The Spring Meeting of the North Country Trail Associa tion this year drove home a truth that we, as an organization, are going to have to confront in the next couple of years: we are not and cannot be a small hiking club any longer, and we have to learn to accept that truth and learn how to handle it.

The NCTA started small; small membership, small budget, and a big idea, so big that it was a little awesome to compre hend just how big the idea was. In the twelve years since a handful of activists founded the organization, there has been a two or three thousand percent growth in membership and annual budget. We are no longer small, except possibly in overall numbers, and that's changing rapidly, too.

The ideas are still big, but now we have to learn to confront .hem. Taking on an executive director, and with the budget required to support paid staffing, means that we can no longer think small. This means that things are going to have to change in how we operate; it will be irn practible and inefficent to have to have a major meetingto deal with minor issues.

We have taken the step in faith to hire an extremely competent executive director; now, we need to take the step in faith to give her room to operate. In other words, we need to learn how to set policy, and let her deal with the nuts and bolts.

Now, this is really nothing new; it's done all the time. In my realincarnation, I have spent many years as a government reporter,so I'm comfortable using terms of local government. We have to learn that, in taking on an executive director, we have moved from a "strong mayor" form of government to a "council/manager" form. Now, we have to learn to operate in the different style, and it will mean many changes.

Along with this growth has come a need to change the focus of the newsletter a little. There was a time that we could do a lot of the board business in the newsletter, since the board and membership were pretty much one and the same. In future newsletters, we are slowly going to pull away from handling internal board business in the newsletter, and focus more on items of general membership interest.This, too, will be an evolutionary change, as we learn how to handle the new way of operating, but it should result in a newsletter more interest ing and readable to the general membership.

One thing I'd like to ask for submissions on: reminiscences of the early days of the organization. At the spring meeting, Art Holland told a wonderful story of his first days in the organization, and I'd like to see some stories like that, so that we don't fully lose touch with the early days, when we were a small organization. Though grow we must, it would still be wonderful to keep that atmosphere, of a band of brothers and sisters united in marching toward a common goal and a common horizon.

* * *

The deadline for the next issue of the newsletter is Sept. 1, 1992; Copy received by the editor after that date cannot be assured of a place in the newsletter; receiving it well before that date is highly appreciated For future reference, the dead line for the winter issue of the newsletter will be Dec.I, 1992.

• Keyboarq Trails "

ct •• rnnmrrm~ . by the Editor :t111111111 nf I . I . c::m::::) .

North Country Troll Association Newsletter, Summer, 1992

REGIONAL AFFILIATES New York: Finger Lakes Trail Conference. PO Box 18048, Rochester NY 14618-0048 Ohio: Buckeye Trail Association, PO Bm 254, Worthington OH 43085

Pl- report any ettora or omlsal ons to the editor.

(608) 264-5610

(701) 232-8513

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

(414) 354-8987

(616) 452-4487 (517) 547-7402 (313} 548-1737 (906) 225-1585 (616) 891-1366 (313} 853-0292 (313) 200-2921 (616) 363-5966 (313) 231-1257 (616) 784-5050 (906) 338-2680 (616} 689-6876

(216} 884-0281 (216) 867-3371 (216) 884-4757 (216) 332-1745

(814) 968-5759 (814) 43.S-2371 (814) 43.5-2371 (412) 364-2864 (814) 723-5150

(607) 272-5119 {716) 281H191 (607) 564-3548 (607) 272-8679 (607) 334-3872

(313) 548-1737 (906) 338-2680 (412) ns-0678 (616) 891-1366 (616) 689-6876

(616) 846-8874

PRINTED ON

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PAPER

North Dakot1 Linda Mieke, 1536 Second Ave. S, Fargo ND 58103

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE ADMINISTRATOR Tom Gilbert, National Park Service, 700 Rayovac Dr., Suite 100,

M<KJison WI 53711

Minnesota Rod MacRae, 1210 W. 22nd St, Minneapolis MN 55405 Harlan Uljequist, 1605 W. Medicine Lake Dr., Plymouth MN 55441 Jim Richards, Rt 1, Callaway MN 56521

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

Pennsylvania Don and Brita Dorn, Star Rt, Box 476, Sheffield PA 16347 Barbara A Smith, 11 W. Main St, Galeton PA 16922 John G. Hipps, 11 W. Main St, Galeton PA 16922 Glenn Oster, 784 Olive St, Pittsburg PA 15237 Nancy Schuler, PO Box 194, Warren PA 16365

Ohio Emily Gregor, 6502 Olde York Rd., Parma Hts OH 44130 Cecil Dobbins, 783 Cliffside Dr., Aklon OH 44313 Jim Sprague, 4406 Maplecrest, Parma OH R. Baird Stew~ 215 w. 12th St., Salem, Ohio 44460

Michigan Pat Allen, 2215 Sylvan Dr. SE, Grand Rapids Ml 49506 Wes BO'{d, 14815 Rome Road, Manttou Beach Ml 49253 Derek Blount, 906 N. Alexander. RO'{al Oak Ml 48067 Don Elzinga, 1010 Allouez, Marquette Ml 49855 Kenneth Gackler, 418 W. Johnson, Caledonia Ml 49316 Arden Johnson, 600 Tennyson, Rochester Hills, Ml 48307 Martha K. Jones, 1857 Torquay Ave, RO'{al Oak Ml 48073 Huth Sack, 2317 Footer NE, Grand Rapids Ml 49505 Vince Smtth, Box 76, WMmore Lake Ml 48189 Darlene Snyder, 4067 Luxford, Comstock Park Ml 49321 Doug Welker, R1, Box 59A, Pelkie Ml 49958 Virginia Wunsch, Rt. 1, Mundy Ave. Whtte Cloud Ml 49349

BOARD OF DIRECTORS New York

Doris and Clifford Abba!, Rt 1, Bm 259, Spencer NY 14883 Howard S. Beye, 202 Colebourne Rd., Rochester NY 14609 Laura McGuire, 1 Boylan Rd, Newfield NY 14867 Thomas J. Reimers, 3C Wildflower Dr., Ithaca NY 14850 Ed Sidc:te, 5 Clinton St, Norwich NY 13815

NEWSLETTER of the

North Country Trail Association PO Box 311, WhHe Cloud, Ml 49349 Headquarters Phone: (616) 689-1912 Editor: Wn Boyd, 14815 Rome Road, Manitou Beach, Ml 49253

Executive Dlredor: April Scholtz, PO Box 311, WMe Cloud Ml 49349

OFFICERS Preeident: Derek Blount, 906 N. Alexalder, Royal Oak Ml 48067 Vice Pl'Nident:Doug Welker, R1, Box 59A, Pelkie Ml 49958 SllCl'llllry: Helen Coyne, 212 WillC71'1 Circle, Ze6enople PA 16063 T..-urer: Kenneth Gackler, 418 W. Johnson St, Caledonia Ml 49316 Headquarters Mgr.: Virginia Wunsch, Rt 1, White Cloud Ml 49349

Poge2

A GROUP of hikers has completed a three-year, 1200 mile circuit hike of the Buckeye Trail. The group hiked one weekend a month, missing only one month. The story of their adven ture is told in the June issue of the Buckeye Trailblazer.

* * *

THE BIGGEST NEW project to hop off the NCT drawing board in the past year is in central North Dakota. Plan ners have long eyed the McCluskey irrigation canal, from Lonetree Reser voir west through Wells, Sheridan and McClean counties to lake Audubon as the only feasable route for the NCT. A group consiting of NCT and Sierra Club members is working with the U.S. Reclamation Service to make this route, over a hundred miles in length, a reality. Though the route is "usable", a fair amount of work needs to be done to make it certifiable. Potable water, camping areas, marking, etc. will be needed. NCT activists arc still explor ing the possibilities of construction of a segment of trail at the western end of the NCT, in the Lake Audubon and Sakakawea area, in the flood plains of the lake. I Tow ever, land erosion over parts of the route has brought lake en croachment onto private land. This means that some private land will have to be crossed.

* * *

LIZ FOSBERG has announced that due to a change in personal circum stances, she will be unable Lo continue as President of the North Country Trail Hiker's Club (Lansing). No replace ment has been announced.

* * *

nesota, and small but growing wolf populations in Wisconsin and Michi gan's Upper Peninsula; however, wolf depredation on livestock in Minnesota is a growing problem. Copies of the plan are available from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Endan gered Species, Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building, 1 Federal Drive, Fort Snelling, MN 55111-4056.

IT BEGINS to look more and more likely that either the main route or a branch route of the NCT will be put through Minnesota's "Arrowhead Country," instead of the currently planned route in east central Minne sota. This are.a is home to one of the few surviving wolf populations in the eastern United States. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently announced that it has revised the "Recovery Plan for the Eastern Timber Wolf' in this region, updating a 1978 version. The plan so far has resulted in a healthy wolf population in northeastern Min-

* * *

HIKERS FROM around the nation will converge September 18-20 at Missoula, Montana, Lo participate in the National Hiker's Conference, spon sored by the American Hiking Soci ety. The biennial event provides an opportunity for hikers, trail advocates, and managers of pathways to get to gether to learn from one another tech niques of creating and preserving trails.

* * *

THENATJONALRail-TrailCelebra tion will commemorate the recycling of 500 abandoned railroads into trails October 3, coinciding with the antici pated opening of the nation's 500lh abandoned rail corridor conversion. Under the slogan, "500 trails -- One Great Idea," events around the country will feature politicians, celebrities and rail-trail supporters. Organizers hope that even President George Bush will see advantage in sampling a rail-trail that day. Among the kinds of events expected on and around October 3 are trail-related hikes, marathons, bicycle tours, horse rides, bird counts, ribbon cuttings, tree-plantings, walkathons, skating demonstrations, wheelchair races, pony exhibitions and much more.

* * *

the NCT route departs from the Baker Trail, south of Cook Forest State Park in Pennsylvania. Dedication ceremo nies for the segment are planned for June 21.

ANOTHER GAP WAS CLOSED this spring when the Finger lakes Trail Association announced that ADK Onondaga had finished the Hoxie Gorge section on FLT Map M-22, closing the last gap on the Finger lakes Main Trail. Closing the 11.3 mile gap means that the NCTs longest usable length is now 465 miles, from the north end of the Onondaga Trail to the point where

* * *

ONLY A BRIDGE over the Sauble River remains to complete the major ity of the trail in the Manistee National Forest, Kathy Bietau, NCT Coordina tor for the Baldwin Ranger District of the forest, reports. It was hoped the bridge will be completed early this year, and certification will be applied for. A small segment at the north end of the forest wi U be completed as a part of the Manistee National Forest-Shore to Shore Riding-Hiking Trail project.

* * *

AT THE SPRING meeting, Tom Gilbert of the National Park Service announced that a full-lime staff mem ber has been hired into his Madison, Wisconsin office to work exclusively on the North Country Trail. The new North Country Trail Specialist is for mer Forest Service District Ranger Bill Menke, who three years ago wrote one of the best hiking articles we've ever had in the newsletter: "A Fall Journey on the North Country Trail," (Spring, 1989), a story of Bill's trip over the trail he supervised in the Manistee Ranger District of the Manis tee. National Forest Bill was also in strumental in the development of the National Forest Service maps of the NCT in the national forests, issued last year, and a vast improvement over previously available material on the NCT in the National Forests. Since Bill is a proven NCT activist, he al ready has a good start on finding his way around the North Country Trail and the ideas behind it.The NCT A and the NPS can look forward to a greatly improved responsiveness in their in terrelationship, given a full-time staf fer. Welcome aboard, Bill!

Page3

October 17·19: Mark your calendar now for the Annual Fall Meeting of the NCTA, to be held in Pennsylvania.

September 11·13: Keystone Trail Association work party at McConnels Mill State Park. Trip Leader, Mark Eckler (412) 588-6164.

Pennsylvania

October 23-25: BTA Trail Crew weekend in Pike County south of Nipgen. Contact Jim Sprague (216) 884-4757 for information.

October 24: Canal Society of Ohio wor1< party on trail and locks at Lockington Locks. Contact Jim Sprague (216) 884-4757 for information.

September 18·20: STAT rail Crew weekend in Ross County near Dulan Hollow primitive campsite, 10 miles south of Adelphi. Contact Adrian Vanko (614) 927-2079 for information.

August 22: Canal Society of Ohio work party on trail and locks at Lockington Locks. Contact Jim Sprague (216) 884-4757 for information.

Ohio

Oct. 11: Hike 6 of Hike Across Tompkins County, sponsored by Cayuga Trails Club. Contact Tom Reimers (607) 272-8675, Doris or Cliff Abbott (607) 272-5119 for more details. Hikes will be in two groups, limited to 30 fast and 30 slow hikers.

Sept. 13: Hike 5 of Hike Across Tompkins County, sponsored by Cayuga Trails Club. ContactTom Reimers (607) 272-8675, Doris or Cliff Abbott (607) 272-5119 for more details. Hikes will be in two groups, limited to 30 fast and 30 slow hikers.

Aug. 17·22: FLT Trail Crew #2 will either be building a lean-to on Map M-18, or work on selected trail improvements on Maps M-15 throu M-19 of the FLT. Contact Nick Vandam, (607) 539-6313 for more information.

Hikes will be in two groups, limited to 30 fast and 30 slow hikers.

Aug. 9: Hike 4 of Hike Across Tompkins County, sponsored by Cayuga Trails Club. ContactTom Reimers (607) 272-8675, Doris or Cliff Abbott (607) 272-5119 for more details.

July 25: FL TC President's Hike, Bristol Hills Branch, Map B-3. Meet at 10:00 AM at Access Point 16 on Map 8-3. Picnic and swimming to follow. Contact leader:, Irene Szabo (716) 658- 4321 for more information.

July 12: Hike 3 of Hike Across Tompkins County, sponsored by Cayuga Trails Club. Contact Tom Reimers (607) 272-8675, Doris or Cliff Abbott (607) 272-5119 for more details. Hikes will be in two groups, limited to 30fast and 30 slow hikers.

July 8·13: FL TC Work Crew #1 will be working along the west (M-4 thru M-6) and Bristol Hills Branch of the FLT to bring isolated segments of the trail up to standard. Contact Howard Beye, (716) 288-7191 before July 4 to make reserva tions.

New York

July 17·19: Campsite construction trip on the Chippewa NCT. Contact Rod MacRae, (612) 377-0130.

Minnesota

October 2·4: NCT Hiker's Club (Mar quette) fall meeting at Old Victoria. Contact Doug Welker (906) 338-2680 for intor mation.

September 6: NCT Hiker's Club (Marquette) annual public hike, near Wetmore Landing. Contact Jean Elzinga, (906) 225-1704 for more infonnation.

August 23 ·September 5: Trail building near Marquette, Michigan, sponsored by Sierra Qub and North Country Trail Hiker's Club (Mar quette). Contact Don Elzinga, 1010 Allouez, or Gene Elzinga 12 Middle Island drive, Mar quette, Ml 49855 (906) 225-1704 for more in formation.

Potluck planned. Contact Roland Schwtizgoe bel at (906) 226-2996.

July 25: NCT Hiker's Qub (Marquette) bridge building over west branch of Peshekee River.

July 18: NCT Hiker's Club (Marquette) day hike on Grand Island. Contact Gene Elzinga, (906) 225-1704.

July 8·9: NCT Hiker's Club (Marquette) canoe trip on Michigamme River. Contact Jerry Smith, (906) 339-2961.

July 7: NCT Hiker's Club (Marquette) summer membership meeting, Peter White library, Mrquette, 7:00 PM.

Michigan (U.P.)

SPECIAL SUMMER TRAIL PROJECT Michigan Director Arden Johnson reports that he will be doing trail work on informal projects in northern Wexford and possibly eastern Char levoix Counties during the summer, and would be glad to welcome volunteers to assist him. Tools, food, etc., are NOT provided, and there is no set schedule, so you will have to contact him to make arrangements. Camping sites are available near the work sites. For more infor mation, contact Arden Johnson, 600 Tennyson, Rochester Hills, Ml 48307 (313) 853-0292.

1JQI&.;_ Sierra Club service trips planned for July 12-18 and Oct 2-4 have been cancelled due to the illness of leader Vince Smith.

August 4: Western Michigan Chapter meeting, 7:30 PM. Call Gene at (616) 534-7170 for details.

July 19-26: Trail building in northern Michigan, near Traverse City. Service trip sponsored by Sierra Qub. Contact Ralph Powell, 2887 Dal ton, Ann Arbor, Ml 48108, (313) 971-9013, for more information.

Michigan (L.P.)

ITEMS FOR THIS COLUMN musu» recieved before the deadline date given on Page 2 of this newsletter. We wel come listing activities of affiliated or ganizations, but we must be aware of them in sufficient time for publication.

North Country Trail Association Newsletter, Summer 1992 Page4

The Hikers Paradise

783 v Cllttalde D~. AKRON, OH 44313

ALPINE ADVENTURE TRAILS TOURS, lac.

swissairff

Moderate optional length DAY hiking along skyllna trails. 7-2 weak tours basing at 15 mountain 3-4 star hotels. All hikes guided by NCT member Cecil Dobbins. For a free color brochure call (216) 867-3771, or write to:

GRINDELWALD SAAS-FEE

GSTAAD FLUELEN

ENGELBERG LEUKERBAD

KANDERSTEG ZERMATT MURR EN LENK WENG EN BETTMERALP RIGl-K ALT BAD

SWISS ALPS

l·BO

1-78 Tpk

For any members that wish to arrive early or stay beyond the meeting dates, the southwest Pennsylvania forests at this time of year are alive with color, and the nearby Pittsburgh Metropolitan Area offers many big city attractions. Packets of information will be available to interested parties in the future.

If you have any questions regarding the information provided, or need further information, please feel free to contact Mark D. Eckler, 20 East Ridge Ave., Greenville, PA, 16125 (412) 588-6164. Eckler is the President of the Sh enango Outing Club, and is the coordinator oft he NCT A 1992 Fall meeting.

The NCTA Fall 1992 meeting will be held at Lutherlyn Retreat Facility. The facility is located in the quiet, rolling hills of west-central Pennsylvania, The area is noted for its varying topography bedcause of its unique location in relation to the last ice age. The area is located at the southern edge of the Wisconsin Ice Advance. The varying topography is due to the morainal assocated deposits and the non-glaciated terrain and the copious amounts of meltwater generated by the retreating glacier.

Lutherlyn Retreat Facility is operated by the Lutheran Church of Ameria and is located just east of PA 528, three miles south of the village of Prospect. This village is situated midway between the cities of Butler and New Castle just south of US 422, which intersects with I- 79, a north-south interstate, which in turn intersects with 1-80, an east-west route. The US- 422/1-79 junction is about half an hour south of the I-80 junction with I- 79. The facility is less than a one hour drive from the Greater Pittsburgh Airport.

The section of the retreat facility we will be using is called Camp Shaulis. It is a separate unit, and can house up to 120 persons in 10 separate cabins. Each cabin sleeps up to 12 people in cots or bunk beds. Wallace Hall, located at Camp Shaulis, is a large meeting hall with a stage and a fireplace. The dining hall is about 100 yards from Camp Shaulis on the main campgrounds.

The cost to NCT A members, for the weekend package of two nights lodging (Friday and Saturday) and five meals, starting with Saturday breakfast and ending with Sunday lunch, is $45 per person. For a reduced rate of$31 per person, the Retreat Facility will offer a secondary package of one nights lodging (Saturday) and four meals, starting with Satur day lunch and ending with Sunday lunch.

For members not wanting to stay in the cabins, there are a number of motels in the area. Both Butler and New Castle are located about 1/2 hour driving time from the Facility and both of these cities have motels by the score. A list will be provided at a later date. There are also several private camp grounds in the area. The three state parks in the area have no camping facilities associated with them, which allows private campgrounds to proliferate. A list of these campgrounds will be provided, also.

NCTA Fall Meeting set for western Pennsylvania

Poge5 North Country Trail Association Newsletter, Summer, 1992

IT WAS also announced that the regular fall meeting of the Association will be held in western Pennsylvania, in the vicinity of McConnel's Mill and Moraine State Parks on Oct 16-18. Details of the planned meeting will be announced elsewhere.

IN OTHER BUSINESS at the Spring Meeting, NFS Representative Tom Gilbert told the meeting that a new person bad been added to the Madison, WI, office staff, to deal solely with NCNST issues. The new representative, Bill Menke, is a former Forest Service District Ranger in the Manistee Na tional Forest, and bas experience with theNCNST.

Gilbert also told the meeting that the Park Service is in the process of developing planning assistance and coordination for selected projects along the route of the trail, and indicated that this process will become more impor tant as more work has to be done in areas that are predominately held in private ownership. This planning process will involve coordination with local units of government to establish specific corri dor plans for the trail, and would allow development of environmental and his torical impact policies for each section.

The NPS representative also told the meeting that the recent certification of the Birdseye Hollow section of the Finger Lakes Trail brings the total certi fied distance of the trail to 1003 miles, with certification applications for about 36 more miles of trail in process. Sev eral other trail segments are reportedly close to a certification application, Gilbert said.

THEBOARDALSOapprovedsev eral other proposals from Ms. Scholtz, including approval of grant proposals for office equipment, a new NCTA mem bership brochure, approval of continu ation of efforts to secure base federal funding for the trail, approval of a new finance/budget committee, and approval of revised procedures for handling board business.

The board also approved a proposal from Ms. Scholtz to develop a plan to centralize coordination of all formal and informal agreements with private land owners, and to develop a committee to work on land protection issues.

worked out. Board members will be informed of the place and time of the meeting through a special mailing as soon as things have been settled.

DUE TO THE amount of work necessary to deal with the proposed long range plan for the Association, it was decided to hold a special Board meet ing, possibly the weekend of September 12-13, at a location to be decided upon, to deal strictly with long-range planning and other related issues, such as the development of an Adopt-A-Trail pro gram, meeting overhauls, chapter de velopment, and other such issues.

It is believed that special funding may be available from the Park Service for the meeting, but details are yet to be

Among categories dropped are stu dent and senior citizen memberships.

In making the changes, the board also approved a measure that will make memberships renewable on their anni versary, rather than all coming due on the same date. (i.e., a membership taken out in December would come due the following December, rather than in June, as has been done in the past.) This should provide more continuity in the organization's cash flow.

Also included in the membership proposals approved by the board was a membership drive to be undertaken in the fall of 1992. Direct mailings through purchased lists will be a keynote of the drive, which is to be funded through new grant money.

$20.00 $30.00 $35.00 $50.00 $100.00 $500.00 $400.00 $600.00

Basic Membership Household Organizational Trail Leader Pathfinder Corporate Life (individual) Life (with spouse)

the board that the dues overhaul was necessary to that the organization can begin to cover the increased costs of operating a general office, and to cover other increased expenses the organiza tion is facing.

Included in the overhaul will be a decrease in the number and types of membership categories. The new cate gories and their rates are:

PERHAPS the most sweeping change taken by the board meeting was a large revision in the membership struc ture and dues level, to go into effect on September 1, to allow dues renewals at the old rate.

Executive Director April Scholtz recommended an overhaul of the dues structure and rates. The proposal was based on a survey of other trail and en vironmental groups. Ms. Scholtz told

DEREK BLOUNT of Royal Oak, Michigan, is the new president of the Association. An executive with Michi gan Bell, Blount is a long-time Boy Scout leader, has been the driving force behind trail development in the Macki nac City, MI, area, and was in charge of the development of the memorable 1990 North Country Trail 10th Anniversary project.

Elected Vice-President was Doug Welker of Pelkie, Michigan, in the upper peninsula. Welker, a former Michigan DNR worker, will also head a new trail management committee, which was formed at the spring meeting.

. The new secretary for the organiza tion is Helen Coyne of Zelienope, PA, an A YH executive and experienced hiker and biker.

No surprise was the re-election of Ken Gackler of Caledonia, MI, to again be the organization's treasurer.

Due to the possibility of a major overhaul of the composition of the NCT A Board of Directors, it was decided to add no new directors to the board at the Spring meeting, but to merely re-elect all board members whose terms have expired, reserving possible new addi tioons until a future date.

At the 1992 Spring Meeting of the North Country Trail Association, held in White Cloud on the weekend of May 15-17, Derek Blount was selected to be the new president of the Association, an overhaul of the dues and membership structure was undertaken, and a special meeting was planned to deal with the long-range plans for the Association, along with several other actions.

NCTA Sgrine Meetine

Blount new president NCTA dues to increase

North Country Trail Association Newsletter, Summer, 1992 Page6

light the woods in such a way that the brush seemed to disappear, allowing us to see deep into the woods.

What we saw, not more than a hundred yards away, was what looked like an old, weather-beaten farm, com plete with farm houses and barns. Then, the light changed back, and the whole apparition disappeared. Once more there was just the thick brush.

It happened so quick that I was not sure I saw what I had seen. Now that I knew what I was looking for, a hard stare through the brush revealed that there was indeed some buildings there. The wind took that moment to pick up, and thunder could be heard in the dis tance. Jim said, "If you quit now, I'll buy you a beer."

riorating weather and the strangeness of the woods, I had the feeling of being in a cemetery after midnight. I was look ing for an excuse to quit for the day, but felt duty-bound to stay and try to finish the trail to the highway. This was the last real chance we would have to build trail before the woods filled with deer hunters, and then winter.

Jim must have been entertaining similar thoughts when it happened. We were both leaning on our tools, taking a quick break while looking off to the northwest into the thick brush when the light changed. Low, quick clouds rush ing by overhead temporarily blocked out the direct light from the sun, and at the same time, allowed light to filter in from the north. The effect was to back-

by Richard Seibert Jim and I were working on a new

section of the North Country Trail near Chandler Hill in northern lower Michi gan. Jim, a volunteer from the Audubon Society who I had coerced into helping me that October day, was better suited to office work than trail building, but he did the best he could. Even if Jim wasn't much help, I was grateful for the com pany. As the day wore on, the weather deteriorated from a nice Indian-summer type day to a cold, windy, miserable hint of winter, with a threat of rain.

The section we were working on was an especially desolate, bushy place, crowned by old bent and gnarled trees. The going was tough. Between the dete-

INCIDENT at Chandler Hill

Pagel North Country Trail Association Newsletter, Summer, 1991

Page a got off one more blast of "00" buck shot, hitting one of them in the leg, before he collapsed on the porch from lack of blood.

Neighbors, hearing the shooting, rushed to the Talbert's house, passing the fleeing yellow Buick with the two fugitives, and got the license number, but the car got away.

Young Nathan, ten at the time, wit nessed the whole shooting, and suffered a bullet wound to his left leg, which left him crippled; he walked with a cane the rest of his life. It was not known if the bullet that injured Nathan came from the robbers or from his father's gun.

The police investigation traced the car to Mike Walters, and it was believed the other members of the gang were his half brother, and his girl friend. No trace of the two, or the car, were ever found, and after a few years, the investigation was dropped.

There must have been some truth to the rumor that the Talberts kept money on the farm, because after the shootings John deposited a large sum of money in the bank, which he later lost when the bank went bust. The bodies of John Jr., Tom, Mike, and later Marry were all buried in a row on a little hill southwest of the house.

A followup article on the shootings twelve years after Marry died reported that there were no new leads regarding the incident, and that all investigations were dropped. John Sr. and Nathan re covered from their wounds physically, but mentally were depressed and broken men. They lived as recluses, being sel dom seen. Neighbors reported strange goings on around the farm, and a person with a cane and a limp, supposedly Nathan, would occasionally scare strang ers off with a gun. Although the two Talberts continued to run the farm, it was allowed to be overrun with brush, hiding the farm and the Talberts from view. A picture of the farm in the paper showed that the farm we had seen was unmistakably the Talbert place.

As tragic as the events at the Tal bert farm were, what concerned me the most was what one of the locals had said about the land being private. We had taken most every effort to build the NCT on state land, and stayed away from private property, unless we had written permission. According to the plat book, the whole area was state land, but just to be on the safe side, the next day I drove over to the Otsego county court house to check on the property.

One county department had the land

U.S. around 1900, and married Marry Crane, a local girl. They had three boys: John, Jr., Tom, and Nathan, the young est. The family was close-knit, hard working, and stayed mostly to them selves. They had few outside friends, but were well liked. John, Sr., served on the township board for a while. It was rumored that they had a distrust of banks, and kept a large sum of money hidden on the farm.

Talk of this must have reached some strangers traveling through the area, because in the summer of 1928, just as the effects of the depression were begin ning to be felt, two men and a woman driving a yellow Buick showed up at the Talberts, claiming car trouble. The Tal berts, just sitting down for Sunday din ner, invited the three to have dinner with them, but later became suspicious of them when they asked a lot of questions about money.

Unexpectedly, one of the three - later to be identified as Mike Walters of Detroit - pulled out a revolver and demanded money. John Jr. was so infu riated by this that he tried to grab the gun, and was shot three times in the chest, dying from his wounds.

In the mayhem that followed, Mike emptied his revolver, hitting Marry in the head, causing brain damage that she never recovered from; she died three years later. Tom was hit in the neck, killing him instantly; John, Sr., was hit in the side as he ran to the kitchen to get the shotgun. While Mike was trying to reload his revolver, John Sr., although bleeding profusely from his wound, emerged from the kitchen with the shotgun and almost cut Mike in half with two shotgun blasts. The other members of the gang made a beeline for the car with John Sr., in hot pursuit. John

"Fine," I said. "Let's get the hell out of here."

We stopped at a local country bar about three miles away. There were just four local people there, and the bar tender. Jim might not have been much of a trail builder, but he had a real gift of bag, and within five minutes had those people talking like they were long-lost family.

Jim was talking about building the North Country Trail like he was the chief engineer, and telling how it would bring people into the area. Then he asked whose old farm that we had seen over by Chandler Hill.

The effect was electrifying. All eyes fixed on Jim in a cold stare. There was dead silence for a while. Then, all the locals began excitedly talking at once. "What were you doing at the Talbert's old place?" "Did you see anybody?" "Hunters don't even go around there, strange things happen over there." "I would stay away from there if I were you." With that, they all left - every body, that is, except the bartender, who just sat there not saying anything.

"What was that all about?" I asked him.

He just sort of chuckled and said, "Folks around here are a little supersti tious and think the old Talbert place is haunted, and with good reason, I might add. If you got a minute or two, I can fill you in on it."

He said his wife kept a scrapbook of newsworthy events in the area, and pulled out a thick scrapbook, thumbed through it, and pulled out a small packet of yellowed clippings dating back to the late twenties, thirties and early forties. It took a while for me to read them all, but the gist of all of them was this:

John Talbert, Sr., emigrated to the


-WB

Editor's note: Rich Seibert adds, "This story was told to me by a person who wishes to remain anonymous, but to the best of my knowledge the story is believed to be true. We are still on the lookout for an old man with a cane, and if we find out anything new about this incident, I will let you know. "

The only question I have is, "ls this a Tall TaleoftheNorthCountry Trail?"

Or isn't it?

* * *

Poge9 leading up against Nathan's headstone. Pinned to my rake handle was the note, scribbled in the feeble handwriting of an old person. On one side, it read, "I have done evil in the eyes of the Lord, I will repent the rest of the days of my life."

On the other side it said, "Thank you for paying the taxes." .

I have visited the Talbert place several times after that September day, but since then, no one has done any repair work on the farm. It has lapsed into a state of decay, and the brush has taken over. No one has taken care of the cemetery, no one has paid the taxes, and I have never seen any more footprints punctuated with cane marks.

After 1987, the taxes were no longer paid on the Talbert property, and it came on the delinquent tax rolls. It was bought by an anonymous person, who, after perfecting the title, donated the property to the Little Travis Conser vancy as an outright gift, with three stipulations: (1) That a conservation easement be placed on the property prohibiting any building, and that the property be allowed to return to its natu ral state; (2) That an easement be al lowed for the NCT to pass through the property; and (3) That a fence be placed around the cemetery.

break in the back door of the house, and had broken the window, probably the same person who had broken the gate.

I left the farm, going southwest to see if I could find the cemetery. It was no problem getting there, as I found a well-used path leading to it. The ceme tery had four identical older stones, and two newer ones on the north end, all in a row. It was obvious that someone was taking care of that little cemetery. Sometime during the past year, some one had cut the grass, trimmed lhebrush, and had planted fresh flowers. In the soft ground there were old human footprints punctuated by indentations that appeared to be made by a cane. A flash of inspira tion came over me, and I surmised that Nathan, although he would now be in his 70's, must the the strange old man who was paying the taxes and keeping the farm in good repair.

It all made sense until I examined the headstones. Starling from the south, there was John Jr., Tom, Mike the gun man, and Marry. Then John Sr., who had died in 1958, The last stone read Nathan Talbert, 1918-1982.

Obviously, Nathan was not paying any taxes or planting flowers, but who was?

Again, I forgot about the Talbert place until fall a year later. A near tornado-like storm had passed through the area, knocking down several trees and branches on the trail. It was a real mess, and somehow I ended up with the job of cleaning it up.

I spent two days working on it, and was not even half done. I left my tools carefully under a tree, and it was a week later, September 28, before I could get back to the trail.

When I got there, I found that my tools had been moved, and my rake was missing. I was a Utile steamed, as that rake was my favorite tool, but I decided to work with what I had.

To my amazement, someone had cleared the rest of the trail. Trees and branches were neatly cut and stacked along the side of the trail, and in the soft dirt was one set of footprints punctuated by a cane.

Now that I had nothing to do, I decided to look at the Talbert farm again. The place was the same as it had been the year before, except that someone had fixed the front gate, and the broken window had been replaced.

I cut over to the cemetery, and it, too, was the same. The grass had been cut, and fresh flowers planted. The only thing different was that my rake was

listed as state properly, but a closer description of the land description showed that there was a problem. I was referred to another department, where a woman who was familiar with the property told me that the property was indeed still private, and was mistakenly listed on the plat as state land, but that it was one of those complicated legal glitches that was easier to leave alone than to try and straighten it out. She said that it was odd that they did not list an owner, but every year until 1980, a strange old man with a limp and a cane would show up and pay the taxes in cash with old bills, but that the last few years, the the cash came in the mail with no return address.

Normally, there was enough money to cover the taxes, plus a little extra which was applied to the next year, but due to a special assessment the tax was now $15 short. The woman said as much as she hated doing it, unless $15 more was paid, it would have to go on the delinquent tax roll. I don't know what came over me, but I paid her the $15. She thanked me, and said, "You don't know how much paperwork you have saved me."

Over the winter, the Talbert prop erty was forgotten. While I was working somewhere else, a local group finished the NCT through the Chandler Hill area, and as it was too lake to stop and relo cate the trail, I just decided to not say anything about the fact that part ofit was on private property.

One nice summer afternoon, I de cided to inspect the new section of trail and take a closer look at the old farm. The crew had done a nice job, and it was no problem getting close to the farm, which, with all the leaves on the trees, was completely hidden from the trail. It was a real shin tangle to get to the farm because of all the brush. The farm itself was enclosed in a fence with a gate someone had recently broken. Every thing about the farm from a distance seemed to say that it was abandoned, but a closer look as I peeked into the win dows and tried doors revealed that al though the place was weatherbeaten and needed paint, everything was in perfect order, as if some still lived there. Inside of the fence, all of the brush had been cleared, and it even looked as if the grass had been recently cut.

There was nobody there, and yet I half expected to see a yellow Buick appear any time on the now impassible driveway, as if it were 1928. The only thing out of order, outside of the broken gate, was that someone had tried to


North Country Trail Bookstore PO Box 311 • White Cloud, Ml • 49349

JUST PUBLISHED! FOLLOWING THE NORTH COUNTRY

NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL by Wes Boyd, NCTA Newsletter editor. All-new edition. 64 pages Many maps and photos Now available: the most complete overview of the North Country Trail, full of information for both the enthusiast and the casual user. It's not a trail guide, but a trail discussion that features the most inclusive and up-to-date information on the trail available in one volume . "The aim is to give the reader the information necessary to find out what they need to know to follow the trail" - and plenty else, besides!

$5.95 ($4.00 wholesale l 0 or more). Add $1.00 per copy for shipping. Michigan residents add 4% state sales tax.

"

We were re-excited once more, as we always are, to read about the North Country Trail, especially something that covers the trail from one end to the other.

It is a good guide for those parts of the trail that are certified and for directing the hiker in between on uncertified, unusable, projected and possible routes of passage. It is, at the same time, more than just a guide. The author himself calls it a "discussion". We like to think of it as a story; of dreams, accomplishments, excitement, whose history and experience has been, is, and will be, a great and wonderful adventure for many thousands of outdoor people for a long time to come.

Wes' discussion of the trail that begins at Lake Cham plain in northeastern New York state and ends at Lake Sakakawea in North Dakota is as enjoyable as it is informa tive. The reader will appreciate the occasional photographs illustrative of the trails multiuse. We, especially, like the graphic portrayals of the trail in each state that so nicely depicts the trails location by those sections that are certified, usable, projected and possible.

This 64-page gem is a must for anyone and everyone interested in trails, whether it be the North Country Trail or any other. It is a nice way to experience 3,249 miles of non motorized trail whether you ever hike it, in part or end-to-end.

-Smithhipps

The long awaited second edition of Wes Boyd's "Follow ing the North Country National Scenic Trail" is ready for sale.

Published by the North Country Trail Association, is it a bargain of a thing at $5.95.

The book is appropriately dedicated to Ginny Wunsch, our faithful Headquarters Manager, and to the memory of Peter Wolfe, the first person to walk the route of the North Country Trail end-to-end.

Following the North Country National Scenic Trail, by Wes Boyd ($5.95 plus $1.00 shipping from North Country Trail Store, PO Box 311, White Cloud, MI 49349)

Book Review

New NCTA trail book is a gem

Newsletter of the North Country Trail Association, Summer, 1992 Page10

Are you doing any kind of volunteer trail work this year?

If you are, filing a report with the NCTA Is needed to comply with the NPS agreement, and to verify volunteer hours.

"Trall work• need not include work directly on the trail. Any kind of supporting volunteer effort --stuffing envelopes, making phone calls, and the like, qualifies. For further information, contact:

North Country Trail Association Office of the Director: April Scholtz, 14nO 178th Avenue Grand Haven, Ml 49417

thousands who were part of the organizational resolutions of support.

There were three major court cases that directly impacted the project. These cases centered around the ownership of the former railroad right-of-way. The Greene County Common Pleas Court, the State of Ohio Appeals Court and finally the U.S. Supreme Court all decided favorably on use of railroad rights-of-way as a rail-trail.

Additional community support consisted of: •The receipt of$14,500 from the Miami Valley Re

gional Bicycle Committee to purchase bike racks, print bro chures, silk screen rules and maps and construct information boards at all staging areas;

•A $3,000 grant from the Xenia Rotary Club to pur chase a shelter house for one of the staging areas;

• 9-1-1 phones were purchased by the Friends of the Trail and Miami Township Fire Department;

• The consultants donated $500 for the dedication ceremony;

• The Xenia-Wilberforce Optimist Club donated a special bicycle to the Park District for use in patrolling the trail;

<The city of Xenia, Village of Yellow Springs and Greene County Engineer provided all design/engineering funds, totalling over $145,000;

<The Xenia Peglegs, a local Volksmarch Club, insti tuted a year-round 30KM volksbike program for the trail;

•A management agreement was entered into be tween the City of Xenia, Village of Yellow Springs and Greene County Park District to insure that long-term profes sional management is provided.

The Little Miami Scenic Trail is exceeding all expecta tions as an alternative transportation corridor, as a protected greenway, as a facility for Americans with disabilities and to help meet the divirsified outdoor recreation needs for the residents of our county and region.

One of the biggest problems we experienced was keeping people of all ages off the trail during construction. Now that the Little Miami Scenic Trail is finished, a new chapter in trail acquisition, design, construction and manage ment was written. The environmental assessment, engineer ing specifications and management techniques have all been duly recorded and are available to other Ohio Park and Recreation Agencies for use as they see fit.

The Little Miami Scenic Trail in Greene County, Ohio

A 9.7 mile long, 10 foot wide asphalt, multi-purpose rail trail between Xenia and Yellow Springs, Ohio, was officially completed on December 20, 1991, just 10 years following the National Park Service study teams visit to Yellow Springs to identify and locate the preferred potential corridor of the North Country National Scenic Trail through Ohio.

The Little Miami Scenic Trail is a portion of an 80 mile long independent hike, bike and walking trail between Milford and Springfield in southwest Ohio, and is now a key link of the 150 mile H-Connector Trail project that the United States Congress and President Bush appropriated $3 million to complete on December 18, 1991.

The Little Miami Scenic Trail is Ohio's longest rail-trail project, built utilizing over $2.3 million dollars of Federal Highway Administration funds administered by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

This multi-purpose trail involved the National Park Serv ice, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission, Miami Valley Regional Bikeway Committee, City of Xenia, Village of Yellow Springs and the Greene County Engineer, all working in partnership to plan, fund, acquire, defend, design, construct, and now man age the project, which had a total cost in excess of $2,500,000. Each of the above government and non-profit agencies, along with the Buckeye Trail, Little Miami, Inc., Friends of Trail, Greene County Recreation and Parks Advisory Board, Green County Board of Parks Commissioners and countless indi viduals played a significant role in the development and completion of this project.

The goals of this major undertaking were: -Encourage the use of the bicycle as a means of eve

ryday transportation to activity generators such as parks, schools, shopping and employment centers.

• Make bicycling safer in the five-county area be tween Clark and Hamilton Counties.

-Encourage bicycling for recreation, sport and physi cal fitness.

• Develop a continuous bikeway system for intercity and intracity travel. ·

• Relate bikeway planning with social and environ mental aspects of the community and region and to encourage shared use with walkers, hikers, disabled and equestrian users within the right of way, where condtions permit.

The Greene County community came together to over whealmingly support the Little Miami Scenic Trail during the public involvement and public hearing phase of the environ mental assessment process. This phase demanded that most concerns be mitigated. There were 150 people who com mented at or following the required public bearing, with 114 for the project, two for another alignment and 34 against the project. In addition, we received a petition from Antioch students who were against the project, that was countered by

North Country Trail Association Newsletter, Summer, 1992

A: OK, trail buffs, it's up to you. Let's hear those ideas!

Q: One question I've never found an adequate answer for is bow you handle trails across grassland areas without excessive maintenance or expense.

The only time I've seen it done is in the Sheyenne Grasslands of North Dakota, where the trail is run from marker post to marker post across the grasslands. However, in the Sheyenne Grasslands, we are talking about shortgrass prairie, which is kept trimmed by heavy grazing.

However, when you're crossing grassy areas further east, grass can reach waist deep and become nearly impassable in fairly quick order, and the only obvious ways to keep a treadway open are heavy vehicle use, repeated mowings al fairly short intervals, or grass-specific persistant herbicides, such as Atrizine.

All three of these solutions have obvious complications, environ mental objections, high expense in money, man-hours or both, or multiple use questions.

So, how do you route a trail across such areas and avoid these problems?

(Editor's note: We're going to try something new, here. In each issue, we will pose some question about trail construction or maintenance, to throw it open for comments. Sometimes, these will be knotty problems where new answers are being sought. Please send comments or responses to the newsletter; please mark the envelope "Trail Tech". We are also looking for possible questions that could be posed in future forums.)

How do you handle grassland trails?

blaze and then go back if another blaze seems needed. Or have a friend who will keep some distance ahead to identify blazes what will appear shortly.

- I found it much easier to blaze a trail in the late fall or winter when I could see the trail direction for some distance. PROBLEM: In the late spring or summer many of the blazes that were so clear in the winter were completely hidden by leaves. SOLUTION: Check every trail in the late spring and replace bidden blazes with others in better loca tions or trim the brush to make all blazes visible.

- Excerpts from article by Dick Blake, "Connecticut Woodlands"

and permanent and I could put the blaze right in the middle of the trail to avoid confusion. PROBLEM: Even the light est snow hid these blazes com plctcly By the way, a bit of moisture on a paint blaze makes it as slippery as ice (I have the bruises to prove it!) SOLUTION: Put blazes on vertical surfaces at about eye level.

- Occasionally as I reblazed a trail I became aware that there was a long distance between blazes and added one to improve hiker confidence. PROB LEM: Often a few more steps made the next blaze obvious so I had two blazes in a very short distance. SOLUTION: Always walk until you find the next

I have had a rare opportunity for a trail maintainer. I started blazing trails before I knew anything about trail main tenance. I made almost every mistake possible and have learned to correct many of them. I should like to share some of these so that other trail main taincrsmight correct errors before paint ing them into a trail.

- I thinned the paint quite a bit. This made it run into the crevices of the bark and made the paint go a lot further. PROBLEM: It also made the paint run down the crevices so that the blazes had small beards. The blazes also faded rapidly so I had the fun of painting them again the next season. SOLUTION: Do not thin the paint.

- I am six feet tall so it was easy to place blazes 7 feet from the ground. This height made them easy to sec from a distance and kept them above the undergrowth. PROBLEM: Many hikers arc (shorter) women, children, or men who get sore necks looking up. Further more, lots of hikers have to watch where they put their feet. SOLUTION: Put blazes at about eye level, a little lower on steep uphill slopes and a little higher on downhill slopes.

- I found it very convenient to put blazes on both sides of a tree. I only needed to stop half as often and the blazes were about the same distance apart from both directions. PROBLEM: A tree that is conspicuous going north is often screened by another tree or bend in the trail going south. I have also realized that it is comfortable to look back when in doubt and see the blaze from some other direction at some intermediate point. Furthermore, when a tree with two blazes falls, I have a double loss. SOLUTION: Paint the northerly blazes when going north and the southerly blazes when going south. Ditto for cast and west.

- I put lots of blazes on the trail so that a beginner would not get lost. PROBLEM: My trail looks like a picket fence. SOLUTION: Lim it blazes so that you can see just one blaze ahead. When it is impossible to get off a trail. blazes are needed less often. In areas of turns, side trails, orothcrconfusing places it is reassuring to see two blazes.

- I put some blazes on the rocks and ledges under foot. These are good

Painting blazes -- goofs I have made

North Country Troll Association Newsletter, Summer, 1992 Page12

dling requests for reimbursements will be established. If you have any experi ence or interest in finance, please con tact Ken.

The Land Protection Committee will investigate what otherorganizations are doing in this area, legal aspects of land protection, and financial responsibili ties. This doesn't necessarily mean that the NCT A will be acquiring and holding land. It means that we now accept that this is an issue that must be a concern of the NCT A. We need a better under standing of the issues before accepting or delegating responsibilities of land acquisition and protection.

We must realize that the NCTA is in competition with thousands of other organizations for America's resources, We must learn to compete in that area, too. Check your own mailbox for a week and see how many organizations turn up there asking for support or your mem bership.

A new membership drive will be gin this year to radically increase our organization's effectiveness and expo sure to the public. We are growing, but not at a fast enough rate to support the needed programs of an expanding trail. We need your help to find other new members. If you know of someone who you think might be interested in mem bership, contact Arden Johnson and he will send them a membership invitation. Gift memberships are also a good way to introduce a friend to the NCT A.

We will be doing some serious fund raising. We must begin to financially support our Executive Director and her office if we are to move forward. In support of this effort the Association dues will be rising. For too long, we have had the lowest dues structure in the country. We can no longer hold the line against inflation and expanding needs. We as members must bear more of the responsibility of supporting the NCT A. This will allow the NCT A to better fulfill the needs of building and main taining Trail. We will be printing more trail guides in the future and the costs of initiating these projects is high. Future training for trail crews will also place a burden on the organization. When you place your renewed membership in the mail this year, please add a few extra dollars in support of these efforts. Remember, it is tax deductible.

As lime goes on, we will become more politically aware as an organiza tion. and will continue to help you, as a member, maintain that awareness. We will need your support occasionally to

Page13

recognized for his juggling act of many years to keep three monster trails from getting lost in the bureaucratic morass of government.

The trail ahead is getting steeper and rougher. We have a lot of rocks to clear and brush to trim back. Wes Boyd put a name to a good goal for the organi zation, "2000 by 2000", meaning 2000 certified miles and 2000 members by the year 2000. This is aggressive but not insurmountable. It will act as our tem porary horizon line as we walk the trail.

You will see many new changes in the NCT A as we walk this next two years of trail. The Board of Directors will become more of a working board. Each member of the Board will have the responsibility of a committee or a proj ect. New committees are being added and new action taken in areas that have been long ignored. Some of these changes will be fast and furious and others will be carefully executed over a long pe riod. I see the NCTA like an apple tree with some low hanging fruit and some that will take work, time, and care to pick. More responsibilities will be dele gated and more people will be appointed to handle the load. If you want to help in any area, please let me know. Three new committees are being established to begin to monitor and coordinate ac tivities in the NCTA and on the NCT. They will be a Trail Management Committee, a new Finance Committee, and a Land Protection Committee.

Doug Welker, our newly elected Vice President, will be heading up the Trail Management Committee. A few of the issues they will be facing will be trail construction and maintenance stan dards, an Adopt-A-Trail program, certi fication of existing trail, trail crews and projects. This is by no means all. Much of this work will be delegated to sub committees. If you have any interest in working in any of these areas, please contact Doug.

KenGackler,ourNCTA Treasurer, will be heading up the Finance Commit tee. They will create yearly budgets, establish and review new financial pro cedures, and establish formal reporting systems. With the additional funds from the National Park Service Cooperative Agreement, increased membership, ris ing income from dues, and more dona tions, some new procedures for han-

I always find it interesting to pon der at a new trailhead, the future of the trail ahead and where I have traveled before. Thanks to the dedicated efforts of our Association leadership over the past twelve years we have made tremen dous progress on the trail. We have traveled some tough trail early on as our organization tried to begin the immense task of building a 3,200 mile trail. We surmounted many problems and has as many before us as behind. We have reached yet another tum in the trail and a new trailhead,

This past two years of Presidential leadership for Martha Jones has been difficult, but she has done a yeoman's job of completing the tasks and carrying the NCTA forward. During this period, we have made much progress in estab lishing new trail and maintaining old trail. Through Martha's efforts we have searched for and found a very talented lady, April Scholtz, to act as NCTA Executive Director. The NCT A has strengthened its alliance with other trail groups throughout the nation. The or ganization has begun to define its goals and plans, both long and short range. A stronger National Park Service relation ship was developed with a new Memo randum of Understanding, "Volunteer in the Parks" agreement and new Coop erative Agreement. More publicity about the trail appeared this past two years than appeared in the previous ten. Leg islators suddenly became more aware of the needs of our trail. The list goes on. 'Thanks to Martha and her leadership team we have accomplished a great deal.

We have just signed a new Memo randum of Understanding and Agree ment for Voluntary Services ("Volun teer in the Parks") with the National Park Service. Tom Gilbert at the Park Service has just hired Bill Menke to act as Coordinator for the North Country National Scenic Trail. Welcome aboard, Bill! As you know, for years Tom has had to split his time between the three trails he has responsibility for. Since moving the NPS office to Madison a few years ago, one person there has gone unmentioned but has done so much in support of the trail. Jan Lee, who tire lessly and cheerfully answers phones, types, and shovels more paper than anyone I know should be recognized for her supporting effort. Tom should also be


members contribute not only money, but time and expertise. To enable us to get "credit" for your efforts from poten tial donors, we have established a pro gram lo collect this data.

Here's what you can do to make it work. When you give your time to the Association, (1) make a note of the date, (2) the approximate hours you worked, and (3) the type of work that you per formed. Please use the following cate gories: trail routing, trail construction, trail maintenance, office or administra tive work, membership and general in formation mailings, newsletter contri butions, presentations to other groups, work with government agencies, lobby ing elected officials (letters, calls, or visits), fund raising, and "other" (please explain). Every few months, send this information, along with your name, to the Office of the Director: AprilSchollz, 14770 178th Ave., Grand Haven, MI 49417. If you want a prepared form to record this information, which can be photocopied, send your request to the Director's office.

For those of you that lead work groups, please collect this information from your workers - both members and non-members. Many group leaders should already be collecting much of this information as part of the special programs from the U.S. Forest Service or National Park Service that provide volunteers with liability protection.

As we collect this information from all of the seven states, we will get a better focus on how we are spending our time. We will also be able lo show with pride the enthusiasm and dedication of our members. This is by far the best tool that we have for getting more support for the North Country Trail Associa tion's programs. Thank you for your assistance.

Giving credit where credit is due is always a challenge for volunteer groups, and the organizations that support them. As competition increases among non profits for limited donations, and as it becomes more common for donors to provide matching funds for projects, it is crucial to document the valuable vol unteer work that is contributed to our organization. We need your help in track ing this information. So many NCrA

because it forges a common bond among people from diverse backgrounds through work on a project this is bigger than any one person or lifetime.

As I go through the process of jus tifying the importance of trails in light of a greater global welfare, I feel most strongly about the power of the trail experience to promote appreciation of the natural world, which can lead to individual action to protect the environment. Access leads to apprecia tion, which leads to action. I believe that is our greatest contribution to the global environment. The North Country Trail Association is working toward a greater role in the actual protection of the land scape of the trail route, but we should never forget or downplay our expertise in providing access and promoting ap preciation.

The 1992 Earth Summit will soon be yesterday's news, but it's not too late for each of us to renew our commitment to "act locally" through the North Coun try Trail Association. Bring a friend along on a hike or a work day! Tell someone who is important in political circles how important it is to support the North Country Trail. And for those who have labored long and hard on the Trail, give yourself credit for being a local delegate to the ongoing effort to protect the global environment!

The Earth Summit is taking place as I write this column, and I've been drawn to the news reports from this largest gathering of world leaders to dale. You may also have been interested in learning about the major environ mental issues identified by the summit participants, the remedies proposed, and our government's response.

"Think globally and act locally" is a wonderful slogan that was used fre quently in the previous global environ mental summit, held two decades ago, Although l heard it being used more for recent Earth Day events than at the summit meeting in Rio, I still believe in the power of this simple phrase. IL forces responsibility for the quality of our life down to the individual level, and causes each of us lo reflect or our role in making this a better world in which Lo live, both now and in the future.

For many of us, working on the North Country Trail is one way in which we "act locally". But can we defensibly argue that building a pathway contrib utes to the overall well-being of the earth? I believe that we can.

Trails can protect valuable green space and may even serve as biological connections between parks and other large natural areas. This is especially true if an effort is made to protect the scenic and natural qualities of the land scape through which the trail winds.

A pathway like the North Country trail, though, offers more than the area immediately around the tread. It's an experience, one that enriches human lives. Some people value the Trail be cause it offers them a chance to recreate - simply to exercise or enjoy the out doors with friends and family, or per haps more consciously lo "re-create" their connection to the natural world. Others appreciate the trail experience

also find a listofNCTAcommittees and their chairpersons. If you have an inter est in one of those areas, please contact the chairperson of that committee. Even if you only want to help on one small issue, please contact them.

As you can see, there is a lot to do in the future. Remember that we are still learning many things in starting new programs. As in walking the trail, we will sometime step in a little mud, get caught in the rain, or get bitten by bugs. We learn by our mistakes. We just have to look out for bears. -Derek Blount

cycle, horse, sled dog, ski, snowshoe and other non-motorized trail users. By establishing these relationships, we will build a larger and stronger coalition for our trail. We will be doing more in conjunction with the American Hiking Society and other National Trails.

You can also expect a State of the Trail message from me each year to bring you up to date on our progress. It will be delivered at the Annual General Membership meeting, and reprinted in the pages of this newsletter. In an up coming issue of the Newsletter, you will

North Country Trail Association Newsletter, Summer, 1992

write a letter or make a phone call to a legislator in support of various Congres sional efforts. All of this will help the effort lo permanently establish the trail and its support. Your one letter or phone call can make a difference. We have established strong friends in the Con gress, but they need your guidance. If you wish to help in this area, please contact April Scholtz.

I will be endeavoring lo strengthen existing ties to organizations and create new ties to non-motorized trail user groups. We have loo often ignored bi-

·-------------------------------------~ I ORDER FORM -- NORTH COUNTRY TRAIL BOOKSTORE Name.......................................................... I I __ copies of 'Following the North Country National Scenic Trail' I I $5.95 per copy ($4.00 per copy if ten or more) Address...................................................... I I __ copies of 'The North Country Trail -- Manistee National Forest' I

$2.00 per copy. (no wholesale) I City, State, Zip........................................... I I __ copies of 'Gulde ;~.~~e~7~~~~ c~f~~se~~~~nt~nL~~~~~~r I 11 __ copies of 'Gulde to the North Country Trail -- Chippewa National Phone....................................................... 11

Forest' $1.25 per copy ($.75 per copy if ten or more) I Please enclose for shipping & handling: I I copies of Michigan mapsets (check appropriate ones:) $0.00 - $10.00 $2.00

-- D Croton Dam - Hodenpyl Dam o lnterlochen - Boyne Falls $10.01 - $25.00 $3.00 I I D SI. Ignace - Harvey O Marquette - Ironwood $25.01 - $100.00 $4.00 I I $5.00 per set. All 4sets, $18.00; Binder. $2.50 No wholesale Over $100.00 $5.00 Mjchi9an resi<Jents include 4% sales tax I

If copies of 'Certified Sections of the North Country Trail' M k h k/ I -- {Check appropriate sections:) o Allegheny NF & Cook Forest, $2.90 a e c ec money order payable to: I o Wayne NF. $1.50 0 little Miami scenic Park, $l. 15 'North Country Trail Association' I

I O Miami and Erie Canal, $1.80 o Manistee NF $2.20 o Hiawatha NF, $2.20 o Chequamegon NF. $1.80 Send order to: NCTA Trail Shop I I 0 Chippewa NF, $2.20 o Sheyenne Grassland. $1 . 15 PO Box 311 I ..

Complete set with binder, $15.40. plus $2.00 shipping. White Cloud, Ml 4934~• ------------------------- ------------

GUIDE TO THE PICTURED ROCKS NATIONAL LAKESHORE by Olive Anderson. Includes revised Lakeshore Trail Guide. The Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is the centerpiece of the North Country Trail -- a rugged, unique coast on the wild Lake Superior shore. Updated in 1988, this 56 page book by Pictured Rocks enthusiast Olive M. Anderson gives the reader revised maps and up-to-date information about this Michigan section of the North Country Trail. $5.95 each; Wholesale (l O or more) $4.25 each.

THE NORTH COUNTRY TRAIL -- MANISTEE NATIONAL FOREST by the Michigan Trailfinders. Offers a detailed description of the trail from the White Cloud trailhead to Big Star Lake, and from US l 0 to McCarthy Lake. Current through June, 1989. $2.00 each, no wholesale available.

OTHER GREAT TRAIL INFORMATION AVAILABLE FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY TRAIL BOOKSTORE

MICHIGAN MAPSETS developed by Arden Johnson. Maps to follow the NCNST in the Manistee, Hiawatha and Ottawa National Forests, and the hail between St. Ignace and Munising, and northern lower peninsula. Four separate sets, part of a l" per mile series to be developed for the whole state. Order from Croton Dam to Hodenpyl Dam, Interlachen to Boyne Falls, St. Ignace to Harvey or Marquette to Ironwood sets. $5.00 per set; $18.00 for all four. Binder with indicies, $2.50. Contact bookstore for information on ordering individual maps.

GUIDE TO THE NORTH COUNTRY TRAIL -- CHIPPEWA NATIONAL FOREST by Roderick Mac Rae. Discussion of the route and trail log from east to west in the Chippewa National Forest. Wonderfully written by a Chippewa National Forest expert. 12 pages. $1.25 each; Wholesale (10 or more) $.75 each

CEllTIFIED SECTIONS OF THE NORTH COUNTRY TRAIL by Byron and Margaret Hutchins. The long-awaited start to a trail guide for the entire trail. Accurate route descriptions by an experienced guidebook writer who's walked the sections with a measuring wheel, covering many certified sections of the long enough to be a hiking destination, published in an easy to carry loose-leaf form. Individual map sets at various prices (see order form); whole set, including binder, is $15.40, plus $2.00 shipping. Sorry, no direct wholesale.

FOLLOWING THE NOllTH COUNTRY NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL, by Wes Boyd, NCTA Newsletter editor. Packed full of information about the NCNST. All-new edition. 64 pgges. Not a trail guide, but a trail discussion. "The aim is to give the reader the information necessary to find out what they need to know to follow the trail" - - and lots of other useful information. The most inclusive and up-to-date information on the whole trail. Available spring 1992. $5.95, ($4.00 wholesale lO or more).

JusTPUBLISffED!U/I • NfWWI • JVSTPUBLISHEDUIU

North Country lrail Bookstore Page15 North Country Trail Association Newsletter, Summer, 1992

L--------------------------------------~ Phone '~----->----------- o Yes, I would like to further support the North Country Trail Association with my tax free contribution of $ . enclosed.

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

10.00 15.00 5.00 5.00

25.00 50.00

250.00 300.00 500.00

5000.00

$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $

I wish to join the North Country Trail Association. Enclosed is $ for a ------- membership.

Adult . Family (includes children under 18) . Student (under 21) . Senior Citizen (over 70) .. Organization . Supporting . Donor . Life . Commercial . Patron .

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

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

r--------------------------------------, APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP

N9161250-19

/

/ I

/

Rates for individuals, families, and supporting memberships will also increase on Sept.I, so this is your last chance

to become a member, or renew at the old rate.

•

Membership rates to increase Sept. 1 ! Thinking about taking out a life

membership in the North Country 1rail

Association? This is your last chance to get a life membership

at the old rate! On September 1, Life

Memberships will increase to $400 for individuals and $600

for families .

North Country Trail Association Newsletter, Summer 1992

north star vol. 11, no. 3 (1992)

Documents

small small membership

small organization

small budget

newsletter receivin

small hiking club

big idea

items of general membership

early days