North Star Vol. 29, No. 2 (2010)

April-June, 2010

The magazine of the North Country Trail Association

Volume 29, No. 2

north star

Annual Conference Programs Inside

Ashland, Wisconsin Hikes, Workshops and Registration Is the NCT a Real Trail?

Love to Cook? Try This on for Size!

Partnership Opportunities in Minnesota Permanent Easement Granted on Onondaga Trail Segment

telling NCTA’s story to your friends and neighbors is the quickest way to make that happen.

An increase in membership will return additional funding to local Chapters and Affiliates, which helps build, maintain and complete the North Country National Scenic Trail.

Annual Conference registration materials are available and it looks like our Wisconsin hosts have organized a great schedule of events.

I invite you to make conference the centerpiece of your summer, and look forward to seeing you at Ashland, Wisconsin, August 5–8 for a funfilled educational vacation.

The Board of Directors is planning an extra day for strategic planning prior to the May 8th Board meeting in Michigan. In addition, during the Board meeting a significant amount of time is reserved for a development/fundraising workshop and discussion, after which, with Board approval, we expect to advertise for and fill a much-needed Director of Development position. This will help NCTA raise additional funding to enhance your efforts as trail volunteers.

NCTA staff and your Advocacy Committee led by Al Larmann have been very busy with national legislative efforts, critically important as we grow the trail. Staff is also busy

TRAIL HEAD

BOBBY KOEPPLIN President

G

reetings., I hope you're one of the lucky folks to see early blooming flowers or birds migrating through your neck of the trail. Right now, I want to briefly touch on several items that are all important to the North Country Trail.

Members are essential to our very existence. The Board will shortly be reviewing and approving a membership recruitment and retention plan that will be a major part of our 2010 work effort. The Board of Directors' long term goal is to have one member per mile of trail, approximately 4,600 members. If each of us recruited one new member we would be very close to accomplishing this goal.

The reality is that member recruitment is everyone’s job, not just the staff's. We will be asking for Chapter leadership and you the members of the NCTA to assist us in our membership campaign. Word of mouth and personal stories associated with the trail can be very compelling for growing membership. In fact, you

implementing the 2010 work plan, working with Chapters and volunteers, updating the website, preparing for conference and dealing with a wide array of day-to-day activities associated with managing a volunteer nonprofit focused on building a National Scenic Trail. I hope as you have the opportunity to work with each of them that you do not forget to thank them for a job well done.

Finally I absolutely cannot forget to “high five” Irene Szabo as our volunteer Editor in Chief of the North Star for her patience with me and my late columns. Irene, thank you, not only for your patience but for a job well done in producing this wonderful publication.

Members can help me get out of hot water by sending Irene ideas for a story or tidbits that are important to be shared with our fellow members in future issues of the North Star. See you on the Trail!

Come Visit Us! 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.

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Your Adventure Starts with a Hike at NCTA Conference!

Norm Bishop

Staff

Andrew Bashaw,

Regional Trail Coordinator Ohio/Pennsylvania andrewbashaw@northcountrytrail.org

Jill DeCator,

Administrative Assistant/Membership Coordinator jdecator@northcountrytrail.org

Matt Davis,

Regional Trail Coordinator Minnesota/North Dakota davis@northcountrytrail.org

Andrea Ketchmark, Director of Trail Development

aketchmark@northcountrytrail.org

Laura Lindstrom,

Office Manager/Financial Administrator llindstrom@northcountrytrail.org

Bruce Matthews, Executive Director

bmatthews@northcountrytrail.org

Bill Menke,

Regional Trail Coordinator Wisconsin/Michigan UP bill_menke@partner.nps.gov

Matt Rowbotham,

GIS/IT/Communications

mattrowbotham@northcountrytrail.org

National Board of Directors Terms Expiring 2010

Larry Hawkins, First VP, Lower Michigan Rep., (269)945-5398 · hawkeyemd@cablespeed.com

Terms Expiring 2011 Lyle Bialk, Lower Michigan Rep., (810) 679-2401 · lylebialk@sbcglobal.net

Mary Coffin, VP East, New York Rep., (315) 687-3589 · mcoffin1@twcny.rr.com

Dave Cornell, Immediate Past President, At Large Rep., (239) 561-6512 · onestep@mei.net

Garry Dill, At Large Rep.,

(614) 451-0223 · then321elm@yahoo.com

John Heiam, At Large Rep.,

(231) 938-9655 · johnheiam@charter.net

Lorana Jinkerson, Secretary, At Large Rep., (906) 226-6210 · ljinkers@nmu.edu

Terms Expiring 2012 Joyce Appel, Pennsylvania Rep.,

(724) 526-5407 · joyceappel@windstream.net

Rapids in the Black River National Scenic River, Black River Harbor, Michigan.

Articles Allegheny 100 Challenge..............5 NCTA Board Election................6 Geocaching Along the Trail..........7 Jumpstarting a Bunch of Complacent Old Farts..................8 Stage 10, Tour de NCT................9 Minnesotans Vote Their Minds, NCT Collects.............................10 NPS's Fred Szarka Retires...........11 Green Spartan Warrior Spotted...12 Blazes of Blue..............................14 Is the NCT Beautiful?................ 15

About the Cover

Permanent Easement, Onondaga Trail..........................16 Hiawatha Shore-to-Shore............17 Volunteer Adventure Cookery.....18 Wampum's Visionary Projects.....19 2010 NCT Conference Pages...20 Join a Volunteer Adventure.........26 Regaining Something Lost.........27

Columns Trailhead.......................................2 Matthews’ Meanders.....................4 NPS News....................................5

Black River National Scenic River, Conglomerate Falls Corridor, at Black River Harbor, Michigan. Summer conference trip Number 25 will come to this countryside, where the trail is hosted by the Ni-Miikanaake Chapter.

Photograph by Chapter member Norm Bishop.

Jack Cohen, Pennsylvania Rep.,

(724) 234-5398 · JCohen@zoominternet.net

Bobby Koepplin, President, North Dakota Rep., (701) 845-2935 · bkoepplin@kwh.com

Tom Moberg, Minnesota Rep., (701) 271-6769 · tfmoberg@gmail.com

Brian Pavek, Minnesota Rep.,

(763) 425-4195 · stn@northcountrail.org

Lynda Rummel, New York Rep.,

(315) 536-9484 · ljrassoc@roadrunner.com

Gaylord Yost, VP West, Great Lakes Rep.,

North Star Staff

Irene Szabo, Volunteer Editor, (585) 658-4321 or treeweenie@aol.com Peggy Falk, Graphic Design The North Star, Summer issue, Vol. 29, Issue 2, is published by the North Country Trail Association, a private, not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization, 229 East Main Street, Lowell, MI 49331. The North Star is published quarterly for promotional and 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.

(414) 354-8987 · gaylyost@aol.com

www.northcountrytrail.org

April-June 10

The North Star 3

M

embership numbers are the single most important indicator of NCTA’s organizational success. Increasing membership indicates power, vitality and competence; it suggests NCTA is a winner. It makes others want to be identified with us. Member growth begets more member growth.

It also begets growth in sponsorships, donations, bequests and other revenues. It increases NCTA’s political influence as well as status among peer organizations and trails. When NCTA’s membership numbers are declining, we all need to take notice.

The chart is pretty clear that the direction of NCTA’s membership is not where it should be. Does NCTA have the will and wherewithal to reverse it?

More than half of NCTA’s current members have belonged to the Association for more than 6 years, an impressive indication of member loyalty. Retention rates continue in the low 80%. The good news is NCTA clearly has a loyal core membership base with an excellent retention record. However, at least half of NCTA’s membership is over 65. Even with the relatively good news about NCTA’s membership retention, the trend in declining membership will continue to accelerate if NCTA cannot obtain a significant infusion of new members.

This problem is not unique to NCTA. We know from the volunteerism community that we're all facing problems with aging populations, increasing demands for volunteers, specialization issues, increased competition for declining dollars and so on. Actually, the NCTA retention trends data has some very encouraging elements. Pretty clearly, if we're able to capture and hold onto volunteers for a couple

MATTHEWS’

MEANDERS BRUCE MATTHEWS Executive Director

of years, they become lifers. The key to making that happen lies with helping these new volunteers get connected and socially engaged with folks like you.

Your NCTA Board is wrestling with how best to invest limited staff and financial resources for the biggest bang in marketing NCTA and addressing member recruitment.

You’ll be hearing a lot about that in the coming months.

We’re planning another mailing to invite recently lapsed members to re-join, and we’ll be asking our chapter leadership to help in followup. We’re planning a mailing to membership in partner and affiliated organizations. We’re hoping to leverage the Board’s strategic planning efforts into building a best practices-based comprehensive marketing effort, the centerpiece of which will be membership growth.

But the real driver for membership growth lies with our current members. With you. By focusing on two words and keeping them top of mind wherever you have the chance to brag on the NCNST and NCTA, you will make a huge difference.

These are the words: Invite. Engage.

Invite the people you know and meet to be part of this notion that connecting our red plaid nation—America’s northern heartland—is way cool. Engage them in your efforts—be they individual, chapter or partner-based—so they can experience first-hand what it feels like to belong to and own this effort, giving something lasting and incredibly valuable back to your community and country.

The reality is that reversing NCTA’s membership decline will not happen en masse. It is done one volunteer at a time, through invitation and engagement. Our challenge is creating, supporting and sustaining that critical mass of volunteers that invites folks, one at a time, to be part of this cool thing we do in building the North Country Trail and telling its story.

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 EMail 4 The North Star

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State Day Time Phone

Zip

News from the NPS Volunteer Coordinator Daniel Watson

ALLEGHENY 100

The Ultimate Hiking Challenge The Challenge: Hike 100 miles in 2 days.

(Actually 50 hours) Where: North Country National Scenic Trail across the Allegheny National Forest from NY border to SR 66 south of Marienville PA When: Friday, June 18, 2010 6 PM thru Sunday, June 20, 2010 8PM. How: Hike, not bike or run. This is the ultimate endurance challenge.

This is NOT a race.

Who: Anyone who wants to test themselves against the trail.

What: “What” is for you to answer? What do you get from this? Membership in the NCTA to support the trail and a tee-shirt.

Options: 25 and 50 mile hikes available too. Still get shirt and membership.

Register: Two ways, via email or phone.

Cost: $30.00 All proceeds to go to NCTA. You BYOF, BYOB, gear, etc. We provide transportation back from the end.

Contact: nct001@verizon.net or bnemcik@yahoo.com, phone (814) 927-8303.

Registration Deadline: June 1.

www.northcountrytrail.org

Since early February I have been meeting with various NCTA Chapters and Affiliate groups to share information on how volunteers are extended certain protections and coverage in the event of injury or tort liability. I would like to extend my thanks to all those who have made the effort to schedule meetings with me so far, and to offer advance thanks to those who I will soon be contacting in order to schedule future meetings. I very much appreciate all the hospitality, excellent questions and discussions, and interest in the information I am sharing at each of my visits.

For those with whom I have already met, please remember to share the information with others in your chapter or group regarding how to access and use the Volunteer Agreement Forms, Job Descriptions, and various safety documents found on the NPS website www.nps.gov/noco.

Also, please identify to the volunteers in your area where you will be locating your supplies of the Injury Reporting Kits. And remember, if an injury occurs and all else fails, immediately seek the medical attention needed and contact me as soon as possible.

I will work directly with the injured volunteer to gain them any assistance from the Department of Labor for which they qualify.

For those chapters or affiliates with whom I have yet to schedule a meeting, I will be in touch very soon to share this information in detail.

In the meantime, please continue to contact me whenever injuries occur in your area and I will work directly with you to process claims as I have in the past.

Considering the number of volunteers who work on the North Country NST, the types and variety of tools we use, and the environment in which the work is accomplished, you may all be very proud of your safety record. Let’s work together to make it even more impressive in 2010 and beyond.

Dan Watson, Volunteer Program Coordinator for our National Parks System.

One final bit of news that I am very pleased to share: as of this writing, the North Country Trail Association has been named as the recipient of the 2009 NPS Midwest Region George and Helen Hartzog Award in the “Volunteer Group” category. For those unfamiliar with this award, George B. Hartzog, Jr., was the Director of the National Park Service in the late 1960s and early 70s. He did much during his tenure as NPS Director to promote, professionalize, and advance the NPS Volunteer-In-Parks Program. As a legacy from Director Hartzog, the Hartzog Award Program was created to honor NPS volunteers in various categories. The NCTA’s combined volunteer work successes throughout 2009 has resulted in its selection as the best “Volunteer Group” throughout the 13-state Midwest Region of the NPS. The NCTA’s nomination will now be forwarded to Washington, D.C., to compete in the “Volunteer Group” category against all of the other NPS regional winners in that category. Congratulations to each of you, and good luck in the upcoming NPS Service-Wide competition round!

651/290-3030 Ext 243 phone 651/290-3214 fax Daniel_Watson@nps.gov

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Board of Directors Candidates

Offered for our members' votes by the nominating committee

T

he Nominating Committee offers for your approval the following three candidates for seats on the NCTA Board of Directors. Larry hopes to contribute a second term, while Lynda seeks election after appointment late last year to an empty seat. The same situation applies to Ray Vlasak, seeking election after an interim appointment.

Lower Michigan Representative, Incumbent Vice President.

Larry Hawkins is currently serving as the NCTA Board’s First Vice President. He has been active with the Chief Noonday Chapter in southwest Michigan, serving at one time as its president. Larry is a practicing family physician to fill in his idle time but still finds time to get out with chapter folks working on the trail. He hiked the NCNST as a scout leader and in 1998 was introduced to the NCTA by a hiking companion. Soon after, Larry joined the NCTA and started working as a volunteer trail builder and was later drafted to serve on the Board. His vision of the NCTA continues to be to work with other trail organizations to promote a spirit of cooperation to fund, preserve, and expand recreational trails, at the same time preserving the unique nature of our own great North Country Trail.

New York Representative

Lynda Rummel has been an outdoor enthusiast and trail buff for a number of years, and quite active as a member of the Finger Lakes Trail Conference (FLTC) as well as working on the North Country Trail segments that run along the FLT. She has been the recipient of the

FLTC’s highest award, the Wally Wood, and was awarded the NCTA’s Trail Builder of the Year in 2007. Her projects have included relocating and improving five miles of trail across both state forest and private lands, she has assisted with GPSing segments of the NCT, and she leads trail maintenance training in New York. She also handles NCT certification paperwork for the FLT, and is the FLTC Director of Trail Quality. In recent years, Lynda has chaired the NCTA’s Field Grant Committee which reviews chapter field grant request applications.

At-Large Representative

Ray Vlasak has supported the NCTA through membership since 1989 and became active in 1999 after retiring from a 33 year career with 3M Company as a chemical engineer. He is currently president of the newly formed Laurentian Lakes Chapter which is responsible for the trail in Becker and Clearwater Counties in western Minnesota, previously served on the Board of the Itasca Moraine Chapter, and received the Vanguard Award in 2006. Ray serves on several organization boards including the Becker Co. Park and Recreation Board, Friends of Itasca State Park, Bad Medicine Lake Area Assoc. and Foundation Boards, and Forest Township Board of Supervisors which he chairs. He currently owns and operates High Pines Resort on Bad Medicine Lake which is about 4 miles from the NCNST. Ray's love of the outdoors has led him to hike, bike, canoe, and camp along many trails throughout the country, interests he attributes to Scouting. Ray hopes to serve the board by helping chapters implement best practices through sharing chapter successes.

Below is your official ballot for 2010 Election of Board of Directors.

NCTA Official Ballot 2010 Election Board of Directors

You will not receive a separate ballot by mail. Each NCTA membership is categorized as a household, and our bylaws permit only one ballot per membership. Please mark the ballot and mail or fax to: NCTA - Elections, 229 E. Main St., Lowell, MI 49331, fax (616) 897-6605. All votes must be postmarked no later than July 28.

Lower Michigan Representative,

New York Representative

Vote for One Larry Hawkins Write-in

Vote for One Lynda Rummel Write-in

At-Large Representative Vote for One Ray Vlasak Write-in

Ballot is not valid without your name and/or membership number.

Your Name/Membership Number

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Your Signature

Geocaching Along the Trail W

hat is one of the fastest growing outdoor activities, fun for people of all ages and bringing awareness of recreational trails across the world? Geocaching.

Geocaching is an outdoor activity where participants use handheld GPS receivers and coordinates listed on www.geocaching.com to find containers hidden by other geocachers. Geocaches range in size from nano (just a bit larger than a pencil eraser) to regular (large Tupperware container or ammo can). Geocaches can also contain multiple stages in which searchers find a series of containers leading them eventually to the final geocache container which will contain a log book and various trading items. Another variation is what is known as an earthcache. An earthcache is a geocache where the goal is not to find a container, but to learn about the earth and its processes. Earthcaches are developed by geocachers and are administered by the Geological Society of America through geocaching.com.

So what does this interesting activity have to do with the North Country Trail? Geocaches are being placed along the NCT everywhere it follows, bringing people onto the trail who may never have known that it existed. Some of these geocachers will ask themselves, “I wonder what this trail is all about,” and research the trail. Thus a geocache hidden along the NCT just brought awareness of the trail to a new person and possibly a new volunteer to help in its formation and long term viability (one of these people is writing this article).

Geocachers have a tread lightly mentality and even participate in geocaching events called “Cache In, Trash Out,” events where an area with a large amount of litter is selected and geocachers meet to clean it up. Geocachers who place caches for others to find are careful that the container remain invisible to those who do not wish to see it and take care not to disturb the area where it is hidden.

Currently, there are about 30 geocaches hidden along the North Country Trail in Clarion County, Pennsylvania.

Collectively, these geocaches have been visited about 600 times. The presence of these geocaches on the NCT has brought new members to the Clarion Chapter and more people have learned about the North Country Trail.

Check www.geocaching.com and see how many geocaches are located along the NCT in your area. Try placing some geocaches yourself and help raise awareness of the trail.

—Devin Callihan, Clarion Chapter Editorial counterpoint: I am thrilled to hear that Devin came to our trail through geocaching, and hope that others follow his path to NCTA membership. However, my own experience is less rosy, the kind of usage that prompted the NCTA Board to enact a geocache policy, excerpted below.

I maintain a two-mile loop along the NCT that climbs a hill from a nice roadside parking area with informative bulletin board and free site maps. The Finger Lakes Trail owns www.northcountrytrail.org

this 40 acre property, a gift from a landowner. There are at least four caches on the property, but no one has ever ASKED PERMISSION to hide things there, while public parks require registration of geocaches. Trail usage tells me that all of them are on the lower elevations of this 300-foot hill, since the upper parts of the loop aren't as heavily used. In other words, people drop by for a short walk, conducted while looking intently at the gizmo in their hands, and then leave within less than a half hour.

They don't take the map, they don't walk the whole wonderful property, and they aren't even prepared for hiking at all. While it was nice once to see two parents with their teenage daughter in her black lace tank top on an obvious geocache toot, it was also depressing to see them return, mission accomplished, within twenty minutes.

I' d be tickled, on the other hand, if an earthcacher utilized our whole property to educate the public!

—your grumpy old editor

NCTA Geocache Policy, Enacted in 2002

The North Country Trail Association recognizes that the sport of geocaching offers a unique and social approach to exploring the outdoors that may appeal to a growing segment of trail users. At the same time, the Association also recognizes the potential drawbacks of practicing this sport, which may include resource degradation, infringement of property rights, and/or conflicts with “tread lightly” trail use ethics. Therefore, to minimize these concerns, the Association endorses geocaching and similar activities along the North Country National Scenic Trail only under the following conditions: • Where written permission has been obtained in advance from the appropriate land manager or land owner, providing a specific timeframe and location for the activity, and • Where proper care is taken to avoid damage caused by digging or trampling to vegetation, archeological evidence, trail tread or other fragile resources in the area.

Finish the NCT with Joan in 2010!

O

n your way to the Wisconsin conference, why not join Joan Young near Petoskey, Michigan, to celebrate the completion of her end-to-end hike?

Hike her last mile with Joan along beautiful trail on the highest hill in Emmet County.

Enjoy a free picnic, compliments of Joan.

If you need a place to camp on the way to Wisconsin, spend the night free on the Doug Boor property near this same part of the trail.

The big event will be Tuesday, August 3, 2010.

Call Joan Young for more details 231-757-2205 jhy@t-one.net April-June 10

The North Star 7

Jumpstarting a Bunch of Complacent Old Farts Irene Szabo

F

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quickly that the best way to get a volunteer was to ASK them directly, either face to face or on the phone, to do something specific. This is far different from an email to the whole group asking for general “help,” which is so easy to ignore. Delete.

Boink. She grants that it took more effort at the beginning, but produced so much better results. Sometimes she would even ask somebody to do something she could do faster herself just to get them involved.

People actually love to be asked, she swears.

Lynda Rummel

red Szarka frequently shared advice through his column about ways to keep your chapter or local hiking club socially healthy with a useful future, especially by making sure everybody had a fulfilling role. So we share with you a conversation with one sparkplug who made it her mission to reinvigorate her own aging group.

Every group faces the inevitable aging of its membership, and if new members are not actively sought out and pursued, a club just plain dies out. The Finger Lakes Trail was started in 1962 by an upstate collection of local hiking clubs who started to build their own segments of the trail from scratch, so naturally by our 30th anniversary, when we celebrated the closing of the last gap, some of the ceremonial celebrants were already pretty long in the tooth! In the 1990's many clubs were realizing they had to reach outside their own comfortable circles to invite new, younger people, or they would just disappear and their trail sections would need new caretakers.

It’s not easy, either. When a group has hiked together for decades, enjoying a few dinners and meetings together scattered amongst the weekly hikes, nobody feels the urge to find new people; after all, we like each other just fine! Besides, what will we have in common with those young whippersnappers?

Get over it, or disappear.

Foothills Trail Club, centered in the Buffalo area, built and tends 184 miles of the FLT system, by means of segments adopted by individuals, whose work is supplemented by special project work parties. Some years they have acted and felt like they were part of the larger trail system, while during other periods they frankly seemed to think of only “their” trail while “the Finger Lakes,” as they call it, was some Other Group.

Annette Brzezicki has done her best in the last few years to reverse all these trends toward endangered species status for Foothills. Oh, she is not by any means a typical organization person; rather, for a handful of years the club went without a President because Annette refused the title while performing all the duties anyway! Rather, she relies on her own brand of unflagging energy to infect others and suck them into the vortex of the Annette tornado.

Four years ago the FLTC decided to devote one of their “Alley Cat” work weeks to a segment of Foothills’ branch to Niagara Falls long known as the “dreaded Holland ravines,” because for a few miles the trail gradually climbed across a steep hillside riddled with frequent steep stream gullies. No NCT funding sources could be applied, because this branch trail is well off the NCT route, so several thousand dollars’ worth of materials had to be funded somehow, but hopes were high that this project would make Foothills members feel more a part of the bigger picture than they had for years now.

Initial planning for what turned into a THREE year project came from experienced FLTC trail people like Lynda Rummel and Howard Beye, while Annette began the long process of bringing as many club members as possible into the process, including many who had never thought of themselves as trail workers before.

During weekly hikes she began finding out who was potentially interested, and chatting up the rest. She learned

Annette during the first Holland Alley Cat. She was honored with the FLTC Wally Wood Award this spring for her energetic outreach and “social engineering” plus her great work in the field. Always shy about praise, she counters, “I need to blame Mary Domanski for introducing me to the trail and trail work, and Lynda Rummel for creating this trail monster in me.”

The other half of that equation is that people also love to be thanked. She makes sure every name gets in the newsletter, thanking them even for the tiniest jobs, because they love to see their names in print, too.

As a result, a bunch of people who knew each other only superficially became much better acquainted, and even friends.

Dozens were involved at all levels, from cooking meals for the group (they stayed at a local recreation center) to building stairs, to the point that anybody NOT playing a role during these three week-long projects felt like they were missing something.

New people became much more intimately involved with the club, while new talents were discovered. Now Annette knows whom to call for what task, and the talent pool is much deeper than anyone had known. Quinn Wright and Frank Occhiuto barely knew each other before, but now they have become perfect building partners, while Quinn was inspired enough to volunteer to coordinate all future Alley Cats and building projects for the entire Finger Lakes Trail! Mike Schlicht was unearthed as a highly skilled technical trail builder with lots of experience. Who knew? Mark Hittle does really good rock work, and Ben Petryszak could be counted on to work hard.

Best of all, a lot of women who used to whine “I can’t do that!” learned that they could. They saw Mary swinging

a Pulaski so were inspired to try themselves, and pretty soon realized they could do much more trail work than merely painting blazes (although we all know that the patience required to do good blazes probably eliminates lots of men, ha).

At the end of the day, Annette was tickled to see women really pleased with their own work, and of course, she herself has always been an inspiration in this regard. This “action shot” of Annette graced the cover of the FLT News in 2007, when she was only 65 herself; notice the perfect coif and shiny earring as she whangs home a stake with a four pound maul.

Mary Zuk Domanski, Helen Fredricks, Linda Parlato, Georgiana Binder, and Annette herself are some of the women who worked all three Alley Cats, while Kathy Foote and Melanie Okoniewski came out for the third one.

Dinner every evening for the whole crew was provided by other volunteers, although Annette let each volunteer decide whether she wanted to do it all herself or recruit a squad. While many Alley Cat crews have had to cook their own meal at the end of the day in previous years, having a good meal to enjoy without work is genuine luxury for the crew. Shari Senefelder and helpers even prepared a full turkey dinner each of the three years. Hmmm, copious food for trail crews seems to be a theme for this issue.

Organizing talents appeared, too. Years two and three were planned by local members, with David Potzler and Mike Schlicht showing great promise in trail design, staging work, and arranging materials for stairs and ladders where required.

Club members arranged a place for the crew to stay in a nearby village and even helped locate funds, while Donna Flood gained experience writing grant applications.

In the meantime, Annette had been steadily inviting club members to “bigger picture” trail events so that Foothills could start to feel part of the whole trail system. A contingent of Foothills members started appearing at all of the FLT spring and fall weekends, social outings organized by good old Annette; they even came to the NCTA annual wingdings at both Clarion, Pennsylvania, and Cazenovia, NY. Foothills even hosted two of the FLT fall campouts over the last half-dozen years at Allegany State Park, which features 20 miles of NCT, very enjoyable events which further cemented member bonds with one another and with both the FLT and the NCT. And now? People who came to the first Holland ravines project from their separate cliques have remixed their social clumps and know each other much better. Now Annette can contact people to help on other things with no resistance to overcome. By now, a general email to the group DOES work, often bringing a dozen people out on a weekday! In addition to keeping her own trail section tidy, Annette likes to help older stewards keep their own sections nice, since many hate to give up entirely but start to need a little assistance.

The needed improvements to the “dreaded” Holland ravines should have inspired other trail stewards to reexamine their own sections for potential fixes. The spirit to do just that is indeed growing among a squad of Foothills stewards who were once upon a time sadly renowned for complacency. Every mile of the Foothills 184 miles, both NCT route and branch trail, stands to benefit.

Of course, the current enthusiasm will require just as much watchful care as does the trail. www.northcountrytrail.org

Stage 10 of the

Tour de NCT A

month before, there had been a question as to whether we would be hiking a snowy cold trail on this first day of spring. The answer was fortunately an emphatic NO. The Tour de NCT of PA came out of hibernation on a beautiful first day of spring, March 20th. Forty of us met at the Foxburg Inn parking area from where we drove to the trail head on El Dorado Road. Many of these hikers were not from our regular group of contacts, but came from the local area, thanks to advertising in a local newspaper, The Progress News.

The hike through the hemlock and deciduous woods along the North Branch of Bear Creek couldn't have been more picturesque.

If you have to take your trail through a town, then Parker, the smallest city in the US, wouldn't be a bad choice. The trail crosses the Allegheny River there, over a metal truss bridge set at an angle said to be the steepest ever for a bridge of that type. Well, it was an uphill climb, but it probably didn't violate the maximum incline acceptable in the NCT guidelines. The rest of the hike followed a railtrail along the beautiful Allegheny River, also crossing the Clarion River.

When all was done some of us hung around to enjoy sampling wine at the Foxburg Wine Cellars. Then we had a nice dinner at the Foxburg Inn. A perfect end to a perfect day.

For Stage 11 of the Tour we will be resuming our march in April (April 17 and 18), as we work our way down from the New York border. We have already come 50 miles. We can pick up where we left off at the Tionesta Scenic Area just South of Route 6.

—John Stehle Editor: as I sit here in NY on April 17th finishing up the North Star, indoors on this gray windy Saturday, 42 degrees and occasional flurries, I know they aren't having quite as good a Stage 11 as 10 was.

April-June 10

The North Star 9

Minnesotans Vote Their Minds and the NCT Collects

On Nov. 4, 2008, Minnesota voters approved the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Constitutional Amendment which added 3/8 of 1% to the State sales tax for 25 years. The amendment received more votes than any other candidate or issue in the state. This is the single largest conservation finance measure to pass in American history. The funds are to be used for clean water, healthy habitats, parks and trails, and arts and culture. The constitutional change creates a significant new source of much-needed conservation funding.

About $234 million is expected to be raised in the first year and $11 billion over the 25 years.

Distribution is as follows: • Natural Areas and Wildlife.................... 33% • Clean water: lakes, rivers, streams, and drinking water................... 33% • Parks and Trails.................................... 14.25% • Legacy and arts education.................... 19.75% The Laurentian Lakes Chapter sponsored by Becker County applied in the first round for $165,000 ($220,000 with the cash match). This was the amount the chapter estimated was needed to finish the NCT in its chartered area. The chapter was awarded $100,000 ($133,333 with the match). The grant must be spent by June 30, 2011, so the chapter is now busy planning and scheduling trail construction.

Here these funds are used to hire Minnesota Conservation Corps Crews to construct the trail treadway.

The Conservation Corps provides meaningful work for young people (18 – 25) in conserving energy, managing natural resources and responding to disasters. They provide training in resource management, safety, job-readiness and technical skills, and help young people develop personal responsibility, a strong work ethic and greater awareness of environmental stewardship.

The public lands where the NCT is being built are intensely managed for aspen timber production. Young age aspen forests have a very dense concentration of stems requiring the removal of many stumps running from one to five inches in diameter. This is the primary trail construction step performed by the Conservation Crews.

The future for the North Country National Scenic Trail in Minnesota is brighter now that Minnesota voters made their desires known.

—Ray Vlasak President, Laurentian Lakes Chapter

10 The North Star

April-June 10

Because you cared

Today on the North Country National Scenic Trail…

A little girl in Dayton asks about blue blazes on her neighborhood trees.

A Duluth hiker pauses to watch an out-bound freighter.

A grandmother takes her grandson wolf-howling in the Chequamegon.

A young couple pauses along the Manistee.

A great-grandfather walks an Ohio towpath singing the "Wabash Cannonball."

A pastor walks in the Presence in the Valley of the Giants.

A family hiking Superior's beaches celebrates their first agate.

Someone ponders why stars are brighter in the Adirondacks.

An Allegheny class learns where water goes when it rains.

A Two-Hearted hiker adds a bald eagle to her life list.

Boy Scouts learn to use a Pulaski and moleskin.

Families spend time together.

Communities are connected.

A nation celebrates its northern landscapes and peoples.

A generation is joined in a legacy of hiking tradition and scenic grandeur.

The North Country Trail Association recognizes Fred Szarka for exemplary service as National Park Service Trail Manager for the North Country National Scenic Trail.

2002-2009

NORTH STAR SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

W

ithout your material, we cannot have a magazine, so we eagerly request your submission of pictures and text for every issue. Please send both to Irene Szabo at treeweenie@aol.com, or fax 585/658-4438, or 6939 Creek Rd., Mt. Morris, NY 14510.

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 or .wps, but only .doc, or I’ll just have to ask you to resend.

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 re-send them to me, and it HAS happened that precious articles have thus been lost in the shuffle.

Next deadline for Vol. 29, Issue 3, is 24 July, but earlier is way better.

Thank you!

—Your volunteer editor, Irene

NPS Trail Manager Fred Szarka Retires Tom Gilbert National Park Service Superintendant, North Country Trail

F

red Szarka, who had served as the National Park Service Manager for the North Country National Scenic Trail since early 2002, retired on December 31, 2009. Fred’s contributions to the trail and its partners were many.

I especially appreciated Fred’s commitment to the vision of the trail, that it should provide superlative hiking and backpacking experiences, and that it should be built and maintained to the highest standards of quality. On these points he was often uncompromising and made no apologies for being so. That served us well many times, such as in the planning for the trail through Adirondack Park. Fred resisted efforts to select what he considered lower quality, less scenic routes when there were higher quality routes available.

Among the important things he did for the trail are: • He significantly enhanced the palette of signage for the trail. Fred worked with many partners and other NPS staff to develop additional types and formats of standard signage for use along the trail. He helped chapters procure signs to meet particular needs at the local level.

• He helped to devise and develop the “urban signage” system, improving on ideas that were already being implemented along the Ice Age NST which we also administer from Madison.

• He facilitated many trail projects by supplying funding through the Challenge Cost Share program, often funding more projects than the CCS money would allow, by dipping into our regular NPS operating budget. During Fred’s tenure, over $500,000 of NPS funds were awarded to help fund trail projects.

• He participated, along with former NCTA Director of Trail Management Clare Cain, in a 10-day journey (“road trip”) to explore options for connecting the North Country NST with the Continental Divide NST in Montana, and thus help create linkages needed to bring the “Sea-to-Sea Route” closer to reality. On our way back through North Dakota, he formulated improvements to the routing of the final mileage of the trail that are still being considered.

• Of course, we cannot forget the home brews and animal hats he brought to the Annual Conference year after year for the silent auctions.

www.northcountrytrail.org

Fred Szarka at his NPS retirement party, where microbrewery beer certainly had a part. The text on the NCTA plaque in his right hand is shown on the opposite page. New York's Lynda Rummel shared some of her reasons for appreciating Fred, too, for “patiently, patiently explaining the funding streams and application processes to me when we were wandering in the great wilderness of ignorance after Howard's death. And because Fred understands geology and soils, he asked perceptive questions and made excellent suggestions when I wanted to try something different.”

We all wish Fred well in his retirement. I am certain we will continue to encounter him at Annual Conferences and along the trail.

Happy Trails, Fred!

April-June 10

The North Star 11

Green Spartan Warrior Spotted in Twin Cities Barb Pavek

Star of the North chapter snowshoe hike with visitor Bruce in his risky Spartan wardrobe.

John Leinen

I

n February 2009, while in Washington DC enjoying dinner with the North Country Trail Association’s Hike the Hill advocates, three ideas converged for Pat Leinen that led to an eventful five days in Minnesota for Bruce Matthews and the NCT a year later.

The ideas?

1. There are so many opportunities in Minnesota to build and strengthen the North Country Trail and the NCTA. 2. While Bruce as Executive Director had scheduled meetings and visited all of the seven states crossed by the trail, he had been in Minnesota only briefly for the Bemidji Conference in 2007 right after he was hired.

3. Pat, Bruce and I are devoted to Big Ten Basketball, Pat and I to our beloved Golden Gophers, and Bruce to the always dominant MSU Spartans.

During our dinner Pat laid out her proposition to Bruce: “Come to the Twin Cities and work the relationships built here and if you happen to show up while the Spartans are playing the Gophers at Williams Arena you can go to the game and sit in my seat.” Bruce was hooked.

And so it came to be. Bruce, NCTA MN/ND Regional Coordinator Matt Davis, Star of the North Chapter President Brian Pavek, Pat and I worked to schedule Bruce’s time in the Twin Cities in order to maximize NCT 12 The North Star

April-June 10

opportunities, strengthen relationships, engage our local membership, and have as much fun as possible doing it.

Everything worked out wonderfully except the weather and the home town sports fortunes.

Bruce arrived in the Twin Cities the evening of January 23rd in the middle of a multi-day weather “event” and made his way to our home. With his arrival he brought Michigan warmth that changed our snow into rain. The rain was pouring down when the big MSU/Minnesota basketball game at Williams Arena began at 11:00 the following morning. The game kept everyone on the edge of their seat.

The Spartans won it on a three point shot with 20 seconds left for a one point victory after the Gopher’s shot and rebound putback at the buzzer fell short. We managed to get Bruce’s Michigan State green-clad figure out of the Barn without incident.

After the game we made our way to the Minneapolis home of Peggy MacRae (the MacRae family was awarded the NCTA 2009 Blue Blazes Benefactor Award) where we had a wonderful visit over tea. Peggy recalled for us her late husband Rod’s early days building the North Country Trail and the Association in Minnesota during the late 80’s and early 90’s. It made us realize how much effort by so many people it has taken to get the trail where it is today and how much we owe to those who toiled before us.

By Sunday morning the rain had mostly stopped but the air was still very soupy as we headed for Afton State Park and the Star of the North Chapter’s snowshoe hike, coordinated by Brian and Barb Pavek. Soon after a dozen folks had gathered at the park visitor center, Barb’s baked beans were already simmering there for our post-hike lunch.

Then we were off down the trail to the St. Croix River. We really didn’t need the snowshoes to stay on top of the wet snow but their cleats sure helped on the icy trail conditions we encountered. After tromping around in the woods and along the river for a couple of hours we found ourselves back at the visitor center hungry for lunch. The chapter put on a great spread for us (thanks, Barb) and we ate and visited and dried by the fire. One of our guests had such a good time she became a member (welcome, Nancy!). Then everyone had to scurry home for the big Viking/Saints football game, yet another sports disappointment for Minnesota.

Monday morning was cooler with the precipitation changed back to the white variety. Bruce, Matt Davis and I had a meeting with Deputy DNR Commissioner, Laurie Martinson, and Forrest Boe, Deputy Director Parks and Trails Division at the DNR building in St. Paul. There we exchanged ideas on strengthening the presence of the North Country Trail in Minnesota and began discussion on formalizing our relationship through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). Everyone came away from the meeting feeling we had taken an important step forward.

Later Bruce, Matt, and Ray Vlasak, Laurentian Lakes Chapter President, had another meeting at the DNR with Dennis Simons, Wildlife Management Section Chief, about routing the trail through several Wildlife Management Areas in Becker and Itasca counties. Prior to the meeting, DNR's Wildlife Division had wondered if the trail “fit” in WMAs but our group’s effective presentation showed them how our kind of trail was in fact a good fit.

By Tuesday morning we had sunny skies and cold temperatures. Bruce and I had a meeting in Minnesota Senator Al Franken’s St. Paul office with Charlie Poster, another important meeting for us. With the Senator’s late arrival in Washington we had been unable to get his Co-Sponsorship support for S. 553, “The North Country National Scenic Trail Route Adjustment Act of 2009,” so we wanted to do our best to win his approval by February’s Hike the Hill event in Washington. We left the meeting feeling positive about his answer.

My time spent with Bruce ended when we left Senator Franken’s office, but Bruce continued until his flight Wednesday evening returned him to Michigan. After a quick handshake farewell in the parking lot Bruce hustled off to a meeting he and Brian Pavek had at REI’s Midwest flagship store in Bloomington. There they met with Mikaela Kramer, Twin Cities’ Event Coordinator, and Matt Poppleton, REI’s Midwest District Special Events Administrator, and discussed REI’s local support for the trail and chapters, encouraged their involvement with the 2010 conference and REI’s interest in supporting trail-based efforts throughout their Midwest Region.

Also while here, Bruce had meetings with Brett Feldman, acting Executive Director of Parks and Trails www.northcountrytrail.org

Council of Minnesota, another of our Minnesota Affiliates, Rudi Hargesheimer, Manager of Midwest Mountaineering (Backpacker Magazine’s 2009 Retailer of the Year), and Dorian Grilley, past ED of Parks and Trails who a few years ago provided the introduction to Representative Jim Oberstar’s office we needed to get the Re-route Legislation moving.

Pat was right: there were more than enough opportunities in the Twin Cities for Bruce to pursue to make it worth NCTA’s time. Let Bruce know what relationships need strengthening in your state and maybe you can entice him to visit you, too.

Hike the Hill postscript: It turned out the work Bruce and I did with Charlie Poster in Senator’s Franken’s St. Paul office was indeed timely. Our first meeting at noon Monday was with Bidisha Bhattacharyya in Senator Franken’s DC office. I had met with Bidisha last year, when she worked in Representative McCollum’s office, so when Charlie reported to her our request for Co-Sponsorship of S. 553, she remembered the issue. Bidisha warmly greeted us, said she would put our request in front of the Senator and give us his reply by the end of the day. I received an email from her that evening telling us the Senator agreed to Co-Sponsor S. 553 and he signed on the next day. It was a great way to start our Hike the Hill week and the first of several major accomplishments there.

Martha Jones

President of the NCTA 1990-92 21 September 1919 15 April 2010

M

artha Jones already had the Ashland, Wisconsin, conference written on her calendar, according to her daughter Cindy, who had been talking on the phone to Martha when her mother died instantly of a heart attack on April 15th. She had been downhill skiing just months before, and according to Mick Hawkins' account on the Chief Noonday website memorial page, hiked faster than he cared to, just last summer in North Dakota, so left him behind. Her cheerful countenance graced nearly every annual conference, she was active and happy through her last moments, and she will definitely be missed by the many members who loved her.

April-June 10

The North Star 13

e u l B f o s e Blaz Mary Stenberg

Member Chequamegon Chapter NCTA

A

ugust 22, 2009, was a beautiful summer day when a group of like-minded individuals gathered northwest of Mellen, Wisconsin to accomplish what came to be known as the “Brunsweiler re-route.” NCTA volunteers from the Heritage, Brule-St. Croix, and Chequamegon Chapters were ready to go to work to move an old portion of the North Country Trail that was too steep and was causing erosion problems.

Marty Swank, Chair for the Chequamegon Chapter, arranged to have NCTA Trail Foreman Bill Menke on hand to provide training as we marked, lopped, cut, cleared, dug and shaped a new and improved trail. It was late afternoon as the finishing touches were being added when Bill announced it was time to mark the new trail.

Because I had been an NCTA member for less than a year, this was my first “re-route” experience and my first opportunity to mark the new trail with blue blazes. Bill handed me a wooden carry-all filled with all of the tools and supplies needed to mark the trail—a hatchet, wire brush, paint scraper, one-inch wide paint brushes, mineral spirits, a few rags, and most importantly, Nelson Boundary Paint-blue.

Bill explained to me how critical the blue blazes are to hikers on the North Country Trail, 2"x 6" vertical blue rectangles, neatly painted with sharp corners, placed about 6 feet high on carefully selected trees that come into view quickly for a hiker. Bill helped me identify the first “highly

Rick Pomerleau

visible” tree and further recommended I choose pine, oak, maple, ash or balsam fir trees over aspen or birch for blazing.

Young aspen grows too fast so pops blazes off, while birch peels horizontally so can cut a blaze in half.

Bill skillfully used the hatchet to “plane” the rough bark from a large oak tree to create a smooth surface for my first blue blaze, without digging in to the critical layer just beneath the rough exterior. He handed me the brush. I dipped it into the blue paint and, as Bill watched, I painted my first blue blaze on the west side of the tree. This would be a marker for a hiker walking east. Then we started walking west up the trail, looking back until we could just no longer see that first blaze. Together, we chose the next tree, a white pine. I used the wire brush to remove a few lichens, smoothed the surface, and applied the next blue blaze.

At one point, the new trail made a 90-degree right-hand turn. Bill guided me to properly place two blue blazes on the same tree with the top one being offset to the right to indicate a right turn. (When making a left-hand turn, the top blaze should be offset to the left.) Bill cautioned me not to over-blaze the trail and always to paint one way at a time and to paint backwards.

When I had finished blazing the trail walking west, I turned around and repeated the blazing process walking back east. When I was done, Bill checked my work and told me I’d done a good job; not too many blazes and only one blaze visible at a time.

Since that summer day last August, I’ve marked more North Country Trail with blue blazes. I’ve also hiked the NCT in Minnesota, Michigan, and Wisconsin. It’s reassuring to “spot” those blue blazes when hiking in unfamiliar areas. On a recent snowshoe hike in the Chequamegon National Forest, I was with a group of four other adventurous snowshoers who decided to head off the trail, cross-country.

Our plan was to head in a southeasterly direction to intersect the trail rather than backtrack. After going a fairly good distance, we knew we must have been getting close to the trail. Then all of a sudden one member of our group called out, “There’s a blue blaze over there,” pointing due south. We all knew we were back on track!

During a snowshoe hike in February 2010, Mary Stenberg stands near a blue blaze she painted in September 2009 on a section of the NCT near Drummond, Wisconsin.

14 The North Star

April-June 10

Is the North Country Trail Beautiful?

“W

Rachel Frey

hat? No views?” I said, disappointed.

My husband Merv and I were on our first stretch of the North Country Trail in 2006. We were backpacking 60 miles from Henrys Mills in Allegheny National Forest in PA to the Allegany State Park just across the border into New York. Walking a woodsy path, I saw the map indicated that a view was upcoming. Quickening my steps, I wondered where the overlook was. Those big mossy-covered rocks were the only “view." Oh!! Someone else certainly had a different perception from mine!

Since I had backpacked for six months on the Appalachian Trail with Merv in 2000, I was used to panoramic vistas with broad sweeping views, soaring raptors seen from rocky mountaintops, and steep descents from 5000' followed by just as steep ascents. We’d also backpacked the 250-mile Tuscarora Trail, a loop off the Appalachian Trail going through Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, and Virginia. It was more remote than the Appalachian Trail, but it also had nice overlooks. The idea of a trail without expansive mountaintop views just had not occurred to me.

I wondered. Would the North Country Trail be a “real” trail? Would it be worthwhile to hike?

The map declared those big mossy-covered rocks beside the trail were noteworthy. Views included bodies of water. I started facing the idea that maybe there would not be that many views from the top when the NCT’s elevation doesn’t change that much.

The NCT had some unwelcome surprises.

Shortly after crossing Route 321 we went over a nice bridge and found nothing but a marsh!

After gingerly picking our way through it, we met people coming the other way and hated to inform them that what lay ahead was worse than what they had just marched through!

Sometimes blazes were nonexistent. This was a new one. Apparently a section following a pipeline was a temporary trail, but we didn’t know that. And although we enjoyed Handsome Lake, it was good some Boy Scout leaders gave us some tips on how to get there or we may have missed it.

Getting used to travelling backwards with an old guide was also different. Going the opposite direction from the way the writers travelled made it well nigh impossible to determine our exact location at times. We never did find the promised campsite up Hemlock Run. But then maybe it was just as well. The next morning we saw a lot of Boy Scouts. Perhaps they had camped at that spot.

We have camped in all kinds of places, but the outhouse at Willis Run Shelter has got to be the worst I have ever seen. Mosquitoes buzzing up from a watery grave www.northcountrytrail.org

and who knows what else down below.....we decided the woods were better!

Our durable Kelty Cyclone tent which had seen nearly 2,500 miles of travel reminded us of its age when two of its three tent poles snapped. Duct tape held them together well enough but we were glad it was not raining!

One pleasant surprise of the NCT was seeing a grassycovered mountain just before Handsome Lake. How did all that grass get there growing among the trees? Was it planted? The deer probably like it.

There are oil wells in this part of the NCT. It was encouraging to see some of them pumping, making use of our resources in PA. Sometimes the ground seemed almost slick…from the oil?

The Allegheny Reservoir is the big body of water to enjoy. We saw an osprey nest on top of a big pole.

Although man-made, the Reservoir is very pretty.

Handsome Lake’s camping area had no access except hikers or boaters. With only three sites occupied, it certainly was sparsely populated. It was very peaceful watching the sunset and even more rejuvenating to see the sunrise from our tent door the next morning.

Our week was over. Was the NCT a real vacation?

It was certainly different from the Appalachian Trail.

But beauty is where you find it. We decided to go again.

And again. This year, 2010, we have two more NCT trips planned, one in PA and the other in NY.

Sunrise at Handsome Lake

Editor's small world department. Entry found in a register box booklet at a shelter in NY's Allegany State Park: 7/23/07 "We are doing a second round of NCT from the park to Huyck Rd, 75 miles in six days. We did the AT Georgiato-Maine in 2000 and this trail is much easier. Thank you!"

Mervin & Rachel Frey, Greencastle PA.

April-June 10

The North Star 15

Mary Coffin

Autumn view from Reed property.

Reed Family Grants Permanent Trail Easement Mary Coffin

T

he Finger Lakes Trail Conference and North Country Trail Association are grateful to another landowner who has granted a permanent easement to protect the trail segment on their land in perpetuity. Gene and Sue Reed have enthusiastically donated an easement on a section of the Onondaga Trail that is adjacent to DeRuyter State Forest in Madison County, on FLT Map O2.

Why do landowners value easements? Some feel it is an asset to the land value while others are proud to host the trail and want to see it protected. With Gene and Sue Reed I think land preservation is part of their family culture. There is family history of donating land for public use in their home state of Pennsylvania and memories of family hikes, picnics and scout outings in the woods near and on the Appalachian Trail.

Gene and Sue moved up from Pennsylvania in midlife and purchased their farm in central New York in 2005. In fact I dropped in to let the previous landowner know that we would be working on the trail on the very day the Reeds were signing the papers at the dining room table, so I met them on Day One of their ownership. It would be great if all trail landowner turnovers were so easy!

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Why New York? Farmland in their part of Pennsylvania was becoming crowded by sprawling suburbia and it had been their dream to own a farm in NY. They were attracted not only to the comparatively less expensive costs but also to the rural character of the area and fertile soil. I think farming is in their DNA. Gene grew up on a farm and on their first date he taught Sue to drive a tractor. From then on she was hooked. With the help of several hired hands they cultivate over 750 acres and tend 300 dairy cattle. Sue’s favorite job is still driving the tractor which is interesting for a trained occupational therapist and Temple University graduate. In addition Sue baby sits the children of the hired hands when both parents work on the farm.

In addition to the trail easement donation, the Reed’s farm is also part of an agricultural conservation easement which stipulates that the land will be kept as it is today.

Woods must remain woods and cultivated fields must remain cultivated while development rights will be sold to a land trust to ensure preservation.

The most touching sentiment the Reeds expressed about the trail easement is that Sue’s deceased Dad looking down would be proud.

Hiawatha Shore-to-Shore Chapter Reporting In

H

iawatha Shore-to-Shore has been busy throughout the winter and early spring working on plans for the Castle Rock Reconstruction Project, planning maintenance for the hiking season, and socializing as a group.

The afternoon of Saturday April 10th the chapter and guests hiked from the south crossing of Dick Road to Haywood School Road. One GPS said 4.9 and the other 5.9 miles. We chose to believe the greater distance! That evening the hikers and other guests enjoyed dinner and two presentations at Pure Country in Rudyard. Paul Rossi, a local bird photographer, shared photographs and knowledge of birds of the eastern UP. He had shot some of the photos within 900 yards of the restaurant. Roger Morrison rounded out the evening with a wonderful slide show of work and play for HSS since the 2009 hike and dinner. During the dinner hour the chapter TV showed the video for the Annual Conference in Ashland in early August.

Stan Kujawa

Scoping session for Castle Rock Trail Improvement Project.

Left to right, Kay Kujawa, Lyn Hyslop USFS, Charlene DeWitt HSS President, and Steve Christiansen USFS. Not shown, Stan Kujawa, co-leader of project.

Pure Country supports HSS year 'round by providing a private meeting space, bulletin board and brochure space on an entry wall, and hosting the annual pizza and salad buffet at a special rate. The restaurant is closed to allow the chapter ample space for dining and presentations.

The first dig in the dirt work session for the Castle Rock Project was April 24th. Tara Amarose from Sault Saint Marie United Way spearheaded a volunteer work day, which included removing young knapweed, hauling materials, and beginning the trail tread construction.

The project includes over 11,000 feet of trail reconstruction, relocation, and restoration. The US Forest Service will be constructing over 100 feet of boardwalk over a wetland area damaged by unauthorized off road vehicles. Work at the trailhead includes a bulletin board, fencing, graveled parking, and a native wildflower area.

Volunteer opportunities for the project abound. Help is needed in all areas of trail construction and volunteer support.

Rustic camping is available in the national forest or at local campgrounds. Interested volunteers can contact Charlene DeWitt at dewitt.charlene@yahoo.com or Stan Kujawa at hssstan@lighthouse.net .

Hike the “Mighty Mac” with us on Labor Day. This annual event attracts thousands for the five mile trek. It is the only day of the year that you can walk the Mackinac Bridge between the two parts of Michigan. This hike is part of the “Bring on the Bridge II” event from September 3rd to September 7th. Marv and Charlene DeWitt host a rustic “campground” in Moran. During the long weekend they plan hikes on the NCT, visits to a craft show, bonfires, a community meal, and more. You can attend any of the activities or sit out those of your choice. Even hiking the bridge is not mandatory.

Every attendee last year voted to have the event again this year!

Contact Charlene at dewitt.charlene@yahoo.com.

—Kay Kujawa Communications Coordinator Hiawatha Shore-to-Shore

Day Hiking the NCT on the Superior Hiking Trail, Minnesota Sept 8-15, Looking for the camaraderie of like-minded hikers to bag a few miles of the NCNST in northern Minnesota?

NCTA’s first Extended Outing has just A FEW SPOTS LEFT. For cost and itinerary contact maryccoffin@gmail.com.

www.northcountrytrail.org

April-June 10

The North Star 17

Volunteer Adventure Cookery: A Guide to the Perplexed John Forslin

C

supplies in plastic tubs dedicated to the purpose, and have your coolers organized so that lunch items can be retrieved by location. I recommend two tables set up under a dedicated rain fly as the service area. You need two 8’ tables for service, with access on all four sides. Cereal boxes, milk, sugar, juices, fruit, pb&j, lunch meats, cheeses, pickles, breads, napkins, condiments, trail mix, cookies, multiple sizes of plastic bags and some space for several crew members at a time to be assembling their lunches! Tubs and boxes save time during cleanup/stowage also. If you can get Morning Panic down to mere Morning Intensity, you can add value by putting up some hot breakfast items; French toast, egg muffins, hotcakes and sausage go well.

Morning Panic is followed by Dinner Panic if time gets Bill Menke

rave intensity? Challenge? Appreciation by the mob?

Then, brother, do I have a deal for you! You can make a name for yourself that will last as long as boots hit the trail: take your turn in the kitchen on a Volunteer Adventure near you!

I did just that twice in 2009 and it was a damn satisfying and sometime terrifying experience. Bill Menke tried to give me some rookie coaching, but I was not mentally prepared for the mechanics and pacing which dominate the job.

Lesson One was that this is a feeding operation, and not a Food Network inspired cooking exposition. Let’s be clear on that score; the crews appreciate quality, well-prepared vittles, but getting the meals out timely and in quantity trump all.

Lesson One leads to Lesson Two: learn to appreciate good pre-prepared products. If something in the grocery freezer is a reasonable component to a satisfying meal and you can’t make it yourself better, use it! This saves time (in short supply!) and compensates for the reality of the camp kitchen. There are just some things that are harder to do if you don’t have an oven, are limited to one or two propane burners, get water in jugs and have the old scout 7-sided shaker as your entire spice rack!

Time is not exactly your enemy, but, mismanaged, it’s sure not your friend. Your day starts with the Morning Panic.

You are up early for a good reason: breakfast and lunch happen at the same time. The crew will hit the serving area looking for breakfast items and lunch-making supplies at the same time and in no particular order. And don’t forget the coffee! I used a generator and brought along an electric pot and a large-capacity thermos to have hot coffee available on demand. Generator power also gave us lights in the kitchen and serving area in the fall when it was dark for morning service.

You can save a lot of stress by organization. Have cold breakfast fare, the hot-drinks/oatmeal station, and lunch

Nelson Meade cooking at Big Lake State Forest Campground, also in the UP of Michigan. Obviously a gossamer snood was required in defense against carnivorous insects.

Bill Menke

Feeding frenzy at Baraga Plains in Michigan's Upper Peninsula during a Volunteer Adventure in 2008.

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away from you. Everything takes longer on a propane stove, especially if it’s chilly, so start times have to be planned. Also, if using large pots, the 2nd burner on a two-burner stove may be covered up. If you have to prep in batches, figure some way to keep the first batch (and sides) hot for service. A gas grill can be useful. A cheap cooler with a few hot rocks in it would serve. In the midst of this second panic, you need to put out a rack of munchies for the crew to chew on while they wind down, shower and change. Have a box or tub for this set of supplies (in-shell peanuts, chips, veggie sticks, etc.). A tray of hot mini-tacos or other previously frozen items warmed on the grill goes well on colder days. Pots of savories, egg salad, pickled eggs, olives, etc., go well, too.

Coolers are a headache because they require ice and water level management. Cover your coolers with sleeping

Have a Plan B in your pocket. If something goes horribly wrong and a meal just doesn’t work (component spoiled, or the pot dumps on the ground) have hearty substitutes in mind: hot dogs, canned stew, eggs and side meat would all do in a pinch. I still cringe at that pot of pea soup that turned out too salty to eat (didn’t check the salt level of the ham hocks!) and the terror of a pan of chicken nuggets on the ground! The 5-second rule just doesn’t apply on sand. I tried brushing off a few pieces, but the sand is still there even if you can’t see it. Talk about crunch!

Ok! If you can overcome the Panics through good time and supplies management, this is a blast of an assignment.

The appreciation by the crews is just overwhelming and, let’s face it, you’re doing it for the Trail, right? There’s likely a VA in the works somewhere near you, so if a little chuckwagon cookery is on your bucket list (it was on mine, honest!) give it a try. Happy to chat about this with anyone interested!

David Smith, East Lansing

—John Forslin, North Country Trail Hikers chapter at Marquette, Michigan kc8ule@arrl.net (906) 869-6621

www.northcountrytrail.org

Dave Brewer

bags or blankets to minimize ice needs. Package supplies carefully to avoid melt-water contamination. Dedicate a cooler to frozen tray items (mac & cheese, lasagna, etc.) and use them as they thaw. A large cooler will work better than multiple smaller coolers, but a loaded large cooler is essentially immobile, so provide space accordingly.

Other quickies: • Prep on a standard-height table is tough on your back.

Raise the work area (on boxes maybe) or put the service tables on long-legged sawhorses.

• Fresh vegetables, grilled vegetables, diet soda and M&M’s are considered staples.

• Think about pots, pans, hot pads, cutting boards, trays and cutlery you’ll need as you plan your meals. If you don’t bring it, you won’t have it. On the other hand, hauling and stowage are nightmares of their own, so don’t bring anything you don’t have to have. Consider carefully mixing and serving bowls in particular and balance hauling/ stowing a lot of them versus repeatedly rinsing out a few of them.

• Tend to sanitation. Wipe down prep and serving areas with good antibacterial products between uses. Bring rags dedicated for this purpose and change them out often.

Sequester garbage from animals. Related: know where the first-aid kit is, especially for cuts and burns.

• Increase quantities by 50% over recipe values. If you have 8 eaters (including yourself!) prepare 12 servings.

• Observe! Watch carefully during service: what’s getting short, what’s not being touched, is there a better layout of the goods that would make it easier to make lunches, etc.

Wampum Chapter

Starts Visionary Projects Post trailwork cookout at Watt's Mill, site of future shelter.

W

e are beginning work on three separate grant-driven projects. Longtime chapter member Gail Blakely has applied for and received through Pennsylvania State Representative Jaret Gibbons a DCED grant to be used for split purposes, both to build and to promote the North Country Trail in our corner of the state.

The trail funding will enable us to add six more bridges on a 2.5 mile section of state gamelands, a heavily-gullied former clay strip mine, ranging from a 16 ft long structure to cross a year-round stream to several 20 to 30 foot sections of bog bridging to pass over seasonally swampy areas.

The promotional DCED funding will be used for roadside signage to promote the NCT. Chapter President Lee Fairbanks has been working with a local sign company and PennDOT to manufacture speed-limit-sized reflective NCT trailhead signs for placement on the two major state routes through our area.

The third major project, funded by a field grant from NCTA, will provide a backpackers' shelter at Watt's Mill, four miles from the Pa./Ohio border, a major step for the concept of a long-distance hiking trail. Currently no such facilities exist in southwestern Pa., but this shelter will provide a logical half-way stopping point between campgrounds at Beaver Creek State Park in Ohio and the Wampum area, where there are several options for overnighting.

The shelter site is owned by Dennis and Cathy Garrett, who became enthusiastic advocates and trail workers after they gave permission to build the trail on their property so that Wampum could connect two sections of state gamelands. They even wanted to provide a campsite for hikers along the North Fork of Little Beaver Creek, which evolved into building an Adirondack-style shelter where they and their sons had enjoyed weekend camping in years past.

Thanks to the ANF chapter folks who provided us with plans for the shelter, to Regional Coordinator Andrew Bashaw for advice, to the NCTA Field Grant Committee, and to Lee Fairbanks for writing that application.

—Dave Brewer, Chapter Communications Coordinator

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2010 Annual Conference

Ashland Wisconsin

August 5-8

Conference Activities Thursday, August 5

7:00 am Information Table open 8:00 am Registration and Trail Shop open

2 9:00 am - 4:00 pm Chain Saw Certification Workshop

This full day course will certify those who show proper chainsaw operation while bucking downed trees with supervision of a USFS chainsaw trainer. The course will also provide certification to those who feel the need to fell small diameter leaning trees; this is not certification for felling of large diameter trees. All participants will need to provide their own, heavy leather work gloves and sturdy boots. Lunch will be provided. Cost is $15.00.

3 9:00 am - 4:00 pm Medic First Aid Workshop This course,

Preconference Activities Tuesday, August 3 1 Two Day Backpacking Hike with Bill Menke This entire

hike is within Brule River State Forest. Depending on registrants’ preferences, it is a two day-one night trip or a two day-two night trip covering 20.9-miles or 21.6-miles respectively. Either choice takes in the majority of the most spectacular features found within the Brule-St. Croix Chapter’s area. These highlights include vistas overlooking the famed Bois Brule River valley, the Gaylord Nelson portal to The North Country Trail, two designated State Natural Areas, a variety of vegetation including huge old growth pines, the Historic Portage with its nine commemorative stones, the Brule Bog and its lengthy boardwalks, sparkling Jersett, Porcupine, and Catlin Creeks, an artesian well with the best drinking water around, and many more special places.

All camping will take place at designated backpacking campsites that include water and a wilderness latrine.

This hike will be led by Bill Menke, who designed and led the construction crew for this entire segment. Bill is very knowledgeable about the entire area, and can also discuss trail routing and design techniques. The entire hike is rated easy, due to the trail design.

Arrangements: Participants will meet at the Rivers Inn Restaurant in Brule, Wisconsin at 5:00 PM on Tuesday August 3.

Following supper from the menu, we will caravan to the Samples Road Trailhead. Late arrivals can hike 0.8 miles south on the NCT to the campsite. Hikers will provide their own food and be self sufficient.

We will have the capability to leapfrog a vehicle to the endpoint of each day’s hike and will provide reserve water or carry packs for anyone who isn’t prepared to backpack.

For additional information, last minute details, and to allow for better planning, please contact hike leader Bill Menke at bmenke@northcountrytrail.org or (608) 935-0986 by July 25.

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taught by Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College, will help students gain knowledge, skills, and confidence necessary to manage a medical emergency using CPR and First Aid until more advanced help is available. Students will be certified for 2 years in CPR and First Aid. The class is limited to 10 people per instructor at a cost of $25 per person. Lunch will be provided.

ALL DAY TOUR

9:00 am - 4:00 pm Down to Earth Tours Eco/Geo/ History Tour (*You must register with DTE Tours to enjoy this unique option) Chequamegon Bay of Lake Superior and its watershed have a fascinating past. The geology of the area is complex and contains some of the oldest bedrock on the continent and some geologic activity unique in the world.

The immense Wisconsin glacier carved, just 10,000 years ago, the landscape we see here today. Both subjects have captivating interest to many scientists and to our visitors.

Native peoples have lived here for millennia, French fur traders Pierre Radisson and Medard des Grossielliers came here in 1659 to set up business, and since then the area has seen a fascinating evolution of activity and enterprise. In fact, at one time the Bay was expected to become the “Chicago” of Lake Superior. There are extraordinary stories to tell hidden on every acre.

Reserve your tour by contacting them at info@ downtoearthtours.com or call them at 715-376-4260.

If space is available you may be able to sign up for a tour when you get here. *Down To Earth Tours will be offering to the NCT Conference guests, who may want to explore and learn more about the area, three interpretive Eco/Geo/ History tours. This full day tour ($59–discounted for the conference–including a great lunch) is on Thursday, Friday and Sunday.

“Our bus has room for only 14, so reserve your seat early,” says interpreter Dave Thorson. [Note: Dave will guide the Portage Trail hike on Saturday]. “We will explore numerous off-the-beaten-path spots in the watershed and you will have some great memories to take home with you.”

To learn more about Down To Earth Tours check out their website at www.downtoearthtours.com.

2010 Annual Conference

Ashland Wisconsin

Thursday, August 5 continued HALF DAY PADDLE

4 11:00 am - 5:00 pm Brule River Canoe Trip The Brule is a historic route of travel between the Great Lakes and Mississippi watersheds. See huge pines and cedars, unique century-old lodges, and native wildlife as you paddle its clear waters preserved within the Brule River State Forest. Four short easy Class 1 rapids add a bit of excitement to the ride.

Canoe and kayak rentals will be provided through Brule River Canoe Rentals. Cost for rentals is $15/person or $30/canoe, single person kayak/$20. You are welcome to bring your own canoe and tag along for free, but you will have to transport your own canoe/kayak and arrange your own shuttling. Bring your own lunch. No glass containers.

Visit their web site at www.brulerivercanoerentals.com.

HALF DAY HIKES (to be repeated Friday afternoon)

5 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm Copper Falls Doughboys Hike The Doughboys Trail was first established by Veterans of WWI around the Gorge of the Bad River. In 1929 the State of Wisconsin purchased the land around the gorge and it officially became Copper Falls State Park. During the 1930’s, CCC Company 692 made many more improvements to the trail and built several structures within the park. Not only is this trail the most popular within the park, it also is a segment of certified NCT through the area. Waterfalls, 100+ foot canyon walls, and unique geological features dominate the landscape. A 65 foot CCC constructed observation tower offers views of the Penokee Range and Chequamegon Bay. 2.3 miles with 250+ steps.

6 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm Porcupine Lake Wilderness Hike This

section is entirely located in the Porcupine Lake Wilderness Area so blue blazes and mechanized equipment are prohibited.

Starting near the top of the watershed the trail winds through a mature upland hardwood forest. It skirts West Davis Lake, a shallow lake surrounded by bog, and then continues westward.

After a couple of miles two large beaver ponds are encountered and the trail crosses on top of three large beaver dams. Wildlife is abundant and the wilderness is home to the Porcupine Lake wolf pack estimated in 2009 to contain 6 members. Wolves are seldom seen but their tracks and scat are frequently encountered on the trail. This

August 5-8

section ends near Porcupine Lake, a gem of a lake with good fishing for panfish and several good camping sites. A nice rustic bridge crosses 18 Mile Creek flowing out of the lake and a spur trail follows the creek to the trail head on FR 213. 4.3 mile Moderate difficulty with some tricky footing on the beaver dams.

(USFS limit 30 people)

7 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm Brunsweiler River Hike The Brunsweiler River hike will start near a National Forest Campground (Lake Three Campground) and begins with scenic views of Lake Three. There is a minor overlook about midway to the Brunsweiler River and you will cross over several wide puncheon that cross over small, intermittent creeks. A quarter mile of awesome newly benched trail (created under Bill Menke’s direction in 2009) will take you down to the beautiful Brunsweiler River, designated as a “Wild River” on April 21, 2009. 4 miles easy to moderate.

8 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm Mirror Lake Hike There are great

views above some of the lakes on this segment dominated by gently rolling hills, deep woods and occasional canopy openings. This hike will take you past Stratton Ponds, Nelson Lake, Bullhead Lake, Mirror Lake, Esox Lake and Overby Lake and includes two new trail re-routes built in 2009, two new wooden puncheon built in 2008 and new earthen puncheon built in 2009. The first bench installed along the NCT in the Chequamegon National Forest sits above Mirror Lake on this benched section of trail. 3.3 miles. Easy to moderate, with a few gradual, short climbs.

6:00 7:00

8:30 9:30

pm Dinner/Picnic pm NPS Volunteer Awards and Annual NCTA Member Meeting pm Entertainment “Take Three” pm Campfire Sing-a-long (weather permitting)

Friday, August 6 7:00 am Breakfast Roundtable: Chapter Leadership; Information Table open 7:00 - 8:00 am Lunch Pick-up 8:00 am Conference Registration and Trail Shop open 9:00 am - 3:00 pm Kids Day at the Northern Great Lakes Visitors Center The day will start with a program (to be announced) led by the staff of the Visitors Center.

After a bag lunch, there will be time to explore all that the Visitors Center has to offer, both inside and outside. The afternoon will also offer a fun matt-weaving project as well as a Discovery Hike. This is a day for all ages, though children must be accompanied by an adult. Sign up at Conference Information Table.

ALL DAY TOUR 9:00 am - 4:00 pm *Down to Earth Tours—Eco/Geo/ History Tour (see previous page). You must register with DTE Tours. Reserve your tour by contacting them at info@ downtoearthtours.com or call them at 715-376-4260.

www.northcountrytrail.org

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2010 Annual Conference Friday, August 6

Ashland Wisconsin

continued

WORKSHOPS (to be repeated at 10:00 am)

9 8:00 am - 9:45 am Chapter Leadership Workshop This

round-table/cracker-barrel format is being offered by NCTA Executive Director Bruce Matthews. Dialogue will identify issues and shared solutions. Participants are asked to bring their successes as well as problems related to chapter management for a facilitated, solution-oriented discussion.

10 8:00 am - 9:45 am Chapter Communication Workshop Learn new and exciting ways to communicate and interact with your members, volunteers and communities. Director of Trail Development, Andrea Ketchmark, will discuss what NCTA is doing to provide our chapters with better resources for more effective outreach. And Julie Elkins, our Communications Coordinator, will share what has been accomplished in Pennsylvania and the tools to make it work for your chapter.

11 8:00 am - 9:45 am Grants Workshop - Where to Find Them, How to Get Them From the NPS Challenge Cost Share program to community, corporate, and state funding, grants for trail projects are out there if you know where to look and how to present your program. Peter Nordgren, a graduate of the Grantsmanship Center Training Program with more than 30 years of grants experience, shares strategies for successful grant funded projects.

12 8:00 am - 9:45 am Trail Maintenance/Trail Adopter Responsibilities Workshop This workshop will be conducted

by NCTA Regional Trail Coordinator Bill Menke. Two half morning classroom sessions will take place, thus allowing participants to take in another half morning workshop.

Using photos and other visual aids, participants will be led through a discussion covering all of the many and varied trail maintenance tasks that an adopter may become involved with.

In the afternoon, both workshop groups will rejoin for a hike/field trip to observe and discuss maintenance. This will be a “moving classroom” with stops for discussion and demonstration as maintenance situations are discovered.

Proper blazing, lopping, signing, and other maintenance will be actively demonstrated. We will not be performing total maintenance on the section of trail that is hiked.

13 8:00 am - 12:00 pm Outdoor Photography Workshop (held at the NGLVC) This four hour workshop, instructed by professional photographer Dale Thomas, will be repeated in 2 consecutive sessions. (Choose 8:00 am - 12:00 pm or 12:30 - 4:30 pm). It will begin with the basics of photography equipment. The class will then continue with outdoor instructions on a variety of photo opportunities in a warm and friendly environment. Proper outdoor clothing is necessary as well as personal items for the four hour outdoor class. Cost is $10.00.

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August 5-8

WORKSHOPS (9 through 12 repeated)

14 10:00 am - 11:45 am Chapter Leadership Workshop (see 9) 15 10:00 am - 11:45 am Chapter Communication Workshop (see 10)

16 10:00 am - 11:45 am Grants Workshop (see 11) 17 10:00 am - 11:45 am Trail Maintenance/Adopter Responsibilities Workshop (See 12) 11:45 am Break

HALF DAY HIKES & WORKSHOPS (repeated)

18 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm Copper Falls Doughboys Hike (see 5) 19 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm Porcupine Lake Wilderness Hike 20 21 22 23

(see 6) 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm Brunsweiler River Hike (See 7) 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm Afternoon Portion of Trail Maintenance/Trail Adopter Responsibilities Workshops (see 12 and 17) 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm Mirror Lake Hike (See 8) 12:30 pm - 4:30 pm Outdoor Photography Workshop (See 13) 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm Founders Circle Reception and Social Hour 6:00 pm Benefit Dinner 7:15 pm Live Auction 8:30 pm Entertainment: Frida Waara The North Pole is a place few men have ever traveled, and even fewer women.

In April 2001, Frida Waara, a small woman with a big dream, skied to the top of the world with a team of eleven other women to become the first all female unsupported expedition from Russian ice to the top of the world. Frida's message of focus, resiliency and determination in the face of insurmountable odds will take you there too.

Saturday, August 7 7:00 am Breakfast Roundtable: National Park Service; Information Table open 7:00 - 8:00 am Lunch Pick-up 8:00 am Conference Registration and Trail Shop open

ALL DAY HIKES 24 8:00 am - 4:00 pm Portage Trail/Brule Bog Boardwalk This hike will start at the east end of the Historic Portage Trail where you will walk down to the Brule River Portage take out point. The hike continues following the path that Native Americans, explorers, trappers and missionaries used for many years.

The Portage Trail is listed on the Wisconsin Register of Historic Places. The Daughters of the American Revolution, local garden clubs, the town of Solon Springs and the Douglas County Highway Department worked together in 1933 with the assistance of Joseph Lucius, one of the last users of the trail, to permanently mark the trail for posterity. The trail of today is assumed to follow quite closely the original route, which was in use for over 300 years.

2010 Annual Conference

Ashland Wisconsin

Saturday, August 7 continued We will break for lunch (attendees must bring their own) at Palmers Landing County Park. After lunch you will be treated to a one hour, informative pontoon ride (provided by the Upper St. Croix Lake Association) on Upper Lake St. Croix, which is the headwaters for the St. Croix River. Afterwards the hike will continue for 2.3 miles through the Brule Bog, which includes 3500’ of Boardwalk.

The present Brule River originated from springs within an extensive conifer swamp near Solon Springs, and flows north to Lake Superior. South of the conifer swamp is the Brule Bog, surrounded by uplands of sandy Pine Barrens.

Numerous rare plants and animals are found within this diverse area. Some of the rare plants are sheathed sedge, sparse-flowered sedge and the endangered Lapland buttercup. Nesting birds include the olive-sided flycatcher, golden-crowned kinglet, Lincoln’s sparrow, saw-whet owl and black-backed woodpecker. Cost for this day long trip is $10.

Families with kids can make this a half-day adventure by joining the group for lunch (bring your own) at Palmers Landing at 12:00 pm. The Brule Bog Boardwalk is a great hike for children of any age (strollers are welcome). You must provide your own transportation; maps will be provided. NO CHARGE for half-day trip. Portage Trail 2.5 miles moderate.

Brule Bog Boardwalk 2.3 miles easy.

25 8:00 am - 4:00 pm Copper Peak/Black River Harbor in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan Grab your camera, bag lunch and some water and climb aboard the van for one of those days that you will talk about for months. Your trip east on US Highway 2 (which was the second federal interstate highway to be built) will take you through the Bad River Indian reservation and a number of small communities. You will view forested areas studded by the open fields and farms that sustained many of the early settlers in the area. As you enter the Upper Peninsula of Michigan you pass through part of the historical iron ore community of Ironwood.

After you turn north off Highway 2 you will pass through the Big Powderhorn Ski Resort, one of three ski resorts in the area.

A short drive along the Black River National Scenic Byway will bring you to Copper Peak Adventure Ride, where your adventure begins.

Copper Peak is the largest man-made ski flying facility in the western hemisphere. Hop aboard the 800-foot chair lift for a ride to the crest of the hill. An elevator takes you 18 stories to the observation deck. From here some visitors elect to walk the final 8 stories to the very top starting gates. Either way, these vantage points provide the highest, most awesome unobstructed vista in the Midwest, overlooking more than 2500 square miles including parts of Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota.

Returning to terra firma you will board the van for a short drive through the Ottawa National Forest to Black River Harbor where a unique suspension bridge crosses the river, leading to a natural breakwater and beach. During your lunch break in the pavilion the Ottawa Forest staff will present a short history of the Forest, the Harbor and the North Country Trail. After lunch there’s a 2.5 hour hike on portions of the North Country National www.northcountrytrail.org

August 5-8

Scenic Trail through some of the most pristine old growth forest around. After all this there’s a chance to rest and discuss all the activities of the day on the van ride back to Ashland for a great evening at the conference. The cost for this day long trip is $20.

For more information on our portion of the NCT visit www. northcountrytrail.org. For more information on the Western Upper Peninsula of Michigan visit www.westernup.info. For more information on the Upper Peninsula of Michigan visit www.uptravel.com.

26 8:00 am - 4:00 pm Wren Falls Hike—Casey Sag Road to Vogue Road In the newest developed section of the Heritage Chapter you will hike approximately 3 miles of thick wilderness forest and 1.5 miles of forest road on hilly terrain that will be moderate to difficult at times. You will see four bridges of varying types and several boardwalks and puncheon recently constructed by volunteers. This is a “working” forest and the trail displays the rich history of the area with an old “scam” gold mine and an example of modern day responsible logging that maintained the integrity of the trail. We’ll allow time to observe the mixed hardwood forests and take a lunch break at a remote rocky overlook. We will explore an impressive beaver dam and capture many photo stops at Wren Falls and the scenic wild rapids as we follow an old forest road along the Tyler Forks River.

4.5 miles moderate to difficult.

27 8:00 am - 4:00 pm Lake Owen Backpack Workshop & Hike Tune up your backpack skills while you hike this 3 mile, moderately easy, Lake Owen section that was included in the first certified miles of the North Country National Scenic Trail. The original North Country Trail within the Chequamegon National Forest provides the namesake for our current North Country National Scenic Trail. History runs deep with archeological evidence of American Indians living in villages along the Lake Owen shore more than 4,000 years ago.

This area was extensively logged starting in the 1880’s. You will hike by Melland Pond and then follow the ridge above Lake Owen and pass through Wisconsin’s only seven acres of huge majestic virgin red pine, white pine and the rarer hemlock pine that survived the state’s clear-cut logging era.

3 miles moderately easy.

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2010 Annual Conference

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Saturday, August 7 continued 28 9:00 am - 4:00 pm Apostle Islands Cruise & Bayfield Tour Board the bus at the AmericInn and head to Bayfield for the 10:00 Grand Tour of the Apostle Islands aboard the Island Princess. On the three and a half hour voyage, the live narrative will enhance your understanding of culture, geology and the natural history of this unique region’s heritage. Throughout the cruise you will pass extraordinary natural scenic views, including the beautiful historic Raspberry and Devils Island Lighthouses. All of this is part of the exceptional beauty of the islands acclaimed as one of the most pristine parks in North America. See standing rocks, extensive sea caves and marine wildlife. Learn the rich history of centuries of human interaction with Wisconsin’s “Crown Jewels” on majestic Lake Superior.

The rest of the afternoon will be spent exploring the charm of Bayfield or picking blueberries at one of the orchards---your choice.

The cost for the day is $40 and the activity is limited to 15 people. Visit Apostle Island Cruise Service at www. apostleisland.com to find more information.

Visit the city of Bayfield at www.bayfield.org to see the variety of possibilities they have to offer.

8:25 pm Invite to 2011 Conference 8:30 pm Entertainment: Donn Christensen and The Red Pine Resonators Grab your partner and join us at the AmericInn for live music and dancing at a good oldfashioned “barn dance!” The Red Pine Resonators with Donn Christensen calling will perform. Even if dancing's not your thing, come out for the music, friends, and the beautiful sunset on Lake Superior.

Sunday, August 8 8:00 - 9:00 am Lunch pick-up 8:00 am - 4:00 pm Information Table open

ALL DAY TOUR 9:00 am - 4:00 pm Down to Earth Tours—Eco/Geo/ History Tour (*See Friday, August 5). You must register with DTE Tours. Reserve your tour by contacting them at info@downtoearthtours.com or call them at 715-376-4260.

ALL DAY HIKES

33 9:00 am - 4:00 pm Marengo River Hike—Marengo

HALF DAY HIKES (to be repeated from 12:30 - 4:30) 29 8:00 am - 12:00 pm Long Lake Branch Creek Hike

Beginning at Cisco Lake Road and ending at Old Highway 63, you will hike 2.8 miles of moderate trail observing mixed forest of oak, maple, birch, ironwood, and native pines. The entire landscape is glacial in origin, specifically end moraine, characterized by kettle lakes, steep ridges, numerous wetlands, and the flora associated with them. The southern section of the trail enters Drummond Woods containing old growth pines, narrow gauge railroad grades and remnants of the logging industry that dominated the area in the early 20th century. 2.8 miles moderate.

30 8:00 am - 12:00 pm Rainbow Lake Wilderness Hike This 3.8 mile, easy to moderate section of the Rainbow Lake Wilderness is best known for its picturesque lakes and the wolf pack that can sometimes be heard howling at night. The hike will begin along Anderson Grade Trail, a old railroad bed, and then will hook into the NCT in the Wilderness and head South toward Reynard Lake Road. On the way you will pass by Clay Lake, Flakefjord Lake, with a short hike into Bufo Lake to take a peek, and then on to Reynard Lake and Wishbone Lake.

Relatively flat and forested. Blazing not allowed. (USFS limit 30 people) 3.8 miles easy to moderate.

31 12:30 pm - 4:30 pm Long Lake Branch Creek Hike (See 29) 32 12:30 pm - 4:30 pm Rainbow Lake Wilderness Hike (See 30) 5:00 pm 5:55 pm 6:00 pm 6:30 pm 7:30 pm

Social Hour Silent Auction Closes Group Photo Dinner Awards Presentations

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August 5-8

34

Semi-Primitive Area This 3.7 mile, moderate to difficult hike makes a first stop at Juniper Rock Overlook (where weddings have occurred) and gives you a breathtaking view of the Marengo River Valley. The next stop will be on a bridge over the Marengo River followed by a tour of the Swedish Settlement (late 1800’s) with Settlement interpretation by Mark Bruhy (USFS Heritage Program Manager). There are two more scenic overlooks of the Marengo River Valley before the end of this hike. This is one of the Chequamegon’s most popular sections of NCT. 3.7 miles moderate to difficult.

9:00 am - 4:00 pm Samples Road Hike to Rush Lake Road Although it is rated easy, this hike offers several of the most spectacular long distance views that Wisconsin has to offer.

You will hike 4.8 miles of trail following the rim of the bluff overlooking the famed Bois Brule River valley. The Brule River is a spectacular cold water fishery and canoeing stream, often called “The River of Presidents” because it has been visited by five U. S. presidents, Ulysses Grant, Grover Cleveland, Calvin Coolidge, Herbert Hoover and Dwight Eisenhower. Our hike will pass at least five vistas overlooking the river valley and a designated backpacking campsite. 4.8 miles easy.

35 9:00 am - 4:00 pm Superior Hiking Trail Hike—Skyline Parkway at Highland Street to Skyline Parkway near Oneota Overlook above Duluth In this dramatic section of the Superior Hiking Trail, the trail climbs first along Keene Creek. It then winds through a beautiful mature maple-oak forest with little creeks crossing the trail. Much of the route is on the high ridgeline overlooking Lake Superior before descending back to Skyline Parkway. 4.9 miles moderate.

2010 Annual Conference PLEASE COMPLETE ONE REGISTRATION FORM FOR EACH PERSON!

Name: Address: City: State:

Zip:

Phone:

e-Mail: Enter the number codes and descriptions of your activity choices below (refer to the hike/tour schedule)

Code # Day & Time Hike/Tour/Workshop

Code # Day & Time Hike/Tour/Workshop

Code # Day & Time Hike/Tour/Workshop

Code # Day & Time Hike/Tour/Workshop

Code # Day & Time Hike/Tour/Workshop

Code # Day & Time Hike/Tour/Workshop

Code # Day & Time Hike/Tour/Workshop Payment: My check to NCTA is enclosed Please charge my registration to: Visa Discover Master Card

Card Number

Amex

Exp. Date

Name as it appears on card (please print)

Signature

Ashland Wisconsin

August 5-8

REGISTRATION FEES: (under 16 FREE!)

Non-member registration (includes 1 year membership): Early-bird (before July 1): $50.00 = $ Regular (after July 1): $55.00 = $ Member registration: Early-bird (before July 1): $35.00 = $ Regular (after July 1): $40.00 = $ OR per day registration: ____ days x $20.00 = $ Child under 16: Please specify age ____ years $ n/c

CONFERENCE MEALS:

Breakfasts throughout Conference are on your own.

Thursday Lunch Buffet $12.50 $ Thursday Buffet Dinner & entertainment $15.00 $ Same as above, (vegetarian ) Friday Bag Lunch (vegetarian ) $6.25 $ Friday Dinner, Benefit Auction and Entertainment Baked Salmon Entrée $30.00 $

Boneless Chicken Entrée $30.00 $ Vegetarian Pasta Primavera Entrée $30.00 $ Friday Benefit Auction & Entertainment Only $10.00 $ Saturday Bag Lunch, (vegetarian ) $6.25 $ Saturday Dinner, Awards Program and Entertainment Baked Ham Entrée $25.00 $ Chicken Alfredo Entrée $25.00 $ Vegetarian Lasagna with Marinara Entrée $25.00 $ Sunday Bag Lunch (vegetarian ) $6.25 $

OTHER CONFERENCE EVENT FEES: 2 Chainsaw Certification Workshop $15.00 $ (lunch included) 3 Medic First Aid Workshop $25.00 $ (lunch included) 4 Brule River Canoe Trip Rental $ (to calculate your fee, see number 4) 13, 23 Photography Workshop $10.00 $ 24 Portage Trail All Day Hike $10.00 $ 25 Copper Peak All Day Hike $20.00 $ 28 Apostle Island Cruise/Bayfield Tour $40.00 $ CONFERENCE TOTAL: $ Commemorative T-Shirt (indicate size) Adult size: ___ Sm ___ Med ___ Lg ___ XL ___ 2XL Child size: ___ Sm ___ Med ___ Lg

Waiver–Please read and sign the following: Those persons enjoying the North Country Trail (NCT) and/or activities sponsored by the North Country Trail Association (NCTA) or any chapters/clubs conducting activities on behalf of, or in support of the NCTA, accept full personal responsibility for their own well being, or, for the well being of a minor when acting in the capacity of parent or guardian. Further, users of the NCT accept and understand that hiking is a rigorous activity often conducted in rugged outdoor conditions subject to variations in weather and terrain conditions which may involve the risk of injury or death, and, that these persons are fully responsible for their own safety and selecting activities that are consistent with their physical capabilities.

Print Name Signature

Date

Early-Bird Deadline is July 1!

Sign Up Online: www.northcountrytrail.org/conf10 Send Your Registration By Mail: NCTA, 229 E. Main Street, Lowell, MI 49331 Send Your Registration By Fax: (616) 897-6605 Sign Up By Phone: ( 866) HikeNCT (445-3628)

www.northcountrytrail.org

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Conference Accommodations Conference attendees are responsible for booking their own lodging, and breakfast is on your own!

Because we are not utilizing a college campus this year, lodging reservations must be made on your own.

Ashland offers a variety of motels/hotels as well as two parks for camping. Listed below are several local facilities, including campgrounds. Please go to www. visitashland.com for more options.

The AmericInn is the headquarters for the Conference and a number of rooms are blocked for Conference attendees. We have also blocked all of the rooms at the Crest Motel. Both of these facilities will hold the blocked rooms until July 1, 2010.

Lodging with rooms blocked for NCTA Conference Attendees: (Please identify yourself as NCTA when making your reservation) • AmericInn (Pets welcome!) (715) 682-9950 www.ashlandwaterpark.com (Adjacent to Conference Center) • Crest Motel (800) 657-1329 • www.wur-central.com/crestmotel (3.4 miles) Other Lodging Options: • Super 8 Motel (715) 682-9377 • www.super8.com (4.1 miles) • Lake Superior Lodge (800) 452-7749 • www.ashlandlakesuperiorlodge. com (4.6 miles) • Hotel Chequamegon (800) 946-5555 • www.hotelc.com (2.2 miles) • River Rock Motel (715) 682-3232 • www.riverrockinn.net (3 miles) • Ashland Motel (877) 682-5503 • www.ashlandmotel.com (3.7 miles) • Anderson Motel (800) 727-2776 • www.andersonmotel.8k.com (3.6 miles) Camping: • Prentice Park: No reservations. 100 acres, 19 sites, tents and pop-ups, electric hookups.

• Jean Kreher Park: No reservations. 36 RV sites, flush toilets, showers, sewer dump, playground, handicap accessible, located on Chequamegon Bay. • There are two additional campgrounds in Washburn and both are on the Bay. No reservations. They have electric hookups.

(20 minutes from Ashland) • Copper Falls State Park, Mellen, Wisconsin.

Phone (715) 274-5123 for reservations. 54 sites (24 electric) on 2,249 acres.

(30 minutes from Ashland) Go to: www.visitashland.com for more options and additional information.

26 The North Star

April-June 10

Join a Volunteer Adventure And Make a Difference Andrea Ketchmark

NCTA Director of Trail Development

T

he North Country Trail Association's Volunteer Adventure Program is a series of week-long trail building events offering the chance to get out on the trail, spend time with other outdoor enthusiasts and really make a difference. Our Adventures offer a variety of experiences depending on the project, but each offers the chance to give back and have fun doing it. Join a crew in your state to spend time with old friends or take the chance to explore new places along the length of the trail.

Some of our biggest projects will not be possible without you. This year you can build new sections of trail through the valley of the Sturgeon River in the rugged UP of Michigan, learn new skills from the Roving Trail Crew in northern Wisconsin, or build a boardwalk allowing hikers to cross Sterling Marsh in Manistee National Forest, a birdwatcher’s paradise.

"We built a 165' long bridge over the wetlands in the rain!" says volunteer Lynn Martin. "I' ll never forget the feeling of accomplishment. We also made a bridge of new friendships and a bridge to future generations of hikers." Check our website for more information on each project, choose one that fits your schedule, sign up and start packing!

2010 Adventures

Spring Creek West Trail Construction, Wisconsin June 3-9 with the Brule-St. Croix Roving Trail Crew.

Canyon Falls Trail Construction, Michigan (Upper Peninsula) June 24-28 with the Peter Wolfe Chapter.

24 hours of the Chip, Minnesota June 26-27 with the Star of the North Chapter.

Sterling Marsh Boardwalk Construction, Michigan (Lower Peninsula) August 16-21 with the Spirit of the Woods Chapter.

Castle Rock Restoration, Michigan (Upper Peninsula) September 19-25 with the Hiawatha Shore-to-Shore Chapter.

OOPS! My abject apologies to Tammy Veloski, whose great picture of red mushrooms with partridgeberry on the forest floor appeared on the back cover of our last issue of North Star. Because I have only recently begun to manage pictures, too, for the magazine, in addition to words, my first “saves” weren't well labeled, so Tammy's picture was mistakenly attributed to another.

Day by day, we will do better.

—Your editor, Irene Szabo

Regaining Something Lost Based on a story Marty Swank wrote for The Daily Press, Ashland, Wisconsin

A

s is the case with many major accomplishments, this is a tale about a combined effort to secure positive change from a negative situation. This is a tale about the City of Mellen, Wisconsin, and the people who live there.

Something lost…

A segment of certified NCT runs along the forestlined Bad River in the City of Mellen, which is east of Chequamegon National Forest, between there and Copper Falls State Park. In 2007 I did a walk-through evaluation on this trail segment but walked away shaking my head. It had become a blue-blazed ATV trail with deep ruts, beer cans, and liquor bottles strewn along the way. I vowed at this point not to spend valuable Chapter volunteer resources maintaining this section. After all, we already had 61 miles to maintain in the Chequamegon National Forest, so I reported my findings to the NCTA Regional Coordinator, Bill Menke, and there was sad talk of decertification. Luckily it didn’t happen right away because we were all so busy.

Something regained…

Progress began with a meeting among Bill Menke, Mayor Barabe, and a Mellen City Councilman. A positive discussion of the trail problem and a resolution that included new urban trail signs to be placed within the City took place, followed by installation in 2008 of the promised urban signs.

In 2009 Chapter members Mike Trieschmann and Tana Turonie met numerous times with the City Council, Parks and Recreation department, and the Mayor. A final agreement was hammered out by these officials with the only private property owner on this section, and, best of all, an ALTERNATE route was approved by the City for ATV’s.

On October 24th, 2009, with 3" of heavy snow on the ground, volunteers from the Chequamegon Chapter began reclaiming this segment of NCT along the Bad River. Major limb trimming and brushing was required, followed by two sessions of manually removing ATV ruts and smoothing out the trail tread, without snow those times. Winter cut this effort short but we will continue the trail reclamation along with installation of more signage, benches, and many other trail improvements.

Special thanks go to Kevin Kasino for building a new section of the NCT that passes over his property and for permission to use his land. ATV traffic has been rerouted onto a City road that was previously closed to them, and which gives them access to the main ATV trail in the area.

Because the City is behind this change, as are some of the people who live close to our trail, we believe that ATV trespass should be kept to a minimum.

New signs supplied by our Chapter will be installed in May, and Chapter member Mike Ryan has adopted the segment. So our hopes run high for this lovely reclaimed route.

Marty Swank

Marty Swank

Now an appealing path above the river, this part of the NCT looks like it deserved reclamation! We wonder what historic dug road or railbed was the original life of this shelf.

www.northcountrytrail.org

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north star

NONPROFIT U.S. POSTAGE

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

PAID

Grand Rapids, MI Permit 340

A delicious Pennsylvania “chocolate” fungus, by Tammy Veloski.

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 Citizen Patriot, The Kalamazoo Gazette, The Muskegon Chronicle and The Saginaw News.

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