North Star Vol. 10, No. 1 (1991)

Newsletter of the

North CountryTrail Association

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Non-Profit Org. u.s. Postage PAID Permit No. 47 Caledonia, Ml 49316

North Country Troll Association Newsletter, Winter 1990-91

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NEWSLETIER of the

NORTH COUNTRY TRAIL ASSOCIATION PO Box 311, WhHe Cloud, Ml 49349 Headquarters Phone: (616) 689-1912 Editor: Wes Boyd, 14815 Rome Road, ManHou Beach, Ml 49253 OFFICERS President: Martha K Jones, 1857 Torquay Ave, Royal Oak Ml 48073 Vice President: Barbara A Smith, 11 W. Main St., Galeton PA 16922 Secretary: Tom' Lou Spyker, 7040 Africa Rd., Rt. 1, Galena OH 43201 Treasurer: Kenneth Geekier, 413 W. Johnson St., Caledonia Ml 49316 Headquartere Mgr.: Virginia Wunsch, Rt. 1, White Cloud Ml 49349 Founding President: Dr. Lance Field

Keyboard Trails by the Editor

(313) 280-2921 (814) 435-2371 (614) 882-8023 (616) 891-1366 (616) 689-6876

BOARD OF DIRECTORS New York Doris and Clifford Abbott, Rt. 1, Box 259, Spencer NY 14883 Howard S. Beye, 202 Colboume Rd., Rochester NY 14609 Laura McGuire, 1 Boylan Rd, Newfield NY 14867 Thomas J. Reimers, 3C Wildflower Dr., Ithaca NY 14850 Ed Sidote, 5 Clinton St, Norwich NY 13815

The deadline for the next newsletter will be March 1, 1991. For future reference, the deadline for the Summer, 1991 newsletter will be June 10, 1991. Copy received by the editor after those dates cannot be assured of getting into the newsletter. Getting items in to the editor well in advance of the deadline is highly appreciated.

(607) 272-5119 {716} 288-7191 (607) 564-3548 {607) 272-8679 (607) 334-3872

Pen naylvanla Don and Brita Dom, Star Rt, Box 476, Sheffield PA 16347 Barbara A Smith, 11 W. Main St., Galeton PA 16922 John G. Hipps, 11 W. Main St., Galeton PA 16922 Glenn Oster, 784 Olive St., Pittsburg PA 15237 Pat Tieman, 52 Greenbriar Dr., Pittsburg PA 15220

(814) 968-5759 (814) 435-2371 (814) 435-2371 (412) 364-2864 {412} 561-3286

Wow! Another big issue! Granted, the coverage of the 10th Anniversary Hike has taken up a lot of room in this and the last newsletter, but there's been a lot of other things happening around the North Country Trail, too, that needed to get covered as well so, the logical thing to do was to bite the bullet and give our members something extra to read some long winters evening.

Even so, there's a lot of stuff in the hopper for future issues: a history of the FLTC and an article on the ins and outs of trail certification for the spring issue (probably), and some time later, a discussion of the impact of mountian bikes on the trail and on trail policy. Undoubtedly, other great stuff will come in from readers, so we can look forward to some good future issues, too.

Over the next few issues, I want to put a greater emphasis on, and encouragement of, trail construction -- both the getting out and doing it, and the ins and outs of getting it done. Arranging to construct a trail and doing the paperwork are often bigger battles than actually getting the route on the ground -- especially in areas of predominantly private ownership. 2000 certified miles by 2000 is a reasonable goal -- but it will take work on all our parts. I'd like to see more submissions on the subject -- successful trail projects, of course, but articles on how to handle the policy and the paperwork and the pulaskis, too.

Along the same line, I would like to run in the next newsletter as complete a listing as possible of trail projects planned for next summer so that potential volunteers can make vacation plans, if necessary. Please notify me of such plans as early as possible, even if all plans are not yet complete.

Ohio Emily Gregor, 6502 Olde York Rd., Parma Hts OH 44130 Cecil Dobbins, 783 Cliffside Dr., Akron OH 44313 Jim Sprague, 4406 Maplecrest, Parma OH Tomi Lou Spyker, 7040 Africa Rd., Rt. 1, Galena OH 43201 R. Baird Stewart, Salem, OH 44460

(216) 884-0281 (216) 867-3371 (216) 884-4757 (614) 882-8023

Michigan Pat Allen, 2215 Sylvan Dr. SE, Grand Rapids Ml 49506 Wes Boyd, 14815 Rome Road, Manitou Beach Ml 49253 Derek Blount, 906 N. Alexander, Royal Oak Ml 48067 Don Elzinga, 1010 Allouez, Marquette Ml 49855 Kenneth Gackler, 413 W. Johnson, Caledonia Ml 49316 Arden Johnson, 600 Tennyson, Rochester Hills, Ml 48063 Martha K Jones, 1857 Torquay Ave, Royal Oak Ml 48073 Ruth Sack, 2317 Foster NE, Grand Rapids Ml 49505 Vince Smith, Box 76, Whitmore Lake Ml 48189 Darlene Snyder, 4067 Luxford, Comstock Park Ml 49231 Doug Welker, Rt. 1, Box 59A, Pelkie Ml 49958 Virginia Wunsch, Rt. 1, Mundy Ave. White Cloud Ml 49349

(616) 452-4487 (517) 547-7402 (313) 548-1737 (906) 225· 1585 {616) 891-1366 {313) 853-0292 (313) 280-2921 (616) 363-5966 (313) 231-1257 (616) 784-5050 (906) 338-2680 (616) 689-6876

Wisconsin Gaylord Yost, 2925 W. Bradley Rd., River Hills W1 53209

(414) 354-8987

Minnesota Rod MacRae, 1210 W. 22nd St., Minneapolis MN 55405 Harlan Liljequist, 1605 W. Medicine Lake Dr., Plymouth MN 55441 Jim Richards, Rt. 1, Callaway MN 56521 Ed Solstad, 3701 Pillsbury Ave. S, Minneapolis MN 55409

(612) 377-0130 (612) 559-5994 (216) 375-4461 (612) 882-0569

North Dakota Linda Vargason Meike, 1536 Second Ave. S, Fargo ND 58103

(701) 232-8513

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE ADMINISTRATOR Tom Gilbert, National Park Service, PO Box 5463, Madison W1 53705-0463 (608) 833-2788 REGIONAL AFFILIATES New York: Finger Lakes Trail Conference, PO Box 18048, Rochester NY 14618-0048 Ohio: Buckeye Trail Association, PO Box 254, Worthington OH 43085 Please report any errore or omiBBions to the editor.

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This is probably a good time to reiterate some points about submilting pictures to the newsletter: In general, black and white photos are to be preferred over color photo, since they reproduce better in black and white. Since it is hard to get reasonably-priced black and white processing any more if you're not a hobbyist, color photos will be accepted -- but the photos should be on the light side. Dark, reddish color photos do not reproduce worth a darn.

Photos submitted will be retained unless return is requested, along with a self-addressed, stamped envelope. It's possible that a photo not used right away might be the perfect illustration for a year or two later, so submissions will be kept on file. Please note the photograper's name on the back of the photo, and include a separate sheet giving some information about the picture.

Quality counts! No matter how newsworthy the photo is, if it's blurred, poorly focused or poorly composed, if printed it will detract from the quality of the newsletter.

In general, pictures with people or objects in them are better than general photos of scenery. Photos intended as cover photos should be at least 5x7, composed vertically, but leaving dead space at the top for mailing label, etc.

Poge3

路North Country Troll Association Newsletter, Winter 1990-91

THELONG-AWAI'.lEDclosureofthe "M-12 Gap" on the Finger Lakes Trail is nearing completion. Closure of this gap will make the longest usable section of the NCT the 439.9 miles between Cook Forest State Park in Pennsylvania and Blodgett's Mills, NY. Crossing the "M-20 gap" east ofBlodgett's Mills has long been a problem for the FLTC, as a tough river and interstate highway crossing are involved, but finishing it would put the longest marked section of the NCT near 500 miles. Only about 130 miles of this route is fully certified - and most of that in Pennsylvania's Allegheny National Forest- but most of the route is more or less certifiable.

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THECOMMENTWASmadein "Following the North Country National Scenic Trail" that free materials on the NCT available from the various national forests (with the exception of the Chippewa) were not up to the par provided by other areas. Happily, this is changing. The Allegheny National Forest, and the Hiawatha National Forest are among areas that now have free materials that are a big improvement over what was available. Gaylord Yost, trails supervisor for the Forest Service, says the effort to improve materials will continue in all the national forests.

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ON NOV. 2, a 36.4 mile segment of the southern Hiawatha National Forest was certified. The completion and certification of this segment was accomplished

by National Forest personnel. "We greatly appreciate the enthusiastic cooperation and participation of the Forest Service in developing and managing the North Country NST", Tom Gilbert wrote. "Segments within National Forests account for approximately half of the completed mileage and ensure the viability of the trail as well as continued progress toward its completion."

The action brings the total mileage certified this year to 75.8 miles, Michigan's certified mileage to 350.62 and the total certified distance of the trail to 953.61 miles.

GINNY WUNSCH asks those 10th Anniversary Hike coordinators who had patches, stickers, pins, etc. for sale at the hike site to either return the unsold merchandise to the NCTA headquarters, or to pay for the merchandise.

-路 To the editor: A friend and I are planning to do a through hike on the NCT in the near future and hope to compile a trail guide along the way for segments already on the ground. We are looking for help in route selection between completed segments and would be happy to hear from anyone with suggestions of the "best" or "most scenic" roads or offroad routes for hikers.

Any suggestions or information you have to offer, please send to my attention-RobertE. Launcher, 1214Highland Rd., Rockville, MD 20851, (301) 294-2189 or Ed Talone, 605 Pershing Rd., Silver Spring MD 20910 (301) 587-0331.

Robert E. Launcher

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To all members: There once was a young lady named Smith Who met a fellow named Hipps With each they both fell deeply in love, But not the the point of mutual shove.

So each kept their very own moniker, To avoid an improper nemoniker, All of which is to make the point clear From where and when back to here That Barbie's name is Smith, John's name is Hipps, And together they go by Smithipps. =Smithipps

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To the editor: Just a note to say I thoroughly enjoy the North Country Trail newsletter.

I would appreciate you putting my name back on the newsletter as "Founding President". I founded the NCTA in

March, 1980 and was the first president, for the first year. Due to the logistics of travel (from Maine, at the time), I resigned -- as the NCTA was on its way by then.

I am extremely happy with the splendid progress throughout the ensuing years. I still maintain my NCTA membership!

Dr. Lance Field

* * * Having attended many of our recent semi-annual meetings, I have found a few points of frustration and I think I have found a way to cut down on my frustration and meeting time with the same solution. The meeting starts with a painfully slow reading of the minutes. I realize it is necessary to cover the minutes, but might this be done more more painlessly by giving all attendees a copy of the minutes at registration? Members could read the material prior to the meeting. During the meeting, mention could be made of the minutes, asking for additions or corrections. Same with the treasurer's report, although Ken does an excellent job already.

A similar problem exists with many proposals. Often they arecomplexwith many ramifications. They are brought up to be voted upon within a few minutes. I feel it would be more helpful to have some written form of the proposal in advance-of the time it is to be considered. This could also be done in written form.

In summary, what I am proposing is that each person pre-registering for the meeting be given a packet of material at registration that would include the meeting schedule, agenda, secretary's minutes, treasurers report and all proposals that require significant input.

The pre-registration fee could be raised to cover this cost -- maybe $1.00 more. This should condense our meetings, making them much more efficient. Persons registering at the door (or with less than one week notice) may not have this packet available, but we would have to draw the line at some point.

Kathy Boyd

Page Four

Newsletter of the North Country Troll Association, Winter 1990-91

Sierra Club/NCTA 1991 Michigan trallbuilding The Huron Valley Group of the Mackinac Chapter of the Sierra Club will again sponsor four weeks of trailbuilding in Michigan under the supervision of Vince Smith.

The dates for the trail camps are: July 21-27; July 28August 3; August 18-24 and August 25-31.

In July and early August, the group will be creating the trail in State Forests east of Kalkaska and south of Boyne Falls, near several lakes and the headwaters of the Manistee and Jordan Rivers. On off days (normally Wednesdays and weekends), participants can visit Lake Michigan or hike, swim, canoe, explore, as the spirit moves.

In August, the group will be in the wild country of Michigan's Upper Peninsula among the lakes, rivers, rocks and forests 30 to 40 miles west of Marquette, with chances to explore Craig Lake Wilderness State Park, the McCormick Wilderness, and Rocking Chair Lakes with its virgin pines.

Each outing lasts from Sunday to Saturday. Food is provided, and the work is shared. First meal served is Monday morning. Bring your own camping equipment -- tent or camper, sleeping bag and pad, eating utensils, day pack, danteen, etc., and also a cooler and pruning shears, if conenient.

The cost is $45 per week, due one month before the outing to trip leader Vince Smith. For more information, please send stamped, self-addressed envelope to Vince Smith, Box 76, Whitmore Lake, MI 48189 (313) 231-1257.

The group is also planning weekend outings on May 1012 and Oct,11-13 in the Kalkaska-Alba area. Again,contact Vince for more details.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, NORTH COUNTRY TRAIL ASSOCIATION Salary $24,()()()-$30,000w/beneflts.

Application Deadline February 15, 1991.

Dlscrlptlon:Develop and support an organizational capability, on continuing basis, w/stan and volunteers to assist NPS w/mgm or NCT; direct membership development; pursue corporation/round• tion/group organizations for financial support of NCTA and/or trail projects;promotepublic awarenessand use of NCT; assist NPSand others In preparing long-range plans for development and protection of trail; establish and maintain good communications and PR w/ public officials, private pctrsona and organizations Interested In supporting and/or protecting trail; recruit and train volunteers for Trail work and maintenance; pursue, as appropriate, capablllty to acquire, hold and protect lands for Trall; Identify opportunities/ needs to develop new Trall segments; prepare and submit appllc. tlons for Certification of new Trall segments; provide guidance/ assistance to NCTA Chapters and otherTrall organizations for Trail work prolecte, Special Trail events, PR, Volunteer Training, Etc. Quallffcatlon:Self-Initiative plus Education and knowledge/experience In administration of non-profit organization, fund raising, membership development,computers and datiH>ase mgm. Strong written/spokencommunications and PR skllla w/publlc and private Individuals and organizations, ablllty to coordinate and supervise volunteers and staff, and knowledge of pol ltlcal process on all levels.

To Apply:Sand current resumew/references to Search Committee, NCTA, 1857 TorquayAve., Royal Oak Ml 48073 Location: NCTAssoclatlon headquarters la In westem Michigan: someflexlbllltymay be possible for the Executive Director'• place of operation.

Trail

Head A letter from the President

By the time this issue of the Newsletter reaches you we will be close of January of a new year, 1991, so I wouldlike to wish for each of you a Happy and Prosperous year ahead, with, of course, lots of good hiking! I also hope that 1990 had its owwn particular blessings for each of you, provided some very special memories for you to store, and saw some of last January's resolutions fulfilled!

Several significant accomplishments have marked the calendar for the North Country Trail in 1990, due to the untold number of volunteers giving of their time and efforts: the successful carrying out of the "1990 Tenth Anniversary Hike"; over 70 miles of trail certified this year in New York, North Dakota and Michigan (36.4 miles added in the Hiawatha National Forest, Michigan, since the Fall Meeting report); many miles of trail sections being cut and readied for certifiecation; many new trail sections mapped and available for hikers and others using the trail; and our beautiful new NPS/NCTA color brochure completed in time for the Tenth Anniversary Hike (I hope you all have a copy and have handed copies to a few interested friends).

A new NPS office was established in Madison, WI, to give better administration to the NCT, Ice Age and Lewis and Clark Trails, with Tom Gilbert selected as Managing Director ... plus, the Cooperative Agreement recently signed by the NPS and NCTA, whereby your Association can be reimbursed for up to $60,000 for activities related to the Trail and an Executive Director to administer the affairs of the Association, affords the NCTA a tremendous opportunity to move forward. As all members know, from a letter I mailed out to you in November, the key word is "reimbursed". In order to request reimbursement, we need to increase the balance of our treaury sufficently to cover an estimated two months of operation expenses, expected to run between five and ten thousand dollars. As 1990 comes to a close, I hope you will remember the NCT A with a TAX FREE contribution to allow us to take advantage of this opportunity - or, make it your first deduction for 1991. Either way, your support will be appreciated, your Associaation will benefit, and the North Country Trail will progress faster. Having an Executive Director will enable us to pursue many of the important programs, such as expanding membership, public awareness, and volunteer base, search for ongoing financial support, for trail protection; and many others which have bad to be sidelined for lack of sufficent time and money.

With such an opportunity, plus the continued efforts of our many loyal and dedicated volunteers, the "outlook" of the NCT for 1991 looks brighter than ever before. Thank you for your participation and, may your own personal outlook for 1991, also, be the brightest ever. Most sincerely, a Happy New Year from your NCTA president, Martha Jones

North Country Trail Association Newsletter, Winter 1990-91

Pages

Airlift provides new trail bridge Trailbuilders in Michigan's Upper Peninsula bad a problem: they bad the manpower to build a couple of bridges for the North Country Trail over branches of tbe Peshekee River west of Marquette -- but tbe bridge sites were a long way from the nearest road, and bringing in treated bridge timbers were going to be a real problem, at best.

Then, North Country Trail Association Board Member Don Elzinga remembered bow the U.S. Coast Guard bad flown in supplies for park improvements near tbe trail, and wondered if they could be asked to move the bridge timbers.

Arranging the chopper wasn't simple.

Elzinga finally had to contact Congressman Bob Davis' office to get the airlift off the ground. "We contacted Davis' representative, who in turn got the congressman interested in the plan", Elzinga said. "He arranged it so the fly-in could be used as a training mission for the Coast Guard" On the first of August, 1990, a helicopter from the Traverse City Coast Guard station was due to fly up to the Van Riper State Park office to airlift the bridge materials to the Peshekee River bridge sites in a remote area north of Craig Lake. However, due to mechanical problems, the chopper never left home base. The airlift was successfully rescheduled for August 2.

Throughout the morning and afternoon, the helicopter made nine trips between Van Riper State Park and the bridge sites.

Including a couple of refueling stops at the MarquetteCoonty airpcrt, the event wrapped up at approximately 4 PM. Elzinga said that because of the remoteness of the area, if the supplies could not have been airlifted in, they would have had to be carried in some three miles by band.

The bridges were earmarked for spots in the river which are more than 30 feet 路 across and five feet deep.

Bridge construction began the following week, utilizing offenders from Michigan's Youthful Offender Program.

THANKS TO THE U.S. COAST GUARD, supplies needed to construct two foot Elzinga said assistance from the North bridges over branches of the Peshekee River in Michigan's Upper Peninsula were Country Hikers, the Champion Volunteer Down in by helicopter. The helicopter lift was arranged with a lot or hard work by Fire Department and Coast Guard person- Marquette's Don Elzinga.

This photo and cover photo by Doug Welker. nel allowed the job to progress smoothly.

Trail construction bas been progressing still a little unclear. that makes for some pretty woods to go "We are working with Cliffs Forest nicely in the area. Sections of the North through."

Products" (a subsidiary of'Cleveland Cliffs Country Trail west of Munising have been "The entire project is a cooperative efcompleted, it is on a scattered 1>$~.Elzinga Iron Company). "So far they have said no", fort between pro and con factions," Elzinga Elzinga said. "Mead and Champion paper said plans call for routing the trail through said. You've got paper companies who use Marquette on tbe bike path paralleling US companies have given us permission to use tbe forests and enironmentalists on the 41, then west to a point north of the Dead their lands. All we have to do is tell them same side of the issue. Thereis no confronRiver Storage Basin, then west to the which way we want to go. Their land has a tation."

McCormick Tract, although the route is lot of sustained yield (tree harvesting), and --Adapted from L ~nse (Ml) Sentinal

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North Country Trail Assocfatlon Newsletter, Winter 1990-91

Trail building in Michigan (Editor's note: Englishman Ricklirazierhas spent thepast several years working on "The Duke of Edinburgh's Gold Award", a special program in England that emphasizes outdoor activities andpublic service.Notmany peopleget it annually,so it's a rather special honor. One of the requirementsfor the award is to spend a week working on a volunteer projectwith a group one has never worked with before;Rick wound up working on this summer's trail building project in Marquette County, Michigan, writing the following report. Incidentally, Rick reports, "The rest of my journey was greatfun. We saw Yellowstone, the Badlands, Grand Canyon and so much more. " - WB)

by Richard Brazier I wanted my residential project to be a little special, being the last step to achieving my Gold Award. A unique opportunity came my way by means of a trip to America. There had been several options open to me through my research, volunteer work on islands, working on a fairground. The one I chose, however, was trailbuilding in Michigan.

It appealed to me as trailbuilding is something from England's past. I've hiked trails for years, taking for granted that someone or something must have created the path at one time. It was also the satisfaction of opening new areas up to hikers, partially because of my efforts. The trail I helped out with is the North Country National Scenic Trail. The section I worked on is between Craig Lake and Marquette in the upper peninsula of Michigan.

The afternoon of August 25th saw my arrival in the Van Riper campground, finding four of the crew in the already established campsite, along with Puppy - the conveniently named dog - this being the "second week of trail camp" as it was often called. There were three men, two of them brothers, Don and Gene Elzinga, along with Arden Johnson and Karen Boomer, an ex-student from Massachusetts. The men were major influences on the trail. Don and Gene Elzinga, local retired men, are both on the committee and help all year round taking groups up to build and maintain local stretches. Arden, membership chairman, is also retired. (He often spends his vacations traveling around National and State parks doing volunteer work).

I set up tent amongst the others and talked for a while. Don and Gene, along with the group leader, Vince Smith, had already planned and flagged out a lot of the route we were to clear. Vince and the others from week one were out hiking at the time. On their return I was approached by another retired gentleman who introduced himself as Vince, the leader and assessor. He introduced me to the rest of the crew. Martha Jorres was the first introduction, being President of the North Country Trail Association. She was also retired and lived in lower Michigan, not far from Vince or Bill, another member of the crew. There was also Brad and Mary Kaye,

"PUPPY" LOOKS ON hopefully as the trail crew takes a lunch break while clearing trail in August on the Superiorland Trail east of Craig Lake State Park near Marquette, MI. a couple from Wisconsin with their dog, Buddy.

Dinner was a feast of last week's leftovers, having had no real meal planned. I listened in mostly on conversations getting more worried at the prospect of this manual labor with these experts who appeared to have been trail building all their lives. I was however soon relieved to hear, as we adjourned to the Campfire, that Bill, Mary Kaye and Karen were also "first timers." As the night wore on, the fire brought on tales of bear and moose and other beast sightings, firing up my wish to see one myself. Also mentioned was a "Yooper" or a "Da Yooper", maybe another sort of beast. I was left a little confused on that one. The sustenance for the evening was half a box of honey flavored Teddy Grahams, a small teddy shaped cracker.

Monday morning greeted us all with scrambled eggs and cereal cooked by Chris Wise who arrived that morning, having come from Illinois. We then packed our lunches and set off.

The journey to the site was 20 miles along dirt roads, taking well over an hour. The roads built by loggers were not in a very good state. I went up in Martha's van which, despite much jovial convincing, wasn't quite built for the job. Several loud clunks underneath got Martha pretty worried. We then hiked a small distance, carrying gear from the parked cars.

We then reached a point where the North Country Trail would cross the small track we were on. It was cleared on one side and we were to continue off the other side.

We then got organised. Chris went first, having a chain saw, clearing any major obstacles, then a team followed with pulaskis - axes with a chopper on the other side of the axe head - and saws to dig up roots and other obstacles, then a team of fire rakers followed, removing minor roots and other debris. These were followed by clippers clearing overhanging branches, and finally 路 tailed by another person, often Gene, clearing any missed roots: I was designated a rake for my first job. This appeared a slightly easier task however it proved not to be, being a continuous, long and enduring job, often having to clear some major blockages as,

Pagel North Country Troll Association Newsletter, Winter 1990-91 well. It was well described though as the job that actually made the trails. My fear of the hard work subsided as time passed with chatter.

The morning, as the afternoon was to be also, was all in dense, humid forest. I thought the mosquitos would be a problem, but the only real hassle we had was the beat. We often drank severallitres of water in a day. We stopped for lunch on a small hilltop and Chris, being way ahead, had no real news. We had cleared about half a mile. We hoped to clear to a road, about a mile of clearing in all.

Soon after lunch Chris passed by us with good news. He had reached the road which was encouraging. He said it was only a half a mile to go, but we soon learned that his miles were adjustable (mostly longer). He was soon followed by Bill, one of the pulaski gang, claiming to have "seen the road." in an evangelical preacher style, so we were encouraged further.

I looked out for some of the larger animals suggested to be around here, but the only wildlife I managed to see were squirrels and frogs. After a fair bit more raking, we reached the road, too.

However, it was not as we expected. The road was overgrown and really was a dirt track as small as our trail, not quite worth the praise it got from Bill, but it still had a special meaning, "home time". We deposited the tools there, ready to start tomorrow, and hiked back to our cars.

Dinner that night was fish stew cooked for us by Gene's wife, Jean, who cooked it in Marquette and brought it up to us. We then retired to the fireside once more, slightly sore and blistered, but it was soon forgotten amongst the chatter. Martha made a major mistake at this point, mentioning she had some cinnamon teddies in her van and, after threats to attack her van in the night in our despiration for teddies, she gave up her precious teddies. The "Da Yoopers" came up again too. I figured as there was a "Da Yooper tape," maybe they were a band but, still unsure and afraid to show my ignorance, I kept quiet.

Tuesday morning came and cereal and bacon was consumed for breakfast. The packing of lunch had an added thrill as everyone was given "gorp" to take, a trail mix with Mand M's in it.

A few of us then set off early in Don's car up a different route to join "the road" we met the day before, to hike up and collect the KAREN BOOMER takes a break near the rushing water of a small waterfall the trail passes tools and bring them down to where we were to start clearing.

The journey was made a little more interesting by finding discussions on mining and helped us decide what to do on our rest several fresh bear tracks, sightly scary too but no one else seemed to be too worried, so we carried on. Our aim today was to reach a day.

Dinner was chili, again brought by Jean. The entertainment for waterfall. We had a few other helpers join us, Mr. and Mrs. Swithgooble and Ted Johnson, three more senior citizens. It was dinner was provided by myself, miraculously locking three sets of good to see such an event with so many other people participating, keys within my car and then by Puppy furiously protecting us most courses of that nature in England filled by my own age, and against squirrels by chasing them up trees and not letting them these were no less active than them. down. He even would not respond to his master's call, usually so effective bringing him back from distant woods immediately.

Today my tool was the pulaski along with a saw and clippers.

Then again to what was becoming one of my favorite parts of the This job was a lot more intense, concentrated bursts of energy then a rest as opposed to the continuous endurance of raking. For a day, sitting chatting round the campfire. However tonight I was while I became the tailender. This became quite a task as rakers given the privilege of the building. Since Don, the usual firedug up most roots that the first gang had left safely buried. builder, had to go to a meeting, I chopped wood and started up the After lunch I went with the front group working on a steep fire despite jibes at previous attempts by some people which failed stretch having to build switchbacks. We thought we had completed to keep going. it once and were about to continue when Vince laid down the law, We ate chocolate covered pretzels, again produced by Martha, making us redo the switchbacks,wider this time, and I know what but this was not good enough. Bill had to drive several miles to buy he meant, hiking up steep stretches are no fun really. more boxes of teddies. He brought back a box of chocolate, a box Again, Chris being so far ahead had "seen the waterfall" and of vanilla and a box of honey. We ate the vanilla ones. "Da preacher Bill was called upon to make the necessary announce- Yooper" scarves and other "Yooper" stuff were mentioned, so the ments, but we were still far from the falls despite Chris's encour- band had some gifts made for their fans, nothing strange for a pop agement. After a few more hours of clearing with Chris's voice group, but still I had no proof and I still wasn't sure I was haunting us, "not far now, round the next bend," "half mile to go," completely right. "if there were no trees here, you could see it," we decided to pick Wednesday morning after breakfast, we drove to Marquette and up and we hiked the sole good "half mile" to the falls. went into Marquette history museum and learned of the original The path to the cars was littered with shiny rocks. After picking inhabitants of the forest, the Chippewa Indians and then the miners up a few, I found them to be Hematite (iron ore). This led to of copper and iron ore and also the loggers. It was useful having

North Country Troll Assoolot/on Newsletter, Winter 1990-91 Poge8 The tree clearing should have been an easy job. However Chris around as, although be is now a farmer, he used to be a logger. He explained a lot of the techniques. Often we had seen Chris's chain saw broke after a few cuts and we had to push and huge tree stumps, but no trees of that size. Chris explained it was shove the tree clear of the path. We then returned to the others to help clear the rest of the track we had started on Tuesday. Karen high grading- stealing all the good trees, although it bad occured as much as 100 years ago. The other trees still hadn't caught up. He decided to sit out and watch us for the day, which was probably a also explained clearcutting as logging areas cleaned of trees. good move. By the time we had finished the elusive ha!! mile, it We then left Marquette and had a short hike up Sugar Loaf was too late to travel to the next section, so we went home early. mountain, just by Lake Superior. On the return journey, the gang However, our day didn't end there, well for Chris, Gene and I stopped off and bought a "Da Yooper" tape and then we returned anyway. We decided to go for a run which ended up being an eight to camp for a beef and noodle dish. mile marathon. I was to pay for it the next day, tiring very easily.

The habitual motion to the teddy eating spot continued as usual Spaghetti was then the order of the day and we adjourned yet and we munched on chocolate and honey flavor. We were also again to the fireside and to the last of the teddies. A ceremonial box joined by Wes Boyd, the North Country Trail Newsletter Editor. burning in memory of the teddies craze starter himself, Bill.

We now had quite a prestigious group for my week at trail camp Friday we were met after breakfast by Ami Stone of Marquette with North Country Trail President, Membership chairman, Channel Six News. She had come to do a video on the North Newsletter editor and two committee members as well.

Country Trail for television. We bad several interviews including We then listened to the Da Yooper tape and all became clear.

Buddy returning sticks and myself being somewhat of a novelty.

"Da" is actually" the" and "Yooper" was "U .P .er'' as in a man from She was very interested in the Duke of Edinburgh's scheme as the Upper Penninsula of Michigan, so you could get U.P. t-shirts, well, so I gave a few shameless plugs for both the Duke of and tapes of songs about U.P.ers. It all made sense now.

Edinburgh's scheme and the North Country Trail. Ami then came However, not just content with teddies, we decided to make with us on the trail and filmed us at work and a few scenic views.

Today's clearing included a path to another waterfall cleared by mini-smores - being crackers with toasted marshmallows and chocolate - and wiled away the evening toasting over the fire and Karen and Chris alone and the main path ending at another scenic listening to tales ofDa Yoopers. viewpoint overlooking Silver Lake Basin. We bad one area on a Thursday morning breakfast was pancakes made by Gene. At steep slope which we bad to build steps in many places. We ate this point, we had two small hiccups as Bill had to go home for a lunch at the waterfall and continued on but movement was slow as personal reason and Karen had to go off to the doctor as she had Chris hadn't got a chain saw and time ran short and finally rain gotten an ear infection. So two car loads went up and Chris and I caught up with us. We stopped short of Silver Lake Basin but we waited for Karen and Gene to return with one of the cars. When hiked through forest to the overlook anyway.

Karen returned, we went with Gene to a part of the trail cleared last Dinner was barbequed chicken, and we returned to the fire for year, as a tree bad fallen over the path. The journey up was quite the last time. However Don, Gene and Arden soon left to go home exciting, as the early cars had seen a cougar and some deer that and so the fire circle slowly shrank and, with no teddies, a little morning. A cougar was most exciting as it was believed not to exist quiet too. We broke camp the next morning and went separate here anymore and at least three people had seen it, so it could be ways after breakfast.

I'm keeping in touch, being a member of the North Country classed as an official sighting. We didn't miss out totally either, as we saw a pine martin (a sort of mink) as well on the way.

Trail and I hope to be able to go back and do it again some day.

Whoops!

There is a growing awareness in the world today that the North Country National Scenic Trail is indeed special. So many things about the trail are the most or the greatest or some such superiority. It is the longest. It has the greatest variety of wild life, foliage, birds, terrain and seasons.

It also has nights that are the darkest, and that can mean the toughest and scariest, and the section through the Adirondack Mountains is the most of all of that. Listen to this short, tall tale of a pitch dark night when the time was July and the moon was new. :z: The stars were there but could not be seen under the r:~ canopy of densly crowned decidious hardwood trees, I tried not to notice the inky blackness as I stomped steadily forward over wet, spongy ground.

As I kept right on walking I noticed the spongy ground gave way to a light, airy sensation. It was then I realized

rffi

that I was over a deep, wide chasm between one rocky top and the next. The blackness was so thick I could walk on it without falling through. I began to feel pretty confident and was about to be overcome with an omnipotence complex when Divine Justice caught up with me. A bolt of lightning exploded out of the sky and struck the darkness in front of me. An intensely bright chink cleft opened and I plunged down into the inky abyss on what appeared to be a long, steep, slippery, sliding board.

An eternity of split seconds later I suddenly stopped with such a jolt that the sparks flew up from where I sat like a burst of Roman candles.This underwold around me lit up with blinding brightness and I realized that I landed on, of . all places, the Appalachian Trail. I was so revolted by this that I began to jump up and down with righteous indignation shouting non-righteous remarks about the ground I found myself on.

The Appalachian Trail soon revolted at this tirade and responded by bounding me high into the air right back where I started from. I was able to grab bold of the top edge of the inky blackness, pulled up my own boot straps and walked on trying to make like nothing unusual happened.

I didn't fool myself, however, and was quick to avoid any more lightning bolts. That's one kind of illumination I can do without.

?age 9

North Country Troll Association Newsletter, Winter 1990-91

But, true wilderness on the NCT is rare.

Though much of it bas it has been developed so far can be categorized as "forest" trail, remaining segments to be developed are more often rural, or even suburban.

In rural and suburban areas, trail corridors are not easy to come by; they usually only come about through great expense or effort by private or public interests, or a combination of the two.

Where public money is involved in developing such corridors, it is usually difficult to justify the great expense and difficulty of developing a trail route just for the benefit of a relatively small number of often non-local hikers. In seeking tax dollars, government trail developers are forced to l~ok at broadening the range of multiple use m order to get the most recreational use out of the limited funds available. ~n public lands, the same holds true, but trail developers must also face up to the fact that public lands are free of access, and open to all. Yet, the physical characteristics of the trail itself forces limits on the type ~f access. Broadening the type of permitted use costs more tax dollars while increasing the use, so the amount of ~oney available fortrail development may dictate the types of use.

Where trails are developed by private groups, either on private or public land, limiting access is somewhat simpler, as the private group has the choice of the level of trail development to be undertaken, based, always, on the funds and volunteer hours available to do the job. ~ere are li~its to how much multiple use JS acceptable, and it's totally impossible to make a blanket statement of how much is enough, since many factors come into play. Limited access highways do not serve the same purpose as residential streets: they are designed acordingly, with the different purposes and levels of use in mind.

Speed of use is an important input into the question of what mix of trail use is acceptable.

Gerard Bentryn of the Northeast Region oftheBureauofOutdoorRecreationwrote: "The faster a user moves along a trail, the longer the trail must be in order to keep him occupied for a net period of time. Even more important, the total mental stimuli received cannot increase, despite an increased rate of speed. As user speed increases, it becomes increasingly likely and mostly necessary that some form of vehicle be employed. Bicycle, motorcycle, snowmobile, 4-wbeel drive vehicles each require the trail user's attention to differing degrees ..• the use of vehicles on trails, or the pursuit of speed for its own sake, are valid recreational activites. However, given

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by Wes Boyd ne of the touchiest issues to be faced by the North Country National Scenic Trail is multiple use, or, at least, compatible multiple use.

Though often presented as a biking trail, the NCNST was actually authorized by Congress as a "Non-Motorized MultipleUse Trail".

"All certified segments" the Comprehensive Plan of tbe trail says, "shall be open to biking and backpacking. Multiple use of the trail for activities other than hiking and backpacking should be considered. Other non-motorized uses, including but not limited to cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, horseback riding, jogging and bicycling may be permitted on a given

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segment according to desires and policies of the responsible managing authority."

Yet, continuing debate in many areas over multiple use issues often overshadows the issue of getting the trail on the ground in the first place.

With notable exceptions, development of the NCNSf so far has mostly been as a hiking trail, and it often seems as if multiple use ~ebates cons~t of hikers arguing for a punty of expenence on one side, versus other user groups seeking freedom of access on the other. The roots of the debate go much deeper than that, and many fundamental issues come into play in the decision of what users will be allowed on a given segment of trail.

Perhaps if the NCT were entirely a wilderness trail, the debate would be ks; sharp.

Page 10 the acute shortage of recreational lands, the most efficent use of these lands is needed."

Bentryn argued that point-to-point hikers and bicyclists are both goal oriented.

Hikers, when using long, straight trails with long, uninterrupted views can get frustrated by the lack of a sense of progress.

"Multiple use of hiking trails," he wrote, "is extremely disconcerting to hikers because their goal is cheapened if it can be reached comparatively effortlessly," While most long-distance hikers would appreciate a few miles of easy going every now and then, they would not care for a steady diet of them. Yet, such long, straight trails are extremely appealing to the touring bicyclist, who, because of their greater speed, can see more progress.

The speed ranges on a multiple use trail can be enormous, adding to the difficulty of developing a multiple-user trail Users of nature trails travel at the slowest pace of all. A nature trail user will frequently take an hour to go a quarter mile as they carefully examine their surroundings. Given limited obstructions and easy going, bikers, wheelchair users and cross-country skiiers will operate in the range of one and a half to four miles an hour. Horse riders go from the middle of that range to somewhat faster. Trail runners will cover ground at perhaps 5 to 10 miles per hour. Mountian bikers will, depending on trail difficulty, operate from biker speeds to the speed of touring bikes, which can approach 30 miles an hour. Snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles will be faster yet.

Given the ranges of speed of possible use on a trail, user density becomes an important factor in terms of both quality of experience and safety. With one user per hour on a recycled railroad grade, multiple use is hardly an issue. At ten users per hour, the extremes of speed differentials will start to degrade the experience for the nature trail follower, but speeds somewhat away from the extreme ends of the spectrum are still not a problem. At one hundred users per hour, high-speed use will seriously degrade the experience of both the higher and lower-speed users, and cause serious safety concerns if the full range of use is present, Except for special events of limited duratioo, in rural areas hikers would find the speed differentiaJs among hikers alone irritating at a thousand users per hour, though the walker might find this tolerable in an urban setting.

The cost of developing and maintaining a trail increases with the denisty of use, as well, and costs increase as the types of permitted use broaden.

Much of the North Country Trail has been developed as a low-use hiking trail, simply because this is the cheapest way to

North Country Trail Association Newsletter, Winter 1990-91 develop a trail, and in many areas use will not be high. On both public and private lands, a relatively primitive hildng trail is fairly easily developed in terms of both dollars and hours spent, except in areas of great terrain difficulty. As that trail is developed for other uses, the amount of time and money that must be spent on a given trail segment must be increased sharply if the trail is to be an acceptable user experience for all comers.

If that relatively primitive hiking trail is to be upgraded for use by trail runners, more maintenancebecomes required. Treadways and clearways have to be kept more open, and the trail must become less of an obstacle course, If mountian biking is added, even more work becomes necessary; the trail must be wider, more open and less rough, and the sharpest comers need to be eliminated. Some sidehills must be cut away, with water bars added. In areas of loose soil, or on grades, treadway degradation becomes a concern. Add cross-country skiing, and even more care must be taken in the trail layout; steep grades must be reduced or eliminated. Add nature trails, and treadways must be improved and intrepetive signs provided.

Considerably larger clearances are necessary for horse use, and the trail must be straightened again. On many types of soil, considerable treadway improvement and maintenance becomes absolutely necessary if the trail is to remain acceptable to the biker. 路 If touring bikes or wheelchairs are added to the trail mix, the expense of a paved treadway and widening, straightening and leveling the trail can drive the cost of trail construction - let alone aquisition - to many tens of thousands of dollars per mile, which is why recycled railroad grades are often sought for this sort of development: the trail configuration is already acceptable for touring bicycles, and the roadbed is fairly well ready for paving. If use rises above minimum levels,separate treadways become necessary merely as a matter of safey. In urban areas, such trails may remain acceptable for the hiker, but in rural areas they may only be acceptable if alternatives are not available.

The level of use aJso affects the cost of trail development. At ten hikers per day, the primitive hiking trail will be wild and primitive, indeed. At ten thousand hikers per day, the trail will need to be developed nearly to the quality of the touring bike trail. Costs increase still further as the variety of use increases, so it's easy to see why, thus far, the North Coyntry Trail has. tended to developas a hiking trail, and why most multiple use issues about the trail have tended to arise over bikers versus other uses.

istorically, the sharpest disagree. ments over multiple use of the NCI' have arisen in three areas: snowmObile/biker, A1V/biker, and horse/ biker, with a fourth issue- mountian bikes - looming ever larger on the borizion.

The snowmobile/hiker debate is strongest in the more northern sections of the NCI', especially northern Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota, where snowmobile users play a significant part of the winter economy of the region. As a result, snowmobile trails have proliferated, often using corridors that are the only possible routes fortheNCT. The economic impact of snowmobiles in the region has resulted in strong lobbies in the various state legislatures, bearing further results in a significant amount of tax dollars and snowmobile registration fees beingspent on snowmobile trail development and grooming. In Michigan, as an example, a portion of each gasoline tax dollar goes toward snowmobile development, giving snowmobile trail interests funds to work with that can only be envied by other trail interests.

This lobbying power and money means that if a corridor is being considered for snowmobile uses versus other uses, the other user groups usually lost out. Even where snowmobile money is not involved in trail acquisition, snowmobile use of a trail oorridor is almost automaticallyplugged in even before the needs and desires of other interest groups are consulted.

This has reached a policy level in Minnesota, where the state has historically not allowed development of trails not open to snowmobiles on state lands. This policy, tboogh showing signs of change, bas strongly retarded development of the NCI' in Minnesota, where trail developers are considering a 300-mile detour through federal lands in the Superior Natiooal Forest, where the trail can be closed to snowmbiiles.

On the surface, it would seem that there should be little conflict between summer hikers and winter snowmobilers. So it seemed to the authors of the "Comprehensive Plan for the North Coontry NatiooalScenic Trail": "The use of motorized vehicles by the general public along any segment of a National Scenic Trail is prohibited ... it is reoommended that some segments of the NCI' also be open to snowmobile use by the general public. Much of the trail lies within the nation's snow belt where snowmobiling is a major winter recreational activity. During the process of identifying a specific route for the NCI', it was found that some of the best existing trails which otherwise are ideally suited for incorporation into the NCI' route are also designated snowmobile trails . . . in order to permit snowmobiling by the general public oo

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North Country Trail Association Newsletter, Winter 1990-91 some sections of the NCT, the National Trails System Act will have to be amended

by Congress." . The National Park: Service bas never ~een able to generate much support for this proposal, as there are conflict, both philosophical and practical, over snowmobiles on theNCT. "To open any National Scenic Trai1 to motoriud devices of any kind," wrote former NCT Advisory Council member Tom Thwaits, "is to open all trails to all types of vehicles. If the price of this opposition is the postponment of the completionof the NCT, it is a small price to pay to protect what we already have."

While the portions of the NCT developed as a hiking trail are generally accessable to snowmobiles,there is a fair amount of winter use of the NCTby cross-country skiiers and snowshoers. The great speed differential between the differing groups of users on the narrow and crooked biking trails, and the noise of the snowmobiles have caused a great deal of resistance.

In actual fact, snowmobile trails may not make for good hiking trails, anyway. Often the snowmobile trails are routed through marshy areas, passable only when frozen, or across fields that have aops in the summer months.

In addition, there is jealousy. To bikers, it would seem that snowmobiles, with all the funding available, already have sufficent trail opportunities without being aliowed on the NCT. A Michigan Department of Natural Resources flyer for some years read, "Did you know that Michigan has over 4,500 miles of snowmobile trails . .• 308 miles of horseback riding trails, 182 'miles of cross-couotry ski trails, 1,580 miles of off-road vehicle trails and 162 miles of hiking trails?", totally oblivious to the fact that Michigan had more miles of hiking trail than that on Isle Royalealone. Clearly, Michigan hikers perceived themselves to be far down the priority list at the Department of Natural Resources, and have been defensive in protecting what they have been able to accomplish. ven snowmobilers aren't very happy about having All-Terrain Vehicles on their trails, given the amount of treadway degradation done by these vehicles.

The most serious problem with All-TerraiQ Vebicles involves the intrusion of these vehicles on trails closed to them. The proliferation of these vehicle has caused serious erosion problems in areas where they are prevalent, and a significant cost factor in maintaining some trails is the cost of repairing A1V damage.

While tbe interface problem between snowmobiles and winter non-motorized users

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Page 11

is relatively light due to the season, ATVs are on the trails in the summer months when hiker use is heaviest.

Of the most serious concern is the lack of consideration that ATV users irresponsible enough to be on a trail marked closed to them will show to legitimate trai1 users.

While the noise of ATVs seriously degrades the trail experience of non-motorized users by itself, it at least warns of their presence. Development of effective noise suppressors only increases the danger between ATVs and non-motorized users.

Where limited trail corridors force nonmotorized and ATV trails to be close to each other, the danger of invasive use may be the highest, and there are places where it cannot be avoided, While no one but ATV enthusiasts propose multiple use between bikers and ATVs, such use has never been seriously considered for the NCT due to the restrictions on motorized vehicles on the trail. However, invasive use of ATVs on the trail will continue to cause considerable concern, and biking trail developers will continue to be as obstructive as possible to the vehicles. be interface between bikers and horsemen has long been thesharpestNCTmultiple-useissue.When the subject comes up, treadway degradation is usually the bone of contention.

In a study of the 673 miles of NCT certified in 1982, North Country Trail Association horse enthusiast Tomi Lou Spyker reported that only 277 were open to horse use. A little less than half of this was in national forests that do not have much horse traffic.

Little trail developed since has been built to specifications that would allow much use by an animal weighing as much as the average horse, mounting heavy metal shoes, even if it were permitted.

One of the areas that is open to this multiple use .ti the Michigan Shore-to-Shore Riding-Hiking Trail, of which the NCT uses 34 miles. The Shore-to-Shore Trai1 was developed by the Mitbigan Horseman's Council mostly for horse use, with hiking an afterthought, although the trai1 does receive some hiker use. The trail is located in a region that is largely sandy soil, and the heavy horse use has resulted in what ~Michigan Trai1 Atlas" author Dennis Hansen calls "a linear sand dune". For the hiker, it's hard going, and there has been discussion of eventually putting in an NCT alternate route that would avoid the Shore-to-Shore Trail entirely.

Yet, where soil types are stable enough or use is~ eoough to limit dama~, it would seem that horses and hikers have a lot in common. Both are operating at much

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the same speed, and don't disturb the environment beyond the trail very much.

Only when use rises beyond a trail's carrying capacity will there be problems, be they erosion or manure. That carrying capacity will vary from trail to trail. On a recycled railroad grade, base's hooves aren't going to cause much damage, and there's room enough for all. On a steep, sandy forest floor, too much use by bikers alone wearing "waffle-stamper"boots will cause unacceptable treadway damage. In many areas, it must be accepted that horse use is going to cause more treadway damage than if they were not present.

"Horse users don't like rutted, muddy, overgrown trails any more than hikers, and neither do horses," Jennifer Leopold of the Chester County, Pennsylvania Equine Council wrote. "This is a problem that is solveable. Some trai1s need to be rerouted to better drained soil. When demand, is high, some trails need to be widened:'~to¡ permit the trafficto spread out. Some trails will still need more special attention."

Page12 In most areas, horse users on the NCT will have to accept this fact, and contribute to trail maintenance as well as trail use and many do so already. All too often, hikers and horsemen alike tend to leave maintainence to "the state" or "the other guy". In any case, the decision whether to allow horse use on a stated segment of trail will have to depend on many factors, including trail design and clearances, soil type, grades, and just who contributes bow much to the construction, maintenance and use of the trail. t is not yet clear bow much of a problem mountian bikes will be on the North Country Trail, though the influence is steadily growing. Virtually none of the North Country Trail was designed for these vehicles, per se, but there are increasing reports of their use.

Mountian bikes, or "ATBs" (All-Terrain Bicycles) contrast to touring bicycles by having heavy frames and tires, and even more gears to handle soft spots and grades.

Developed originally in California, there have been countless reports of problems with them there. These problems have included treadway degradation, speed issues and irresponsible ridership.

In treadway degradation, the issues seem similar to those issues involving horses, especially considering that biking and other trails were not engineered for wheeled use.

Speed issues are different. The user's speed varies through an -enormous range, much more so than in other uses. On difficult trails, tbe speed is probably not much higher than that of a brisk walker, but as trails become more open and easier going, speeds can increase dramatically. It can be seen that there will be safety concerns due to the speed difference with bikers, and considering the speed differential, there will be a need for bikers to keep looking back for these silent vehicles - a real degradation of the hiker's experience.

The real unknown is in rider irresponsibility. There are untold reports of children on BMX bicycles, which have similar offroad capabilties, causing hiker problems in more populated and more heavily used areas. How much of this will transfer to the deeper woods is hard to say at this point, but there is cause for concern. Given the speed differentials and safety concerns, irresponsible riders could ruin the ATB sport for many other riders, and drive bikers to trails where ATBs are banned.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources Trails Advisory Council in 1989 returned a finding that mountian bikes were "generally, but not universally compatible" on hiking trails, with the feeling that some trails could benefit from more use. At the same time, the committee said they would have to be carefully monitored, but

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North Country Tral/ Association Newsletter, Winter 1990-91 only if there was a specific negative impact toughest part will be on private lands in on a specific trail should they be banned. largely rural areas, and mostly that is a Once again, the amount of use compared problem that is waiting to be confronted. to a trail's engineering will undoubtedly Whether with government dollars or have to play a part in the decision whether private donations, multiple use will play a to allow mountian bike use, but it would big part in the remaining sections of the seem as if the jury will still be out for some NCT to be finished. It will take recycled years to come on thequestionoftheirplace railroads, county parks, private land aplenty. in the multiple-use spectrum on the North It will take cooperation with many user Country Trail. groups, not just hikers. It will take cooperation with a vast array' of governmental n the development of the NCT so agencies that will want to see the biggest far, multiple-use issues have only recreational bang for the scarce tax buck. rarely reared their beads on speIf the trail is ever to be completed, NCT cific segments- largely because only few developers will not be able to ignore spesegments have been designed with mul- cific non-hiker user groups that can add tiple use in mind. Though much remains to dollars, political clout or the sweat of their be done in the way of paperwork, the vast brows to route the trail through a given majority of the "easy" North Country Trail problem area. While much of the trail will - that part located on public lands - bas remain a hiker's trail, there are many places been completed, and the gaps located on where only an acceptance of multiple use public lands are rapidly being filled in. The will get the trail on the ground.

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Cornell University Students help maintaln NCT/FLT Students at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, are taking advantage of a course called "Finger Lakes Trail Maintenance". This unique course is one of many offered throughout the year by Cornell Outdoor education. The course provides two wweekends each semester of "quick and dirty" service projects on the Finger Lakes Trail and its certified segments of North Country Trail. The projects include building bridges across swamps and streams, digging drainage ditches, re-routing trail, and repairing campsites and shelters. Students also learn about minimum impact camping techniques, natural history, camp cooking, wilderness living skills, and safe use of tools for trail improvement projects. Students are forewarned to be prepared "to work your hardest, rain or shine". nle Cayuga Trails Club, a member organization of the Finger Lakes Trail Conference, subsidizes the cost of food, tools, and building materials. The instructors volunteer their time for the course. Past classes have worked on the Danby State Forest, Sbindagin Hollow State Froest, and Connecticut Hill sections of the NCT. Other courses offered by Cornell Outdoor Education include Finger Lakes Backpacking, rockclimbing at the Schawangunks Cliffs, technical ice climbing, basic mountaineering, basic caving, bicycling, whitewater kayaking, Adirondacks canoe camping, and wilderness emergency care. All courses are open to students, staff, and the general public.

EnvironmentalQuality Bond Act falls in New York The 21st Century Environmental Quality Bond Act wwas defeated by New York voters 51%to49% on November 6. The $1.9 billion bond act would ahve provided funds for historic preservation, solid waste recycling progreams, closing leaking landfills, water and sewage treatment plants, park stewardships, and acquisition of environmentally important lands. The bond act was passed overwhelmingly by both houses of the state legislature, and governor Mario Cuomo campaigned bard for its passage. The AFL-CIO, the NY State Association of Counties, and the Business Council bad endorsed the Bond Act. Over 300 environmental interest groups, representing over a million citizens, endorsed it. Before the Bond Act's defeat, the Finger Lakes Trail Conference had been preparing to submit a list of lands the state might purchase from willing sellers to preserve the Finger Lakes and North Country Trail.

North Country Troll Association Newsletter, Winter 1990-91

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Septagenarians go end to end on FLT

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by Edward Sidote On September 29th, 1990, at 3:29 PM, my hilting partner, Rufus Perkins (71) and the writer (73) succeded in reaching our goal to hike the main trail of the FingerLakes Trail from the Dening Leanto in the Catskills, the eastern terminal, through Alleghany State Park, plus one mile south into Pennsylvania, the western terminal.

We began by biking and snowshoeing the 72 miles of the main Finger Lakes Trail in Chenango County, followed by bikes in adjacent counties. Suddenly, we realized that we bad accumulated a lot of mileage, so we decided to bike the rest of the trail piecemeal as time, weather, and our health permitted.

It required several years to complete the trail because we devoted a lot of time to closing gaps that existed in various parts of the state, plus maintaining the sections of the trail for which we are stewards. · I neglected to keep a daily dairy of this venture; however, I did take hundreds of slides and color prints, some of which I have shown to groups. As the saying goes, "One picture is worth a thousand words."

I regret I do not have the ability to describe in detail here the breathtaking views we have witnessed across the state. It is quite a sight to be up high enough so that you can look down on one of the Finger Lakes.

We saw many deep gorges, cascading waterfalls of all sizes, the beautiful Finger Lakes, many beaver ponds. We biked along many, many brooks, streams and creeks listening to the music created by the water flowing over rocks and debris. We saw many geological wonders formed by the glacierperiod. We enjoyed the great variety of wildflowers and fems along the trail. I always enjoy hiking through the C.C.C. evergreen plantations, and there are many of these across the state as a kind of a memorial to the men who were in the C.C.C. (Most ofour state parks that the Finger Lakes Trail passes near, or through, would not existtoday if it were not for the hard work they performed.) We had the pleasure of seeing wildlife such as deer, turkeys, rabbits, squirrels, fox, partridge, hawks and various other species. There are a considerable number of steep ascents and descents on the trail that are as challenging as many of the lesser peaks in the Adirondacks. To really appreciate this beautiful state of New York, I urge you to shoulder your pack and walk the Finger Lakes Trail. You have to see, bear and smell all the above with your own senses.

I hope to revisit many of the outstanding places of the trail to get photos in different seasons and under better lighting conditions; some of the days that we biked were not ideal picture-taking days.

As we bad hiked across the state together, we decided to approach the finish line side by side, whichwe did. This makes us the second individuals to bike the Finger Lakes Trail end-to-end.

I believe that we are also the oldest.

As we approached the end of our bike, we experienced mixed emotions. We were happy, and thankful, that at our ages we were still physically capable of accomplishing this bike. I assure you that at times the bike was strenuous, especially on days when the temperature was in the 90s. It never crossed the minds of eitherof us to abandon.our goal. We were also a little sad, or depressed, because the bike was over. However, there are still the Finger Lakes branch trails to conquer, and when we get old enough to retire from our full time jobs we might take a crack at the rest of

Ed Sidote and Rufus Perkins reach the end of the Finger Lakes TraU. Photo k by George Probst, Wellsville, NY, who hiked with them the last three days of their trip. the North Country Trail. After all, we have just completed 300 miles of it in New York state, which only leaves 2,900 miles to complete.

In conclusion, I want to take this opportunity to thank all those individuals who helped us reach our goal m the western part of New York State by providing us with a second car. It was a pleasure to have several of them participate in our bike, also. It would have been much more difficult to complete our hike without their assistance.

I also feel it is appropriate to thank all the volunteers in the Finger Lakes Trail Hiking Clubs across the state who created the trail over the past 28 years. Also, the many individual sponsors, scout troops, and organizations who have helped to make the trail a reality. Without their dedication to the trail, there would have been no trail to bike "End to End". I want to thank the NY-NJ Trail Conference for their trail work in the Catskills, especially the bridge to the Dening Lean-To. As we utilized existing trails in the Catskills to reach the Dening Lean-To, I want to thank the Department of Environmental Conservation for the trails they built and maintained. Without the combined efforts of the above there would be no Finger Lakes Trail today. I hope that our "End to End" bike will inspire others to make the attempt.

North Country National Scenic Trail National Forest Status, October 1990 Miles Planned Allegheny, PA 95 Chequamegon 60 Chippewa, MN 68 Custer,ND 25 Hiawatha,MI 100 Manistee, MI 115 Ottawa, MI 118 Wayne,OH JK! Total 661

Miles

Complete 95 60 68 25 96.5

73 107 ~ 558

Miles

Rem•inin& 0 0 0 0

3.5

42 11 ~

103

Page 14

North Country Troll Association Newsletter, Winter 1990-91

10th Anniversary Hike Report:

New York has successful events The NCT 10th Anniversary Hike on September 2, 1990, was a success in New York as it was across the 3,200 mile trail In New York, seven separate events along the Finger Lakes Trail and the certified sections of the North Country Trail were held to commemorate the 10th Anniversary of Congressional authorization of the North Country National Scenic Trail. The FLT and NCT received significant publicity in newspapers and on television as a direct result of the Anniversary Hike. Major articles about the Anniversary, the FLT, the NCT and trail volunteers were published in newspapers in Elmira, Ithaca, Rochester, Syracuse and other cities. Tom Reimers, FLTC President, appeared on a local television news program and had a story written by him published in "The Grapevine Weekly", a widely-circulated Tompkins County newspaper.

The day's activites began at 7:00 AM with the Virgil Forest Monster Marathon on the FLT/NCT in Cortland County. The 26.2-mile marathon bad 33 runners. Joe Dabes, a member of the Board of Managers of the Finger Lakes Trail Conference, won the race, which was held in warm and humid conditions. It was 65 degrees at the start and 85 degrees at the finish.

The next event was located in Goundry Hill State Forest near Monterey where a newly certified section. of the NCT was officially dedicated. Twenty-nine trail enthusiasts from New York and Pennsylvania participated in the dedication and short bike by Larry Komer.

Other events began at 1 :30 PM. Twentytwo hikers joined Laura McGuire on the FLT/NCT in Connecticut Hill Wildlife . Management Area. The hike was followed by bot dogs served at Laura's hiker's cabin.

Laura was assisted by Ed Sidote and several members of her family. The Department of Environmental Conservation did an excellent job of clearing the trail through a couple open fields before the bike. The DEC also recently built rock and dirt barriers across the FLT/NCT to block A1Vs. The hike on the FLT from Mt. Tego to Taylor Valley in Cortland County, led be Bill Coffin and Terry Giarrosso, was enjqyed by 24 ~rs.According to Te~, ~e public supper.at the end of the bike was a success with asoagfest and gourmet marshmallows. A major article appeared in the

TRAIL RUNNERS relax before the Virgil Forest Monster Marathon on the North Country Trail in New York-路 one of eight events in the state that commemorated the tenth anniversary of the North Country Trail.

Syracuse newspaper after the hike. Terry said that Cliff Abbott gave a "wonderful speech" abol3tthe NCT and FLT. The "M-12 Gap" in the fLT near Hammondsport was ceremoniously closed by 23 bikers led by Irene Szabo. The bikers included two leaders of the Finger Lakes Land Trust, an organization dedicated to preserviog enviroomentallysigaifiamt lands in the Finger Lakes Region through conservation easements and other means.

An all-downhill hike in Watkins Glen State Park, led by Larry Komer, was enjoyed by 19 hikers. A pizza party in Watkins Glen followed. Larry and the FLT/ NCT were prominently featured in a story in the Elmira newspaper.

The overnight backpacking trip planned for Danby State Forest was canceled due to lack of participants, butBettyLewis, President of the Cayuga Trails Club, was ready to lead backpackers on their trek.

A highlight of the day occurred just before the hike in Robert H. Treman State Parle. New York State Assemblyman Martin A. Luster presented the FLTC with an Assembly resolution recognizing the NCT 10th Anniversary and the work done by volunteers to build and preserve the FLT and NCT. Twenty individuals enjoyed a great hike down the H..T/NCT nl up Fnfield Glen past Lucifer Falls. A heavy downpour started 30 minutes before the hike and probably kq>t a few people away. Hike leader Tony Ingraham captivated his audience with descriptions of the natural and social history of the area. Tony is a naturalist for the Finger Lakes Region of the NYS

Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Robin Spry-Campbell of the Cayuga Trail Club was assistant hike leader.

Andrew Mazzella, Director of the Finger Lakes Region oftbe New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation was also present.

At each event, board members of the North Country Trail Association and the FLTC spoke briefly about the FLT and NCT and the significance of the 10th Anniversary. These included Howard Beye, Irene Szabo, Doris Abbott, Cliff Abbott and Tom Reimers. Two prizes were given away to bikers at each event. In Treman State Park, Tony Ingraham gave away a day pack to the hiker who traveled the farthest for the bike. A fellow from Ireland won! Prizes were donated by the Wildware store oflthaca, McGuire Gardens oflthaca, ABC Outdoor Store of Rochester, Eastern Mountain Sports of Binghamton, Eureka camping of Binghamton, and the Cayuga Trails Club ofltbaca.

New NCT brochures, FLTC and NCT membership brochures, and special-edition FLT maps were given to all hikers.

NCI' lapel pins were to have been given away to all hikers. Unfortunately, they arrived from the manufacturer a week late.

In summary, organizers ofJbC NCT 10th Anniversary Hike were able to attract 170 people to participate in the seven special events planned for New York. Hundreds also participated in Pennsylvania, Ohto; Michigan, Wisaxwin, Minnesota and North Dakota.

North Country Trail Association Newsletter, Winter 1990-91

Page 15

Tenth Anniversary HikeRaorl

Pennsylvania has good turnout The bikes planned in Pennsylvania were successful. Three locations were organized and run. The report for the Allegheny National Forest was given in the last issue.

The hike in Moraine State park, led by Dr. Bill Shiner, attracted 23 hikers. A lundleon was held at the Marina Restaurant with a special hiker's lunch. Dr. Shiner provided an anniversary cake to t~ it off. The weather was beautiful and the trail was in excellent shape.

In the Cook State Forest, there were 40 bikers in attendance, Six people from American Youth Hostels acted as helpers. The trails were in great shape and everyone enjoyed themselves.

fil.KERS REGISTER for the ~n-mileNorth Country National Scenic Trail Anniversary Hike held in the Allegheny National Forest.

Photo by Mary Hosmer

Horsemen, hikers, enjoy Anniversary Hike in Ohio The hike in Ohio was very successful.

Wayne National Forest, Dan Kincaid leader, had a total of 15 hikers. His comment indicated that the bike was too long and the terrain too difficult for the average hiker.

Mary Hamilton in the Zoar section had 11 bikers, most of them camped near the canoe livery. People enjoyed the outing.

Neal Brady at Fort Loramie State Park had an attendance of 40 hikers. The weather was hot but all survived. It was an easily paced hike and very interesting, with Neal giving a history of the canal towns that

hikers passed through.

The Ohio Horseman's Council held rides in two areas, Caeser's Creek- Llttle Miami area, and East Fork. 114 Riders turned out at Caeser's Creek and 90 riders attended East Fork's ride. These were the most successful sections in Ohio. 93 people from a church youth group also participated in the Llttle Miami Area.

On September 22, Baird Stewart led a hike on the Sandy and Beaver Canal. This is part of the NCT in eastern Ohio. 100 people enjoyed the day; composed of 70 bikers, 13 Red Cross and Ham Radio Club members, 4 members of a local scout troop, plus committee members and trail leaders.

Six Ohio cities were represented and three communities from Pennsylvania.

THE NORTH COUNTRY TRAD.. along the Little Miami River is especially suited to horses, as the two girls above found out in the Caeser's Creek event. Left, a family checks out of the route of the event in the Little Miami Scenic Park.

Page 16

North Country Troll Association Newsletter, Winter 1990-91

Michigan has success with NCT Anniversary hikes For the NCT Tenth Anniversary Hike on Labor Day, the state of Michigan supported five hike locations and an infonnationdistribution point at the Mackinac Bridge Walk. It was very successful.

The information distribution point at the Mackinac Bridge Walle informed more than 8,000 people about the trail while 65,000-pluswalked the MackinacBridge section of the trail. It was a beautiful day for a walk.

The Manistee forest had several walks over the Labor Day weekend led by the West Michigan Chapter of the NCTA. 100 hikers turned out to enjoy the last of summer. Long hikes as well as short ones were featured. There was even a treasure hunt planned for kids.

The Hiawatha National Forest hosted a hike, led by Wes Boyd, that only attracted five hikers, but they had a great time anyway, hiking near Brevort lake.

Wilderness State Park hosted two days of hikes, led by Derek

Blount. There were a total of 49 hikers and one very friendly dog.

The route was a loop around much of the park. The park was very cooperative in helping to drain the trail in one spot due to the activities of a beaver family. Bob Pinta! and Rob Comstock of the Wilderness Parkstaffwere very helpful and would like to see more hikes in the future. They are currently doing some upgrading work to the trail and establishing new trail.

Ruth MacFarlane led a hike in the Ottawa National Forest on Labor Day weekend in memory of the late Peter Wolfe, first NCT end-to-ender. Hikes were also conducted overthe next three weekends with a new bridge dedication. 105 hikers took part in these hikes.

The big winner in Michigan was in the Marquette area where Don and Gene Elzinga hosted 130 hikers on the NCT, in the Sugar Loaf Mountain area. The event drew a good deal of local interest and publicity. They have developed a strong group of hikers and trail maintenance people.

The TenthAnniversacyNCT Hike in Wisconsin

Good turnout in Chequamegon Forest A total of 69 hikers -men with hiking staffs, women in shorts and assorted children - celebrated the NCTA 's Tenth Anniversary by hiking a 5-mileportion of theNCT through the Chequamegon N ational Forest.

The hike started at a trail head about ten miles southwest of Mellen, WI. This is probably the most scenic portion of the trail in Wisconsin as it traverses the ridgeof the PenokeeRange (ancient worn-down mountains).Most of thispartof the trail winds through mature hardwoodtimber. Three overlooks allow apanoramicview of the Wisconsin north woods.

NCT volunteers signed the hikers in and gave each group a number. At the end of the trail the groups were counted in, ensuring that no one would be left behind.

ChequamegonNationalForestpersonnel were very helpful, especiallywith shuttling cars and drivers to the take-outlocation: The weatherman cooperated by furnishing blue skies, and temperatures in the 60+ degree range.

-Robert E. Dreis The weather for our bike was ideal - partly cloudy skies with temperatures in the mid to upper 60s and a gentle breeze blowing in the open areas. Very few mosquitos, too. People started gathering at the starting point shortly before 9 AM. Two volunteers from the Cable Museum of Natural History set up and maintained the registration table, issuing numbered tags to each biker so we could . check that each person made it safely off the trail. They also gave each person a map of the trail, specially printed for the occasion by the Forest Service. Meanw bile, I greeted hikers and tried to interest my 6 year old son in a few exploratory trips in the nearby woods.

The Forest Service provided shuttle transportation for drivers so they could take their cars to the end of the trail, drop them off, and get a free ride back to the starting point. After rounding up their biking partners, and grabbing a handful of cookies (which we offered to everyone),the first group was on the trail by twenty after nine.

As more hikers gathered, the Forest Service ran the shuttle several more times. At about 10:30, I decided it might be a good

idea to drop off the cold sodas and apples at the midway point, about three and a halfmiles along the trail at a road crossing. Originally, someone had volunteered to maintain this way station, but they either got lost or forgot about it. So I hastily printed up a sign asking the hikers to check off their numbers of a list attached to a clipboard and to help themselves to free refreshments.

At 11:00, we moved the registration materials, information brochures, order forms, and what was left of the cookies and a jug of water to the end of the trail. Chris (my son-remember him?

By now, he was bored out of bis mind with saying, "This isn't fair.

If you're the leader, then you're supposed to go first") and I decided to bring up the rear. We caught up with the two rangers who had left a few minutes earlier and got the benefit of a guided historic tour, complete with off-trailvisits to an old Swedish farm (circa 1917) and an Adirondackshelter. Aftera while, Chris went on ahead, knowing I'd catch up eventually. I stayed behind and learned more about the logging history of the area and details of the forest managementplan.

Around noon, we stopped for lunch at the Marengo River crossing. Time to relax in the sun, share cookies and apples, and watch the fish beneath the bridge. A little while later we paused briefly for the last of three scenic overlooks and then started a slow descent to the road crossing a half-mile ahead. At the crossing, we finished off the rest of the sodas and noted that all the bikers bad made it past our first checkpoint. Revitalized, we headed into the woods for the last mile and a half.

About two minutes later, we encountered a hiker beading in the opposite direction. She was enjoying it so much, she decided to bike both ways. We chatted briefly and then moved on. We made ittotheendofthetrailby2:00PM. withChrisstillleadingtheway.

After collecting all the hike materials, the ice chests, the empty soda cans, etc., we bid farewell to the forest ranger and beaded home.

Two days later, back at work, my officemateasked bow I could drive a hundred and forty miles to hike five miles through the woods. What could I tell him? You just bad to be there!

-- Rick Magyar

North Country Trail Association Newsletter, Winter 1990-91

1990 Hike - Lessons Learned

bv Derek Blount, Hike Coordinator - Two years ago, the NCTA embarked on a major excursion into the unknown.As in Star Trek, ourtwoyearmission was to increase public awareness of the trail, seek out new members and boldly go where we had never gone before. We have now returned from our mission with a moderate success. Our membership has risen and many thousands of people are now aware of the existence of the trail. Our mission bas brought as many questions as answers.

I want to take this opportunity to thank the many people and organizations that volunteered their time to make this event happen. It took long hours and many letters and phone calls. I am • grateful for everyone's help. I am especially grateful to Ginny Wunsch for her help as the central point of communication for hike inqiries, memberships, and sales of NCTA items.

What were our successes?

- Our major successes were in the public awareness of the trail.

Over 8,000 people are now directly aware of the existence of the trail due to the Hike and the brochure distribution at the Mackinac Bridge in Michigan. Many thousands more read about us in newspapers, magazines, regional tourist publications, state calendars of events, flyers, posters, company newsletters, radio, TV, the NCTA newsletter and word of mouth. Our brochures continue to appear in all Michigan Travel Information Centers, Chambers of Commerce, State Parks, State Forests, and National Forests. They can also be found in many camping and outfitter shops. Special thanks should be given to all Coordinators who spent many hours in getting the publicity out.

- There was some success in making legislators aware of the trail and its importance to the economy and recreation of the seven states.

- We had limited success in attracting new members. As of six weeks after the event, we bad received only 32 new memberships from all seven states. We bad some limited success in generating sales of our T-shirts, patches, pins and other NCTA materials.

- Success was also shown in the strong support from the horse people of Ohio and the bikers from Marquette, Michigan. Surprising numbers of people showed up in Wisconsin and North Dakota in spite of short notice and limited hike locations. The coordinators really scrambled in these locations.

- Trail sections were completed or worked on this year that may have languished for lack of interest.

- Most importantly, the event was actually completed, with limited funding and manpower. This was done by no small effort on the part of Parks and Forest people, hike coordinators and their , volunteers.

Our failures taught us several lessons: - We were grossly understaffed for this event. Many of our members did not volunteer, and many more did not even show up for events. We bad trouble finding and keeping coordinators for states and segments. Once again, only a small number of our membership were really interested in participating.

- Our patches and pins were ordered from a company that promised us they would be delivered one month prior to the hike.

They were delivered 1-4 weeks later than the event. As a result, we have many pins and patches on hand to sell. This ties up cash that could be better used elsewhere.

- Corporate support was almost non-existent. Over 220 companies were approached and not one was willing to commit anything this year to the event. Many companies did not even respond. Two companies said they would be interested next year if we let them

Page17

know what was planned.

- The event was in conflict with too many other events on the same weekend.

- Many trail user groups were not approached to participate.

- Inspite of the efforts of our coordinators to contact and solicit help from politicans, few appeared. Thanks to the effort of Pat Allen, the Governor of Michigan dedicated his whole address at the Mackiaac Bridge to the NCT Anniversary. Unfortunately, the situation in Iraq and editorial decisions prevented any mention in the TV or print media, even though they were there and filmed and interviewed our NCTA President and the Governor.

- Some segments were too long or too rugged for the average participant.

- I had to cover three jobs as well as being overall coordinator.

It was impossible to do justice to all of them. Follow-up on many things suffered. Too many things that were planned came apart in the last six months and had to be taken care of as expeditiously as possible.

- More comunication between people would have been helpful but once again, because of a manpower shortage, many things could not be done.

We know where we failed. Now, what can we do ab01.Uit? And where do we go from here?

- Offer wholesale prices to retailers that wish to sell our T-shirts, pins and patches-and solicitthis type of business. The Trail Shop manager could handle this. This will still give us a profit on the items and help us to reduce our stock.

- We, need to be more positive about the NCTA. Tell more people about this great opportunity to help build this great national asset. Tell them about the camaraderie, trail work, hikes, special events, legal work, legislative work, and the fun.

- Continue to push for more publicity. Newspaper articles can be written and submitted by anyone. Take your local outdoors editor to lunch and talk trail. Push winter events on the trail as well as summer hiking and riding. Look for the unusal on the trail and let them know about it (i.e., llamas as pack animals on the trail, or sled dog races.)

- Plan hikes in parks as historical or interpretative nature hikes.

More people will participate and you will get more support from the park staff. They may even supply a naturalist for your hike. If we fulfill their needs as park staff they will help us with our trail and the NCTA. - It is necessary to begin marketing the NCTA. People still do not know who weareandwhywearehere. Theydonotknowwhat other organizations work with us and support us. And most importantly, the general public, as well as some of our membership, have no idea what our needs are.

- Follow up with a NCTA mailing to the 1,200 bikers that participated in the bikes. Maybe even mail them a special certificate for participating. Names and addresses should be on the hike registration forms.

- Work on producing more trail guides and maps for completed areas. The demand is great and potential for revenue generation is good.Perhapssmallcommitteesofthreecouldworkoncompleted segment trail guides. One person could work on creating maps and the others on the text. The existing publications committee could handle the printing of these guides in a consistent manner.

- We need to learn, as individuals, to take more risks and try new things in the NCTA. If we fail, we learn by it and can do better next time. We become better people by learning to become better leaders. We cannot stop trying. Try something new you have never tried before. Take on a job that needs doing and give it your best effort. Many people did for the hike and found they were more successful than they anticipated. Our event may not have fulfilled all our expectations, but we learned by it.

Page 18

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North Country Troll Association Newsletter, Winter 1990-91

Book review

Three new hike books

cover NCT segments Fifty Hikes in Ohio, by Ralph Ramey ($12.95) FiftyHikes in WestemPennsylvania,by Tom Thwaites ($11.95) FiftyHikesin Western New York, by William P. Ebling ($12.95) - all from Backountry Publications, PO Box 175, Woodstock VT 05091 "Backcountry Publications," a company that has published several hiking guides to the northeastern states, has just added three of interest to NCT enthusiasts. Naturally, in areas of such prolific hiking opportunities, trying to limit the hikes to 50 is a big job, and the selection of hikes could provoke debate, but the books are each a great guide for the casual hiker and serious enthusiast alike.

Each bike contains a listing of mileage, time, vertical relief and USGS topographic maps involved. A copy of the topo map with trail is included and most hikes also include a photograph taken by the author.

Text with each bike is well-written and nicely detailed. There are directions on how to drive to the trailhead, and along with trail information, a variety of geological, biological and historical descriptions of each hike.

Each book presents a wide variety of hikes, from a few hours to a few days. They include trails found on federal, state, municipal, university and private land. Many are loop trails and offer campgrounds nearby.

Naturally, not all hikes are on segments of the North Country or affiliated trails - the Western New York book, in fact, has only a few segments that include the FLT/NCT. Western Pennsylvania fares better, as far as the NCT is concerned, with extensive coverage of the Allegheny Forest and the clusterof NCT-certified trails at McConnel's Mill, Glacier Ridge and Jennings Environmental Education Center- but that is to be expected with former North Country Trail Advisory Council member Thwaites as the author. Ohio's NCT and Buckeye Trail also has excellent coverage of many exciting trail segments associated with the BT and/or NCT, (though understandably, a smaller percentage of the overall NCT route is covered than Pennsylvania) again to be expected, as NCT activist Ramey is the author.

Ramey's hikes sample many of Ohio's recreation assets, range over every region of the state, and include selections accessible from each major metropolitan area. There are outings for every ability level, from easy walks to strenuous backpacks. Each hike write-up contains all of the basic information the hiker needs access, parking, trail distance, hiking time, contour map and explicit directions. Ramey's commentary on geological features, flora and fauna, and local history, as well as his photographs make each hike a journey of discover.

Ohio hikers could have no better guide than the Ohio-born Ramey. With degrees in wildlife conservation in environmental education, he has spent much of his life in the outdoors and was an early supporter of the Buckeye Trail and the NCT -, Currently director of the Miami County Park District, he was for 17 years director of Antioch University's Glen Helen nature preserve and outdoor education facility at Yellow Springs.

Reflecting Tom Thwaites' wide-ranging interest, his Fifty Hikes in WesternPennsylvania is more than just a trail guide. Thwaites . introduces his hikes with an account of the geological history

which produces the region's relatively gentle terrain and throughout the hikes brings geological features to the hiker's attention.

And, here isThwaites, the naturalist. Spring wildflowers, he notes, are "a particular delight of western Pennsylvania's trails", and he guides the hiker to places where they blanket the ground "like a late snowfall." Several bikes take the walker through majestic stands of virgin timber. A history buff as well, the author shows the hiker such relics of Pennsylvania's history as the world's first oil pipeline, old quarries and gold mines, and abandoned iron furnaces, tanneries, mills and lumber camps.

Tom Thwaites is truly an authority on the subject of hiking Penn's Woods. Authorofa companion volume, he is an ardent trail builder and maintainer, a past-president of the Mid-State Trail Association, and an active member of the Keystone Trails Association, Appalachian Trail Conference, Sierra Club and American Hiking Society, and is a retired faculty member of Penn State University.

Fifty Hikes in Western New York is a good book for all kinds of hikers, including the armchair variety, both because of its excellent introduction to the region and also for the wealth of natural history and other background material provided in the individual hike descripitions. About half of these fifty hikes are associated with trail systems which will be familiar to many residents, including the westernmost portions of the Finger Lakes Trail and its offshoots, the Conservation and Letchworth Trails. These walks average four to seven miles and length and are ideal for intermediate hikers. The balance of the hikes in the book have been put together form a combination of footpaths, truck trails, lanes, and jeep roads, mostly in state forests and wildlife management areas.

Bill Ebling is a frequent visitor to New York's backcountry and a great admirer of its natural beauty. A professor in the school of Public Communication at Syracuse University, he is a versatile outdoorsman, with two non-hiking books to his credit, and is a past president of the Finger Lakes Trail Conference.

The Ohio and Pennsylvania books will, especially, be of interest to the NCT enthusiast for their extensive coverage of hikes along the NCT route; the New York book is of somewhat less use. All three will find a place on the shelves of the collector of data on the North Country Trail. It's a hopeful dream to look forward to the day when the entire route of the North Country Trail will be covered by guides of the quality of these three.

-- by Wes Boyd

Mackinac City

Mush Dog Sled Racing on North Country National Scenic Trail

January 18-20, 1991 For InformationContact Tun-Ora Outfitters Mackinac City, Michigan (616) 436-5243

North Country Tralf Association Newsletter, Winter 1990-91

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Page 19

.

North Country Celebration -Winter ~

.·~· ...

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·~··. ~ .+·

WeoftheNorth Country Trail invite you to share in our efforts to realize a3200-mile trail traversingNew York, Pennsylvania, Ohio.Michigan; Wisconsin, Minnesota, andNorthDakota. Through aNorth CountryCelebration you will breathe, taste and touch the trail as we journeyover its days and nights, around the calendar and within its year.

All that is bright and beautiful will become an intimate part of you as its seasonal rhythm is experienced by way of the written word and a knowing that a much greater appreciation can be had from your own personal journey in your own time and in your own quiet space.

Walking the woodlands as the North Country comes into its next season is to tingle to the early morning frosty air. It is to know complete silence in the surrounding forest as time shifts and movement and change seem to be missing.

Our field of vision shifts and is filled with a frost fantasy from patterns of leaf, blade, twig, seed and ground.

A sound attracts our attention and when we turn our eyes to where our ears had been, we see what was a barely perceptible rustle of a few remaining leaves that dangle loosely to a nearby oak tree. It is change again in the gentle movement of a delicate breeze.

Clouds play around the hill tops, along the slopes and through the valleys as fog elves and mist fairies. It is their playground for all seasons.

Bird nests are closely visible clinging tightly to the grasp of enveloping little tree limbs in plain announcement that the occupants have gone south for the winter.

Water fills the stream beds in the steep, narrow valleys full to the brim. It cascades down in leaps and bounds over the rocks and the ground in rushing torrents and wild little waterfalls. It is a surprise and a delight to find ourselves on a large, flat rock island in a deep and steep ravine surrounded on all sides by this wild and wonderful white water.

Some distance away a flock of turkeys call out of the forest background sound with a continuous chatter of social intercourse with each other. · The seasons of this good Earth and those of our lives and our time on it, walk hand in hand together over these hills and through these valleys. There is a cooperation and caring concern for each other and toward all that we shared through the growing green of spring, the exuberant roman-candle burst of summer wildflowers, the flaming foliage of autumn and now the quiet, white snows of winter.

Walking slowly through the white magic, snow falls in flakes that are large, soft and fluffy. The fall is so thick that the trees and the forest are only dimly visible.

Stumps and fallen trees are piled high with clumps and ribbons as wide and deep as billowing white caps on the ocean's rolling breakers.

The gentleness of the flakes falling against our face is as soft as the thrill of eyelashes meeting in the intimacy of love's embrace.

As our face raises up to the falling multitude, we sense the smell of early spring violets as delicate flakes find their way into our nostrils. We sigh and our mouth opens to taste the sweet crystals on our tounge.

The sound of falling snow is most captivating at this moment; it is a faint, gentle rustling, so soft as to be at the very edge of our hearing. Its sweetness alternates with that of the occasional strum of wind through the strings of pine and hemlock needles.

Alone in the cold, quiet, snow-filled woods we are drawn to a grove of evergreen trees as we disappear for all sight into the dense cover. Our tracks are the only sign of human presence that disturbs the clean, white carpet.

Standing quietly among the rows of trees we quickly become entranced by the vision and embraced by a sweet soltude.

On every side a green tapestry hangs suspended from the sky to the ground. We feel enclosed in a snug-warmth, hugged by a special kind of living, loving comfort.

The trees, row after row, in a straight and silent majesty, form columns that stand resolutely between the skyroof and the ground-floor.

The carpet is the white fluff of a wall-to-wall blanket of snow. Its pattern is made of sprigs from last year's grasses and weeds. Tufts and plumes ofa wide variety are interspersed with tracks of last night's squirrel and deer.

Chandeliers hang in a myriad of sizes and shapes, variably colored in evergreen and snow-white. Twig shadows lace-work and quilt-patch the sun that glistens off the snow with lavendar-blue hues to grays to the kaleidoscopic jewels of the Universe.

The windows are sky light framed in green fringes and trimmed in whipped-cream white.

Every now and then a sweet melody is played as a whispering wind pipes through the needles.

It is very good to be a part of the North Country, in tune and harmonizing just for a little while. It is like living inside a beautiful outdoor cathedral The sweet essence of all life, everything good and beautiful, are all around and within us .. W~ can sense it from ~far out as we can see and hear and as close as we reach out and touch; closer still as the falling snowflakes nudge softly against our faces, and within us inside our deepest heart.

-Barbie Smith

Page20

North Country TraH Association Newsletter, Winter 1990-91

Fall meeting reporl

Executive director for NCTA is a possibility The North Country Trail Association held its annual Fall Meeting at Munising, Ml, at the National Forest Service/Park Service Visitor Center, where the staff extended every possible courtesy to the NCTA members attending.

The key item of business at the meeting was the report by Tom Gilbert of the National Park service that a cooperative agreement has been signed between the NPS and the NCTA to provide $60,000 for an executive director for the NCTA. There is some discretion on how the program will be structured, but it is necessary that the North Country Trail Association first expend the funds, then be reimbursed after the fact.

Gilbert added that there is no guarantee that these funds will be renewed in future years.

NCTA President Martha Jones commented,"We have been looking forward to this kind of opportunity for some time now, as it will allow us to proceed far more efficientlywith such programs as increasing our membership, expanding our volunteer base, promoting public awareness and use of the trail, identifying and working with those persons and organizations interested in supporting us with financial and other resources, assisting in the establishment and protection of the trail, establishing a long-range plan of where we hope to be ten years ahead, and many other programs which, up to nowm have been done by volunteers with less than adequate time available to devote to these many important and time-consuming projects. We've come a long way with our many wonderful and dedicated volunteers, but we do need to support them with some full-time assistance if we are to grow and complete this beautiful seven-state trail within the foreseeable future."

In order to take advantage of the NPS funds, it will be necessary for the NCTA to establish a fund large enough to be able to cover an estimated two months of operating expenses. It was decided at the meeting to ask the membership,by a special mailing, to donate to the fund.

In other business at the fall meeting: - Membership Chairman Arden Johnson presented a membership report showing 494 current individual memberships.

-Treasurer Ken Gackler reported that income to date was $8,062.72 and expenses were $9,061.22.

- Headquarters Manager Virginia Wunsch reported that the Headquarters bad 34 paid overnights plus another 140 free overnights used by the American Hiking Society on a trail construction project. Three picnic tables have been donated by the Forest Service, Ginnie asked for a committee to help oversee the headquarters.

- Newsletter Editor Wes Boyd reported that he expected the newsletters to be 16 pages or larger for the forseeable future. He is investigating second class mailing as a means of solving delivery delays, and is seeking early notification of trail work projects.

- Awards Committee Chairman Ruth Sack requested that people from States other than Michigan send their award nominations to the committee so that the awards can be presented at the May meeting, which will be in White Cloud the third weekend of May, as usual.

- The Fall Meeting for 1991 was scheduled for North Dakota, and 1992's tentatively scheduled for Pennsylvania. Linda Mieke of North Dakota reported plans for the meeting progressing with good local support.

NCTA members hiked to Miner's Falls as one activity at the fall meeting. Other activites included presentations on encouraging volunteers on the Florida Trail, on Grand Island and Pictured Rocks, and on the Lew is and Clark Trail.

- Derek Blount, Vince Smith and Martha Jones reported on the 10th National Trails Symposium in Iowa. They had mixed reactions to the value of the workshop sessions but felt it was helpful to meet others and find out who was doing what.

- Tom Gilbert of the National Park Service presented a trail measuring wheel to the Finger Lakes Trail Conference, and another to the NCTA. He reported that 100,000 NCT Brochures have been distributed and that there are another 125,000 in stock for replenishments as needed. Gilbert indicated that the brochure production expenses came to $12,000 and requested $500 from the Association to go to the University of Wisconsin for the excess of cost over the amount provided for in the Cooperative Agreement with the Association. This was approved. Gilbert also showed the group a new emblem created by the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore staff to designate NCT Connecting Sections, and indicated this may be used to mark non-certifiable sections. Gilbert also explained the "Volunteer in the Parks" status and indicated that he would work up a letter of agreement.

- It was moved, seconded and approved to set up a life membership for the spouse of a life member at $200. Also approved was a Senior Membership for $5.00 for those over 70.

- The board accepted the resignation of Art Holland as a Board Member, and named three new ones: Arden Johnson and Doug Welker of Michigan, and Baird Stewart of Ohio.

- It was moved, seconded and approved to amend the NCTA constitution to allow members of the Board of Directors to serve "two or more consecutive terms?".

Page 21

~W~;'I'~

We can get more out of' our meetings!

As I sat through the presentation on Florida Trail Association activities at the Fall Meeting, I couldn't help feeling that we are missing the boat. Trailbuilding in Florida is a lot of work, but the workers there have a strong organization, and manage to have a lot of fun along with effective work.

Talking it over afterwards, I beard a lot of people saying, "We ought to do something like that."

In addition, many people have voiced dissatisfaction with the schedule and format of our semi-annual meetings.

The fall meeting, especially, falls at a terrible time.

Weather .\s "iffy" at best; we have been snowed on at, to or

participation for the full week, and still leave driving time.

In the week between, there's a lot of time to do what needs to be done, but plenty of activities to encourage lots of participation.

The summer meeting would move around from site to site - but hopefully, would be scheduled in an area that needs trail work, either building or maintenance. Not only would this allow hands-on learning of trail work, it would get a lot of trail work done, perhaps in areas that are crying for a boost. There would be time for those seminars on power tools, to learn to build a bridge by actually building

~;E~iffL;~¥E1~~~~?E ~iS~~~S~!:]?:@~~~!~ activities.

Considering the distance that has to be traveled to get to these meetings, we try to pack too much into the limited time available. For those of us that have to work, or those that have to travel long distances, time is limited, indeed.

Networking with friends is as much a part of our meetings as the formal activities, and can often solve as many trail problems as a formal meeting.

Yet, there's so dam much that we really should work into the meetings. We tried for a trail building seminar this spring; it was rained out, but the schedule was so squeezed that little would have been accomplished, anyway. At the Fall Meeting, Tom Gilbert lectured about the need to hold power tool training sessions - but where can we find the time? And where can we find the time for the hikes, the cookouts, all the other activities we like?

The format of spring and fall weekend meetings has workedwellfortheNCTAinitsformativeyears.However, we've grown beyond that, and the meetings are bursting at the seams - and it's showing.

The greatest reason for doing something in a given way is often, "We've always done it that way before." If eel it's time we look beyond that trap and overhaul the whole concept of our meetings - and accomplish a bit more besides.

First, I'd like to see us take our spring meeting and move it up to about mid-February. Hold it at White Cloud, and keep it strictly a board meeting, set for Saturday afternoon.

Strictly business; no intrepretive presentations, no workshops, no dinners - but sufficent time for most board members to get to and from the board meeting without having to take time off work. The suggestion has been made that a conference call on speaker phones could be used from a couple of satellite sites, in roughly Pennsylvania and Minnesota, could be worked in, to cut travel time.

The fall meeting would be moved ahead to about midAugust - and would be set to take a full week. _A business board meeting could be held on the afternoon of the first Saturday, again to accomodate board members that can't take a full week off, and perhaps a general membership meeting the following Saturday, to encourage

parties, time for committee meetings that could accomplish something, time for learning the night skies and looking for aurora borealis. We could have contests, and parties, and games, singing and dancing and fun.

In mid-August we get the best combination of low bugs and nice weather, to encourage camping and outdoor activities - and since school is out, it might encourage more participation of families with children, something we sorely need. There's no reason we can't have special activites for the kids, too.

Rather tban just rotate the summer meeting from state to state on a mechanical basis, we could develop an east-west rotation, in which groups in the Michigan lower peninsula, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York bid for the meeting one year, and then the next year groups in the Michigan upper peninsula and the western states. Time since an area has last hadasummer(orfall)meetingwouldbebutoneconsideration; site and potential activities would also be items to consider. A permanent program committee could help with some aspects of the plans for the meeting, but in the case of trail work, local organizers may need a year or more to get a trail project ready for a mob of people anxious to put miles on the ground. Getting ready for the meeting could help chapter development, too.

I don't see how we could start the rotation until after the fall meeting in North Dakota, next year - but we should start with the year after tbat, 1992 ..

Yes, I know we've never done it that way before - but we're getting to the point where we need to co it that way.

Manytrailorganizationshaveweek-longsummermeetings -ATC and FTA come to mind, so we wouldn't be alone.

Bluntly, the North Country Trail is so spread out that too much of our brief weekends is spent inefficently, traveling.

We need to come to something like this to make more efficent use of our time, build more enthusiasm within the organization, and individually and collectively get more out of our meetings.

Let's give this idea serious consideration at White Cloud next May. In the meantime, I'd like to hear your thoughts about it, in time for the spring newsletter.

- Wes Boyd

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North Country Trail Association Newsletter, Winter 1990-91

Page22

Trail is rrowinr in Ohio

NCT progressing in Wayne National Forest region is not heavily used. This location should be a prime target for fine backpacking experiences as well as day hikes."

Groups working on this section include Youth Conversation Corps enrollees, Senior Community Service Employment program enrolles, and Forest Service People. The coordination with the Buckeye Trail Association has been invaluable to the completion of the NCT. The Buckeye Trail circles the entire state of Ohio and is over 1,200 miles long. Much of the NCT is using the same route as the Buckeye Trail.

When completed, the trail in the Wayne National Forest, when used with the existing Buckeye Trail bypassing the forest, will make for a magnificent and memorable long loop hike.

To the west, over 10 miles of trail was constructed by the CCC in the Athens Ranger District in 1989. The Buckeye Trail was rerouted along the newly constructed portion of the NCT. This relocation for the BT removed it from ORV trail area. This will avoid conflicts between users and provide for safer hiking and less disturbed trail settings. The plan is to have both the Marietta and Athens unit complete by 1995, and cooperation with the BTA will tie the two together.

In conjunction with the North Country Trail, the USDA Forest Service is constructing a marvelous system of trails in Washington County, Ohio, northeast of Marietta. Progress in a single season in the forest tripled its length. · The new section of the North Country Trail in the Marietta Ranger district is over 28 miles long, with trail head and parking areas. In addition to the more or less linear trunk of the NCT, several loops and connecting trails have been established in the forest region. With the addition of the five miles of trail planned for construction lastsummer, over 35 miles of continuous off-road trails are on the ground. If the mileage of the separated Ohio View Trail is added, well over 40 miles of maintained trail is available.

Trail parallels the Little Muskingum River. Part of the trail is on the ridge above, featuring outstanding rock houses, a natural bridge, a variety of forest types and terrain. The trail traverses some of the most beautiful scenery in Ohio. Trail heads, some with toilet and pincic facilities, all with parking for several cars, are available at frequent locations.

This segment of the Wayne National Forest is in excellent condition. Jim Sprague, BTA President, says, "I thought it was fine a forest as any in Ohio, including the magnificent Shawnee State Forest, cliffs, rock shelters, natural bridges, covered bridges - all can be found along developed trail. And surprisingly, this

-Adapted from items by Dave Kissel, Emily Gregor and Jim Sprague in the BTA Trailblazer

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North Country Tra/f Association Newsletter, Winter 1990-91

Page.23

0 To build a 3,259 mile National Scenic Trail takes great teamwork. Join our team! \!

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A National Park Service Project

Contactthe North CountryTrail Association PO Box311

~

APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP Annual Dues: membership year runs from July 1 through June 30. Dues paid from April 1 on are valid through June 30 of the following year.

North Country Trail Association PO Box 311 White Cloud, Ml 49349

.Adult.

Family (includes children under 18) student ..· Organization Supporting Donor Life Patron Commercial

I wish to join the North Country Trail Association.

$ 10.00 $ 15.00 $ 5.00 $ 25.00 $ 50.00 $ 250.00 $ 300.00 $ 5000.00 $ 500.00

D Yes, I would like to further support the North Country Trail Association with my tax free contribution of $ . enclosed.

Enclosedis $

for a

membership.

Name Address

Phone--------------

Page24

North Country Trail Association Newsletter, Winter 1990-91

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II

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