North Star Vol. 14, No. 2 (1995)

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 47 Caledonia, Ml 49316

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NORTH STAR: The Newsletter of the North Country Trail Association, April-May 1995

NORTH STAR: the newsletter of the

COMMITTEES

PRINTED ON

-Q)

North Country Trail Association

Awards: Odell Bjerkness

RECYCLED PAPER

Finance: Arden Johnson

3777 Sparks SE, Suite 105 Grand Rapids Ml 49546 Phone (616) 975-0831 FAX (616) 975-0957 Editor:

Tran Shop: Virginia Wunsch, Rt. 1, White Cloud Ml 49349 (616) 689-6876

Wes Boyd, 14815 Rome Road, Manitou Beach, Ml 49253

Meetings: (vacant)

Executive Director: Pat Allen, 3777 Sparks Dr. SE, #105, Grand Rapids Ml 49506

(616) 975-0831

Planning: Arden Johnson

National Park Service Administrator Bill Menke, National Park Service, 700 Rayovac Dr., Suite 100, Madison WI 53711

Membership: Kenneth Gacfder

(608) 264-561 O

Publlcatlons: Wes Boyd Trail Management: Doug Welker

OFFICERS President: Derek Blount, 906 N. Alexander, Royal Oak Ml 48067

(810) 548-1737

STATE COORDINATORS

(906) 338-2680

New York Howard Beye

Vice President (Trails): Doug Welker, R1, Box 59A, Pelkie Ml 49958

Pennsylvania vacant

Vice President (Admln) Odell Bjerkness, Bad Medicine Lake, R1, Box 221A, Ponsford, MN 56575

(218 )573-3858

Acttng Secretary: Thomas J. Reimers, 3C Wildflower Dr., Ithaca NY 14850

(607) 272-8679

Treasurer: Arden Johnson, 600 Tennyson, Rochester Hills, Ml 48307

(810) 853-0292

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Ohio Jim Sprague, 4406 Maplecrest, Parma OR 44129 (216) 884-4757 Michigan (Lower) Arden Johnson Michigan ~.P.) Gene Elzinga, 1Z-Mid(jle Island, Marquette Ml 49855 (906) 225-1704 Wisconsin Gaylord Yost Minnesota Hans Erdman

TERMS EXPIRINGIN 1995 C A C E A

Derek Blount, 906 N. AlexanderL Beyal Oak Ml 48067 Wes Boyd, 14815 Rome Road, Manitou Beach Ml 49253 Arden Johnson, 600 Tennyson, Rochester Hills, Ml 48307 Thomas J. Reimers, 3C Wildflower Dr.hlthaca NY 14850 Harmon Strong, 76 Shellwood Dr, Roe ester NY 14618

F A A A A A

Howard Beye, 202 Colebourne Rd., Rochester NY 14609 Hans Erdman, 116 E. Rose Pl., Little Canada MN 55117 Kenneth Gacklerh418 W. Johnson St., Caledonia Ml 49316 Tim Mueller, ND Parks and Recreation Department 1835 E Bismark Expy. Bismark ND 58501 Doug Welker, R1, Box 59A, Pelk1e Ml 49958 (Vacant)

W A B W A G

Odell Bjerkness R1 Box 221A Ponsford, MN 56575 Chet Fromm, 1001 tompkins Dr.~ Port Orange, FL 32119 Emily Grego!!_ 6502 Olde York Ra., Parma Hls OH 44130 Pat Miller =o Box 756, Mellen WI 54546 Gaylord Yost, 2925 W. Bradley Rd., River Hills WI 53209 Glenn Oster, 1184 Olive St., Pittsburgh PA 15327

A B C E F G W

At-large representatives Represents Buckeye Trail Association (Appointed by BTA) .

West Central ReJ)ion representatives Eastern Re~on Representative Represemsringer Lakes Trail Conference (Appointed by FLTC) General affiliate represent~ive (Current appointment by AYH Pittsburgh) Western region representatives

81~ 517 810 60 716

548-1737 547-7402 853-0292 272-8679 586-3846

TERMS EXPIRINGIN 1996 716} 288-7191 482-1877 { 612 616 891-1366 (701) 224-4887 (906) 338-2680

TERMS EXPIRINGIN 1997 218 904 216 715 414 412

567-3858 788-2232 884-0281 274-2346 354-8987 364-2864

North Dakota Dale Anderson, RR1, Box 10, Oslo, MN, 56744 (218)965-4508

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 Pennsylvania: AYH,.,.Pittsburg_h Council 5604SOlway,#20?. t'ittsburghPA 15217.

CHAPTER CHAIRS Headwaters: Hans Erdman (see above) NCT Hlltera: Gene Elzinga (see above) Traverse Cl!}#: Arlen Mason.i..1045 Draka Rd, Traverse 1..1ity Ml 49684 Western Michigan: Bill Van Zee 7744 Thornapple Bayou Dr. SE, Grand Rapids Ml, 49512

NORTH STAR:

The Newsletter of the North Country Trail Association,

CERTIFICATION ACTIVITY continues apace: On January 18, the National Park Service certified three segments, totaling 19.8 miles, of trail on the Manistee Ranger District of Manistee National Forest as part of the North Country Trail. Except for scattered short pieces of on-road walking, this completes certification of existing trail in the Manistee NF. On the same day, theNPSalso certified 2.5 miles of trail built during SCA training last year in Michigan's Yankee Springs State Recreation Area, south of Grand Rapids.

The 22.3 miles certified brings the total certified mileage of the NCNST to 1238, and total signed mileage to 1248.2. Michigan now has 526.9 miles of certified trail, the most of any NCT state.

*** AND MOREKEEPS coming: The FLTC has applied for certification on a 0.8 mile segment of trail in Burt Lake State Forest.

***

WITHTHEAGREEMENTof the Kekebabic Trail Club to have Minnesota's Kekebabic Trail become a part of the "Arrowhead Route" (detailed elsewhere in this newsletter), the "Arrowhead Route" becomes a distinct possibility for the North Country Trail. However, there's many steps of a long process to take before it becomes a reality, according to Bill Menke of the NPS. Finalizing the process could take several years, he says.

*** THE NCTAIS in the process of hiring a recreational planning assistant. Deadline for applications was March 18; interviews should have been held by the time you are

reading this. The individual selected will work closely with the National Park Service in developing trail plans. The position is largely funded by the NPS.

*** ED TALONE kept excellent notes of his end-to-end hike of the NCT last year, in addition to the many trail status reports he sent to the Park Service. His trail not.es could provide the basis for the first true trail guidebook, according to NCTA Executive Director Pat Allen. Including some side trips, Talone hiked around 4500 miles of NCT last year.

***

THE FINGER LAKES Trail Conferencewill beholding a trail maintenance training workshop

April-May

1995

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on May 13 near Hornell, NY. 'There is no fee. The workshop will cover tools used for light trail maintenance (no power tools), painting blazes and installing trail signs correct]y, brushing out exisitng trail and improving trail tread with water bars and puncheon bridging. If you are interested, Please contactHowardBeyeattheFLTC Service Center, 202 Colebourne Rel., Rochester NY, or call (716) 288-7191.

TTT WITlilN THE next two years, the BTA will be producing up to 11 new maps, up from the normal two to three per year. Changes in map format of the background maps will result in some changes of appearance to the excellent Buckeye Trail Association maps.

--BTA Trailblazer

!lll!l!ill!llllllJlllliilllili!l!Jillllllll'':1:11111111:111111111111111:11111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111

NCTA office opens in Grand Rapids Letter:COTA head criticizes ADT Letter:Room for mountain bikes?

Footsteps on the i'Electronic Trail" North Star computer Bulletin Board opens Hiker services and you New role for Schoolhouse 1995 NCTA Conference to be in New York Thru-hiking the NCT - first of a series Trailbuildlng at Old Victoria Many trail segments need adoption Arrowhead route plans gain momenteum SCA Workshop set for May FLTC plans Alley Cat Trail Crew Michigan trail work plans Much NCT needs adoption Lots of coming events

4 5 6 7 8 1o 11 12 13 17 18 20 21 22 22 23 25

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NORTH STAR: The Newsletter of the North Country Trail Association, April-May 1995 "

Keyboard Trails by the Editor

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I am delighted to be working in the new Association office. I believe it will function positively for the Association. Those of you who call will no longer by answered by, "This is Mark Miller." And, my friendly husband Mark will no longer chat with you long enough to realize you didn't call for him.

We'll all have to learn the new address: 3777 Sparks Dr SE, Suite 105. There will be an open house on the 25th Anniversary ofEarth Day--April 21. Members are invit.ed to stop in and to volunteer in the office.

Post Office Box 311 has been home for a lot of years.

The box officially closed on April First. What made it work was the loyal and rompetent work of Ginny Wunsch.

She hopes to hike more. We will send her the shop orders from Grand Rapids and will be meeting with her to develop a plan for the shop.

I'm sure we are all eager to be on the trail now that the spring melt is under way. I followed a car this week which had two veiy muddy mountain bikes on the rack on top. I almost honked to stop the car. Bikes can do tremendous damage to trails when they are soft. I didn't notice any caution in the MMBA newsletter, but I hope the word gets out to everyone (hiking groups included) to at least wait until the ground firms up.

It's fun to get the NCTA Mail -- it ranges from postcards from school children to a package containing Ed Talone's trail data guide. For the first time, we have an end to end set of maps, water, campgrounds, post offices, etc. What a gift! Now, we really have to tackle the guide issue.

We'll talk about all of these issues in New York in August. You won't want to miss it!

I

..

The deadline for the June-July issue of the Newsletter is June 1 1995. Items received after that date cannot be assured of a place in the newsletter. Items received well before that date are much appreciated. The deadline 'for the August-September issue of the newsletter will be August 1, 1995.

The letter on the opposing page, from James Wolf, Director of The Continental Divide Trail Society, was a response to the National Park Service team considering the future of the American Discovery Trail and its potential for becoming a National Scenic Trail. The letter was was copied to us, and to others, so we are printing it as a letter to the editor.

I noted with particular satisfaction that the concept of extending the North Country Trail westward to the Continental Divide and Pacific Northwest Trails was again brought up. This was proposed in this newsletter some years ago, and still is an idea that has merit -- more merit, I think, than the American Discovery Trail, for reasons explained by Wolf. I'm just glad that others have seen the wisdom ofit. The idea --which was dubbed the "High Plains Trail" back then, just to have a name to use -- would be a heck of a trail, rather that the rather extensive roadwalk that the ADT would be.

I still think that the concept of the High Plains Trail deserves study.

It turns out that many people are having second thoughts about the ADT anyway, at least making the ADT a National Scenic Trail. There has been the idea thrown about of a new category of national scenic trails, creat.ed expressly for the ADT; it is one possibility.

The ADT always has had a degree of controversy attached to it, partly from the promotion surrounding it. The controversy, no doubt will continue.

r•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

; New NCTA office opens in Grand Rapids

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The North Country Trail Association now has a business office. "Although the search took much longer than I wished,• Executive Director Pat Allen reports, "Here is what we have: A three-room office in a well-maintained modern building. It is near the airport and the freeway, and on a bus line. The building is completely handicapped accessable. It will be a safe and pleasant place to work and meet.

There is plenty of parking.• The address is 3777 Sparks Dr., SE, Suite 105, Grand Rapids, MI, 49546. Correspondence to the Headquarters or to Pat Allen should be direct.eel to the new office. The phone number is (616) 975-0831; the FAX line is (616) 975-0957.

"Thecostoftheofficerental is well within the budget and fits all of the criteria we had set," saidNCTA President Derek Blound.

Donation of office furniture has been request.eel, and Pat is looking for a part-time office assistant.

"This is an important step ifwe are to function as an organization equal to our trail," Allen says.

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NORTH STAR:

The Newsletter of the North Country Trail Association,

American Discovery Trail doesn't deserve scenic trail status We are not persuaded that the ADT satisfies the criteria for a national scenic trail; and if the national discovery trail is deemed to have merit, we suggest that locations other than the ADT might be more desirable and practical. We acknowledge, however, that we do not have detailed knowledge about most of the particular locations envisaged for the ADT, and trust that your objective study of the situation will lay the foundation for a course of action that will serve the public interest.

As we see the issue concerning designation as a national scenic trail, the primary questions to be addressed come directly from the words of the National Trails System Act. Would the ADT, as proposed, "provide for conservation and enjoyment of ... nationally significant scenic, historic, natural, or cultural qualities?" And, given land-ownership and financial limitations, would the ADT "provide for maximum outdoor recreation potential?"

Although the ADT route certainly inoorporat.es many scenic areas, how many should be regarded as "nationally significant" -- southern Utah, no doubt, but where else?What are the cultural qualities of national significance? The Platte River valley is indeed notable for its historic and natural qualities, but is there any way to experience it in a way that provides for maximum outdoor recreation potential?

By way of contrast, the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail traverses Glacier, Yellowstone and Rocky Mountains National Parks as well as visiting remarkably scenic areas in the national forests -- such as the Bob Marshall Wilderness, Wyoming's Wind River Range, the highest peaks of the Rockies, etc. The hist.ory of Indian settlement, Lewis and Clark, fur trade, the development of mining and ranching, all are there to be studied and enjoyed. And the diversity of habitats is at least equal to that which might be encountered along the proposed route of the ADT. Our membership is composed primarily of individuals who enjoy a challenging outdoor experience that avoids mot.orized travelways as much as possible, especially where those travelways receive requent use.

We cannot speak for other potential users, but from our perspective a trail such as has been outlined for a national discovery trail is not particularly attractive.

The one feature of a national discovery trail that has some appeal is its potential to link other trails into a national trails system. But we consider this as quite a secondary matter unless there is some evidence that the trail would in fact appeal to a substantial population and would receive use commensurate with its

April-May 1995

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designation. Even if a linking trail is found to have merit, through, we question whether the ADT route would serve this purpose best. We would recommend, as an alternative, that the linkage be accomplished by (1) inoorporating the North Country National Scenic Trail, (2) following the Missouri River through the Charles Russell National Wildlife Refuge and on upstream almost to Helena, (3) ascending the Dearborn River to the Conteniental Divide National Scenic Trail and proceeding north to Glacier National Park, and (4) proceeding west to the Pacific Ocean via the Pacific Northwest Trail. We see this as offering much more scenic and hist.oric enjoyment, with a minimum of roadwalk., and with relatively few miles lacking acceptable public right-of-way.

The American Discovery Trail, if authorized (especially, if authorized as a national scenic trail), would require funding for planning, development, and maintenance. We are concerned that funds applied to the ADT could have an adverse impact upon that national trails system as a while. At least in the case of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail, the pace of development since authorization in 1978 has been slow, and a great more needs to be accomplished. We understand that other national scenic trails may have comparable needs. It is appropriate to inquire whether additional projects should be added to the system until funding for previously-authorized trails is available to provide the recreational opportunities that were intended by Congress.

We recognize that the ADT has brought together many supporters, some of whom are enthusiastic and dedicated to its development. The manner in which this has been accomplished gives us pause, however. The project has has unprecedented backing of a wide variety of organizations, both commercial and recreational -notably, the American Hiking Society, Backpacker Magazine, and leading manufacturers and vendors of backpacking equipment. This could, of course, simply mean that these organizations recognized the merit of the project and were anxious to move it forward. U nfortunately, however, their influence is so dominant that it is difficult to judge the extent to which the community of day-t.o-day users is behind the trail. While organization and lobbying are a valuable part of our democratic process, they must not blind the policymakers to the underlying merit or lack of merit of a proposal, And, as we have indicated above, we have serious doubts and reservations. The priority that the institutionalized backpacking community-- as opposed to the grassroots -- has placed upon the ADT seems to us to have been misplaced. We trust that the study team will listen to all who contribute in this comment period and will arrive at its own judgements based upon the relevant legal and policy criteria, without undue regard to publicity and pressures.

Sincerely, James R. Wolf. Director Continental Divide Trail Society Editor's Note: See comment in "Keyboard Trails"

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NORTH STAR: The Newsletter of the North Country Trail Association, April-May

Room for Common Ground Dear Mr. Boyd: I am sharing some thoughts with you on mountain biking the North Country Trail. I am Northern Chapter Contact for the MMBA, an avid cross country and downhill skier, a hiker, a fly fisherman, a committed environmentalist, and a frequent mountain bike rider on the NCTs sections of the Manistee National Forest.

I rode various sections of the trail on 22 occasions between May and October in 1994. Most of my riding was done brom Coates Highway north to Beers Road and south to Dilling Road. I encountered other cyclists on occasion, and, very infrequently, hikers and backpackers. All of my enounters were other users were positive; in fact, after a trailside discussion with six backpackers from Indiana, they all vowd to come back and bike the trail next year. My wife Donna is a committeed hiker, and reequently she would hike a section while I biked another. She has found mountain bikers to be courteous and careful around hikers. The North Country Trail is -- and hopefully will remain -- a true multiple-use trail system.

The rapid growth of mountain biking in Michigan has been truly remarkable and certainly has placed a burden of responsibility on all ofus who ride the single track of our forests. Off-Road cyclists have been helped in this regard by the Michigan Mountain Biking Association, whose mission statement promotes "responsible mountian biking" and "natural resource protection." Though I've been mountain biking since 1983, only recently have I become aware of the tremendous efforts toward land access, trail maintenance, and cooperation with other users on the part of the MMBA. Since last May, I have been a part of two very positive maintence days, one on the North Country Trail in conjunction with the MMBA and the USFS, and another on the DNR's Cadillac Pathway, also MMBA-sponsored. I was impressed on both occasions with the environmental¡ committment of the cyclists present.

I am also heartened by the changes in the Sierra Club's attitude toward mountain bikers, which the Club has opposed since 1985. Last summer's Mountian Biking Mediation Project, signed by International Mountain Biking Association and the Sierra Club at Park City, Utah, also heralded a new spirit of cooperation and the recognition that mountain biking is "a legitimate form of recreation and transportation of trails, including singletrack, when and where it is practiced in an invrionmentally sound and socially responsible manner.• The United States Forest Service has, as well, modified its stance on mountain biking as a viable recreational activity on the country's national forests. Most ofus who ride mountain bikes do so for the same reasons hikers hike --- we love the challenging communion with nature afforded by such wonderful trails as the North Country Trail.

We in the mountain biking community hope that the North Country Trail will become a trail for the next century -- a trail that allows for multiple use by moun-

1995

tain bikers as well as hikers. The Pacific Crest and Appalachian Trails were designated for hikers only at a time when mountain biking was not a factor to be considered. Now, however, we have some history to rely on, and the fact is that we care deeply about the trails we ride -- and about how we ride them. One of the primary goals of the MMBA is the education of Michigan's growing mountain biking population; we want all new mountain bikers to rerognize their responsibility to ride safely and courteously and to become committed to trail maintenance and sound environmental practices. I feel strongly that we are indeed good for the health of the North Country Trail.

In fact, I fear that closure of the North Country Trail to mountain bikes would encourage the illegal, maverick riding of the trail, resulting in considerably more problems than currently exist. The MMBA would not be involved in annual trail maintenance and the encouragment of responsible riding, and encourters between hikers and cyclists would have the potential of becoming inflammatory. Quite frankly, that unpleasant scenario need not be played out.

It is my hope that the Michigan Mountain Biking Association and the North Country Trail Association can find some common ground to work at coexistence that will allow the responsible use of the trail by hikers and cyclists. I feel that it is time to put behind us any problems that might have existed in the past and to work toward positive solutions for the future. I stand ready, individually, to help that process, and I know that the MMBA is firmly committed to a healthy use of the North Country Trail.

Sincerely, Doug Nelson

Return of Smithipps We offer you two quiet voices -- and this pair of voices back here in the hills and vallies is feeling an enthusiasm that has reached critical mass beyond our willingness to contain it any longer.

We paused on our lives occupations one warm and cosy weekend in January to read to each other from the past three issues of the NORTH STAR. How struck we were with the tremendous progress the organization has made since our own enforced disconnection with many exciting things and especially all good and dear friends. We are moved to nominate the NORTH STAR as the MOST STELLAR of all like organizational offical voices -- what a great song it sings.

The one element of sadness for us is to see no State Coordinator for Pennsylvania, a very striking VACANT sign.

We plan to attend the 1995 NCTA Trail Conference at Cooper's Plain, NY in August, and look forward to our connection with the NCT, the NCTA, and most especially, to being in trhe grand company of great people and good friends.

Barbie and John Editor's note: Glad to see you back, and sorry I had to trim down your wonderful letter for space. -- WB

NORTH STAR:

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The Newsletter of the North Country Trail Association,

Footsteps on the "electronic trail" Editor's Note: I got a LOT of response to my suggestion about a computer bulletin board for the NCTA in the last newsletter. It seems like there are a lot of people out there with electronics communications capability, and a lot of interest in it. I'd suspected as much, but the amount of traffic I got proved it. Here are some of the replies I got (some have been edited for length).

--Wes Boyd From: "holden.24@osu.edu" To: ''wesboyd@delphi.com" Subj: NCTA Bulletin Board MynameisJohnHolden. I am a member of the NCTAand BTA. I help maintain a portion ofNCTA on the BT. I think a bulletin board for the NCTA would be very useful...particularly.on getting new members. People ''surfing the net" could read about the efforts of the NCTA and sign up to help.

I want to offer as much assistance to the NCTA as possible. In fact, I have it on my calendar to look into getting a very small portion (the only portion) of my section of the BT not a NCTA (its on a road) off road and registered .... any advice on doing this would be appreciated will be contacting the BT trail coordinator).

Take care and ''see you on the trail" ...

John P. Holden

a

A NCTA Bulletin Board would not be on the net, per se. You'd have to phone into it directly -- but it's a first step on a learning curve toward being "On the Net." A possible step up from the BBS is establishment of a forum on one of the services, like Compuserve or Delphi, but this would preclude use by those not on the service. There are other alternatives; see below. The new NCTA office in Grand Rapids will have an Internet address for E-Mail; I'm not sure what it will be, yet. -- WB From: ''BPE@hoho.org" To: ''INTwesboyd@delphi.com"' Subj: Hi NCT folks!

Got my copy ofNorth Star (NCTANewsletter) a few days ago and wanted to let you guys know that thereisatleastONEotherNCTAmemberoutthere in Cyberspace.

Bruce Eckert Holland 1MI

April-May 1995

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From: ''71634.224@x>mpuserve.com"''Gaylord Yost'' To: ''wesboyd@delphi.com" "Wes Boyd" Subj: Test Saw your e-mail address in the North Star and thought Pd test it from Compuserve. My Compuserve address is 71634.224@CompuServe.com. The North Star looks great Wes, and Im ust say you have done an excellent job with it. Keep up the good work.

Yes I think the bulletin board would be worth a try. Whatdoesitcost?Ifitdoesn'tworkaswellaswe think we can always can it. How do you go about doing it?

Perhaps it might be of interest to the group to explore whether to have it on one of the networks so that it would be come part of just the cost of having the network that everyone has anyway. That would be one idea.

Gaylord Yost Editor's note: In addition to having the NCTA bulletin board that I proposed and am setting up, the thoughtofsettingupan "alt.rec.trails.north.country" or "alt.trails.national.scenic" newsgroup on the Internet USENET has come to mind. I'm told anyone can set up an "alt.neuis" group, but don't know how to go about it. Does anyone out there have any idea?

There are a couple of USENET Newsgroups of interest to outdoors-type people: "rec.backcountry" comes the closest; it's a very busy newsgroup, a hundred or more messages a day. The couple of times I've looked at it, there hasn't been much about the NCT, but I have seen items about the FLT. There is also an "alt.rec.camping" group, but this seems to be more RV oriented.

We could also stand someone setting up a WWW Home Page. Again, there must be someone out there with this knowlege. -- WB From "Chet.Fromm@f12.n3618.zl.fidonet.org" To: ''wesboyd@delphi.com" Subj: Fido-I-Net test I'm testing this connection, to see if you get this msg. E-mail me to confirm by Fido Wilderness conference, or from I-NET to that Fido Conference.

Happy Hiking! ... And now, some words of wisdom: I've dialed and I can't hang up!

Chet Fromm Editor's note: Both Chet and I monitor the "Wilderness Travel" Echo conference on FIDONET, which is carried on participating bulletin boards. It's interesting, and a little more friendly than the real-time on-line stuff. You don't get it through a major service, but through a local bulletin board. I don't want to go into the details, but giue me a call if you want more information. -- WB

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NORTH STAR: The Newsletter of the North Country Trail Association, April-May 1995

From: ''lachga@onramp.i2k.com" To: "wesboyd@delphi.com" Subj: NCTA You asked ifthere was any interest in a BBS for the NCTA. I would be interested in this concept.

Another matter would be ifwe could get maps over the computer. I recently obtained a CD Rom containing mapping data from USG and have been able to plot out these maps on my plotter or printer.

This data set does not include contour data but has roads, water RR etc. There is a free utility program to convert this DLG data to DXF so it can be used by any CAD program. If this information could be combined with GPS data as discussed in North Star. It could create a way to maintain maps in a very up to date manner. If there is work going on in this area I would be interested in hearing about it.

Gordon Lachniet Grand Rapids MI Editor's note: As far as I know, this sort of information is not available on-line as yet. However, I would not be surprised if this is something that develops in the next few years. The available on-line technology is evolving so rapidly that even the most fantastic ideas from five years ago seem like old stuff today. Don't be surprised to be able to take a 4-oz electronic map out in the woods with you, that will show all information available on topos, the trail route, and continousuly update your position! GPS prices are dropping like a rock; they've broken the $300 barrier, and are in free fall. Three years ago, you'd have been talking $1500-$2000. However, there will still be some cranks like me that don't like to take anything more electronic than a fiashlight to the woods!

-- rvB From: ''KUPFERBN@LIBOl.FERRIS.EDU" "Natalie Kupferberg" To: ''wesboyd@delphi.com" Subj: pretty miserable in michigan I saw your message in the newsletter of the North Country Trail Association. I moved here a month ago from Bozeman, Montana where I was an avid hiker and cross country skiier. I am having trouble adjusting to the flatness of Michigan and found cross country skiing a bit of a disappointment. I did not like sharing an area with downhill skiers or paying money. I also did not find Sugarloaf or Crystal mountian terribly scenic. Not after Montana.

Anyway I would like to get involved with the North Country Trail Association but did not find many activities listed in the local chapter newsletter. I think members could correspond with each other over the internet and post news of current hikes and other activities. Your article is the first

step. Maybe in a future article those on the internet could list their e-mail addresses. Meanwhile if people do correspond with you over the internet I am looking for people to go hiking with in the Big Rapids area. Iflcan help you with anything over the internet please let me know. I am by no means an internet guru but I might know people who could answer your questions. I am looking forward to hearing from you and plan to continue to give Michigan a chance.

Editor's Note: I've been an ink and paper guy all my life, and the purpose always has been to pass information from those who know to those who need to know. This is why electronic communications are so fascinating. It is becoming more and more a fact of life, and the NCT and NCTA stand a chance to be on the leading edge of the applications of electronic power to National Scenic and Historic Troils.

Aside from that, welcome to Michigan. The scenery may not be on end, but it has its points. I remember from living in Colorado how much I missed Michigan lakes and streams and foliage.

--WB

NORTH STAR BULLETIN BOARD NOW ON LINE! The NCTA, in cooperation with the Astronomical Societies of Lenawee and Hillsdale Country, Michigan, is experimentally operating the "NORTH STAR' Bulletin Board Service.

You do not need Internetor serviceprovidercapability; it is not used. You dial NORTH STAR BBS directly at (517) 547-5106, with your computer modem setforN-81 (No parity, eight bits, 1 stop bit). Speeds to 14400 BPS are supported. For the moment, the board will only operate from 5 PM to 1 AM Eastern time.

If you haven't used an electronic BBS before, the software will lead you through the log-on procedure. You will want to read -- and possibly save with a capture file --Bulletin 2, 'How to use this BBS', and Bulletin #4, 'Files and Messages'.

The main NCTA Message area is Message Area #3.

Items for the newsletter, electronic messages, and other items may be left here, or uploaded as a file (See Bulletin #4 for how to do that). If you have something interesting, please pass it along. Files, including recent' North Stars", "FollowingtheNCNST", reprintsofsomeotherinteresting "North Star" articles and the only known NCT computer program are in File Areas 6, 7, and 8. Most have been packed in IBM PKZIP format; PKUNZIP is available in File Area 1 if you do not already have it.

No one knows what a trail organization's bulletin board is supposed to do or look like; you will have to help us invent it as we go along! If you have questions or problems, feel free to call me in the evening at (517) 5477402. - Wes Boyd

NORTH STAR:

•

The Newsletter of the North Country Trail Association,

As I write this I look out my window and see rain, a definite sign of approaching spring. And what does spring bring, other than May flowers? Right! Hoards of raving trail workers and thousands of trail starved hikerswhohavebeenhibernatingforthewintermonths in front of their television set longing for the fresh air.

OK, folks, another busy year begins. Trail projects abound in all states. We have some BIG ones in New York, Minnesota, and Michigan this year. If you would like to try your hand at trail work there is no experience necessary. To inquire, please contact the Trail Coordinator for your state or write our National Office.

Whoa! Did I say National Office? You've got that right, waffle stompers. The NCTA has just opened our National Office (Finally!) The new address is on page two of this newsletter. It is handicap accessible and easily found near the airport in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Note also the new phone numbers for voice and FAX.If you write to us from now on use the new address.

The old Post Office Box is closed but mail will be forwarded for a while. The office will be staffed by Pat Allen, Executive Director, each morning, and a parttime clerical person will be there for the rest of the day to answer phones. It will takeusaboutamonth to setup with furniture and equipment, but if you are in the area stop in and say hello. If you would like to volunteer to help in the office then give Pat a call and she can let you know what is needed and when. Even occasional help is welcome. With all of this we should be able to service your membership needs in a more timely and efficient manner. Also, if you're ever in the area, drop in and say hello.

You will not elsewhere in this newsletter that the NCTA now has a computer bulletin board service for information about the NCT. We also hope to have an Internet address before too long. Following on its heels will be a nation-wide, 24-hour a day 1-800 number for trail information to the general public. A lot of these things have had to wait until the office opened. As you can see we are now beginning to move quickly to fulfill the needs of the membership and the general public.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Pat Allen and April Scholtz for running the staff operations from their homes for so long. Their patience was immense. I once went to Pat's home and saw the "office" she was working out of. She had taken over a small bedroom and was sharing it with her husband for an office. When the copy machine arrive from the NPS office it was relegated to her family room. The garage became storage for the NCTA conference display board.

And on it went as she slowly moved from one room to another. It was much the same for April when she was

April-May 1995

Page9

our Executive Director. I imagine it is an immense relief for Pat to move to the new office. Thanks so much for your patience.

I also want to thank a very special person who has given so much for so long to the Association. Ginny Wunsch has acted as our Headquarters Manager for many years. She has acted as our mail router, hostel manager, trail shop manager, telephone answering service and generally did what had to be done to answer much of the mail inqiries. Most of this work is now being transferred to our new officein Grand Rapids, relieving Ginny of a monster burden. Ginny will still managed the Hostel and the Trail Shop. We will soon have a new mailing address for the Hostel, so if you feel you would like to drop Ginny a line you still can. Until then, you can write to her at her home address or the NCTA office address. Thanks again, Ginny, for all of the help over the years.

In thanking people last issue I was remiss in leaving out some of the most important people, our governmental partners. The folks from the NPS in Madison lead the list. Tom Gilbert, Bill Menke and their staff of seasoned professionals do yeoman's work in zipping back and forth from one end of the trail to the other to provide us with support. The many field people in the National Forests, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, and the many state parks and forest that dot the length of the trail. These are the most overlooked people, yet some of the most valuable supporters we have. Thanks also to the many county and municipality people who also support the trail. We don't get anywhere without this cadre of wonderful people.

As rm trying to wind up this column (late and long, as usual), I have to welcome some new members from Columbiana County, Ohio. I was down with David Case in Lisbon (Ohio, not Portugal) and had a wonderful hike along the old Sandy and Beaver Canal. As we started, there was snow on the ground but an open blue sky. As the day progressed the snow melted away to mud, a typical spring. The hike was a fascinating one, visiting several locks along the way. We crossed several new bridges built by some of the volunteers from the area.

We had 24 people on the hike and truly enjoyed ourselves. We learned a little about the history of the area as well as the progress of the trail. We learned about landowner problems along the trail and about Scout groups anxious to use the trail. After the hike we adjournedtoasmallrestaurantoutsideofLisbonwhere we had a late lunch and discussed the forming of a Chapter of the NCTA in the area. It was decided that they would tentatively form a Chapter, and so began the process that will take some weeks or months to con-

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NORTH STAR: The Newsletter of the North Country Trail Association, April~May 1995

elude. We welcome all of our new friends in Ohio to the NCTA, and thanks for the invitation to join you.

Another new chapter is quietly being formed in Wisconsin under the guidance of Gaylord Yost. A trail construction training session is to be run there this year and will add immensely to the support in that state.

Plans are going forward for a new Chapter organization in the Petoskey/Harbor Springs area of Michigan. A public trail information meeting will be held in Petoskey this month. In early May we will also hold one in southeast Michigan to organize the members there. In addition, we have recently found a new hiking club in Butler, Pennsylvania and have been in contact to perhaps generate some interest in the NCT. We are still investigating the possibilities of a Chapter in North Dakota. It is a very busy season.

The formation of a Chapter is not a difficult thing to do. It simply requires ten NCTA members to get together and indicate that they want to form a chapter and maintain a section of the NCT. The size of the section of trail is determined by the group and their ability to support it. The group then decides on a name for the Chapter and elects its officers. Once this has been done then the group signs a formal Chapter Charter with the NCTA detailing the Chapter's responsibilities to the NCTA and the NCTA's responsibilities to the Chapter.

For each NCTA member in the Chapter, the Chapter will receive five dollars of each member's NCTA dues for local operating expenses. The Chapter, at some time, must write their own by-laws to lay out how their Chapter will be run and organized. Not a difficult process to accomplish, yet one that can be time consuming. If there is anyone else out there who thinks that they would like a Chapter formed in their area please drop me a line and we will do our best to help you get started.:

The efforts to add a new section of trail in the Arrowhead region of Minnesota got another move forward recently. The three trail clubs involved have all agreed to allow the NCNSTto follow their trails through northern Minnesota. The next step has been to request support letters from Superior National Forest, Mesabi Range Trail and the Minnesota DNR. The NPS has done that now. After the response from that step, the ball then resides in the park of the NPS. There is still a long way to go and no clear path to the end. It is still unclear if we must go back to Congress to request a change to the National Trails System Act to accommodate the rerouting. We will keep you informed.

We recently lost two members of our Board of Directors. Helen Coyne, the NCTA Secreta:ry, is on an around-the-world bicycle trip that will last eighteen months. Her AftUiate seat has been filled by Glenn Oster of the Pittsburgh AYH. Glenn has been part of the NCTA board before and brings a strong background and experience to the Board. Martha Jones, immediate past president, has resigned from the board due to recent open heart surge:ry. She is recovering well and already buzzing around town in her van. Anyone wishing to drop her a line can find her address in the last issue of the North Star. Martha's seat will remain open until the next election later this spring.

As you can readily see, there is a lot happening. My only hope is that we can keep ahead of all of it. If you would like to volunteer your time in helping the NCTA from wherever you are, please drop us a like or give us a call. We can use all kinds of people with all kinds of skills.

Already, I hear the call ofmy axe in anticipation of a new season of trail building. Get out on the trail and el\ioy the spring flowers and returning songbirds. Happy trails.

We've Moved!

After many years of having a Post Office Box as our National Headquarters Address, we now have ano office which you can visit. We urge you to visit when you are in the area. Our office hours will be 9:00 AM to 1 :00 PM, Monday tflrough Friday Please change your records to reflect tha address change and phone numbers below. It is very important to us that we continue to receive your mailings. Under postal regulations, only first class mail is automatically forwarded.

Funding for the office has been provided by the National Park Service, and we are most grateful for their assistance. It will allow us to make better use of office volunteers and to add an additional staff person. He hope to respond promptly to your inquiries.

New Address:

NORTH COUNTRY TRAIL ASSOCIATION 3777 Sparks Dr., SE., Suite 105 Grand Rapids, Ml 49546 Telehone: (616) 975-0831 FAX (616) 975-0957

Office Open House April 21, 1995 10:00 AM to 12:00 Please join us to celebrate our new office and the 25th anniversary of Earth Day.

NORTH STAR:

The Newsletter of the North Country Trail Association , April-May 1995

For many years, the National Headquarters has been a PO Box and the Schoolhouse in White Cloud has served as our symbolic headqUarters. TheSchool.c house has had other uses: AYH Hostel, site of Annual Meeting, shelterforscoutsand other trail workers, and t.ool depot. It is now entering untried water as the Weal Michigan Trail Cen.ler-.

It can serve as a summer welcome center for hikers, a meeting place for trail adopters, or as a location for fundraising events. It clearly needs t.o be used regularly. The West Michigan Chapt.er has been asked to think about their potential use of the building. Hans Erdman, in his Minnesota Report in this issue, suggests that we need some developed centers.

Years ago, the schoolhouse was one of many hostels in Michigan. Last year, it was one of two. Ginny Wunsch expects that licensing regulations would phase that use of the Schoolhouse out in September when AYH inspects it. Every year, their requirements have become more stringent. And, Ginny's family has for years spent untold hours waiting for someone who didn't show up to use the hostel when they had requested it, had to get out of bed whensomeonewaslate, or had their dinner interrupted. There was the fire to cope with. When asked, Ginny couldn't think of any other NCTA member in the area who might replace her and her husband in that role.

Many individuals have contributed their funds and labor to maintain it. Today, it is probably in its

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New role for schoolhouse,

best shape ever. Ginny Wunsch has worked, begged, and borrowed to keep it in fine shape, supported by the efforts of West Michigan members. To mention just a few people, Lance Feild, Dr. and Mrs. Andres, Walt Byron, Wally Doan, Peter Wo]f, ~Paul Hoffman, Gene Schmidt, and local businesses have all made significant contributions to the life of the schoolhouse. Ken Gackler has had it registered in the Nationa One-Room Schoolhouse register.

As long as the schoolhouse is a licensed AYH hostel, overnight use is covered by their regulations. What we don't know yet is what the impact of unlicensing will mean to its overnight use by scout groups or even ourowil members. How are we going to decide who can use it for

what? Are we now required to meet state health codes for a residential camp? Can we charge a fee? We don't know. I will be communicatingwith AYH regarding our asswnption that they would probably not re-license the hostel.

Its use as an office was carefully considered. Can we require our current and future st.aft' to live in White Cloud? Is that the best location for an office? Probably not.

We need to hear any suggestions you have on the Schoolhouse and how it can meet important needs for the future. If you have a proposal, especially one that you are willing to implement, send it to Pat Allen at 3777 Sparks Dr. SE., Suite 105, Grand Rapids MI 49546.

路路Pol.Allen

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NORTH STAR: The Newsletter of the North Country Trail Association, April-May

1995

1995 NCTA Trail Conference set for New York Seminars: Design of Trails and Facilities for Day or Long Distance Hikers, and Multi-Use Trails Pros and Cons.

Tours: Corning Glass Center, Rockwell Museum of Western Art, Glenn Curtis Museum (Early naval plane builder and aviator), World-famous Watkins Glen Race Course, National Soaring Museum with sailplane rides, boat cruises on either Seneca or Keuka Lakes (Dinner Cruises are also available), Winery tours and tasting, and Mark Twain's study at Elmira College.

Programs: Three top flight evening programs are planned that everyone will enjoy and long re~ member.

A picnic lunch is guided hikes of varying ~~ planned for those in attenlengths are being planned. .. ft) dance on Friday followed by a )~,. social time before the evening Some of the locations are as follows: Sugar Hill State Forest, ~ ,.f) program. Trail lunches will be avail;;. v able Friday, Saturday and Monday.

Watkins Glen State Park, Finger Lakes National Forest, Robert Treman State Swimming pool: The opportunity will Park, Birsdeye Hollow State Forest, Con~ be available for those attending to use the innecticut Hill Wildlife Management Area, Texas ~~ O door swimming pool.

Hollow State Forest, and the Bristol Hills Branch ,.

Camping will be available at two nearby priof the Finger Lakes Trail. The first seven are all ~ vate campgrounds, but it's suggested that particicertified sections of the North Country Trail. pants use the economical lodging facilities and meal Workshops: Ten workshops, including Brunton plans at Watson Homestead. Meals may be purchased Compass and Map separately for Course, Chain those not staying Saw Use and at the Watson Maintenance, SeHomestead. Houscuring Private ing plans with Landowner Permeals will be availmission for Trail, able for both motet Trail ty1apping Usand bunkroomtype ing GPS, Night facilities jor either Sky, Edible Wild two or three nights.

Plant IdentificaMore informations, Native tion and registraAmericans of the tion material wll be Area, Bridge Deavaiable in the late sign and Construcspring. tion, and Utilizing College Programs WATSON for Trail Building <HOMESTEAD and Maintenance.

CENTER

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NORTH STAR:

The Newsletter of the North Country Trail Association,

April-May

1995

Page 13

Thro-hiking theNCT Part 1: The East End

by Gonlon Smith Editor's note: In addition to the brief report in the last NORTH ST AR., Gordon Smith wrote a longer report about Ed Talone and Sue Lockwood's 1994 end to end hike of the NCT. It is much too long to put in one issue, so we'll be serializing it over the next several issues.

Ed Talone, of Silver Spring, MD, hiked the whole North Country National Scenic Trail in 1994 -- every step of the way! Sue Lockwood, my sister, hiked as much of the route as her medical condition and prescribed dialysis treatments permitted -- 2800 miles.

I sometimes joined them, or hiked in to meet them, but always drove the blue Ford van loaded with diabetic and dialysis equipment and supplies essential to Sue's life; and camping gear, food, maps, and treats that were, relatively, less important, but still nice to have around at the appropriate time.

Two other companions joined us: Mac, a Black Lab leader Dog for the Blind, trained to assist Sue with her limited sight where others weren't around to help, and a noisy Terrier mix which I could never quite figure out why I had around. Since this is intended to be about the trail rather then those hiking it, I have implified matters by using the first person plural prenouns throughout whether one, two, or all three ofus were involved.

Since backpacking roads seems to becoming into vogue with the American Hiking Society/Backpacker Magazine American Discovery Trail undertaking, we decided to attempt the North Country National Scenic Trail although at its present stage of development it would involve a fair amount of "road walking". After having spent the past five years on the Continental Divide and Pacific Crest National Scenic Trails, we were concerned about how we would react to the eastern, and therefore more civilized, NCT. To complete the whole trail in a single season we divided it in half, and began on March 12, 1994 with its more southerly portion - near Cincinnati, Ohio, and headed eastward on the combined Buckeye/Discovery and North Country Trail routes.

We followed rural roads to the F.ast Fork State Park where the first "off road" segment was a heavily used and eroded horse trail with accompanying spring mud. From the end of the State Park trail we continued through almost rural hills on back roads with minimal local traffic. The third night on the trail was unexpectedly spent in a motel as it was impossible to find a suitable "hiding place" to camp.

Ohio seemed to be dog heaven, and as we walked along streets through framing areas we were ever mindful that at the next farmhouse a horde of dogs howling at high volume might herald a friendly "Spot", or a cantankerous "Killer"; and one could never tell which ahead of time. Our route soon brought us to the Shawnee State Forest (known as "the little Smokies of Ohio"), with its pine forests and hills, and public lands on which we could safely camp. Farm roads led us onward to Tom Hollow State Forest with hills more worthy of the name "Smokies" than the Shawnee, and very reminiscent of the woods and hills of the southern Appalachian.

A brief sortie past small farms along single-lane roads (paved in front of farm houses to cut down on dust) led through open farm fields in the valleys, across forested ridgetops and brought us to Hocking Hills State Park, a spelunker's delight! The Grandma Gatewood Trail between Ash Cave and Old Man's Cave led us through a unique canyon area which combined the rock formations of Utah and the waterfalls of Oregon's Columbia River gorge with impressive stands of cedars and hemlocks for a truly memorable half day of hiking.

Still within the State Park, we passed a rock.rappelng area which completed the transformation of our preconceived notion of Ohio as a flat "Kansas" type farm area with just a "few hills" along its name-sake river.

Next on our hike eastward we came to a section of the Wayne National Forest and followed along horse trail, less eroded than those of F.ast Fork. We weaved erratically between private inholdings (which comprise 80% of the Wayne's area), reclaimed strip mines of a bygone era, and thumping coal gas pumps. The followingdaywe mired along Burr Oak State Park's backpack trail which, after two days of steady rain added to the spring runoff, was goopy mud. Several sections of the

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NORTH STAR: The Newsletter of the North Country Trail Association, April-May 1995

trail, as a result of mud slides, had fallen into the lake; and we finally opted to walk along a state highway for the last part of our Burr Oak State Park trek.

Rutted dirt roads led through the Wolf Creek Wildlife Area and, along with some newly cut trail, on to the old covered bridge across Wolf Creek (the second of a number of covered bridges we would see in Ohio and Pennsylvania) and its adjacent dilapated grist mill buildings. Before long we were looking forward to the next day's covered bridge as these unique structures built in the last century to protect bridge framework from the elements always provided a fascinating break in the day's walking. Cut trail continued from the covered bridge up Aldrich Run to a county road Shortly, at a gravelled township road, we left the blue diamond blazes of the Buckeye Trail which we had been following up to now, and headed for a state highway. It was a 30-mile paved road walk into Marietta, Ohio, the last mile along the Muskingum River through an historic residential area and finally across the river on an abandoned railroad bridge.

Seven miles of road walking through and east of town brought us to another covered bridge, and cut trail once again, in the eastern section of the Wayne National Forest. Unusually heavy, wet snows of a month earlier had wreaked havoc on the well-built sixty miles of tread, which suffered now from mud slides and tumultuous blow-downs. The treadway climbed ridges and then plummented into deep ravines in contant sight of above-ground pipelines, gas wells, small storage tanks and a hodgepodge of derelict gas exploration equipment of the last century littering the bottoms of most ravines.

Another forty miles oftreadway is planned for the trail in this section of the Wayne.

April, and the inauguration of Daylight Savings Time coincided with our exit of the Wayne via county roads and the thirty-mile walk along a winding succession of paved and gravelled roads back to the existing Buckeye Trail route near Senecaville in the Muskingum Watershed Conservation District. Seneca Lake is one in a string of man-made lakes along the Muskingum River and here we rejoined the blue-blazed Buckeye Trail route on a fairly new five-mile section of cut trail.

We then proceeded northward along roads crossing 1-70 and US 40, and passing the appropriately named Buckeye Trail High School in Old Washington. We left the highway on a seldom used road through the Salt Fork Wildlife Preserve and then, from a group campsite in Salt Fork Lake State Park, we sauntered along two miles of cut trail to a shooting range another section of the "Wildlife Preserve". Following roads through small farms we crossed our' fourth another lake in the string of man-made lakes making up the Muskingum Watershed Conservation District.

Outside Smyrna, impenetrable brambles forced us off cut trail.and on to the highway, and then back roads led us on to the next MWCD lake, Clendenning, and

then still another, Tappan Lake, all nestled between the ridges stretching down from Alleghanies. Two more lakes, Leesville and Atwood, were passed in quick succession, though thelatterwasnevervisiblefrom the route we were following north.

Our first "significant" snowfall - leaving a "trace" of snow on the forest carpet ofleaves, and melting by midmorning - occurred on the twenty-sixth day of our hike after an all-day rain. Temperatures in the sixties and sunny days had been the usual March weather in Ohio.

The weather warmed again as we marched along in flatter terrain to a junction with the long-abandoned Ohio and Erie Canal towpath. During the next few days we passed through the Canal towns of Zoar, Bolivar (where it is hoped someday that the North Country Trail will intersect and follow a yet-to-be restored Beaver and Sandy Canal eastward to Pennsylvania), Navarre, and metropolis of Massilon, Crystal Springs, Canal Fulton and finally Clinton; our chosen point for leaving the blue-blazed Ohio Buckeye Trail. From here we headed eastward for the Pennsylvania state line following roads through a number of Amish farming communities, stopping regularly at farmhouses to enjoy conversations and delicious home baked cookies, often hot out of the oven. We finally arrived at an abandoned rail grade paralleling the state line, and at then Negley, we turned east; 650 miles and 33 days into our trek we left Ohio soil and entered the Keystone State.

We began Pennsylvania in the industrial warehouse section of the northern suburban fringes of Pittsburgh, walking mostly residential streets from Darlington to McConnell's Mill State Park - a gorge filled with old growth timbers and a mecca for white water enthusiasts and rock climbers, as well as hikers. We enjoyed following new and well-designed cut trail through this and Moraine State Park, a scant two miles further along our route.

We left the designated "high potential corridor" (which leads directly to Cook Forest State Park) followed rural roads instead south to link a series of "Rail trails" down to, and along the Allegheny River. While this route, technically, would not move us in our easterly direction, it would provide us with more than a week of relatively flat, well-defined tread. The Butlerto-Freeport Rail Trail had a couple of sections opened, and most of'it was nearning completion. Only one small portion had to be detoured around due to a continued property dispute.

After crossing the Allegheny River on a highway bridge we followed the yellow-blazed Baker Tail route to its intersection with the Armstrong Rail Trail which we then followed. The Baker Trail headed more easterly, but we would intersect and follow it again before entering the Allegheny National Forest in another 10 days or so. We followed the gentle pathway of the Armstrong for 45 miles before private property considerations forced us to detour along roads for a day ofhilly hiking.

We rejoined the level grade, and, near Franklin,

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NORTH STAR:

The Newsletter of the North Country Trail Association,

PA, intersected theAllegheny River and Samuel Justus Rail Trails, the form.er nearing completion and the latter a completed hiking and biking trail along the rail grade. A week ofhiking on nice level rail grade along the Allegheny River was refreshing after the hills of Ohio.

'111.e tunnels along this stretch were especially interesting, and a highlight of the day, just as the covered bridges had been in Ohio. Here, on a Saturday morning, we met David Howes, president of the Allegheny Valley Trails Association, the primary force in developing both trails now in existence, and the future route of the North Country Trail through this area.

A walk through the streets of Oil City brought us to another paved hiking and biking trail along Oil Creek through a state park of the same name which preserved the historical remnants of the 1860 Pennsylvania oil boom days. The 10 miles from the Petroleum Center to the Drake Well Museum traced with hist.orical signs the development of Pennsylvania's oil industry as it led us through a beautiful gorge.

From the end of this series of rail trails, we hiked along paved highways with the incessant roar of 18wheeler tanker trucks to the boundary of Cook Forest State Park and a junction with the Baker Trail at a closed bridge crossing the Clarion River.

The old growth timber which had escaped the loggers' saws for a century and the cool streams of the Cook Forest were a pleasant relief from the bone-jarring pavement of the last two days. Another few miles of connect.or trails and we gained the boundary of the Allegheny National Forest.

Through the National Forest we meandered along ancient grades, passing skeletons from Pennsylvania's oil boom days, logging areas of a by-gone era, splendid stands of virgin timber (including a 1 1/4 square mile area tou ted as the largest stand of virgin timber in the eastern United States), creek beds strewn with square boulders the size of two-story houses, and miles and miles of rusting iron pipes. Although threatening skies followed us all through this section, showers were generally brief during daylight hours and temperatures were delightfully warm. As we approached the northeast boundary of the Forest some 50 days from our Cincinnati start, we hiked side hill trails along the eastern shore of Allegheny Reservoir.

We topped a ridge to enter New York's Allegany (the spelling in New York is different) State Park and began following the Finger Lakes Trail which would be ourroutethroughmuchoftheEmpireState.

'111.ewhole complexion of our North Country Trail route changed as we crossed the Allegheny River for the last time on an abandoned road bridge and began following the many superO.ous freshly painted white blazes, often only a matter of feet apart. '111.e nicely contoured side trails ofPennsylvania'sAllegheny National Forest gave way to trails climbing five and six hundred feet straight up from creek crossings, called runs, to ridge tops and plunging down again, often with little treadway. '111.e Finger Lakes Trail, it appeared, was about t.o eucta far

April-May 1995

Page 15

greater toll on our bodies than had the Buckeye Trail of Ohio ortheAllegheny MountainsofPennsylvania. However, with just shy of two months' "breaking in" on those trails, we felt up to New York's challenge.

We passed through a succession of small state forests, climbing to ridgetops and then plunging int.o deep ravines only to climb yet another ridge. Clearings along the way offered spectacular panoramas of the forested lands through which we were passing.

The state forest sections, which we shared with spring turkey hunters, were connected by short jaunts on rural roads, sometimes little more than dirt tracks.

Soggy areas were chewed up by all-terrain vehicle use.

Where our route crossed private lands, we were sometimes approached by inquisitive landowners and orally reminded that the trail crossed their lands at the landowners pleasure and ifwe were caught building a fire future hikers would have t.o find an alternate route.

As we approached the Genesee River Valley the trail relented of its constant ups and downs as public lands diminished and we walked along edges of farm fields across the rolling hills. We took a half day off to tour Letchworth State Park and view the Genesee River gorge with its impressive railroad trestle and waterfalls. It was well worth the extra time. Across the Genesee River the hills and "runs" resumed, though somewhat subdued; and our trek alternated between farm fields and small tracts of state forest lands seldom over 2000 acres in size.

Cherry blossoms, bluets and trillium heralded the advent of spring as thender and lighting, dark clouds and occasional cloud bursts, were our frequent companions for an hour or so each day, affording teniporary relief from the gnats which flew in hordes around face and eyes whenever the sun streamed through the trees just beginning their annual growth. Clearings at the tops of hills, especially in the Hornell area, provided views of the checkerboard pattern of farm fields and forested tract. Two months after leaving Cincinnati we treated ourselves to steaks and the "Grand Buffet" at the Ponderosa in Hornell.

On the 63rd day of our trek, we met our first backpacker- a lad from Connecticut who was doing the Finger Lakes Trail - with car and moped "cause he didn't like camping alone" and keeping notes for a book he hoped to put t.ogether on all the major hiking trails in the northeast from Maine to Maryland.

The following day we gained our first view of one of the Finger Lakes from a hillside southeast of Hammondsport. Then we turned south and literally wiggled through some more small parcels of state forest land.

At Sugar Hill State Forest we joined horse trails, and the trees sprouted multi-colored blazes of various shapes. '111.ere had obviously been a very recent "trail ride" to which paper plates with arrows drawn on them testified. A rainy couple of weeks combined with summer-like temperatures worked t.o revive dorm.ant bugs, and the combination of mud, muck and countless insects combined for a memorable, if not pleasurable, weekend sojourn through the Sugar Hill en route t.o

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NORTH STAR: The Newsletter of the North Country Trail Association, April-May

Watkins Glen and another ofN ew York's famous Finger Lakes. Bug nets became a part of our daily attire giving an aura of outer space aliens to our appearance.

A "connector" trail allowed us to travel down the beautiful and exciting gorge at Watkins Glen State Park photographing waterfalls and stone bridges as we went. We then detoured to Montour Falls via an old barge tow path and then hiked along the beach of our second Finger Lake - Seneca Lake. We climbed a side hill along the edge of some of New York's famous vineyards. Finally we reached New York's only, and one of the nation's smallest and newest national forests, the Finger Lakes National Forest, which we traversed for a whole two miles. Then, back to the usual pattern of private lands and public road connectors between small parcels of state forest lands. Occasionally we joined short stretches of muddy, chewed up horse trails, but we did retire our bug nets for a while thanks to an unseasonable cold spell - but with it came rain and snow!

We missed the third Finger Lake entirely, going 路 south of Ithaca through R. H. Treman St.ate Park and south of Buttermilk Falls State Park. We made up for this by having a visitor each offournights-anoldhiking buddy of Ed's who now lives in Ithaca - and he either took us to dinner or brought the makings for "a-betterthan-backpackers-fare" dinner! Pizza, bar-be-que ribs, and steaks were a change from mac and cheese and Liptons which we usually consumed. It was a welcome change from our rather drab fare, and a new voice around the evening Coleman Stove was a real relief.

The fact that he was working 8-10 hours a day and took the time to come and be with us each day meant a lot.

The culinary delights he supplied were an extra bonus.

Near the Toughnioga River one Sunday morning we were passed by a succession of fast-moving individuals as we found ourselves in the midst of a Finger Lakes .: Running Club's Mountain Marathon, complete with aid stations. The last three days had been increasingly warm with the trees leafing out, May-apples spurting growth, wild flowers adding color, and increasing music from the bird population.

East of Syracuse the ridges traversed by the Finger Lakes Trail got appreciably higher and the trail itself steeper. Just short of the Cortland-Chenango county line we departed the white-blazed main trail which continues southeast towards its terminus in the Catskill Mountians, and followed the orange-blazed Onondaga Trail northward toward the edge of the Allegheny Plateau. A short road walk from the end ofhtis spur trail brought us to the Old Erie Canal, our route across the upper reaches of the Mohawk and Lehigh valleys. From the end of the Old Erie another road-walk would lead us into the start of another ~ed New York natural feature - The Adriondacks. We were 1400 trail miles east of our Cincinnati starting point as Memorial Day and the official "opening" of the summer tourist season approached.

At the northern end of the Onondaga Trail which led past the beautiful Tinker Falls, we ended over 500 miles of continuously marked, blazed trail route which had led us through the Allegheny National Forest and

1995

around the south end of the Finger Lakes region of New York state. Now we shed our wet and cumbersome hiking boots, and donned lightweight sneakers to begin a 150 mile combined road walk and canal towpath route which would take us deep within New York's Adirondack Park.

The Old Erie Canal towpath provided relief from the constant ridge climbing we had been doing for much of the Finger Lakes Trail. A long, warm afternoon was spent in Rome resupplying and purchasing a replacement camera. We then hiked to Delta Lake State Park on a reservoir built to supply water to the ~ew路 Erie Barge Canal which is still in operation.

Then,justsouth of Pixley Park, we joined the Black River Canal towpath (now a cross country ski trail) and hiked past 32 locks in 12 miles on the abandoned canal touted to have the most locks of any canal in the world.

From the Mohawk Valley to the Black River this canal and one of its "feeder" canals was our route to State Highway 28 which we would follow to the famed Northville-Lake Placid Trail in the Adirondacks.

Our timing seemed to be perfect. Our road walk into the Adirondack Forest Preserve was on the first really warm weekend there - Memorial Day weekend.

What might sometimes be referred to as a rustic woods road into the wilderness was for us bumper-to-bumper traffic. The peaceful tranquility of a winter season in the Adirondacks had been destroyed by the traffic of the first big weekend of the summer season.

As if in protest to the intrusion we were mobbed by swarms of black flies beyond anything any of us had experienced. With travel trailers, boat haulers, fifth wheelers, and deluxe motor homes stereaming by, we trudged along, sweltering under long-sleeved shirts, pants tucked in our socks and sporting ridiculouslooking green headnets to keep the black flies a few inches from their seemingly sole goal in life - our skin!

Medical problems resulted in a drastic change in plans and strategies as we approached the North villeLake Placid Trail in the Adirondacks. Sue and Gordon, along with the support van, had to make an uexpected three-week sojourn to Missouri. Ed continued alone, completing the Northville-Lake Placid Trail hefting his backpack; and then road walked to the Vermont line at Crown Point, New York, the eastern terminus of the North Country Trail route. A few days respite and an Amtrak ride and he was back on the blue-blazed Buckeye Trail heading north from Cincinnati along the Miami and Erie Canal. A record-setting heat wave finally forced him to abandon the Buckeye Trail route at Yellow Springs where the route leaves the canal and follows roads. He skipped north into Michigan, visiting friends, having a couple of hiking partners through a 90-mile section of the shady Manistee National Forest.

Next issue: Michigan .. If you'd like to read the whole story and haue access to a computer and modem, it's available on the NORTH STAR BBS in File Area 7 as "THRUHIKE.ZIP."SeePageBfordetailsontheNORTH STAR BBS. - WB

I

NORTH STAR:

The Newsletter of the North Country Trail Association, April-May 1995

Page 17

Trailbuildingat Old Victoria Village Volunteers from the North Country Trail Hiker's Club (Marquette, MI) and the Sierra Club spent two weeks last August working on the North Country Trail at Old Victoria Village, in Ontanagon County, MI, in the Ottawa National Forest. Most of the volunteers stayed in the historic old cabins at the village, and cooked their meals using the old wood stoves. "It was lots of fun," Gene Elzinga reported.

The groups plan to return to Old Victoria again this summer, August 13 through 26th. "'.Ihe NCT goes through the town," Elzinga reports, "And hikers have the opportunity to stay in the 19th century log cabins with authentic furnishings.

The Old Victoria Restoration Site is maintained by the Society for the Restoration of Old Victoria, a nonprofit organization of dedicated volunteers. It is a place to touch the past, a unique restoration project significant to the history of the Copper Country.

< Sierra Club Trailbuildingvolunteers Bill and Jim Robertson use a foot-powered grindstone to sharpen a fire rake used to clear vegetation during construction of a North Courtry Trail segment in Ontonagon County, Michigan. In the background is the hand-hewn log cabin where volunteers slept and ate at the restored Old Victoria mining village.

Linda Masser sharpens a fire rake used to clear vegetation during construction of a segment of the North Country Trail near Rockland, Ml, in August.

Volunteers stayed in a historic log cabin originally built to house miners at the Victoria Copper Mine nearly a century ago.

Art Robertson Photos

Page 18

NO~TH STAR: The Newsletter of the North Country Trail Association, April-:May 1995

Hiker Services and-YOU!

By Hans L·Erdman,

Park Ranger

Minnesota State Coordinator ~e Trail is going to be almost 4,000 miles long, with the addition of the Minnesota "Arrowhead Route" and cross mountains, streams, rocks and bogs. Sooner or later, somebody is going to get lost or hurt on the NCT, ifit hasn't happened already. How prepared are we, the folks who have planned, built, maintained and publicized this trail, to deal with emergencies that might occur on or around it? How about the everyday needs, such as trail and shelter information, education and such. The truth be known, we aren't ready yet for the type of usage we hope the North Country Trail will receive when it's completed. Ifwe don't start planning and implementing now, we may find ourselves faced with a problem that we can't deal with when the trail is completed.

If you have ever hiked the Appalachian Trail in Northern New Hampshire, and visited the "camp" at Pinkham Notch, at the base of Mount Washington; or been at Adirondack U>j, south of Lake Placid, NY, where most visitors enter the High Peaks Wilderness Area, you've probably seen "hiker services" in action.

From these two separate but similar facilities, the Adirondack and Appalachian Mountain Clubs (AMC) provide~ wide range of services to the day hiking and backpacking community. Everything from hot meals to hot showers, bedrooms to bunkrooms, trail information, w'eatherreports,supplies,andawidearrayofbackcountry skill and naturalist educational programs can be found at these two fine examples of "hiker services."

When someone gets lost or injured, the lodge crews are the first line of assistance that the rangers look to in an emergency. While the NCT doesn't have a Ponkham Notch Camp yet, it may someday soon. While we don't have "Ridge Runners" like the AT has in some areas, the need is starting to develop. while there aren't NCTA chapters who have taken the responsibility to train for and assist in search and rescue missions, like someAdirondackMountain Club (ADK) chapters, there is nothing keeping them from doing so.

The concept of "hiker services" is the next logical step for an organization like the NCTA, which has spent most of its life, thus far, developing the trail. Yet, it cannot be an.overnight, "down the road" decision. We , can't wait until the trail is finished to say, okay, it's time

to establish some "base camps", or start a trail patrol.

Rather, it is something that should be started now.

Pinkham Notch Camp and Adirondack U>j weren't built in a day.

The first and easiest thing to do is to start some sort of basic trail patrol (ridge runners, trail stewards, or whatever you choose to call them) on the more popular sections of the trail. This can be nothing more than a couple of people in mat;ching T-shirts or work shirts, with first aid training and equipment, maps, and a good knowledge of the trail and the surrounding area, who provide information and blister care to the other hikers while enjoying a weekend trip of their own. If the local group wishes, they can also be trained in basic search and rescue techniques, so as to assist if a hiker should get lost, and also to function as a local resource in larger search operations.

Establishing fixed facilities will prove to be a bigger challenge. As I stated in my Minnesota report elsewhere in this newsletter, I can think of several places in Minnesota which might serve the purpose, but they are nothing more than ideas at this point. When I was growing up in New York, there was a facility that we referred to as "Conservation Cabin" when I was a Boy Scout. Even though I came across it a couple of times in later years, I cannot recall were it was (maybe ConnecticutHill?) My last recollection was that it has fallen into disuse and disrepair, and is probab]y gone by now, but it was owned by the state, and would have made a great "hut" or hostel-type facility if an arrangement . could have been worked out to manage it. In addition to the obvious, like the ADK and AMC lodges, we should also look at the hut systems of the 10th Mountain Division Association in Colorado, and in Scandinavian countries, and other applicable examples, as we decide what direction the program should take.

I can't speak for anyone else, but I'll be out there next year, patrolling the trail, in traditional tan and green,• with my first aid kit, maps, trail tools, and my

German Shepherd, "Morgan." Hopefully, it's a concept that will grow as the trail does., See you out there!

• An occupational hazard. Since I get new utili'ly uniforms every second year, it's easy to recycle the old ones for trail use/

NORTH STAR:

The Newsletter of the North Country Trail Association,

April-May 1995

Page 19

Report from Minnesota:

Kekekabic approval paves the way for Arrowhead Route

c

My name is Hans Erdman, and I am the new NCTA State Coordinator for Minnesota. In assuming that post, I want to express my appreciation to my predecessor, Rod MacRae, whose hiking boots I am now expected to fill. It goes without saying that the NCT in this state would not exist as we know it t.oday if not for the dedicated time and efforts of Rod, and the entire association owes him a huge debt of gratitude for all of his work. Rod has promised me that he will not abandon us to the wolves, butwillcontinuetoworktoward the goals of the NCTA and trail, and assist me and our new (and yet to be named) chapter president as much as he can.

There is much happening along the trail in Minnesota, and still much to do. Our two highest priorities now are the addition of the "Arrowhead Route" and the completion of the section in Paul Bunyon State Forest, which will connect the certified segments in Chippewa National Forest and Itasca State Park. This will add between 250 and 300 miles of certifiable trail within the next two years, which will grow to well over 400 miles when the Mesabi Range Trail, connecting Ely and the Chippewa NF section of the trail, is completed. In other words, well before the year 2000, Minnesota will hopefully have added over hpenty .11er cent of the total towards the "2000 by 2000" goal! And don't forget the Bad Medicine section, which is already completed and just awaiting the certification process, as well as whatever other sections we complet.e by the end of the decade.

As was reported in the last issue of the North Star, (or should that be the ti.mt issue of the North Star?) the Superior HikingTrail Association approved theirtrail's inclusion into the NCT in Sept.ember. Late word from the Kekekabic Trail Club is that they voted in January to do the same, adding the final link that makes the Arrowhead Route proposal a reality!

One of the items that I made a personal priority after being elected (much to my surprise!) to the NCTA Board last year was that of on-trail "destinations". If you are familiar with the Appalachian Trail, you no doubt also know about the Appalachian Mountain Club "huts" in the Whit.a Mountains of New Hampshire, as well as their splendid lodge at Pinkham Notch. Similarly, the Adirondack Mountain Club has Adirondack Loj and High Peaks Visitor Cent.er at Heart Lake, where most trips into the High Peaks originat.e, and John Brooks Lodge, three miles from the nearest road in the High Peaks Wilderness Area. In Minnesota, I have tentative]y identified three existing facilities which

might be included in such a program, and there is also the AYH hostel at Itasca State Park. The Superior Hiking Trail already has a first-rat.e lodge-to-lodge hiking program in place, and there are a number of facilities near the Kek and Border Route trailheads on the Gunflint Trail (a paved road from Grand Marais on Lake Superior to the edge of the BWCA) and at the west.ern end of the Kek on Fernberg Road. In the same vein, I have also spoken with long-time NCTA member and host of last year's conference, Jim Richards, with regard to bringing the NCT into the north end ofMaplelag's ext.ensive trail syst.em, and out the south, putting Maplelag itself on the North Country Trail. This will be an ongoing project, because, in addition to locating reasonably priced facilities on or near the trail, my longrange goal is a Pinkham Not.ch/Adirondack Log-type facility which combines sleeping quarters, int.erpretive programs, information and educational facilities and hiker services on the NCT in Minnesota or Wisconsin.

The wint.er weather has been horrible if you think like I do. Warm, with very little snow, and icy at times.

It's made for lousy X-C skiing in the Twin Cities area.

Hopefully, February and March will be better. I understand the snow up in Chippewa and Chequamegon is better than in the cities, so I am planning some backoountry ski trips for those sections of the trail in the near future. It's too late to officially plan any ski trips as NCTA activities, but rest assured, next year we will have at least a couple on Minnesota sections of the trail.

It's not too late to be planning for National Trails Day (June 3rd) and we are. Under a separat.e cover we will be sending Wes the places and times for the activities we are planning on the Chippewa, Paul Bunyon and Bad Medicine sections, as soon as they are firmed up.

You're going to start seeing many more activities in the calendar section of North Star from this end of the trail, especially as the clubs that manage the Superior, Border Route and Kekakabic Trails start to participat.e, and hopefully, affiliate with the NCTA As a native New Yorker, I am excited about the upcoming national convention at Watson's Homestead in Painted Post, NY. I was a senior in high school some 23 years ago when Ilast visited Watson's. I haven't been there since, but the memories are good ones. I was born just up Rout.a 17 in Elmira, four decades ago, and few up in the Ithaca area, where I lived until seven years ago, when we moved out here. I haven't been back east in several years, and am looking forward to the trip, the conference, and the green hills of home. As the T-shirt

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NORTH STAR: The Newsletter of the North Country Trail Association, April-May 1995

I bought at International Mountain Equipment (in North Conway, NH) many years ago so eloquently puts it, "Ah ain't no Flatlander!"

I am going to dip my toe into controversial waters just a bit here, and call for more thought to be given to the NCTA's mountain bike policy. I don't like it, and the mountain biking public, whose support we should be see.king, is becoming alienated against us. Heck, I'm becoming alienated against us. I ride a mountain bike for both recreation and as part of my Park Ranger duties. I'm a member of CAMBRA,the Chequamegon Area Mountain Bike Association (WI) and the International Police Mountain Bike Association. Like many of you, I've had bad experiences on the trail with mountain bikers, but as a rider and a ranger I know those clowns are in the minority. I think we should work with groups like CAMBAand the Michigan Mountain Biking Association, rather than against them. After all, a good friend is better than a bad enemy! I will have a lot more

to say on this matter at the next board meeting, and in later issues, when my mind is into biking rather than skiing.

For those who saw my topo maps of the NCT in the Chequamegon National Forest, the trail was indeed revised with one of the new GPS computers, and the solid black line indicates the exact location of the trail.

The Hayward (WI) U.S. Forest Service office has one of the new units, and has either revised, or is revising the entire trail in Chequamegon NF using the system, and then are updating the topo maps like the one I had with me at Maplelag.

Finally, we were sorry to have missed Ed Talone and Sue Lockwoodon their way through the state. Wish someone would have let Rod or myself know they were here. Open invitation to Chet Fromm to give us a call, and we'll help you any way we can!

"Happy trails to you, until me meet again!"

-- Hans Erdman

Report from Wisconsin:

SCA Workshop set for May

by Gaylord Yost Wisconsin Coordinator When budgets are the issue, things such as recreation programs and facilities are among the first areas to feel the cuts. Tough financial times means the importance of your participation in organized recreation increases dramatically.

Your interest in the organized trail community is appreciated. Your participation is crucial to the success of the community. It demonstrates to government that there is a need to keep trails and facilities on the ground. It tells both government managers and Congress that there are citizens out there who want and use trails and are willing to give some time to construct and maintain them. Take time during the year to participate in a few activities. It will help to keep Wisconsin's trails open and put to good use.

*** This following announcement is an invitation to all North Country Trail Association members and others who wish training in trail construction and maintenance techniques.

May 5, Saturday, will be the opening day of a National Park Service sponsored trail construction and maintenance workshop. The workshop, conducted by the Student Conservation Association, will run four or five days. The SCA is an organization devoted to training groups interested in learning hand and motorized tool techniques for trail building and maintenance.

The National Park Service will pay all expenses for attendees except transportation to and from the workshop location. The effort is aimed at building a cadre of personnel within the Ice Age Park and Trail Foundation and the North Country Trail Association who are competent in trail work and can further the efforts of both organizations to support and build the Ice Age and North Country National Scenic Trails.

The workshop will be located at Camp Forest Lake, 3 miles north of Rib Lake, Wisconsin. The workshop will run from Saturday through Tuesday (9th) or Wednesday (10th) evenings depending upon the final curriculum selected. The North Country Trail Association is allocated 17-18slots. Shuttle service will be provided to those flying in to the nearest commercial airport. Attendees will need to be at Camp Forest Lake to begin the session first thing Saturday morning.

This will be 1995's first scheduled event for North Country Trail Association members and supporters.

The workshop will be held in the surrounding forest workingon actual projectsscheduled by the Chequamegon National Forest or other local agencies. This will give those attending a chance to actually build and reconstruct trail that is part of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail or connects to it. The workshop is being scheduled over a weekend to minimize the amount of work time attendees might miss from their jobs. We will keep you posted as the session develops.

Please call Bill Menke at the National Park Service office in Madison (608-264-5610)or drop me a card or call at 414-354-8987to exprees your interest in attending. For planning purposes, we will appreciate your early expression of interest.

NORTH STAR:

The Newsletter of the North Country Trail Association,

National Trails Day will be celebrated in southeastern WISCOnsin on June 3rd and 4th. Wilderness Connections of Mequon, USDA-Forest Service, Ice Age Park and Trail Foundation, North Country Trail Association, and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources - Lapham Peak Unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest are sponsoring the events.

June 3 will be project day and several trail building and maintenance projects will be scheduled at various locations. At least one project will be run on the Ice Age National Scenic Trail.

June 4th will be a celebration day at Lapham Peak unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest. Demonstrations of things to do, exhibits featuring places to go, food, interpretive hikes, races, orienteering, mountain biking, information booths, etc. will be located throughout the Lapham Peak area. The celebration is from 10 AM to 4 PM. Lapham Peak is located off County Highway C, one mile south of 1-94, Delafield, Wisconsin. Come out and have fun.

AN ational Trails Day Hike will be scheduled June 3 on a section of the North Country National Scenic Trail somewhere on the Chequamegon National Forest.

'Th.e North Country Trail Association and the Chequamegon NF will cosponsor the event.

Two work days have been scheduled for 1995 in addition to the May Workshop/Project. One day will be 29 July and we will be on project on the Hayward Ranger District of the Chequamegon NF. The 30th will be left open to complete loose project ends and for recreation. The other work day will be 7 October with the 8th to complete project. As per last year, we will be based at a local campground and begin the project first thing each of the Saturday mornings. Give me a call if you would like to sign up for either of these projects.

I have been gathering some information from agencies to assist in establishing an Adopt-A-Trail program for the North Country NST in Wisconsin. Currently, I am working to establish, with agency help, a breakdown of the NCNST into what appear to be logical segments so that individuals can Adopt the segments and maintain them in good order. If you are interested in adopting a section of the NCNSTwhere it now exists, please drop me a line in the mail, call me, or drop me an E-Mail message. We will help establish you with the agency in charge of the segment in which you have interest. Adopt-A-Trail or Road is already in place on many trails and roadways throughout the US. It is citizen participation at its best. I do hope some of you will help us keep the North Country Trail alive and ' open as it winds its way through the hills, lakes, and valleysofWisconsin. TheJan.-Mar.issueofthe"North Star" (newsletter of the North Country Trail Assc.) contains an excellent job description for Trail Adopters.

For further information, please contact me as noted: Gaylord Yost, WJSCOnsin Trail Coordinator, FAX= 414355-2842 (on request); Phone= 414-354-8987: E-Mail= 71634.224@CompuServe.Com.

April-May 1995

Page21

FLTC to again have Alley Cat Trail Crew During the summer and fall of 1995, the Finger Lakes Trail Conference will sponsor two trail work weeks. Interested persons can work from one day to the entire six days on either or both work weeks. All crew members working eight hours or more will receive a Trail Worker patch and those who work five days will receive a special 1995 Alley Cat Trail Crew t-shirt.

Alley Cat Trail Crew# 1 will be working on the main FLT from map M-4 to Map M-10 and the Letchworth Trail during the week of June 19-24. The work will involve trail improvement and facility development.

Stephanie Spittal will be crew leader. The crew will be based at Letchworth State Park.

Alley Cat Trail Crew #2 will be installing several hundred feet of puncheon bridging, building a 25-foot bridge, and performing other trail improvment projects in Allegany State Park during the week of September 11-16. Crew leader for the week will be Mark Hittle.

The crew will be based in Allegany State Park.

Non-communting trail crew members for either week will be provided free lodging, meals from Monday lunch through Saturday lunch, local transportation during the working time, and work tools. Workers are to provide their own personal camping equipment, work clothes, and foot gear.

To sign up or get more information about the Alley Cat Trail Crew, contact Howard Beye at the FLTC Service Center, 202 Colbourne Road, Rochester NY, 14609-6733 (phone (716) 288-7191)). Early sign-up is suggested.

Lower Peninsula Trail projects The plans are made for the summer trail construction season in Lower Michigan, spring is just around the corner, and its time to plan vacations. Reserve some time and come out and help on volunteer construction projects.

The West Michigan Chapter has plans for work in Kent County and at Yankee Springs. For more information, call Bill Van Zee at (616) 868-7251.

The Grand Traverse Chapter will have several projects going on in the Traverse City area. For information, call Arlen Matson at (616) 941-4152.

Ralph Powell will be managing a campout/work week at Wycamp Lake in Emmet County in July, working between the camp grounds and Wilderness State Park. If interested, call Ralph at (313) 971-9013.

In addition, there will be other projects in Antrim, Charlevoix, and Emmet Counties. You can pick almost any date in June, July or August, and Arden Johnson will be glad to accomodate you. For more information, call him at (810) 853-0292.

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NORTH STAR: The Newsletter of the North Country Trail Association, April-May

1995

Trail Adoption opportunities on the North Country Trail

by Doug Welker This is in many ways a "good news and bad news" article.

Let me start with some of the "bad news". First, when Ed Talone hiked end-to-end last year on the NCT, he found many miles of trail with problems such as inadequate maintenance, poor signs and blazing, poor trail routing (through wet areas with no puncheons, hills too steep to avoid erosion, etc.), severe damage from severe horse or mountain bike use or by horse and mountain bike use on trail segments where such use is not appropriate, ATV damage, etc. His trail logs in several places indicate that he spent long periods of time searching for the trail but was unable to find it due to the fact that, for all practical purposes, the trail was literally gone.

Here's some more "bad news". The financiallystrapped state and federal agencies which initially built much of the NCT are likely to be even more financially strapped in the future The result could be that when push comes to shove, issues like assuring that timber harvesting targets are met, keeping expensive visitor centers maintained, and paying the salaries of current public employees are likely to receive top priority; trail maintenance will be far down in the priority list.

Another bit of bad news is that, according to a survey I recently conducted with the assistance of the NCTA's state coordinators, only about 30% of the NCT has been adopted by volunteer maintainers (about 20% or the trail on federal land and about 40% of the trail on other lands -- about halfof the NCT is on federal lands, mostly on national forests). That shortage of maintainers undoubtedly has a great deal to do with the poor trail conditions that Ed observed.

But there's good news, too: Ed walked nearly 1200 miles of trail. On the reports he sent the Park Service he was asked to give an overall rating to the trail segment he was reporting on, or to give a narrative about its general conditon. The three rating categories he could

choose were good, fair, or poor. He gave a "good:rating to almost 1000 miles of trail (where he gave a narrative but no good/fair/poor rating, I interpreted his narrative and assigned a rating.) That's 84% of the trail in the "good"category. The flip side, I suppose, is that 16 % is not so good, the equivilent of finding 1.4 miles of trail with significant problems on a 10 mile hike. On federal lands, Ed rated about 95% of trail miles "good"but on non-federal lands only 2/3 made the "good"category.

The other good news is that there are many miles of often spectacular trail waiting to be adopted. In parts of the Appalachians, there's feirce competiton among potential adopters for the right to adopt sections of trail which are often mediocre in comparison to some of the unadopted trail we have. That may be because trails like the Appalachian Trail have been around for quite a while and are well known, or because tens of millions of people live within a four to six hour drive of many of those trails. The growth and continued quality of the NCTG, though, will ultimately depend on the NCTA modelling itself more after groups like the Appalachian Trail Conference than the relatively small-scale organziation we are today. We'll need a well-established system of trail adoption for the entire length of the trail, especially since the contribution toward this effort by governmental agencies will likely dwindle with time.

Another part of this good news, though, is that if trends in government continue, support for programs which feature significant coorperative efforts by volunteers may suffer less than most -- all the more reason for us to get involved in documentable volunteer activities such as trail adoption.

So here's your chance to make a difference, and have some fun and great exercise in the process. Our state coordinators provided me a list of sections needing adoption, along with infor on who to contact at the agencies which manage these sections. If you're a little nervous about contacting these folks directly, you can contact our state coordinators, or contact an NCTA chapter or affiliate to join them on trail maintenance outings. Info on our state coordinators, chapters and affiliates is found elsewhere in this newsletter.

NORTH STAR:

The Newsletter of the North Country Trail Association , April-May 1995

Page23

Adopt some North Country Trail New York The entire NCTtodate in NY has been adopted, but since there's always a turnover in adopters, potential adopters are encouraged to contact Howard Beye, NY State Coordinator for NCTA.

Pennsylvania Clear Creek State Forest

Rugged Hills in NW part of state

James Ritchie,Pitlstugh Can::il,. AYH Pittsburgh

Jennings Environmental Service Center, Moraine State Park, McConnel's Mill State Park

Rollingtills, lakeshores,rugged gorge

Obie Derr, Park Manager,Maaine State Park, RD#1, PortersvillePA 16051 (412) 368-8111

Ohio Buckeye Trail

Most areas needing adoption are in rugged hills of southeast Ohio

Jim Sprague, Ohio State Coordinator for NCTA

Beaver Creek State Park

Deep rivervalley in east-central Ohio

Bill Sheehan, Park Mgr, 12798 Echo Dell Rd, Liverpool OH 43920 (216)3853091

Wayne National Forest

Rugged hills of southeastern Ohio

Cathy Briggs or Dave Greenwood, Rt. 1 Marietta OH 45750 (614) 373-9055

Shawnee State Park

Very rugged hills in southern Ohio

Star Rt., Box 68, PortsmouthOH 45662 {614) 858-6652

Shawnee State Forest -

Very rugged hills in southern Ohio

Rt5, Box 151 C, Portsmouth OH 45662 (614) 858-6685 or (614) 372-3194

Miami and Erie Canal Trail

Scenic route along old canal in western Ohio farmlands

LeRoy Goodin, DNR Division of Water, St. Mary's OH, 45885

Michigan Manistee National Forest

Rollingforests of western lower Michigan

Baldwin Ranger District, Baldwin, Ml 49304; Manistee Ranger District, Manistee Ml 49660

Mackinaw State Forest

Rolling forests of NW lower Ml

Gaylord Ml 59735 (517) 732-3541

Wilderness State Park

Scenic park on Lake Michigan

Carp Lake, Ml 49718

Hiawaha Naialal Forest (east part)

Northwoods lakes and forests, scenic Lake Superiorshoreline

Joe Hart, St.Ignace Ranger Dist., 1498 US2, St. Ignace, Ml 49781 (906) 6437900; Kristi Keach, Sault St. Marie Ranger Dist. 40001-75 Bus. SJ)U', Sault St. Marie, Ml 49783 (906) 635-5311

NORTH STAR: The Newsletter of the North Country Trail Association, April-May 1995

Page24

Michigan (cont'd) Northwoods lakes and forests, scenic river and waterfalls

John Spiles, Star Rt. 48, Box 255, Paradise Ml 49768 (906) 492-3412

Lake Superior State Forest

Northwoods lakes and forests, scenic Lake Superior shoreline

Debb Huff, Ml DNR, Newbeny Ml 49868 (906) 293-3293; Amie Dober, Ml DNR, Shingleton Ml 49884 (906) 452-6227

Muskallonge Lake State Park

Scenic park on Lake Superior

Watne Suicla, Star Rt, Box 48, Paradse Ml 49768 (906) 492-3415

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Spectacular Lake Superior shoreline with high cliffs

Grant Peterson, PO Box 40, Munising Ml (906) 387-2607

Hia.vaha National Forest (west pat)

Northwoods lakes and forests

John Luepke, Munising Ranger District, 400 East Munising Ave., Munising Ml 49862 (906) 387-2512

Ottawa National Forest

Northwoods lakes and forests, high cliffs, scenic rivers, spectacular waterfalls

Doug Welker, Kenton Ranger Dist. PO Box 198, Kenton Ml 49943 (906) 8523500; Vern Keesler, Ontonagon Ranger Dist., Ontanagon, Ml 49953 (906) 8842411; Dan Torrence, Bergland Ranger Dist., Bergland Ml 49910 (906) 5753441; Rick Mcvey, Bessemer Ranger Dist., Bessemer Ml 49911 (906) 6670261.

Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park

Northwoods lakes, forests, waterfalls, Superior shoreline

virgin Lake

Ron Welton, Park Manager, 599 M107, Ontonagon Ml 49953 (906) 8855275

Copper Falls State Park

Northwoods forest, scenic river and waterfalls.

Kent Goeckermann, Copper Falls State Park, Rt. 1, Box 17AA, Mellen WI 54546

Chequamegon National Forest

Northwoods lakes and forests, two wildernesses

Washburn Ranger Dist., 113 E. Bayfield St. Washburn WI 54891 ; HajWarcl/ Glidden Ranger Dist., HajWard WI

Tahquamenon

Falls State Park

Wisconsin

54843

Minnesota Chippewa National Forest

Northwoods lakes and forests

Connie Carpenter, Walker Ranger Dist., Walker MN 56484 (218) 547-1044

Itasca State Park

Northwoods lakes and old growth forests, crown jewel of MN parks

HC 05 Box 4, Lake Itasca MN 65460 (218) 266-3654

North Dakota There are numerous trail adoption opportunities in North Dakota, from forests to river floodplains to wetlands to prairies. Contact Dale Anderson, ND State Coordinator, for more information

NORTH STAR:

The Newsletter of the North Country Trail Association,

ffEMS FOR THIS COLUMN IIl.l§Lbe received before the deadline date given on Page 4 of this newsletter. We welcome listing actMties of affiliated organizations, but we must be aware of them in sufficient time for publication.

NCTA May 20: NCTA Board Meeting, Courtyard Inn, near Detroit Metro Airport. For more information, contact Pat Allen, (616) 452-4487.

June 1: Newsletter deadline.

August 1: Newsletter deadline.

August 18-21, 1995: NCTA Second Annual Conference, Watson Homestead Conference Center, Coopers Plain, New York. For mae i1ormaliat, Qra:t ltJwad 8eye. FIYJEJ Lakes Tral Cia1fererloo, 202 Colebourne Rd, Rochester NY 14609 (716) 288- 7191.

September 15: Challenge Cost Share Projects due to NPS. For more information, con1act Bill Menke, NPS, (608) 264-561 o.

October 1 : Newsletter deadline.

November 11: NCTA Board of Directors meeting.

Michigan May 15-19: Western Michigan Chapter expedition to Craig Lake State Park. Three bedroom rustic cabin rented for those dates. Call Chuck, (616) 456-9725 for reservations and information.

June 6: Western Michigan Chapter meeting, 7:30 PM. Cookout and potluck at 6 PM at Dwight Lydell Park. Election to be held. For details, call Wilma (616) 949-6398.

June 18-24: IWA hike in Manistee, Ml aea. Accomodations at Days Inn of Manistee, (616) 723-8385.

New York April 22: Hike Across Steuben County #1. First of 7 hikes totalling 67 1 /2 miles. Contact Sue Winslow, 281 Gibson St., Canandaigua NY 14424.

April 23: 5-mile Earth Day Hike on ~uga Trail Loop. Contact Tom Reimers ((607) 253-3900 day, (607) 272-6679 EMmg) for mmation.

May 5-7: Finger Lakes Trail Conference Annual Meeting, Swain Ski Center, Swain, NY. Contact Stephanie Spittal, 9811 South St., LeRoy, NY, 14482 for information.

May 7: CTC Trail Wortc Session. Contact Peter Hariott (607) 2736049 for information.

May 14: Finger Lakes Trail Runners sponsors Ed's lltra run, 27.5 mies, 7:00 AM,Tremai SIBie Pak. Cell (607) 272-4468 for ilfamaliat.

May 20: Hke Across Steuben County #2. See above.

May 28: Finger Lakes Trail Runners sponsors Tom Bugliosi Trail Runs, Tuller Hill State Forest. 8:30 AM. Call (607) 835-6712 for information. .lJne 19-24: Al'ef cat Tral Qew WOO< WeeAt. #1. Based at l..elctW«Xfl State Park. Qew Leader Stephanie Spittal (716) 768-6495.

June 24: Hike Across Steuben County #3. See above.

July 1: Finger Lakes Trail Runners sponsors Finger Lakes Trail Fifties, Virgil State Forest, 6:30 AM. Call (607) 387-6281 for information.

July 16: Finger Lakes Trail Runners sponsors Forest Frolic Trail

April-May 1995

Page25

Runs, Virgin State Forest, 9 AM. Call (607) 277-7816 for ilformalion.

July 22: Hike Across Steuben County #4. See above.

July 29: FlTC President's Hike, Montery NY. Leader Rich Joki (607) 739-7798.

August 13: Finger Lakes Trail Runners sponsor Virgil Mountain Madness Trail Run, Virgil State Forest, 8:30 AM. Call (607) 2573592 for information.

Sept. 3: Finger Lakes Trail Runners sponsor Monster Marathon and half marathon, Virgil State Forest, 7:00 AM. Call (607) 844-3872 for information.

Ohio June 3 & 4: BTA Work weekend, Pike County. Contact Jim Sprague, (216) 884-4757 for information.

June 24 & 25: BTA Work weekend, Clendening Lake. Contact Jim Sprague, ( 216) 884-4757 for information.

Sept. 10-16: BTA Work crew, tentative, Tar Hollow State Forest.

Contact Jim Sprague, ( 216) 884-4757 for information.

Sept. 30, Oct 1: BTA Work weekend, Lake Co. Metropark. Contact Jim Sprague, (216) 884-4757 for information.

Pennsylvania Sept 8-10: Work session on NCT in area between Moraine State Park and Jennings Environmental Center. For information call Mark Eckler, (412) 588-6164.

Wisconsin May ~10: SCA Trail construction training.Olequamegon NF, Medford Area. For details, contact NCTA executive director Gaylord Yost, WI Trail Coordinator, (414) 354-8987, or Bill Menke, (608) 264-5610.

June 3: National Trails Day Hike and Outing on North Country Trail.

Hayward or Washburn Area CCJ1la:t Ga,tlord Yost, WI Tral Coacirslu, (414) 354-8987.

June 3-4 National Trails Day Work Day and Celebration Day, Delafield at Lapham Peal<. Contl;t Gayloro Yost, WI Tral Coorlinator, (414) 354-8987.

July 29-30. Work day on North Country Trail, Haywart1 area.

Contact Gaylord Yost, WI Trail Coordinator, (414) 354-8987.

August 18-22. NCTA Convention, Coopers Plain, NY. October 7-8: Work day on North Country Trail, Washburn Area.

Contact Gaylord Yost, WI Trail Coordinator, (414) 354-8987.

SWISS

ALPS

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7-2 •••k toura b•alng •t 15 mount•ln 3-4 1tu hotel1 .

All hlkH guld•d by NCT m•mber Cecll Dobbln1. For • free color brochure c•ll (2Hll 117-3771, or write to:

ALPINE ADVENTURE TRAILS TOURS. l•c.

713 V Cllthlde Dr. AKRON, OH 44313

The

Hikers

swissairC Paradise

Page26

NORTH STAR: The Newsletter of the North Country Trail Association, April-May

1995

North Country Trail Shop GREAT INFORMATION ON THE NORTH COUNTRY NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL AVAILABLE FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY TRAIL BOOKSTORE/ FOLLOWING THE NORTH COUNTRY NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL, by Wes Boyd, NCTANewsletter editor. Packed full of information about the NCNST. 64 pages. Not a trail guide, but a trail discussion. "The aim is to give the reader the information necessary to find out what they need to know to follow the trail" - - and lots of other useful information. The most inclusive information on the whole trail. Printed 1992. $5.95, ($4.00 wholesale 10 or more).

CERTIFIED SECTIONS OF THE NORTH COUNTRY TRAIL by Byron and Margaret Hutchins.The long-awaited start to a trail guide for the entire trail. Accurate route descriptions by an experienced guidebook writer who's walked the sections with a measuring wheel, covering many certified sections of the trail long enough to be a hiking destination, published in an easy to carry loose-leaf form. Individual map sets at various prices (see order form); whole set, including binder, is $23.00, use order form. Sorry, no direct wholesale.

GUIDE TO THENORTHCOUNTRYTRAIL--CHIPPEWA NATIONAL FOREST by Rod MacRae. Discussion of the route and trail log from east to west in the Chippewa National Forest. Wonderfully written by a Chippewa National Forest expert. 12 pages. $1.25 each; Wholesale (1 o or more) $. 75 each.

MICHIGAN MAPSETS developed by Arden Johnson. Maps to follow the NCNST in the Manistee, Hiawatha and Ottawa National Forests, and the trail between St. Ignace and Munising, and northern lower peninsula. $4.00 per set; Binder with indicies, $2.50. Contact bookstore for information on ordering individual maps.

THE NORTH COUNTRY TRAIL -- MANISTEE NATIONAL FOREST by the Michigan Trailfinders. Offers a detailed description of the trail from the White Cloud trailhead to Big Star Lake, and from US 1 Oto McCarthy Lake. Current through June, 1989. $2.00 each, no wholesale available.

GUIDE TO THE PICTURED ROCKS NATIONAL LAKESHOREby Olive Anderson. Includes revised Lakeshore Trail Guide. The Pictured Rocks National tokesnore Is the centerpiece of the North country Trail -- a rugged, unique coast on the wild Lake Superior shore. Updated in 1994, this 56 page book by Pictured Rocks enthusiast Olive M. Anderson gives the reader revised maps and up-to-date Information about this Michigan section of the North Country Trail. $6.95 each; Wholesale (1 O or more) $5,25 each.

NORTH STAR:

The Newsletter of the North Country Trail Association,

April-May

1995

Page27

North Country Trail Shop Patches and Stickers Volunteer Strip $1.50 NCT Patch $3.00 State Strip $1.50 New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota Hike Distance Strips (must qualify) $1.25 5, 1 o. 15, 20, 25 or 35 miles hiked in one day NCTA Coffee Mugs $6.95 Trail Supporter Pin (3/ 4" Clolsonne) $3.95

r•

I

(

l'r·\.

;

••••••••••••••••••• • ••••••••••• ORDER FORM -- NORTH COUNTRY TRAIL SHOP PLEASE TYPE OR PRINT

North North North North North

Country Country Country Country Country

Trail Patch@ $3.00 each Trail State Segment Patch@ $1.50 each Trail Volunteer Strips@ $1.50 each Trail Coffee Mugs@ $6.95 each Trail Supporter Cloisonne pin@$3.95 each

North Country Ttoll T-Shltf (circle size): Adult, S, M, L, XL, XXL, l00% cotton, It. blue only@ $9. 95 each

BOOKS copies of "Fol/owing the North Country National Scenic Trail" $5.95 per copy ($4.00 per copy If ten or more) copies of "The North Country Trail - Manistee National Forest" $2.00 per copy. (no wholesale) copies of "Gulde to the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore• $6.95 per copy. ($5.25each If ten or more) copies of "Gulde to the North Country Trail -- Chippewa National Forest" $1.25 per copy ($.75 per copy If ten or more) copies of Michigan mapsets (check appropriate ones:) Lenawee Co. - Calhoun Co. o Kalamazoo Co - SE Newaygo Co. SE Newaygo Co - NW Wexford Wexford - CharlevolX Co. Charlevols Co. - Mackinac City St. Ignace - Marquette Marquette - Ironwood $4.00 per set. Binder, $2.50 No wholesale

o

o o o

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copies of •certtned Sections of the North country Trail" (Check sestlons) o Burr Oak - SinkingSpring $4.00 OAllegheny NF & Cook Forest,$2.90 Wayne NF $1.50 Little Miami Scenic Park, $1.15 Miami and Erle Canal, $1.80 Manistee NF $3.50 Hiawatha NF E & Tahqua $2.70 Ottawa NF $2.1 o Hie.NF W & Pict Rocks, $2.05 Chequamegon NF $1.80 Chippewa NF, $2.20 Sheyenne Grassland $1.15 Complete set with binder, $23.00, shipping Included. No wholesale.

o o o o o

o o o o o

Name

.

Address

.

City

.

State, Zip

.

Phone

.

Please enclose for shipping & handfing: $0.00. $10.00 $2.00 $10.01 -$25.00 $3.00 $25.01 . $100.00 $4.00 Over $100.00 $5.00

Michigan residents o/ease include 6% sales tax Make check/money order payable to: Worth Country Trail Association• Send order to:

NCTA Trail Shop sm Sparks Dr., Sune 105 Grand Rapids Ml 49546

Page28

NORTH STAR: The Newsletter of the North Country Trail Association, April-May 1995

2000 Members by 2000 2000 Certified Miles by 2000 It's not going to be easy, but we can do it. Much has been completed, but there's still a lot to do.

You can help meet the challenge by joining the North Country Trail Association, and by inviting others to join, too. Let's do it! r--------------------------------------, APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP Annual Dues: membership year runs to anniversary of North Country Trail Association dues payment.

3777 Sparks Dr. SE, Suite 105 Grand Rapids, Ml 49546 Membership Categories

Basic Membership .

Household(includeschildren under 18) Organizational. .

Trail Leader .

Pathfinder .

Corporate .

Life .

Life (withspouse) .

$ $ $ $ $ $

$ $

20.00 30.00 35.00 50.00 100.00 500.00 400.00 600.00

I wish to join the North Country Trail Association.

Enclosed is $ for a ----membership.

Name Address-----------

O Yes, I would like to further support the North Country -------------Trail Associationwith my tax free contribution of $ .

Phone ( enclosed.

)

L--------------------------------------~

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