north star vol. 17, no. 4 (1998)

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We gratefully acknowledge the support of all our members and donors who share with us the vision of the North Country National Scenic Trail!

Donors: Trail Leaders: New Members: Linda Frazier Paula Paszke-Andrews

American Hiking Society Pat Allen and Mark Miller Sandy Aldridge Paul Frederick and family Michael Glenn Chuck Perry

Charles E Axthelm Mark Bissell Allegheny Outdoor Club Teddy Golder Thomas Pflueger Derek and Margaret Blount Norman Cox Aletha Anderson John Goodin Paul Prescott Donald L Bussies Marvin Deur Tony Antoszkiewicz Holly Griffith Roger and Martha Radcliffe John Carr Stewart DeWitt Dinger Bob Baker George & Esther Grouinger Carl Rickert David and Janet Cornell Paul and Liz Forsberg John Baker Ken and Dawn Hallwood Larry Ridenour Stella Crowe Tom and Janis Gilbert Richard Barnhard William D Hamilton Michelle Robbins William and Joanne Gerke Peter B Gradoni Jim Bartlett Loretta Haska Pam Ronchetti James R Hoogesteger Paul Haan Fred and Jennifer Baschal Doug & Susan Henderson Trish Rowe Pierce Keith & Katharine Horngren Dennis R Hansen Bruce Baumann Gloria Hennings Robert Rutherford Karen Johnson David A Hutchinson Bob Beam Maureen Hickey Bill (Soupie) Ryding Cindy Jones Richard King Chris Becker Rex Holden Kevin Sackett Peter and Paula Klima Ronald Kulak Rick and Marine Beebe Micki Holder Carrie Sanderson Nelson S Leavitt John J Leinen Jim Serles Susan Hollis Jeff Sarver Gregory Parrish Jr. Susan D. Mabee David Bernstein David Irish Saturday Light Brigade Recreational Equipment, Inc Edith Maynard & John Allen Mark Bissell Charles Johnson Ray Schneider Judy Rippentrop Susan and Robert Nelson Sue Bock Noah Johnston Charlene D Sherman Lewis J Snyder NY-NJ Trail Conference Joni Borghesani Larry Kellen Norma and James Simpson Walter M Srogi David and Joyce Salisbury Brenda Bowerman Carol Klug T J Smith Duaine E. Stueck Robert Smedes Mike Burbank Harold Kotchig Tom and Liz Solka Thinsulate Insulation Harmon V Strong John Carr Terry Ladd Fran Sroka Gerald Trzybinski Bob J Tait Greg Chavez Mike Lamphere Walter Teresykieivicz Dan Vernon Dana Zintek & Lisa Daiber Eric Conran Sue and Bob Lehr Kenneth Terpstra Reynold Zeller Dan's Bike and Lock Shop David Leite Nancy Uschold

Organizations: David and Beth Deans Belinda and Matt Lewis Ed Vajda Pathfinders: Otwell Derr Gary and Barbara Lyall Jim VanAman Allegheny Outdoor Club Raymond Doverspike Susan Maas Sally Vannette David Tattan Finger Lakes Trail Conf. Charles Drapeau Michigan Mountain Bike Northwestern Ohio Rails-to- Christopher Eichmann

Henrietta Z. Mark Steve Vear Association Trails Association Greg Markley Dan Vernon

Eric and Bonnie Ekle Mardy and William Gast Adirondack Mountain Club Tonia Mekemson Bob and Barbara Vos

Jake Erhardt Richard Munn Brooke Wade David and Janet Cornell Field Programs Jamie Flack Walter M Srogi Turkey's Cafe Stan Nieboer Dana Waters

Alan Flora Edna Northrup Bill Youngs USDA Forest Service Don Flyckt Baldwin, Ml Martha Northrup Zelienople Public Library

Marshall & Beverly Fogelson Carolyn Novak

Contributions, Special Renewals and New Members since our last issue of the North Star

Supporters Trai NORTH STAR: The Magazine of the North Country Trail, August-September 1998 Page2

Cover Photo: Pennsylvania's Hidden River Bridge, though only on a short trail segment, did much to develop trail interest in the area. Photo by Bob Tait

5 6 7 8

24 28

Keyboard Trails The View from Monroe Center Trail head Hiking Shorts North Country Trail Shop Lots of Coming Events

Regular Departments

Honoring those who get it done. 21 Heart and Sole

Wisconsin's Favorite Trail Town 19 Mellen, Wisconsin is a cherished memory for dairy state hikers.

115-mile Segment in North Dakota Dedicated 18 Ceremonies at Lake Brekken open the NCNST's newest long segment.

Hundreds Attend Xenia Station Opening 17 The historic railway station reproduction in Xenia, Ohio will

be a favorite whistle stop on the area's many trails.

The Importance of a Thread 16 End to end marking is a hallmark of making the NCNST a reality.

The NPS's Bill Menke reviews the standards for doing the job.

15 The Davis Hollow Outdoor Center Use of the historic building in Moraine State Park will

provide a focus for Pennsylvania trail activities.

Bridging 13 Pennsylvania's Hidden River Bridge project proved

to bridge more than just an arm of the lake.

1998 Annual Meeting in Traverse City, Ml 11 Last chance to register for what should be one of the best NCTA

Annual Meetings ever. Registration packet included.

Features

The Magazine of the North Country Trail Association

hStar

Page3

PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER WITH NATURAL SOY INK

Published five times annually in January, April, June, August and October by the North Country Trail Association, a private, nonprofit 501 (c)(3) organization for promotional purposes and as a benefit of membership in the organization. All

rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without permission

of the North Country Trail Association.

Secretary Kathy Baer

PO Box 1017, Bismarck, ND 58502 (701 )250-4242 x3618 [email protected]

Vice President of Trails (East) Lynn Waldron

8133 Norris Road, Delton, Ml 49046 (616) 623-5340 • [email protected]

Vice President of Trails (West) John Leinen, Jr.

14205 St Croix Trail North Stillwater, MN 55082-9587

(612) 433-4456 • [email protected]

Vice President (Financial) David Cornell

514 Cordes Rd., Delton, Ml 49046 (616) 623-8659 • [email protected]

President Werner Veit

49 Monroe Center NW, Ste 200B Grand Rapids, Ml 49503

(616) 454-5506 • [email protected]

OFFICERS

Contributing Editor: Joan Young, 861 US 10

Scottville, Ml 49454 (616)757-2205 [email protected]

Editor: Wes Boyd, 14815 Rome Rd

Manitou Beach, Ml 49253 (517)547-7402 [email protected]

Bob Papp Dirk Mason

Diane O'Hara Margie Kindel

Executive Director Recreation Planner Office Manager Program Assistant

,.. 49 Monroe Center NW, Suite 2008"""' Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503

(888) 454-NCTA • Fax: (616) 454-7139 [email protected]

www.northcountrytrail.org

•ASSOCIATION•

NORTH STAR: The Magazine of the North Country Trail, August-September 1998

National Park Service, North Country National Scenic Trail Manager: Bill Menke, National Park Service, 700 Rayovac Dr., #100, Madison WI 53711, (608) 264-5610, [email protected] ® -

.

Chair MN State Trail Coordinator: Headwaters Chapter: Superior Hiking Trail Association: Rovers Outing Club: Kekekabic Trail Club: NO State Trail Coordinator:

John Leinen, 14205 St.Croix Trail North, Stillwater MN 55082-9587 Rod MacRae, 1210 W. 22nd St., Minneapolis, MN 55405 Rod MacRae, (see above) to be assigned to be assigned to be assigned vacant

(612) 433-4456, [email protected] (612) 377-0130

WEST END TRAIL COUNCIL (Minnesota and North Dakota)

(414) 354-8987, [email protected] (414) 425-5146 (715) 769-3527 (715) 394-8340, [email protected]

Chair Ml (Upper) State Trail Coordinator: North Country Trail Hikers Chapter: WI State Trail Coordinator: Heritage Chapter: Chequamegon Chapter: Brule-St. Croix Chapter:

Pat Miller, RR#4 Box 135,Cliffwood Dr, Prairie DuChien,WI 53821 Gene Elzinga, 12 Middle Island, Marquette Ml 49855 Gene Elzinga, (see above) Gaylord Yost, 2925 W Bradley Rd, River Hills WI 53217-2052 Jim Burow, 6841 S lllth St, Franklin, WI 53132 Kurt Schmitt, 2121 S 87th St, West Allis, WI 53227-1719 Peter Nordgren,1800 Grand Avenue, Superior, WI 54880

(608) 326-7354 (906) 225-1704, [email protected]

GREAT LAKES TRAIL COUNCIL (Upper Peninsula Michigan and Wisconsin)

Lynn Waldron, 8133 Norris Road, Delton, Ml 49046 Jim Sprague, 4406 Maplecrest,Parma OH 44129 Dana Zintek, 2369 Suncrest Dr.Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44221 Gene Markley, PO Box 234, Delta OH 43515 Arden Johnson, 600 Tennyson,Rochester Hills, Ml 48307 Richard Saur, P.O. Box 673, Hillsdale, Ml 49242 Len Baron, 10822 26th Ave, Grand Rapids, Ml 49544 Gregg Law, 1953 Lardie Rd., Traverse City, Ml 49686 Robert Rutherford, 3183 Meadowland Tr., Harbor Springs,MI 49740

Chair & Chief Noonday Chapter: Ohio State Trail Coordinator: Buckeye Trail Association: NW Ohio Rails-to-Trails Association: Ml (Lower) State Trail Coordinator: Baw Beese Chapter: Western M lichigan Chapter: Grand Traverse Chapter: Harbor Springs Chapter:

(616) 623-5340, [email protected] (216) 884-4757 (330) 928-8931 (800) 951-4788, [email protected] (248) 853-0292 (517) 437-0746 (616) 677-3598 (616) 941-4964, [email protected] (616) 526-7125

OH-Ml TRAIL COUNCIL (Ohio and Lower Peninsula Michigan)

Chair & NY State Coordinator: Central New York Chapter: Finger Lakes Trail Conf.erence: PA State Trail Coordinator: Clarion Chapter: Butler Chapter: Wampum Chapter: AYH Pittsburgh;

Howard Beye, 202 Colebourne Rd., Rochester NY 14609 Randall Brune, IOI Dorset Rd., Syracuse, NY 13210-3047 Harmon Strong, 76 Shellwood Dr., Rochester NY 14618 Bob Tait, 277 S. Duffy Rd., Butler, PA 16001 Don Landfried, HCI Box 176B, Leeper, PA 16233 Bryan Koehler, PO Box 165, Chicora, PA 16025-0165 Richard Lutz, Rt I Box 1341, Wampum, PA 16157 Jim Ritchie, 221 Sixth St., Oakmont, PA 15139

(716) 288-7191, [email protected] (315) 476-9483 (716) 586-3846 (412) 287-3382, [email protected] (814) 744-9325 (724) 445-7528 (724) 652-8185, [email protected] (412) 828-0210, [email protected]

EAST END TRAIL COUNCIL (New York and Pennsylvania)

(607) 272-8679, [email protected] (608) 326-7354, [email protected] (414) 354-8987, [email protected]

David Cornell, 514 Cordes Rd., Delton,MI 49046 Bob Tait, 277 S Duffy Rd, Butler, PA 16001 Vacant Tom Reimers, 3C Wildflower Dr, Ithaca, NY 14850 Pat Miller, RR#4 Box 135 Cliffwood Dr., Prairie DuChien, WI 53821 Gaylord Yost, 2925 W Bradley Rd, River Hills, WI 53201-1013

(616) 623-8659, [email protected] (724) 287-3382, [email protected]

Paul Stone, 834 W. Bayfield St., Washburn, WI 54891 Werner Veit, 49 Monroe Center,Ste 200B, Grand Rapids,MI 49503 Joan Young, 861 West US 10, Scottville, Ml 49454 Lynn Waldron, 8133 Norris Road, Delton, Ml 49046 John Leinen, 14205 St.Croix Trail North, Stillwater MN 55082-9587 Tricia Ryan, 232 Old North Shore Rd, Two Harbors, MN 55616 Dana Zintek, 2369 Suncrest Dr.Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44221

(715) 373-2664, pstone < [email protected] (616) 235-2330, [email protected] (616) 757-2205, [email protected] (616) 623-5340, [email protected] (612) 433-4456, [email protected] (218) 834-4342 (330) 928-8931

East Division: Terms Expiring in 2000 At-Large: At-Large: At-Large: OH-Ml Trail Council Chair: West End Trail Council Chair: West Division: At-Large (temporary seat): Terms Expiring in 2001 At-Large: At-Large: At-Large: East Division: Great Lakes Trail Council Chair: West Division:

(716) 288-7191, [email protected] (716) 586-3846

Susan Nelson, 113 E Bayfield St, Box 578, Washburn, WI 54891 Kathy Baer, PO Box 1017, Bismarck, ND 58502 Vacant Howard Beye, 202 Colebourne Rd., Rochester NY 14609 Harmon Strong, 76 Shellwood Dr., Rochester, NY 14618

(715) 373-2667 (701) 250-4242,x3618, [email protected]

NORTH COUNTRY TRAIL ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS Terms Expiring in 1999 At-Large: At-Large: At-Large: East End Trail Council Chair:


on the drawing board at the time of the last edition. • Continued progress in the Wayne National Forest in

Ohio, and development of a plan for the northeastern part of the state, even though follow-up to the plan has been limited.

• Substantial progress on trail west of the Chippewa NF in Minnesota.

• The Arrowhead project, now well on its way toward reality -- barely a pipe dream in those days.

-The western Wisconsin project-- in 1991, we didn't have a clue what was going to happen in Wisconsin west of the Chequamegon NF; now we have a route well under way that is considerably different than the one projected.

• Much trail completion in northern Michigan, and the beginnings of a real push in southern Michigan.

-The Cannonball Trail in Ohio -- a link that wasn't even

-The 147-mile Garrison Diversion Project trail, hardly a dream back then.

Bob told me the other day that the supply of the 1991 edition of "Following the North Country National Scenic Trail" is finally beginning to run low, so we're beginning the process of pulling the third edition together, targeted for printing this winter, sometime. This is good news; as I worked over the copy for a rough draft of the new edition, I realized just how dated the old work has become. We have come a long way since 1991 !

A list of the changes would be both long and boring, but some of the exciting updates over those years include:

• The certification of the western trailhead at Lake Sakakawea State Park in North Dakota.

* * *

Our apologies for the late arrival of the last newsletter. First, we had a mixup on press schedule with the printer; then, when the central office went to run off the mailing address labels, they discovered that the database had crashed. Oops! Bob Papp reports that they had to hire a temp to come in for several days to redo the database from paper backups. We'll try to do better this time

North Star is October 1, 1998. Items received well before that date are much appreciated. The deadline for the January-March issue will be January 1, 1999.

The deadline for the October-December issue of the

by the Editor

Keyboard Trails

NORTH STAR: The Magazine of the North Country Trail, August-September 1998 Page s • A plan, instead of a general route, through western

Pennsylvania. •A potential new route east of the FLT, in New York, to

Old Erie Canal State Park. • And last, but hardly least, the first steps toward a

realizable route through the Adirondacks. All that adds up to a lot of progress in seven years! It was

definitely getting to be time for an update. Sometimes, it seems as if not much is happening, but when you pull it back over the perspective of several years, a great deal has happened, and the amount of progress has been really heartwarming.

Which is not to say that there aren't problem areas remaining -- there are. There are areas where not a lot is happening, where serious routing problems remain, where we have yet to build the local support and interest that it's going to take to make the trail a reality. For years, I've been noting that the supply of public lands available for the trail is running low, and that more and more we're going to have to look toward trail development over private lands-- in fact, there's only two major projects on public lands remaining, the still-undefined western section of the Arrowhead, and the Adirondacks. We've known the day will come, but until recently we hadn't really started developing the mindset needed to deal with that reality. Well, it's starting to happen; in many places along the trail, groups are starting to work on that very problem. Up until now, it's been a somewhat daunting problem; but, slowly, piece by piece, people are picking up the task, and we're developing a larger group of people who will be able to show us the way into our major trail task for the first decades of the next millenium.

The key to this is that the expertise is being developed on a local level. The development of the trail can't be done out of the central office, be ittheNCTA's ortheNPS's-- all that either can really to is to guide efforts, and help where possible. The real work, the effort that makes a project successful, has to come from local, on-the-ground efforts. We've all watched in amazement at the astounding growth of local chapters in the past couple of years, with more coming all the time. It is on the level of the local chapters that the real effort is going to have to come to push ahead beyond the public lands.

There's nothing wrong with that. While the trail is, as Bill Menke so aptly put it, "A thread of continuity", it's still very much a local trail everywhere it goes. Destination use of the trail is small -- at least, so we suspect, as there are no studies -- people only relatively rarely travel great distances to use a piece of the trail. Most use is local, by people that live near the trail, and people that will take an interest in it.

It's a new direction for the trail, though it's one we knew eventually would have to come. It's demanding changes in the way we think and the way we operate, and some of those changes are not easy, and will demand time and effort to become comfortable with. But, in time, as we begin to get into the next century, making the effort needed to make those changes will be worth it.

The rest of our Chapters also have been hard at work. A few, like the Central New York, Headwaters, and Heritage Chapters are quickly approaching the 50 mem ber mark themselves, while some of our newer Chapters, like the Baw Beese and Wampum Chapters, also are off to a great start with solid growth.

It's easy for me to get excited by membership num bers, but everyone knows members alone don't build the trail. It's the active members who volunteer their time that get the job done. Still, membership statistics are one way that we can objectively demonstrate support for the trail. And, with our membership doubling in about two years time, we have a very strong statement about grow ing interest in the North Country Trail.

We also can take pride in the fact that our number of local Chapters has shot up from four to fourteen! Soon, we also hope to welcome new Chapters based in Luding ton, MI, the western portion U.P.ofMichigan, and eastern Ohio. (We're still looking for a spark plug in North Dakota to start up a Chapter there, too!) Undeniably, our growth in membership is due to the high level of excite ment all these Chapters are bringing to local trail efforts.

Finally, I have one more exciting membership mile stone to report. This summer, we received a grant from Recreational Equipment Incorporated (REI) to fund a large-scale direct mail campaign to solicit new members. We expect this mailing will attract about 300 new mem bers overall! An enormous jump like this in membership would mean an increase of nearly 60% over all of 1998.

We'll need to work hard to bring these new members into the fold, to encourage them to become active in their Chapters, and to build their support for the Trail. Much of our growth over the recent years has been through personal contacts. However, most of the new members that we'll attract through direct mail won't know anyone in the organization. Watch for them at your Chapter meetings, hikes and other activities, and welcome them. They may bring talent, resources, enthusiasm or just plain curiosity, but you won't know if they only come once.

I say this is a milestone because it just about marks a new era for us in terms of how we solicit members. As always, personal recruitment will be a fundamental and extremely effective method for us. However, mass solici tations will become equally important to us, as we stretch to meet the potential represented by the population of 60 million people that live in our seven states. Everyone knows that the North Country National Scenic Trail is one of our country's best-kept secrets. Hopefully, reach ing out to large audiences through direct mail will help us leak the secret to the world at large.

To everyone, thanks for all your efforts on behalf of the trail. Pat yourselves on the back, celebrate our 1,000'h member with us, then set you sights on your own next goal and step boldly forth!


Last issue, our editor Wes Boyd wrote about the changes and growth he's seen in the Association and along the Trail during his eleven year tenure on our Board of Directors. We certainly have come a long way! Although Wes is stepping down from our Board due to term limits, we look forward to his. continuing work on the North Star. As a membership magazine and more, the North Star under Wes' direction deserves its own share of the credit for bringing us as far as we've come.

How far have we come? Well, in a word, really far. This summer, we passed a milestone that's been in our sights for a very Jong time. We now may proudly proclaim that we have more than 1,000 members! Along the way, over the past few months, other membership milestones also quietly slid past.

Pennsylvania became the second state to boast more than I 00 members. Bob Tait, our State Trail Coordinator in PA has done a bang-up job of promoting the trail and bringing in new people. As you'll read elsewhere in this issue, Pennsylvania has become a real hotbed of activity. Other PA recruiters also are hard at work, like David Adams, Carol Atwell, and Bryan Koehler. By the way, great article in this issue, Bryan - one of the most enjoyable reads we've had!

The Chief Noonday Chapter shot past 50 members and now is fast closing in on I 00. Here, the leadership of Dave Cornell is complimented by the skills and dedica tion of many talented volunteers. Richard Grau, Jim McMellen, Grace Hutchinson, Tom Garnett and Barb VanDyken have been out drawing new people into the Chapter, while Lynn Waldron and crew have kept them busy building and maintaining many new miles of trail.

Similarly, a little over a year ago, the Grand Traverse Hiking Club, also passed the 50 member mark. Kathy Sabel has been the driving force behind this Chapter's recruitment drive. I'm looking forward to finally meeting some of the leaders and members of this group at our Annual Conference in late September.

Meanwhile, our Western Michigan Chapter steam rollered through the 200 member mark! John Kincaid deserves a lot of credit, with 65 recruits over the past two years. The Chapter's tireless leader of hikes, Dave Shel don, also is a tireless recruiter, with fourteen under his belt so far. Others, including Darlene Snyder, Ginny Wunsch, Len Baron, Werner Veit, and Dennis Donathen all have been bringing in new faces as well.

by Executive Director Bob Papp

The view from Monroe Center

Page6

To all the reasons for attending our annual conference Sept. 24-27 in Lake Ann, Ml-a great program, a scenic camp that should glow with the first fall colors, useful workshops and gorgeous hiking opportunities-add another reason: The chance to rub elbows with some of the most fascinating folks in America, your fellow hikers. You'll be able to compare notes and swap experiences with some of the most knowledgeable outdoors types, especially from the Grand Traverse Hiking Club, our host chapter.

For example, you'll be meeting and hearing from Sue Makrianis, who has hiked and climbed and kayaked around the world, or Bob Norcross, who decided (and made it) to hike the AT end to end right after he retired-without any previous hiking experience to speak of. As for the hikes, we'll lead you not only on a day-long hike on our own NCT along the beautiful Big Manistee River, but we'll have shorter hikes in the woods on the Lake Michigan beach inside the Sleeping Bear National Seashore and lovely walks along Lost Lake and the Sand Lakes Quiet Area.

You'll find further information and registration informa tion elsewhere in the North Star. Please come. I guarantee you won't be sorry.

The U.S. Forest Service doesn't come off so hot either in the book. In one backhanded slap, Bryson characterizes the Forest Service's mission not as the custodian of our forests but to build roads. Why? Because the UFS has, under its jurisdiction, more miles of roads, he says, than the Interstate Highway System. The relative mileage total may be true, for all I know, but the existence of thousands of miles of logging roads, past and present and a big part of that total, result from Congressional policies and the power of timber com pany lobbies a lot more than from the whims of bureaucrats.

I'm not that happy always with the Forest Service, either. Opening a big chunk of our trail-built by our volunteers in the Huron-Manistee National Forest, for example, to mountain biking and erosion dangers, has had, and will continue to have, unfortunate and unforeseen consequences.

But, that does not make the Forest Service, and the hard-working, understaffed members of it we know, our enemy or the enemy of trails. It simply means we need to more persuasive when giving voice to hikers.

We know at the North Country Trail Association that Bryson's unmannerly contention that the AT became a qual ity trail despite government agencies is preposterous. The Appalachian Trail Conference and the myriad volunteer organizations who built and maintain the AT have done splendid work. But the trail simply could not have been built without government participation.

That goes for the NCT as well. Despite all our chapters, our affiliates and our volunteers and their hard work on behalf of our trail, we need and cherish our government partners: the National Park Service, the U.S. Forest Service and their land managers and the seven state departments of natural resources and the scores of local government units who lend support.

By now, many of you may have read Bill Bryson's account of his attempt to hike the Appalachian Trail end-to end. His book, "A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering Amer ica on the Appalachian Trail" has been on the best-seller lists for weeks now. If you have, I wonder whether you have been as dismayed as I have been at his gratuitous slurs directed at the National Park Service.

I was not only dismayed at the tone but also surprised because I have been a particular admirer of his books and really looked forward to his latest work. In the past, I loved his amusing accounts of life and travels in Italy and England and always considered he caught the American spirit deftly in "The Lost Continent: Travels in Small Town America."

On the other hand, there was some reason to be suspi cious of "A Walk in the Woods," before I even opened it. There's a picture of a menacing grizzly bear glowering at the reader on the dust jacket. I am certainly not an expert on the AT -I haven't seen much of it-but I doubt that even Dave Cornell, my colleague on the executive committee ofNCT A, ever saw a grizzly in the years he's hiked the AT. Nor, I suspect has anyone else seen one east of the Mississippi.

For the sake of an amusing and human tale-and his book is amusing and all too human for the most part-a little poetic license may be acceptable. But his litany of com plaints and ill will directed at the Park Service goes beyond license. They're unwarranted and unfair.

I'd bet that the bureaucratic-tangled Service he de scribes, mostly second-hand, is as unfamiliar to other NCTA members as it is to me. In our association we know the NPS through Tom Gilbert and Bill Menke. More dedicated public servants or more loyal supporters of the concept of the National Trail System would be hard to find. Their consis tent vision, their determination to achieve a quality hiking experience on a trail stretching through seven states, their resourcefulness often in the face of Congressional indiffer ence, their friendship and support continue to inspire those of us who work for the NCT A as volunteers to redouble and to persist in our efforts to build and maintain our trail.

Sure, the Park Service is vulnerable for some of its horrible gaffes. Well-publicized blunders like contracting for way-too-costly toilets designed to be environmentally friendly, were a dumb idea and a public relations nightmare. But to use these isolated instances to fashion an indictment of the Service as a whole is unfair, wrong-headed and inaccurate and plays into the hands of the very elements Bryson also complains about-the ideologues who would end any governmental involvement with the environment or responsible outdoor recreation.

by President Werner Veit

Trail Head


Charles R. Embree, 74, died of cardiovascular disease at his home in Solvay NY iri mid April. He was a graduate of Christian Brothers Academy and the Syracuse University College of Engineering. He studied in the Forest Recreation Master's program at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry. He worked for many years as an engineer at General Electric, was a volunteer for the weather service, and with the Boy Scouts, and for the last 36 years worked with the Adirondack Mountain Club in developing the Finger Lakes Trail in New York. For his trail design work, he was given the Wallace Wood award in 1994 by the FLTC. As a young man, he was a composer, an acclaimed pianist, a member of the Syracuse Community Orchestra, and was a Chapter President of the Frederick Delius Society.

Embree served a term as Trail Chairman for ADK-Onondaga, and in the history of ADK-ON's development of its 100-mile part of the Finger Lakes Trail, he was definitely a memorable "character", famous and infamous for his singing of Delius "melodies" on the trail, for ancient Boy Scout shorts in all weather, for his four wristwatches, set to different time zones, for his sweet but long-winded fussiness about trail standards, for his bag of self-prescribed medications and for his 15-hour trail work days.

FLTC mourns Charles R. Embree

The NCT A Pennsylvania chapters held National Trails Day in Western Pennsylvania. The folks in Allegheny Forest had a hike. Clarion had three hikes and a demonstration. At Moraine State Park there were several hikes, one lead by a 7-year-old, one by Ron Rice a AT thru-hiker, and a historical talk at the Davis Hollow Outdoor Center. Eastern Mountain Sports was a big help. The Sierra Club and the Butler Outdoor Club also participated. One of the high spots was that Senator Mary Jo White presented a proclamation from Governor Ridge to Bob Tait declaring Pennsylvania National Trails Day. She also visited the Outdoor Center and was very impressed and offered her support. With a little bit of work, it was a great day. There were hikers, people coming to see the cabin, and I'm sure other areas experienced the same thing - just making people aware of National Trails Day.


WMC spruces up NCT along Lake Superior shore

On May 27-31, a work party organized by the Western Michigan Chapter cleaned up and reopened the long-unmaintained section of NCNST along Lake Superior between Muskallonge Lake State Park to the mouth of the Two Hearted River. The team of 12 people cleared the trail of literally hundreds of downed trees, brushed miles of trail, and remarked the entire 15-mile distance. WMC members on the outing reported having a good time, and are planning a similar major work trip to the area next year, to continue their efforts and build a badly-needed set of steps. If you're interested, contact Tom Learmont, 10554 Colby Rd., Gowen, MI 49326.

The Vibram Volunteer of the Year Award for New York was recently awarded to FLTC member Irene Szabo. Irene has scouted, flagged, cleared and maintains 20 miles of Finger Lakes Trail. She measured the western section of the trail, and compiled three guides for hikers, and revisits them periodically. She devised a form for securing ease ments from private landowners, and contributed the first easement to the FLTC land trust. She has served as president of the FLTC for three years, and has also served as first VP, second VP, and as a FLTC board member. She was honored at a June 20 ceremony where she received a plaque and other gifts from FLTC president Charles McClellan.

FLTC's Irene Szabo wins Vibram Volunteer Award

Hiking Shorts Page B

Charles McLellan of Kendal, NY, is the new president of the Finger Lakes Trail Conference, replacing Stepanie Spittal. A Kodak engineer, he has been a "glutton for outdoor recreation", the Finger Lakes Trail News reports, "dragging his hapless son Chris on exotic guided trips, kayaking in Canada, and on every FLTC hike series, which is how all this 'meeting stuff got started, he would say."

FLTC has new President

Link Trail Progress A total of 8.6 miles of the Link Trail, connecting the

FLT with the trail in Old Erie Canal State Park, have been completed, with more in the works by fall by the Central New York Chapter. The chapter has been moving ahead with private landowner agreements, and has been able to make significant progress. By incorporating existing trails and a disused railroad grade, the chapter hopes to push as far as Chittengo Falls State Park this year.

THE BRULE-ST. CROIX CHAPTER had 25 participants for their two National Trails Day hikes on the Brule River State Forest segment. The weather cooperated and, despite an aggressive tick population, it was a good day to hike. They expect several new memberships to follow. The above group hiked the 2-mile historic Brule-St. Croix portage, and are gathered around a plaque marking the portage end. The other group of 1 O hiked the 7 .1 mile complete section in the Brule River State Forest. Chapter President Peter Nordgren reports, "I can't identify everyone in the picture as some were newcomers, but current chapter members pictured are Sue Breskin, Don Hinman, Sue Allen, Len Vetrone, Joan Vetrone and Todd Nordgren."

The same storm that caused the closure of the trail in the Manistee National Forest at the end of May roared across Ontario, and stomped on a section of the Finger Lakes Trail, Cayuga Trails Club newsletter editor Tom Reimers reports. "The most severe damage seems to be on the FLT in Potato Hill State Forest west of Blackman Hill Road. I initially went out and assessed the damage on June 13, and found the trail to be impassible with blowdowns. An expert team of Cayuga Trails Club Members was to have hiked the three-mile-long section of trail on June 27 to assess damage and consider options for reroutes or clearing the existing trail ... but on June 19, I received a call from Department of Environmental Conservation Supervising Forester Dave Forness to inform me that he had already organized a DEC work crew with chain saws, safety equipment, and professional expertise to clear the FLT beginning on June 22. He said the work would be done by the end of the week. On behalf of the Cayuga Trails Club, the Finger Lakes Trail Conference, and the many hikers who enjoy the FLT in Potato Hill State Forest, I extend my sincerest 'Thank You!' to Dave and the others at the DEC for their much needed assistance."

-- Tom Reimers in Cayuga Trails, Newsletter of the Cayuga Trails Club

May Storms tear up parts of FLTC in Potato Hill State Forest

1'''·

NCTA chapters work to restore storm-damaged Manistee NF trail

A huge line of thunderstorm on May 31 did widespread damage across Michigan -- including to the North Country Trail in the Manistee National Forest. As a result of the storm damage, the US Forest Service was forced to close the length of the trail. Many large trees were down across the trail, and some were hung-up in other trees, making for a very unsafe hiking condition.

The Western Michigan Chapter of the NCTA re sponded by making a fast change to their National Trails Day event, turning it into a work day, and were joined by members of the West Michigan Sierra Club, West Michi gan Walkers Club, and Eastern Mountain Sports. Four separate crews from the chapter were able to clear and reopen about twelve miles of trail during the session, while another crew from the Chief Noonday chapter worked on another section.

The day wrapped up with a pot-luck dinner at the schoolhouse. Efforts are continuing to clean up the mess.

Hiking Shorts NORTH STAR: The Magazine of the North Country Trail, August-September 1998

Perhaps the greatest achievement so far in the short history of the Wampum Chapter is the approval of a route through state game lands 148 by the manager, Dale Hockenberry. A first in the Lawrence County history of the NCT.

Despite the Wampum Chapter's success in its begin nings; there is still much work to be done. Routes are currently being planned through the Big Beaver Borough Wetlands and another passing through state game lands 285. Though these routes are still in the early planning stages they are essential to the NCT in Beaver County.

In order to introduce the proposed route though state game lands 285 the Wampum Chapter is planning several hikes in the near future.

President Richard Lutz and Vice-President Denny Shepard will also complete their visits to township areas all over the Lawrence and Beaver Counties that are include NCT routes.

As you can see the Wampum Chapter has done very much in a short time, and will continue to work to make the North Country Trail a reality in Western Pennsylvania.

by Richard A. Lutz and Daniel J. Pacella Many interesting things have happened in Lawrence

County, Pennsylvania since the christening of the Wampum Chapter by the NCTA board of directors only a few months ago.

The first order of business was to sponsor a National Trails Day hike along the Slippery Rock Gorge Trail in McConnels Mills State Park. The group of around twelve hikers trekked their way through the serene forest along the gorge 6.2 miles to Eckerts Bridge. The hike was a com plete success.

The next item on the agenda included finding a perma nent home for the Wampum Chapter to hold its functions. After wandering around Lawrence County like nomads for three months a headquarters was found. An extensive search by president Richard Lutz and secretary Linda DeCaria uncovered the American Legion building in

1 •

Wampum, and all meetings have been held there since.' President Richard Lutz and all members of the Wam

pum Chapter would like to take this opportunity to thank the American Legion for their hospitality.

Lots happening with Pennsylvania's Wampum Chapter

SOME MEMBERS of the newly-formed Baw Beese Chapter (Hillsdale County, Michigan) joined a Northwestern Ohio Rails to Trails Association work party in June, helping to deck an old railroad bridge on the Cannonball Trail over the Tiffin River. The bridge is the longest bridge decking problem that NORT A has to deal with; decking was finished in early July. Certification of the segment will wait until several smaller bridges along the route are decked; NORT A hopes to finish several this year.


Chief Noonday has good Trails Day

Morning temperatures in the 40s didn't keep Michigan's Chief Noon day chapter from having a successful National Trails Day event. Some where between 80 and 120 people turned out for the activity, organized by Barb Van Dyken and Tom Garnett.

The chapter will be moving and restoring a disused covered bridge to trail in the Kellogg Forest, northwest of Battle Creek. Moving the bridge will be a big job, but will make for an interesting sight along the trail.

The chapter has several trail development projects under way, and is moving ahead rapidly with them.

Chief Noonday Chapter meetings are held at the Barry Township Hall, 155 E. Orchard St., Delton, MI on the second wednesday of the month at 7:00 PM.

Hiking Shorts

NCTA 1998 Annual Conference in Traverse City, Michigan

- Participate in one of our NCTA Planning Sessions: Chapter Presidents, Web Page, or Trail Maps. Morning: Sunday, Sept 27

Evening:

Saturday, Sept 26 Morning: - Membership meeting first thing, then

- Hike all day along the Manistee River, or - Hear great tips and share ideas on planning National Trails Day Celebrations, or - Participate in special family activities

Afternoon: - Hike at Sand Lake, or - Sit in on our feature workshop, "Land-owner Relations," including skits, question and answer,

handouts and lots of ideas, or - Join another great set of family activities - Sit back for an enjoyable presentation on the hidden treasures of Michigan by keynote speaker Jim

DuFresne, noted outdoor writer and author of many books. - Bid up your friends at our fun-filled 1998 Live Auction.

Friday, Sept 25 Morning: - Hike at Lost Lake, or

- Expand your trail building skills with the NPS' Bill Menke & NCTA's Lynn Waldron Afternoon: - Attend the NCTA Board meeting, or

.. Hike at Otter Creek, or - Tour the area on your own

Evening: - Enjoy Sue Makrianis' tales of her Alaskan hiking adventures, or - Join a roundtable discussion on starting and building a new NCTA Chapter

Late Evening- Gather 'round the Campfire for Trail Tales hosted by Wes Boyd, with folk singer Charlie Weaver

Thursday, Sept 24 Afternoon: - Hike at Sand Lake Evening: - Hear Bob Norcross' "Beginner's Guide to Thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail"

Where: Lake Ann Baptist Camp, 15 miles west of Traverse City, MI When: l:OOp.m. on Thursday, Sept 24 to 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, Sept 27

Attend all or part! Come to hike, learn, have fun, and explore. Adults and kids are welcome!

IAST CHANCE TO REGISTER! Annual Conference


NCTA 1998 Annual Conference in Traverse City, Michigan

_Charge to my VISA or Master Card #:. ___, Exp.Date: _

Name on Card: _

• Call us TOLLFREE at 888-454-NCT A to REGISTER BY PHONE with your VISA or MASTERCARD

• Or, register by mail: Check one below and send to: NCT A. 49 Monroe Center NW, Suite 2008, Grand Rapids, MI 49503: _I'm enclosing my check payable to NCTA

Cost per Number of Total person people Cost

REGISTRATION FEE for each ADULT $ 25.00 x REGISTRATION FEE for each ClflLD $ 15.00 x OVERNIGHT STAYS (covers meals AND lodging)

Cabin: Thursday-Sunday $ 95.00 x Friday-Sunday $ 75.00 x Saturday-Sunday $ 50.00 x

RV Park or Tent Thursday-Sunday $ 60.00 x Friday-Sunday $ 45.00 x Saturday-Sunday $ 25.00 x

JUST FOR THE DAY(S) (covers meals ONLY) Thursday $ 10.00 x Friday $ 15.00 x Saturday $ 15.00 x Sunday $ 5.00 x

TOTAL AMOUNT

Do you require any special accessibility, dietary, or travel accommodations? _

We'll be assigning cabin bunks. If you're staying in a cabin, do you need to room with certain people?

Name(s) --------------------------~ Address Phone ---------------- ----------~ City State __ Zip _

Registration Form NORTH STAR: The Magazine of the North Country Trail, August-September 1998

communities that will help inform and strengthen my own community.

In the last couple of years, I've been fortunate to meet some very energetic people with the Jove of life. As you may have guessed, these people also have a love for the trail. The various group types include: manufacturing, administrative, truck drivers, government employees, nurses, bakers, contrac tors, salespeople, and a many more. When I first met these people, we would have short conversations. Part of the way, not knowing if we would cross paths again. The faces became more familiar and I even started to remember their names. One day, someone said, "Lets clean up that trail at the park." Next, someone suggested that we start collecting tools to maintain that trail in the park. Our "Thread of Continuity" and our "Thread of Community" was the trail.

During our group's existence, we've reclaimed old sec tions of trail and reblazed them, relocated small bridges, and made a proposal for where the North Country should traverse

THE HIDDEN RIVER bridge, still awaiting railing, in the lush spring growth of western Pennsylvania.

by Bryan Koehler "So when are you moving to Ithaca, Bry" the small voice

on the other end of the phone asked. Shawn, my friend of 10 years, had recently relocated there.She has felt, ever since that time, that I would benefit from making the same move. Ithaca is a strong, yet di verse, community that attracts fresh thinkers. The home to Cornell University, it offers great opportunities to people seeking a simplified lifestyle.

My modest house is paid for and being single and self employed makes me the perfect candidate to relocate to the Finger Lakes region of New York State. With no ties, and able to earn my keep, I could stay with Shawn until I found a comfortable space to "root up" in. She would be willing to accommodate a gypsy for a little while. Fortunately, the Trail is already built through that area.

Having the freedom to pick up and move, at any given time, is rather exhilarating to me. It's the "thru-hiker" deciding to hike or not hike when they wake up in the morning. The thought that has kept me from moving to the Ithaca area is maybe I'm supposed to be where I am. The Trail needs people in Western Pennsylvania, too.

I have an idea that a part of our tax system should involve volunteerism. That way, the highest compensated backpack ers could take deductions through trail work. (Someone email Gore on that one, O.K. ?). During my time on this planet, I think I've experienced a decrease in my sense of community. And I don't believe it's because I haven't started a family. I feel it's because we no longer possess the unity once needed to survive. Our society exalts in competition and independence and having command over our environment. We once relied on simplicity and unity. Nature taught us to be humble. It taught us to hold on to the people who help us and who bring joy to our lives. I wonder about these things, in an optimistic way, and I decide that I can have a positive impact where I am.

I respond to my friend's question with, "What ifl just come visit with you ... maybe collect some new ideas and bring them back to Pennsylvania?" Shawn quickly responds with, "Oh, ... bridging!" Her answer confuses me. She explains that when ideas are passed between communities it's called "Bridg ing". One group will share ideas and experiences with another. I thought this was a great concept; use ideas shared from other

Bridging

More than just a way to cross the water ...



at the shorelines. Steps were constructed on the Southwest shoreline to ease the walk up to the ridge. A few weeks later, the handrails were attached which had been pre-constructed in a crew members wood shop. The bridge was complete. Hikers may now pass through this limestone cut and enjoy the beauty which originally brought us to the Hidden River.

In my report to the National Park Service and Moraine State Park, I detailed the expenses which we incurred to construct the bridge and I listed all the labor hours. However, none of the paperwork asked for the information which I thought most interesting. I remembered the conversations with Walter, the 70 year old retired baker, about his antique Warren Cant Hooks used to rotate the poles. There was the discussion with Virginia about a nearby beaver-cut stump and why it should be saved for passersby experience. I remem bered the precise cuts of Dan, the cabinet maker. for the concrete forms. There wasn't a place for me to rave about Jake getting the steel bracing for the steps from his employer. I couldn't talk about details like the mortis and tenon joints or the handmade locust trunnels (tree-nails) in the railings. The routed inscription "NCT 1998"was forgotten. The story of Walter's "spinning ring", added for children's enjoyment on their way across the bridge, had somehow been missed.

The new bridge is made of concrete, steel, wood, and so much more. It stands as an accomplishment of a group new to the North Country Trail. It represents ordinary people, working with government friends, who accomplished extraor dinary results. This all happened during a time when you don't hear about such things. The bridge brought together people from Northern Pennsylvania and Western Ohio to share in ideas and craftsmanship. This project was not just about how to build a bridge; it was about learning about each other. The bridge broadened and strengthened the small group that started maintaining the trail a few years back.

As our thoughts turn to the National Conference in Michigan this fall, I wonder what enlightenment will come. Michigan holds the greatest number of trail miles and the largest membership. What I know about any volunteer group is that they don't just happen on their own. Michigan has something to teach us. Just as the Buckeye Trail Association, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota and the Finger Lakes all have information to share. As we start making use of our regional Trail Councils and strengthen our Thread of Continu ity, I don't want forget where the need originated. It originated with groups like the people of the bridge.

"So when are you coming to visit me in Ithaca, Bry?" I reflect for a moment. I think of the bridge, the Trail. and the people that I've met along my journey of building and main taining. I am now quick to respond, "Soon, Shawn ... soon." It excites me to think that there will come a day when I visit Ithaca and I won't take my truck, just my backpack. -- !JRYAN KOEHLER is the President of the Butler County

Chapter of the North Country Trail Association.

most of Pennsylvania. Though small accomplishments by some standards, each one strengthened our group. During the spring of 1997, someone suggested that we relocate a trail section that we then shared with bicycles. That change would require crossing a forty-foot inlet of water, known as the Hidden River, which runs near the bicycle rental center on the north shore at Moraine State Park.

The North Country would cross the bike trail, re-enter the woods and drop down a 15 % grade, paralleling the inlet. After crossing the proposed bridge, the trail would rise steeply, and follow a ridge on the opposite side of the water. The idea had a comfortable feel to it and the exposed limestone walls located at the edge of the water were an engaging point of interest.

When constructing a new trail, a number of environmental and logistical questions need to be answered. How much of the valued plant and wildlife will be displaced? Can the soil in the area handle heavy foot traffic and still drain properly? Specifi cally, in this case, what will the bridge materials cost? Will the park allow it to be built and what are the engineering require ments? Do all of these issues justify only gaining a quarter mile of trail? Our group answered most of these questions ourselves and confirmed the need for the bridge. We also discovered the level of commitment which existed within us. Once we decided to go ahead with the project, we made the proposal to Moraine State Park. With the engineer's blessings, we then secured funding from the NPS and local donations.

Two forty-foot poles were received. One was donated by Sprint Telephone and the other acquired through a barter, with the City of Butler, for trail design services. A hydraulic winch was donated and attached to a skid loader. This equipment moved the poles into the woods and in position on a concrete pier. The concrete had been hand mixed and poured two weeks earlier. The poles were then rotated to get the best camber and level tops. Finally, they were secured with all-thread and four foot wolmanized decking. Once that main part of the bridge was completed, the ends of the poles were notched to accept 2x 10 cords. These were to run upon pieces of flat limestone

The Hidden River Bridge -- a job to be proud of.

minutes. Right now the facility is in good shape, but as expected, a structure built in 1790, is in need of some updating. As grant money, donations and volunteer hours are made available, these projects will get done.

On June 6, 1998, the Center hosted National Trails Day events for the park. Relatives of the former occupants of the cabin were invited to visit and share stories and pictures of their family members. A park intern had researched the property and its occupants and presented an oral history. Other activities of the day included hikes and trail work and equip ment demonstrations. Eastern Mountain Sports exhibited tents and backpacks for the visitors as well as providing a picnic dinner for the volunteers. The Butler Outdoor Club helped out with the day's events. Governor Ridge declared June 6 National Trails Day in Pennsylvania and Senator Mary Jo White presented our state coordinator, Bob Tait with the proclamation. The Senator visited the cabin and was very impressed with the work the North Country Trails Association has done.

This fall, Bob Tait plans on offering a geology workshop and hike at the facility. On a hike overlooking Lake Authur, participants will learn to read the record left in the rocks. Other weekend programs will include introduction to backpacking and bird migration. Other programs will draw people inter ested in an introduction to the outdoors. The outdoor center serves as a base for trail work projects. Trail work training is held around the immediate trails of the outdoor center and illustrates many forms of maintenance that the volunteers do to keep the trails in shape. Another function of the cabin is to provide a place for hikers to stay the night for a nominal fee after a long day of hiking.

If you are in the Butler County area, it is well worth the time to visit Moraine State Park and the NCTA Davis Hollow Outdoor Center.

National Trails Day at Davis Hollow Outdoor Center

By Charlene Wright The Pennsylvania

Chapters of the North Country Trail Association have acquired the use of an historic stone/log cabin to use as the state headquarters and an outdoor center. The cabin was built in the l 790's. The Davis Hollow Outdoor Center is located in Moraine State Park, in the city of Prospect, Pennsylvania. Lake Arthur, the focal point of the area, is a restoration of a portion of the glacial lake that existed over 10,000 years ago when glaciers covered most of Western Pennsylvania. Today the park and lake provide for many activities on more than 16,000 acres, such as boating, fishing, bicycling and of course close access to the North County Trail.

The Outdoor Center serves as a visitor's center and will stock local maps and guide books. Future plans include winterizing the water system in the Center to allow for year round activities. The North Country Trail State Office will operate the center through a memorandum of understanding with the State Park. It opened in the spring of 1998, and much of the beginning activities centered on volunteer weekends repairing and sprucing up the facility. When you enter the cabin, you will be taken back in time. On the first floor you will find the kitchen, dining room with a large hearth and the Great Room. The dining room and Great Room have hardwood floors. The Great Room is a stone room, open to the ceiling. There is a stone fireplace and mantel, and one can visualize cozy fires and family gatherings years ago. A wooden stair case takes you up to the second floor. Here you will find two bedrooms and a loft on the third floor. Each room in the cabin is named after the chapters of the North Country Trail in Pennsylvania. Maps and pictures of the trail in those chapters jurisdiction are depicted on the walls. The chapters in Pennsyl vania may use the outdoor center for club-related activities or educational/environmental purposes. There is a powder room on the first floor. The second floor bathroom is in need of some plumbing work. The stone/log home has a screened in porch over-looking the woods. There is a connector trail from the cabin grounds that will take a hiker to the NCT in less than 5

Davis Hollow Outdoor Center


VERTICAL DECAL to be used on Carsonite posts

In the last two issues of The North Star, I have tried to convey how important a degree or "thread of continuity" is to a long distance trail. You may recall the statement: "On along-distance national scenic trail, like the North Country NST, not only is it important that the trail be well blazed and signed, BUT it is equally important that the trail exhibit a "thread of continuity." In other words, "with only

a couple of exceptions, the markings should look similar along the trail-from New York to North Dakota. What a hiker sees in one location, they should reasonably expect to see in another location."

In Parts 1 and 2 of The Importance of A Thread, I focused on the signing and blazing of certified segments of the trail. In this issue, I would like to move on to the signing and blazing of the non certified segments. For years, various North Coun

try Trail Association (NCTA) individuals and long-distance hikers (North Star, October-December 1996) have recommended that an effort be made to mark the entire trail-from end to end. The advantages and disadvantages of this have been debated many times-finally culminating in May 1997 when NCTA's Board of Directors authorized working toward the goal of end to end marking (North Star June-July, 1997).

Most people have come to see the advantage of end to end marking. However, accomplishing it is another matter-it is a huge undertaking. Rather than dictating that it should be accomplished, NCTA's Board of Directors wisely supported end to end marking of the trail but left the timing in the hands of local groups "the priority for achieving such marking is left to managing agencies, local chapters, and affiliated clubs and depends on the availability of labor, volunteers, and available routes." Further, a priority for end to end marking was established:

"End to end marking priority is recommended as follows: 1. Short connectors or temporary segments of not over 5-miles in length. 2. Segments longer than 5-miles."

What does end to end marking involve? For the most part, it involves marking a road route that hikers can follow between the currently certified segments of trail. Since the trail's official blue and gold, triangular emblem is to be used only on certified segments, marking a road route primarily involves placing paint blazes and other "temporary connector" signs. Nevertheless, these two items add to the "thread of continuity" that is the theme for these a-ticles.

To assist with the above NCTA policy and to enhance the "thread of

By Bill Menke NPS NCNST Manager

PART3

The lntportance of A Thread


done anything to support it at the federal level." Hobson also commented that Xenia Station had put Xenia "back on the map."

Also speaking at the ceremonies were Ohio Secretary of State Bob Taft, who said he wanted to thank the area for providing the Xenia Station as a rest stop. Greene County Board of Commissioners president, T. Shawn Campbell, read a message from Sen. Mike De Wine, who could not attend, and presented a flag that had flown over the nation's Capitol to Xenia Mayor John Saaraga for use at Xenia Station.

A highlight of the ceremony was a history presentation of railroading in Greene County by Richard Strous and Tom Pulsifer of the Greene County Historical Society. They were dressed in authentic conductor and engineer outfits and gave a railroad history from 1845 to 1971, when the last train left Xenia Station.

There were several special presentations, including an 1800s vintage clock that will hang in the station. donated by the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors. About 500 people attended the opening ceremony, and many more participated after the building was opened.

Overcast skies and a threat of rain did not deter several hundred people from attending the opening of the 1800s replica of the Xenia, Ohio Railway Station in late May.

Xenia Station will serve as a rest stop for hikers, bikers, roller-bladers, runners, walkers and others using the 40 miles of paths in Greene County, Ohio. Among the paths used is the Little Miami Scenic Trail, which the North Country Trail follows through a part of Greene County.

The $1 million Xenia Station will have rest rooms and vending machines available to path travelers, as well as meeting rooms on the second floor.

The all-brick structure, with a metal roof, looks the same as the original railway station did in 1845. The molded metal ceiling, the interior lighting and the tall, narrow exterior windows are reminiscent of the period.

U.S. Representative David Hobson praised Greene County special projects coordinator Ed Dressler, whose many years of work spearheaded the development of the Greene County paths, mostly along abandoned rail grades and Xenia Station. "Without Ed's persistance in promoting the bike paths for federal assistance," Hobson said, "I probably wouldn't have

Hundreds attend opening ceremonies for Xenia Station

continuity" concept, the National Park Service has developed two new signs. The first of these is a vertical decal that is intended to be placed on the back side of the Carsonite post which marks the beginning of a certified segment. In other words, as a hiker approaches the end of a certified segment and is about to enter a non-certified segment (normally a road walk), they would see this decal. The decal indicates the

THE NCNST CONNECTOR EMBLEM -- actual size, available from the National Park Service.


distance to the next certified segment and instructs the hiker to follow the painteJ blazes and/or the above symbol. A perma nent marker is used to indicate the mileage in the blank. white area.

The preferred blaze is a blue, 2" x 6" vertical rectangle just like on the certified segments. However. because most connector segments are along roads, the frequency of blazing can be much reduced. Often. all that is needed are blazes just prior to and just after road junctions and very infrequently in between. At road junctions, double, offset blazes to indicate a turn are very important.

You will note that the lower part of the strip decal says "follow the emblem above and/or the painted blazes." When it is desirable to intermittently erect the "connector emblem" along the road walk, a nail-up plastic sign or a decal version is available. This sign is shown at left.

End to end marking is already in place on two large segments of the trail. Along the 330+ miles of the Finger Lakes Trail, followed by he North Country Trail, and throughout the length of the Buckeye Trail, marking the road routes is already an established policy.

Several short connector segments, in Pennsylvania and Michigan, are also marked with the connector emblems, or blazes.

From my perspective, the first priority must be to make sure that all certified segments of the trail are marked to the target standards discussed in Parts I and 2 of The Importance of A Thread. Once that is done. remaining energies can be devoted to marking the connector segments.

The Conservancy District placed the markers out on the trail and will be responsible for yearly maintenance.

Menke says: "Hikers in North Dakota will experience something totally different from the rest of the trail. This is wide-open prairie country with large, expansive vistas and a "big sky" feeling. While in North Dakota, I used our GPS unit •~ -~~~--1 ·L- ---·=-"=ed trail segment in Lake Sakakawea State

Park and a future route in Audubon National Wildlife Refuge. Our GPS recorder has a key that is programmed to record vistas=areas where the hiker has a rather long-distance, unobstructed view. In North Dakota, I came to the conclusion that this key is meaningless because each time you take a step for ward, there is a new vista."

If you would like more information on the trail please contact Kathy Baer in the Bureau of Reclamation's Dakotas Area Office (70 I) 250-4242 x36 J 8. THE NPS'S BILL MENKE talks with local reporters at the dedication ceremonies at Lake Brekken Recreation Area. The recreation area is a developed complex near Turtle Lake, ND. not far off the North Country Trail on the Garrison Conservancy District.

DENNIS BREITZMAN of the Garrison Conservancy District turns the dedication plaque over to Kathy Baer during dedication ceremonies at Lake Brekken Recreation Area. The 115-mile certification completes a 147-mile continuiously certified segment of the North Country Trail, the longest such segment on the trail.

On June 6, a small group gathered at Lake Brekken Recreation Area to celebrate the recent completion and certi fication of 115 miles of North Country National Scenic Trail (NCNST) in conjunction with National Trails Day. The newly certified trail parallels the New Rockford and McClusky Canals. The new trail joins the previously certified section that crosses the Lonetree Wildlife Management Area, creating 14 7 miles of continuous trail crossing North Dakota. The newly certified trail increases the miles of trail in North Dakota from 61.8 to 176.8.

A short dedication ceremony was conducted, with speak ers from Garrison Diversion Conservancy District, ND Game and Fish Department, US Bureau of Reclamation and the National Park Service. Bill Menke, NPS, presented Reclama tion and the Conservancy District with plaques commemorat ing the cooperative effort between the two and with NPS. The NDG&F Department received a similar plaque after the trail on Lonetree Wildlife Management Area was certified.

The newly certified trail was built cooperatively by the Bureau of Reclamation, Dakotas Area Office and the Garrison Diversion Conservancy District. Reclamation designed the trail and purchased the markers that are placed out on the trl'li 1

115-mile North Country Trail segment dedicated in North Dakota


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MELLEN WI 54546 (Pop. 1048) is working hard to be thought of as a trail town, and succeeding; it's one of the most trail-friendly stops on the whole NCNST. Though a small town, it has a fairly complete list of services, including medium sized grocery, hardware/sport ing goods store, laundromat, motel, and restaurants .. the

gravel Korn stead Road east. After 1.9 miles, the trail enters the city of Mellen; the road becomes River Street, and the trail joins paralleling city sidewalks for another 0.4 miles, until reaching SR13 (Main Street).

THE NORTH COUNTRY TRAIL through downtown Mellen, WI -- the light poles are blazed. The Main Street Bakery and Cafe, to the right of center, is familiar to many Wisconsin NCNST enthusiasts, and is arguably the best doughnut shop located directly on the trail.

The trail in the Chequamegon Na tional Forest comes to its eastern trailhead on Kornstead Road, about 2.3 miles west of Mellen. If heading westbound, the trailhead is a little obscure if not paying a lot of attention. The trail, here a marked connecting section, follows the narrow

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FR390 p

0.0 [0.0] CHEQUAMEGON NA- TION AL FOREST EAST TRAILHEAD

On the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, trail towns are something of a legend. Get any crowd of experienced ANST hikers together and you'll start hearing stories of the good times in such places as Hot Springs, Damascus, Harper's Ferry, Duncannon, or Monson.

The North Country Trail hasn't developed that sort of trail town culture and legend yet, but it's developed a few trail towns -- places that hikers look forward to for resupply, rest, recreation, good meals, a laundromat, and, most of all, hiker friendly residents. Munising, Michigan, is probably the best known of the NCNST trail towns, mostly because of the proximity of the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, but there are other hiker favorites, like Xenia, Ohio -- and Mellen, Wisconsin.

Though small, Mellen is the largest town in Wisconsin on or near completed North Country Trail, and it's familiar and a cherished memory to many who have hiked the trail in the Dairy State. Located just a couple miles east of the eastern trailhead for the long-established trail in the Chequamegon National Forest, Mellen has been doing its share to complete the trail. The village some years ago completed a hiking-biking trail from downtown out to Copper Falls State Park, north of town, and more recently, in cooperation with the Heritage Chapter of the NCTA, marked certified and on-road connect ing sections west to the Chequamegon National Forest trail head.

Copper Falls State Park has long-certified trail and a wonderfully scenic waterfall, one of the largest in the state. It's one of Wisconsin's lesser-visited State Parks, but well worth spending some time in.

Trail focus:

Mellen is Wisconsin's best N CT trail town

NORTH STAR: The Magazine of the North Country Trail, August-September/1998

The NCNST east of Mellen to the Michigan State Line is largely undeveloped, although development efforts got under way in 1997, with a tentative route worked out. and some areas at least temporarily flagged. The NPS's Bill Menke hiked through it over the summer of 1997, and reported that the trail route will run through wonderfully varied countryside that includes other large waterfalls, and the Penokee Mountians, large, rugged hills. The Uller Trail, also certified in 1997, a seven-mile hiking and cross-country ski trail, about fifteen miles to the east, is the next certified segment of the trail. It's hoped that much of this interesting segment can be completed in the next few years -- for which long distance hikers can be grateful, as a road route between here and the Michigan state line is not very direct. About forty miles to the east is the Hurley, Wisconsin/Ironwood, Michigan area, probably the best resupply stop for long-distance hikers since the Duluth, MN area.

As time goes on, hikers leaving the Mellen area will carry pleasant memories and stories with them.

marked North Country Trail northbound. generally parallel ing but usually separate from the park access road past the shower area, through the north campground and picnic area to the concession stand, then following the gorge north past Copper Falls, then southeast to a bridge leading northeast across Tyler's Fork. The trail turns back to the northwest, then west for a short distance, then turns north to cross Little Creek. then, about 0.5 mile past the crossing, a spur trail leads to the backpack campsites. The trail continues north for a short distance, then turns west to follow the river gorge. to where a powerlinecutcrosses the trail. Though the trail is marked a bit farther on to another overlook, it's planned that new NCNST exiting the park will lead northeast from this point; completion of this segment is a high priority for the NCTA's Heritage Chapter, which has a tentative route planned from Copper Falls on the rest of the way through Wisconsin.

COPPER FALLS in Copper Falls State Park.

Take the time to check out the waterfalls and rapids in Copper Falls State Park. It's necessary to follow the access road for a short distance -- about 0.1 mile -- to the visitor's entry area. From here, follow a short spur trail south of the access road westbound to the beach parking lot, then follow

4.3 [1.5] TURN NORTHWEST ON STATE PARK DRIVE

COPPER FALLS STATE PARK. The largest waterfall in the park is 29 feet high, and cuts through a gorge 60 to 100 feet deep. There are 4.4 miles of certified trail in the park, although part of it is on a spur that isn't used here. There are 56 regular campsites, four of which are of a walk-in type; in addition, there are two backpack campsites at the north end of the park. Reservations for campsites are suggested. Showers were constructed in 1997. There is a concession area with soft drinks, snacks, and souvenirs. For more information, contact Copper Falls State Park, RRTl, Box 17 AA, Mellen WI 54546. (715) 274-5123.

From Three Rivers City Park, a trail developed by the city, marked with NCNST signs and local signs with "Hike and Bike Trail" on them heads north along Montreal Creek. Near the comer of Butler Street and SR 169, it crosses the latter, then turns to parallel it on a separate treadway within the highway right-of-way out to the access road for Copper Falls State Park.

2.8 [0.3] TURN NORTH ON MARKED TRAIL

Marked, certified trail follows sidewalks east for about 0.3 miles to Three Rivers City Park.

2.5 [0.2] TURN EAST ON TAYLOR STREET

Marked, certified trail follows sidewalks north (past the Main Street Cafe)

·for two blocks, until reach ing Taylor Street.

2.3 [2.3] TURN NORTH ON MAIN STREET


doughnuts at the Main Street Bakery and Cafe, located right on the trail, are famous among Wiscon sin NCTA enthusiasts.

THIS COLORFUL TRAIL MARKER blazes the trail connecting Mellen and Copper Falls State Park, a couple of miles to the north.

Pennsylvania Any attempt to feature DON and BRIT A DORN separately would be impossi

ble. They kept passing the phone back and forth and asking each other for the answers to my interview questions. What a testament to life partnership! And they are also a credit to the word "volunteer." Long time members of the Allegheny Outdoor Club, they became acquainted with the North Country Trail when Glenn Oster asked Don to become State Coordinator for Pennsylvania. He held this position for about 3 years. Don is a retired Forester from the US Forest Service. Most of their trail work for the past 10 years has centered around helping hikers spot a car at the ends of the Allegheny National Forest and offering information about the trail. Since the AOC offers a patch for completion of those 95 miles, there is good interest in taking this hike. So far 87 people have earned the patch. Brita keeps the records for this award, and answers letters from people who request information

Don and Brita Dorn about the trail. She is also the treasurer for the AOC. Don says it is very satisfying to help people get started on their hikes. Another of their accomplishments has been to workwith a landowner who has finally given permission for the NCT to cross his property so that hikers may connect the Allegheny NF with Cook Forest.

Don and Brita kept insisting that they do very little, but it is my personal experience that they give freely of their time to needy hikers. Friends and I spent nearly an entire day with them when we hiked the ANF. They arranged a supply drop for us, fed us homemade pie, gave us much current info about the trail, and let us use their porch to sort our gear. Brita likes trails because she is sure many people would never go into the woods if they had to find their way with only map and compass. Trails provide a more structured setting, so that people will experience nature. And she likes to help people have that experience. Many of us owe Don and Brita a loud and personal, "Thank you!"

Irene Szabo

Finger Lakes Trail Conference With characteristic irony, IRENE SZABO credits her involvement with the Finger Lak.es and

North Country Trails to a high-strung dog who was "so hyper he needed ritalin," she joked. Although as a girl her favorite place to be was Girl Scout camp, she had drifted away from outdoor pursuits as an adult. However she started walking again in the mid- I 980's to exercise the high-energy dog. While on a ski weekend that featured more socializing than skiing she realized that walking the dog had made her need regular exercise. So outside she went and found a piece of trail bearing a FLT marker. The rest, she says, is history, and by 1987 she had her own section of trail to maintain.

There isn't much that Irene hasn't done if it's related to the trail. She's held many offices on the FL TC Board, is on the NY State Trails Council, and is VP of the Finger Lakes Land Trust. She sponsors 19 miles of trail, and is a section coordinator for 16 volunteers. She was awarded the Vibram Volunteer of the Year award for NY and wrote three of the guidebooks for trail segments in western NY. She spends a lot of time working with landowners. Somewhere amongst all this she finds time for her regular job as a manufacturer's representative.

Despite such a clear addiction to trail activities, Irene claims she can't quite put her finger on what it is that makes trails so important to her. She admits to being "drawn to the sight of some little pathway going off into the woods." She likes "snooping around" along the trail to find "mysterious things." The mysteries may be solved by learning new pieces of history such as sites of sawmills or schoolhouses. Sometimes the solutions involve botany lessons; for example to identify trees in the winter by their bark and buds rather than with the aid of leaves. She describes herself, with a chuckle, as an "annoying perfectionist." She likes to see trail nicely built and maintained, and wants groups to respect the sections they are assigned to care for. Fixing sections, getting more miles off-road and improving the trail design give her great satisfaction. It's "tremendous fun," she says.

Not surprisingly, it's pretty tough to find some of our volun teers in the summer months. Many of them are wearing out their soles doing what their hearts love best. But, we found enough of them to bring you this issue's shining group.

Edited by Joan Young


Arlen Matson

Grand Traverse Hiking Club In February of 1994, ARLEN MATSON put an ad in the newspaper to see if there was

any interest in forming a local chapter of the NCTA. 27 people showed up, and the club has grown from there! He was acting President of the club that first year, and then Trail Director. Even the existence of the trail, before the club, is owed in part to Arlen. He and Arden Johnson spent many hours together building NCT miles. With previous experience in building ski trails, and tools he owned from a landscaping business, he was all set to go. Building trail is his "love." Arlen sees established trails as a means of wilderness preserva tion. The trail helps build a credible defense against developers who may claim the land is unused. He wants wilderness to be there for his grandchildren, and he already has 18 to share it with! Canoes or planes can take you into the wilderness, but "I know of no other way to enjoy the forest wilderness except by trails," Arlen says.

Barb Van Dyken

"There is so much materialism in society, but that's not where I am," says BARB VAN DYKEN. "Trail activities offer me an alternative." She first heard about the NCT while hiking some of the Appalachian Trail about three years ago. Her enthusiasm found a hot-bed of possibilities in the busy Chief Noonday crew. She's their new Activities Chairperson and her first event will be to lead the Audubon Society on a North Country hike. Her association with various groups is one of the gifts Barb offers. In fact, the NCT will sport a covered bridge in Kellogg Forest because of Barb's contacts. She belongs to a society dedicated tc protecting the structure, but it needed to be moved from its present location. Where could it go? To our trail, says Barb! The designer has offered to help with the reconstruction at the new site. Barb told me that she doesn't let people forget promises like this. Another of Barb's recent responsibilities was to set up the interpretive sites for the chapter's National Trails Day event. Hikers could learn about such things as flowers or birds they might see at these stops. Also on her list is to adopt a section of trail as her own.

Barb has strong feelings about the value of the trail. "You find so much of yourself when you walk," she affirms. She has a desire to say to her generation, her children, and her grandchildren, "We really do value wild lands, and we want to give you a gift, a legacy:" the opportunity to become "personally acquainted with nature." She finds it very exciting to be in on the ground level of development of a national trail. She echoes the sentiment of many of us; "It's a sweet place to be."

Chief Noonday Chapter

Gene Markley

Northwestern Ohio Rails-to-Trails Association GENE MARKLEY calls himself the "face of the organization." Even when

people don't know him personally, his time spent patrolling or working on the trail results in greetings such as "You're the rail-trail guy; I know that truck!" Gene showed up at a public meeting when the trail association was being formed, wanting to increase his volunteer activities. He soon found himself on the board, and now is the Vice President. He has received grants to attend Rail-Trail conferences. As a group, NORTA received the state of Ohio Rails-to-Trails Conference Volunteer Award. He likes to bike, but says that as VP "(read slave driver and enforcement officer," he jokes) he's now mostly in his pick-up "with a cell phone in one hand and a chain saw in the other." NORTA owns 42 of the 63 miles of the Wabash Cannonball Trail, which is concurrent with the NCT over some of its length. They are developing three additional miles. Gene strongly believes in rails-to-trails. He wants to see these corridors preserved for present and future activities. In the present they offer both

recreational opportunities, and serve as mini-migratory and travel greenways for wildlife. Gene spends his work days as a senior bench technician doing electronics repairs. After work he's often out doing repairs

to the trail or enforcing the "no motorized vehicles" postings. (Yeah, Gene!) But he sees his most important role in the trails community as that of a diplomat. He feels that his rural background helps him communicate with landowners along the corridor. He likes to work with them to solve problems and create solutions which can be sealed with a handshake. His advice? "When negotiating with people, never start off negatively, acting belligerently, or with your biggest argument, as it leaves you no where to go .. " Thanks, Gene, for being willing to be a trails advocate on some of the front lines of the battle, landowner relations and rule enforcement!


I hope you 1ve noticed that not all our wonderful volunteers have been working on the NCT for years and years. Some have been, and so there is much to tell about them- really more than can be squeezed into 300 words. But two of the folks featured this month have only known about our trail/or three years. Their contributions are valued just as highly. Some of these people are technically retired, others manage to wedge the trail work around full-time jobs. But all are full of enthusiasm and heart, and are delighted to wear out their own brand of shoe leather-- hospitality, knowledge, muscle, technical skills, teaching ability, and dedication-- on the North Country Trail.

The next issue will feature some of our newest chapters, and so perhaps some of the newest volunteers. Remember, this is YOUR feature. Be sure to let me know about volunteers you have noted to be full of heart and sole. Joan H. Young, 861 W. US 10, Scottville, Ml 49454, 616-757-2205, [email protected]

Del Bjerkness

Headwaters Chapter DEL BJERKNESS says it's just part of his psyche to be a hiker. Norwegian parents brought him up in the tradition of

walking and cross-country skiing, and Del has passed that on to his children. He has hiked on both sides of the Atlantic: in the Alps and Pyrenees, the AT and some of the PCT. He also has hiked extensively, about 600 miles, in Glacier NP. "Did you know," he asked me,"that fewer than 1 % of the visitors to Glacier ever get out of their cars?" He believes that people need a mentor, someone who wants to walk and can teach them how. And that is a role in which Del now shines. Just one month after he retired from Concordia College he received a call asking him if he knew of the NCT. He did not, but quickly learned that it was only a half mile from his home! "Just 1,2,3 and I was appointed to the board," he chuckled. He served 6 years on the board, part of that time as VP. He says this was a "wonderful experience," to meet people from other parts of the trail. Del also helped get the permission for the NCT to pass through Itasca Lake State Park. While he was still at Concordia he directed an international program called Leaming Villages, which is immersion language teaching for children aged 7-17. He now brings all the wisdom from his personal and professional experience to the trail community. Hikers or trail workers come to immerse themselves in the Minnesota woods and Del is there with a large heart and home to help them on their way. Since the NCT is 250 miles north of Minneapolis, where many club members live, finding lodging and meals can be inhibiting to work crews. The Bjerkness home is open, and allows folks to spend their time working on the trail. He has trained many Boy and Girl Scout groups, including a group of 85 from South America, in trail work. Del wants to pass along his enthusiasm and knowledge, and to teach young people the importance of trails.

Heritage Chapter GARY TALSKY, like so many of our featured volunteers, has been enjoying the outdoors for

most of his life. He attended Philmont twice as a Boy Scout. He has hiked most of the Ice Age Trail, and Michigan's UP Lakeshore. Three years ago he was planning a sabbatical semester from his job as Instructor of Philosophy at Sacred Heart School of Theology. His brother suggested that they hike through the Chequamegon National Forest. Thus Gary became acquainted with the North Country Trail. They did the hike, and raised pledges per mile to help complete the trail. He is now the Treasurer of the young Heritage Chapter. He also is intrigued by the technology of internet communication, and believes that this technical aspect is where he can make a real contribution. Communicating and promoting the trail to others is his goal. He is developing a web site for the Heritage Chapter as a resource for the trail community and other people who may be interested. He wants to include links to help visitors to the area plan their hikes and enjoy the trail whether they might

Gary Talsky choose to backpack, or take advantage of local places to sleep and eat. Gary also is excited to be part of a trail like the NCT that is new enough that he can help build it, not just to maintain it. He calls trails "nature's best health club." He notes that nature will treat everyone equally; "it will put your ego aside." Where people may be unfair or show favoritism, there is equality in the challenges offered on the trail. Gary likes to be a member of the team. He notes that everyone has a talent or gift to bring, and we need to work together.

But now the trail near Traverse City is built, and maintenance is the concern. so Arlen has taken on his share of the 50 miles of trail that is the responsibility of the club. Retired from teaching 5th and 6th grade, the role of teacher is a comfortable one. He likes to train people in maintenance techniques. He enjoys sharing knowledge and introducing people to something new. He finds it especially rewarding to hear comments at the end of a day such as, "Did we ever enjoy that!" Arlen concludes that when he walks he is "at peace, my spirit is lifted, and I am grateful to God."


August-September, 1998

Ml-A) SE Lenawee Co. to W. Calhoun Co. Ml-B) NE Kalamazoo Co.to SE Newaygo Co. Ml-C) SE Newaygo Co. to NW Wexford Co. Ml-D) NW Wexford Co. to SE Charlevoix Co. Ml-E) Charlevoix Co. to Mackinaw City Ml-F) St. Ignace to SE Marquette Co. Ml-G) Marquette area to Ironwood

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 Michigan Map Sets by Arden Johnson

$ 2.50

$ 3.00 $ 5.50 $ 5.50 $ 2.50 $ 3.00

$ 8.00 $ 9.50 $ 3.50

$ 3.00

$ 3.50

$ 5.00 Pennsylvania

NCT in Pennsylvania Ohio

Wayne National Forest Burr Oak-Sinking Spring Sinking Spring to Milford Little Miami Scenic Park Miami & Erie Canal

Michigan NCT in Lower Michigan NCT in Upper Michigan Ml-37 to Doblesky Rd.Wilderness SP

Wisconsin Chequamegon N.F. and Brule River S.F.

Minnesota Chippewa National Forest, Itasca S.P.

Norlh Dakota NCT in North Dakota

Certified Sections of the North Country Trail by Byron and Margaret Hutchins Detailed information and maps highlighting the longest and best off-road segments of the Trail. These are accurate route descriptions by experienced guide-book writers who have walked the sections with a measuring wheel. In easy to use looseleaf form.

North Country

hop Proceeds benefit the North Country 'Ji'ail .Association in its e.lfortli to

build, maintain, and promote the North Country National Scenic 'Ji'aH.

Buckeye Trail (Ohio) Section Maps These convenient and detailed maps cover the North Country Trail where it overlaps with the Buckeye Trail. They are published by the Buckeye Trail Association. $3.50 per map Belle Valley: Morgan, Noble and Guernsey Counties Old Man's Cave: Hocking, Ross and Vinton Counties Bowerston: Harrison, Carroll and Guernsey Counties Scioto Trail: Ross and Pike Counties Ceasar Creek: Greene and Warren Counties Sinking Spring: Adams, Pike and Highland Counties Defiance: Defiance, Paulding, Putnam, Henry & Wood Counties St. Marys: Auglaize and Shelby Counties Delphos: Putnam, Allen and Auglaize Counties Stockport: Morgan, Perry and Athens Counties Loveland: Clermont, Warren and Hamilton Counties Troy: Greene, Miami & Montgomery Co's Massillon: Stark and Tuscarawas Counties West Union: Adams and Brown Counties New Straitsville: Athens, Hocking, Morgan and Perry Counties Williamsburg: Brown and Clermont Counties

N~rth Country National Scenic Trail Mug Official trail emblem on both sides in three colors. $ 5.95 ea.

$ 3.00 ea.

$1.50 ea.

$ 3.00 ea.

State Patches Available for all seven states.

Round Patches Yellow, blue and black on white background. ·.,

Volunteer Patch Blue thread on white background.

Trail Supporter Pin 3/~f' cloisonne, gold color lettering and star.

NCTA Trail Building & Maintenance Manual by Thomas Reimers This great manual for volunteers provides helpful guidelines and suggestions for planning, construction and continued maintenance of the North Country Trail. Covers rural & roaded natural, semi-primitive & primitive trail. 22 pgs. $2.00

$1.50 ea.

TShirt-97 (tan) M,L,XL: only $8.95! - XXL: $9.95 A TRAIL CREW shirt for volunteers! Tan 50/50 blend. Two color design on front with map and a "fired up" volunteer.

TShirt-98 (sage green) s,M,L,XL: $10.95 - XXL: $11.95 Brand new t-shirt reads: "North Country National Scenic Trail - Just i.s-;· Beyond Your Backdoor" in light ivory. It's made of heavyweight, 100% 'II, ,,i1~ cotton in a bright sage green, and features a front design in brick red and forest 1' green. The ivory trail line on the map actually is a list of all seven state names! Designed by Jeannie Thomas.

Cap A (lower left): $14.95 Low profile washed cotton, khaki crown, dark green bill, adjustable buckle on fabric strap.

Cap B (upper left): $12.95 Low profile cotton twill, solid navy crown and bill, plastic snap strap

Cap C (upper right): $12.95 Low profile cotton twill, solid khaki crown and bill, plastic snap strap

Cap D (lower right): $10.95 Mesh back, cotton twill front, royal blue, plastic snap strap.

Cap E (center): $16.95 "Pro-wash" cotton twill with extended bill, deep blue crown and bill (looks like denim), adjustable buckle on a leather strap.

For the Trail Supporter North Country Trail Caps Embroidered design with eight thread colors. Similar to NCT A logo only it reads "North Country National Scenic Trail." Adjustable sizes in five styles.

FLT in Cortland County FLT End-to-End Guide for Backpackers FLT: Conservation Trail to Hornell FLT in Steuben Co. (Hornell-S.Bradford)

NY-A) PA border - Portageville NY-B) Portageville - Watkins Glen NY-C) Watkins Glen - NW of Cuyler

Guide to the North Country Trail, Chippewa National Forest by Roderick MacRae

Description of the route and trail $5.95 log, east to west. Wonderfully $2.50 written by a Chippewa National $7.95 Forest expert. 12 pgs. $1.25 $6.95,, \..

Guidebooks Published by the Finger Lakes Trail Cont., these helpful books cover various parts of the North Country Trail where it overlaps the FLT in western and central New York.

Map Sets $4.00 per set These excellent looseleaf maps of the trail in NY are published by the Finger Lakes Trail Conference.

Minnesota Finger Lakes Trail Resources

Trail Atlas of Michigan by Dennis R. Hansen Michigan trail enthusiasts - don't get caught without this atlas! 2nd Edition includes maps and descriptions for over 600 hiking, biking, skiing, and nature trails in Michigan. Search by location or types of use! $29.95

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore - A Guide by Olive Anderson A centerpiece of the North Country National Scenic Trail, Pictured Rocks is a rugged, beautiful, and unique coast on the Lake Superior shore. This revised guidebook includes maps, and excellent descriptions of the many recreational opportunities available at Pictured Rocks. 56pgs. $6.95

Backpacker's Handbook Extremely thorough, up-to-date guide covering basics of backpacking. Information on the latest gear, cooking techniques, skills, and environmental hazards, with an emphasis on minimizing impact and enjoying the outdoors. This book is highly educational whether you are new to backpacking or an experienced "pro." 340pp. $18.95

Trails Across America by Art & Marge Miller Subtitled "A Traveler's Guide to Our National Scenic and Historic Trails," this book is the first to provide engaging descriptions and advice on all 19 trails in our National Trail System. Includes North Country, Morman Pioneer, Pony Express, Appalachian, lditarod, Lewis and Clark, Pacific Crest, Trail of Tears, Florida Trail, Continental Divide and many others. 308 pgs. $19.95

DIYHIKER'S HIND BOOK :. ~

Following the North Country National Scenic Trail by Wes Boyd, NCTA newsletter editor Full of information, this book directs readers to more in-depth resources on the trail. Although not really a guidebook, it's our most inclusive publication covering the whole North Country National Scenic Trail. 64 pgs. SALE PRICE: $2.95!

Buck Wilder's Small Twig Hiking & Camping Guide 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 will find this guide irresistible and informative. 64pp.

$12.95

Dayhiker's Handbook Comprehensive guide for be ginning wanderers and those exploring new country. Choos ing proper clothing, selecting footware and raingear, using a map and compass, predicting hike difficulty, when to turn around, managing food and water, weather lore, walking techniques, traveling with kids, first aid, and more. Many short features, fun tips and anec dotes. 216pp. $14.95

HIKING! 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: strengthening family ties, improving commun ication, a healthy lifestyle for kids, an inexpensive passtime and providing seniors with a natural prescription for health. A new twist for anyone who currently enjoys hiking and for those who are thinking about starting out. 245pp. $14.95

Great Books ...

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OHIO August 8-9: 10:00 a.m. BTA Circuit Hike, St. Marys-Delphos Sections. Saturday, meet just past Point 7, Delphos Section, on Bloomlock Road, 10:00 a.m. Will carpool to Lock 14 Rd. in the St. Marys Section. Will be hiking about 14.8 miles on flat land. Sunday. meet at Point 13, behind the Fire Station in Fort Jennings on Rt. 190. Will be hiking 11 miles on flat land. For questions or more information, contact Dana A. Zintek, 2369 sunc.cst Dr., Cuyahoga Falls, 44221; 330-928-8931. FAX 330-926-957 4.


Aug. 18 Wampum meeting 7:00 - Richard Lutz 625-8185 Aug. 22-23: Davis Hollow Outdoor Center Workday Bob Tait. (724)287-3382 Aug. 22-23 Hidden River Bridge finish hand railing Aug. 31 Hidden River Dedication 1 :00 PM Sept 1: Challenge Cost Share Grants for 99 due to state Coordinator Sept. 5-6: B.O.C. Slowdowns & blazing on Glacier Ridge Trail Sept. 11-13 KT A North Country Trailwork Butler/Moraine We will camp at the Davis Hollow Outdoor Center. The work: move 1 /2 mile section by Rt 528 to include vista, move 1 /4 mile in Jennings to make connection to Stone House. and build trail behind Stone House. Sept. 15: Wampum meeting - Richard Lutz 625-8185 Sept. 18: Penna Fall meeting 5:00 at Cook Forest call for location Sept. 19-20: NCTA Penna. Camping, Hikes & Trailwork in Cook Forest area 1st annual state campout and get to know people Carol Atwell 814-354-2778 Sept. 25-27: KT A Crystal Lake Camp near Hughsville in Lycoming County Sept. 28: Butler Chapter Mtg. 6:30 PM @ Butler YMCA Oct. 2: 30th Anniversary signing of National Trails System Act Oct. 3-4 Backpacking Class Bob Tait (724)287-3382 Oct. 10-11 Backpacking hike NCT Jennings to McConnells Mill -- need leader for this. Oct. 10-11 HikeANF Minister Creek Harold Kotchig412-341- 1196 Oct. 15 Pittsburgh membership meeting Penn Brewery- Troy Hill Oct. 20 Wampum meeting - Richard Lutz 625-8185 Oct. 24-25 Hike on the NCT in ANF Oct. 31- Nov. 1: Davis Hollow Outdoor Center Workday Bob Tait. (724)287-3382. Close up the cabin for winter, tools maintained Nov. 6-8 Hike to be scheduled check web page or call 724- 287-3382 Nov. 14-15 Close up the Outdoor Center for winter. tools maintained Nov. 17 Wampum meeting 7:00 pm - Richard Lutz 625-8185 Nov. 21-22 Hike on the NCT in ANF Dec. 15 Wampum meeting 7:00 pm - Richard Lutz 625-8185 Dec. 22: Butler Chapter Mtg. 6:30 PM Butler YMCA May 14-16 Trailwork Training Davis Hollow Outdoor Center Aug. 26-29 NCT A National Conf. Penna. Lutherlyn This schedule subject to change - call to confirm work times Visit Pennsylvania NCTA web Site at http://nauticom.net/ userloutdoor!nctlpa.html to check dates and changes.

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PENNSYLVANIA Aug. 8 Clarion Chapter Hike 9:00 am ANF/Cook Forest C Atwell 814-354-2778

August 7-9: Plum Valley B&B tour. Contact Ed Sidote, (607) 334-3872, or Claire Ders at (315) 653-7776. August 8: Hike #4 of a series of hikes across Schuyler County on the FLT. Contact Ernest and Heide Mahlke (607) 432-2583. August 9: Cayuga Trails Club Walk, Look and Learn Hike #419, in Treman State Park. Contact John Rogers (607) 898- 3058 for information. August 17-21: ALLEY CAT Trail Crew Work Week at Little Pond Campground in the Catskill Forest Preserve for Mill Brook Ridge Trail (FLT) project. Sept. 21-25: ALLEY CAT Trail Crew Work Week at Allegany State Park. Contact Howard Beye, FL TC Trail Management Chairman, at 716/288-7191 for more information. Sept. 26: FL TC Erv Markert Memorial Hike for all members and guests on the Abbott Loop Trail. Leader, Jack Van Derzee (607/387-5810). Oct 2-4: Plum Valley B&B tour. Contact Ed Sidote, (607} 334-3872, or Claire Ders at (315) 653-7776. October 9-11: FL TC Fall Outing, Hickory Hill Campground, near Hammondsport, NY. Contact Irene Szabo for more information (716/658-4321) November 21 : FL TC Board of Managers meeting at Covenant United Methodist Church, Rochester, NY, 10:00 a.m.

NEW YORK

September 24-27: Annual Conference. Lake Ann Baptist Camp, 10 mi. west of Traverse City. Empahsis on family activities and strengthening chapters. Call 616-454-5506. October 1: Newsletter deadline. October 1: Deadline for 1999 Challenge Cost Share proposals and reporting VIP hours. Dec 5 NCTA Board of Director Meeting, Romulus, Ml January 1: Newsletter deadline.

NCTA

ITEMS FOR THIS COLUMN must be received before the deadline dateon page 5. We welcome listing activities of affiliated organizations, but we must be aware of them in sufficient time for publication.

CTA TRIPS AND ACTIVITIES

August 8: Western Michigan Chapter hikes Siedman Park. 6 mi, easy. Call Dave Sheldon at (616} 784-8978, or Mary Payne at (616) 773-6986 for information. August 8: NCT Hikers (Marquette) trail work session east of Marquette. Call Gene at (906) 225-1704. August 10-14: New trail construction along 12-Mile Beach in Pictured Rock, with nearby camping. Food provided by Sierra Club. Camping equipment available. Send SASE to Dave Box, 337 E. Crescent, Marquette, Ml 49855. August 15: North Country Trail Hikers Hike to Canyon Falls. Call Russ Fure at 226-7669. August 15: Western Michigan Chapter hikes Pidgeon Creek in Ottawa Co. 5-6 mi, easy. Call Dave Sheldon at (616) 784- 8978, or Mary Payne at (616) 773-6986 for information. Aug. 16-30: North Country Trail Hikers Old Victoria area new trail construction. Fee, all meals included. Advance reservations required. Call Gene at (906) 225-1704. August 22: Western Michigan Chapter hikes Lost Nations State Game Area. 5-6 miles, easy. Call Dave Sheldon at (616) 784-8978, or Mary Payne at (616) 773-6986 for information. August 22: North Country Trail Hikers hike to Nash Creek Canyon. Call Betty at (906) 228-9018. August 19-23: Chapel Beach bridge construction. Worksite and campground in heart of Pictured Rocks. Backpacking required, equipment available. Food provided by Sierra Club. Send SASE to Steve Hicks, 148 Saddlebag Lake Rd., Woodland, Ml 48887. August 27: North Country Trail Hikers join Sierra Club for Little Presque Isle Cleanup. 6:30 PM. Call Dave at (906) 228- 9453. August 29: Western Michigan Chapter hikes Hoffmaster State Park, Muskegon. 9 miles, easy to moderate. Call Dave Sheldon at (616} 784-8978, or Mary Payne at (616) 773-6986 for information. Sept. 1: Western Michigan Chapter advisory board meeting. 7:30 PM at Hoogterps. Call (616) 677-1621. Sept. 2: North Country Trail Hikers bushwhack to small falls and rock outcrops near Marquette. Call Betty at (906) 228- 9018. Sept. 5: North Country Trail Hikers Ninth annual Public Hike. 1 o A.M. Donelly Tract, Little Garlic River. Volunteers needed. Call Gene at (906) 225-1704. Sept. 5: Western Michigan Chapter hikes Deerfield County Park, Mt. Pleasant. 8 miles, easy, passes covered bridge. Call Dave Sheldon at (616) 784-8978, or Mary Payne at (616) 773-6986 for information. Sept. 6: NCT Hikers Public Hike rain date. Decision made by 8:30 A.M. on Sat. Call Gene at (906) 225-1704.

MICHIGAN

NORTH STAR: The Magazine of the North Country Trail, August-September 1998 August 15: 10:00 a.m., BTA Hike-a-Month. Meet at the Products in Hocking County. Build new trail on private Michael J. Kirwan Reservoir to hike and explore a stretch of properties belonging to Dale W. Riddle Forest Products. This the Mogadore Section of the BT with Jay Abercrombie. Meet company has invited BT A onto their property to assist in at the boat launch/picnic area on Rock Spring Road, south of oversight of trespassers. They have also offered to provide Ohio 5 and north of the causeway. Bring lunch and water. materials to build a leanto. We anticipate at least 8 miles of Questions? Call Jay at 330-628-6098. new, off-road trail when this project is complete.Call Jim Sept. 9-13: BT A Trail Crew Work Party: Clendening Reservoir Sprague, 440-884-4757, or Herb Hulls, 7 40-585-2603. in Harrison County. Return to Clendening Reservoir to build more new trail on north side of Reservoir. Call Jim Sprague, 440-884-4757, or Herb Hulls, 740-585-2603. September 19, 10:00 a.m. BTA Hike-A-Month. Join Steve Miller on Saturday September 19 at 10:00 a.m., East Fork State Park campground parking lot. Bring a lunch and a thirst for adventure. The hike will be about 5 miles with moderate climbs and descents. Call 513-528-2075 for more inform ation and directions. September 19-20, 10:00 a.m. BTA Circuit Hike. Bowerston and Belle Valley Sections. Saturday meet .2 mile east of Point 47, Bowerston Section, at 10:00 a.m. Will carpool to Point 39. Hike is 13 miles. Sunday, meet south of Point 4, Belle Valley Section, at the Wildlife area 3/4 mile south of Laughman Rd: Will carpool to Saturday's meeting spot (see September 19 Circuit Hike above). Hike is about 11.1 miles.For questions or more information, contact Dana A. Zintek, 2369 Suncrest Dr., Cuyahoga Falls, 44221; 330-928-8931. FAX 330-926-9574. Sept. 27-28: BTA Trail Crew Work Party: Scioto Trails State Forest in Ross County. Improve grade on trail between Higby Bridge and South Ridge Road in this State Forest. Call Jim Sprague, 440-884-4757, or Herb Hulls, 740-585-2603. October 3-4, 10:00 a.m. BTA Circuit Hike. Delphos Section. Saturday, meet at Point 21, Cascade Park. Will carpool to Point 28. Hike is 12.2 miles. Sunday, meet at Point 21, Cascade Park. Will carpool to Point 13. Hike is 11.5 miles. For questions or more information, contact Dana A. Zintek, 2369 Suncrest Dr., Cuyahoga Falls, 44221; 330-928-8931. FAX 330-926-957 4. Oct. 10-11: BTA Trail Crew Work Party: Burr Oak State Park in Morgan County. Improve trail that has eroded into the Lake between Boat Dock #2 and the Lodge. Call Jim Sprague, 440- 884-4757, or Herb Hulls, 740-585-2603. Oct. 17-24: (note date change): BTA. Cranberry Glades Wilderness Area, near Richwood, West Virginia. We are planning to carpool to West Virginia to hike and backpack the Gauley District of the Monongahela National Forest. There are over 200 miles of maintained trails with many access points to accommodate day hikers and backpackers alike. The Seneca Rocks/Spruce Knob Recreation Area is nearby, so by carpooling, shuttling will not be a problem. The cost of the trip should be around $45 per person. Any questions or to make your reservation, call Mike Shumway, 937-434-5689, or Herb Hulls, 740-585-2603. October 3-4, 1 O:OO a.m. BTA Circuit Hike. Delphos Section. Saturday, meet at Point 21, Cascade Park. Will carpool to Point 28. Hike is 12.2 miles. Sunday, meet at Point 21, Cascade Park. Will carpool to Point 13. Hike is 11.5 miles. For questions or more information, contact Dana A. Zintek, 2369 Suncrest Dr., Cuyahoga Falls, 44221; 330-928-8931. FAX 330-926-957 4. Oct. 29 - Nov. 1: BTA Trail Crew Work Party: Riddle Forest

Where do I get * coUN:r, more information? ~~ 'l?y r.

Just call our office at 888-454- ~o/: fA., ~ . .a{'&_ NCTA and ask for a copy of - the Schoolhouse Brochure! • A s s o c 1 A T 1 o N •

North Dakota • Mlnneeota • VVtsmnaln • Mlchipn Ohlo • ~nnsytvanla •New York

Who runs it? The Schoolhouse is maintained and managed by volun

teers from our own Western Michigan Chapter.

Is it close to the North Country Trail? You bet! Just one and a half miles from the NCNST!

Where isit? 5 miles NW of White Cloud, Michigan, nestled in the

southern region of the Huron-Manistee National Forest

aent the NCTA's aootn SchooJb0

O~e ~Se1 • What's it for? NCTA's Schoolhouse makes an ideal hostel for your hikes through lower Michigan. It includes a shower, cots, and a kitchenette. It's also a great site for meetings or retreats!

Some risks are inherent in any NCT A, chapter or affiliate activity. Each Association member, guest, or non-member participant agrees to accept personal responsibility for his or her safety and the safety of minors accompa nying such persons. The Association cannot ensure the safety of any partici pant or hiker or activities. In participating in Association or Association-related activities, each such person agrees to hold harmless and free from blame the activity leaders and the Association, its officers. directors and members, for any accident, injury, or illness that might be sustained from participating in hikes or other Association activities.

October 9-11 :Appalachian Long-Distance Hikers Association Annual Gathering, Athens, WV. November 13-17: National Trail Symposium, Tucson, AZ. Contact: American Trails, (520) 632-1140.

Sept. 23 - Oct. 7: 24th Annual Overmountain Victory Trail Re-enactment, Abington, Virginia, to Kings Mountain Battlefield, North Carolina. Contact OVTA Grand Marshall Allen Ray (704) 756-4834. September 24-27: Santa Fe Trail Rendevoux, Larned, KS. Contact Santa Fe Trail Center, (316) 285-2054. October 2: 3oth Anniversary of the National Trails System Act.

OTHER NATIONAL TRAIL EVENTS

Sept 17: Brule-St. Croix Chapter Meeting, Contact Peter Nordgren, 715-394-8528 Sept 26&27: Brule-St. Croix Fall Work Days, Contact Peter Nordgren, 715-394-8528 Oct 15: Brule-St.Croix Chapter Meeting (elect officers for next year), Contact Peter Nordgren, 715-394-8528

WISCONSIN

_ .... r. ------~;

Backpacking • Canoeing • Photography Trout Fishing • Spike Camps • X-Country Skiing

Mountain Biking •Winter /Summer Survival Environmental Education

Wilderness Skills

··--·-' ~

CALL FOR FREE BROCHURE 517 -3 71- 1330 310 Seymore.Apt. 610

Lansing, Michigan, 48933


Sept. 7: North Country Trail Hikers Labor Day mountain bike trip to Seney NWR. Seventeen miles on good gravel roads which are closed to motor vehicles. Bike rentals available in nearby town. Call Richard at (906) 226-7934. Sept 12:Western Michigan Chapter hikes Saugatuck Dunes State Park. 9 mi, easy to moderate. Call Dave Sheldon at (616) 784-8978, or Mary Payne at (616) 773-6986 for information. Sept. 12: North Country Trail Hikers Softies hike west from Dishno Creek Rd. Call Jan at (906) 225-1295. Sept. 19: Western Michigan Chapter hikes Pines Point, Hesperia. 9 mi, easy. Call Dave Sheldon at (616) 784-8978, or Mary Payne at (616) 773-6986 for information. Sept. 19: North Country Trail Hikers Trail scouting in Silver Lake Basin area. Call Gene at (906) 225-1704. Sept. 24-27:NCTA Annual Meeting, Lake Ann Baptist Camp, near Traverse City. Contact NCT A at (616) 454-5506 for information. Sept. 26: North Country Trail Hikers Softies hike east of Peshekee Rd. Call Jan at 225-1295. Rain date Sept. 27. Sept. 26: North Country Trail Hikers join Sierra Club for Little Presque Isle Cleanup. 6:30 PM. Call Dave at (906) 228-9453. October 3: Western Michigan Chapter hikes Nordhouse Dunes State Park. 1 O miles, easy to moderate. Call Dave Sheldon at (616) 784-8978, or Mary Payne at (616) 773-6986 for information. October 6: W Ml board meeting 7:30 pm at United Methodist Church, 2600 7th St. NW, Grand Rapids. December 1: W Ml Chapter Meeting and Christmas Party 6:30 pm. Call Ruth Arthur 616-453-8622 for reservations.

2,000 miles certified by the year 2000 State Miles Change %

certified since last issue Done North Dakota 176.8 0 37.2 Minnesota 83.9 0 22.4 Wisconsin 79.3 0 39.7 Michigan 577.9 0 50.3 Ohio 289.0 0 27.5 Pennsylvania 119.3 0 39.8 New York 158.2 0 25.3 TOTAL 1484.4 0 35.6

One member for every mile of trail projected State Current Change Members

members since last issue Trail miles to goal North Dakota 12 0 475 463 Minnesota 51 + 2 4% 375 324 Wisconsin 73 0 220 147 Michigan 552 + 36 7% 1150 598 Ohio 55 - 1 (2%) 1050 995 Pennsylvania 120 + 14 13% 300 180 New York 79 - 1 (1%) 625 546 Other 86 + 9 12% n/a n/a TOTAL 1028 + 59 6% 4195 3253

One 2,000 by

2000

for One

NCTA's goals for memberships and new trail

Our Top Recruiters to Date: 6 David Adams 8 Richard Grau 10 Bob Papp 3 Jerry Allen 4 Grace Hutchinson 15 Kathy Sabel In June, our membership database 8 Carol Atwell 65 John Kincaid 4 Anne Saltman crashed. It's back up now, but it 7 Len Baron 4 Bryan Koehler 5 Richard Saur looks like some of you may have 9 Derek Blount 11 Mary Kunzler-Lannann 14 Dave Sheldon lost credit for a few of your recruits. 4 Jim Burrow 12 Al Lannann 4 Darlene Snyder If you think your number is low (or 11 Dave Cornell 4 John Leinen 50 Bob Tait if you're suddenly missing from the 5 Claudia Day 8 Rod MacRae 4 Barb VanDyken list altogether) give us a call. We'll 3 Dennis Donathen 3 James McMellen 6 Werner Veit compare our list of your recruits to 8 Gene Elzinga 14 Bill Menke 16 Gaylord Yost your recollection to get you the 3 Tom Garnett 92 NCTA Office 4 Joan Young credit you deserve. Thanks!

Public support is critical if we are to complete the North Country National Scenic Trail, so, we now offer awards to people who help recruit new members to our organization. Those listed in bold below already have qualified for prizes. We've also listed everyone who has recruited at least three new members, so you can keep an eye on where you stand. To receive credit for recruiting a new member, just write "recruited by" or "sponsored by" with your name somewhere on the new member's form. (All types of new member ships count for credit, not just the $15 introductory ones!)

Awards Given to NCTA's Top Recruiters!


Nonprofit U.S. Postage

PAID Grand Rapids, Ml

Permit 340

II T H E L u R I E c 0 ~ -~ A N y II

Environmental Support Center

•

Quality Outdoor Gear and Clothing Since 1938

eritech

North Country Trail Association 49 Monroe Center NW Ste 2008 Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503 888-454-NCTA • www.northcountrytrail.org

The North Country Trail Association thanks the following sponsors for their

generous support over the past year:

• NORTH STAR: The Magazine of the North Country Trail, August-September 1998 Page32

north star vol. 17, no. 4 (1998)

Documents

names of new members

srogi david

sponsored membership

trail leaders

liz forsberg john baker

janet cornell paul

o member

specific chapter