North Star Vol. 20, No. 3 (2001)

The Ann Arbor N The Bay City Times The Flint Journal The Grand Rapids Press The Jackson Citizen Patriot The Kalamazoo Gazette The Muskegon Chronicle The Saginaw News

So lace up your boots and explore your adventurous side with Ventur~ <Wutdoors--every week in th!j! eight Booth Newspapers.

Your guitle]l1Jim Dufresne, , .·. ,:(WA >:Fr ;·: t'· ''*'

hikin~ e~~eliff~~:~eQture Outdoo~s)isi:i'ce;~,~89. Jirri8has spen'<P lifetj!i:ie trekking' acro;s MichigaQ:.Pnd i~,the, author, of more thari'a Clo~en guide books indudrrig 50 Hikes in Michigan ana Michigan's Best Hikes with Children.

EVERY WEEK IN Ann Arbor News, Bay City Times, Flint Journal, Grand Rapids Press,

Jackson Citizen Patriot, Kalamazoo Gazette, Muskegon Chronicle, Saginaw News

Hit the trail with eOutdoors

About the cover: Roger Meyer, a North Star con tributing editor, photographed the Board and some staffers as they gathered for their first meet ing at the new headquarters. See Story, Page 20.

Given our other commitments, that's about as much space as we can devote to first person hiking pieces, but we'll continue on the lookout for quality adventures for use when the current descriptions of the hikes are done.

At the same time, we start a second hiking adventure, Bill Menke's trek through the rugged western part of Michigan's scenic Upper Peninsula with Dave Cornell. The first of Bill's three articles begins on Page 10.

For the last three issues now, we've enjoyed the adventures of Joan Young through her North Country Cache series. Joan continues her trek in this issue, beginning on Page 7.

E ven if we can't always experi ence the North Country Na

tional Scenic Trail first hand, or at least not all of its formidable thou sands of miles, The North Star will share the experience through the eyes, ears and feet of our most ex perienced hikers and backpackers.

East and West Along the

North Country Scenic Trail

Published four times annually in January, April, July and October by the North Country Trail Association, a private, nonprofit 501(c)3 organization for promo tional and educational purposes and as a benefit of membership in the organization. All right reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without written permission of the North Country Trail Association.

Departments:

Along the Way Page 6 Bob's Report Page 34 Chapters in Action Page 18 Heart and Sole Page 14 Hiking Shorts Page 28 Joan's Cache Page 7 Trailhead Page 4 Trail Calendar Page 37 Trail Contacts Page 20 Trail Shop Page 29 Trail Supporters Page 38

Trail Day Festivities Across Seven States

25

Everyone Pitches in To Move Association

22

Geocaching: It's Not All Fun and Games

16

Bonnie Wayman Office Manager

Bill Menke Trail Foreman

Glory Meyer Public Services

Coordinator

Beth Ford Bookkeeper

The North Star Werner Veit

Editor

Joan Young Roger Meyer

Contributing Editors

Aaron Phipps Imaging

Jennifer Tripp Graphics

Heather Francis Production Assistant

Virginia Wanty Editorial Assistant

Margie Kindel Project Manager

Tiffany Halfmann GIS Coordinator

229 East Main Street Lowell, MI 49331 {888) 454-NCTA

Fax: (616) 897-6605

E-Mail: [email protected]

Web Site: northcountrytrail.org

Staff: Bob Papp

Executive Director

•ASSOCIATION•

Hiking in the Wild West of the Upper Peninsula

10

Rovers in the Field-Page 18

*j,. coUNTJ?y ~~~lt~.~~ --- Table of Contents:

North Star: The Magazine of the North Country Trail July - September 2001

support, in safeguarding existing trail from the problems of compet ing uses to name just a few of the major items of unfinished business.

It's difficult to underestimate the need for public support. In my home state of Michigan, I can hardly pick up a newspaper without reading about another expenditure of hundreds of thousands of dollars for paving a pathway, or a grant for an elaborate bridge serving bicy clists, at the same time the North Country Trail Association can barely get support to protect the trail we've already built, largely by hand.

Why? Because we don't yet have the political clout of those who recreate with mountain bikes, Off Road Vehicles, trail bikes and other products of the consumer society that represent important parts of both the manufacturing and tourism sectors of the economy.

I want to add quickly that most of us are not enemies of mountain bikers. Unlike other contrivances, mountain bikes at least are quiet. In fact, many of our members ride and enjoy bikes in appropriate locations. But many governmental agencies, committed to "multiple use" are loath to make distinctions of where mountain biking is appropriate and where disastrous to a trail built labo riously by our members.

But that's not really the issue. Hikers maintain that there ought to be a few places left in North Amer ica that are premier hiking trails, pe riod. Because of that dream, they set out to build the North Country National Scenic Trail and are dis mayed when it's invaded by uses incompatible with the quiet and loneliness of wilderness and even further dismayed when such a

being written, I thought I would get the jump on the future and re headline my remarks as Editor's Note, the title for the thoughts on this page from now on, or at least until a new editor comes along who may have different ideas. (A different editor would be welcome but no one with the requisite skills-yes a few are needed-has yet to come forth).

The time for the changing of the guard is often the occasion for looking back-to see what might have been accomplished during one's stewardship. While our asso ciation has made splendid pro gress-new miles, many more mem bers, a doubling in the number of chapters-I certainly haven't been responsible. I like to think I helped the enthusiastic members and dedi cated staff, headed by executive di rector Bob Papp, who really made it happen.

But rather than digging into that past, I would prefer to look ahead and consider all the unfinished busi ness still before us until we finally realize our dream of a premier hik ing trail stretching across the heart of the Northland for 4,600 miles, through seven magnificent states and halfway across the North American continent.

Just look at what we still need to accomplish in trail design and construction, in acquiring rights-of way across private lands, in securing reliable funding, in gathering public

by Werner Veit

Editor's Note ....

A couple of weeks ago I parked my car in a forest clearing at a

trailhead of the North Country Na tional Scenic Trail to meet with 12 other members of the Western Michigan chapter for a modest day hike from the Muskegon River in Michigan to Bigelow Creek, six miles or so away.

There was a gaggle of vehicles parked with me: one pickup truck and one minivan. The rest were se dans of one ilk or another. As I looked around, I couldn't help re membering a thought the writer Bill McKibben had when driving into the parking lot of a suburban Bos ton supermarket. The route to the supermarket must have required the crossing of raging rivers, he thought, and the scaling of espe cially rugged escarpments given the armada of Sport Utility Vehicles fill ing the parking lot.

The comparison between the lots is a particularly apt metaphor for the ethics of so many hikers, they're careful not only with the landscape of their trail but thrifty with all the world's resources and mindful of the mindless consump tion that threatens the well-being of their beloved earth.

That ethic is one of the princi pal reasons why I have been proud to have been the President of the North Country Trail Association for the past four years. Come this Au gust and our annual meeting, this year in Cazenovia, NY, the Association Board will elect a new a President.

Therefore, the Trailhead column in The North Star through which I have been addressing m~bers dur ing my two terms as President, will be written by my successor. Al though I'm still in office as this is

Changing of the Guard and Our Unfinished Business

July - September 2001 North Star: The Magazine of the North Country Trail

Please mail, fax or phone your order to: 229 East Main Street• Lowell, Michigan 49331

Toll free telephone: 888-454-NCT A (888-454-6282) If ordering by credit card you may fax your order to:

616-897-6605

NAME

ADDRESS

CITY 'STATE 'ZIP

PHONE ,E-MAIL

SKILLS TO VOLUNTEER (Optional)

Membership Form If you are purchasing or renewing your membership please fill in the following information and add the amount to your Trail Shop Order Form if you are purchasing merchandise or send this form separately.

D $30 Regular D $100 Pathfinder D $45 Organization D $50 Trail Leader D $250 NCT Patron D $150 Business Would you like to be a Chapter Member or At-Large? (There is no charge to be a member of a local Chapter.) D Member of a specific Chapter: _ D Member of my closest local Chapter (If one exists) OAt-Large Member (Not afflliat«i with any Chapter)

our goal, our dream, our task.

It has been an honor to be your President and to continue to work on behalf of the trail as editor of The North Star.

Our answer is to articulate our simple yet glorious vision for the North Country National Scenic Trail for ourselves, our partners, our neighbors, our government to keep it always in mind and to work for its fulfillment. It's reproduced on this page as an encouraging reminder of

Our vision for the North Country National Scenic Trail is that of a premier footpath of national significance, offer ing a superb experience for hikers in a permanentljtpro tected corridor, traversing and interpreting the richly di verse environmental, cultural, and historic features of the northern United States.

Our Vision for the North Cl?Untry Trail

Still, large elements of the pub lic don't yet recognize hikers as a community asset and the large ma jority of our citizens have never heard of the North Country or any other national scenic trail. Some think we're a little strange for using our two feet to enjoy the woods in stead of roaring through them in a vehicle. One Minnesota magazine warns its readers that "the cultists" out there will be trying again to keep their toys from using the woods again.

dream is not even understood.

Nevertheless, we are slowly gaining some influence. Our yearly education trips to Washington, our ongoing contacts with our Repre sentatives and Senators and our contacts with our state legislators and local officials are beginning to demonstrate to our decision makers that we are there and that maybe we even count.


Current Change Since Percentage State Members April Issue Change

North Dakota 40 -15 -27% Minnesota 159 -11 -6% Wisconsin 192 -21 -11% Michigan 1172 -26 -2% Ohio 179 -31 -15% Pennsylvania 256 -26 -9% New York 182 -2 -1% Others 91 -7 -7%

Totals 2271 -139 -6%

State by State Membership Membership in the NCTA demonstrates public support for the trail. Membership dues help fund activities that benefit the trail. Here's how each state stacks up.

Miles Change Percent State Certified Since April Done

North Dakota 175.6 0 37.0 Minnesota 90.0 0 24.0 Wisconsin 96.3 0 48.2 Michigan 609.0 0 53.0 Ohio 306.9 0 29.2 Pennsylvania 129.1 0 43.0 New York 252.7 0 40.4

Totals 1,659.6 0 39.8

Trail Building Progress on the North Country Trail The National Park Service certifies those completed miles that satisfy its standards, but there are many more completed miles that may be enjoyable to hike but cannot be certified for a variety of reasons.

-From the July page of the NCTA

calendar

Along the way to building the longest continuous hiking trail in the country, we pass many mile stones. This page marks some of them to show our progress.

VISUAL delights in Wisconsin's

· woods.

·-·Along the Way

Special thanks go to the following who have re ported the most volun teer hours since our last issue: Ron Rice 611.00

Bob Tait 194.00

Frank Cetera 125.00

Teresa Agostini 80.00

Charles Krammin 58.00

Robert Gould 47.75

Char Chandler 32.25

Jann Bidwell 26.00

Volunteers on the Trail

Irene Szabo 6

John and Pat Leinen 3

Glory and Roger Meyer 2

Rick Halbert 2

Neil Juhl 2

Awards are given for re cruiting 10, 50, 100 and 250 new members. Our top recruiters since the last issue of The North Star were:

Recruiting Members


Continued on Next Page

clear how much the plastic liner will prevent our bear from smelling this wonderful offering since she can easily open even tin cans whenever she so desires.

We tie another rope to the cache bag and hoist it to the middle of our horizontal line. One hour has now passed. The bag swings a happy two feet above the forest floor. Maybe we've saved our food from an uninterested chipmunk. We give up for tonight. At least the delicious items are out of the tents. Except for us.

Act two. Tonight we will look for just one tree, and divide our food into two bags. We find a young maple whose top bends lightly to one side, and tie the heav ier bag securely to our rope. After a dozen tries, we manage to throw the other, weighted end over the curved trunk, at what we judge to be the best location. Tonight's lesson is: do not tie a rock in the end of the rope for a weight, no matter how many books confidently suggest such a plan. Gravity works, and the rocks occasionally fall out of their rope cages, bent on redesigning our heads.

trees. Dave shinnies up a rough bole with the rope clenched in his teeth as we watch. "Is this high enough?" We agree, and he ties off the first end and descends to earth. Not bad, this has taken only 10 minutes.

On to the second tree. Marie and I are beginning to be bored with watching Dave grunt and heave himself up trees, and even our ener getic teen is losing his enthusiasm. After another 20 minutes or so the second end of the rope is tied. "I'm not sure I can do this every night," he casually comments while collaps ing at our feet and spitting bark fragments from between his teeth. Now we only have to suspend all food and toiletries in the middle, at least eight feet from any side branches, and at least 12 to 15 feet from the ground.

This means ransacking the packs for every article of such de scription. So much for each person carrying his/her own things. If we must do this every night, the cache-requiring items will need to be kept together. Another quar ter-hour and we have a nylon stuff sack, lined with a plastic bag, filled with all bear delicacies. It's less than

Bears. I have yet to meet one on the trail, and that's just fine with me; I have friends who have met them and this is one adventure that I am content to experience vicariously. Supposedly there are bears in the Allegheny National Forest so we must cache our food each night to keep it safe. Well, that's the theory. If any bears really wanted our dinners, I suspect they would have had them.

According to the backpacking guides, what we really need each night is a cliff. Two cliffs, at least 20 feet apart, with sheer walls, with one of our party placed strategically on each side. Then we simply have to string a cable from one wall to the other, and hang the cache bag in the middle. Right. Given the cliffs, in between the time needed to do and undo our cache we could hike a mile or so each day (staying near the cliffs), maybe even find time to eat some of our carefully hoarded food.

Option two. Climb at least 20 feet up two trees with no lower branches which are at least 20 feet apart. Tie a stout rope between them, and suspend the cache bag in the middle of this. "Oh, Dave," we implore sweetly. Our site the first night has politely provided such

Baby Steps on the Giant Trail July 20-31, 1994

Part 2

Editor's Note: This is the fourth in the series of Joan Young's adventures on the North Country Trail, entitled North Coun!IJ Cache. The first long backpacking trip she and two friends un dertook was through the Allegheny Forest of Pennsylvania. The story of that trip began in the April issue, and is continued here. The Allegheny trip will be completed in the October issue.

North Star: The Magazine of the North Country Trail

North Country Cache

"The trail turns off the road and becomes a dragon with three hikers and a dog wearily trudging up its backbone. It need not turn its head to breathe fire, cook and eat us; it has cleverly sat up and is waiting for us to fall exhausted, dead at its feet. 11

Most of the sandstone and con glomerate which we must deal with on this humid July day is still ce mented neatly into a conical hill in front of us. Not that we can actu ally get a perspective on the hill from where we stand. At this point it's just trees and trail heading up wards from Chappel Bay, at 1328 feet, to reach the high point of the Kinzua Watershed at 2110 feet. This climb is carefully routed up the hill, and without much difficulty we ascend to the high point for lunch. Our topo map tells us that is where we are but the woods are closed around us; no vista is awarded for a job well done.

Lunchtime pleasures include freeing our feet from boot-prison, sock-drying in any available sun puddle, munching on various port able, mold-resistant breads with spreads, and resting. Declaring these to be pleasures is no careless boast. Such humble activities bring true delight when in perspective of their precious hour strategically placed in the middle of the day's toilsome miles.

my first such rock I showed it to an adult, and asked what kind it was. I was told, " it's a conglomerate." Se rious child that I was, I stamped my foot and replied, "I can see that, but what is its name?"

nearby, or the show continues to be too amusing to eat; the bears never sampled our Baca-spuds or Cutter's. It seems to me that what is really required to be bear-proof is a skyhook or a guardian angel. I'll take the angel. Ours seems to be on duty.

Crossing creeks we often stubbed our toes on chunks of Pennsylvanian sea. That is "Pennsylvanian" as in 300 million years ago. Now the seas are the Pennsylvanian hills. This makes the wading more treacherous. Red and yellow sandstone do not belong only in the Painted Desert, so it seems. My guidebook informs me that the floor of the inland sandy sea settled and then rose without wrinkling to form a plateau. Rivers with rocky teeth sawed the plateau into tiles in high relief which were then rounded into the pointed knobs we now call the foothills of the Appalachians. The sea floor was above the present tops of the peaks.

We are stepping carefully along the edge of the Allegheny Reservoir, through pre-history, at the bottom of the bottom of the sea-floor, see ing things already hidden from the brachiopod's gaze. The bottom of his kingdom ended 800 feet above us. We live after him, and walk through a sandy world formed be fore he hatched. The guidebook does not warn us to watch out for the Pennsylvanian dragonflies with the 30-inch wingspans. Would it be so incredible to see one, here on our journey through the ancient past?

Interspersed with the sandstone is a rock with the descriptive but unromantic name: conglomerate. This is shale with pebbles of gray or pink or white quartz embedded like tapioca pearls in a chocolate pud ding. When I was small and found

Few rocks come with grooves to hold the rope in place. We are not enchanted with the idea of a participatory stone-age history les son on rock shaping, while taking a day off to learn how our ancestors accomplished such tasks. Besides, we would then feel obliged to carry our carefully prepared rock whose status would be elevated to imple ment. This runs counter to the back packer's credo to reduce the load.

A stout, short piece of stick turns out to be the best weight. This also creates a T-handle with which to grab and hoist the rope once it's over the branch. We pull the first bag up as high as we can, tie the second bag on the free end, and push it upwards to counterbalance the first bag. Wow! We did it, and in only 30 minutes.

Tonight our bags are safe from chipmunks and clumsy squirrels! Well, hey, it's an improvement. "Are you enjoying the show, all you bears who hold tickets to this event?" Hopefully we are so hilarious to watch that you will spare the cache just to see what Act Ill will be.

Maybe in bear country hikers should eat all their food the first night, and skip this cache comedy. However, we do become better and faster at finding and choosing trees, appropriate heights and diameters of horizontal branches. "Is there a cache tree?" becomes a key question in choosing a campsite. We actually succeed, some nights, in getting the bags high over our heads and sev eral feet from the tree trunk. We are either lucky, there are no bears

"Maybe in bear country hikers should eat all their food the first night, and skip this cache comedy. 11

North Star: The Magazine of the North Country Trail July - September 2001 ~~

~~

Eest and West Along the North Country Trail ...

98 miles this hike 150 miles total NCT

What had seemed so dragonish and bone-wearying the night before is transformed into one of those perfections for which I will keep venturing into woods for as long as I can walk. Cool white shafts of sunlight burst in a gleaming aura from behind dark tree trunks. Yel low-green and grass-green leaves glow on each black twig and stalk. Beads of dew cling to every leaf-tip, poised at the decision-point to fall or evaporate. Miles of spider webs hang in wet-white nets just below me, over the cliff-edge. The whole world is green and shining white. An early crow caws a greet ing, and a spring in the lower hollow answers in bubbly, yet subdued, glee. I lie quietly, stunned into wor ship. No other response is possible. Marie and Dave are soon sharing the riches; there is plenty, freely given to all of us. This is indeed the Lord's Day.

ing, I am greeted, blessed with a perfect day.

DARK TRUNKS are silhouet ted against the morning light in the Allegheny National Forest.

We follow the six-foot-wide path along our dragon's vertebrae. He (she?) sits angled at an average of 14 degrees, a 26% grade. "Couldn't you lie down, Mr. Dragon?" Regulations state that camping is permitted away from the path, but 50 feet straight up or 20 feet straight down are the only "away" options. It is quickly be coming dark in the woods.

"How many hikers have we ac tually seen in three days?" Marie queries.

"Only one group," comes the answer in all our minds.

"How does this flat spot look?"

"Wide enough for a tent."

Well, it is, barely. We eat a sup per of cold odds and ends, and care fully ease around the edge of the drop-off into the tent door. "Be careful not to roll to your left," are Marie's last words to me that night. The day's 14 miles of hills at least guarantee there will be no trouble falling asleep. (Guidebook note: "there are no good campsites be tween Red Bridge and Route 6 ")

Z-z-z-z-zip. Opening the tent door next morning, Sunday morn

After lunch we descend into the Tionesta Watershed, 672 feet down again to the Bay! Intersecting route 321 we turn right to follow the road to Red Bridge in order to cross South Branch River. We pass Red Bridge Campground, a memorial monument, and the road winds ahead of us into more woods. Marie and Dave are far ahead; I have stopped to read the monu ment. Finally I catch up. Where is this bridge?

A careful re-survey of the maps indicates that we should have turned left at the highway. Groan. It is already past 6 p.m. and we must yet walk far enough to get away from the road to camp. Returning past the campground, Marie and Dave walk in to see if any sites are avail able, despite our desire to camp alone. I guard the packs. They de termine that established camp grounds are designed for people in cars! Not wishing to hike three more miles just to learn that the site is full (it seems well-peopled), they return and we shuffle on.

At least we are now headed in the right direction. The sun, low in the sky, is beautifully reflected as we cross Red Bridge, but we are too preoccupied with finding a tent site and eating supper to grasp the possi ble ruby origins of the bridge's name. The trail turns off the road and be comes a dragon with three hikers and a dog wearily trudging up its backbone. It need not turn its head to breathe fire, cook and eat us; it has cleverly sat up and is waiting for us to fall exhausted, dead at its feet. On our left is a wall of dragon spine-spikes, and to our right its side drops away around the ribcage.


short stretches (near Black River Harbor and Old Victoria), for the next 11 days we will have off-road trail to follow.

The combined trail in Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park and in the Ottawa National Forest is one of the longest and least popu lated stretches on the entire trail. We plan to be fully self-sufficient. There are no houses, restaurants or other facilities near the trail. We have made arrangements for one food-drop at Old Victoria and will stay in the new hiking shelter there on Day 7 of the hike. But, there are lots of miles to cover and lots of wonderful experiences before we think about that.

Most of today is spent parallel ing the Black River-first heading downstream on the west side-past the numerous spectacular waterfalls and their associated observation decks provided by the Ottawa. When the river empties into Lake Superior, we cross the large NCT suspension bridge. What a thrill to look across the small harbor, where most of the boats appear to have already been readied for winter, and realize that this wonderful trail in all its diversity follows or parallels the

By BILL MENKE

In the Wisconsin-Michigan bor der area, the North Country Trail is not yet built-so today is spent fol lowing paved roads north and east from Ironwood. By mid-morning. we are near the local airport when we first spot the Copper Peak Ski Flying Area ramp protruding far above the horizon.

"We'll be there after a couple of miles of hiking tomorrow morning," I say to Dave. This tells you that the ski jump is for serious jumpers because it's so long it can be seen for miles. About 3:00 in the after noon, we arrive at our destination for the night-the old wayside park along Black River Scenic Byway. It is a little early to stop but we do not know of a better campsite for the next several miles so we stop for a leisurely evening-including a swim in the Black River below the campsite.

Day 2: When Dave and I hike together, we get up and depart early, walk a couple of hours, and then stop for breakfast. By the time we are ready for breakfast today, we have reached the ski flying area and a convenient picnic table. After breakfast we finally reach the NCT trailhead in the Ottawa National Forest. Except for a couple of very

DA VE CORNELL care fully maneuvers across the cold waters of the West Branch, Big Iron River.

'Wild West' in the Upper Peninsula Part One: From Wisconsin to The Junction of Gogebic Trail

H ey Doug! When is the best time to take a two-week hike in the UP? "Start sometime

between Sept. 10 and 17 to catch the best combination of fall color and weather that is not too unpre dictable," replies Doug Welker, local trail expert and President of the Pe ter Wolfe Chapter. His advice on weather, campsites and route adjust ments proves invaluable as we plan for another hike.

Months later, all the gear is checked and rechecked, food re packaged, maps ready and hiking partner and NCTA Board Member David Cornell and I arrive from op posite directions at a motel in Hur ley, WI where we will spend the night before our hike.

Day 1: Bright and early on the morning of Sept. 10 while the grass remains saturated with dew, we make the short walk up Highway 51 toward its junction with US-2, turn east and pass the "Welcome To Michigan" sign at the outskirts of Ironwood. The Country Kitchen is our first stop for a big breakfast to fuel the typically tough first day of a hike.


Continued on next page ...

along the abandoned road, the un mowed weeds soak us to the waist but the sun is shining in our faces promising a good day. Soon, we turn back to the north and cross the south boundary of Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, Michigan's largest state park known for its beautiful, rugged scenery and large groves of huge, old-growth hemlock. While the trail is not well trodden or marked, we find our way and marvel at all of the large trees and the dark woods.

Eventually reaching the beauti ful Presque Isle River, we follow it downstream-again heading for Lake Superior. The continuing view of cascading falls assures a walk no less spectacular than yesterday's walk along the Black River.

When we cross the mouth of the river on another suspension bridge, we spot perfectly round pot holes created by swirling rocks sus pended in the swift current. These spinning rocks, over who knows how many years, literally drilled a hole in the solid rock streambed.

After tantalizing us with quick glimpses of Lake Superior, the trail finally again approaches the lake shore. I am ahead and spot what appears to be a nice campsite on the flat next to the lake, along a very small creek about % mile west of Little Carp River. It turns out to be a beautiful spot and I quickly return to the trail so that Dave doesn't pass without noticing.

From the campsite, beautiful views of the lake are ever present and the sound of the waves crashing on the rocky shore is music. The sun is shining so we wash dirty

declare it to be their final decision, the second person chooses.

The game eliminates any feeling that one person or the other always gets to choose the best site. Be sides, its fun! I found a nice, flat site just a little above the creek level but Dave ended up way across the creek and up on a hill. We won't be doing much socializing tonight but it doesn't matter as it soon starts raining and we are both holed up in our little tents anyway.

Day 3: As we continue east

TRAIL winds among towering Hemlocks in the Porcupine Moun tains.

shoreline of the largest fresh water lake in the world. The temperature is definitely cooler with Lake Supe rior just a couple of good stone throws away.

By mid afternoon, we have par alleled the river heading back up the east side as far as Rainbow Falls and we are now heading straight east along the old roadbed corridor that serves as the trail easement and leads us toward County Road 519 and the Porkies. We time our pro gress by counting the drainages as we cross them because Doug says that only Namebinag Creek (our in tended night's camp) may hold wa ter. So far, all of the drainages we are crossing are dry and we do not know how much to expect at Namebinag Creek but we sure don't want to miss it.

Around 4:30, we find a creek with more water than the rest of the drainages and we're confident that we are where we want to camp for the night. There isn't a lot of water but it is flowing and it is just enough to feel comfortable with filtering. Tent sites are not easy to locate and tonight it is my night to be the first to choose.

Dave has taught me a little game, useful when people hike to gether. Each night a new person gets to choose the first tent site. When it's your night to choose first, you can take all the time you want. But when it isn't your night, you soon learn to act disinterested and keep your mouth shut so as not to unduly influence the other person or give away the fact that you may have a preferred site spotted-lest they see it and you have to start all over again. Once they have made a decision and, like on the popular TV show "I Want To Be a Millionaire",


collapsed in 1997 due to heavy snow loading and strong valley winds. Later we learn that the Ottawa Na tional Forest has finally reached a settlement with the manufacturer and is making plans to replace the bridge. Dave was having trouble with his wa ter filter last night and over breakfast discusses the possibility of him hitch hiking into town when we reach the next highway. I hate to see him go and argue that we can get along on my filter, but Dave is a more experienced and persuades me to his plan. We de cide to reconnect near Old Victoria in a couple of days.

After breakfast we easily cross the river on the exposed rocks with out even getting out boots wet due to low water conditions. When we reach the Big Iron River, we find a bridge of the same design as the one that failed. But the Forest Ser vice has nailed plywood sheets on the entrances and signed it closed probably as a precautionary meas ure. The river is wider and deeper than the last crossing , but we did find a way across. It is now noon and we have reached Highway 64 where Dave gets his thumb out to catch a ride into Ontonagon for fil ter repairs.

I stay inside the woods (out of car sight) until he catches a ride, then start out solo into the most rugged part of the trail-the Trap Hills. Soon, I am climbing the long, steep grade (redesign is needed) to ward the abandoned Bergland Fire Tower. The first of the many long distance views is savored before heading on down the trail. To night's destination is a small creek near the NCT junction with the Gogebic Ridge Trail that reportedly contains water. There are now

camp when the trail most closely approaches the river. At 4:15, we think we are there and scout around for level campsites that are hard to find because this part of the forest floor is hummocky.

When camp is set up, we care fully pick our way down the steep hillside to the river to filter our eve ning supply of water and take an other bath. As Lewis and Clark commented in their journals, to night the "mosquitoes are bother some" and we have gone into the tents to rest/read/write. Shortly after entering the tent, I feel some thing wiggling on my toe. Upon taking a close look, I discover a leech has affixed itself-evidently it was hidden beneath a sandal strap ever since I swam in the river a cou ple of hours earlier.

Day 5: The old body must be adjusting to sleeping on the ground as I have slept right through the night without hearing an rwl that Dave tells me was hooting fre quently. As we begin to break camp, we hear thunder in the dis tance and quicken our pace. I don't mind it raining during the day but hate to pack up a wet tent and avoid it whenever possible. Sure enough - just as we start east on the trail, the first drops begin to fall and we hike in a light rain for the next 11/2 hours.

Stopping for breakfast when we reach the West Branch, we think about how difficult it could be to cross the river during times when the water is higher. This is the loca tion where a massive, arched bridge

socks and place them on warm rocks to dry. Dave takes a little footbath in the creek. But I am de termined to swim in Lake Superior even though the waves are about 1 1/2 feet high and crashing into the rocky shoreline making it difficult to wade in far enough to dive in before the waves knock me over. When I'm finally ready to brave the chill water, I just squat down and the waves wash right over the top of me as I barely manage to keep from be ing tumbled on the rocks. Yep-it is as refreshing as only Lake Supe rior can be.

Evening brings a wonderful sunset as the fiery hot ball of the sun finally falls into the lake. Later, a seat on a flat boulder offers views of the brilliant stars.

Day 4: We cross Little Carp River and turn inland to follow its course upstream. The trail, parallel to the river, offers fine views of rap ids and small waterfalls. We have to ford the river twice before stopping for breakfast. Again, we pass through the large hemlock groves before reaching the two trailside cabins near Greenstone Falls. They off er a change of pace from tenting, but they had already been booked when I checked months ago.

By mid-afternoon, we cross South Boundary Road and exit the park within the next mile. Continu ing east in the Ottawa National For est, the trail follows abandoned roads that need some mowing and parallels the bluff above the West Branch Big Iron River. We plan to

The combined trail in the Porcupine Mountains ... and the Ottawa National Forest is one of the longest and least populated stretches on the (NCT).


Bill heads into the heart of the Trap Hills, one of the most scenic por tions of the North Country Trail in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

Next Issue: known destination. Along with the sound of loons calling, owls hooting, wolves howling, and elk bugling, this is one of my favorite outdoor sounds. Tomorrow I will get into the heart of the Trap Hills-a story that will re sume in the next issue.

SPECTACULAR sunsets over Lake Superior are rewards for a tough day's hiking in Michigan s Upper Peninsula.

many steep ascents and descents but by 3:20 I reach a spectacular rock outcrop and vista that allows me to see all the way back to the fire tower passed two hours earlier. These kinds of views make the climbs worthwhile!

At 4:00, I find the remains of some wooden signs that seem to indicate the trail junction. I say re mains-because the bears have de stroyed the signs. Finding that the creek has enough water, I set up camp and start the evening routine of writing in my journal, completing trail evaluations, cooking supper, reading, and fire watching. To night's camp is deep into the Trap Hills and quite remote and I wonder if Dave is eating a big, juicy ham burger-as I finish my couscous and pudding. At 8:20, I am still sip ping a cup of hot tea and watching darkness settle when I hear the joy ous sound of a flock of geese wing ing their way overhead to some un-


Angie '.s skills lead to topnotch newsletters. Spirit of the Woods

"Make a difference and a trail!" proclaims ANGIE ADDING TON. As newsletter editor for her chapter, Angie is making a differ ence. Her degree in graphic design and learned computer skills result in a polished publication for the chap ter. She donates her artistic and lay out talents to several non-profit or ganizations, and has a few paying accounts, but most of her time is occupied by the chapter's youngest member, Forrest. The aptly named toddler has been hiking with the group since two weeks before mak ing his public appearance in the world, and he loves to be in the woods!

Seeing attitudes toward the trail change has been rewarding to him: An example is the American Electric Power Company which 10 years ago reluctantly allowed the trail to cross its lands with no camping permitted. Now the company welcomes new miles off-road miles and has agreed to the building of primitive campsites.

Herb is a retired expert taxi dermist. Skill in working with his hands has resulted in the construc tion of a chuck wagon to be used by. work crews. Jim Sprague has sum med up Herb's character succinctly, "He is a serious trails enthusiast!"

July - September 2001

In May of this year the first Ohio Trails Expo was held at Hock ing College, one of Herb's ideas come to fruition. He would like to see more dialogue with other motor powered user groups to reduce con flict and promote understanding. He is continually striving to raise money to buy land in order to protect the trail. Getting more of the trail off road is also high on his to-do list.

Almost immediately, Herb and wife Susie joined the BT A and then the NCT A, seeing the vision for the

Buckeye Trail Association HERB HULLS has served as President of the Buckeye Trail As sociation (BT A) for five years, and previously was on the board of di rectors. He has been intensely in volved since he first discovered the trail about 10 years ago when he and a friend came across a work party and asked where to find the trail. They were quickly given directions and more information by the omni Ohio-present Jim Sprague (featured June 1998).

Herb takes a rest on a BT A workday.

This column was launched three-and-a-half years ago, and it might he good to reOect on what has been accomplished. The original issue proposed, "There are those of us who wear our hearts, not on our sleeves, hut on the soles of our well-broken in hiking or work boots. That's what this feature is to be about; to focus on those of us whose psychological anatomy is so configured. " Then, there were 12 chapters strung along the length of our ttsil; now there are 21. Seventy volunteers have been featured who have contributed such skills as computer knowledge, food preparation, engineering, organization, the willingness to talk with people, and that most popular of activities: physical work on the trail. Satisfying mus cle use is important, hut in reality, the other tasks probably consume more of the time re quired to meet the aims of the North Coututy Trail Association whose Mission Statement begins, "The North Coumty Trail Association strives to develop, maintain, preserve and promote the North Country National Scenic Trail... "

national trail as well. Herb says, "I appreciate the primitive." He likes knowing that he is helping to pre serve places where he can still find quiet in the woods. Having seen damage from motorized vehicles all over the country, he says that trails for muscle-powered sports are places to cherish.

Herb acknowledges that he wants to get things done and some times pushes hard. He says that there is "a lot to do, but there is a lot that can be done." He describes himself as a loner who gets ideas of how to attain the Vision for the Trail. Then he tries to show people how those goals can be accom plished. "Membership is vital; we need to bring good people on board all the time," he added. He and Susie were awarded "Volunteer of the Year" for the BTA in 1996.


The April issue featured three volun teers whose primary duties were physical trail work. This issue stresses the themes of promotion and recruiting. Matever duties dedicated trail volunteers undertake, the ones who shine most brighdy are those who see that Vision of a National Trail where some day one could step on to the pathway in New York or North Dakota and follow an unbroken footpath across seven states. Each of these volunteers be came involved with the Trail because some enthusiastic person encouraged them. Each volunteer found specific ways to help carry out the Mission of the NCT A. So, have you taken a friend to the trail? Do you look down the trail and see beyond the next bend, aU the way to the distant termi nus? And what do you do to help develop, maintain, preserve or promote the North Country National Scenic Trail?

If you would like to see previously featured volunteers, all their stories are on the NCTA website, in the Volunteers section. Of course, we are always looking for more folks whose stories we can share. Send me your ideas. Joan H Young, 231- 757-2205 or [email protected].

closer, it may even change their out look on life." First of all people may become more sensitive to the fragile world we live in. Hikers can gain an appreciation of what north ern Michigan has to offer. And also, they have the opportunity to slow down and collect their thoughts. Dick wanted to add that one real reward of being President has been to work with great people who are willing to give their time and energy for a common interest. He says that this has expanded his friendships and his horizons. Now his duties as Trail Coordinator take different forms. Tasks such as land acquisition and re-routing are Dick's focus, but all tasks are fueled by that love for the Trail.

Arlen worked together to start the chapter in the Traverse City, Michi gan area seven years ago. Since then, Dick has been on the local board and during 1998--2000 served as Chapter President. He now shares the job of Trail Coordinator with Matson. He received the chapter Vol unteer of the Year award in 1997.

Under his leadership the chap ter grew from 40 to 125 member ships with a two-pronged focus: to build trail, and to provide outdoor activities to use the trail. Dick sees one of his strengths his enthusiasm and love for the Trail, and the ability to convey that enthusiasm to others. "If people get out and hike the trail then it is more likely they will get involved with the trail."

Dick is a retired upper elemen tary school teacher, and you can al most hear that sub-theme: get your students involved and they will learn! The Grand Traverse Chapter collaborates with other local clubs to provide quality programs, which draw people who love the outdoors. There are a variety of people who want various things," Dick noted. "We need to tap into that."

He expanded on the theme that trails give people the opportunity to get out and enjoy nature. "We get great feedback from people; they love the scenery. But as they get

Dick sorts people at the beginning of a hike.

Angie feels the newsletter is something she can really do to help the trail because it is hard to go out on work days with a baby. Never theless, she recalls her own child hood exposure to the rugged out doors of Colorado where she grew up. Fond memories of family camping, backpacking and fly fishing trips sustain her in the mo ments of living with the reality of struggling to plan for a day in the woods with a two-year-old! "If you're exposed as a youngster it sticks with you; he's the next gen eration for the trail," she predicts.

The Addingtons were looking for ways to meet people with out-door interests when they moved to West ern Michigan. Angie found my per sonal website and e-mailed me. About the same time she saw a PBS show about the Appalachian Trail that piqued her interest, and then discov ered that there was a National Scenic Trail right here in Michigan. Not long after that the Spirit of the Woods Chapter was organized, with Angie and husband Mark as charter members.

Angie strongly believes in trails. She points out that as development increases, trails become an even more valuable resource. They pro vide people the opportunity to get away from the craziness of regular life. Recently Angie poured her tal ents into publicity for the chapter's National Trails Day celebration, which was a great success as over 100 people showed up to play in the woods on a rainy day. "Without communication, people won't know the trail is there." Well said, Angie! Grand Traverse Hiking Club

DICK NAPERALA first heard about the NCT from Arlen Matson (featured August 1998). He and

North Star: The Magazine of the North Country Trail I

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particular resources of a site, the limitations needed to preserve those resources, and the "demand" by the public for certain uses of the site

It is doubtful that existing man agement plans or regulations for any public lands provide for this type of activity. Therefore, participating in geocaching or letterboxing could make one subject to law enforce ment actions regarding unauthor ized use of public lands.

Another possible law enforce ment concern relating to these ac tivities is that persons placing caches and letterboxes may unknowingly affect sensitive resources and en courage others who search for them to do the same. Critical nesting/ breeding areas of threatened or en dangered animals might be dis turbed. Fragile plant communities could be trampled. If the cache or letterbox is buried, archeological resources could be damaged.

Geocaching and letterboxing become an even greater concern when they are practiced along trails like the North Country Trail, that pass through private lands as well. The boundaries between public and private lands are not typically marked and a person placing a cache or letterbox would not likely know whether he or she was on public or private lands. It is easily conceivable that a private landowner that had

similar to geocaching in that a player takes directions from a web-site and uses those directions to find a hid den object. In the case of letterbox ing, the directions come in the form of a riddle and the hidden object is a stamp that the finder can use to stamp a piece of paper to prove that he has visited the site.

The reason that these activities have become an issue, as their popularity expands, is because rarely (if ever) do those hiding the "cache" or "letterbox" do so in their own backyards. The web-sites promoting these activities advocate locating them on public lands, such as state and national parks and forests. The activity then becomes an issue for the management of those lands.

Most people realize that public lands of any sort are managed ac cording to a plan, developed with public input, that provides for use of those lands for the common good. Plans take into account the

By Tom Gilbert, Superintendent Ice Age, North Country National Scenic Trails

Everyone loves a "scavenger hunt" or searching out hidden treas ure. We loved it when we were kids, and following clues to something hidden is no less tantalizing for adults. Following clues to something hidden has formed the structure of popular motion pictures, such as "Die Hard: With a Venge- ance" (though in a perverse, rather than fun, way).

Thus, it is not surprising that the activities known as "geocaching" and "letterboxing" have recently attracted a lot of atten tion and many new devotees. The use of new and now relatively inex pensive "tech toys"-global posi tioning systems (GPS)-as part of the scheme, especially in geocach ing, has been an additional attrac tion to the activity for some.

Geocaching is a web-based ac tivity where participants hide a cache and take a position using a GPS receiver. The position is then published on the web-site with an invitation to search for the "treasure." Caches often contain a notebook or log book and some thing the finder may take. The finder is asked to put another item in the cache for others to find and will often report the find on the web-site.

Letterboxing is a phenomenon

Geocaching-New Trail Activity? or Retreat from Accepted T ra i I Ethics? ' ... Placing caches and letterboxes may unknowingly affect sen sitive resources and encourage others who search for them to do the same. Fragile plant communities could be trampled ... or ar cheological resources damaged ... ' --~~~~~~~~~~--,


To submit your hours, visit www.northcountrytrail.org/volunt /re

or call us at 888-454-NCTA to requ

The North Country Trail needs your help. As a volunteer, you contribute invaluable time to the NCT. Whether you work on the trail, lead activities, participate in planning, produce a newsl~tter or lead

the work of others, you are the sole of tH In fact, volunteer service is the best': ' measure we have to demonstrate public support for the trail.

However, if you aren't letting us know about the hours y6U put in, you're weakening our

stance when we approach legislators, foundations, an potential sponsors to ask for. their help. So please, report, your hours to us, if not for your own recognition, the

for the good of the trail itsel ~

ATTENTION VOLUNTEERS:

permission of the landowner I manager, similar to orienteering events.

5. Encourage other participants in the activity to join with you in orga nizing these special events.

I acknowledge the attractiveness of the "hunt" associated with these activities, but I am left with a ques tion in my mind: "Whatever hap pened to the good old walk in the woods for the mere enjoyment of doing so?"

3. Do not bury a cache. You could be disturbing important archeological evidence of early inhabitants of the area, or de stroying fragile plant commu nities. By not burying a cache, you also will not be encourag ing others to dig looking for it.

4. Consider modifying your partici pation in these activities to special events, scheduled at various times and places with the knowledge and

consented to people hiking through their property might object to peo ple "stashing" treasure on their property, and thus passage of the trail through their lands could be put at risk.

While the "hunt" associated with these activities is attractive, they also encourage a retreat from long accepted basic trail use ethics, such as: "Take only pictures, leave only footprints," and "Carry out what you carry in," long hallmarks of the ethics of hikers, backpackers, and other outdoors people.

These ethics have been institu tionalized in widely supported pro grams today, such as the "Leave No Trace" program. Leaving something behind has always been viewed as "littering." Geocaching and letter boxing invite a redefinition of that term and of basic trail ethics. Thus, I see them as being at cross purposes with the effort to instill in the public's mind a greater apprecia tion for outdoor use and land stew ardship ethics.

I hope that those who are par ticipating in these activities, and those who are thinking about par ticipating in them, will give consid eration to the perspectives I have expressed. I am realistic enough, however, to believe that many will not be persuaded by my thoughts. While not meant to encourage these activities, I would offer to partici pants the following suggestions that would help to minimize the impacts of their participation:

1. Ask permission of the public land manager or private land owner before placing a cache or letterbox.

2. If you are hiding a cache or searching for one, be careful to avoid trampling vegetation or disturbing fragile habitats.


tally self-sufficient in the field. They would also try to attract

and encourage other chapter mem bers and volunteers to join the crew on an adhoc basis, working what ever periods their schedules permit ted. They envisioned their trips oc cupying a week per month from April through November, with the adhoc members coming and going throughout the week. There was one obvious problem with this lofty ambition-finding time away from work. In 2001, this problem was eased for Bill when he retired from the National Park Service. (Bill now is employed part-time as trail fore man by the North Country Trail As sociation so that his expertise and skills can help chapters throughout the organization).

In 2001, the roving trail crew became reality when the Brule-St.

to- ROVERS' trailer, complete with canopy, set up in the field. Inside, all the tools, including a heavy-duty DR

, field mower, are arranged neady.

j

tion Planner) and Bill traveled to Solon Springs for a NW Wisconsin planning meeting, they extended their trip into the weekend to con tinue some of the unfinished work on the trail. Bob Gould came along and established a working relation ship with Bill that was to last through grueling miles of trail build ing and maintenance over the years.

As the many work trips cycled through the seasons, the two B's decided they needed to make trail work more efficient. Over many nights around the campfire, they dreamed of a small crew of skilled workers who would work on trail construction and heavy mainte nance. Eventually, they settled on a "core crew" of three to four indi viduals, the backbone of a crew, skilled in trail layout, design and construction, who would be willing to show up for most trips and be

North Star: The Magazine of the North Country

As the first snows blanketed the Brule-St. Croix Historic Portage in November of 1996, Bill Menke, then the National Park Service's manager for the North Country Na tional Scenic Trail, was traveling north from his office in Madison to camp and work on a portion of the North Country Trail in hopes of getting enough work done to certify the first portion of trail in the Brule St. Croix area. It became the first of Bill's many trips North to work on the trail.

Over the Memorial Day week end the following Spring, he per suaded his wife and daughter to go along by promising much fun build ing trail. The "fun" turned out to be accompanied by hoards of black flies and grueling "benching" work. Atley Oswald also joined the effort for a short while and helped to es tablish a "trail crew."

In September, the Brule-St. Croix chapter hosted two crews from the Camp Douglas Correc tional Facility and the B-SC Chapter also fielded a substantial crew. About this time, the NPS office re ceived a request for trail information from an interested individual in Cambridge, WI, who later offered his help on any area trail work. What luck! That individual turned out to be Bob Gould, who would prove to be a skilled trail worker, dedicated member and the chapter's volunteer of the year in 2000.

A couple of months later, when Dirk Mason (former NCTA Recrea-

Brule St. Croix Rovers Out in Field in Wisconsin


--AI Larmann Central New York Chapter

Niagara Mohawk Power Corpo ration has demonstrated its support for environmentally sound commu nity activities by granting NCTA a five-year license to use land it owns in Cazenovia, NY.

The company granted a license to the Central New York chapter to al low it to use a stone-surfaced, half acre plot, raised several feet above an often flooded drainage area .. The site, where a gas service regulator facility was once located and removed some time ago, provides significant poten tial for improvement of the North Country National Scenic Trail there.

Specific benefits allowed by the license include:

Direct, safe access to Chenango Street at the Village of Cazenovia line with off-street parking for three or four vehicles. (Northward from this point, the NCNST enters the village proper via an attractive sidewalk trail.)

Permission to install an inf orma tion kiosk conforming to recognized standards.

Permission to install puncheon bridging or a turnpike from the rear of the property to normally drier lands to the southeast. (This action was included in the NPS trail certifi cation work done in 1999 and no CPS data modification is required.)

The possibility of landscaping to enhance the trailhead attractiveness.

CNY Gains New Trailhead Site

ing and cooking equipment. It will not perform routine maintenance or displace trail adopters who remain responsible for routine maintenance on their assigned sections of trail. Rather, the trail crew will concen trate on new trail construction and can be called upon to assist with heavy maintenance projects, such as following a windstorm.

There are lots of opportunities to make arrangements to tie in with the to roving crew for a day or more on any of the trips. For the remain der of 2001 work season, the work trip schedule is as follows: July 12- 17, Aug. 2-6, Sept. 4-8, Oct. 9-14, and Nov. 1-6.

Work sites and tasks will de pend on previous trip progress. If you wish to participate, contact Bill a minimum of one week prior to the trip.

(Atley Oswald, experienced a mild heart attack while working near Iron River last October, underwent bypass surgery, has recovered and says he's ready to get back into the woods.)

Croix Chapter received a National Park Service Challenge Cost Share grant to organize and equip such a crew. Much of last Summer was a formative time, purchasing the tools, trailer, and mower; soliciting core crew membership; and holding the initial shake-down trips as an organized crew.

This year, matters have fallen nicely into place with a good mix of skills to accomplish all aspects of trail location, layout, construction, maintenance, and signing. The core crew, who call themselves the BSC Rovers, now consists of Bill (crew leader), Bob, Atley and Rolf Swan son. They hope that one or two more will join the crew. If inter ested, contact Bill at (608) 441-5610.

While the crew coordinates closely with Chapter President Peter Nordgren regarding work priorities and trail needs, it still functions somewhat independently. It will work primarily within the Brule-St. Croix Chapter area but from time to time, chooses to work outside the chapter's area of responsibility and travel a reasonable distance when requested by another chapter. When working in another chapter's area, the host chapter is expected to match the trail crew's efforts hour for hour with its own chapter mem bers.

This arrangement provides needed assistance and is also a good way for the crew to share trail de sign/ construction skills and training with nearby chapters and to learn some new techniques themselves.

The crew is fully equipped with hand tools for up to 10 people, a DR Field Mower, and basic camp-

BOB GOULD takes a break from tough sidehill benching

near Erick Lake.

North Star: The Magazine of the North Country July - September 2001

Partners Not yet adopted

-- .......... _/Chapters

Legend

New York NY State Coordinator Howard Beye (716)288-7191 [email protected]

Finger Lakes Trail Conference Howard Beye (716)288-7191 [email protected]

Central New Yorlc Chapter Al Larmann (315)697-3387 [email protected]

Tom Gilbert, Superintendent (608)441-5610

Tom_ [email protected]

PA State Coordinator Bob Tait (724)287-3382 [email protected]

Wampum Chapter Richard Lutz (724)652-8185 [email protected]

Greater Pittsburgh Chapter Heather Honerkamp (412)231-1113 [email protected]

Rock Chapter Frank Cetera (724)735-1133 [email protected]

Butler Chapter Ron Rice (724)538-8475 [email protected]

Clarion Chapter Carol Atwell (814 }354-2778 [email protected]

American Youth Hostels Pittsburgh Council Bob Roth (41-2)279-6219

Ohio OH State Coordinator Jim Sprague (216)884-4757 [email protected]

Northwestern Ohio Ralls-to-Tralls Association Gene Markley (800)951-4788 [email protected]

Buckeye Trail Association Garry Dill (937)834-2891 [email protected]

Great Trail - Sandy Beaver Canal Chapter Brad Bosley (330)227-2432

Tittabawassee Chapter Jerry Allen (517)345-2677

Grand Traverse Hiking Club (Chapter) Rick Halbert (231)947-8485 [email protected]

Spirit of the Woods Chapter Joan Young (231)757-2205 [email protected]

Western Michigan Chapter WemerVeit (616)897-5987 [email protected]

Chief Noonday Chapter Dave Cornell (616)623-8659 [email protected]

Saw Beese Chapter Richard Saur

Harbor Springs Chapter Jerry Keeney (231)526-9597 [email protected]

\ ~~- Lower Michigan , -r Lower Ml State Coordlnati;rf:·~~,_,

~

July - September, 2001 NCT Trail Councils

North Star: The Magazine of the North Country Trail July - September 2001 July - September 2001

www.northcountrytrail.org [email protected]

1-888-454-6282

*~ coUN11?J> ~:...tiu~-? - •,\S50Cf,'i.TION•

WI State Coordinator Lisa Williamson (715)798-3890 [email protected]

Brule-St.Crobc Chapter Peter Nordgren (715)394-8340 [email protected]

Chequamegon Chapter Tana Turonie (715)274-2521 [email protected]

Heritage Chapter Sarah Gokey (262}4 73-3386 [email protected]

Upper Ml State Coordinator Doug Welker (906)338-2680 [email protected]

Peter Wolfe Chapter Doug Welker (906)338-2680 [email protected]

North Country Trail Hikers Jan Wester (906)225-1295 Bettie Daly (906)228-9018 Denise Herron (906)225-1030 Great Lakes Trall Council Robert Norlin (715)372-5229 [email protected]

Chapters of the North Country Trail Association are like local trail clubs. They build and maintain the trail, host hikes and other events, and work to promote the trail and the Association in their areas. For information about local activities and volunteering, contact Chapter representatives. Partner organizations are independent nonprofit organizations that are working to build and maintain certain sections of the trail.

Minnesota MN State Coordinator John Leinen (651 }433-4456 [email protected]

Star of the North Chapter John Leinen (651 }433-4456 [email protected] Kekekablc Trall Club Peter Sparks (651 )739-0378 [email protected]

Rovers Outing Club Pat Ryan (651 }699-9800 [email protected]

Superior Hiking Trall Association Gayle Coyer (218)834-2700 [email protected]

North Dakota ND State Coordinator Jon Lindgren (701 )232-7868 [email protected]

Sheyenne River Valley Chapter Lisa Engel (701)797-3530


A ribbon-cutting and open house on Trails Day welcomed the community.

The Lowell Chamber of Commerce, across the municipal parking lot out our back door, has also been particularly help ful by sharing its conference room whenever we needed meet ing facilities. The national board of directors has already met there and liked it so much it voted to hold all its Spring and Fall meetings there.

Next in line is Jim Wayman, husband of Bonnie Wayman, our office manager, who will be installing and directing the installa tion of work stations being donated by Haworth Inc., the office furniture manufacturer.

The busiest of the helpers - and he's still on the job - is Brooks Kindel, the spouse of Margie Kindel, the Association's project manager, who designed and built the office's computer network. Wiring for the computer and telephone stations was all done by staff and volunteers, thus saving literally thousands in installation costs. Brooks is still at work tweeking and per fecting the system.

Members of the Lowell High School football team awaited the truck on the other hand to unload it and carry the stuff

inside where other volunteers, like Corky Ford, the husband of Beth Ford, our bookkeeper, and Roger and Scott Meyer, hus band and son, respectively, of Glory Meyer, our public services coordinator, turned to for all the needed chores.

The turnout for help and continued help was and is in the best spirit of the North Country Trail Association, where all the hard work is performed mostly by volunteers. Volunteers from the Western Michigan chapter, for example, turned out to load

onto trucks our furniture and equipment outside our former headquarters in downtown Grand Rapids.

The trail passes along the Flat River, a few feet from the back door of the historic storefront that's been turned into roomy offices for staff and volunteers. The site, as the symbolic guide post at left shows, is the approximate midway point between Crown Point, NY, the eastern ter minus of the North Country National Scenic Trail, and

Lake Sakakawea, the western terminus.

Community and trail volunteers, staff and their spouses, members and friends of members all have turned out and are still turning out to make

the new headquarters a home for the North Country Trail Association in Lowell, MI.

Page 22

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The cover shows officers, board members and staff alongside the Robert E. Lee, a showboat moored in the Flat River, just outside the North Country Trail Association's new national headquarters in Lowell, MI. In the picture are:

1. Beth Ford, 8. Howard Beye, staff book.keeper Vice President

2. Derek Blount 9. Bob Tait 3. Tiffany Halfmann, 10. Bob Papp,

staff GIS specialist executive director 4. Werner Veit, President 11. Bill Menke, trail foreman 5. Glory Meyer, 12. Daryl Williamson

Public Services Coordinator 13. Helen Coyne 6. Tony Rodriguez 14. Gaylord Yost 7. Rich Harris 15.Joan Young, Secretary

From New HQ: All Signs Point to North Country Trail Everyone Turned Out To Create a New Home


WIRERS (below): The unpaid wirers of computer lines are left to right: Brooks Kindel Margie's spouse; Tiffany Half mann, the Association's GIS specialist, and Bob Papp.

LEFT: Gorky Ford and Margie Kindel project manager, struggle with the goods in the new quarters.

FAR LEFT: Glory Meyer, the NCTA 's public service coordina tor, keeps her son, Scott, on the job wiring telephone lines.

David Goodman, Bob Papp, Gorky Ford and Paul Haan carry furniture out of the North Country Ttsil's former headquarters in downtown Grand Rapids. Gorky's wife, Beth, the Association book keeper stands by to make sure they don't drop anything.

Volunteers At Work


and after 17 years of Howard and Dorothy Beye's kind volunteer ser vice hosting the FLTC's ever growing administration in their home. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has leased the FL TC a house at the Mt. Morris Dam, adja cent to the new Visitor Center, which is right on the Letchworth Branch of the Finger Lakes Trail, a 25-mile spur north from the main trail, running through the lovely woodlands of Letchworth State and

highlights of the festivities for North Country Trail supporters.

There was even a hike in Penn sylvania on a stretch of the trail that George Washington was believed to have walked in 1753. Among the events along the 4,500-mile stretch of the NCNST were: New York: Finger Lakes Trail Conference The conference opened its first pub lic office after 39 years of existence

N either cold winds, nor dark clouds, nor driving rain over

much of the North Country Na tional Scenic Trail dampened Na tional Trails Day festivities last month. The hikes, trail construction and other festivities continued de spite the weather.

The grand opening of the North Country Trail Association's national headquarters in Lowell, MI, and the Finger Lakes Trail Conference's Mt. Morris Dam facility were among the

Page 24

A Trailwide Celebration Chapters in all seven states marked National Trail Day with historic hikes, awards, grand openings, new construction, treadway improvements, Boats, picnics and gala festivities.

ABOVE: Lowell's Main Street was Banked by a banner. Below: Roger Meyer shows how visitors found their way to the NCT A's new headquarters with the help of blazes on Lowell's historic light poles. The trail virtually passes the back door.

. . . . . . CELEBRATION NATIONAL TRAILS DAY f!RS'I SAft!JlDA}' IN J~iNE NoHJ H Cf1" 1TRf TR ,UL A~WCli!Tfl~ * '- •


Continued on Next Page Page 25

Other Pennsylvania activities Bike ride on the Moraine Bike Trail staged by the Butler Outdoor Club; Canoe trip on the Hidden River Ca noe Trail sponsored by the Western Pennsylvania Paddle Sports Associa tion; Campout and picnic, chaired by Joyce Appel, at the Davis Hollow Outdoor Center; Tour of McCon nel's Mill and the Alpha Pass trail. There were demonstrations of no trace camping by the Allegheny

IT WAS STILL Win ter when members of the Chief Noonday Chapter got together at the site to

"" plan their big June 2 - event. Participating were

{back row) left to rig~t: Janet Wolk, Ver/ Kram min, john Rudnicki, Tom Funke, Bill Powe-

-""=' set and David Goodman. *··· ·"~'

In the middle row: Steve ~ Hicks, Dennis Randolph

and Julie Jackson. Kneel ing are Charles Kram min, La Veme BeBeau and Annette Chapman.

Later, members of the Butler chapter led hikes. Among them was a hike led by Kevin Cooper of the Butler Historical Society on the Heritage Section of the North Country Trail, the section George Washington was believed to have · walked in 1753. Other Butler hikes were led by Ben Mourer, the American Hiking Society's Bill Wil cox Award Winner, and Mary Bates who led a GPS hike and cache con test for the Global Positioning Us ers Group. Butler's Bryan Kohler led the Day's trail work.

Starting Early

ravine plus finishing a parking area at a trailhead in Cazenovia by build ing a sign kiosk, landscaping, culvert installation and safety guards (horizontal telephone poles at edges of parking area.) Pennsylvania: Butler Chapter-Ron Rice of Ev ans City, President of the Butler Chapter, was named the American Hiking Society's Volunteer of the Year for Pennsylvania. The award honors volunteers for efforts to pre serve and maintain America's trails.

Bob Tait, State Coordinator, nominated Ron after he built two bridges and over 140 feet of pun cheon in the Gamelands this past year. He has also installed signs to direct hikers to the trail. Ron has been a member of the Butler Chap ter since 1998 and has been volun teering his time ever since. His award was announced at a Trails Day ceremony at the Old Stone House, site of a number of special Trails Day events organized by the Rock chapter.

the Livingston County Parks. The FL TC shares the quarters

with Friends of the Genesee Valley Greenway, a private member supported organization which, with its public agency partners, the De partment of Environmental Conser vation and Office of Parks, Recrea tion, and Historic Preservation, tends the 90-mile towpath/railbed greenway. The Letchworth Branch of the FLT ends at the Genesee Valley Greenway two miles from the FLTC office in downtown Mt. Morris, and the two trails share sev eral miles at the southern end of Letchworth Park and two more be yond, one of which is also a part of the North Country National Scenic Trail.

A chicken barbecue followed a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Trails Day. Hikes and guided walks were held all day long. Central New York Chapter-The chapter celebrated Trails Day with two major building projects: con struction of 4 ft. wooden stairways and connections between them in a


Park Superintendent Kent Goeckermann set up the reassur ance marking of the North Country Trail through the Park as the Trails Day project for the Heritage Chap ter. Chapter Chair Steve Frye, Treasurer Michael Stafford, and Gaylord Yost, Vice Chair, led by Park Staff member Greg Lindquist, dug or drilled holes for some 28 wooden posts bearing the familiar North Country Trail "dollar bill" blue reassurance marking. The marking was from just outside the south Park entrance all the way to the current dead end of the Trail on

Brule-St. Croix Chapter---Worked on a new section, 314-mile of the North Country National Scenic Trail on property owned by the Vil lage of Solon Springs. Afterward, the chapter held a picnic at the St. Croix Lake boat landing and trailhead.

In the afternoon, members and guests enjoyed Spring flowers and views of the Brule Valley on two and seven-mile hikes, northeast of Solon Springs. Heritage Chapter-The day dawned in Copper Falls State Park with a low scudding ceiling of clouds and a steady, cold down pour. But some Heritage Chapter members braved the elements to take part in the celebration.

lunch at the Baxter Bridge campsite on the Manistee River. Peter Wolfe Chapter-The Peter Wolfe Chapter marked trail day by a hike along the Sturgeon River and by trail work on the Baraga Plains Section of the North Country Trail. Wisconsin:

HARD WORK eamed Ron Rice, Presi dent of the Buder chapter, the Volunteer of the Year for Pennsylvania by the American Hiking Society.

enger hunt for children, all kinds of tours and demonstrations, historical exhibits and tours and finally an evening spaghetti dinner with enter tainment put together by the Fallas burg Historical Association in the pavilion of Fallasburg Park, on the North Country Trail. Spirit of the Woods Chapter Blacksmith's Bayou, near Manistee, was the site of the Spirit of the Woods Chapter's hikes and river floats to make Trail Day. There were also a demonstrations of out door skills by a Boy Scout troop from Chase, MI and a nature game staged by a Girl Scout troop from Manistee, MI. Grand Traverse Hiking Club Hiking on the North Country Trail in the Pere Marquette State Forest sponsored by the Grand Traverse Hiking Club culminated in a potluck

There were hikes, walks, a scav Page 26

National Forest Services and out door first aid by the Allegheny Mountain Rescue Group. Eastern Mountain Sports and the Butler City Bike Patrol staged demonstrations. Ohio: Buckeye Trail Association-The BT A sponsored hikes at Beaver Creek State Park, Burr Oak State Park, Fort Ancient State Memorial and the Clendening Reservoir. The latter was an opportunity to hike the new trail recently built by Buckeye Trail crews. Michigan:

Chief Noonday Chapter-Using the theme, "Walk Softly in Nature," the Chief Noonday chapter spon sored demonstrations and walks and hikes from Kimball Pines, east of Battle Creek, MI. Leaders and par ticipants included: Russ Schipper, Kalamazoo Audubon Club, who led an early bird nature walk; Annette Chapman and Dennis Randolph of the Calhoun County Community Development Department who spoke on county trails; Barb Van Dyken, in charge of Kid's Adven ture and wildflower identification hikes; Dr. Larry Hawkins, survival workshop; and Dave Vanderark, low impact hiking and camping skills. Western Michigan Chapter The City of Lowell, where the North Country Trail Association now has its national headquarters, was the site of a grand opening cere mony plus a plethora of events sponsored by the chapter and other local organizations.

-. .i

J., ' D CELEBRATION -~ NATIONAL TRAILS JAY SATURDAY IN JUNB,

_ ... _...._~N.OR1H ~OVNfRY fiRtJ.lLrAS~~CIATfON • FIRST


Editor's Note: There were aU kinds of other observations of National Trails Day throughout the seven states hut thosf we men tioned were those we heard from.

FLOATING in ca noes down the Pere Marquette River ended the outing started by a hike sponsored by the Spirit of the Woods chapter.

celebrate National Trails Day last month at Gunflint Lake, MN, right where the Kekekabic meets the Bor der Route Trail. North Dakota:

Fort Ranson-A ranger led a hike on a section of the North Country Trail from the log cabin in the park. Lake Sakakawea-The western terminus of the North Country Na tional Scenic Trail was the site of a hike designed to show off native plants and wildlife. There was also a discussion of the history of the North Country Trail.

years ago. The Heritage Chapter crew were hosted by the Park for their overnight camping. While the crew was wet by the end of the day, the consensus was that the project went well and was a needed addition for making the Trail more useable for the public. Minnesota:

Superior Hiking Trail Associa tion-Guided hikes and replace ment of a bridge were the highlights of the Trail Day celebration of the Superior Hiking Trail Association. Hikers encountered majestic terrain along the Temperance River and the ascent of Carlton Peak. Members also worked to replace a bridge over the Caribou River. The work was followed by an Association Picnic. Kekekabic Trail Club-The club partnered with the Star of the North Chapter of the NCTA and the Min nesota Wilderness Trail Alliance to

The crew began installation at the far north end of the Park out of range of the motor vehicle use or the six wheel ORVs or the tractor/ drill rig. Seven posts were hauled in by hand, holes dug, and posts in stalled. The remainder of the work went a little faster as the southerly portions of the Park were accessible to the use of motor vehicles. The tractor was used for drilling the holes and the ORVs and a stake body truck were used to haul tools and posts to the various locations.

The addition of the marking posts should make it easier to follow the North Country Trail through the Park across its various intersec tions with other trails and access points. The Trail has had minimal marking since its construction some

the Park's north extremity. Park staff had previously painted the posts.

North Star: The Magazine of the North Country Trail - July - September 2001

Onondaga construction

The Onondaga Chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club has es tablished a route, most of it flagged, between Spruce Pond in Morgan Hill State Forest (South of Apulia, NY) and Highland Forest County Park (East of Fabius), about half of the distance of the projected Onon daga Trail extension that will con nect the Onondaga and Link Trails. We need just a few landowners' ap proval to complete the entire route. The three state lands are expected to be approved by September so that actual trail construction can begin in the Spring of 2002.

-Dkk Lightcap, chairperson North Country Trail team

-Rkhsrd Halbert

Conservation Awareness The Grand Traverse Hiking

Club will kick off its fall program with a slide show, "Climbing Al pamayo," presented by the Traverse area's Climbing for Conservation group. Their climb to the 19,510- foot summit of Mount Alpamayo in Peru is designed to raise awareness of local conservation efforts among young people in the Traverse City Area, and to give them outlets for becoming proactive in local envi ronmental concerns. The Team con sists of: Tim Jenema, Tim Barrons, Keith Tampa and Joe Oesterling. You can get more information about their climb at: http:/ I climbingforconservation.com./

--Garry Dill

sociation will provide lunch and some camping is available.

For further information, or to sign up, please contact Gene Markley at 1 (800) 951-4788, ore mail at [email protected].

Learning Timber Framing The Northwestern Ohio Rails

to Trails Association, an affiliate of the North Country Trail Associa tion, plans to build a timber-framed bridge on a section for which it will seek certification. The project is scheduled from Sept. 1 to Sept. 9.

NORTA is looking for indi viduals who may be willing to pay tuition to learn timber framing, but is also trying to raise funds so that tuition will not be required. The As-

Finger Lakes Service Center The Finger Lakes Trail Confer

ence, an NCTA affiliate, has opened a service center in the former dam manager's home in the Mt. Morris Flood control property, just outside Mt. Morris, NY. The Trail opera tions office will remain in Howard Beye's basement in Rochester, at the same address as always.

--FLTC Quarterly

-The Hungry Beaver

New Kekekabic Officers Peter Sparks has been elected

President of the Kekekabic Trail Club, one of the North Country Trail Association's newest affiliates. Peter and Derick Passe are co-chairs of the Club's trail committee

Yost and Bob Norlin, Wisconsin; John Leinen [r., Minnesota and Jon Lindgren, North Dakota.

NCTA Board Ballots A Reminder: Ballots for the

election of directors to the board of the North Country Trail Association must be returned to national head quarters in Lowell, MI by July 31 to be counted. Nominees are: Irene Szabo, New York; Bob Tait, Penn sylvania; Garry Dill, Ohio; Gaylord

Page 28

-jsn Wester

These sections of the trail have some unique needs, like the McCor mick Wilderness in the Ottawa Na tional Forest where no chainsaws may be used or painted blazes em ployed.

North Country Trail Hikers, the NCTA chapter headquartered in Marquette, Ml., reports that all seg ments of the North Country Trail in Marquette, western Alger and east ern Baraga Counties have now been adopted.

From west to east, current adopters are Jim and Norma Matte son, Sally Brebner, Polly Derby, Russ Fure, Roland and Marian Schwitzgoebel, Ron Jarvis, Bruce Schwenke, Russ Dees, Dick Smith, Dan Hornbogen, Mark Sanderson, Dave and Judy Allen with the Sierra Club; Bettie Daly, Shirley LaBonte, the Davenport family, Mary Con nor, Marti Leppanen, Chris and Ron Yuill, Bea Anderson, Lon and Lynne Emerick, Sue and Bob Holtz man, Ben Travis and Denise Herron.

NC Hikers Complete Their Trail Adoptions

king

Shorts Don't Forget to Vote •


Woodland Scene on pebble tan(C.105) S, L, XL: $12.95, XXL: $13.95

Fall Scene on denim blue (C-104) S, L, XL: $12.95, XXL: $13.95

NCTA -Shirt (C101) Pre-shrunk cotton "Beefy-T". Three-color 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. S, M, L, XL: $11.95, XXL: $12.95

T..SHIRTS Trail Crew T-shirt (C102) 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

Full color pictures taken by our own mem bers illustrating the beauty found on the NCNST. 100% pre-shrunk cotton.

E

A. Royal M sh-Back Cap (c201) $10.95 Mesh back, cotton twill front, royal blue, plastic snap strap. B. Mo G n Cap (C206) $14.95 Embroidered association logo. Low profile distressed washed cotton twill. Constructed with soft lining. Adjustable buckle on fabric strap. c. L t Kh kl/Navy Cap (C207) $14.95 Trail emblem design. Low profile washed cotton, unconstructed. Light khaki crown with washed navy bill. Adjustable buckle on fabric strap. D. D nlm lu C p (C203) $15.95 Pro-wash cotton twill with extended bill, deep blue crown and bill (looks like denim), adjustable buckle on a leather strap. E. Natural Colored Bucket Mat (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.

Patch of Trail Emblem 3 Yi " bottom mea sure North Country Trail emblem triangle design (P125) . $3.50

PATCHES State Patches 2" x 2" $2.00 ea. New York. (P126) Pennsylvania (P127) ~_....- Ohio (P128) ;;f Michigan (P129) f{ Wisconsin (P130) ' Minnesota (P131) North Dakota .. (P132)

MUG North Country National Scenic Trail plastic trail mug tapered to fir in cup holder. (P103) $5.00

MEDAWONS AND PINS D Add the North Country National Scenic Trail insignia to your hiking stick. A. Painted color (P105) $4.00 8. Brass (P104) $4.00 C. The Trail Emblem doisonne pin is W' and features the updated North Country triangle design. (P102) $3.00 D. The National Millennium Trail pin is Y2" x r 1,4'' in vivid red, white and blue with a gold metallic border. (P2000) $3.00 Canvas Tote Bag Light blue silk screen pattern of trees with NCT blue blaze. 17" x r4Y2" with bottom gusset. Webbed hand carrying straps. Great for groceries or books. (P124) $7.50

Michigan Map Sets By Arden [ohnsan 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 Ohio State Line at Waldron to Augusta (M411A) Augusta to Rogue River State Game Area (M412A) Coates Highway at Manistee River to M-115 West of Mesick (M413A) M-115 West of Mesick to M-32 West of U.S. 131 (M414A) M-32 West of U.S. 131 to Mackinaw City (M415A) Sr. Ignace to SE Marquette (M416A) Marquette to Ironwood (M417A)

Burr Oak- Sinking Spring, 51pp (M302) $7.00 Sinking Spring to Milford, 38pp (M303) $6.00 Milford to Lake Loramie S.P., 42pp (M304A) .. $7.00 Miami & Erie Canal from Lake Loramie S.P. to Napoleon, 3opp (M305A) $5.00 Michigan NCT in Lower Michigan, Sipp (M401) $12.50 NCT in Upper Michigan, 88pp (M402) $13.00 Wisc:onsln Iron County Forests; Chequarnegon N.F., Brule River S.F., 27pp (M501A) $4.50 Minnesota Chippewa National Forest, Itasca S.P., 24pp (M601) $4.00 North Dakota NCT in North Dakota 15pp (M701) $5.00

Certified Sections of the North Country Trall By Byron and Margaret Hutchins Derailed information and maps highlighting the longest and best off-road segments of the Trail. These are accurate route descriptions by experi enced guidebook writers who have walked the sections with a measuring wheel. In easy to use looseleaf form. Pennsylvania NCT in Pennsylvania, 37pp (M201) $5.25 Ohio Wayne National Forest, 14pp (M301) $3.00

Page 30

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Wisconsin Printed in full color on durable paper, this pock et size map unfolds to a full n" x 17", doubleside. Scale is 1:100,000. (Together these maps cover the Chequamegon National Forest) Hurley co Long Mile Lookout (TWl-01) $3.50 Long Mile Lookout to Solon Spring (TWl-02) $3.50

NCT Trall Map Sets Printed in full color on durable paper these new maps come in a clear plastic bag to assure com plete water protection. Scale is 1:24,000. They have been carefully field checked for accuracy. Each map unfolds to a full n" x 17". Michigan Huron-Manistee N.F.: North Segment (T401) $8.00 Battle Creek to Chief Noonday Road (T402) $6.50 Huron-Manistee N.F.: South Segment (T403) $8.00 Pennsylvania McConnells Mill and Moraine State Parks (T201) $5.00 Allegheny National Forest North Section (T202) $6.50 Southern Allegheny National Forest and Cook Forest State Park (T203) $8.00

e-mail: [email protected] ORDER TOLL FREE! 1-8884~NCTA (6282)

MAPS

Hiking! By Philip Farranti and Cecilia Leyva A truly fresh look at hiking. Read about: philosophy of hiking, stress management, creativity and hiking, and trail romance. Also, explore today's issues through hiking: strength ening family ties, improving commu nication, 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. 245 pages (L106) $14.95

Woman's Guide to Backpacking By Adrienne Hall You'll find the knowledge and skills you need to become a self-sufficient backpacker. Yes, you can light a camp stove ... set up a tent by your self ... take your kids with you - and keep them entertained ... sur vive (and even learn to love) a week in the woods without hot showers!

, Hall's fresh perspective and up-to , date presentation of techniques and

equipment provide all the tools you need to become a confident, comfortable, capable backpacker! 16opp (L113) $14.95

Great Minnesota Walks By Wm. Chad McGrath Follow in the footsteps of the early voyagers, ramble beside river rapids, trek through tall trees, and savor a scenic overlook as you discover some of Minnesota's finest walking trails. In this book, Chad McGrath guides you to some of the state's most beautiful and interesting paths. 168 pages (L117) $16.95

1Long Dlsta·nce Hiking By Roland Mueser Lessons from the Appalachian Trail. Blending sage advice with personal experiences and anecdotes, this unusually thoughtful, highly read able account of long-distance trekking on the AT. Mueser draws upon extensive interviews to exam ine unorthodox yet relevant topics. He covers all the questions providing the basis for planning your own long-distance hike. 180 pages (Llli) $16.95

IDayhlker's Handboo'k By J Long and M. Hodgson Comprehensive guide for begin ning wanderers and those explor-

' ing new country. Choosing proper clothing, selecting foorware and raingear, using a map and compass, predicting hike difficulty, when to turn around, managing food and water, weather lore, walking tech niques, traveling with kids, first aid, and more. Many short fea tures, fun tips and anecdotes. 216 pages (L107) $14.95

Upsmackin' Bac'k!pac'ldn' By Tim and Christine Connors Tired of gorp, cereal bars, and jerky? Would you like to dine on spaghetti, chicken salad, and cheesecake in the backcountry? Here is a guide to satis fying, sumptuous dining on the trail. You no longer have to sacrifice nutri tion for taste. A new kind of outdoor cookbook, this all-in-one guide is filled with trail-tested recipes providing at home preparation directions, trailside cooking instructions, and nutritional information. 232 pages (L118) $15.95

The One Pan Gourmet By Don Jacobson Fresh Food on the Trail. Tired of eating dried and preserved goods in the back country? Here's an alternative from an outdoor chef who takes his spice rack and fresh food with him. Covers planning, packing, preparing and - most impor tant - eating savory meals on the trail. Geared toward the three-day trip, this book includes over 150 trail-tested recipes, prepared in one pan, pot or oven. 157 pages (L114) $12.95

The Country Doctor, Alive and Well By john G. Hipps MD. 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 363 pages (L115) $19.95

e-mail: [email protected] ORDER TOLL FREE! 1-888-454-NCTA (6282) www.northcountrytrail.com

.,~.5\1~~~

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Great WisconsJn aJks By Wm. Chad McGrath Experience the serenity of a stately birch forest, the rush of a river in spring and the excitement of an urban amble as you discover Wisconsin's finest walking trails. In this book, Chad McGrath guides you to some of the state's most beautiful and interesting paths. Whether you are in search of a long, healthful hike in the woods or a short, casual stroll in the city. Great Wisconsin Walks will help you plan your route. 160 pages (L116) $16.95

Trail Atl:as of ictdgan By Dennis R. Hansen Michigan trail enthusiasts, don't get caught without this atlas! Second Edition includes maps and descrip tions for over 600 hiking, biking, skiing, and nature trails in Michigan. Search ifL;,,;;~'.::~=A2!!!~~-4L_J by location or types of use. 14. 581 pages (L102) $29.95

Poreupi111e 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 oppor- '" tunities, cabins and shelters, camp- · ing areas, family day hikes with complete information on trails, : access points, waterfalls and back- '. country treks. 160 pages (L108) $11.95

PlCTURED ROCKS NATIONAL LAKESHORE

A GUIDE

By Olive Anderson An illustrated guide to 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 avail able at Pictured Rocks. 56 pages (L110) ...... ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, ... $6.95

Pletured Rocks National Lakeshore

Page 32

50 Hikes in lchigan By Jim DuFresne From one of Michigan's leading out door writers comes this comprehen sive guide to the best trails in Michigan's Lower Peninsula. Each hike write-up contains all the basic 1

information you need: access, park- 1

ing, trail distance and difficulty, hik ing time, contour map, and explicit trail directions. Formerly titled 50 Hikes in Lower Michigan. 252 pages (L109),,,,,,,,,,,.,,,,,,,,.$16.95

50 Hikes in Ohio By Ralph Ramey The 50 hikes in this guide are grouped geographically and range over the entire state, from the rugged Appalachian plateau of Shawnee Forest in the south to the Ottawa Wildlife Refuge on the shores of Lake Erie. Many of the hikes are a short drive from each of Ohio's major met ropolitan areas. There are outings for every ability, from easy walks to rigor ous overnight backpacks. 272 pages (L121) .. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,.,,,, ,,,, ,,,,,,.,, $14.95

'hlikifl§J •the .Hi!;ihest;!/ammrts

'In 'lilew Y.ork, :ctwnw bY-Dlill'lnt;v

Pealt Experiences By Gary Pallesen A hiking guide to the highest summits in each of New York's counties, includ- : ing the highest point in Manhattan, a , large rock in Bennet Park at 265.05 feet above sea level. This guide includes ! maps, written directions to trail heads, ' elevation profiles, mileage, as well as : alternate routes to some peaks. In this book you'll meet the people populating the high points today and yesterday, dis cover how to find the high point, what you're likely to see, and the origin of the peak's name 288 pages (L120) $16.95

Take A Hike! By Rich and Sue Freeman With this guide, you'll be able to explore the Finger Lakes and Genesee Valley Region with ease and confi dence. Each of the 51 walks is rated for difficulty, type of terrain, and described by length and estimated time required. In addition, you'll know how to easily find the trails and parking. The hikes in this book are designed for people who delight in exploring unique or lit tle known places. 264 pages (L119) $16.95

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Following the NCT By Utes Boyd 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 edi tion also includes appendices on through-hiking the NCT and the his tory of the Trail and the Association. 96 pages (L112) $4.95

NCTA Trail Building and Maintenance Manual By Thomas Reimers This great manual for volunteers pro vides helpful guidelines and sugges tions for planning, construction and continued maintenance of the North Country Trail. It covers rural and roaded natural, semi-primitive and primitive trail. 22 pages (L101) $2.00

Buck Wiider's Hiking & Camping Guide By Tim Smith and Mark Herrick One whole lot of fun! Buck Wilder and his pal Rascal the Raccoon share their considerable wisdom and wit. Wonderful color illustra tions are 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. 64 pages (L103) $12.95

Gulde to the NCT, Chippewa National Forest, Minnesota By Roderick MacRae Description of the route and trail log, east to west. Wonderfully written by a Chippewa National Forest expert. 12 pages (M611) $1.25

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For instance, we could budget a set amount each year. Then, at the end of the year, distribute the funds proportionally, based on the total number of hours reported by volun teers in each Chapter or Affiliate. This is something I'll shoot for in next year's budget. In the mean time, I hope volunteers will remem ber that they receive awards for reaching 100 and 400 total hours. At 100 hours, we give a pin and cer tificate. For 400 hours, it's a spe cially embroidered khaki shirt.

Some of our Chapter leaders will quickly point out that convincing volunteers to report hours is a rela-

In between making great trailhead signs, Ron Rice had a great thought on getting more volunteers to report their hours

spread over seven7 states, it's clear that there's a lot more work being done on the trail than the equivalent of nine full-time positions.

Many different types of work count toward volunteer hours. Not only jobs like I described at the begin ning of this column, but even travel to and from a site is considered a valid part of total reportable volun teer hours. After all, the only reason you are driving to the site is to vol unteer, so in effect you are "on the clock" the minute you set out.

While no one likes paperwork, reporting these hours really does benefit the trail. When we try to get our legislators in Washington ex cited over the trail, or try to seek major funding from a foundation, volunteers hours are about the only type of data we can produce to demonstrate public support of the trail. People who make decisions like these tend to be bean counters, to some extent, and they really are

by Bob Papp Executive Director

interested in seeing these numbers. In these situations, our argument is only as strong as our statistics.

In May, I attended the meeting of our new Pennsylvania Trail Council, and talked with some of our leaders in PA. Ron Rice, president of our Butler Chapter, came up with what I thought was a great idea He suggested that we create a financial incentive to benefit a volunteer's Chapter or other affiliated organization.

The View from Lowell

W e all know that a lot of vol unteers put in a lot of time to make the North Country Trail a reality. Not only do volunteers build and maintain trail, but they also lead our Chapters, train other volunteers, promote the trail, work on web sites and newsletters, plan trail routes, negotiate with landowners and agen cies-really, the list just goes on and on. But have you ever wondered how volunteer contributions on the North Country Trail compare with those of other National Scenic Trails?

These statistics are compiled by a coalition called the Partnership for the National Trails System. Among other things, the Partnership seeks to coordinate efforts between the 21 National Scenic and Historic Trails, so we can have a stronger unified voice and learn and benefit from the experiences of each of the trails. Last year's numbers are shown below.

We can draw a couple of possible conclusions from these data. I think the most likely one, though, is that a lot of work isn't being reported. 18,991 volunteer hours are about the same as nine full-time positions. That may sound like a lot, but when you consider that we have 21 Chap ters and six partner organizations

The Search for the Closet Volunteer


The Honorable (full name) United States Senate Washington, DC 20510 Dear Senator (last name):

- or - The Honorable (full name) United States House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515 Dear Representative (last name):

For e-mail, start at www.house. gov or www.senate.gov. With an e mail, be sure to provide your mail ing address, so they know you live in their state or district. Thanks for helping out!

Also, Senator Byron Dorgan and Representative Maurice Hinchey both indicated they would provide some degree of support for the re quest in their respective committees.

If any of these trail supporters represent you in Washington, I hope you'll take a moment to send them a word of thanks. To send a letter:

* Authored Letters

Hillary Clinton Kent Conrad Mark Dayton Mike DeWine Russ Feingold

Herb Kohl Carl Levin*

Rick Santorum Charles Schumer *

Arlen Specter Debbie Stabenow George Voinovich

Paul Wellstone

Re resentatives David Bonior Phil English * Vern Ehlers * Chaka Fattah Martin Frost

Amo Houghton Dale Kildee

Carolyn Maloney James McGovern

John McHugn Richard Pombo Earl Pomeroy * Rob Portman

James Oberstar * Bart Stupak

James Traficant

Senators little recognition for volunteers already working on the trail. The blank square is available for local volunteers to add whatever additional information they'd like to the sign. We will pro duce these in quantities for each Chapter that requests them, and they will work either as stickers for "Carsonite" posts, or signs to be tastefully tacked up.

Our second approach will be to create a generic volunteer recruit ment brochure, describing opportu nities to become involved. This too will have a blank area for Chapters to add information, or we'll be able to help Chapters print their own in serts to provide even more local de tail, if they wish.

The final part of the plan is that we are asking each Chapter and Af filiate to identify someone who is willing to serve as a local contact for potential volunteers. This way, when interested people contact our national headquarters wanting to become in volved, we'll be able to refer them to someone in the field to help them get "plugged in."

Update on our Advocacy in D.C.

No word yet on funding for next year, however, I do want to report that we had great success in convinc ing federal legislators to support our requests. Here are the U.S. Senators and Representatives that signed on to our request: Actual size will be 2 718* wide, a· tall

tively minor challenge. A much larger and more chronic need is to recruit and retain enough active volunteers to keep everything running. This includes not only building and main taining trail, but also performing all those other tasks, like coordinating and leading other volunteers.

To try to address this need, we devised a three-pronged approach last fall. Since then, we've been awarded two grants to implement our plan, one from the National Park Service Challenge Cost Share program, and the other from the American Hiking Society's National Trails Endowment fund.

First, we're going to produce stickers or signs like the one pictured below to post at trailheads. The idea is that our best source for volunteers is from people who already use the trail. Also, we'd like to provide a


Sponsored by: I I NAME

ADDRESS

CITY I STATE I ZIP

PHONE I E-MAIL

SKILLS TO VOLUNTEER

Sponsored Membership Form Our Sponsored Membership Program allows current members to sign up new members at an introductory rate of just $18.00. To qualify, Sponsored Members must be 1rw to NCT A, or not have been members for at least two years. The $18.00 rate is good only for the first year of membership. To use the program.just fill in your name in the "Sponsored by:" box. Then, give the form to your friend to finish. Please choose your affiliation (check one): 0Member ofa specific Chapter: _ 0 Member ofmy closest local Chapter (If one exists) 0At-Large Member (Not affiliated with any Chapter) .

To begin your membership, complete

this form and send it with your $18 payment to:

North Country Trail Association 229 East Main St. Lowell, Ml 49331

Whet Rans Itf 'Ihe:S~wmam~md W:::kli~&;:MK~

In.for.ma .. ·n: Jil.Btall om~ at 88'~-NCTA ('281)· Aild 64 Ew & '»PY d~ ~h-oDM lirodnin!

Rent the NCTA's One Room Schoolhouse!

Terms Expiring 2001 Terms Expiring 2002 Terms Expiring 2003

David Cornell Mary Lucas Werner Veit 514 Cordes Road 753 Davenport St. 229 East Main Street Delton, MI 49046 Rhinelander, WI 54501 Lowell, MI 49331 (616) 623-8659 (715) 362-0616 (888) 454-NCTA [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Bob Tait ]on G. Lindgren Joan Young 212 E. Metzger Ave. 2001 North Seventh St. 861 West USlO Butler, PA 16001 Fargo, ND 58102 Scottville, MI 49454 (724) 287 -3382 (701) 232-7868 (231) 757-2205 [email protected] jon_lindgren@ [email protected]

ndsu.nodak.edu Pat Miller Richard Harris 15737 65th Avenue HowardBeye 97 4 SOM Center Road Milaca, MN 56353 202 Colebourne Rd. Mayfield, OH 44143 (320) 983-5643 Rochester, NY 14609 (440)449-7 497 [email protected] (716) 288-7191 Richhohi

[email protected] @concentric.net

Gaylord Yost Helen Coyne Daryl Williamson 2925 W. Bradley Rd. 212 Willow Circle 5901 Timberglade Drive River Hills, WI Cranberry Township, Bloomington, MN 53217-2052 PA 16066-4572 55438 (414) 354-8987 (724) 776-0678 (952) 835-2186 [email protected] [email protected]

North Country Trail Association National Board of Directors


The North Country Trail Asso ciation has received a grant, valued at $5,000 from the Conservation Technology Support Program (CTSP) that will help the Associa tion greatly expand is Cartography (GIS) Department.

The grant consists of Hewlett Packard hardware-a computer and color printer-and two items of En vironmental Systems Research Insti tute software: ArcView and Ar cPress. CSTP annually evaluates grant applications from conserva tion groups and recommends awards. The donors, in this case, Hewlett Packard and ESRI, then make the donations of their prod ucts.

Grant Benefits NCTA's Cartography Program

ployer gets tax benefits; the em ployee gets substantial acknowledge ment for their time; and the NCTA receives money to promote the trail.

Does your employer have a similar program? Many employers, including ExxonMobil, have a MatchiJJg FuJJd Program. That's when they match any money you contrib ute to a non-profit organization.

Companies that we know that have a Mstching FuJJd Program in clude: Ameritech, Chevron, Con sumers Power, B.F. Goodrich, IBM, McDonalds, Pepsico, Westinghouse, and Xerox.

There are many more and it's to everyone's benefit if NCTA mem bers would take a few minutes to ask their Human Resources depart ment about any Matching Fund or Volunteer Involvement Programs.

The North Country Trail Asso ciation recently received a check for $500 from Eugene Elzinga's former employer. Gene, a long time mem ber and former President of the North Country Trail Hikers, a northern Michigan Chapter of the NCT A, is a retired employee of ExxonMobil.

Last year, ExxonMobil started its Volunteer Involvement Program (VIP) to encourage employees, retir ees, and their families to contribute time and talent. ExxonMobil will give $500 to a non-profit organiza tion after a participant has volun teered at least 20 hours to that or ganization. The $500 can be awarded four times a year. There are a few conditions and rules to the grants from ExxonMobil, but the application process is very easy and straightforward.

ExxonMobil has always en couraged its employees to perform volunteer work even to the extent of allowing time off with pay to do it, but its Volunteer Involvement Program is new.

Elzinga started as a research en gineer and retired 15 years ago from ExxonMobil after 30 years as a Sen ior Associate in research manage ment and planning. He spent a great deal more than 20 hours in the last quarter doing land owner contact, structure design (bridges, board walks, campsite facilities), leading trail crews and trail work.

This kind of program is won derful for the employer, their em ployees, and the NCT A. The em-

By Roger Meyer

Your Employer May Provide Financial Support to the Trail

July 8-21-Joint Sierra Club/Peter Wolfe chapter of the NCTA trail construction project on Baraga Plains in western Upper Michigan. Contact Doug Welker at (906} 338-2680 or log on to www. northcountrytrail.org/ pwf/ sierra2001.htm

July 13-20-Biennial Appalachian Trails Conference, Shippens burg University, PA (Registration packet: hike [email protected])

July 19-22-Star of the North chapter trail maintenance in the Chippewa National Forest. Contact: John Leinen Jr., (651} 433-4456.

August 9-12-North Country Trail Association-Finger Lakes Trail Conference joint annual conference, Cazenovia, NY.

August 17-21-Conference on National Scenic and Historic

· Trails, Casper, WY; Contact: OCTA at (816} 252-2276.

Aug. 26-29-National Scenic By ways Conference, Portland, OR. See the ASSHTO web site at http://www. transportation.org/ aashto/ home.nsf/FrontPage

September 13-16-Trail construc tion in the Paul Bunyan State Forest scheduled by Star of the North Chapter. Contact: John Leinen Jr., (651) 433- 4456.

Oct. 4- 7-Trail construction in the Bad Medicine section sched uled by Star of the North Chapter. Contact: John Leinen Jr., (651) 433-4456.

Trail Calendar


James Darabi Robert Davis Ron Davis Tom Elliott Herb and Celia Engler Daniel Fellows James Gillespie Shawn and Theo Gilmore Chester Graham Gertrude Hauck Kurt and Stephanie Hieshetter Bill Holland and Kim Steffes Gary Jenkin l.eona Jensen Kenmac Rentals Marilyn Kennedy Sue Kime Nathan Klick Stephanie Kobylinski Deborah Kohn Richard Larson Gordon and Maryln Lawrence John and Phyllis Leinen Diana Liu Greg Long Ernest Mahlke and Heide Seaman-Mahlke Aaron and Lori Mansfield Craig McClure Neal Mccue Robert Meese Pavlas Michalakakos Phil Miller Dee Morelli Emil Moskovich Mountain Dreams International, Inc Bill Mulholland Ronald Navik Eric Nelson Jeffrey Olson Wendy Paulsen Anna Pearo Gerald Phillips Richard Poquette Mary Putnam Heidi Rawen Shane Reiniche Dennis Reutter Daniel Riechers Susan Sandberg John and Mary Schmitt John and Laurie Schneider Gerry Sell Tony and Pam Sisson Maureen Smith Stephanie Spittal Madelyn Stella Joel Steury Robert Sulaski Tim Sweeney A. Joyce Thomet Jennifer Tripp Sue Van Dyke Mary Van Fleet Margaret Watrous Jim and Bonnie Wayman Wilderness Canoe Trips Kimberly Williams Mike Wilson

Page 38

We gratefuUy acknowledge the support of all our members and donors who share with us the vision of the

North Country National Scenic Trail!

Trail Leaders ($50-99 in annual dues) Pat Allen and Mark Miller Daniel and Constance Arnold Charles Axthelm R.Alan Baker Michael Benson Paul Blanchard Bert Bleke Frank Blumenthal Baxter Brings Bureau of Reclamation, Bismark, ND David Burgan Charles Burpee David Byrne Robert Cable Frances and Steve Cheyne Tim and Christine Conners Ron Davis Stewart DeWitt Dinger John and Jean Dreher Kari Elias Jennifer Farnsworth Richard Ferguson Frank Fishman Clarence Fredlund Mardy and William Gast William and Joanne Gerke Tom and Janis Gilbert Alonzo Hannaford Herbert and Suzanne Hulls Gary and Marta Konrad Gordon Lachniet Dave and Nancy Lightfoot Hugh Melling and Ms. Denise Simon Richard Naperala Robert and Susan Nelson James and Carolyn Nestingen Peter Nordgren John and Teri Olbrot and Family Atley Oswald David Patrick Dale Petty Richard Pfeiffer Christina Rizzo C. Dennis Shepard Joan Sheridan Kelvin Smyth Joel Steury Miles Trumble Kevin, Robin, Kate and Morgan Wilson

New Members Dennis Arvanitis John Barrett Eugene Bavis Alice Beckman Clara Blazo Sandy Bliesener Walter Burgess Jr. Julie Christensen Milo Christensen Scott Christenson Jim Craig Joe Dabes

Contributions and Special Renewals received from March 1 through May 31

Pathfinders ($100-249 in annual dues) Jerry Allen Connie Pausits-Allen LeRoy Bliven Ren and Carol Brander Butler Outdoor Club Garrett Dill Dennis Donathen Duane Elenbaas Richard Flinn Marc Gilbert Harry Gubbins Robert Hangel Denise Herron Brooks and Margie Kindel Lee's Sports and Sportswear John and Pat Leinen Ned Liddle Christopher and Margo Light Pat and Kathleen Miller Timothy O'Rourke Peter and Susan Ordway Raymond and Elaine Papp Aaron Phipps Harmon Strong Rolf Swanson David Tattan RogerTuuk

MEMBERSHIPS Organizations, Agencies, and B~ Midwest Mountaineering Mountain Dreams International, Inc

Gifts of $100 to $499 Jerry Allen and Connie Pausits-Allen Eastern Mountain Sports Sierra Club - Chippewa Valley Group

Gifts of up to $99 Anthony Cook Donald and Brita Dorn Susan Drobny Ron and Jane Dziurda Larry Galen Milton Griffin Kurt and Stephanie Hieshetter Keith Kepler Al and Jean Moberly Howard Oppengard Portage Central Elementary P.T.O. Neil Rinne Scott Stephenson Bruce Ventura and Tina Hall Joan Young and Omer Young Irvin Zaenglein

Gifts and Grants of $500 or more American Hiking Society Exxonmobil Foundation Samuel l. Newhouse Foundation

DONATIONS

Trail Supporters .....................................................................................................................................................................


Patrons are individuals or households that generously provide $250 or more each year in membership dues or contributions.

Walter M. Srogi Harmon V. Strong Irene Szabo Werner Veit

Lee's 88 Fun «Adventure

311 West Kilgore Portage, MI 49002

(616) 381-7700

David and Jan Cornell Greg Davis Shirley Hearn Robert J. Schwartz

... and a Thank you to Our North Country Trail Patrons

Law Offices of Barry S. Cohen N9661 Willlow Road

Elkhart Lake, WI 53020 (920) 565-4225 Sherpers, Inc.

Everything for the Great Outdoors

225 East Wisconsin Ave. Oconomowoc, WI 53066

(414) 547-6847 10730 West Janesville Road Hales Comers, WI 53130

(414) 425-6888

Harbor Springs Cycling Club

PO Box 364 Harbor Springs, MI 49740

EMS STORES Pittsburgh: ( 412) 364-8078

(412) 835-0315 Monroeville: (412) 380-4012

Erie: (814) 866-7600

Butler County Chamber of Commerce

281 South Main Street Butler, PA 16003 (724) 283-2222

Sandhill Marketing & Communications 1715 Glendale Boulevard

Kalamazoo, MI 49004 (616) 382-2561

Fax: (616) 345-4256

Exkursion Outfitters 4037 William Penn

Monroeville, PA 15146 (412) 372-7030 Fax: 372-7046

Bill Prall Touring Gear

108 East Third Street Harbor Springs, MI

(231) 526-7152

Mountain Dreams International, Inc.

5500 Walnut Street Pittsburgh, PA 15232

(412) 621-4878

benefits, including a reduced rate on ads in The North Star and special mention and contact information both on this page and on our web site, www. northcountrytra i I .org

Big Prairie Builders, Inc

Giving Something Back 964 S. Cypress Avenue White Cloud, MI 4934

(616) 689-1310

Business members of the North Coun try Trail Association contribute at least $150 per year to the NCTA. In addition to supporting a worthy cause, our val ued business members enjoy various

Our Valued Business Members


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

NONPROFIT U.S. POSTAGE

PAID Grand Rapids, Ml

Permit 340 * North~ - Star

invent

The Robert N. and catherlne R. Alt Family Foundatioo

Unlvanal Forest "8ducW

Tfi• Lowell ANta Community Fund

Xbe Grand Rapids Foundation

North Star Vol. 20, No. 3 (2001)

Documents

Transcript of North Star Vol. 20, No. 3 (2001)