometimes flags would disappear within a few days. By the end of the construction season 9.7 miles was cleared, all through dense timber managed forest. In addition .4 miles of treadway construction was completd. The chapter has about 13 miles of cleared trail ready for treadway construction. Three of the four planned campsites are nearly complete (usable), and the feature signs are under construction for placement in 1.

In addition to the regular volunteers who work most Wednesdays, April through October, Boy Scout Troops 69 from Frazee and 479 from Detroit Lakes assisted with treadway and campsite construction. Minnesota Conservation Corps and Rural MN CEP Youth Crews also assisted with treadway construction. During the winter months volunteers are planning and scouting continuation of the trail through the Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge and on to the town of Frazee.

Itasca Moraine Chapter celebrates with a "golden spike" (well, an aspen stake) the junction of new trails that have been a-building toward each other for eight years now, covering forty miles, to connect the Chippewa National Forest and Itasca State Park.

These eye-catching roadside signs marking ITM chapter's trail can be on YOUR section of trail, too, with help from the NPS and coordination with the highway department.

Alicia Sutherland, Minnesota Conservation Corps

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Itasca Moraine ChapterMINNESOTA - The bell ringer for the year was the completion of the trail between the Chippewa National Forest and Itasca State Park, approximately 4 miles, which define the borders of the Itasca Moraine Chapter. The trail was completed in the Chip in the late 8’s and in Itasca State Park in the mid 9’s, but it took us the last eight years to fill in the gap between. Each year beginning with 1 there were different volunteer efforts but 9 had the most eclectic group that included an intern, Boy Scouts, Hubbard County Sentence-to-Serve folks, members and friends of the chapter and the ITM Regulars, Arlen Damlo, Carter Hedeen, Bruce Johnson, Darrel Rodekuhr and Jerry Trout. In addition the Minnesota Conservation Corps made a significant contribution as they have every year since 3. MCC funding came from the Federal Highway Recreation Trail Program, Hubbard County, National Park Service and the NCTA.

The chapter built trail simultaneously from both directions. The symbolic golden spike, a sharpened aspen, was driven in the ground on Nov. 19th, about 4.6 miles east of Itasca State Park where the two trails met in Hubbard County.

In the area of the historic Schoolcraft River there is a fairly significant wetland. We have a quarter mile temporary route through this area but will hopefully obtain funding in 1 to build the permanent trail. So far a 4 foot puncheon/boardwalk was completed within the wetlands bordering the Schoolcraft River. Over 6 miles of trail were constructed in 9 with certification underway for 8.7 miles.

Another effort that culminated in 9 was the erection of North Country Trail highway signs north of Akeley on Minnesota 64 and near Itasca State Park on US 71. This was a joint effort by the Minnesota DOT and NPS’s Fred Szarka.

A significant sign project for county and forest roads was completed also except for the installation of the posts. Trail adopters got the entire trail mowed in 9. Through the efforts of Matt Davis to obtain mowers, we are in great shape to keep ahead of the mowing from this point forward.

—Jerry Trout


Star of the NorthMINNESOTA - We strengthened our relationship with our partners at Chippewa National Forest’s Walker Ranger District, where we officially adopted the trail section that passes through the west end of their district. The chapter held two trail maintenance events in “The Chip.” Volunteers rolled up their sleeves and placed barrier posts at all of the trailheads plus dropped a few trees to protect the path from incursions by motorized vehicles. The chapter also helped with an event sponsored by the state’s newest chapter, the Arrowhead, to support them as they build trail west toward the Chippewa National Forest.

Outreach is ongoing and continues to be our chapter’s forte. We met with hiking enthusiasts from across the northern tier including North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, & Michigan at events that planted passion in others. We were on display and promoting at the Mall of America’s “Government on Display Weekend,” the State Fair’s “MN DNR Main Stage,” and an REI store in Bloomington twice. Our display returned to perennial favorite, the “Outdoor Adventure Expo” both spring and fall at Midwest Mountaineering in Minneapolis. The STN biggest event yet will be to try to clear and mow all 72 miles within the boundaries of the Chippewa National Forest over the weekend of June 26th & 27th, 2010. The event will be titled “24 Hours of the Chip” and we will be aided with help from our partners, the NPS and USFS. This is a full moon weekend and should be a lot of fun, so if you’d like more information on this or any of our other activities contact us at [email protected].

—Brian Pavek

LLC: Gary Narum and Jim Luttrell are making great progress on its replacement.

Laurentian Lakes Chapter—No argument about a need to replace this bog bridging!

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Ray VlasakRay Vlasak


Sheyenne River Valley ChapterNORTH DAKOTA - The New Year dawned bright for the Sheyenne River Valley Chapter. We received an easement from the City of Fort Ransom and were in the planning stages of development of the Mill Road segment and minor re-route for Fort Ransom State Park. Adam Larson, a prospective Eagle Scout, had chosen this as his project. In March, several of us went out and chose the route for the trail and Adam started making plans for joint troop/chapter work days.

In April, Mother Nature threw us a curve. Our whole state suffered the worst flooding seen in over a hundred years. Many segments of our trail were under water or under levees. Because of this, two of our monthly chapter hikes were cancelled. Valley City State University, the chosen venue for the 9 NCTA conference, was barricaded behind massive contingency levees. It was quite a mess!

In May, we were able to access the trails and determine the amount of damage and what was needed to bring them up to standard for the conference. We were fortunate to get some emergency funding from NPS Cyclic Maintenance to restore some

Major outreach activities included a National Trails Day hike on the newest section of the trail along the North/South continental divide, an all day Trail Fest in August at Itasca State Park, and Winter Trails Day at Maplelag Resort. The Winter Trails day event this year included cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, annual meeting, silent auction, dinner, and entertainment with the presentation of a Becker County historical documentary Timber: Dead and Down by the executive producer Jeff Schlossman. The annual meeting was a first for this two-year-old chapter that adopted its by-laws on September 7, 9. The event was a huge success with 68 attendees enjoying the activities, and silent auction proceeds of $875 added to the chapter’s Grant Matching Reserve Fund.

—Ray Vlasak, Chapter President


Yes, I'll Lend a Hand to the North Country Trail!Join the North Country Trail Association to support our volunteers in building the trail and telling its story in

communities nearby. Happy Trails!Become a member today by calling (866) 445-3628 or visit our website and click on Become a Member.

Please choose your Chapter Affiliation: I want to be a member of my local Chapter: I want to be a member of the Chapter closest to my home. I want to be an At-Large Member. (Not affiliated with any Chapter) I want to make a tax deductible contribution of Name Address City State Zip EMail Day Time Phone

of the most severe damage, two culverts that were washed out on our Ladies Line Trail segment. A bridge in Clausen Springs Recreation Area, also on the Ladies Line segment, had both approaches washed out. Luckily the bridge remained in place. The County Park Department restored the approaches in time for the conference. The Lonetree segment was mowed and made ready during a Volunteer Adventure project in mid-July.

With the trails at Lake Ashtabula trimmed up and many missing or broken Carsonite markers replaced just before conference, we were ready to host our friends from the other six states along the trail! The weather was perfect for hiking (except for a tiny bit of rain) and we had the best time showing off our trail and entertaining you all! We hope you enjoyed yourselves as well.

Mid-December we got word that the Sheyenne River Valley Chapter was nominated and won a Special Merit Award from the North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department. Kevin Stankiewicz, the North Dakota Trails and Lands Coordinator, nominated our chapter for our “tireless efforts to benefit the people of North Dakota and hikers around the world.” Is that awesome or what?

Just before the conference, we were notified that we had been awarded a Recreational Trails Program grant for the acquisition of easements and development of 5 to 35 miles of new trail. The funds will also cover structures that will improve existing trail such as water and fence crossings, two back country privies, directional and educational signage. This, of course, was all put on hold until we could get past the conference and post-conference activities.

We are now in extreme planning mode to take care of this hugely ambitious project. We have written grants and done other fund raising to raise the matching funds, gone through an interview process to hire a contractor to acquire easements for us, calculated the materials needed and are ready to order? We have an agreement with the Corps of Engineers to build the water crossings for us during the winter for installation in the spring. The Sheyenne River Valley Chapter will be laying down new trail like wildfire from spring until the snow flies in 1!

—Becky Heise

SRV flood at Fort Ransom State Park, taken last April. This handsome gateway does not invite us onto the trail this day.

Sheyenne River Valley, North Dakota: In early spring, prospective Eagle Scout Adam Larsen laid plans for joint troop/chapter work days.

Becky Heise

Becky Heise

State of the Trail…continued from page 27


Staff regional coordinator Bill Menke has pointed out that trailside “registers” are nonexistent along most of the NCT,

at least during his several thousand miles walked, except in Wisconsin and New York. The Finger Lakes Trail has tra-ditionally featured them for forty-odd years now, placed at irregular intervals, usually some kind of box with a tablet and pen inside. Many are built like bluebird boxes, or perhaps like a “secretary” desk, with a large front lid that folds down to enable writing. In areas where forest creatures enjoy the glue in plywood far too much, trail caretakers have even resorted to using metal mail or ammo boxes.

While the entries by passing hikers can be inane twaddle left mostly by teenage boys, and it’s certain that many never write anything at all, a lot of information about the invisible population of our trail can be gleaned. Some caretakers feel as if nobody is out there using their beloved linear garden, but would probably be surprised at how many have passed there. Better yet, we learn how far away some of them came from.

Bill Menke found these two in Wisconsin: "Marvelous trail that the trail stewards have done all along

the way. I'm joining the NCT. So impressive!"—Meridith Griggs, Cabin John, Maryland

"Thank you so much for developing this trail. Found out about your hard work in the NY Times."—Sally Connolly

So register boxes are a good outreach tool, too, a good place to stock with brochures.

Many registers along the Finger Lakes Trail’s 9-mile trail system were built with Challenge Cost Shares from the National Park Service for use on our 4-plus miles of shared NCT. The western end of the FLT starts at the Pennsylvania border in NY’s Allegany State Park, where three separate log shelters are scattered along the twenty miles of trail within the park. At the middle one,

Stony Brook Lean-to, there is a register often filled with commentary on the considerable wildlife which wants to share that shelter.

“Never hiked 5 miles before and never will again. Fell trying to get away from bees, got stung anyway. This is why I stay in hotels. The nature is lovely, though. Can’t wait to get out!!” —Kris

“Set up camp. Early in the evening we encountered four coyotes, including one very large leader who howled and trotted just past Marc and his 4-month old puppy, Pada. The coyotes stalked and circled us at different points in the night, making the evening nothing short of terrifying…not for us, but for the puppy they seemed most interested in. ‘Porki’ the porcupine did his thing, chewing on the shelter for hours and hours while the coyotes howled… Pada was fine but no lean-to has been this wild before.” —Signed by FIVE people! (& Pada)

“First day of a planned 150-mile hike to Hornell. Wow, I’m tired. I saw no bees. A little concerned about these porcupines and coyotes.” —R. J. Wolf, Washington, D.C., born Hornell NY ‘7

“Here to measure the front opening so that we can install some chain link fence to keep Porkies out of lean-to.” —Gene Cornelius, trail steward

“Bicycled from Allegany (village, 25 miles east of here), left bike at the top of the hill and walked down here. I am trying out hiking in small steps. Today my newly-made Pepsi-can stove and coffee-can pot stand/wind screen cooked Ramen noodles quite nicely. But through inattention I melted a hole in one of my water bottles. Can I tell my wife Porky did this?” —Allen Knowles

“Wrapping up a 280-mile hike from Pittsburgh, PA, to Salamanca, NY.”—Eric Schlimmer, Oneonta, NY

…and back to a Wisconsin entry: “A great day hiking with a great friend cannot be better.”

A register box along the Onondaga Trail of the Finger Lakes Trail System in NY, with Adirondack Mountain Club–Onondaga Chapter members signing in during a snow “hike.”Register Tidbits

Mary Coffin

Irene Szabo


It is difficult to select a favorite since the trail I’m on at the moment

is usually it. For this article I have selected a very new section of the NCT FLT Onondaga extension that we have worked on for the last three years. It represents a nice blend of private and public lands. It is a less than 5 mile jaunt one way so some might prefer to walk out and back to avoid spotting cars. Favorite features include mature hardwood forests with some conifers mixed in, rolling hills, streams, scenic views and another pond. Spring is a great time to view the little waterfalls and early wildflowers and hear the returning bird songs.

The trailhead is located at the DeRuyter Dam Road and East Lake Road stop sign south of State Route 8. The private landowner, Frank Caputo, has provided off road parking . miles south of the trailhead on East Lake Road.

One begins hiking east with Highland Forest and DeRuyter Lake to the back, west. The trail crosses a creek then heads uphill along a ravine via a series of gradual switchbacks. In the spring there are many little waterfalls and cascades along the stream, visible at each turn. With only the sound of running water and bird calls, it is a very peaceful walk in the woods.

Along this section last year we found a turkey nest just off the trail with eleven eggs in it. The deer enjoy the trail too and several hunter stands are now in the forest near the trail. The hunters have expressed their appreciation of the trail to the landowner. It gets them uphill to state forest at an easy 1% grade. One spring I found a deer skull and jawbone and another time a pair of

Favorite PlacesTo keep our spirits up, here is a taste of spring. Really, REALLY we'll all soon be starting up the lawn mowers! —Editor

Favorite Trail Sections in Central New York: Onondaga Trail in Spring DeRuyter Lake Dam Road to New Woodstock, FLT Map O 2

Mary Coffin


antlers. They were only a little chewed by rodents craving calcium. Finding both antlers is rare in my experience.

As one continues there is a second set of gradual switchbacks in the forest, and spring affords open views of farm ponds, DeRuyter Lake and Highland Forest Ridge, all to the west. This section of trail was recently purchased by the Glisson family and they are strong trail supporters. At the height of land is DeRuyter State Forest, a typical beech–maple woodland. Early May is the time to start looking for spring wildflowers such as trillium, trout lily, violets, spring beauty, mayapple, blue cohosh, Canada mayflower and more. You will smell the leeks as they are crushed under your boots. Don’t miss the east to west viewpoint over Reeds' cultivated field.

The trail descends crossing several little streams in state forest and follows a narrow strip of state land before crossing two dirt roads, Stanton then Tromp Road. Both have parking. There is a half-mile section that is only flagged at this writing but should be completed by fall 1. One can hike due east following the orange flags, compass or GPS for .5 miles to Fairbanks Road (parking also available).

A quick left-right on Fairbanks Road brings the trail past Armstrong Pond in . mile. The pond is a great spot for a relaxing lunch. Then it is up over Hirt Hill. Don’t miss the fence stile that leads the hiker a very short distance on an orange flagged dead end spur into a field with a view of Cazenovia Lake five miles to the north. As the trail descends it sweeps out to an abandoned ski trail twice to catch views of the valley and the steeples in the village of New Woodstock. Parking is available again on private land (Murphy) just off Webber Road.Accumulated mileage: Dam Rd. access = 0 miles, enter DeRuyter State Forest = 1 mile, Stanton Rd. = 1.9, Tromp Rd. = 2.3, exit DeRuyter State Forest on Fairbanks Rd. = 2.9, Webber Rd. access = 4.7. Max elevation = 1850 feet, Minimum elevation = 1300 feet

Previously published in the FLT News in an earlier version.

And for Those Who Really Love Winter…

On January 23rd, 2010, Glenn and Deb Kerbs of Illinois were married at Great Conglomerate Falls on the Black River in the western upper

peninsula of Michigan.This spot is on the Copper Peak spur of the NCT.Local Ni-Miikanaake chapter members Morgan Grasso and Ric Olson

(our photographer) attended the ceremony, as part of the cross-country ski club from Illinois that conducts many trips every year to the UP for snowshoe and crosscountry ski treks on the NCT. Some club members even stay up there for the winter!

A Wedding!


Let Us Tempt You To Visit! We'll have a program one evening about eleven

women who trekked over Russian ice to the North Pole; another evening, there's a barn dance.


RESCUE FUN?

I don’t know what category of trail maintenance, use, etc. this comes under but several of us from the Readmond,

Friendship and Cross Village (RFC) Fire and Rescue have spent a fair amount of time on the trail recently in activities that you may be interested in. The activities culminated in a realistic rescue and extraction drill.

Our goals were to use one of our almost weekly drills to • Familiarize our crew with the NCT • Learn how to use the roads, two-tracks, and paths to access

the trail • Develop skills in finding injured or ill persons on the trail • Apply first aid and extract persons from the trail to waiting

ambulances or rescue vehicles, and • Use our thermal imager, off-road vehicle and rescue sled to

locate and transport victims.Since we usually train after normal work hours, it was a

night exercise, on Monday, Oct. 19, from 7:00 to about 10:00. New moon was on Sunday so there was no moon to help us out. We chose a wilderness rescue. Two persons and a process observer/evaluator located themselves along the trail on Section 6 between the Levering Road trailhead and Wycamp Lake Dam. None but myself knew the location. When the RFC crew (11 of us were present) arrived at the station for training they were given a mock dispatch which indicated that a cell phone transmission had been received from two hikers, one of whom had been hit in the back by a bow hunter's arrow and could not move his legs. The other was staying with him; the caller later feigned a diabetic emergency so also needed to be extricated on a backboard.

As the “Incident Commander” I gave a briefing on the

As a result of discussions at a NCTA-NPS Joint Planning Session, the NPS will be providing packets

of materials to aid volunteers in reporting injuries incurred while performing volunteer services for the North Country National Scenic Trail.

In the coming weeks, NPS Volunteer Coordinator Dan Watson will mail each NCTA Chapter Leader several “Injury Reporting Kits.” Each kit will include a checklist of initial steps to take when an injury occurs, along with a supply of forms to be taken to the hospital or clinic at the time of injury. Dan will still be directly involved in each injury case, but these kits will help you to help yourselves in the first hours following an injury.

By sending these kits into the field, volunteers will have the necessary forms and information at their disposal to initiate an injury claim in the most expeditious manner possible. As a result, individual injury claims should then be processed and resolved more quickly , with fewer glitches in information sharing among the volunteer, the hospital, and the NPS.

While the kits are developed in such a way that Chapter volunteers should be able to follow the instructions, Dan Watson will also begin to make a series of site visits to as many Chapters as possible over the coming months in order to provide some face-to-face orientation to the use of these kits, as well as other information regarding the volunteer program.

Chapter leaders should watch the mail for the arrival of these kits, and work directly with Dan Watson if any questions arise on how the kits should be used. Thank you for your assistance and support in this initiative to provide our volunteers with the fastest care they can receive in the unfortunate instance of an injury while volunteering on the North Country NST.

Dan Watson

On the Harbor Springs Chapter Section in Lower Michigan

Ken Kelsey

Ken Kelsey

Injury Reporting Kits Coming to All Chapters

NCT, distributed maps and formed search teams. We then deployed in two rescue vehicles, a fire engine and the 4 wheeler and rescue sled to the Wycamp Lake area. We set up a staging area and began to search the trail in teams, with each team searching a section and communicating by radio. In about an hour from dispatch, the victims were found on the trail south of Wycamp Lake. Then they were treated, packaged and extricated. Getting them out was difficult as they had to be carried down the trail on backboards to a point where the 4 wheeler could meet them to take them further to the ambulance.

It was great fun. I am reporting this in some detail so you can envision how such a rescue could occur (I know there have been previous ones) and that by using these techniques we (or others) could locate possible victims on any section of the trail.

For what it's worth: Preparation time on trail 4 hours; Drill time on trail 2 hours involving 13 people.


Kay Kujaw

a

It was 20 below zero at Soldier Lake Campground when over forty hikers arrived to Celebrate Winter Trails Day 2010 on

January 9th. Revelers trekked from where we had parked on the plowed shoulder of route M28 on snowshoes or skis in to the pavilion where a blazing fire awaited them.

Michigan DNR Interpreter Theresa Neal provided free snowshoe loans for those new to the sport. On the roadside snowbanks of highway M8 she helped with the bindings and gave basic instructions, then the eager “students” tromped down the North Country Trail to the campground.

HSS volunteers took turns cooking, tending the fire, and leading hikes. Hotdogs were roasted on the fire throughout the afternoon, and a parade of cookies from volunteer ovens blanketed a picnic table. All afternoon hikers paused on the lake to bask in the sun and share hiking tales, while others went out in pairs or groups for guided or unguided hikes of varying lengths and destinations.

Stan Kujawa toted firewood, food, and the day’s trappings in by snowmobile, along with a member just recovering from surgery. Guests and HSS members came from across the eastern UP (upper peninsula to the rest of you) and from as far south in the mitten of Michigan as Gaylord and Lansing. Bill Courtois, our HSS photographer, came all the way from Ann Arbor.

Hiawatha Shore-to-Shore Winter Trails Day 2010

These hardy hikers made tracks with their snowshoes for a winter outing on a crisp and sunny day in December 2009.

The sun cast lengthening shadows as the last of the HSS “kids” skied and snowshoed across the snow-covered field. Plans are already being made for Winter Trails Day 11.

Kay Kujawa


Early last summer, a chapter colleague, who was deeply involved in establishing a county trail alliance in our area,

asked me if the NCTA had a Strategic Plan in place. I was chagrined to note that I had no idea, but I vowed to pursue the question. I eventually learned that, yes, we did have a strategic plan, developed in 2004. The Board checked the association’s performance against it for a few years, but then many of its champions moved on from the Board of Directors, allowing it to languish. Interestingly, that plan was to expire in 2009.

What we have been working with recently has been an Executive Dashboard which was developed a couple of years ago by the NCTA staff in Lowell at a staff retreat. To his credit, Bruce Matthews, our executive director, has consistently kept that executive dashboard in front of us to give us direction in our administration of the Association.

At our Summer Conference Board Meeting, I proposed that we, as a Board, develop an updated strategic plan and then commit to keeping that plan at the forefront of our decision making process in the years to come, updating it regularly to keep it current with the Association’s needs. For my reward, I was given the job of spearheading the process which is now well under way.

Our first job was to establish areas of priorities to study in the planning process. Board members, staffers, and NPS staff were invited to be part of that process and we identified six major areas to study.

At this point, the Board needed to revisit our Mission Statement and our Vision Statements for the trail and the association to be certain that they accurately reflect our goals and needs.Having firmed up our Mission and Vision, the Board, NCTA staff and our NPS colleagues will then divide into six committees to study the six priority areas that we already established in the late Fall. These committees will then do what is called a SWOT analysis for their particular area of concern. This process looks at our Strengths, our Weaknesses, our Opportunities and our Threats in each area. Having identified these, each committee will make a list of proposals for the Strategic Plan based on their analysis.

In May, at a special meeting prior to the May Board of Directors’ meeting, the board will review the analyses and proposals and develop a strategic plan for the next decade to be presented to you, the membership, at our Annual Summer Conference in Ashland, Wisconsin.

Although the strategic planning process has been limited to the Board and staff in order to keep the process manageable and timely, we certainly invite you,

the membership at large, to provide input. You may communicate with me or Bruce Matthews at the Lowell Office and we will forward your comments and concerns to the appropriate committees for their review.

We are excited by the potential for this process to further the mission of the NCTA in developing the premier hiking trail across the northern US. Please join us in the process.

NCTA Board Of Directors Initiates Strategic Planning Effort

2010 UpdateMission: The North Country Trail Association develops, maintains, protects and promotes the North Country National Scenic Trail as the premier hiking path across the northern tier of the United States through a trail-wide coalition of volunteers and partners.

Vision: The North Country Trail Association (NCTA) will be the primary organization charged with developing, maintaining, protecting, and promoting the North Country National Scenic Trail (NCNST). The NCTA will coordinate, unite and empower volunteers and partner organizations, land owners and agencies along the length of the trail to fulfill its mission.

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

The NCTA will develop a corridor of consistently and clearly marked treadways, blending with local character as appropriate. maintain the NCNST through highly successful partnerships among the various entities, providing funding, management and service. protect, permanently whenever possible, the NCNST as a public hiking trail showcasing and interpreting the rich variety of historical, cultural and environmental features in the northern United States promote the NCNST as a continuous hiking trail of the highest caliber with foot traffic accorded the highest priority to the exclusion of other uses except in short, specifically designated segments.

Larry Hawkins, M.D.First Vice-president of NCTA Board

2010 NCTA Annual Conference in Ashland, Wisconsin, August 5-8Let Us Tempt You To Visit!

Copper Falls State Park hikes, where tannin-dyed waterfalls splash among huge orange boulders in the great northern forest…


Bring On The Bridge 2010

Mark your Calendars: Bring On The Bridge 2010 has been scheduled and approved for 3-7 September, 2010.

This is a camping event for North Country National Scenic Trail enthusiasts with the main emphasis on providing a com-mon rallying point for NCT hikers who want to include hik-ing the Mackinac Bridge in their hiking log. Remember, the Mackinac Bridge is part of the North Country National Scenic Trail and is open to foot traffic only one day each year, Labor Day. On this day, literally thousands of people hike this 5-mile bridge (including approaches) connecting the communities of St. Ignace and Mackinaw City, Michigan. It spans the Straits of Mackinac connecting two of Michigan's Great Lakes, Michigan and Huron. Most people complete this hike not even realizing that they have just hiked five miles of the North Country National Scenic Trail.

In the 9 version of Bring On The Bridge, forty-five people, representing two states and six chapters, camped from one to five nights enjoying not only the Mackinac Bridge NCT hike, but also other NCT trail sections maintained by the Hiawatha Shore to Shore Chapter.

As information becomes available, it will be posted on the NCT National and Hiawatha Shore to Shore Chapter websites. Once a formal schedule is developed, a copy will be sent to the individual chapters along the trail.

Inquiries may be directed to [email protected], or the following address:

Charlene DeWitt, 15197 S. Centerline Rd., Rudyard MI 4978.

"Nimblewill Nomad" Eb Ebersole with Bruce Matthews at the 2009 Bridge Walk. Ebersole had to return to the bridge on Labor Day in order to complete his NCT through-walk along with thousands of others.

Overlooking Lake Arthur, Moraine State Park in Pennsylvania.

Rocks are a central feature of many Pennsylvania hikes.

Stage 7 of the Tour included October colors, but the first day was marked by wet snow that brought down branches, followed by cold rain. However, the second day was bright with light snow on the ground, continuing 15 miles’ worth of the Allegheny National Forest, including the famous Tionesta Scenic Area. Stage 8 in November added some miles in the central Old Stone House area, including some planned overlooks along the trail, and permitted post-hike relaxation at the North Country Brewery.

December offered a perfect day for Stage 9, where 1 hikers accomplished 7.5 miles in 8 degree weather, no wind, even followed by sunshine after lunch. They finished early enough to visit the nearby Glass Blowing Center for their holiday open house.

The Tour continues next season. Contact John Stehle, (74) 56-674, [email protected].

Marv D

e Witt

Tamm

y Veloski John Stehle

Our experience along the Finger Lakes Trail in NY is that our finest outreach tool is offering even modest hike series designed to help people complete a definable section of trail, whether it’s one whole county or, in the Pennsylvania case, all of the state’s off-road NCT! As we’ve been reporting, the series sponsored by the Butler Outdoor Club and Butler Chapter and conducted by John Stehle has been good fun. But we know from experience that if they had advertised widely to the public, they might have had to rent busses!

—Editor

Tour de NCT continues in Pennsylvania

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PAIDGrand Rapids, MI

Permit 34

LV19892

Happy trails to you. Our eight newspapers across Michigan cover the great outdoors,including the best nature walks, day hikes and overnight backpacking trips. Read us,then find a slice of heaven of your own on foot. Booth Newspapers: The Ann Arbor News,The Bay City Times, The Flint Journal, The Grand Rapids Press, The Jackson CitizenPatriot, The Kalamazoo Gazette, The Muskegon Chronicle and The Saginaw News.

North Country Trail Association9 East Main StreetLowell, Michigan 49331

Finger Lakes Trail, by Ray Kuzia, New York State

north star

Documents

North Star Vol. 29, No. 1 (2010)