NORTH STAR: The Magazine of the North Country Trail, October-December, 1999
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upporters Dan Adsmond Jerry Allen Pat Allen and Mark Miller Ameritech Cathy Arbib Annadillo Custom Drygoods Charles E Anhelm Thomas & Patricia Backe Jane Balcer Bernice & Alphonse Baron Steve Barrows Mark Battey Eric Beck Virginia Belinski Bob and Nancy Benham Howard S Beye LI.Roy Bliven Richard D. Boettner Steve Books Andrew Todd Borsum &..en Bradish Kathy Brehm Jerry Brucksch Jerry Brucksch Jay E. Burg Richard D. Burkross Charles E Burpee Donald L Bussies David Byrne Robert D. Cable Richard Cannon Signe A. Carstens Gene Champagne Michael Clark Ruth L. Clausen Walter Clawson Lora & Michael A. Cochran Lois Ann Cole Joan Conway Robert L Crawford Elizabeth Daly Robert D. Decker John Diephouse Barbara Dilworth Donald and Brita Dom Raymond Doverspike Terry and Mary Jo Dunlap Peter C Eldridge Liz Elling George Elliott John Elms Barbara Enger Richard Engstrom Elwood J Ensor Richard Erickson Peter Farner Art and Virginia Fish Richard D. Flinn Sharon R. Froeligh Tom and Janis Gilbert Preston M. Givens Robert Gould Peg Grabowski Richard E Gray Emily S Gregor Harry L Gubbins Paul Haan Rick and Chris Halbert Ronald Hand Dennis R Hansen Barbara Hawke Health Partners Flo and Carter Hedeen Eunice Hendrix Ken and Mary Hinchman John Hipps & Bartie Smith Charlotte E. Holly James & Gladys Hoogterp Robert L. Hooker Dan P Hombogen Keith & Katharine Homgren Ceceilia Huebner Herbert & Suzanne Hulls Grace & Ronald Hutchinson Peggy Jones & Andy Zeek Martha KJones Donna Joyce
arol Kehrer Gerard and Karen Kempa Brooks and Margie Kindel David L Kinnamon Martha J. Kinsman Edwin Kuehn Nora Kufalk Kay Kujawa Richard W. Kujawa Rodney C. Kurzer Edward J, Lawrence Gary R Leff Christopher & Margo Light Janice Lindstrom Dency Lippert Bernard Lory Ron Lovasz Priscilla Lussmyer Rod MacRae Robert S. Maruna Duane & Beverly Mattheis William and Donna Menke Catherine Miller & Bernie Winter Martha Molnar William Moore Geraldine M Nault Julie Nietling Mark and Karen Nootbaar Robert & Patricia Norcross Malcolm D. Norton Michael & Katherine O'Rear Fred and Karen Olsen Jeff and Sandra Palmer Bob and Annette Papp Virginia Parks John and Tory Parlin Connie Pausils Carole & Loren Pederson Richard & Donna Pfeiffer William Phillips Aaron Phipps Shirley G Pittenger Ralph and Barbara Powell Janice L. Purcell Tyler Putman Harold Raber Roger Raehl Kathy Ralston Joseph Raught Richard C. Reed Thomas J Reimers David Reynolds J. Robert Routt Robert Ruble Eric Russell Bruce L. Ryder Roy Salmon William and Sue Sanger Ray Sanocki Merl and Patricia Schlaack Ross B. Schmidt Joseph C Schott David M Schutte Roland & Marian Schwitzgoebel Cheryl Sharrow Allen and Mary Shoup Richard 0 Smith Thomas J. Smith James W Sprague Mike Stasik Margaret Strobel Jack Strong Harmon V Strong Rolf R. Swanson Janette Sweasy Larry and Marsi Swinkey Thomas Szpond Gary and Karen Talsky Christy Tigchelaar Don Tinson Clinton M Tompt Sidney Tuinstra Bruce VanDyke Werner Veit Paul and Ann Warren Daryl Williamson
Rodger and Denise Wolf Paul Wright Richard A. II Wynalda Duke Yost Gaylord & Marlene Yost Beverly A Zelt
MEMBERSHIPS Businesses: Sandhill Marketing Communications Sharp Park Campground
Organizations: AYH Pittsburgh Council City of Ionia, Ml N.Dakota Forest Service S.O.L.A.R USDA FS, Allegheny NF
Pathfinders: Robert & Judith Bredeweg Steve Carlson Douglas J. Frails Patrick & Sharon Loomis Michael & Erica SanDretto Edward Scanlan Richard L. Schwaab Richard D Seabold Frank Wanat
Trail Leaders: Steve and Peggy Ainey Matthew Anderson William J. Arthur Douglas B Bailey Charles I Benjamin Frank S Blumenthal Roman Bohatch David M. Briggs Barb & Brian Buchanan John M. Conway Ronald R. Crosby Ron and Jane Dziurda Liz Elling Richard Fitzgerald Chris and Patti Gilson Robert Glesne Steven Hanses Barbara Hawke Paul and Jerry Henry Mark T. Hoffman Meegan Holland Michael Hommel Glen Johnson Peggy lones & Andy Zeek Kurt Landauer Edward J, Lawrence Edwin & Judith Leonard Jon G Lindgren Jeffrey S Lutz John A. Mattern Richard Mattice Karen A. McNew Fred Muschenheim Robert W. Papapanu William G. Perry Robert Reed Harriet Rubenstein and Martin K. Brigham Carl Scarbro & Karen Reese Merl & Patricia Schlaack Brian J. Seely Dominic Sosnowski Tim Travis Phil VanDyke John & Diane VanderVeen Stephen A. Volk Steven J. Wester Donald Wickstra Reynold Zeller
New Members: Barbara J. Albertson Joan C. Altiere V. Paul Doris Amberson Cart Anderson and Patty McDonal Matthew Anderson William J. Arthur Alex and Jane Atkinson
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Jerry Aungst Douglas B Bailey Suzanne S. Baker Paula Ballast Balloon Critters Bruce J. Baty Eric Bauer Paul J. Beckmann Ronald Beilfuss David and Larry Bell William Berg Nick Bertram William C. Bessler Michael E. Betley Philip M. Bifulco Stanley R. Bixby Eric R. Boeker Roman Bohatch Cynthia L. Bahun Robert L. Boice Susan L. Bond Kenneth G. Borle Robert A. Bouchard John D. Bouws Carolyn Bowe Thomas R. Breckenridge Robert & Judith Bredeweg Linda E. Brenneman Laurel L. Breyen David M. Briggs Phillip C. Briggs Charlie and Jan Brill Peter Brown Nancy Brucken Bart and Brian Buchanan Norman D. Buebendorf Cadene Burdick Linda Bums L.J. Burr David J. Busse Tom Caldwell Steve Carlson Pam Carnahan Thomas W. Cate Gary Cera Gene Champagne Perry J. Cicchini Lonnie D. Clar Carla Clark Ruth L. Clausen Rebecca E. Clemons Sean Coakley James R. Coffman Daniel R. Collister Shelby & Bradley Combs John M. Conway J. Scott Cooper James Cousin Don Coutchie Joann Cramer Robert S. Crowley Verl Dasher Kenneth & Maura Davenport Laura Degolier Paul DeGraaf Pamela J. Derry Jared Digello Clayton Diskerud Jack R. Dixon Kathleen Dixon Ralph Doerzbacher Curtis Dyer Randy W. Ent Suson Ertzinger Kim Fast Kathy Fauth Jay Federman Richard Fitzgerald Lisa A. Flood Bob Flynn Douglas I. Frails Doug Frantom Jerry Freels John F. Gall Howard L. Garrett Louis Geeraerts Judy Gerke Sonya 0. Gindorff
George Girod Robert Glesne Jay Good Russell and Teresa Good William S. Grady Delbert L. Gratz Mike Grenier Milton D. Griffin Richard E. Grossa Stephanie A. Grozner Joseph M. Guiney Christina Hager Don Halley Rodney Halonen Marshall Hamilton Kirk Hamza Steven Hanses Joy Marie Harvey Elizabeth M. Hecht Jerry L. Heiman Alberta L. Hemsley John and Julie Herrick Linda Hill Alan Himebaugh Peter Hinkkanen Ronald F. Hoch William Hoff Mark T. Hoffman Mike Hofman John Hofrichter Marc Hollander Charlotte E. Holly Michael Hommel William Houck Melissa J. Howell George & Mary Hruby Anne Hughes Lucy Hulme Mary A. Hunt Beth Hutchins Gary Hutchison Roger Ilsley Dan llten Robert and Barbara Ingram Warner P. lseppi James and Ann Jacobs Thomas A. Jamieson Mark Jastrzebski Beverly Jestice Glen Johnson Jasen Johnson Roger G. Johnson Connie Julien Sarah Julien Martin Katzmarek Mike Keeler Verlyn and Dorothy Kicker Mark King Anne Kirkpatrick William D. Knopp Martha Koepsell David I. Kopf Marcia Krater John Kreft Larry Kress Carl Kuester Lea K. Kunze Brennan LaGasse Stephen Laloice Neoma Laken Samuel Lamastro Kurt Landauer Cheri Lang Edwin & Judith Leonard David H. LeRoy lack L. Lewis Barbara Anne Linder Tim Lohraff & Jeanette Nyden Amity Luce Ryan Lynch Larry and Linda Lyon Ronald Lyttle Alexandra D. MacDougall Cynthia Maczuga Matt Malpass Paul Marin Robert Marshall William Martin
William and Shirley Martinus Tina Martzke Agnes Masselink John A. Mattern Richard Mattice Thomas Maxwell Sue D. Mayer-Livingston Ruta Mazelis Robert McCafferty Ronald L. McClure Christine T. McConnell Joseph L. McCormick Paul McGill Richard McGorman Sharon E. McHaney Patrick McLean Karen A. McNew Dale E. McNinch Mead Family Ryan Merten Marie Meyer Thomas A. Meyer Heino F. Meyer-Bahlburg Don Mich Daniel P. Milan Calherine Miller & Bernie Winter Gary F. and Jane H. Miller Lisa A. Mink James D. Mitchell Beverly Molbert Paul Montain Jim Montgomery Kirsten Mowrey Charlotte M. Mudar Brett Nelson Valerie Nemenz Cindy Neubauer Bob Neugebauer Tom Nicholls Melissa Nickles Don Nielsen Phillip Nolt M. Debra O'Brien David P. Olds Stephen & Allan Olilsky Howard L. Oppengard Michael R. Orr Timothy Osterman Milton L. Ostrofsky Frances Painter Nancy J. Palmer Thomas Patt Jessica L. Paus Scott Pavlak Henry Penland Laura Pennington Roger L. Peterson Scott F. Peterson Donald E. Phillips Fred Phillips Dennis Pilaske Andrew J. Plath Clarence L. Pokorske Christopher Pozzini Dale Prey Donna Purdy Christopher Quinn Tom M. Randgaard Thomas M. Reeber Robert Reed Rachel Rice & James Deutsch Jr David and Phyllis Rickabus Alison S. Ricker Marilyn Ricks Catherine Riseng William L. Robinson Henry W. Roeben Peter J. Rohan Stephen G. Rose Peggy J. Ross Joan Roth Tonya R. Rott Harriet Rubenstein and Martin K. Brigham Carolyn T. Russell Randy and Jane Ryan ~isoo Sandefur& Jasoo Gumpes Russ and Donna Sandefur
R. Bart Sangal Daniel Sathre John A. and Mary SatterwMe Phil Sauer Fran Savard Daniel and Liz Scanlan Martin and Melissa Scanlan Karen E. Schillinger Margaret M. Schoolmeesters Mark Schuetter Richard and Diana Schultz Richard L. Schwaab Robert J. Schwartz Kevin Schwarzbauer William R. Seybold David B. Shapiro Sharp Park Campground Kenneth D. Sherlock Jean Shervais Robert D Shipperley Marilyn P. Shope Scott Sitler Donald Smith Roberti. Smith Terri M. Smith William L. Smith Karel Sole Jeff Soles Jon Spahr Lyman F. Spitzer Gordy Staege Judith A. Stalder Jennifer Steffy James H. and Jan U. Stewart Al Stones Philip Stoyke David P. Stromberg Mary M. Sullivan John G. Sutherland Chandra Sutter Randy Swanson Robert R. Swanson Elaine R. Taggart June E. Thaden Raymond L. Thomas Genevieve Thompson Thomas Tomakich Leslie A Tompkins Duane and Gay A. Travis Vicki Trent Renard and Cheryl Tubergen USDA FS Allegheny NF Rudy and Nancy J. Van Dank Mike Vanbennekom John & Diane VanderVeen Phil VanDyke Karen Vannette Greg Volk Stephen A. Volk Kelli Wages Karin Walowinski Kevin Walsh Family John Warrick Helen M. Watkins Andrew Watson Michael Watson Wayne Watson Clyde Weber Suzy Weisman Robert and Anne Wells Steven J. Wester William Wheeler Carl W. White Kim Whitehead Donald Wickstra Cheryl Wiles Scott & Julie Wilhelmsen Art Wilkinson Jodie L. Willis Magnus A. Wilson Alexander D. Witt Janet L. Wolfe Don Wright Chuck Wurth Sallie A. Wylie Thomas C. Zabriskie Leroy and Marlene Zacher Kara K. Zech
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NORTH STAR: The Magazine of the North Country Trail, January-March 2000
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NORTH COUNTRY TRAIL ASSOCIATION
49 Monroe Center, Suite 2008, Grand Rapids, Ml 49503 Phone (616) 454-5506 FAX (616) 454-7139 Email: NCTAssoc@aol.com www.northcountrytrail.org
Executive Director Project Manager Office Manager Bookkeeper
Bob Papp Margie Kindel Glory Meyer Joan Buenavista
Editor: Wes Boyd 14815 Rome Road, Manitou Beach, Ml 49253 (517) 547-7402 • wesboyd@dmci.net Contributing Editor: Joan Young 861 US 10, Scottville Ml 49454 (616) 757-2205 • jhy@t-one.net
hStar
Vol XIX
Features Annual Report Preview 1999 was a year of success in lots of ways. Here are a few!
2000 by 2000 -- Is it Possible?
President: Werner Veit 49 Monroe Center, Suite 200B, Grand Rapids Ml 49503 (616) 454-5506 • wv12@aol.com Vice President (Financial): David Cornell 514 Cordes Rd., Delton Ml 49046 (616) 623-8659 • janc128@aol.com Vice President of Trails (West): Pat Miller 15737 65th Ave., Milaca MN 56353 (320) 983-5643 Vice President(Trails East): Lynn Waldron 8133 Norris Rd., Delton Ml 49046 (616) 623-5340 • lwaldron3@juno.com Secretary Joan Young 861 West US 10, Scottville Ml 49454 (616) 757-2205 • jhy@t-one.net
Published five times annually in January, April, June, August and October by the North Country Trail Association, a private, non-profit 501 (c)3 organization as a benefit of membership in the organization. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without permission of the North Country Trail Association. Distibution of this issue is 2308 copies.
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It's actually pretty unlikely, thanks to some unforseen problems -- but it's still possible to get close to the goal.
$1,000,000 for lands in Wisconsin
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Funding for land acquisition in Wisconsin opens new doors.
W2K OFFICERS
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14 Someone figured out a North Country Trail way to welcome in Y2K!.
Legislative Alert
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We're already working on our year 2001 appropriations, and are hopeful thanks to friends in the House and Senate .. In addition, we have our best chance ever of getting Willing Seller legislation passed.
2000 Annual Conference
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The Annual Conference will be in May, instead of the fall, and will be a joint meeting with the Superior Hiking Trail Association in Minnesota -- it should be both informative and picturesque.
NCT Given Millennial Trail Status
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And we're going to have a celebration on Labor Day! Where? The Mackinac Bridge Walk!
Regular Departments Trailhead Keyboard Trails Hiking Shorts Heart and Sole North Country Trail Shop Executive Director Report
5 6 6 21
24 28
Cover Photo: The CentralNewYork Chapterwas able to get someassistancefrom a local companyin setting bridgestringerson the Link Trail last Spring.
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NORTH STAR: The Magazine of the North Country Trail, January-March, 2000
NCTA Trail Council Directories West End Tmil CouncD
Chair: John leinen 14205 St.Croix Trail North, Stillwater, MN 55082-9587 (651) 433-4456, jleinen@mtn.org
Great Lakes Tmil CouncD Chair: Pat Miller 15737 Sixty-fifth Ave., Milaca, MN 56353, (320) 983-5643
To be assigned: /lovers Outing Oub
Kekebabit Trail Oub
Peter Wolfe Chapter Su. erior Hiking Trail Association Doug Welker, President oRG·
ND State Coordinator
Nancy Odden, Council Rep. 731 7th Avenue Two Harbors MN 55616 (218) 834-2700
MN State Coordinator & Headwaters Chapter
Jon lindgren 2001 N 7th St Forgo ND 58102-5075 (701) 231-8809, jlindre@bodlonds.nodok.edu
Rod MacRae 1210 W 22nd St., Minneapolis, MN 55405 (612) 377-01301
OH-MI Tmil CouncD Harbor Springs Chapter Jerry Keeney, President 2385 Manitou Trail, Harbor Springs, Ml 49740 (616) 526-9597 keeney@freewoy.net
Brule·St.Croix Chapter /
Gene Elzinga Middle Island, Morquelle, Ml 49855 06) 225-1704, im4troils@ool.com
,h
__.roo,J~-u:·eritoge Chapter ~eve Frye, President .U. Box 172, Jefferson, WI 53549 (414) 593-2694 slmorble@studenl.misc.edu.-sub
)
Peter Nordgren, President 11260 E. Timber Ridge Rd., Lake Nebagamon, WI 54849 (715) 394-8340, pnordgre@stoff.uwsuper.edu
WI State Coordinator
Chequamegon Chapter
Gaylord Yost 2925 W Bradley Rd, River Hills, WI 53217-1719 (414) 354-8987, goylyost@ool.com
Tana Turonie, President Box 475, Mellen, WI 54546 (715)274-2521 lluronie@centuryinter.net
Tittabawassee Chapter Jerry Allen, President 1561 Bomonville Rd., Gladwin, Midligon 48624 (517) 345-2677
Rt#l, Box 59A Pelkie, Ml 49958-9715 (906) 338-2680 dwelker@up.net
Ml (Upper) State Trail Coordinator and President, ~orth Country Trail Hikers
Chief Noonday Chapter Dave Cornell, President 514 Cordes Rd., Delton, Ml 49046 (616) 623-8659, joncl 28@ool.com
Chair, Ml (Lower) State Coordinator For Chief Noonday Chapter
& Council liep.
Bow Beese Chapter Richard Saur, President PO Box 673, Hillsdale, Ml 49242, (517) 437-0746
lynn Waldron 8133 Norris Rd, Delton, Midligon 49046 (616) 623-5340, lwoldron3@juno.com
Buckeye Trail Association
r-----------__.A--.F,..F1 ... L1-..AT,..E""'o""R .... GA'""N""1""zA ....r.;...;10'"'"N"'"--
reot Trail· Sandy Beaver Cano/ Chapter
-_ ,.;~~~:: . . ~ Poo;;:~=::m Brad Bosley, President
Western Mithigan Chapter Tom learmont, President 10554 Colby Rd, Gowen, Ml 49326 (616)984-5917 Len Baron, Council Rep. 10822 26th Ave Grand Rapids Ml 49544 (616) 677-3598
Northwestern Ohio liails·to·TrailsAssociation Gene Markley, Council Rep. PO Box 234, Delta, OH 43515 (800) 951-4788, 140yeors@powersupply.ne1
OH State Coordinator Jim Sprague 4406 Maplecrest, Parma OH 44134 (216) 884-4757
I/ American Youth Hostels Pittsburgh Council Bob Roth, Council Rep. BO Roseleof Rood Pillsburgh, PA 15220 (412) 279-6219
PA State Coordinator Bob Tait 277 S Duffy Rd. Butler, PA 16001 (724) 287-3382 Bob_Toil@nouticom.net
Dana Zintek, Council Rep. 2369 Suncresl Dr., Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44221 (330) 928-8931
Finger Lakes Trail Conference Harmon Strong, Council Rep. 76 Shellwood Dr., Rochester, NY 14618 (716)586-3846
Clarion County Chapter Carol Atwell, President P.O. Box 15, Marble PA 16334 (814) 354-2778, otwell@moil.usochoice.net
Butler County Chapter Joe Smith 233 E Christy Ave, Butler PA 16001-6303 (724) 287-8374
Wampum Chapter ............... Richard lutz, President -......._ Rt 1Box1341, Wampum, PA 16157 (724) 652-8185, lutznctl@lcix.net
Choir & NY State Coordinator: Howard Beye 202 Colebourne Rd Rochester, NY 14609 (716)288-7191, fltc@oxsnet.com
Centro/ New York Chapter Al larmann, President 7169 Forbes Rd.,Conostolo, NY 13032 lormonn@worldnel.all.net (315)697-3387 ~--.
NORTH STAR: The Magazine of the North Country Trail, January-March 2000
Trail Head by President Werner Veit Please meet Laura and Wayne Pennington and John Conway. Either the Pennington's membership or John represents the 2000th membership of the North Country Trail Association. Their new memberships were recorded on the same day, Dec. 23, 1999 and they helped to fulfill a goal that seemed unimaginably ambitious just a couple of years ago: 2000 members by the year 2000. Laura and Wayne, both avid hikers who have been active in the Boy Scout movement for many years, Iivein Houghton, in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. They are the parents of teenage boys, both of them Eagle Scouts who hike as well. Although some miles from the North County trail, they have frequently hiked it, particularly in the Baraga area. Like all new members, their names were assigned to the closest chapter of the NCTA, in this case the Peter Wolfe Chapter, covering the western upper peninsula. John, like 50% of all our members, also lives in Michigan. A resident of Petoskey, he became a member of the Tittabawassee chapter, which maintains trail near his home but most of whose members live in the Tri-Cities area of Michigan: Bay City, Midland, Saginaw. After our volunteers recorded the Pennington and Conway memberships, about 50 additional hikers and hiker-supporters joined up. They were among the 260, so far, who joined as part of our late fall/early Winter membership campaign. As usual, many of the new members, 85 as of this writing, were from Michigan. Minnesota picked up 36 of the new members, Ohio and Wisconsin 35 each, Pennsylvania 27 and North Dakota and New York, 14 each. The others were from a scattering of states where we don't have trail, Indiana, Nebraska and New Jersey. Of our entire membership, old members as well as new, 50.4% live in Michigan, 12.4% in Pennsylvania, 9.1 % in Ohio, 8.4% in Wisconsin, 7.3% in New York, 6.4% in Minnesota, 1.4% in North Dakota and 4.6% in 26 other states. (Best we can tell, around 63 percent are male and 37% female. About half are between 35 and 54 years old, about 43 percent over 55 and 7% under 35.) The North Dakota membership will probably grow faster as the first chapter is now being organized in the State. It will be known as the Sheyenne River Valley Chapter and be based in Cooperstown, ND, about 75 miles northwest of Fargo, as
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the crow flies (not that any roads, or our trail follow crow flight patterns). Cooperstown is in the area where our trail is proposed to go north before heading west with the bend of the Sheyenne River. The chapter will be our 20th and probably be chartered at the next meeting of the NCTA's Board of Directors along with the 19th chapter, called The Rock Chapter, in western Pennsylvania. Its range will adjoin that of the Butler chapter in Pennsylvania. A 21st Chapter, based in Pittsburgh, is also in the works. The directors will be meeting during the annual conference of the North Country Trail Association the first weekend in May. It will be a joint meeting with the Superior Hiking Trail Association, one of our affiliates. Information about the conference appears elsewhere in this issue of The North Star. I hope you will note it carefully and make plans to attend. We can promise a great program, great hikes and the splendid scenery of the majestic north shore of Lake Superior, near Two Harbors, MN, northwest of Duluth. Do come.
• • • Those of you who have worked with Melanee Weening, or used one of our popular, new trail maps, will join me in wishing all our best to Melanee, who is returning to her native Canada. Melanee, a recent graduate of Calvin College in Grand Rapids, was instrumental in setting up our cartography program. All who worked with her made an instant friend and will be sorry to see her and her willing skills go. Eric Doyle, a free-lance graphic artist, who volunteers in our headquarters office, hopes to fill in some of the slack while we search for (and our raising money for) a full-time cartographer. The new cartographer, when we get one, will also be responsible for training the interns from Grand Valley State University and from Calvin College we hope will be involved with our cartography and Geographical Information System (GIS) projects. Interns are among the 20 or so volunteers who regularly donate time to our administrative work at headquarters. Their loyalty, skills and enthusiasm are responsible for the NCTA being able to administer the affairs of a 7-state, 2,000plus organization with just one full-time employee and four part-timers. At times, particularly at North Star mailing time, they' re shoulder to shoulder in our office and trying hard not to get into each other's way. But there is relief ahead. We hope to move into larger quarters in the same building, just one floor above us, sometime next month. As usual we'll depend on our volunteers to help us move and on the generosity of Grand Rapids companies to equip us. Much of our present furniture was donated by Steelcase, Inc. The additional furniture for our larger quarters was given to us by the Instructional Fair Group.
NORTH STAR: The Magazine of the North Country Trail, January-March 2000
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Hiking Shorts Keyboard Trails by the Editor My real job is running a small country weekly newspaper, and one of the fun points of the week is looking over what other people in my job description have done that week in neighboring towns. I was interested when I saw a column by a reporter in the next town over that he was planning on taking off this summer to go hike the Appalachian Trail. He's a young guy, just out of college, and while a good reporter, was chafing a little at the slow, peaceful life of small town journalism. My good relationship with that reporter's boss was probably not helped by the phone call that I soon made. "What do you want to talk to Brad about?" the other editor said. "I want to encourage him to quit his job and go hiking," I said. His boss was a little less than totally pleased with the idea -- he'd gone through enough trouble to hire this guy in the first place. There are a lot more jobs for young reporters out there than there once were. But, he understood. He was young once, too. "Don't think about it, just do it," I told the young man. "Get out while you still can. There'll come a time all too soon when you're too wrapped up in wife and family and career and mortgage and bills and all that stuff to be able to do it. Then, all too soon you'll be in no shape to do it even if you could. Time flies. Now's the time for adventure." Well, to make a long story short, this young man and his friend are setting out from Springer Mountain on the first of March, and are looking forward to a great trip. Adventure is hard to come by in any sense, any more, and it gets harder as you get older. Our purpose in creating a hiking trail like we are doing is to open a door for adventure -- not only for the young, but for all those that like the outdoors. But, it's too easy to get wrapped up in mundane affairs, and while most of us can't take off for a summer, it's hard to remember that we all need to get out while we still can.
• • • Ed Talone and Sue Lockwood, who did the most recent NCT end to end in 1995, had an epic hike across the country, mostly last summer. A journal of this most interesting journey is available on the American Hiking Society website, at http://www.americanhiking.org/news/joumallindex.html.It's worth checking out!
Pennsylvania forest hiking trails to remain "HikersOnly" The Pennsylvania State Bureau of Forestry has determined that three national trails -- including the North Country Trail, and segments of the Baker Trail, which the North Country Trail uses -- located on state forest land, and eighteen state forest trails, shall remain designated as "hiking only" trails, the Keystone Trails Association Newsletter reports. The Keystone Trails Association was instrumental in reaching this conclusion after months of sometimes bitter controversy about opening all trails on state lands to all nonmotorized uses, which included mountain bikes and horses. Assistant State Forester David Gregg said that "these trails have always been part of the state forest hiking trail system, and will remain as pure hiking trails. No other recreational uses will be permitted on these state trails, except where some permitted trail uses intersect. " Gregg told an October summit meeting of forestry officials and representatives of hiking, mountain biking and equestrian groups that at some trail crossings, the permitted recreational user (other than hikers) will be expected to construct and maintain that section of trail. On some shared sections of trail, the users will share maintenance on an equitable basis dependent on the type of resource damage to the trail. Positive versus negative signing -- for example "Mountain biking permitted" as opposed to "No hiking" -was a big issue in the controversy. Gregg said there will be a combination of positive and negative signing as appropriate. Some enforcement requirements mandate that there must be some negative signing. "We didn't get everything we wanted," said KTA President Ed Beck, "But we didn't come away emptyhanded, either. There are more and varied new mechanized uses showing up all the time. The many foot users of trails have to ackonwledge that the others are not going away, but are going to increase all the time. We have to maintain our 'Leave No Trace' and 'Walk Softly' ethic, even though we are faced more and more with others who don't subscribe to these long hallowed ethics." "The hiking community in Pennsylvania has a long record of building and maintaining footpaths," the Newsletter noted. "KTA was recently awarded the 'Conservation Volunteer Group of the Year' by Governor Ridge, and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Last year, over 35,000 hours of documented hours of work on hiking trails was reported.
NORTH STAR: The Magazine of the North Country Trail, January-March 2000
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Hiking Shorts FLT End-to-enders continue
Certification News
The program encouraging and aiding end to end hikers on New York's Finger Lakes Trail continues to be a big success, with end-to-enders now over a hundred -- in fact, reaching 112 last fall, according to the FLTC's Ed Sidote, who manages the program.
Recent certifications by the National Park Service put the total certified length of the North Country Trail over 1600 miles. Certification actions include: • The addition of 6.6 miles of trail in three separate segments along the FLTC's Onondaga Branch in New York. This is now the easternmost certified segment of the trail. <The addition of 4.0 miles of trail on private property in Steuben County, New York, along the Finger Lakes Trail. •Adjustments in Pennsylvania's Allegheny National Forest deducted 2.3 miles located on roads, but added 7 .2 miles due to remeasurement. The segment located on roads was added to the "marked connector" list. •Adjustments of five segments in Ohio for a net increase of 2.3 miles due to remeasurement and revised BTA maps. • The addition of 3 .1 miles in the Brule River State Forest in Wisconsin. • The addition of 2.6 miles of trail in Pattison State Park in Wisconsin, from the park entrance to the south boundary of the park. The actions bring the total certified length of the North Country Trail to 1600.8 miles. In addition, there are 21.8 miles of signed connector sections, bringing the total to 1622.6 miles.
New lean-tos on FLT Two new lean-tos have been build along the Finger Lakes Trail, according to Howard Beye of the FLTC Trail Management Committee. "The first became available this past September and is located between Hornell and Bath in the Burt Hill State Forest," he reported in the Finger Lakes Trail News. "It was constructed through a National Park Service Challenge Cost Share Project with the Finger Lakes Trail Conference by the September FLTC Alley Cat Trail Crew. The second lean-to, constructed and opened in late October 1999, was an Eagle Scout project of Liam Fox, a member of Boy Scout Troop 52 in Bainbridge, NY. This lean-to was built from red pine logs cut in the spring of 1999 near the lean-to site. This shelter, to be known as the Dry Brook Lean-To, is the second Eagle Scout lean-to project built by scouts, leaders and helpful parents of Troop 52." Beye adds that Boy Scout Troop 18 of Hammondsport, NY, plans to build a lean-to during 2000 on their trail segment overlooking Keuka Lake. Two more new lean-tos are in the works for 2000 on the Finger Lakes Trail.
Trail Tale Guided by azure blazes patched on tree trunks, blazes that look like pieces of sky pasted on bark, I set off on a spring hike on the NCT in the Yankee Springs area. My feet and I, on ground extending from New York to North Dakota, marvel as all those miles move into muscles. Piles offungus covered rocks like the lumpy backs of giant toads kick me backward into ages past. Nodding daffodils in open area take me into imaginative conversations with pioneer women. "This ground was your farm, your work-filled life. Like all women, you planted the fellowship offlowers to bring renewal after long winters." I pause to consider. "Could your bone be under these bulbs, a forever tombstone to remind us?" In the absence of sound around me, I cannot move quietly enough to blend into the memorial stillness. -- Barbara Van Dyken
North Star deadlines revised In order to get the North Star out on schedule, and thereby make it more useful to our members, we're going to tighten up the deadlines considerably -- and we're going to adhere to them. If an item is late, it just isn't going to go in that issue. In order to help with planning, here's the deadlines for the next year: Issue Deadline To Members April-May 2000 March 6 April3 June-July 2000 May 5 June 5 August-September 2000 July 5 August 1 October-December 2000 Sept 5 Oct. 2 Jan. 3 January-March 2001 Dec. 6
• • • By popular demand, we will be re-instuting "Coming Events" later this year, the way we used to do it, (although it didn't get done in this issue due to unrelated problems) in order to get better information to those that aren't chapter members. There will be some changes, though. If you have coming events, get them to the NCTA Headquarters 49 Monroe Center, (Attn: Events), Suite 200B, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, Phone (616) 454-5506 not later than the deadline above.
NORTH STAR: The Magazine of the North Country Trail, January-March 2000
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Hiking Shorts Land Trust 2000 Building for the next millennium! by Pat Allen
When the Merci an King Offa built his dyke to wall off the Welsh border in the 780's AD, he probably didn't realize that groups of hikers would be using it in 2000. If he had, surely he would have done a better job.* I invoke Offa's name to remind us that we have an opportunity to build a great trail that will last Jong after we are gone. (Offa's Dyke Path officially opened as one of the United Kingdom's long distance trails in 1971). In a hotel room near Detroit Metro, your Land Trust Committee recently met to set big priorities for NCTA's germinal Land Trust Fund. The first grants will be yeast for later donations and further grants. We need to use our fund to protect endangered corridors, link trail ends together, and give permanence to trail segments. To achieve this goal, the committee will begin awarding grants this year to assist Chapters in acquiring easements and land to protect the trail. Each land trust dollar must be stretched through gifts or partial gifts of easements, local fund-raising, chapter funds, matching grants and every other way we can. Priority will be given to projects with matching funds or gifts. We have nearly $8,000 available for grants. The committee will place the application form on-line at www.northcountrytrail.org/voluntrs/landtrst.htm. So, chapters and trail councils start your engines. Look at your trail to see what we can do together. Local chapters will be expected to lead negotiations with landowners. Each trail council will have a key role in recommending projects in their area and, if there are multiple projects, in ranking them. The committee is available for suggestions and consultation. The Land Trust Committee consists of the Association
President Werner Veit, VP of Finance David Cornell, Executive Director Bob Papp and two appointed members who shall serve three year terms. Currently the two appointed members are myself, Pat Allen, and Gaylord Yost who serves as committee chair. Applications for grants will be due on April 1 and November 1. The Committee will report within 60 days. The application process may be modified as we gain experience. We also may be able to develop specialized fund-raising efforts for particularly significant projects. Please look at the application even if you don't now have a specific project. It may guide some future action. We are building for the next millennium and the Land Trust Committee is looking forward to beginning grantmaking in the year 2000. *My husband Mark and I had our single worst hiking day on Offa's Dyke Path. We arrived jetlagged at the Tourist Information Office in Abergavenny, Walesat 9:00 am to meet our leader and group. A light sprinkle had begun. By the time our shuttle reached the trail head it was pouring. We were all wearing our "waterproofs. " We immediately climbed straight up a huge hill. I invoked Bill Menke 's name and said he would never approve such a grade. As the hike continued we were constantly walking down steep grades on mossy boulders through a rushing stream. Or, we were fenced in a narrow passageway behind houses and barns. It was supposed to be a 9 mile day, - the leader chose to walk us I2 miles to meet our shuttle without mentioning it. This hike really made me appreciate water bars and the high standards being used to construct the North Country National Scenic Trail. We abandoned this hike and joined another leader and group in the Yorkshire Dales and had heavenly hiking.
Now Available: The new, third edition of
Following the North Country National Scenic Trail by North Star Editor Wes Boyd The standard overview of the trail, newly revised and updated for 1999 Includes a new section on the history of the trail. â&#x20AC;˘ Lots of Photos! $4.95 from the North Country Trail Association 49 Monroe Center, Suite 2008, Grand Rapids, Ml 49503 Phone (616) 454-5506 FAX {616) 454-7139 Email: NCTAssoc@aol.com
NORTH STAR: The Magazine of the North Country Trail, January-March, 2000
~-~A Preview of our GD GD
999 nnual Report Highlights of the Year
Page9
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New Chapters
Pursuing our goal to develop Membership Growth end-to-end volunteer support for the Certainly, one of our biggest North Country Trail, we welcomed stories for 1999 has to be the three new Chapters in 1999. These, :;::,, growth jn membership and public included the Tittabawassee .GJiapt{lt!:ii::jj suppqrtfdr the North Country Trail. in northern lower .,:.:.:::::;:,,,, ::::;:::: .·.·.· Paid memberships jumped
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~~~!~=dy ~:ave?~:: • • • • , !~~e ~;so~::~ n:'wem:~~ nal Chapter in eastfijjjjj hers to our growing netOhio, and the Peter'''. ' ,,,,.,,,,. work of trail supporters. Wolfe Chapter in ,(:j:pll:l,Sf The North Country NaMichigan's western ];Jp~ !\,;:;:•• tional Scenic Trail is develper Peninsula. Eacli'of these.'Chap¥{:{ oping incredible momentum. Each ters fills a critical gap along the . of our members and volunteers are · t rar·1 . Two more ChaP t ers were m contributing to its legacy. the process of being authorized at the end of the year, the Rock ChapAnnual Conference
MEMBERSHIP GROWTH IN 1999
ceived, and many more will be developed in the coming months and years.
Land Trust Fund Our Land Trust Committee developed new application guidelines in 1999 to allow Chapters access to these funds to assist in permanently protecting the trail.
Finances Despite the challenges of our rapid growth, we completed our 1999 fiscal year with a slight surplus itji]ipµr ge9.1.~f~l operations ac-
~§.:if~c:!~nS=: ::3!~::S~t~~:7L,, .~-~ffl;~ Volunteers in our Chapters and partner organizations continued to do outstanding work in building and maintaining the North Country Trail. When a trail segment officially is recognized as part of the North Country National Scenic Trail, it is "certified" by the National Park Service. In 1999, the trail grew by 61.3 certified miles! Most of this w.w.th occurred in New
Cartography We also enjoyed tremendou§ progress in our cartography program this year. After years in development, our first full color, topographic map sets were completed and made available to hikers. Our three initial sets have been well re-
To request a copy of our complete annual report, please contact the NCTA office at 888-454-NCTA or NCTAssoc@,aolcom. The report
NCT A'S EXPENSES BY PROGRAM Membership and Fund Development (13.0%)
Y ol~ii.rhere :iE:~i~~e: T r a il
. . ·.· · ·.·.·.·.·.·.·... Business Members, and to our ~jbr corporate, agency, and organizational contributors.
AREA IN 1S>S>S>
Trail Work and Protection (7.7%) Planning and Coordlnltlon (12.9%)
Admlnlatnitlon (12.2%) Advocacy (1.0%)
Education and Public Services (40.11%)
Volunteer Support (12.3%)
NORTH STAR: The Magazine of the North Country Trail, January-March 2000
Page 10
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Is It Possible? By Bill Menke, Manager, North Country National Scenic Trail Shortly after the North Country Trail Association celebrated the trail's 10th anniversary in 1990, some farsighted members began thinking about appropriate activities to celebrate the 20th anniversary in the distant year of 2000. One of the ideas that has stood the test of time is the "2000 by 2000" concept. Conceived and promoted primarily by Wes Boyd, the idea was to achieve 2000 members and 2000 certified miles by the year 2000. This was a big vision considering the fact that at the end of 1990 there were only 322 members and approximately 943 certified miles. Well, the once far-off year of 2000 is here. Are we going to make either or both goals? The North Country Trail Association has achieved tremendous membership growth in the last several years. In 1996, when Bob Papp came on board, membership was still only 505. Today (116/00) membership stands at 2,046 and Bob projects continued growth to about 2,300 by the end of the year. So, the membership goal has been met and exceeded. This is great news indeed! ! Certified mileage is another matter. On December 29th, we certified additional miles in New York and adjusted miles in Pennsylvania because they had been remeasured. These actions brought our 1999 year-end total to 1,600.8 miles. With the exception of the 1983 certifications that came with the publication of the Comprehensive Management Plan, the next highest amount of yearly certifications occurred in 1998 when 189 new miles were certified. Considering the record over the last 16 years and the fact that there is less than a year to go before the end of 2000, gaining another 400 miles will be a major accomplishment. Frankly, I don't think it can be done. In anticipating this goal, a major mileage addition needed was the roughly 300
91
92
94
95
96
97
00
miles of the Superior Hiking Trail, the Border Route Trail, and the Kekekabic Trail that could potentially occur if and when the Minnesota Arrowhead Reroute Planning Study was completed. With the departure of Dirk Mason, finishing this planning effort during the year will probably not happen. And, even if it did, the Border Route and Kekekabic Trails suffered severe wind damage during a July 4th windstorm and it is doubtful if they will be completely opened in time. But, lets don't become discouraged by these setbacks. Based solely on my awareness of work that is taking place throughout the seven states, we can collectively make a major stride toward reaching the goal. There are many places where little effort is needed to prepare trail segments for certification. Many miles of uncertified trail are already in place. Some segments require a little touch up construction or perhaps only blazing is left to do. In some cases this work has already been done and the only thing required is a certification application. To see how closely we could approach the 2000 by 2000 goal, I prepared a table summarizing the areas where I had some knowledge of ongoing work. Only areas where an estimated low to moderate amount of work remained were included. No doubt, some of these projections are outdated and there are other areas that I have missed. Recognize too that mileages shown are only estimates. In other words, there is room for error. Nevertheless, these estimates indicate there is just shy of 200 miles of trail, which could be potentially certified without a great deal of effort. That would bring our total to about 1,800 miles at the end of the year. If 200 miles are certified this year, it will become the largest certification year ever and close 50 percent of the gap. This in itself would be a proud accomplishment and a noteworthy 20th Anniversary gift. But, it will require a lot of individuals to take responsibility for finishing bits of trail and making out certification applications. If anyone needs assistance on applying for certification, you know where we can be reached. One precaution is to not wait until next December to send in applications. We simply couldn't process them that quickly. Let's go for it!
NORTH STAR: The Magazine of the North Country Trail, January-March 2000
Page 11
Potential NCT Certifications Requiring low to moderate effort LOCATION
LAST KNOWN ACTIONS NEEDED TO CERTIFY
Crown Point SHS Boonville to Pixley Falls Rome sidewalks Gorge Trail, Cazenovia North Cazenovia sidewalks Stone Quarry Art Park Nelson Swamp Highland County Forest FLT Onondaga Branch Treman SP., Woodward - bdry NY TOTAL
Agree on route with manager, mark existing trails Meet with BREIA, mark existing trails Meet with city, mark sidewalks Iron out details, mark existing trail Meet with city, mark sidewalks Finish trail improvements and marking Finish marking trail to standard Agree on route with park manager, mark existing trails Obtain NYDEC approval, incorporate blue paint Apply for certification
SGA#24 Span SR-66 Bridge, sidewalks in Foxburg Stone House property PA TOTAL
Apply for certification Obtain landowner approval, minor improvements, apply Meet with city, mark sidewalks Finish trail, apply
EST. EFFORT
MILES
NEW YORK Moderate Moderate Low Low Low Low Low Moderate Low Low
1.5 7.5 2.0 4.0 1.0 1.4 1.3 3.0 10.3 1,_Q
33.0 PENNSYLVANIA Low Moderate Low Low
2.0 1.0 1.0
M 4.5
OHIO BCSP Horsecamp-Sprucevale Finish constructing trail on hillside, mark, apply BCSP Famly Campgr. to bdry Mark existing trail, apply BCSP Lusk Lock to bdry Mark existing trail, apply Lisbon sidewalks Meet with city, mark sidewalks, apply BSA-Furnace Rd. Finish constructing trail on hillside, mark, apply Hanoverton Sidewalks Meet with village, mark sidewalks & route thru cemetery Tar Hollow, Dogwood-Poe Run Apply for certification Scioto Trails -- recent work Apply for certification of completed segments Pike SF relo Apply for certification East Fork relo Finalize trail relocation, apply Helber Bridge relo If trail is moved, just apply W Union 27-28 Abandoned road. Obtain landowner permission & apply Davis Memorial SkSpg 37-39 Obtain concurrence from OHS and pvt landowner Musgrove-Hanna Ads Obtain concurrence from private landowner and apply Newport SR47 - SR 66 Obtain ODNR Div of Water concurrence, apply SR 66 to Loy Rd Install gates, obtain concurrence, apply Loy Rd to Schlachter Rd Obtain landonwer approval, minor improvements, apply Schlachter Rd. to Ft. Loramie Obtain ODNR Div of Water concurrence, apply Ft. Loramie sidewalks, SR66 Work with village and ODOT, blaze, apply Delphos sidewalks Work with village, blaze, apply Ft. Jennings Park Apply Hammersmith-Ball Rd Improve blazing, apply Defiance sidewalks Work with city, blaze, apply Lucas Co Line to Berridge Rd Blaze and apply
Moderate Low Low Low Moderate Low Low Moderate Low Moderate Low Low Low Low Low Moderate Moderate Low Low Low Low Low Low Low
1.0 0.5 2.0 1.8 2.0 1.4 2.2 2.0 0.4 18.0 0.5 0.6 2.1 0.9 0.6 2.4 1.5 1.2 . 1.0 1.5 0.4 0.5 2.0 2.2
NORTH STAR: The Magazine of the North Country Trail, January-March 2000
Page 12
LAST KNOWN ACTIONS NEEDED TO CERTIFY
LOCATION
EST. EFFORT
MILES
OHIO (continued) Maumee St. Forest Oak Openings Metropark Cannonball - North leg OHIO TOTAL
Trails exist. Work with staff, select route, blaze Trails exist. Blaze west leg of loop Oak Openings to CR5 - Blaze and apply
Low. Low Low
1.3 5.0
s.o
59.0
MICHIGAN Lost Nations Finalize trail construction, apply Cheff property Finalize trail construction, apply Kellogg Bio. Station Apply Gay property Apply Yankee Springs SRA Norris Rd. to horse trail, surrounding new bridge -- apply Lowell sidewalks Work with city, blaze, apply Lowell SGA Finalize trail construction, apply Fallsburg Co. Park Finalize trail construction, apply Wabasis Lake Co. Park Work with manager, construct, mark, apply Cedar Springs Sidewalks Work with city, blaze, apply Long Lake Co. Park Work with manager, construct, mark, apply Manistee - Nine Mile Bridge Construct off road north of bridge on USFS property Johnson's 93-97 DNR submiss. Shake out of DNR channels, check, apply. Mileage estimated Straits SP and St. Ignace Work with city and DNR, finish marking, apply Reio around Corpe Finalize DNR approval, construct, mark, apply Buck Bay Cr-Rock River Rd. Trail in place. Get USFS to apply Laughing Whitefish area Trial in place. Obtain private & DNR concurrence. Apply CR403 to Sand River Advised under construction several years ago. Finish and apply. Marquette Bd of PUWI Elec. Trail in place. Work with owners to remove bikes. Apply Litttle Garlic area Trail in place. Apply Silver Lk. Basin-McCormick Trail in place. Obtain landowner concurrence and apply McCormick-Craig Lake SP Trail in place. Obtain landowner concurrence and apply Craig Lake SP - Long Lake Trail in place. Obtain landowner concurrence and apply Autio Rd. to Ottawa NF Trail in place. Obtain landowner concurrence and apply FR733 to Victoria Rd. Trail in place. Finalize, apply Victoria Rd. to Section 12 Apply Porcupine SP to Summit Pk. Rd.Trail in place. Apply Porcupine SP to CR 519 Trail in place. Obtain landowner concurrence and apply Ml Total
Low Moderate Low Low Low Low Low Low Moderate Low Moderate Moderate Moderate Low Moderate Low Low Moderate Moderate Low Low Low Low Low Low Low Low Low
2.5 1.3 1.8 0.5 0.4 0.5 2.7 0.5 0.5 1.2 0.8 0.5 20.0 0.5 0.5 8.0 6.0 7.0 4.0 4.0 4.5 3.5 1.2 3.0
10.0 1.6 1.0
1...Q 91.5
WISCONSIN Banana Belt Rd - Pero Rd. Hwy 27 to Motts Ravine Rd. WI Total
Finish gates (CCS project) refresh marking, apply Finish construction, apply
Low Moderate
2.2
2...1 4.3
MINNESOTA Chippewa NF to Steamboat Rd. Finish construction, mark, apply Maplewood SP Work with park manager, blaze existing trails, apply. MN Total
Moderate Moderate
1.5 ÂŁ.Q.
4.0
NORTH DAKOTA Barnes Co. Bikeway Valley City sidewalks ND Total
Believe completed. Work with city, blaze/mark, apply Work with city officials, mark, apply
GRAND TOTAL, using estimates of work and mileage, 1/6/00:
Low Low
1.5
r.a 2.8
NORTH STAR:
The Magazine of the North Country Trail, January-March 2000
Page 13
$1,000,000 For Purchasing N CT Lands in Wisconsin By Bill Menke and Tom Gilbert For the first time ever, Federal funds have been appropriated specifically for the purpose of purchasing permanent passage for the trail. This is great news! We all know that the less than permanent handshake agreements and simple nonbinding written agreements, normally used to secure trail passage, are very tenuous. The mere sale of a tract ofland can . often mean that a well-established segment of the trail will be eliminated. If the new landowner's goals for their property do not include a public trail, they can and often do request or demand that it be removed. A perfect example of this problem is now playing itself out in the short stretch of private land between Cook Forest State Park and Clear Creek State Forest in Pennsylvania. For as long as can be remembered, the Baker Trail and then the North Country Trail passed through this property. Recently it changed hands and the new owner has given both trails only 4-months to remove all blazes and signs. After April 1, he will begin pursuing legal trespass actions.Until routing arrangements across other private property can be found, this 1/4+ mile withdrawal effectively forces a road walk of several miles. Even though some of the cooperating public and private partners have been able to purchase small amounts of permanent easements or lands for the trail, there is a lot of land needed to adequately protect a4,200-mile route. Everyone in the trails community recognizes the handicap that is placed on the volunteer partners and on the completion of the trail itself by the current legislation that prohibits the National Park Service (or any other Federal Agency) from purchasing lands for the trail outside existing national parks, forests, and wildlife refuges. The authority for Federal Agencies to purchase lands is an important tool, enjoyed by the Appalachian Trail and several other national trails. However, that tool is missing from the North Country Trail toolbox. The rationale for changing the legislation and an update on efforts that are underway to do so is fodder for another entire article. The purpose of this article is to share our excitement over new resources-Federal resources-for protecting the trail in Wisconsin. Last winter, Wisconsin Senator Herb Kohl contacted the NPS regarding some of the needs of the National Parks in Wisconsin. Funding for land protection was one of the needs identified for the Ice Age and North Country Trails. Representatives of the NCTA, Ice Age Park and Trail Faun-
dation, and the Partnership for The National Trails System helped us formulate the needs. Later in the spring, while in Washington, D.C., during Trail Advocacy Week, they contacted the various Congressional representatives to support increased funding for the trails. The wonderful outcome is that Senator Kohl followed up on the idea. For the purchase of lands in Wisconsin, he secured $2 million of federal funding for the Ice Age Trail and $0.5 million for the North Country Trail. Because the National Park Service still cannot purchase lands, the money is in the form of a grant to the State of Wisconsin and must be matched by State funds. Since Wisconsin already has a State Stewardship Fund for acquiring lands for conservation purposes, including trails, the matching funds are already in place! Thus, the total amount of funds that will be spent for North Country Trail protection is $1 million. The lands will be purchased by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, which already has existing staff to handle the appraisals, negotiations, and all the other aspects of acquiring tracts of land. Initially, the expenditure of these funds will be focused in northwest Wisconsin where a trail way plan and environmental compliance has been completed across Bayfield and Douglas Counties. While most of the route through this area is public property, there are approximately 20 miles of the route across private property. Considering land prices in northern Wisconsin, the funding provided could go a long way toward completing this route-if landowners are willing to sell. Lands will be bought only when the owners are willing to sell either fee simple ownership or easements. This is the "Willing Seller" principal. It is hoped that we can complete enough of an environmental compliance process to expand the area of purchase to portions of the trail farther east in the state. What is surely to be a huge success story is underway! Whenever there is an opportunity, express your appreciation to Senator Kohl and his Wisconsin colleagues who championed the request in the House of Representatives-David Obey and Tammy Baldwin. Many are already hoping that this year's appropriation is the first of many. Perhaps this idea will also spread to the Congressional delegations of the other six North Country Trail states. What a grand way to start a new Millennium for the North Country Trail. It's time to CELEBRATE!
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NORTH STAR: The Magazine of the North Country Trail, January-March 2000
Someone managed to figure out a North Country Trail way to greet 2000!
Irene and Gummy in front of the quln-zhee shelter on New Year's weekend.
by Joan Young "Where do you want to be on the eve of New Year 2000?" demanded the blaring television announcer.. I hadn't really thought about it very much and assumed I'd be staring with glassy eyes at a crowd of people watching a ball drop in Times Square if I even stayed up that long. With my usual indifference to New Year celebrations, I was thereby busy verifying Newton's first law of motion. "A body at rest tends to remain at rest;" it's called inertia. Inertia rules huge blocks of our lives having a mass too large to be overcome by the force of our dreams. But suddenly I was accelerating with the combined forces of excitement and obsession: the excitement I had felt as a child when I realized I would be alive when the century and the millennium changed, and my obsession to hike the North Country Trail. Despite the technicality that the new millennium doesn't actually begin until 2001, I knew I did not want to let this New Year slip by without notice. I also knew that where I wanted to be was on the North Country Trail. Newton's first law clarifies that a body will remain at rest unless "acted upon by an unbalanced force." My unbalancing force became the sum of the dream and the excitement. To most of my friends whom I begin trying to convince to join me in the winter woods for 3 days, I definitely appear to be an unbalanced force! Most of them charitably accept that I am eccentric but harmless. Harmless being defined as lacking sufficient of that unbalanced force to propel them into the cold. They are secretly glad for family obligations which allow them to decline my invitation to Winter 2K without explaining that they have no interest in shoveling enough snow to build a home, sitting in the cold no matter how cozy a campfire might be, snowshoeing through heavy unbroken snow cover, or huddling in a sleeping bag through the 14 long hours of winter darkness while the mercury plummets to unknown depths. The list of even remotely possible partici-
pants dwindles from nine to five to three to settle at two humans and a dog. There is a possibility that the other human is more unbalanced than I! Irene and Gummy must drive for 12 hours just to join me in this mad venture. Nevertheless, on the sunny afternoon of December 30 we set up camp on the trail at the southwest comer of Five Lake near Alba, Michigan. I arrive first and am shoveling snow into a mound to build a quin-zhee shelter. A fox-like dog incongruously wearing a red bow behind one ear approaches me through the woods, barking. Having never met Gummy, I am not certain of my facts but enthusiastically assume this must be the dog who has appeared and begin talking to her. Soon Irene emerges from behind a veil of young cottonwoods and verifies my identification. Gummy nuzzles my hand, Irene and I hug, and W2K officially begins! I had arrived in the morning at the site which I had previously scouted out and nearly decided to move the entire venture to a different location. I knew that a snowmobile trail passes about one-quarter mile from the selected campsite, but I now discover that the holiday ski-dooers are loudly and boldly zippering through almost every possible opening in the woods. For some reason which we do not understand, but are thankful for, they are following regulations and not riding the North Country Trail except where it coincides with wider two-track openings. So by moving a bit farther back into the woods we are able to buffer ourselves from their motorized intrusion. The snowmobiles cast the only shadow on our weekend. They give a whole new meaning to the lyric "blue shadows on the trail." We have to pull all our gear threequarters of a mile back to the campsite on sleds, mostly along their highly traveled tracks. Whenever (whenever being often) groups pass in a whirl and haze of blue fumes and brain-thumping noise Gummy sneezes and rubs her nose through the snow. Irene and I wave them on their way and call to them, but they can't hear us over the whine of their motors.
NORTH STAR: The Magazine of the North Country Trail, January-March 2000
It's probably just as well. They wouldn't like what we were calling. The sun has warmed the snow so that it packs well, but the goal of building and hollowing the large snow shelter I had hoped for turns out to be a bigger project than two people can handle in a short winter afternoon. The plan is altered to create a snow fort of walls with a narrow entrance curved to block any wind. the roof is created with supports of branches covered with a tarp. Snow is mounded around the edges to hold the tarp in place. It is now so warm in the sun that I have removed two layers of clothing to keep from overheating. Irene takes a shovel and goes to find us "a commodious spot" in the woods. When she returns I explain to her that I've formed the habit of taking out the used t.p. in a sealed bag rather than leaving it for animals to dig up. "Really?" queries Irene. "I've never seen them do that." "Oh, yes," I assure her and go to inspect our modest latrine. There I learn that Irene from gray-rock-hard-clay New York has begun a tunnel to China. Her enthusiasm for exploiting the ease of digging in Michigan sand has Jed her to experiment with methods for even tunneling under tree roots. I amend my earlier dogma and admit that no animals are likely to dig up that pit when we are done with it. Indeed, either of us had better be very careful where we step while answering any calls after dark or we might never be heard from again. Our kitchen area is defined by the other flat open spot not occupied by the snow fort, and we clear it to dig a small fire pit. Soon Irene is warming dinner on the grate in a cast-iron pot while coffee water boils beside it in a classic blue graniteware vessel. Coals glow brightly in the fire ring. The early-winter sun is redly fading and we light the cleaned but rusty kerosene barn lantern and hang it by the doorway of our hut. These points of light reflect in a soft golden gleam from the varnished wooden frames of our snowshoes as they stand erect in a handy snowbank. There is some quality of Jost treasure, a homely honesty of simple things these objects and their interactions create within me. Heat, light, nourishment, shelter, transportation, friendship, a sense of well-being at knowing that a job well-done has given us the privilege of a comfortable evening -- what more could a person require? As much as I love backpacking, finding the lightest and best technological solution to traveling traceless through the woods, the heavy, textured, old and solid camp tools call from within me a deep joy. Polished titanium and gore-tex have never yet brought tears to my eyes and a lump to my throat. "Hey," shouts Irene as she checks the thermometer,"no wonderwe'regettingchilly.It'sonly7degreesouthere!"My warm sentimental moment is unlikely to keep our body temperatures up all night so we scramble around to clean up and create a nest in the hut. Irene's earlier slip of the tongue, "flannel chipping," while describing a search for something to watch on the motel TV the night before now sounds prophetic. We may need a chisel to remove the ice from our
Page 15
jammies if we don't get busy! Plastic goes down first, then a layer of therm-a-rest pads, topped with a Korean War era down sleeping bag. Our own sleeping bags go on top of this, and we cover the both of us with another vintage down bag. Gummy settles between our legs, chilly enough to contentedly remain under the covers. Her trip to the groomer which resulted in the red hair-bow also had shorn her of most of her insulating tummy-fur. The cooler (or in the winter, the anticooler) with a pack on top and a tarp over all is pulled in to plug the entrance. The predictable first remark after snuggling in with boots and extra clothing removed is, "Oh, Dandy! I have to pee." Ever thoughtful of me, Irene generously completes this camping requirement so that I can make it through the night without having to get up. She struggles back out of her bag, into her boots and coat, over the dog, and removes the door plug, all in a space only five by seven by three and now solidly occupied by two people and the canine. "That's my tail you're trying to use for a sock," yelps Gummy. Irene disappears into the cold December woods. Eventually she reappears, so I know that somehow she has managed to keep from slipping down the tunnel to China. It's a good thing because from those depths I might not have heard her even if she had blown her emergency whistle. Reversing the whole laborious sequence from cooler to down bag she returns to the warm bed. We check the time. "O good, we only have twelve more hours to lie here in the dark." Ireneandlonlymetthis past year, and have never camped together before. Thus she mistakenly believes that I wake up as a human being, the same as I was when I went to bed. She arises cheerfully at sunrise and announces that the clouds have moved in and the temperature is up to a balmy 24. "Mmmmpfh," I reply with glee and pull the covers over my head so as not to embarrass her with my exuberance. Now it is my tum to be thoughtful. I doze off again, giving her the opportunity to display her camping skills preparing the morning fire. Old Girl Scouts never die they just Jose their fire. When I do arise, and after I gallop back from China, I catch her lighting the matches which won't strike, from her Zippo which won't close and go out. Well, you can't ever say that Girl Scouts aren't resourceful. Those eggs and sausages sure taste good anyway, no matter how the fire was lit. The day's activity is to be a snowshoe hike. After cleanup we head down the main trail. Fortunately the blue blazes are able to be found as we proceed through the woods. I would like to say "the quiet woods," but the revving of the snowmobiles is ever buzzing through our heads. However, the snow is crisp and unbroken, the blazes lead us on and we cover about a mile-and-a-half before admitting that we had better turn around if we want to be able to walk at all tomorrow. Gummy bounds resolutely through the deep snow, disdaining the comparative ease she could have of walking behind us in our packed tracks. Irene knows her trees in winter and we share the pleasures of comparing knowledge of buds, bark
Page 16
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NORTH STAR: The Magazine of the North Country Trail, January-March 2000
and other botanical miscellany. She recognizes shadbush bark. IpointouttheMichiganjackpine. Witch hazel remains attractive covered with yellow fruit capsules. We discuss how to distinguish red from sugar maple in the winter by their buds. Cottonwood is inferior firewood but dry bracken fem stems are good tinder. We both like white pine better than red. Ash trees are a poor choice on which to paint trail blazes because the bark splits into an open diamond pattern, but the shadbush (or serviceberry) remains smooth to hold the paint well. White oak is one of Irene's favorites while I favor eastern hemlock. We return to our campsite and start a fire just for it's 路 cheering warmth even though it's a bit early to fix dinner. Gummy is limping; her exuberance -in the deep snow has caught up with her feet. "Snow-toes," Irene calls them. Basecamping always makes me want to build things. I have to mentally stake myself to the ground where I can just sit and play with the fire or I would be up cutting down saplings to create lashed tables, chairs, coathangers and washstands. Sharing this outdoor experience with another former Scout, who also lived for the two weeks of summer camp, has increased the power of the Pavlovian reaction to saplings, twine, time and a basecamp. However, I am able with great restraint to resist leveling the forest, and we are able to fix dinner without a corduroy camp table. We have been smiled upon this weekend. The weather remains mild. The air is calm there is no wind to chill our bones or remove our tarp roof. The snowmobilers have not invaded our campsite by more than their noise. No city lights intrude on the horizon. The dreaded Y2K bug could infect and annihilate the rest of civilization at midnight and we would be unaffected and unaware. The only bug we encounter is a dopy spider swinging lonely from a twig. We consider staying awake until midnight, but agree that we don't mind sleeping through that overrated moment. We chat beside the fire for a while longer and retire to our snug home wistfully humming " .. .I'd make two wishes: a winding road that beckons me to roam; and then I'd wish for a blazing campfire to welcome me when I'm returning home." Don't worry if you don't "get it." It's old Girl Scout stuff again. Irene hears midnight come as judged by fireworks being set off both east and west of us. I awake around 2 a.m. and learn that the snowmobiles have not failed to start as a result of some Y2K malfunction (drat!). We both welcome January 1, 2000 after daylight. Irene's campfire skills are again worthy and we feast on hash and eggs. We prolong the sad moment as long as possible, but eventually we have to begin to break camp. We take pictures, we decide to hike another mile after the cars are loaded, we take extra care to cover the fire and latrine sites, we reload the sleds, but the moment of truth arrives and we bid farewell to our short-lived but pleasant snow-home. We do hike the extra mile, both ways of course. After
finding a place to stow the car we expertly strap on the snowshoes, and our thighs immediately shout, "Hello!" Gummy,ontheotherhand,seemstobejustfine. Shepounces through the drifts, hunting mice. The snow is wet and heavy, but we are not to be daunted today. We find even greater winter riches. Chickadees twitter and nuthatches "ank" their waythroughthewoods. Irenehearsakinglet,Ifindajumping meadow mouse track. We see the trotting tracks of a real fox, and of course many deer paths. Rabbit and an unknown burrower also left stories in the snow. Today's trail leads over a ridge covered with beech and yellow birch then down through a grove of red pine. Irene looks for signs of old homesteads but finds little evidence of any. "This tree must have grown up in the open, but I don't see any hedgerows or old orchards," she reasons. Soon we are standing at the last blaze we can see on the edge of an opening bristling with angry blackberry canes. "Do we tum around or go on?" we ponder, realizing that we will have to range back and forth when we reenter the woods to find the blazes. But I have no heart for leaving a section undone, and despite my aching thighs I plunge into the deep wet snow with the thorns protesting my every step. I hear Irene moaning something about hip sockets, but I'm sure she is just trying to reassure me that hers are fine. We emerge after a time of stumbling, tripping, and loudly calling for the offspring of the canes to be unfruitful, from the brambles at the very tree where the blazes begin on the other side of the opening. Irene is incredulous, and she effusively charges me with having a blue line for a soul. That sounds so poetic, I hate to tell her it was pure, dumb luck. All too soon the hike is over and we are back at the cars trying not to say goodbye. Newton's third law works, but slower than it should. "For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction." "You're the bees knees," Irene claims as she claps me on the back. I am too dumbfounded and slow to find a quick riposte. Buteventuallyl'llgetthere. Youarethecat'sflannel pajamas, Irene. Now go get busy chipping while I go lash a table.
. Vision for the North Country National Scenic Trail Our vision for the North Country National Scenic Trail is that of a premier footpath of national significance, offering a superb experience for hikers in a permanently protected corridor, traversing and interpreting the richly diverse environmental, cultural, and historic features of the northern United States.
NORTH STAR: The Magazine of the North Country Trail, January-March, 2000
tive Alert Year 2001 Appropriations Background: This year, we're making a concerted effort to substantially increase the annual funding the North Country Trail receives from the federal government. The strength and hope for our Trail lies in the excellent partnership we enjoy with the National Park Service. Private individuals like yourself contribute dollars and time to ensure that the Trail succeeds. In turn, the National Park Service provides leadership and federal dollars to support volunteer efforts on the Trail. This should be a perfect arrangement, but in reality we face severe limitations. Although the North Country National Scenic Trail is a program of the National Park Service (NPS), the federal government currently allocates only $226,000 for the general operations of the Trail. As you may know, we have only one NPS employee dedicated to the Trail. Current federal funding of the Trail is minimal, given the challenge we face in crossing 4,600 miles through seven states. At the same time, private support has mushroomed. In the past four years, our membership has quadrupled, and our number of Chapters has increased five-fold. Clearly, we in the private sector are striving to fulfill our share of the bargain. We are asking the federal government to do the same, by providing more realistic overall funding for the Trail.
What We're Doing About It: Over the next with members of and the Senate to in federal funding
couple of months, we'll be working both the House of Representatives try to lock in a substantial increase for the North Country Trail.
On the House side, we are crafting what's called a "Dear Colleague" letter to be sent to Congressman Ralph Regula (R-OH) to request an increase in Appropriations for the Trail. Congressman Regula is the Chair of the House Interior Appropriations Sub-
Page 17
Committee. This Sub-Committee is responsible for determining the federal budget for the National Park Service. The "Dear Collegue" letter will be authored by Congressman Vern Ehlers (R-MI) and a Democratic Representative yet to be identified. Once we have the letter, we will try to get as many other Representatives to sign on to it as possible, to indicate strong support for the request. We also are working to convince Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) to include an increase for the NCT in his appropriations requests for the year. Congressman Hinchey sits on the House Interior Appropriations Sub-Committee, and so could have a strong influence in the process. In the Senate, Senator Carl Levin (D-MI) has agreed to author a similar "Dear Colleague" letter to Senator Slade Gorton (R-WA), Chair of the Senate Interior Appropriations Sub-Committee. We will be working to get additional Senators to "sign on" to Senator Levin's letter. At the same time, we hope to convince Senators Herbert Kohl (D-WI) and Byron Dorgan (D-ND) to request the increase. Both of these Senators sit on the Senate Interior Appropriations Suh-Committee. During February and early March, we will be making calls and sending letters to try to achieve these goals. In mid-March, we will travel to Washington to try to advocate for the trail in person.
What You Can Do To Help: Chances are, unless you're used to the inner workings of Capitol Hill, what I've described above may sound a little complicated to you. That's ok if it does. You can have a real impact on the process even if you don't quite follow our machinations. Here are two ways you can help:
*
Contact your own Senators and Representative, either by phone, mail, or e-mail. Tell them why the trail is important to you, to your region, and to the public in general. Then, ask them to support
increased annual appropriations for the North Country National Scenic Trail. There's no need to get into any more details. If you do this, they will know that there is local support for the North Country Trail and they will know how they can help. We will provide the details when we contact them to try to "close the deal."
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Legislative Alert continued
*
NORTH STAR: The Magazine of the North Country Trail, January-March, 2000
f
• • •
Make similar contacts with Congressman Ralph Regula (R-OH) and Senator Slade Gorton (RW A). In fact, you can just about use the same letter or e-mail that you used for your own Senators and Representative. Remember, these two are the Chairs of their respective Interior Appropriations Sub-Committees. This means they have a lot of power in determining what goes into the annual budget for the National Park Service. We need their support to succeed.
Willing Seller Acquisition Authority Background: The National Trails Act was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Johnson in 1968. The initial Act established the Appalachian and Pacific Crest National Scenic Trails. Subsequent amendments have added 18 more National Scenic and National Historic Trails. Due to prevailing attitudes in Congress when the amendments were passed, the federal agencies assigned to the trails limited in different ways when it came to purchasing land to protect the trails. With the North Country Trail, the National Park Service (NPS) specifically is prohibited from purchasing any land for the trail. Why should we care? Well, the Appalachian Trail largely was completed by funneling tens of millions of dollars from the Land and Water Conservation Fund to the National Park Service to purchase corridors to permanently protect the trail route. Because the NPS is prohibited from purchasing land for our trail, this very important tool is not available to us. We only can access Land and Water Conservation Funds through State grant programs, which are sporadic, at best. Further, National Park Service professionals funded by the Land and Water Conservation Fund could provide much needed technical assistance in land negotiations. What We're Doing About It: We are working with a coalition of National Scenic and Historic Trail Organizations, and the American Hiking Society to pass an amendment which would grant the federal government the authority to purchase land to protect these trails. Land or easements only would be purchased from
people who want to sell ("willing sellers"). The bill introduced in the House of Representatives is called H.R.2267 and the Senate bill is S.1729. So far, we know the following Representatives and Senators have agreed to co-sponsor the bills: HOUSE BILL H.R.2267 Scott Mcinnis (R-CO) Joel Hefley (R-CO) Bob Schaffer (R-CO) Mark Udall (D-CO) John Doolittle (R-CA) Richard Pombo (R-CA) Thomas Barrett (D-WI) Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) Gerald Kleczka (D-WI) Ron Kind (D-WI) Ed Whitfield (R-KY) Doug Bereuter (R-NE) Bruce Vento (D-MN) Philip English (R-PA) Clay Shaw (R-FL) Mark Foley (R-FL) Merrill Cook (R-UT) Ciro Rodriguez (D-TX)
Thomas Tancredo (R-CO) Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY) Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) James Traficant (D-OH) Sherrod Brown (D-OH) Ralph Regula (R-OH) Wayne Gilchrest (R-MD) Vernon Ehlers (R-MI) Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) Heather Wilson (R-NM) SENATE BILL S.1729 Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R-CO) Wayne Allard (R-CO) Larry Craig (R-ID) Carl Levin (D-MI) Spencer Abraham (R-MI) Byron Dorgan (D-ND)
What You Can Do To Help: This may sound like a broken record, but you really can make a difference by contacting your Senators and Representative to urge them to sign on to their respective bill. If they already have signed on, you also can make a big difference by contacting them to thank them. If they know that their constituents are noticing and are appreciative of their support of the North Country Trail, they'll be more likely to help us out again in the future. If you're on-line, you'll find a lot more on this issue on the American Hiking Society's web site at: http://www.americanhiking.org/policy/issues/captrl2.html
This site also has sample letters that you can print or e-mail directly to your Senator or Representative. In fact, it will even send them for you! To write your Representative or Senator: The Honorable (full name) United States House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515 Dear Representative (last name): The Honorable (full name) United States Senate Washington, DC 20510 Dear Senator (last name):
NORTH STAR: The Magazine of the North Country Trail, January-March, 2000
Page 19
Lodging Duluth (27 Miles from Conference Center) Many lodging choices are available at the "Harbor" and "Canal Park" areas. Call (800)-4-DULUTH.
Conference A SUPERIOR NORTH COUNTRY TREK A JOINT CONFERENCE FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE NORTH COUNTRY TRAIL ASSOC/AT/ON AND THE SUPERIOR HIKING TRAIL ASSOC/A TION
The shores of Lake Superior, and the scenic beauty of the Superior Hiking Trail are backdrops for this year's Annual Conference centered near Two Harbors, Minnesota. NCTA members are invited to join the membership of the Superior Hiking Trail Association (SHTA) for a weekend which promises to be both informative and picturesque.
Two Harbors Area Americinn Suites (800)634-3444
In Two Harbors
Viking Motel
(218)834-2645
In Two Harbors
Voyager Motel
(218)834-3644
In Two Harbors
Country Inn
(800)456-4000
In Carlson
Superior Shores (218)834-3644 Resort & Cont. Ctr.
On Lake Superior Site of Saturday's activities
Silver Cliff Motel (218)834-4695
On Lake Superior 4 Miles from Two Harbors
(218)834-4675
On Lake Superior 4 Miles from Two Harbors
Cliff in Shore Resort
Camping
Registration: Registration for this year's conference will be conducted by SHTA All NCTA members will receive a mailing in March with a detailed schedule and a registration packet. Registration fees will cover activities and meals only.
Gooseberry Falls State Park
(218)8343855
12 miles from Conference Center on SHT Friday's events held here. Pets.
Split Rock Lighthouse State Park
(218)2263065
19 miles form Conference Center. Cart-in campsites.
Lodging: Arrangement for rooms or campsites are to be made by conference attendees. To ensure you have lodging for the conference, you should make your reservations early. A list of recommended options are provided on the right. Most of Saturday's events will take place in the Two Harbors area. Friday's events will center around Gooseberry Falls 1 State Park, approximately 12 miles from the Two Harbors area. Shuttle service will be available on a limited basis.
Penmaralltee (218)834Campground 4603
Pull-thru campsites. Pets.
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NORTH STAR: The Magazine of the North Country Trail, January-March, 2000
t
2000 Conference continued • • • Tentative Conference Schedule Thursday, May 4 2:00 P.M. 6:00 - 7:00 P.M.
Sunday, May 7 NCTA Executive Committee Early Bird Registration
Friday, May 5 (Most Activities will be at Gooseberry Falls State Park) 7:30 AM. Continental Breakfast 8:00 AM. Registration (continuing throughout the day) 8:30 AM. NCTA Trail Council Meeting 9:30 AM. Interpreted Hike - Gooseberry State Park Loop 10:30 AM. NCTA Chapter President's Meeting 11:00 AM. Geology Hike - Gooseberry Falls area 12:00 Noon Lunch 1:00 P.M. NCTA Board Meeting 1:30 P.M. Interpreted Hike - Split Rock Lighthouse State Park 1:30 P.M. Non-guided Hike - Split Rock River Loop 6:00 P.M. Dinner-TBA 7:00 P.M. "Sentiments from the Heart" slide presentation about the SHT by SHTA President and Photographer, Rudi Hargesheimer 8:00 P.M. NCTA Annual Meeting NCTA Award Ceremony
7:30 AM. 8:00 AM. 9:00 AM. 10:00 AM.
Continental Breakfast Early Bird hike on the Sonju Walking Trail in Two Harbors SHTA Board Meeting Guided Hike- Highway 1 to Silver Bay
Saturday, May 6 (Most activities at Superior Shores Resort) 8:00-9:30 AM. Registration 9:30 AM. Hike Shuttles begin 10:00 AM.-2:00 PM Hikes - four choices Birding Hike Wild Flower Hike Photography Hike Non-Guided Hike Castle Danger to Gooseberry Falls State Park 10:00 AM. Trail Maintenance Demonstration with Bill Menke, Nat'I Park Service, and Ken Oelkers, SHTA Lunch Box Lunch on the Trail 1:30 P.M. Silent Auction Begins 4:00 P.M. SHTA Annual Meeting 6:00 P.M. Dinner 7:00 P.M. "Flora and Fauna of he North Shore" Speaker: Mark "Sparky" Sensaas, naturalist and outdoor writer. 8:00 P.M Live Auction
Dining Two Harbors Fast Food: Pizza Hut, Subway, McDonalds, Burger King, Hardees, Dairy Queen Local: Millers, Judy's, Vanilla Bean, Blackwoods
Castle Danger (10 Miles North of Two Harbors) Rustic Inn
Duluth to Two Harbors Emily's
Duluth Numerous restaurants at Canal Park
NORTH STAR:
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The Magazine of the North Country Trail, January-March 2000
ART
Please feel free to nominate a volunteer for this feature. Contact me tofind out how. Joan Young,861 W US JO, Scottville. MI 49454 or jhy@t-one.net
The NCTA is growing steadily. We've reached the goal of 2000 members in 2000. New chapters sprout like mushrooms (read on to see why that metaphor came to mind). The goal of 2000 certified miles in 2000 is a little more remote, but it won't be for lack of effort by outstanding trail workers.
The newest chapters tell me that they need a little more time before nominating volunteers, but we can look forward this year to hearing of new sections of trail where we can wear down our soles thanks to the heart of recently discovered volunteers.
WAMPUM CHAPTER Some people seem to live on the trail, but GAIL BLAKELY literally does! The trail crosses the Beaver River on a bridge at the small town of Wampum, Pennsylvania, and Gail lives on that corner. When PA director Bob Tait spoke at a Sierra Club Pittsburgh meeting he asked, "Does anyone know where Wampum is?" Much to his surprise a number of people did because of Gail. But then it was her tum to be surprised when she learned that the trail passes by her front door. She joined the NCTA on the spot! Gail likes to keep busy and she belongs to many other organizations too: Order of the Eastern Star, Society for Creative Anachronism (a medieval re-enactment society), League of Women Voters, Western Pennsylvania Botanical Society, Ohio Mushroom Society, and North American Mycological Association. These last two transition her into one facet of her involvement in the trail community. Many NCTA members had the pleasure of learning about and sampling edible mushrooms under Gail's knowledgeable and energetic leadership at the August conference in Pennsylvania. Gail finds time for all these activities since she retired from teaching, and she likes being able to have a flexible lifestyle to allow for her many interests. The availability of trails makes it easier for her to pursue her love of identifying plants, trees, animals, insects all the natural wonders to be found in the wilds. "I'm a walker," Gail explained, "I'm not there to see how many miles I can cover in an hour." The more she knows what plants and creatures are to be found in the woods the more comfortable she is there. "Some people are afraid of nature because they don't understand it, " she added. Gail received a head start in understanding nature because her parents took her camping as a child, and that interest persisted. Within the Wampum
GAIL BLAKELY
Chapter she serves on the Planning Committee. The chapter regularly meets at her house. Gail points out that "a chapter is only as good as the members we have." She sees one of her roles as that of making people feel welcome, accepted and valuable. Sometimes this means taking care oflots of details to make sure that activities run smoothly. Gail has also been involved in contacting landowners to attempt to connect the trail between two sections on public lands. Blakely seems to prove the saying, "If you want something done, ask a busy person!" Thanks, Gail, for bringing your organizational skills and knowledge of nature to the trail community.
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NORTH STAR: The Magazine of the North Country Trail, January-March 2000
BAW BEESE CHAPTER MONICA HAMILTON has always liked the out-ofdoors. She grew up in the Girl Scouts and played softball. As an adult she looked for ways to pursue her outdoor interests in contrast to her job which keeps her indoors at a plant where they coat metal panels for paint testing. When Rich Saur placed an ad in the paper about the formation of a local hiking club, Monica looked into it, and became a member of the young Baw Beese Chapter of the NCTA. She enjoys the chapter's work outings. Hamilton says, "I look at the trail more on work days than I do when I'm on hikes. I take time to see what will make other people enjoy it." Monica's service on work days has included a lot of cooking. One cold, rainy day when they were putting up heavy barriers to keep ATV's off the trail Monica took sloppy joes and hot chocolate to the work crew. We can smell those aromas and feel the warmth right now, Monica! She told me of Bar-B-Q events and homemade salads that made me wish for summer trail
CHIEF NOONDAY NEIL JUHL and JAMBE are a "special team." Neil serves as Chapter Clown (his own description) and Jambe is the chapter's official Trail Dog. We know, however, that Neil does much more than clown around. When he is not busy selling music at his store, Flip Side Records, he serves on the Chief Noonday board of directors and National Trail's Day committee. He is a regular liaison to the radio station and a sports store, and works hard to keep information kiosks stocked. This last activity is important to NEIL JUHL and JAMBE him because of how he learned about the trail. While hiking in the Manistee National Forest he stopped at a ranger station and picked up some info about the trail he was walking. By this means he learned that he was on a National Scenic Trail, and he knows that many people who use the trail have no knowledge of this larger picture. One of the special times Neil describes occurred last New Year's Day in Yankee Springs Recreation Area. He suddenly had a sense of that "thread of continuity," and he felt connected to the whole trail stretching from New York to North Dakota! Neil is a long-
., days, and she has noted that trail work helps build healthy appetites. She is glad to be able to help the trail effort in this way. Being on the trail gives Monica the chance to have some quiet time and to stay in touch with nature where she enjoys the beauty to be found there. She is glad to have met new people and made friends in the trail community. "This is something that I enjoy and is also MONICA HAMILTON worthwhile," Monica concluded. She has recently been elected as Chair of the Membership Committee for this fast-growing chapter. Others in the chapter praise Monica for being "willing to do what's needed." This short but precise definition of service describes what makes a great trail volunteer.
time hiker, backpacker, and canoeist. "Nature is my absolute sanctuary," he commented with reverence in his tone. "It is there that I find the things that are real, and I can find God. I am really blessed; the trail and this chapter are the most satisfying things in my life right now." Juhl also sees himself as a steward of the trail, and working on it allows him to give back to others. Building and maintaining trail gives him the most pleasure. He has customized a backpack for his trail tools and he loves to bench trail into side hills. It takes a long time to do this right, he explains, but his favorite tools are the Pulaski and McClod. He also maintains a section of the trail on a regular basis. Another Chief Noonday member elaborates: "Neil's sense of humor and singing add much more than just his active participation. Jambe's manners and playfulness are a part of this special team." "Trail work is 'where it's at' for me," concludes Neil. We assume Jambe would "woof' to that! Some of you readers have noticed that I try to sum up the efforts of each issues' selected volunteers. Once again the featured members showcase a range of important talents and attitudes. Knowledge of nature, service to and encouragement of volunteers, planning, promotion, administration and actual trail work have all been mentioned. No one of these disciplines alone will build the trail. No one person's talents can cover all the requirements needed to create a National Scenic Trail. We've been reminded of the larger; seven-state picture, and the local, hometown scene. As the North Country Trail has been selected as one of the National Millennium Trails let's continue to work together to build this great national treasure. Pat a fellow volunteer on the back and remind him or her of the great trail community to which we belong! Oh, and if we've not seen that person here, contact me to learn how to submit a name to this feature. Joan Young, 861 W. US JO, Scottville, Ml, 49454, 231-757-2205, jhy@t-one.net.
NORTH STAR: The Magazine of the North Country Trail, January-March 2000
Page 23
....--~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~-=-----.
BARGAIN ECOTRIPS By Van, Foot & Paddle to Premier Wild Places
National Millennium Trail Celebration Planned forLaborDay Last summer, the White House Millennium Council named the North Country National Scenic Trail one of only sixteen National Millennium Trails. The only other National Scenic Trail to receive this award was the Appalachian Trail. To celebrate this honor, we will be hosting a special event in Mackinaw City, Michigan on Labor Day of this year. All of our members may not realize this, but the North Country Trail crosses from lower Michigan to upper Michigan on the 5 mile-long Mackinac Bridge. This presents a bit of a challenge to hikers, since the Mackinac Bridge is a four lane highway, with no sidewalks. During 364 days of the year, hikers must take a shuttle to cross the bridge. However, . on a singe day each year, the bridge is closed to regular vehicle traffic, and two lanes are opened for people to hike the Bridge. This event draws a lot of attention. Typically, more than 50,000 people set out each Labor Day morning to join in the adventure. At it's center, only a metal grating separates hikers from the choppy waters 200 feet below! This year, we'll be working in cooperation with the Mackinac Bridge Authority and Emmet County to plan our National Millennium Trail Celebration in conjunction with annual Bridge Walk. We plan to have some V.I.P. speakers at a park on the south end of the Bridge after the walk. We'll also have a large booth set up, some give-aways and other special activities are being planned. In addition, our Board of Directors will be holding it's fall meeting in conjunction with this event. As you might guess, with this many people in town, lodging is difficult to find. We have arranged for the use of two guest houses owned by Emmet County for the nights of Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 2-3, but space is limited. If we get crowded, you may need to bring a sleeping bag and could find yourself assigned to a cot, couch or even the floor. For people who would like to take advantage of the guest houses, we are requesting a $20 per person per night contribution, which would cover lodging, linen and towels. We also are working on a group camping arrangement for tent campers. To reserve a space, call our office at 888-454-NCTA. We hope to see you there!
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}tent the NCTA's aootn Schoo.Ibo
O~e
~Se/
What's it for? NCTA's Schoolhouse makes an ideal hostel for your hikes through lower Michigan. It includes a shower, cots, and a kitchenette. Ifs also a great site for meetings or retreats!
Where ls it? 5 miles NW of White Cloud, Michigan, nestled in the southern region of the I Juran-Manistee National Forest,
Is it close to the North Country Trail? You bet! Just one and a half miles from the NCNSTl
Who runs it? The Schoolhouse is maintained and managed by volunteers from our own Western Michigan Chapter.
Where do I get more information? Jusl call our office at 888-11511NCl'A and ask for <1 copy of the Schoolhouse Brochure!
*
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NCT Map Sets NEW TRAIL MAPS Printed in full color on durable paper these new maps come in a clear plastic bag to assure complete water protection. They have been carefully field checked for accuracy. Each map unfolds to a full 11" x 17". (T401) Michigan Huron-Manistee National Forest: North Segment (T-402) Michigan Battle Creek to Chief Noonday Road (T-201) Pennsylvania McConnells Mill and Moraine State Parks ~\. Slf0 (T-202) Allegheny National Forest ~-.., North Section $6.50 (T-203) Southern Allegheny National Forest I[ and Cook Forest State Park $8.00
~-i
HATS (Clockwise from bottom)
A. NaturalColored"BucketHat" (C208)
$16.95
The North Country National Scenic Trail compass point design on a bucket hat in a tone on tone khaki color. Washed cotton, one size fits most.
B. "Denim" Blue Cap (C203)
•••••••••••
$15.95
"Pro-wash" cotton twill with extended bill, deep blue crown and bill (looks like denim), adjustable buckle on a leather strap.
: . ::
NCT
in
Pennsylvania,
37pp (M201) ....•••••
$5.25
Oltio
Wayne National Forest, 14pp (M301) .•••.. $3.00 Burr Oak - Sinking Spring, stpp (M302) •• $7.00 Sinking Spring to Milford, 38pp (M303) ..• $5.50 Little Miami Scenic Park, 19pp (M304) ...• $3.00 Miami & Erie Canal, 14pp (M305) .•••.....•• $3.00
Mithi9an .
NCT in Lower Michigan, NCT in Upper Michigan,
66pp (M401) ..•• $12.00 sspp (M402) .•• $12.50
$14.95
••••••••
$10.95
Sage NCNST
T-shirt
r.. shirt (c101) Pre-shrunk cotton "Beefy-T". Threecolor NCTA logo on front and two-color trail map on back. Slogan on back reads "Going the Distance on the North Country National Scenic Trail" and includes the seven state map of the trail. (color: natural) L, XL: $10.95 (color: natural) XXL: $11. 9 5
·*~.:o~,.~ r
Wisconsin
(c-103) . North Country National Scenic Trail - Just Beyond Your Backdoor. It's made of heavyweight, 100% cotton, color sage, and features a front design in brick red, forest green, and ivory. The trail line on the map is actually a list of all seven state names. (color: sage) Was - S, M, L, XL: $49.95 XXL: $4+.95
Now S, M, L, XL: $8.25 XXL: $8.95
Trail Crew T Shirt (C102) 00
Chequamegon N.F. and Brule River S.F., 19pp (M501) .•..••.....••..
$3.50
Front Design
Minnesota
Chippewa National Forest, Itasca S.P., 24pp (M601) .•••..••••..••••....•
North Dakota
NCT in North Dakota
~.....,.~__.
NCTA
"r'(
Penn~lvania
o. LightKhaki/NavyCap (C207) •••••••
Trail emblem design. Low profile washed cotton, unconstructed. light Khaki crown with washed navy bill. Adjustable buckle on fabric strap. Mesh back, cotton twill front, royal blue, plastic snap strap.
::::·::._-~
are accurate mute descriptions by experienced guidebook writers who have walked the sections with a measuring wheel. In easy to use looseleaf form.
$14.95
Embroidered association logo. Low profile distressed washed cotton twill. Constructed with soft lining. Adjustable buckle on fabric strap.
E. Royal Mesh-BackCap (c201)
J... Shirts
-~,;
c. Moss Green Cap (C206) •••••••••••••••
1spp (M701) •••....••
$4.00 $3.00
Back Design
A TRAIL CREW shirt for volunteers! Tan 50/50 blend. Two color design on front with map and a "fired up" volunteer. (color: tan)
M, L, XL: $8.95
XXL: $9.95
Michigan Map Sets by Arden Johnson ""'"'~.::.';;:"'",.=;""""-
_·· •f=J ~~~l~Jil~~.
An excellent reference for the entire North Country Trail in Michigan. Includes all off-road segments and suggests on-road routes where the trail is incomplete. Also provides good general information about access points, terrain, markers, camping and water, etc. $4.00 per set (M411) (M412) (M413) (M414) (M415) (M416) (M417)
Buckeye Trail {Ohio} Section Maps
SE Lenawee Co. to W. Calhoun Co. NE Kalamazoo Co. to SE Newaygo Co. SE Newaygo Co. to NW Wexford Co. NW Wexford Co. to SE Charlevoix Co. Charlevoix Co. to Mackinaw City St. Ignace to SE Marquette Co. Marquette area to Ironwood
These convenient and detailed maps MinnesptaYGuUU:to t~e · cover the North Country Trail where North countJYrrailzewa it overlaps with the Buckeye Trail. NationalForest they are published by the Buckeye by Roden~k MacRae (, 611) Trail Association. Each map $3.50 Description of the route and trail Belle Valley (M311) Morgan, Noble and log, east ~owes~. W$nderfylly Guernsey Counties Bowerston (M312) Harrison, Carr ll and written by a Chippewa.National Guerns ou ies Forest exJle__rt. 12p~g~$~ $1.25 and War en Counties Delph s
(M315)
Lovela d
(M316)
Massilon (M317) New S raitsville (M318) (M319) Scioto Trail Sinking Spring
(M320) (M321)
St. Marys Stockport
(M322) (M323)
Troy
(M324)
West Union Williamsburg
(M325) (M326)
Defiance, Paul ing, Putnam, Henry and Wo Counties Putnam, Allen nd Auglaize Coun ies Clermont, Wa en and Hamilton Co ties Stark and T arawas Counties Athens eking, Morgan, Per aunties H c ng, Ross and 1{ ton Counties oss and Pike Counties Adams, Pike and Highland Counties Auglaize and Shelby Counties Morgan, Perry and Athens Counties Greene, Miami and Montgomery Counties Adams and Brown Counties Brown and Clermont Counties
.i 4[L
s
New York Minnesota
(P111), (P116),
Pennsylvania (P112), Ohio North Dakota (Pll?)
3" Round Patches North Country Trail Association
(P122)
These excellent looseleaf_!Uaps of the trail in N~W: ~are published by the Finger ~es Trail Cqnterence. $4.00 per set~j )_ Pl
I
(~111)--f?A-bafcfer - Portageville (M112) Portageville - Watkins Glj;n )M113) Watkins Glen - NW of Cuyter
Hiking Stick Medallions Guidebooks ,
Add the NCNST insignia to your hiking stick. Brass and silver colored metal. The · allion is painte ·
\
Published by the Fin~~!~'s Trail Conference, these helpfulf ~~ various parts of the North try Trail where it overlaps the Finger Lakes Trail (FLT) in western and central New York. FLT in Cortland County (M121)•..••.••••••. $5.95 FLT End-to-End Guide for Backpackers (M122)..................•.•• $2.50 FLT: Conservation Trail to Hornell (M123).......•.....•..............• $? .95 FLT in Steuben Co. (Hornell-S.Bradford) (M124)•.•...•...•..••. $6.95
North Country National Scenic Trail Mug lion $4.00 (P103) NEW lastic trail mug taper · cup holder $5.00
(~105)
Volunteer Patch (P121) State Patches
Finger Lakes Trail ResourcesMap Sets
.
.
. .
.
NCTA Tra
uilding
Silver, pamted m color Hiking Stick . d M tntenance M-a nual Medallion $4.00 an a1 . · by Thomas Reimers (L101) great manual for volunteers $1.50 ea. This provides helpful guidelines and suggestions for planning, construction (P113), Michigan (P114), Wisconsin (P115), and continued maintenance of the $1.50 ea. North Country Trail. It covers rural and roaded natural, semi-primitive $3.00 ea. and primitive trail. 22pp $2.00
Buck Wilder's Hiking & Camping Guide By Tim Smith and Mark Herrick One whole lot of fun! Buck Wilder and his pal Rascalthe Raccoonshare their considerable wisdom and wit. Wonderfulcolor illustrationsare filled with humor and countless tips and trivia. Though at first glance this looks like a book for kids, adults also find this guide irresistible and informative. 64pp, (L103) $12.95
Long Distance Hiking By Roland Mueser Blending sage advice with personal experiences and anecdotes, this unusually thoughtful, highly readable account of long-distance trekking on the AT. Mueserdraws upon extensive interviews to examine unorthodox yet relevant topics. He covers all the questions providing the basis for planning your own long-distancehike. 180pp, (L111) $16.95
Trails Across America
Comprehensiveguide for be_ginning wanderers and those explonng new
~~~~:·g ~~~~~~~ f~~pr~ di g1~~~,i~in • • g -
a map and compass, pre cting hike difficulty, when to turn around, managing food and water, weather lore, walking techniques, traveling with kids, first aid, and more. Many short features, fun tips and anecdotes. 216pp, (L107) $14.95
The Country Doctor, Alive and Well
;11:
By Art & Margie Miller Subtitled A Traveler's Guide to Our National Scenic and Historic Trails, this book is the first to provide engaging descriptions and advice on all 19 trails in our National Trail System. Includes North Country, Morman Pioneer, Pony Express, Appalachian, Iditarod, Lewis and Clark, Pacific Crest, Trail of Tears, Florida Trail, Continental Divide and many others. 308pp, (L105) $19.95
Trail Atlas of Michigan
~,,.1 s11<:>"-
By John G. Hipps, M.D. Stories recount the full spectrum of humankind's experiences. Sometimes informative and educational, frequently humorous, often whimsical, the stories will entertain and charm you with their simple philosophy, wisdom and wit. Includes advice on home remedies, herbal and alternative medicine that promotes the common sense caring of one's self. 363pp, (L115) $19.95
vu. 11Tl'R'S .111 All
NDBOOK
An J!.ti·T11>nu!o.xn-secsoe Guide
~·-=,,-,.,....
Porcupine Mountains By Jim DuFresne. This detailed guidebook provides backpackers, hikers, campers, and skiers with all the information they need to plan a trip to the tranquil Porkies in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Includes history, wildlife in the park, fishing opportunities, cabins and shelters, camping areas, family day hikes with complete information on trails, access points, waterfalls and backcountry treks. 160pp, (L108) $11.95
50 Hikes in Michigan Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore An Illustrated Guide by Olive Anderson. A GUIDE The centerpiece of the North Country National Scenic Trail. Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is a rugged, beautiful, and unique coast on the Lake Superior Shore. This revised guidebook includes maps, and excellent descriptions of the many recreational opportunities available at Pictured Rocks. 56pp, (L110) $6.95 PICTURED ROCKS
NATIONAL LAKEsttORE
By Dennis R. Hansen Michigan trail enthusiasts, don't get caught without this atlas! 2nd Edition includes maps and descriptions for over 600 hiking, biking, skiing, and nature trails in Michigan. Search by location or types of use. 581pp, (L102) $29.95
A truly fresh look at hiking. Read about: philosophyof hiking, stress management, creativity and hiking, and trail romance. Also, explore today's issues through hiking: strengthening family ties, improving communication, a healthy lifestyle for kids, an inexpensive pastime and providing seniors with a natural prescription for health. A new twist for anyone who currently enjoys hiking and for those who are thinking about starting out. 245pp, (L106) $14.95
Dayhiker's HandbookBy J. Long & M. Hodgson
Lessons from the Appalachian Trail.
I
Hiking! By Philip Fatranti and Cecilia Leyva
By Jim DuFresne From one of Michigan's leading outdoor writers comes this comprehensive guide to the best trails in Michigan's Lower Peninsula. Each hike write-up contains all the basic information you need: access, parking, trail distance and difficulty, hiking time, contour map, and explicit trail directions. Formerly titled 50 Hikes in Lower Michigan. 252pp, (L109) $15.00
Woman's Guide to Backpacking
Following the NCT By Wes Boyd Brand new Third Edition of Following the North Country National Scenic Trail. A Classic! Includes general descriptions of the Trail and efforts to build it in each of our seven states. This new addition also includes appendices on throughhiling the NCT and the history of the Trail and the Association. 96pp, {L112) $4.95
The One Pan Gourmet
By Adrienne Hall You'll find By Don Jacobson the knowledge and skills you Fresh Food on the need to become a Trail. Tired of self-sufficient eating dried and backpacker. Yes, preserved goods you can light a in the backcamp stove ... set country? Here's an up a tent by your- alternative from self. .. take your an outdoor chef kids with you who takes his and keep them spice rack and entertained ... fresh food with survive (and even learn to love) a week him. Covers planin the woods without hot showers! ning, packing, preparing and - most Hall's fresh perspective and up-to-date important - eating savory meals on the presentation of techniques and trail. Geared toward the three-day trip, equipment provide all the tools you this book includes over 150 trail-tested need to become a confident, comfor- recipes, prepared in one pan, pot or table, capable backpacker! 160pp, oven. 157pp, {L114) $12.95 {L113) $14.95
Trail Shop Order Form
MembershipForm If you are purchasing or renewing your membership please fill in the following information and add the amount to your order form.
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D Member of a specific
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~~~'!!~!ehq~~~;ns about your order.)
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D Check or monex order enclosed (Made payable to 'NCTA")
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Extension
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(Not affiliated with any Chapter) NAME
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Please mail, fax or phone your order to: 49 Monroe Center NW, Suite 3B Grand Rapids, MI 49503 Toll free telephone: 888-454-NCTA If ordering by credit card you may fax your order to: 616-454-7139
Page 28
NORTH STAR: The Magazine of the North Country Trail, January-March, 2000
Director'sReport Updates and Commentary to NCTA Members By Executive Director, Bob Papp
Our Funding Last issue, in my column and in a separate article, I wrote about some difficult funding challenges we were facing. I also mentioned that we were working to alleviate our problems, both for our short term need and for the long road before us. I'm sure you'll be glad to hear that we've reached the light at the end of our first tunnel. As part of our recognition for being named a National Millennium Trail (NMT), we expect to receive grants totaling $20,000 from American Express this year. Part of this funding will go toward the costs of a "celebration" that we are being asked to host in conjunction with our NMT designation. Another portion will be used to supplement our Field Grant program (grants to Chapters) to bring funding up to nearly the level that we provided in 1999. Yet another portion will fund a much needed increase in staff support at our headquarters. The remainder will be held as a buffer during this still uncertain budget year. That all might sound a little dry, but to me it's actually pretty exciting. Elsewhere in this issue, you'll find information on our NMT celebration planned for Labor Day. This program will create incredible exposure for us and the Trail. I feel very strongly about our Field Grant program, and am
very pleased that we've set aside $7,500 for Field Grants in 2000. The increased staff support will free up valuable time for myself and others to develop a much needed fund development program to ensure the continued success of our Association and the Trail. Lastly, with all of our recent growth, having a little extra money set aside to serve as a budget buffer really is critical. It's very difficult to accurately project a budget when we are experiencing 80% growth in a single year! This still leaves some serious long term funding challenges. Our year 2000 budget is held together with some $30,000 in one shot funding opportunities. We'll need to make up this difference in the year 2001 with more permanent sources of funds. Our efforts to increase federal appropriations for the trail (detailed elsewhere in this issue) are one attempt at this. We'll also be developing other fall backs as the year progresses.
Minnesota Reroute I have some good news to report here, too. The Parks and Trails Council of Minnesota is working with us and the Superior Hiking Trail Association to request more than $150,000 in state funding. If awarded, this grant would support trail planning and corridor negotiations in NE Minnesota, through a cooperative effort with
the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Although this is a competitive funding program, we are optimistic about our chances for success. We owe thanks to Dorian Grilley, executive director of the Parks and Trails Council of Minnesota, for spearheading this effort! Over the next few months, we also will be working with our leaders in Minnesota to evaluate the need for additional Chapters in the state, and hopefully to identify some people who are willing to help form such Chapters. Currently, the Headwaters Chapter is the only Minnesota Chapter, but with such a large state and with so many members, Headwaters is stretched very thinly. Minnesota membership has climbed from 41 two years ago to 120 today. It's very important to us and to our leaders in Minnesota that these members have opportunities to become more involved with the trail, if they wish. If you live in Minnesota, you'll be hearing more on this in the coming months.
Membership To date, our fall direct mail campaign has brought in about 250 new members. Welcome to all of you! As you may have read in Werner Veit's column and in an article this month by Bill Menke, this means that we've reached and exceeded the goal of 2000 mem-
NORTH STAR: The Magazine of the North Country Trail, January-March
hers by the year 2000. I'm repeating it here, because I think this is a horn that just can't be blown enough. Why is membership so important? Well, members bring us volunteers, financial support, and a much stronger voice in our advocacy work for the trail. These things in turn lead to growth, improvement and permanency for the North Country Trail. What a long way our organization and the North Country Trail have come in our first two decades! Thank you to all who have worked so hard and given so much to bring us so far. We now have adopted direct mail campaigns to solicit new members as one of our regular tools in building the constituency for the North Country Trail. We plan to conduct at least one such campaign each year for the foreseeable future. The next campaign will be this spring, with a mail date sometime in April. As I've mentioned in the past, current members should not receive these mailings. Sometimes, though, they slip through. If you do get one of our membership solicitation mailings, please pass it along to a friend who might be interested!
Cartography Program As you'll see in the Trail Shop section this issue, we have added two more new map sets to our collection of topographic trail maps. Both are in the Allegheny National Forest, and together they cover 111.6 miles. We owe our thanks to Brenda Adams-Weyant of the USDA Forest Service who provided invaluable help in proofing, editing, and completing the maps. Also, in addition to keeping us on
Page 29
track to get the sets done on time, State Coordinator Bob Tait also provided a great deal of help on these sets, which we think are our most appealing yet!
utilizing motion sensors and infrared detectors.) In other words, our cartography program will be evolving from a trial run to a regular part of our programs and services.
We also owe tremendous thanks to our Cartographer for the past year and a half, Melanee Weening. Melanee started with us as our first cartography intern, and evolved to become an integral and highly valued member of our staff. All of you who have been involved in the development of our first five map sets (and the two others currently in production) know how much Melanee has brought to this program. She is leaving us at the end of January to return to her native country of Canada and will be greatly missed.
Legislative Action
"So, what do we do now," you may be asking. Well, as you read this we are working to assemble funding to hire a full-time cartographer to pick up the reins of the program, hopefully this fall. We also are proceeding (though at a slower pace) with a new cartography intern this spring, to keep the program moving forward. The funding package would allow us to gradually absorb the cartography program into our regular budget, over the course of three years. Also, Melanee is leaving behind a detailed manual for future cartographers, which will be a priceless resource for us. (When it's not in use, we will store it in a vault equipped with an alarm system
â&#x20AC;˘ASSOCIATI
If you haven't already, please take a few minutes to read my "Legislative Alert" elsewhere in this issue. We are working on a couple of very important initiatives in Congress, and your help would be greatly appreciated.
National Millennium Trail I haven't written about this much yet because, until recently, I wasn't too sure what the honor would mean. Now, though, we have a little more information which I would like to share. Last summer, the North Country National Scenic Trail was named one of 16 National Millennium Trails by the White National House Millennium Millennium Council. The only Trail other National Scenic Trail to receive this honor was the Appalachian Trail. (The Council also has named a Millennium Legacy Trail for nearly every state. In Ohio, the Buckeye Trail was named.) As I mentioned earlier, we will be receiving a significant grant from American Express in recognition of this award. We also will be hosting a celebration on Labor Day, as described elsewhere in this issue. If you'd like to learn more about this program and have access to the internet, I recommend a visit to www .millenniumtrails.org. You'll find a lot of information on this constantly evolving site.
-
Page 30
NORTH STAR: The Magazine of the North Country Trail, January-March,
2000
You can Win an Award for Recruiting New Members! Because public support is so critical to the success of the Trail, we award people who help recruit new members to the NCTA. Those listed in bold already have received awards. We've also listed everyone who has recruited at least five new members, to track their progress. To get credit for recruiting a new member, just write "recruited by" or "sponsored by" with your name somewhere on the new member's form. (All types of new paid memberships count for credit, not just the $15 introductory ones!)
Our Top Recruiters to Date: 9 David Adams
11 Jerry Allen 11 Carol Atwell 9 Len Baron 9 Derek Blount 9 James Burow
17 Dave Cornell 5 Claudia Day 6 Kathleen Eisele
20 Gene Elzinga 7 9 7 6
Tom Garnett Richard Grau Grace Hutchinson Neil Juhl 70 John Kincaid 11 Mary KunzlerLarmann 17 AILarmann
6 John Leinen 9 Rod MacRae 5 Susan Makrianis
49 18 89 18
16 10 11 11 16
Bill Menke Richard Naperala Geraldine Nault Bob Papp Kathy Sabel 5 Anne Saltman
8
14 21 26
Richard Saur Dave Sheldon Bob Tait Barb VanDyken Werner Veit Doug Welker Gaylord Yost Joan Young
Update on our goals for members and new trail
One for
One 2,000 by 2000
0 ne member for every mile of trail projected State North Dakota Minnesota Wisconsin Michigan Ohio Pennsylvania New York Other TOTAL
Current members 30 133 177 1044 191 255 152 97 2079
Change since last issue + 14 87% + 47 55% + 36 25% + 102 11% + 191 26% + 255 23% + 19 14% + 97 2% + 307 17%
Members to goal 445 242 43 106 859 45 474 n/a 2213
Trail miles 475 375 220 1150 1050 300 625 n/a 4195
2,000 miles certified by the year 2000
--------------------~-~-.~--1 State
North Dakota Minnesota Wisconsin Michigan Ohio Pennsylvania New York TOTAL
Miles certified 176.5 90.0 87.0 580.7 303.7 128.3 234.6 1600.8
Change since last issue 0 0 5.7 0 2.3 7.2 10.6 25.8
o~~e
--------------------~-~-::
__
38.3
l!~i~!l l.l~!
~
NORTH STAR: The Magazine of the North Country Trail, January-March
Page 31
2000
North Country Trail Association
Board of Directors
Terms Expiring in 2000 At-Large: At-Large: At-Large: OH-Ml Trail Council Chair: West End Trail Council Chair: West Division: At-Large (temporary seat):
Werner Veit, 49 Monroe Center Ste 200B, Grand Rapids Ml 49503 Joan Young, 861 West US 10, Scottville Ml 49454 Appointment pending Lynn Waldron, 8133 Norris Road, Delton Ml 49046 John Leinen, 14205 St. Croix Trail North, Stillwater MN 55082-9587 Daryl Williamson, 5901 Timberglade Drive, Bloomington MN 55438 Dana Zintek, 2369 Suncrest Dr Cuyahoga Falls OH 44221
(888) 454-NCTA, wv12@aol.com (231) 757-2205, jhy@t-one.net
David Cornell, 514 Cordes Rd, Delton Ml 49046 Bob Tait, 277 S Duffy Rd, Butler PA 16001 Tim Cullenen, 113 East Second St. #3, Watkins Glen NY 14891 Tom Reimers, JC Wildflower Dr, Ithaca NY 14850 Pat Miller, 15737 Sixty-fifth Ave., Milaca MN 56353 Gaylord Yost, 2925 W Bradley Rd, River Hills WI 53217-2052
(616) 623-8659, janc128@aol.com (724) 287-3382, bob_tait@nauticom.net (607) 535-8814 (607) 272-8679, treimers@aol.com (320) 983-5643 (414) 354-8987, gaylyost@aol.com
(616) 623-5340, lwaldron3@juno.com (651) 433-4456, jleinen@mtn.org (612) 835-2186 (330) 928-8931
Terms Expiring in 2001 At-Large: At-Large: At-Large: East Division: Great Lakes Trail Council Chair: West Division:
Terms Expiring in 2002 Mary Lucas, 753 Davenport St., Rhinelander WI 54501 At-Large: Amy Clark, 1646 Capitol Way Apt.101, Bismarck ND 58501 At-Large: At-Large: Derek Blount, 906 N Alexander, Royal Oak, Ml 48067 Allegheny-Adirondack Tr.Council Chair: Current Chair is ineligible to serve on the Board until mid-year 2000 East Division: Helen Coyne, 212 Willow Circle, Cranberry Twnshp. PA 16066-4572
(715) 362-0616, dsmlucas@newnorth.net (701) 223-8659, aclark@state.nd.us (248) 548-1737, djblount@aol.com (724) 776-0678, hcoyne@zbzoom.net
Thank You NCTABusiness Members! The North Country Trail Association has a "Business Membership" program, with annual dues of $150. In addition to supporting a worthy cause, our Business Members enjoy benefits including a reduced rate on ads in the North Star, and regular placement of a business logo and contact information both here and within our web site.
Law Offices of Barry S. Cohen N9661 Willow Rd., Elkhart, WI 53020 (920) 565-4225
225 East Wisconsin Ave., Oconomowoc, WI 53066 (414) 567-6847 10730 West Janesville Rd Hales Corners, WI 53130 ( 414) 425-6888
TRecs Inc. (Teamhui/dingand ReaeutWnulSt!T'l'kes)
Prairieville Family Inn 10484 S. Norris Rd. Prairie, Michigan (616) 623-6150
PO Box 1478 Portage, Ml 49081 (616) 327-5379 C.momized corporate teambuilding and
(A favorite of the Chief Noonday Trail Crew!)
Thanks also to our NCT Patrons:
Backpacking Canoeing Rock Climbing Winter trips for Families or Large Groups We.ckcnd & Extended
F'l1n.
• .A.d"V'e:n.ture
3..!.!_~: Kilgore • Porta~~~ ~9002 ~ ~!~381-77~ Downhlll & XC Siding• Snowtio1rd1 • Bactpactlna •Camping Kayaks• Canoes• lnllne Skates• Technical Outerw11r
Boy Scouts •~venture A Travel Wear for Men A Womem
Walter M. Srogi and Robert J. Schwartz
NCT Patrons are individuals or households that generously contribute $250 or more each year in membership dues!
Page32
NORTH STAR: The Magazine of the North Country Trail, January-March 2000
hStar North Country Trail Association 49 Monroe Center, Suite 2008 Grand Rapids, Ml 49546
Bulk Rate U.S. Postage PAID Grand Rapids, Ml Permit 340