north star vol. 21, no. 3 (2002)

Drew Hanson, author of the article on the Ice Age National Scenic Trail on 1, grew up in Wisconsin's North Country and has been the Ice Age Trail Geographer since 1996. He can be reached at [email protected]

• • •

No sooner had we completed the "workshop for novices" pictured on page 18, when we started to get telephone calls and e-mails from other members, most

of them relatively new to the North Country Trail Association, who wanted to know when we would offer the work shop again.

The idea for the workshop arose out of my wondering why only the same a handful of members from my Western Michigan chapter ever participated in trail work. I asked around and learned a number might have participated but were intimidated by the veteran trail workers with their formidable skills. Hence the workshop for "novices." We invited members from neighboring chap ters and held the session this Spring.

The workshop was not intended as more than a solution to a specific prob lem in my area and it had not occurred to any of us to do it again. Bue given the response, maybe similar workshops could be held around all our regions. If anyone out there has interest in getting something like that going, write to me at [email protected] or call me at the NCTA office in Lowell and I can help get things underway.

Our session paid off immediately. Two weeks lacer when our chapter held our first annual "Go to Blazes Spring trail cleanup day," just about every workshop participant showed up to help. We expect to see them all again before end of the Summer.

• • •

out the registration blank on Page 16. See you there!

Bill Menke com ing up a hill in Ellicottvile, NY with the slopes of the Holimount Ski Resort in the back ground.

All that because the pic tures are from sights we are likely to see in North Dakota in August and we never miss an opportunity to urge all our read

Probably, flammeus ers to attend the annual conference.

See all about it in this issue and then fill

maybe that's why I'm scheduled to have a cataract removed.

In case my freshman botany profes sor should ever read these lines, I need to write for the record that my field short comings are no reflection on her instruc tion, but rest instead on my more than half century away from the classroom. Even in my senior moments, I do remem ber that the Genus is capitalized and the species begins in lower case, hue that's

nearly the extent of my recollection.

I did do a little better with the accompanying owl whose portrait was not submitted to Joan. With the help of Char Chandler's

Definitely, hlrta handy bird guide (Char volunteers

weekly in the NCTA office), this critter was (more or less) identified as a Short eared owl (Asio jlammeus). I say "more or less," because the characteristic streaks are bit out of focus. So if we're wrong, we'll blame the lens .

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2 North Star * July - September 2002

Time again for my quarterly botany lesson from Joan Young who explained patiently that brown-eyed and black eyed Susan are the same plane, Rudbeckia hirta, when I sent her the accompanying photograph with a plea to tell which color eyes this flower has. There is an allied species, Rudbeckia triloba, which chis wildflower definitely isn't. "Note the very hairy stems and what appears to be a tendency for the lower stems to look winged." I noticed no such thing hue

• • •

Even if there were no drought in the Northeast, little grass would grow

under the feet of our trail foreman and contributing editor, the peripatetic Bill Menke who spent the month of May in his hiking boots again.

You've read his accounts of long range treks in past issues of The North Star, often in the company, or at least in part company, of Dave Cornell, presi dent of the Chief Noonday Chapter and just reelected to the Board of the North Country Trail Association. This time, again with Dave along at least part way, Bill set out on the Finger Lakes Trail in New York.

We got word of at least part of his progress through John Malcolm, a mem ber of our Clarion (PA) Chapter as well as the Finger Lakes Trail Conference. John picked up Bill in Erie, PA., so that Bill could hike the road sections (there aren't many) of the Finger Lakes trail from Salamanca to Franklinville, NY.

We did manage to slow his prepara tions for the hike enough so he could complete his two assignments for this issue of the magazine: the description of the North Country Trail in his home state of Wisconsin beginning on Page 19 and the second of his Trail Craft series beginning on Page 7.

' Our Peripatetic Bill Underway Again (with Dave Cornell)

WERNER VEIT --·········-~,--·······················

EB ITO R'S ~®li@:

July - September 2002 * North Star 3

Werner Veit, Editor Sharon Froeligh, Contributing Editor Bill Menke, Contributing Editor Roger Meyer, Contributing Editor Joan Young, Contributing Editor Aaron Phipps, Art Director Jennifer Tripp, Production Manager

The North Star, Summer Issue, 1-01. )()(], Issue 3, is published quar terly by the North Country Trail Association, a private. not-for-profit 501c(3) organization, 229 East Main Street, Lowell, Ml 49331. The North Star is published for promotional and educational pur

poses and as a benefit of membership in the Association. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without written permission of the North Country Trail Association.

The North Star Staff:

Trail Joins Couples For introducing Members Sharon Froeligh and Aaron Phipps on the trail, North Star Editor Werner Veit got a reward: escorting the bride at a trail wed ding. Page 12.

Departments Heart and Sole Page 18 Hiking Shorts Page 28 Milestones 8 Trail Calendar Page 23 Trail Craft Page 7 Trail Log Page 4 Trail Shop Page 29 Trail Supporters Page 39

About the Cover That's the Sheyenne River running through Valley City, ND, site of the annual confer ence of the North Country Trail Association Aug. 15-18.

Columns Editor's Note Page 2 Trail Head Page 6 View from Lowell Page 3 5 View from Madison Page 34

Features 'Father of Trails' Honored Page 9 Trails Day Celebrations Pages 9 Joining Dirt and Waters Page 24 Trail Building Workshop Page 26

New in This Issue The North Country Trail is one of eight in the National Scenic Trail System. With today's article on the Ice Age Trail in Wisconsin on Page 21, we begin a series describing our sister scenic trails in the U.S.

The North Country Trail in Wisconsin The third in our "Portrait of the Trail," series describes the North Country National Scenic Trail in Wisconsin. You'll find Bill Menke's account, starting on Page 19.

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A Glance Inside

North Country Trail Association National Board of Directors

Terms Expiring 2002 Derek Blount, at Large· 906 N. Alexander,

Royal Oak, MI 48607 · (248) 548-1737 · [email protected]

Helen Coyne, at Large· 212 Willow Circle, Cranberry Township, PA 16066 · (724) 776-0678 · [email protected]

Mary Lucas, at Large · 753 Davenport Sr., Rhinelander, WI 54501 · (715) 362-0616 · [email protected]

Howard Beye, New York · 202 Colebourne Rd., Rochester, NY 14609 · (716) 288-7191 · [email protected]

Jon G. Lindgren, North Dakota · Vice President, West · 2001 N. Seventh Sr., Fargo, ND 58102 · (701) 232-7868 · jon_ [email protected]

Terms Expiring 2003 Werner Veit, at Large · 229 E. Main Sr., Lowell,

MI 49331 · (888) 454-6282 · [email protected] Joan Young, Secretary, at Large· 861 W USIO,

Scottville, MI 49454 · (231) 757-2205 · [email protected]

Richard Harris, VP East, at Large · 974 SOM Center Rd., Mayfield, OH 44143 · (440) 449- 7467 · [email protected]

Daryl Williamson, Minnesota· 5901 Timberglade Dr., Bloomington, MN 55438 · (952) 835-2186

Terms Expiring 2004 John Leinen, Jr., at Large . Vice President,

Finance· 14205 St. Croix Trail, Stillwater, MN 55082 (651) 433-4456 · [email protected]

Irene Szabo, at Large · 6939 Creek Rd., Mr. Morris, NY 14510-9638 · (716) 658-4321 · [email protected]

Gaylord Yost, President, at Large · 2925 W Bradley Rd., River Hills, WI 53201-1013 · (414) 354-8987 · [email protected]

Bob Norlin, Grear Lakes· PO Box 718, Iron River, WI 54847 · (715) 372-5229 · rnorlin@ir o nriver. baysar. net

Garry S. Dill Jr., Ohio · 4070 Trairorsville Brighron Rd., London, OH 43140 · (937) 834-2891 · [email protected]

Bob Tait Pennsylvania · Box 2968 Burler, PA 16001-2968 · (724) 287-3382 · [email protected]

NCTA Staff: Bob Papp, Executive Director

Tiffany Halfmann, GIS Coordinator Bonnie Wayman, Office Manager

Bill Menke, Trail Foreman Glory Meyer, Public Services Coordinator

Allison Barr, Bookkeeper

229 East Main Street, Lowell MI 49331 Ph. (888) 454-NCTA, Fx. (616) 897-6605

[email protected] www.northcountrytrail.org

•ASSOCIATION•

Bowen have also given permission for the NCT.

This new trail section (also new Finger Lakes Trail mileage) west of Cazenovia is being designed to give the hiker the most spectacular views of the breathtaking glacial topography of Central New York State. There are also deep forest and places of heavy growth, which harbor much wildlife.

In building the bridges, landowners, Scott Bowen and Rod Schlicht, helped with their tractor drawn wagons haul ing lumber up a steep slopes so our trail workers could save weeks of work mov ing the planks and beams to construction sites. Funding for the materials came from the National Park Service Challenge Cost Share Program.

Our crews look carefully for the dri est routes or otherwise drain or plank the wet spots. We work with an inclinometer to keep grades down to 10%. Easier maintenance for the trail steward is con sidered too.

In addition to our generous private landowners, the North Country National Scenic Trail has official endorsement

The photograph shows the Impressive countryside where volunteers from the Superior Hiking Trail Association are at work closing a 12-mile gap In the Superior and North Country Hiking Trail. It Is located In the area of Judge Magney State Park near Hovland, MN.

Bridges Built by Onondaga Chapter

Fourteen members of Onondaga Chapter, Adirondack Mountain Club built two bridges on the North Country Trail in southern Onondaga County, NY, in April. The 36 ft. by 16 ft spans cross irrigation ditching on a beef cattle farm owned by Don, Betty and David Schlicht, of Fabius, NY.

Adjacent landowners, Alice Harris, Dorothea Woodford and Scott and Pat

-The Ridgeline

Wolf Ridge, the day after the SHTA's annual meeting at the Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center.

- Built two small bridges near Gooseberry River and placed 15 steps.

- Constructed 60 feet of boardwalk and a 12-foot bridge at the Split Rock River.

- Superior Hiking Trail - - - • Construction area

Marais

lake Superior


The Superior Hiking Trail Association (SHTA), the North Country Trail

Association's affiliate in Minnesota, has begun construction on a new l O-mile segment of trail that closes a gap on the Superior Hiking Trail near Hovland. The new stretch will also replace an eight-mile road walk, partly along State Highway 61 and partly on county roads.

Until now, the trail had stopped in Judge Magney State Park past Devil's Kettle Falls and did not start again until Carlson Creek on the Arrowhead Road.

The SHTA scheduled construction for May and June on sections where permission has already been granted and then plans to resume after the bug season in late August and September, assuming all necessary permits and permission is obtained for the remainder.

Gayle Coyer, executive director of the SHTA, explained in The Ridgeline, the newsletter of the Association:

"The route we have planned will be a wonderful addition to the Superior Hiking Trail (the North Country National Scenic Trail follows the SHn. It contin ues north through the Judge Magney State Park on a high bluff above the Brule River.

"It then crosses private property with several bridge crossings of the beautiful Flute Reed River. The trail climbs out of the Flute Reed River water shed onto high ground of mixed maple, white pine and aspen/birch/balsam for ests. Then, it descends into the Carlson Creek watershed, which has an amazing amount of historic value and current beaver activity. At one point, the trail will cross the top of an old beaver dam near the outlet of a large pond."

Led by Ken Oelkers, the route was designed and flagged by Brad Anderson, John Green and Coyer. Brad spent all of last October working with Ken in the woods.

Once the gap is closed, the trail will be continuous from Two Harbors to the Canadian border.

It was a busy Spring for the SHTA. Besides the Hovland project, volunteers: - Put in steps on steep trail portions near

Major Gap of Superior (North Country} Trail Filled in Minnesota Trail Log: Minnesota, New York Pennsylvannia, Michigan

--Richard Lutz J"~·1;··~··5~~-;~~b-~~-·2002·····N~-rth···5t~~-··5

Wampum's New Trail The Wampum Chapter of the

North Country Trail Association received approval to build new trail over private land south of the chapter's current sec tion near Wampum, PA. The route proceeds for about a mile along the hillside above Wampum Run. Approval was given to the chapter by Meritex Enterprises, owners of the Gateway Commerce Center, an underground stor age facility. The section was certified by the National Park Service.

Spirit of Woods' Blazing Plans The Spirit of the Woods Chapter

has begun work to bring every blaze and sign up to National Park Service certifica tion standards along the 80 miles it takes care of, mostly in the Huron-Manistee National Forest of Michigan's Lower Peninsula.

Before the Summer is over, the group hopes to have nine to 10 sections covered to deal with a rotting bridge and various wet spots along the Rogue River. Paul hopes that the four-mile stretch in the game area will become a model of sound trail construction.

New Puncheons Along Rogue River

A crew of Western Michigan Chapter volunteers, headed by Paul Haan who takes cares of the section, spent two weekends this Spring and then again in June building puncheon in the Rogue River State Game Area in northwestern Kent County, Ml.

land. Signs will remind hikers of such changes and restrictions.

The chapter is also looking ahead to work needed when the State of Michigan completes purchases from Ameritech and the Canadian National Railroad on an old railroad grade in Chocolay Township. Installing barriers to the non-motorized trail has priority.

When rights of way are granted and routes settled, flagging and trail building for the westward extension of the North Country Trail from the Little Garlic Trail also are on the chapter's agenda, as well as looking at possible routes westward from County Road 510 to the Silver Lake Basin.

Finally, the chapter continues trail building this Summer in the Wildcat Canyon/Coles Canyon area.

-Gene Elzinga

by the Onondaga County Legislature, Onondaga County Parks Dept., Town of Fabius Board, and the New York State Dept of Environmental Conservation.

-Bill Coffin

NC Trail Hikers Engage in Ambitious Projects

The North Country Trail Hikers, the North Country Trail Association's chapter based in Marquette, MI, has embarked on an ambitious trail improve ment program. Some of the highlights:

Replacing old trail blazes, painted diamonds in various shades of blue, with the standard North Country trail rect angles painted in Nelson blue boundary.

Replacing wooden signs mounted on wood posts with decals on Carsonite posts. The decals will identify the trail as a segment of the NCNST and indicate the permitted and prohibited uses of the trail. Posts are being installed at trail heads, intersections with major roads and in areas where trees are insufficient for adequate blazes.

Installing plastic signs at property boundaries to alert hikers to changes in permitted uses. (For example, camping and camp fires are permitted on much public land, but not generally on private

On one of the new bridges are (left to right) Jim Wade, Scott Chubon, Bill and Anne Brosseau, Pat Quist, Tony Rodriquez (former mem ber of the NCTA Board), Scott Bowen, Sean Redmond, Gene Pierson, Genna Weitzel, Mellisa Boose, Neena Mitchell and Bill Coffin.

Trail Log: Minnesota, New York Pennsylvannia, Michigan

... the 25th anniversary of the North Country Trail is coming up in 2005 and the 25th anniversary of the NCTA in2006

(Except for Werner and Roger, everyone has full-time jobs so their North Star work is performed on nights and weekends. And all are busy on the trail, as well performing maintenance and trail building on sections they've adopted. Joan and Werner also head chapters; Joan is President of the Spirit of the Woods chapter and Werner, president of the Western Michigan Chapter.

The pay is low, er I should say, non existent, but the dedication, energy, and striving are genuine and at a high pitch. The North Star has to depend on vol unteers for its production and with the crew now in place, it continues to meet the challenge. I am amazed at the high quality of work done by Werner and our North Star volunteers and am proud and pleased that it stands right up there as one of the best volunteer generated pub lications around.

Occasionally during the past year I've heard comments about its content and that some news or issue individuals thought important didn't get into The North Star. My reply to this is that maybe it didn't make it because it was never brought to the attention of the editor or his staff. Our volunteer production peo ple may miss items. They are not infal lible, can make mistakes, and need to be queued in to issues or news items.

While we have a production staff, we need someone on the other end using phone, email, fax, or letter to provide constructive coverage of whatever it is they feel important and newsworthy. Note that I used the word constructive in front of coverage.

We need to bear in mind that what ever it is we provide, from wherever we are, we have a nation-wide audience read ing The North Star. The material pub lished helps set a tone for the publica tion, the NCTA, AND the individual(s) who contributes it. So please, when you have something you feel should make The North Star pages, make that call, drop that note, or write it up and send it in. Bring it to our editor's attention.

Contributing to Our Magazine The colorful and wide-ranging North

Star, the NCTA magazine, continues to provide the most meaningful direct con tact the organization has with the NCTA membership. It is an important contact that cannot be underestimated.

Our editor, Werner Veit, is in his office most every week day working with his volunteer crew of Sharon Froeligh, Roger Meyer, Joan Young, Aaron Phipps, and Jennifer Tripp. Together they are striving to develop representa tive coverage of events, news, volunteers, issues, and accomplishment from one end of the trail to the other.

operations along the trail. Our April Board meeting presented

one of those special occasions. Two new chapter charters were approved. One is based in St. Ignace, MI and has named itself the Hiawatha Shore-to-Shore and the other is in Minnesota between the eastern boundary of the Chippewa National Forest and the western bound ary of Itasca State Park. They're calling themselves the Itasca Moraine Chapter. (Details on the new chapters may be found on Page 37 of this issue.)

The St. Ignace chapter came into being because of the organizational work of John Eliott, Kirt Stage- Harvey, and Mark Halvorsen.

The Minnesota chapter owes its birth to a group of trail enthusiasts including Jerry Trout, Jack Gustafson, and Carter and Flo Hedeen. Many thanks to all of you who cared enough to get things rolling. And to those who have joined those chapters, we're sure you will have plenty of new and fun experiences working together and enjoying the trail.

TRAIL CCJ~~[Q)

GAYJ_ORD YOST President


New Commitments One of the pleasant tasks the Board

of Directors has when it meets is to approve charters for new NCTA chap ters. It's a great feeling to know that another group of energetic outdoor lov ers has made the commitment to begin

There's more to report this issue on efforts to begin putting together sys

tematically and tracking the history of the North Country Trail Association.

Richard Saur, the Baw Beese chap ter chair, has signed on to try and pull historical and heritage things together for the Association. Rich has had some experience in historic preservation and is willing to put it to work for NCTA. He will be contacting chapter and trail coun cil chairs shortly in this regard.

The Board of Directors, at its meet ing in New York, discussed the venture and provided Rich with some of its views and expectations for the History and Heritage Committee. Several items are worth letting you know about so you can consider what may need to be done by your own chapter and trail council.

The Board desires that the Committee develop a long-range plan. The plan will give guidance on what is relevant and important and should be gathered (artifacts, paper ephemera, newsletter, voice tapes, etc.). The plan will address where this material should be kept, who is responsible for keep ing it, various roles of the chapters, trail councils, and headquarters office, and any other guidance the Committee feels should be included.

Rich will want to obtain chapter and trail council views about this plan so please be prepared to share them with him.

In addition, as many of you may know, the 25th anniversary of the North Country Trail is coming up in 2005 and the 25th anniversary of the NCTA in 2006. The Board would like the Committee to handle the creation of a history of the NCTA so that it can be published by the Anniversary year and can be part of its celebration.

If any of you feel you would like to take part in the Committee's effort directly, please contact Rich. His address and phone are in the directory elsewhere in this issue.

Preserving Our History and Heritage: a Further Effort


that pass through or along openings where the increased sunlight stimulates the growth of grass, briars, and other nasty things that snag, trip, or restrain the hiker .

The time when the first mowing is needed depends on when spring arrives in your area and how quickly things begin to grow. In northern Wisconsin, where the trail passes through open areas, by mid-June the grass is over a foot tall and definitely needs mowing. Additional mowing should continue throughout the summer on an as needed basis-when ever the vegetation approaches a foot in height or leans into the trail from the sides. This can occur as often as once per month during the active growing season.

Many Chapters and Affiliates have DR Field and Brush Mowers at their disposal, tools that are a key to good trail maintenance because they are rugged and dependable and keep the trail in good condition more easily than other meth ods that I have tried. Other trail main tainers prefer to use power brush saws equipped with an all-purpose or weed head--especially in some of the more rocky areas.

Whatever tool you use, it is impor tant to keep on top of the vegetation. Again, in northern Wisconsin we have seen that mowing two to three times each summer for a couple of years is begin ning to change the vegetation from briars and other nasty plants to more low grow ing, less aggressive species such as straw berries and woodland flowers. We have also found that if we schedule a mowing in about mid-late July, there is very little regrowth for the rest of the year.

When mowing, be sure to take the time to swing out and widen the width of the mowed area whenever blackber ries, raspberries, multiflora roses, hazel, or other plants that get tall enough to lean into the trail are present. The DR has no problem going through these trail encroachers.

Even if your section is within the canopied forest, one mowing per year is very helpful because it sets back the growth of woody vegetation such as the thick "dog haired" maple. Mowing is also extremely critical in places like Lower Michigan where vigorous bracken fern is common. Whichever of the seven states

lowing the winter. Everything needs to be put back in tiptop shape in prepara tion for the first hikes of the season.

Fallen branches and trees caused by the rigors of winter weather need to be removed, blazes need to be repainted if they have faded, and all of the signs and emblems need to be checked and replaced if they are missing or in poor repair. The spring trip also requires that bridges and other trail structures be cleaned and inspected, register boxes repaired and stocked, and countless little things seen to. When of that is behind you, you can settle into routine but per haps monthly summer maintenance. The primary tasks:

1. Mowing: By now, most sections of the trail should have been mowed at least once--especially those segments

DR Field and Brush Mowers ... are key to good trail maintenance because they are rugged and dependable and keep the trail In good condition as Len Baron dem onstrates.

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The Appalachian Conference's new handbook, Trail Design,

Construction, and Maintenance - Birchard and Proudman, 2000 begins the chapter on maintenance with:

''As a trail maintainer, you are the trail's most important advocate and pro tector .... You must be familiar with all the appropriate techniques ... so that you understand the big picture as you perform the simple, recurring mainte nance and repairs necessary to keep the trail and its shelters, campsites, overlooks, signs, and parking lots accessible and in good repair ... Without vigilance ... the trail would soon disappear. You must be prepared to respond to any task that presents itself during the year .... As (the trail's) eyes and ears, maintainers are the trail's vigilant citizenry. The trail's very survival depends on their work."

I couldn't say it better. The trail maintainer and good trail maintenance are of utmost importance to the survival of any trail. Otherwise, the trail falls into disrepair and visitors have an unpleasant experience so that we may lose our only chance to gain a new trail supporter and/or even a new member for the North Country Trail Association. Furthermore, how visitors perceive your section of the trail will be how they perceive the entire trail. What you do locally affects the trail nationally.

The task is not as formidable as it seems. If you remain diligent and percep tive, small repeated steps will achieve and preserve the well-maintained trail.

By mid-summer, the most difficult and time-consuming maintenance trip for the year should be long gone-it should have been completed prior to Memorial Day. Spring maintenance is the most difficult because there are so many things to clean up and repair fol-

Maintenance

Summer: Time For Regular, Faithful Trail

Trail Craft with Bill Menke

There will be time for historic and scenic trail organizations and agency managers to discuss timely issues and to enjoy the Autumn beauty and history of the valleys and mountains of Arkansas and the plains and hills of Oklahoma.

Attendees can experience the rich cultural heritage of the Cherokees, Seminoles, Creeks Chickasaws and Choctaws and join for a traditional meal provided by the Cherokee Nation.

The Conference is sponsored by: Partnership for the National Trails System, the American Hiking Society, the National Park Service, USDA- Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management and USDOT- FHWA.

Information is available from the Partnership for the National Trails System. For registration materials call 608-249- 7870 or e-mail [email protected].

- Gary werner

The 8th Conference on National Scenic and Historic Trails, hosted by the Trail of Tears Association and The Cherokee Nation, will be held Oct. 17 - 21, at the Holiday Inn City Center in Fort Smith, Arkansas. The theme is: Stories - Educating the World about the National Trails 'System.

Workshops will present ways to interpret linear landscapes for both historic and scenic trails, to make fully accessible exhibits, and how to pay for them with Transportation Enhancement funds. They will explore how stories told with maps, school curricula and other means can connect children with the rich heritage of our trails and how com munity support can be achieved through trail story telling activities.

Field trips will visit important sites along the Trail of Tears and the Cherokee Cultural Center in Tahlequah, OK.

Plans Set for 8th National Trails Conference this Fall

be a seldom visited yet truly magnificent area.

The map's shading tells us that the second largest area of old growth red and white pine in the park is around the Hernando DeSoto Lake, Bogus Lake, Morrison Lake area. Then you notice the high narrow ridge that the Trail follows, between DeSoto and Mikenna Lakes. It's right here where the existing park trails end (where the Eagle Scout Trail and the Nicollet Trail meet) and the newly built (1993) NCT continues. The NCT fol lows along this narrow ridge squeezed between Desoto Lake, Morrison Lake, Horn Lake and Augusto Lake, winding amongst this old growth pine.

You might like to explore this under appreciated part of Itasca yourself. Of course there's no parking lot nearby and you'll have to hike a few miles ( 4 to 6 depending on where you start, just to get there). But, I'm sure you'll feel the experience was worth the effort and just maybe you'll be able to add another secret place to your Itasca favorites list.

- john Leinen Jr.

John Leinen Jr., the NCTA's Minnesota coordinator and VP finance.

"\VJhile visiting the Walker, Bemidji W area this Spring, I visited Itasca

State Park and stopped at the new Jacob V. Brower Visitor Center for more infor mation. (I was looking for a place to pho tograph that everyone would not recog nize as Itasca but was as spectacular as we all expect Itasca to be, for our Minnesota North Country Trail exhibit display.)

I was immediately captivated by the large (it must have been 8 or 10 foot square) model relief map of the whole park, showing the topography and shaded to display the kinds of vegetation in various parts of the park.

First, I realized that like me, most visitors only see the part of the park north of the Douglas Lodge area (Lake Itasca, the Mississippi Headwaters, the Wilderness Drive) and second, that where the North Country Trail traverses across the southern part of the park must

Winding Between Lakes, Old Growth Pine, the NCT Affords an Unexpected Treat in Minnesota's Atasca State Park

Hidden Corners Along the Trail


you're in, there is some kind of grassy, herbaceous, or woody growth to control.

2. Clearing: In Summer, unstable weather patterns generate tornados and strong straight line winds can wreak havoc. If your adopted section is hit, prompt attention and intense efforts are usually required but only perform within your capability. You should notify your chapter trail supervisor and call in the troops if needed.

In Summer, or Fall, you should also prune branches encroaching on the trail to maintain the normal 4 X 8 foot passage. Remember to trim branches, brush, and small trees flush. If vistas are present, they should also be maintained (cleared) at the same time you clear the trail.

3. Maintaining Drainage: This task often ranks among the most important in trail maintenance. Normally, drainage work is done twice per year in the spring and fall-but Summer is a good time to catch up on anything missed earlier and to spot new problems as they develop. You need to remain vigilant and remove accumulated leaves, soil, and other debris from water bars, drainage dips and ditches.

If you don't, they will cease to func tion and the result will be increased wear and tear and further erosion. If a wet spot or mud hole develops, first try the simplest technique to dry it out-dig a drainage ditch and wait for a season to see if this cures the problem. If not, more drastic methods can be undertaken.

4. Signs and Blazes: Make sure all signs and blazes are still in place even though they were probably in good shape after Spring cleanup. The trouble is that they are subject to all kinds of mishaps, vandalism and even theft as souvenirs.

5. The final details: As in all seasons, be sure to keep registers repaired and stocked, lean-tos and campsites clean and litter picked up. In general, no matter what the time of year, maintainers need to keep an eye on everything along the trail and bring it back into good condi tion whenever it deteriorates or no longer meets the standards.

Next issue: Maintenance needs in the Fall.

Trail Craft

--------------- ---····-····················


illness but his son, Gaylord Nelson Jr., and his wife, as well as a lifelong friend, Martin Hanson were able to participate on Sen. Nelson's behalf

Gaylord Yost, President of the North Country Trail Association, called the occa sion," ... a day to celebrate and honor the human force, the person who was most responsible for making this all pos sible ... "

Words of appre ciation for Sen. Nelson are inscribed on the granite portal which conclude:

" ... His work to create a national network of trails will be enjoyed by countless generations who find solitude and refreshment in a walk in the out doors ... "

Yost also paid tribute to the National Park Service and the countless trail vol unteers. He told those assembled:

"On this National Trails Day, we (also) want to celebrate the NCTA's long standing relationship and partnering with the National Park Service.

"The NCTA is the primary, private volunteer support organization for the NCT and the parent organization for it's many chapters and affiliates located along the 4,600 miles of the NCT. Our orga nization furthers and compliments the work of the NPS in establishing the trail on the ground.

'The NPS facilitates our work throughout the seven states through which the NCT passes and helps to fund projects, assists with supplies, and pro vides planning, guidance, and support. It has been a rewarding association and one we will work to strengthen in the years to come.

"Another partnership we want to cel ebrate is the one developed between the

Happy (Gaylord, Jr.) Nelson, Gaylord Yost and Martin Hanson, Sen. Nelson's lifelong friend, at opening of this granite portal.

Political Career • State Senator, 1948-1958. · Governor, 1958-1962. • U.S. Senator, 1963-1981.

Champion of Trails Gaylord A. Nelson, often

considered one of the founding fathers of the North Country National Scenic Trail, has had a distinguished career as a public servant and champion of the envi

ronment and out door recreation.

He is known all over the world as the visionary founder of "Earth Day," celebrated

every April 22 to stir the nation to consciousness of environmental issues. Highlights of His Record • 1964 - Sponsored Senate

bill that led to the creation of the Ice Age National Scientific Reserve, nine units that protect outstanding Wisconsin land scape features resulting from continental glaciation.

• 1968 - Cosponsored the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.

• 1970 - Authorized and spon sored the legislation creat ing Apostle Islands National Lakeshore.

• 1972 - Cosponsored legislation, which authorized the Lower Saint Croix River as a National Scenic Riverway.

• 1980 - Cosponsored legisla tion which authorized the North Country National Scenic Trail.

A ll three chapters in Wisconsin-Brule r\.st. Croix, Chequamegon and Heritage--joined near Brule to celebrate National Trails Day and to dedicate a por tal to the North Country National Scenic Trail in honor of Sen. Gaylord A Nelson, author and sponsor of the National Trails Act, which made the trail possible.

Unfortunately, Sen. Nelson was unable to attend because of a temporary

Portal to NCT Dedicated to 'Father of National Trails' National Trails Day

Brule River State Forest and the Brule/St. Croix Chapter of the NCTA. The chap ter has extended the trail many miles through the Forest, opening up much of the outstanding scenery along the Brule River.

"Today our dedication is hosted by the Forest and its Superintendent, Steve Peterson. Our NCTA chapters are grate ful for this quiet peaceful spot beside the NCT from which they will be able to access the wonderful scenery of the forest and the miles of the NCT east and west of the forest. Thanks Steve and Chuck Zosel for all you've done. Your partner ship with the Brule-St. Croix chapter is one we believe illustrates what our vol unteer organization can accomplish with land managers all along the trail.

"Today's celebration very definitely marks the hard work of the volunteers and the Brule River State Forest workers who collaborated to construct this portal and who are working together to build and make the NCT a reality. They have a special relationship and -a goal they share and work toward. Without our volun teers and the relationship they have with the land managers along the trail, we will

Spirit of the Woods Chapter The theme of the National Trails

Day celebration for the Spirit of the Woods chapter in Michigan was "The Voyageurs," learning about them and how they are connected to the North Country National Scenic Trail. The chap-

-Lisa Engel

ting ceremony in Sibley, ND. The event marked the opening of the latest segment of the North Country National Scenic Trail to be certified, some 12 miles at Lake Ashtabula, an area conference goers will be able to visit.

Besides chapter members, on hand for the occasion were Lindgren, state coordinator, chairman of the North Dakota Trail Council and a director of the North Country Trail Association; Mark Zimmerman, who represented the North Dakota Tourist Council, and Tim Bertschi, operations manager for the western flood control area of North Dakota and Scott Tichy from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Scott was the chair of the events.

Sheyenne River Valley Chapter The Sheyenne River Valley Chapter,

one of the hosts of our annual conference in North Dakota, Aug. 15-18, celebrated National Trails Day with a ribbon-cut-

-Al Larmann

the Old Erie Canal Towpath Park route that will carry the NCNST to Rome, Fort Stanwix, and onward into the Adirondack Mountain Preserve.

Nearly 50 celebrants were on hand for the brief remarks from Rocco DiVeronica, Chairman of the Madison County Board of Supervisors and Village of Canastota Mayor Todd Rouse. They were very supportive of the NCNST/ Link Trail itself and its complementary role within the New York State Canal Way Project in Central New York. Pre event good publicity via the press media generated good interest-manifested by a number of first time attendees. The local American Legion Post supported the event with their WWI "40 & 8 locomo bile."-providing transportation for tired hikers.

Central New York: Volunteers dedicate bridge over Canastota Creek.

10 North Star * July- September 2002

Central New York Chapter Although some soft spots on the trail

remained after the preceding day's tor rential rain and occasional hail, clear skies and a very brisk breeze greeted our NTD celebrants. The goal-dedicate our new bridge spanning Canastota Creek and an important new NCNST/Link Trail 3.5 mile segment from Nelson Road to the Canal Town Museum in Canastota.

This is the first segment officially opened per the Chapter "break-through agreement" with New York Parks end ing 32 years of no trail development of the official NCNST route here. In addition, it establishes the junction with

not be able to complete this outstanding scenic trail."

Many dignitaries from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and executives from the National Park Service, were on hand for the ceremony. "Not all states are as pro trail as Wisconsin," Gaylord noted when making introductions.

Peter Biermeier, Chief of the DNR's Trails and External Relations for Wisconsin's Northern Region, thanked the NCTA's many volunteers for their hard work and dedication. He described the NCTA and the Ice Age Park and Trail Foundation, as exemplary private partners, standing out among the best trail organizations across the country.

Mary Lucas, an NCTA director, and · Chuck Zosel from the Brule-St. Croix chapter, also attended. Bob Papp, execu tive director of the North Country Trail Association, acted as master of ceremonies.

Other North Country Trail Association chapters held celebrations to mark the day throughout the seven states, through which the North Country Trail is routed. Among those chapters who reported their activities were:

Spirit of the Woods: Visitors had a chance to paddle a North Canoe, such as those used by the Voyageurs.

National Trails Day

Western Michigan: Boy Scout, Scott Cooper was responsible for this NCTC kiosk in the Lowell State Game Area. 1·~·1; · . · ·5~~~~~;;~~- · 2;;;;2· · *. · N~-rth .. st~;·· ii

Western Michigan Chapter Among a day filled with hikes,

demonstrations and visits to informa tion booths, the dedication of a kiosk with information on the North Country

Tittabawassee Chapter The Tittabawassee Chapter set up

display tables at the NCT trailhead on M-32 and at Jay's Sporting Goods store in Gaylord, MI where more than $150 worth of merchandise, donated by the

store, were distributed in a drawing. Displays included maps and pictures of the North Country and other hiking trails in the vicinity.At the trailhead, hik ers were directed to a route leading to a beaver dam on O'Brien Pond at Warner Creek.

A local Boy Scout troop from Gaylord set up their camp as a dem onstration and worked on their merit badges. They had three fire pits going with one of them used to cook a com plete meal in four Dutch ovens. The result was a feast of chicken, green bean casserole, biscuits and apple cobbler for all who came to the demonstration.

Chapter members Bob Schrems and Gary Johnson took charge of the day, which drew the attention of nine local, county newspapers and several larger downstate papers. Our chapter put together a great day for all that wanted to participate. Bob's children participated by making posters for the trail.

-Cora Killinger

ter put up a big poster of the places along the trail where one might intercept or follow a voyageur route.

As part of the event, Bob Adams of the Manistee Historical Society, brought along a 27-foot long, "North Canoe," and offered participants a paddle in the big craft. He brought other artifacts which helped to demonstrate aspects of voyageur life.

The Society of Les Voyageurs from Ann Arbor hand carved a canoe paddle and later offered paddle instruction and a chance to take out a canoe was provided for the more than 100 attendees from all parts of the state. (Thirty-three of the guests were children, a healthy sign for the future).

Other highlights were walks along an interpretive nature trail where hikers could post wildlife they saw and, of course, a traditional Summer picnic com plete with hot dogs grilled outdoors.

-Joan Young

Tittibawassee: Gary Johnson, (left) Peggy Jones and Vern Killinger set up near the front door of a sporting goods store in Gaylord, Ml, to provide trail infor mation for shoppers.

National Scenic Trail in Fallasburg Park, was a highlight for the Western Michigan Chapter.

The North Country trail crosses the park, one of the most visited of Kent County's parks in Michigan. It's a six mile hike from the North Country Trail Association's national headquarters in Lowell. Paula Wilbur, who is the adoptee for those six miles, primarily through the Lowell State Game area, was the chair for the chapter's National Trails Day celebra tion for the second straight year.

The kiosk was the responsibility of Scott Cooper, a local scout, who took on the project as one of his requirements for achieving Eagle rank. Tom Learmont, the chapter's trail manager, supervised Scott's work and found it outstanding.

- Werner Veit

North Dakota: A hike toward Lake Ashtabula.

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Cold .temperatures didn't faze. Tiffcmy and Marl{ out on the trail, either. Then came their wedding day.

,..,-Wo years ago The North Star, .l reported the June 10, 2000 wedding

of Jerry Allen and Connie Pausits of the Tittibawassee chapter who met as a result of their work on the North Country Trail.

Maybe it was the short winter or spring weather, but there were two more weddings of employees and volunteers of the NCT this year.

On May 11, 2002 Tiffany Halfmann and Mark Stram were mar ried in Appleton, WI., Tiffany's home town. She is the NCT cartographer who makes all those great maps available

By Roger Meyer Contributing Editor

Spring Weddings Bloom for NC Trail Companions

The Aisle Before: Warmth on a cold maintenance day for Aaron and Sharon.

Hikes Down After: Sharon and Aaron displayed the proper footwear for a hiking ceremony.


Sponsored by

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I I 1-1 I I 1-1 I I I I Skills to Volunteer

Please choose your Chapter affiliation:

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Our Sponsored Membership Program allows current

members to sign up new members at an introductory rate

of just $18, instead of the regular $30. To qualify

Sponsored Members must be new to the North Country

Trail Association, or not have been members for at least

two years. The special $18 rate is good for only the first

year of membership. To use the program, current members

need to just fill their name on the "Sponsored By" line,

then give this form to a friend to finish.

To begin your membership, complete this form and send it with your $18 payment to:

229 East Main Street Lowell, Michigan 49331

•ASSOCIATION•

1 SPONSORED MEMBERSHIP FORM

from the Trail Shop and in her spare time works on the North Country Trail as a volunteer.

Mark, originally from Marshfield, WI, is now working under contract to the City of Grand Rapids, MI as a GIS Technician. He, too, has become a vol unteer trail builder and maintainer for the West Michigan Chapter.

They met during college in Madison.

The following week, on May 18, Sharon Froeligh and Aaron Phipps were married in Lansing, ML They began dating after meeting at the 2001 NCTA National Conference in Cazenovia, New York.

Sharon is on the Board of Directors of the West Michigan Chapter, a con tributing editor of The North Star, and is active in other trail work. She's an Administrative Assistant for Consumer's Energy. Her hometown is Wilkes- Barre, PA.

Aaron, who is a little newer to the NCTA, is already building trail and also volunteers as the art director for The North Star. He's the Assistant Production Manager for the Grand Rapids Press.

Werner Veit, editor of The North Star, president of the West Michigan Chapter, and former president of the NCTA, gave the bride away.

Both sets of newlyweds found homes near the NCTA headquarters in the Lowell, MI area, handy for more vol unteer work.

Blazes, what else? led from the altar.

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tain sections of the trail and promote its use to local hikers and visitors from outside the area.

Following the Lonetree WMA hike, the tour will cross the McCluskey Canal section of the trail several times. The McCluskey segment is a 74-mile stretch, which follows the route of the canal on the outer portion of the canal's right-of-way. A number of lakes add to the scenic beaury of the area.

The tour will return to Valley City in time for Saturday night's dinner.

The Garrison Diversion project's original purpose was to provide for flood control, navigation aid, irrigation and hydroelectric power but has since expanded its mission substantially to provide a reliable water supply for North Dakota and to greatly enhance outdoor experiences for North Dakotans and their visitors.

As a part of its program to replace and enhance wildlife habitat, Garrison

Trail runs along Rockford Canal, first stop on Saturday's tour.

A scene in the Lonetree Wildlife Management Area, focus of much of Saturday's trip.

The Lonetree segment contains 32 miles of the North Country Trail between the New Rockford and McCluskey Canals. This segment of the trail can be difficult to hike because of its vegetation and terrain, says Scott Peterson, wildlife resource management supervisor for the Lonetree WMA. "For example, the trail may lead the hiker up to a wetland. It is up to the individual hiker how to get around it," he says.

But there are many rewards. "When passing through the Lonetree segment of the trail, a hiker will see all sorts of habitat, wetlands, native prairie, and grasslands," says Peterson. Wildlife such as sharp-tailed grouse, ring-necked pheasants, Hungarian partridges, white tail deer, and several different species of ducks and geese are often seen when hik ing the Lonetree segment of the North Country Trail, he says. The Lonetree Chapter of the North Country Trail Association will being formed to main-


A mong the many highlights of the .r\.North Country Trail Association's annual conference Aug. 15-18 in North Dakota will be a day-long tour of por tions of the North Country National Scenic Trail that traverses the Garrison Diversion Conservancy District.

The Garrison Diversion and a new chapter of the NCTA, to be called the Lonetree Chapter, are sponsoring the trip which will head out of Valley City, head quarters of the conference bright and early on Saturday, Aug. 17 and explore some of North Dakota's unique prairie pothole region.

For those who would prefer to visit Lake Sakakawea, the western terminus of the North Country Trail, on Saturday instead of the Garrison trip, transporta tion will be available.

On Friday, major hike and trip opportunities will include:

Choice between hikes to Lake Ashtabula or a trip to Sheyenne National Grasslands, Sheyenne State Forest and Fort Ransom State Park (Buses leave Friday morning and return in late after noon for both events)

There will also be hiking oppor tunities on Thursday and other events planned for the three day period.

The Garrison tour will stop for a brief walk on the New Rockford Canal section, followed by a large portion of the day in the Lonetree Wildlife Management Area. As we hike the North Country Trail, local experts will provide an interpretation of the area and recount its history.

The New Rockford Canal, two miles northeast of New Rockford, marks the beginning of the lower section of the Garrison Diversion. Jerry Schaack, project engineer for the District, describes the North Country Trail there as "fairly straightforward .. .ir consists mostly of farmland and pasture." The trail heads 44 miles westward to Harvey and into the Lonetree Wildlife Management Area.

Other Trips, Hikes to Introduce Members to North Dakota Gems

Garrison Diversion Tour a Highlight of NCTA Conference


Fred S:zarka, North Country Trail "'Manager, National Park Service

Gaylord Yost, President , North Country Trail Association

North s111 Menke, Country Trail Bob Papp, E Country Trail

Irene §~abo, President, Finger Lakes Trail conference

issu • Discussions From the Floor

Ust of Presenters: Cornell, President, Chief Noonday

.Chapter of the NCTA Do TM, New Director of Trail Management, North Country Trail

1t.Association Tom Gilbert, Superintendent for the

. >North Country and Ice Age National ;:}Scenic Trails, National Park Service

Cher Hersrud, The Resource Center, r;,;North qf)kota Community Foundation

Ken Howell, Land Protection , National Park Servic

y:t Plan!'ling Topics · Brochures with - "local emphasis; Planning for regional

support staff

Presentation· Developing a Chapter:/% Work Plan

.......... • Group Workshop · Planning trail Yroutes across mixed-ownership 'lands

• Panel Discussion · Landowner ;. training, Building community support,

Breaking the ice on the front porch, e L.ando~.n~r concerns, Planning ~~d

building the trail, Managing the(telation-: ship with landowners, and Permanent protection • Pres~ht authority

An all day workshop on Friday, the sec ond da~. of th~::,confe~~~ce is open to ALL vofunteers\1and will provide excellent coverage any of the topics and skills Jqentif hi iorities by our Chapters a fficers, state coordinators, trait couticif chairs and others1in lead~[phip rol@s are especially encouraged tO attend ...

Leadership Workshop Tentative Agen~a

Diversion has been careful to set aside land for wildlife refuges and manage ment areas accessible to people with a wide variety of recreational interests. Many of these people are hunters and fishermen who help manage the popula tion of North Dakota herds and flocks. But others are "non-consumptive users," like hikers. All have come to appreciate and enjoy what the land and wildlife of North Dakota can offer.

When Garrison Diversion was young and the plan looked very different from today, Garrison Diversion's com mitment to North Dakota's parks and wildlife areas was already evident, writes Maria Effertz Hanson, communications director for the Garrison Diversion. She went on to write:

"The North Country Trail is part of Garrison Diversion's commitment to its citizens and visitors from other parts of the world to enjoy and enhance their way oflife. With over 144 miles of cer tified trail on their land, visitors have available the largest section of uninter rupted area in North Dakota. It is open to hikers and generally for bikers and horseback riders, as well.

"Garrison Diversion's long history began on Dec. 22, 1944, when Congress authorized the Flood Control Act, later named the Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program (PSMBP). Its primary purposes were to be facilitated by the construction of the main stem dams on the Missouri River. But, as needs changed, so did the project.

"Congress addressed the needed changes in 1965 by enacting legislation for the Garrison Diversion Unit. The primary focus of the plan was to include, in the initial stage, municipal and industrial water, fish and wildlife devel opment, recreation and flood control, along with irrigation of 250,000 acres. Between 1968 and 1984, construction and preparatory activities progressed on many features.

"Even as construction advanced on Garrison Diversion throughout the

Birding opportunities abound In the Garrison Diversion project.

70s and 80s, it became increas ingly apparent that major issues, such as the preservation of the environment, the acquisition of lands, the econom ics of irrigation, and Canadian concerns

about water flowing from the Missouri River Basin into the Hudson Bay Basin would require reformulation of the proj ect if it were ever to be completed.

"That led to the Garrison Diversion Unit Reformulation Act in 1986 when Congress stipulated that new construc tion contracts not be awarded or addi tional land be acquired unless the project was reauthorized by March 31, 1986. The State of North Dakota and Garrison Diversion subsequently elected to support reauthorization of the project.

"The Garrison Diversion Unit Reformulation Act of 1986 was signed into law May 12, 1986, to authorize the recom mendations of the Garrison Diversion Unit Commission's Final Report.

"Following the 1986 Act, activities began on MR&I projects, mitigation and wildlife habitat, and construction continued on some of the water delivery features.

"Today, Garrison Diversion has taken the project one step further. The Dakota Water Resources Act calls for $200 million of federal appropriations to provide reliable, high-quality water to areas in eastern North Dakota. Also included in the Dakota Water Resources Act are appropriations for a $200 million increase in the Municipal, Industrial and Rural fund, and $200 million to meet the Native American Indian water needs. An additional $31.5 million is included for the Natural Resources Trust and rec reational opportunities.

"Garrison Diversion has also worked with many communities to develop nature-based tourism opportu nities. In 2000, a plan was developed that reviewed the Lonetree WMA as a nature-tourism destination. In conjunc tion with this plan, Garrison Diversion continues to work with the communities in the areas surrounding the Lonetree WMA to provide resources, allowing them to develop and sustain a proud, rural economy.

To register for the conference, please turn the page.


'll'teh ftJ~,more det,ai/s In the websiteatMWWW.~~·l!l!Jr'.ftll~ralA~

kfaSt eek out

LocaJ Area Hike

6:45 PM 8:00 PM

,~:30 PM

6:45AM 7:30AM

9:00AM

7:30AM 9:00AM

Noon i;J>OPM> i:oo PM 6:30 PM 7:15 PM

~ 2002 Annual Conference Schedule

} . ·---~ ....

* Questions? Call NCT A (888)454-6282 *Email NCTA [email protected]

Number attending

Activity

ACTIVITY PRE-REGISTRATION

To help us plan, please indicate which activities you think you and your party might attend.

Time: AM/PM

Departure date: _

Flight/Train# _

Carrier: --------

Time: AM /PM

Arrival date: _

AIRPORT/RAILWAY SHUTTLE REQUEST

Indicate if you need a ride from the airport or train station in Fargo, ND.

Phone: (

NCTA 229 East Main Street Lowell, Ml 49331

Mail to: @

Lodging S ----- Meals S ----- s

$

Special Diet(s) Describe:--------------

Meals Total $

$ # $4.00 Sunday Breakfast

# $ #--·$---·--· # $

$4.00 $6.00 $8.00

;Thursday Supper Friday Breakfast Friday Box Lunch Friday Supper SaturSay Satufaty

Lodging Total $ ----- *Roommate's Name (required for Double Rate): ---------

MEALS

$ $30.00 Saturday night Alone in Single Room

$

Alone in Single Room $30.00 Friday night $

$30.00 Thursday night Alone in Single Room

Friday

Fee includes embroidered patc/1 , map to Valley City and college campus guide, admission to all workshops and hikes, and/or inclusion on Saturday bus tour (lunch provided) .

City, State Zip: --------------------- Name(s):

Address:

Who would you like to introduce to the rest of us? Contact me and I'll tell you how to nominate a volunteer for Heart & Sole. Email [email protected] or call 231- 757-2205.

the database of information and help get the plan into people's hands. Somehow having two people who wanted to see a chapter form was a critical mass.

Today, the Tittabawassee Chapter has a core group of 20 or more who also "value the trail and are willing to put in their time and energy." She followed through in her role of Secretary-Treasurer for three years, and is now the chapter Vice-President.

She also has adopted about four miles of trail. Since the trail is so far from their homes the members often cover for each other on trail mainte nance. Stella, like most of our volun teers, in this spirit of working together, doesn't want to be a single star. She'll probably be embarrassed to find that she is the only featured person this issue. But a fellow chapter member describes her thus:

"She's the person behind the scenes that makes sure the rest of us remember what we're supposed to do. And she does it all with a smile!"

--Joan Young

her to want to do more than simply send in her dues each year. She also met some people who shared these values (there's that sense of community again).

Soon, Jerry Allen, one of the real North Country Trail stalwarts, approached her with a big project- to start a new chapter.

The resulting Tittabawassee Chapter is centered in eastern Michigan, hours from the NCT. But Jerry had a vision of a group, which could travel cross-state to maintain a section of trail. He thought he knew some people who would help.

Stella realized that she could set up

Stella Thelen

The North Country Trail is too long to be built by just a hand fol of people. It is too varied to solve problems with one cookie cut ter. It is too vast to generate an automatic sense of family. Yet how is it that someone .from Michigan gives a hearty slap of greeting to the shoulder of a buddy .from Pennsylvania? How, that a New York trails fanatic holds a North Dakota supporter's attention in a conversation because the fanatic's reputation has spread across seven states? How, that Wisconsin and Minnesota's north woods defenders share goals and techniques with trail advocates .from populated and farmed Ohio, our southern reaches?

How? Because somewhere these people have gotten to know and respect each other. Perhaps they first met at a conference or a meeting. But I've observed that it is equally likely that they first "met" each other through the written word. One primary vehicle for these kinds of introductions is this magazine, The North Star. just like any family, we have our disputes. \Vt> probably have more than an average share of eccentrics. \Vt> are a family of over 2500 members. But if we don't strive to know, and understand and appreciate each other, our common vision for the trail will never become a reality.

That all said, meet Stella Thelen. Stella works in a bank maintaining computer security. Her computer and problem-solving skills are the Working Sole of her trail boots. Her Great Heart is revealed in her confession that it wouldn't bother her even if she never personally was able to see the trail.

Just knowing it is there is of value to her. We all value the Grand Canyon whether or not we have visited it, and she feels the same way about the North Country Trail. Her passion for preserv ing these wild and free places motivates her to work for the trail.

"There is something healing in nature, something of God in there; when you touch these things they lift you up," she affirms.

She first read about the North Country National Scenic Trail in the Detroit Free Press more than 10 years ago, and she joined the North Country Trail Association right away. However, it wasn't until four years ago , when she attended the Annual Conference near Traverse City, that something a speaker said really struck a chord.

"To get on a trail, start walking, and .?.e. ~?.~~- _t?. ~?. S?IJ1.e'."'~~~~ _e~s_e? '.'.. II1?~i_v~t~?. 18 North Star * July - September 2002

TITTABAWASEE CHAPTER

There is one drawback to writing a column about outstand ing volunteers. They are never home-- so it is very difficult to con tact them! Add the season known as trail work weather, and my propensity for procrastination, and what you have is our faithfol editor \Vt>rner chewing his nails down to the quick hoping that I will get him some copy in time for the magazine!

Some of the blame for the short column this issue must fall squarely on you though .... more nominations for persons of Great Heart and Working Soles are needed. Remember that the persons featured here always come from local suggestions. The people who work alongside these folks find them made of special trail stuff, and deserving of a pat on the back.

Also, this month I've had another nominee turn down my request for an interview. After all the jokes about being in the witness protection program, and 'so many other worthy people" were over, the fact is that I am disappointed. Yes, we do want to thank people who work countless hours (although we actually DO want you to count them and turn them inl). But we want this feature to serve as a source of encouragement and inspiration to all the volunteers along this trail

Just Knowing the Trail Is There, Inspires This NCTA Volunteer

rial trail miles. It is estimated that there will be about 200 miles of trail when the NCT is completed all the way across the state. Pardy because of this short poten tial, but also because of the hardworking volunteers in the three NCTA chapters located there, Wisconsinites can boast that the Wisconsin trail portion ranks second in percentage of completed trail at 48.5 percent. (Michigan ranks first with more than 50 percent).

Wisconsin is also unique in that it is the only state where Congress has appro priated federal funding to purchase lands for the trail. The National Park Service is prohibited by law from purchasing land to build or protect the trail but in this instance Congress appropriated the money to the State for NCT land pur chases.

The Congressional appropriation, in 1999, amounted to $500,000. It went to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources which matched the federal contribution with another half million from the Wisconsin Stewardship Fund and resulted in $1 million available for land acquisition. Because of the com plexity of the arrangement, acquisitions have been somewhat slow but two tracts of land have now been purchased and options on several more signed.

If we travel westward across the Wisconsin portion of the NCT, we encounter, the first certified segment of trail less than nine miles from the Michigan border. Here, 5.1-miles of the trail, known as the Uller Segment pass through Iron County Forest lands and the oldest mountains in the area-the Penokee Mountains.

Granted, to westerners the Penokees J"~i;. -~. ·5~~~~~t;~;. 2002" .•.. N-~-rth .. st~; .. is

through the heart of the area where elk have been reintroduced, timber wolves howl and wetlands, streams and water falls abound.

Among the seven trail states, Wisconsin has the least number of poten-

Hikers on the NCT encounter a giant white pine near Historic Portage on Brule-St. Croix's territory. The vista at the top of the page lies in the Douglas County Wildlife area.

"'\V,Tisconsin is an Indian word with W several possible meanings including

-"gathering of waters", "wild rice coun try", and "home land". All appropriately describe the "Badger State"-so nicknamed because some of the early lead miners of the 1820's lived in caves they dug out of hillsides. They reminded people of badgers living in burrows.

For the purposes of this article about the North Country Trail, the meaning "Home Land" is the most appropriate. The concept for a "Northern Country Trail" originated in Wisconsin in the early 1960's when the U.S. Forest Service proposed a trail to connect its northern tier of forests. It is commonly accepted that a trail already in place across the Chequamegon National Forest lent its name to the eventual North Country National Scenic Trail.

The North Country Trail leaves Michigan and enters Wisconsin in the Ironwood, Michigan/Hurley, Wisconsin area. From there it heads west through the four northernmost counties of Wisconsin and eventually reaches the Minnesota border about a dozen miles south of the Twin Ports of Duluth Superior.

Along the way, it traverses some 200 miles of predominantly public lands that include some of the wildest, least popu lated areas the state has to offer. While Minnesota may be known as the Land of 10,000 Lakes, Wisconsin isn't far behind as it lays claim to 8,000 lakes. The trail route passes through the heart of this Wisconsin lake country. It also passes

By Bill Menke NCTA Trail Foreman

Portrait of the Trail: Wisconsin

-0 !?: the next two years but as of now, ~ long-distance hikers should follow ~ the road route. ~ Heading south from Rush Lake ~ Road, hikers will find themselves

on 15-miles of well built and signed trail in Brule River State Forest. In general the trail parallels the Brule River-in some locations following the first bluff at the edge of the valley and in others being well removed. Where the trail is farther from the river, it winds through areas of sandy soil, home to a num ber of red pine plantations. Here, the hiker can watch for conifer lov ing birds and listen to the wind sigh ing through the pine needles.

Closer to the river valley, the trail has several vistas offering long-dis tance views and also crosses cold, clear flowing Jerseth Creek. About 2.2 miles north of Douglas County A, hikers can walk 75 yards on a spur trail to stand on the banks of the now small Bois Brule at the exact point where Native Americans, early explorers, fur traders, and settlers took their canoes out of the water to begin the portage that would take them to the headwaters of the St. Croix River and the Mississippi watershed.

Back on the main trail, the NCT continues south and follows the Historic Portage, which is marked with eight stones and brass plates naming some of the important users including Pierre DulHut, Henry Schoolcraft and others. If you ever have an opportunity to take a guided hike, led by Chapter President Chuck Zosel, do it. Chuck takes a special interest in the portage and can bring his tory alive.

Timber wolves are also present in this part of the state. On one occasion the Roving Trail Crew experienced the best wolf howling ever heard by the author-including many trips in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area-the heart of wolf country. If you're lucky, you'll hear them too.

Upon reaching the trailhead on Upper St. Croix Lake, hikers currently have to follow a marked route along County A for 3.3-miles to the next cer tified segment in the Village of Solon Springs-the second and last trail town in Wisconsin.

The Solon Springs Segment follows narrow streets lined with impressive red

Chequamegon. For years, the western extremity

of the trail in Wisconsin was essen- tially at the west boundary of the Chequamegon-at Bayfield County Highway A, south of Iron River. This is no longer the case. The next time you're in Wisconsin, keep walking across County A to experience some more beau tiful trail. From here to the Minnesota border, the Brule-St. Croix Chapter is working on new segments but focusing their efforts on completing the connec tion between the Chequamegon and Brule River State Forest.

Immediately west of County A, a new 4.4-mile segment of trail is com pleted across Bayfield County Forest lands. Interconnected ridges and views into frost pockets are featured. Just before reaching the west end of this segment, the trail passes through an area of large red and white pines and skirts isolated Erick Lake where two backpacker camp sites have been designated. Upon reach ing Pero Road, the next segment of trail is under construction but for now, hik ers should follow the 7-mile road route shown on NCTA's lOOK map series to reach the next certified segment running south from Rush Lake Road.

As of this writing there are almost two miles of trail completed north of Rush Lake Road-offering some out standing vistas overlooking the renowned Bois Brule River. But it ends in a loca tion that does not offer a good connec tion for through-hikers. The chapter is busily working to construct new trail and hopes to complete the connection within

Blackstone in Copper Falls State Park


may not look like mountains but that's because they are very old and worn down. Nevertheless, they contain out standing vistas and the second highest point in the state.

The North Country Trail Association's Heritage Chapter, which is responsible for the Michigan to Copper Falls State Park stretch, are gradually completing additional miles in this area. A road walk throughout the area is currently marked.

Following a 16-mile walk along forest and county roads, the next certi fied segment lies in Copper Falls State Park, a gem among Wisconsin's state parks where the Bad and Tyler Forks Rivers join, cut through resistant rock formations and form spectacular water falls. A visit to this section of trail is a highlight of the hike through Wisconsin.

Certified trail managed by the Village of Mellen connects the state park with the Village. Mellen families spearheaded this segment of trail as a safe alternative for their children to travel to the park's popular swimming beach. Certified trail continues through the village, which is one of only two "trail towns" in the state. Services include a grocery, restaurant, post office, and a bakery very tempting to hungry hikers.

From the west edge of Mellen, a two-mile, marked road walk brings hikers to the longest stretch of completed trail in the state-the Chequamegon National Forest segment. As mentioned earlier, this 60-mile segment is the one that lent its name to the North Country NST. Because of its length, the Chequamegon segment offers a variety of trail experi ences.

Extremely lucky hikers may spot an elk or at the right time of the year, hear a bull bugling his challenge-sights and sounds absent from Wisconsin for 150 years until 25 elk were captured from the Michigan herd and reintroduced in the central part of the forest near Clam Lake in 1995. The Wisconsin herd now has produced five generations of calves and has grown to approximately 90 animals.

The Chequamegon segment also offers several nice vistas overlooking the Marengo River Valley, two wilderness areas and many small lakes and streams to savor. The Chequamegon Chapter maintains the area encompassed from Copper Falls State Park through the

Our Seven Trail States: Wisconsin

Editor's Note: Besides the North Country Trail there are seven other scenic trails in the National Trails System: the Appalachian, Continental Divide, Florida, Natchez Trace, Pacific Crest, Potomac Heritage and the Ice Age National Scenic Trails. This is the first of a series of seven articles describing these sister trails of the NCT

extinct during the ice invasions. Even human history was shaped by events of the Ice Age.

During the late Wisconsin in Glaciation, a 120-mile long series of ridges formed between two massive lobes of glacial ice in what is now east ern Wisconsin. Scattered among the ridges are areas of crater- or kettle-like depressions - producing relief of up to 300 feet. Atop and embedded in the ridges are multitudes of boulders, some much bigger than a horse, whose sources are hundreds of miles to the north. Geologists named this region the Kettle Moraine. Research here provided 19th century geologists with compelling evidence that colossal glaciers and their meltwater created most northern land scapes during the recent Ice Age.

In fact, quite a number of eminent American geologists, such as Charles Whittlesey, Thomas Chamberlin, Rollin Salisbury, Charles Van Hise and Charles Leith, spent important parts of their careers studying the landscapes of Wisconsin during the 19th and early 20th centuries. The body of their work provides the basis for the geologic research that continues along the Ice Age Trail to this day.

The basic features defining the route of the thousand mile Ice Age Trail (IAT) are the Kettle Moraine of eastern Wisconsin and extending westward ]"~·,;. . ·5~~~~~b~~-. 2002· .•.. N-~-;th .. st~; 21

The Ice Age a Sister Trail Trail in the Home Land

rust as a mountain range spanning two thousand miles from Alaska to exico can be commemorated at Rocky

Mountain National Park in Colorado, so can the Ice Age be the centerpiece for a national park and trail in Wisconsin. The state is the namesake for the period of Earth history at the end of the lee Age. The Wisconsinin Glaciation is the period from 10,000 to 75,000 years ago. This was the rationale of the late Ray Zillmer, who in 1958 launched the campaign to create an Ice Age national park and trail and founded the Ice Age Park and Trail Foundation (IAPTF) to carry out this nussion.

During the Ice Age, continental glaciers repeatedly sculpted half of North America. Pause for a moment. Imagine the immensity of continental glaciers. They sometimes stretched from New York to Montana and from Ohio to Hudson Bay, Canada. Plant and ani mal species either moved south or went

"One of the most important chapters in the geographical and geological history of the United States - much more important to the country than the features which most of our present national parks are dedi cated to preserve or commemorate - is the Glacial Age." - Ray Zillmer, 1958

By Drew Hanson Geographer, Ice Age Parks and Trail Foundation

and white pines. The village has an ordi nance prohibiting the cutting of these species and thus you can spot large trees growing through decks and cabin roofs specially shaped to accommodate them.

In the middle of Solon Springs the trail passes through Lucius Woods County Park-again featuring large red and white pines and clear flowing Park Creek.

For through-hikers, Solon Springs offers a couple of restaurants and motels, grocery, post office, hardware store, and another wonderful bakery. Ah-yes, the Dairy Queen is located right across the highway from the trail. The trail contin ues across undeveloped village property for another .7-miles to the new Highway 53 bypass.

West of the new highway, the chap ter is currently working to complete another segment of trail that will pass through the Douglas County Wildlife Area (the Bird Sanctuary) and eventu ally enter the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway. Huge expanses of Douglas County Forest lie between the St. Croix and the next segment of certified trail located in Pattison State Park-home to 2.8 miles of trail and the highest water fall in Wisconsin-Big Manitou Falls. Another road walk lies between Pattison and the Minnesota border. Throughout this area, follow the NCTA maps.

If I were going to recommend one hike in Wisconsin, I would favor the stretch from Copper Falls State Park to Solon Springs. Using NCTA maps TWI-01 and TWI-02 hikers can experi ence a 7-10 day hike covering a total of 98.1 miles (86.9 on trail and only 11.2 on roads.) I would begin by traveling to Copper Falls SP late in the afternoon and hiking into the backpack campsites located at the Sandstone Ledges in the north portion of the park, where I would spend the night. The next morn ing, I would retrace my steps for the first approximately two miles and then continue west toward Solon Springs. This trip could be extended by taking in the nice Uller Segment accessed off of Hoyt Road between Iron Belt and Pence. This would add another 29.8 miles and roughly 3-days to the hike but 24.7 of the miles are along roads.

The NCT in Wisconsin may be short-but it's mighty. Come for a visit to see some of the best landscapes in the state.

Our Seven Trail States: Wisconsin

Three important issues facing the completion of the IAT are building the organization of the Ice Age Park and Trail Foundation, creating a core group of highly skilled trail building volunteers and seeing the Willing Seller Bill become law.

The Ice Age Park and Trail Foundation has had its ups and downs since its founding forty-four years ago. Most agree that IAPTF is healthier orga nizationally today than at any time in at least the last thirty years. One indication is the number of people involved: IAPTF has more members, volunteers, chapters and staff than ever before. To guide this growth, a thorough update of its strategic business plan was recently completed. New vision and mission statements and measurable goals are built into the plan. Enthusiasm for the plan is generally high.

A new program, called the Mobile Skills Crew, was launched in 2002 to cre ate an elevated, consistent and recogniz able standard by which the Ice Age Trail is built and maintained. It consists of a team of dedicated volunteers who serve as skilled trail builders and educated out reach advisers to traditional volunteers. Funded in part through the National Park Service's Challenge Cost Share Program, the inaugural crew recently completed a four-day training course led by Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado.

When it comes to permanently pro tecting the Ice Age and North Country trailways, both are caught between a rock and a hard place. Both have been designated as elite National Scenic Trails. Most people, particularly state and local officials, assume that the federal govern ment is therefore leading land acquisition efforts for these trails. On the contrary, the National Trails System Act actually forbids the federal government from acquiring the lands necessary to make these trails - the fruits of thousands of hours of volunteer labor - permanently walkable. The United States Senate is currently reviewing legislation known as the Willing Seller Bill (S. 1069) that would correct this problem by giving the National Park Service the authority to purchase trailway lands from willing sell ers. Without passage of the Willing Seller Bill, the Ice Age Trail is likely to fail as a continuous footpath.

"t) tr

§ ""1 and 50 percent like to hike. The same "§. report showed that only 21 percent enjoy ~ "mountain biking" and only 8 percent ~ ride horses. :;· -< ir c Ul c:· Ul

walking, hiking, backpacking, birding and snowshoeing.

The first three thru-hikers completed the Ice Age Trail in 1979, 1983 and 1991. The entire IAT has been section-hiked many times. Such hikes include hundreds of miles of road-walks. Over 500 miles of Ice Age Trail currently exist off-road.

Several different types of Ice Age Trail maps are available. The IAT Map Buffet at www.dnr.stare.wi.us/org/at/et/ geo/iceage/ allows users to create their own maps online. It takes some practice, but once accustomed to the tool, the Map Buffet can be especially helpful in finding the exact location of new trail routes that have not yet appeared on printed maps.

The Ice Age Park and Trail Foundation's website is at www.iceagetrail.org. It includes down loadable county maps in pdf format from the "Ice Age Trail Information Center". If you can't find the maps or other informa tion you need from these sources, call 414-278-8518 and Tracy can help you track it down.

The Ice Age Park and Trail Foundation is composed of volunteers, members, staff and a board of directors. Local volunteers are today organized into 23 county-based chapters to do most trail building, maintenance and local promo tion. Dues paying members reside in 38 states. A current paid staff of seven full time employees works out of six offices along the route. The all-volunteer board of directors meet quarterly, with executive committee meetings in between.

According to the 2000 Wisconsin Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan, 80 percent of Wisconsin residents enjoy "walking for pleasure"

"Happy in this, that I with nature walked "

- William Wordsworth


along the terminal moraine to the state's border with Minnesota. Landforms of the IAT include kames, drumlins, eskers, tunnel channels, ice-walled lake plains, moraines and older non-glacial landforms - some up to 1.9 billion years old.

One of the unique areas along the IAT seems to have never been glaciated. The Driftless Area of southwest Wisconsin is a landscape deeply cut by ancient streams into narrow, angular val leys and several hundred million year old ridges. It is surrounded by glaciated land scapes, though it was never completely surrounded by glaciers at any one time. Segments of the IAT through this area will offer key educational opportunities to see striking contrasts with the glacial landforms elsewhere.

Many other stories of cultural and nat ural history and scenic beauty are provided by hundreds of lakes, thriving prairies, thousand-year-old Native American effigy mounds, rare pine barrens and oak savan nas, productive farms on soils improved by glaciation, towering white pines, diverse wetlands and charming cities.

The original 25-mile segment of the Ice Age Trail joined the National Trails System in 1971 with the initial designation of National Recreation Trails (NRTs). Several additional segments, totaling 150 miles, became NRTs during the next nine years. Congress and the President elevated the Ice Age Trail to a National Scenic Trail in 1980, shortly after it had done the same for the North Country Trail. The State of Wisconsin followed suit by designating the IAT a State Scenic Trail 1987.

Foot travel was the only form of human locomotion for millions of years. It remained dominant until the Industrial Age. Today, highways and sprawl without sidewalks make foot travel increasingly unpleasant and unsafe. To celebrate our oldest and most threatened mode of travel, the Ice Age Trail, like the North Country Trail, is primarily a footpath for

View from Lapham Peak Along Ice Age Trail


Credit Card payments can be made by phone or fax at: Toll Free 888-454-NCTA (888-454-6282)

Fax 616-897-6605

Please mail your completed form with payment to: 229 East Main Street Lowell, Michigan 49331

•ASSOCIATION• D $45 Organization

D $150 Business

D Member of a specific Chapter: _

D Member of my closest Chapter (If one exists)

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Please choose your Chapter affiliation:

D $100 Pathfinder

D $250 NCT Patron

D $30 Regular

D $50 Trail Leader

Name (Please Print) Home Phone (Area Code First)

I I 1-1 I I 1-1 I I I I Address

City State I ZIP

Skills to Volunteer E-mail Address

If you are purchasing or renewing your membership, please fill out this

form and send it with your payment to the address below. If you are also

purchasing merchandise, please add your dues to your Trail Shop Order

form and include this membership form with your order.

MEMBERSHIP FORM

Dec. 7-Buckeye Trail Association, Board of Directors meeting, Alcor Corp. offices, Columbus, OH, [email protected]

Dec. 7-Quarterly meeting of Board of Directors, North Country Trail Association, Lowell, MI, (616) 897-5987, or [email protected]

Nov. 8-10-Midwest Mountaineering Fall Expo, Minneapolis. John Dreher, (651) 738-2717

Oct. 27-Adirondack Mountain Club Trails Day, High Peaks Wilderness Area, Adirondack State Park. ADK Trails Program, (518) 523-3441.

Oct. 17-21-Conference on National and Scenic Historic Trails, Fort Smith, AK, National Trail of Tears Association, (501) 666-9032.

Sept. 16-20-Trail Improvements within Allegany State Park, Alley Cat Trail Crew No. 3, FLTC Service Center, (716) 658-9320.

Sept. 1-2-Trap Hills Activists Get-Together, joint Sierra Club-NCTA event, Bergland, ML Details at dougwelker.tripod.com/traphills.htm

August 19-23-New bridge construction over Deveraux Creek, Alley Cat Trail Crew No. 2, FLTC Service Center, (716) 658-9320.

Aug. 15-18-North Country Trail Association annual conference, Valley City, ND, (616) 897-5987, or [email protected]

July 26-28-First of three extended hikes in the Chippewa National Forest to collect data for an updated re-issue of the 1990 NCT Guidebook. Other dates: Aug. 9-11 and Sept. 20-22. Rod MacRae, (612) 377-0130.

The Directors also: • Approved an alliance agreement with

the Buckeye Trail Association similar to the one in effect with the Finger Lakes Trail Conference.

• Asked the Trail Councils to consider an update of the Association's policy on timber harvest being formulated by a board/employee committee experi enced in forestry.

• Decided to continue the practice of holding the annual conferences in locations in turn by assigning the popular events to the trail councils as follows: the year 2003, Great Lakes Trail Council (Wisconsin and Upper Michigan); 2004, Ohio Trail Council; 2005, Lower Michigan Trail Council;

In the bottom photo, George Zachareks (left) Irene Szabo, Connie, Cindy and Marie Altenau pose with Sandy (lowest to the ground).

hikes, talks and reminiscences. Marvelous memories came out of

a fireside chat by a number of Finger Lakes veterans, including Paula Strain, the Conference's second President, and other members of the original board who first got together in 1962. Among them were Ralph Baker, Don Doster and Terry Giarrosa.

At the NCTA Board meeting, directors were challenged by Bob Papp, Executive Director, to share their ideas and vision for the future. Bob is prepar ing a "Strategic Outline, 2002-2007," which will become the basis for the Association's development plan which, in turn, may lead to the appointment of a development director for our group.

Threatened rain held off during Sunday's hikes for Jeff Swanson (farthest from camera), George and Cindy Zacharek and Connie Dutcher. Jeff is a local land

owner where the trall crosses. The Zachareks and Connie are are NCTA members as well as members of the Finger Lakes Trail Conference.

..


"'\VJildflowers (hopefully) are grow W ing in soil from all seven of the

North Country Trail states at the sign post in front of the Finger Lakes Trail Conference office in Mt. Morris, NY.

In what she described as, "a ceremo nial hoo-dow and humdingery," Irene Szabo, President of the Conference, mixed the soil carried to New York by directors of the North Country Trail Association who held their Spring board meeting at the Mt. Morris Dam Visitor Center in order to help the FLTC cel ebrate its 40th anniversary. The direc tors also carried water from their states, which Irene used to sprinkle over the soil and the wildflower seeds she scattered around the signpost.

The signpost, built and painted by Irene-who else-was dreamed up by Mark Hittle, as a way to celebrate the relationship between the North Country Trail Association and the Finger Lakes Trail Conference, the NCTA's first affili ate. A significant portion of the North Country Trail lies on the Finger Lakes Trail, which celebrated its 40th birth day with the largest turnout ever for its annual meeting and Spring outing. More than 150 signed up for a weekend of

Record Turnout in New York

Soils from 7 States and A Signpost to Progress

Western Michigan Werner Veit was re-elected President

and Chuck Vanette, who was been serv ing as a director at large, was elected Treasurer of the Western Michigan Chapter. Jack Buege was elected to a one-year term to serve out Chuck's term.

Others reelected to the board were Roger Meyer and Sharon Froeligh. Outgoing director Len Baron was named "honorary director" to mark his many years of service to the North Country Trail Association. Len was unable to seek reelection but indicated he may serve again in the future. --·-·----------·····------·------ ---------·---·············-·-······


New Wampum Officers Paul Henry was elected President of

the Wampum Chapter, Cecil Neeley was elected Vice Preisdent, Martha Aiken was elected Secretary and Gail Blakely was elected Treasurer in a mail ballot conducted in June.

chapter: President, Denise Heron; Vice

President, Jan Wester, Lynn Emerick, Treasurer, and Ayleen VanBeynen, Secretary. Jan is also the editor of the chapter's newsletter.

NC Hikers Elect Chapter Officers

The North Country Trail Hikers have elected the following officers for their North Country Trail Association

The husband and wife team of John and Jean Dreher, of Oakdale, MN, are heading the re-organized and rejuvenated Star of the North Chapter in Minnesota, which has the following officers in place:

President, John Dreher; Vice President, Jean Dreher; Treasurer, Paul Wright, Rosemount; Ginny Ruppe, Owatonna, Secretary. Ginny also serves as editor of Call of the North, the chap ter's newsletter.

In the Spring issue, John told his members:

" ... The effort and volunteer time my wife and I have put into NCTA over the last four years have been very rewarding in several ways, especially the people we've met, the relationships that have been established, and knowing we are contributing to an organization that will preserve the future of hiking trails for our children and theirs, and, as important, being able to give something back to our great trail system ... "

Husband and Wife Team Leads Star of the North; Michigan, Pennsylvania Chapters Hold Elections

John and Jean Dreher Promote NCTA at Expos

Mary Lucas Helen Coyne

Dave Cornell Derek Blount

Veteran Directors Re--elected to National NCTA Board

Members of the North Country Trail Association this Spring elected four directors to at-large seats on the national Board of Directors and confirmed the nomination by their respective trails councils of directors from New York and North Dakota.

Re-elected to three-year terms at large were Derek Blount, who lives in Royal Oak, MI; Helen Coyne, from Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania, and Mary Lucas, from Glidden, WI. Dave Cornell, from Delton, MI, a former member of the board, who left his seat because of term limitations, became eligi ble to run again in 2002 and was elected by members.

Under the terms of the NCTA's bylaws, each of the association's trail coun cils nominates one candidate to run for the national board. The board's nominating committee selects at large candidates.

Howard Beye was nominated by the New York Trail Council and elected by the membership at large. John Lindgren was nominated by the North Dakota Council and then elected by the mem bers. Both serve as trail coordinators for their respective states.

- Werner Veit

2006, Pennsylvania Trail Council and Minnesota, New York and North Dakota Councils in 2007, 2008 and 2009 respectively.

• Approved charters for two new chap ters in Minnesota and Michigan (Details on Page 37).

Max Boyd and Gladys Hoogterp practice clinometer skills.

26 North Star *July-September 2002

Bill Menke demonstrates the proper process of cutting trail Into a slope. Later the group practiced what it had learned and rerouted a section flooded by beavers.

Photographs by Aaron Phipps

Chad explains construction of turnpike with sample materials.

Bill Menke conducting morning ses sion about the history of the North Country Trail and its trail building experi ence.

Chad draws dia gram of turnpike construction.

(I 0

0 0

More than 30 (mostly) new members from four of our chapters this Spring attended a trail construc

tion and maintenance workshop for novices taught by Bill Menke, North Country Trail Association's trail foreman, and Chad Hudson, the Huron-Manistee National Forest's trail coordinator for the Baldwin-White Cloud district.

On the first of the two-day session - a bright, sunny day - the students learned theory inside the Old Schoolhouse near White Cloud. The next day they applied their lessons in the field - appropriately enough for an authentic trail experience - during a per sistent snowfall followed by a cold, soaking rain. The weather dampened neither expe rience nor results as the students, split into two groups, rerouted a section of the North Country Trail around a beaver pond that had flooded the old section.

The new Hiawatha Shore to Shore Chapter, Tittibawassee, Spirit of the Woods and Western Michigan Chapters, were represented.

Trail Building Novices Learn Craft Diligently

where. You'd handle a 4 x 4 and posi tion it in the mud, getting mud on your gloves. Then a mosquito would attack, and you'd swat at it and get mud on your face too!

"In spite of all our hardships we enjoyed working together. What really amazed me is when I looked around at our work crew, we had one worker with a bad back, two that had terrible sinus headaches with stuffy noses and should have been in bed, one that has a bum knee, and one that hurt his ribs.

"Not once did I hear any of them complain. What is it with these guys? I asked one of them why he was out there, and he said it was just his way of giving back to the trails he enjoyed hiking. That pretty much says it all." 1-~i;· . ·5~~~~~b~; ·2ooi-- * · N-~rth- ·st~~-- 21

spots in the river, we lined up and passed the lumber from person to person and got it across quite efficiently. The next phase was carrying the lumber piece by piece the half mile to the site. The gate crew helped carry a few boards before we urged them to save their energy for digging holes and mixing cement.

"Of the eight of us that were left, two were our carpenters, so we set them to work while the rest of us carried the boards one at a time. Several hardy souls carried two boards at a time. It was a lot of trips. Our shoulders got sore and our arms got tired. Peg said, 'what doesn't kill you, makes you stronger.' I think we must have gained strength, cause we didn't die!

"Once the lumber was all on site, we helped lay the boards out for our car penters. At first I was careful r-ot to get my shoes muddy, but pretty soon you'd step into it a little, then a little more and before you knew it you were mud every-

Crossing the Jordan River was a tricky maneuver for sure-foot ed Lorna Brown.

It was a half-mile haul to the site but the chapter members per severed.

The Tittibawassee Chapter, which sent members to the workshop in White

Cloud, followed with a big day of its own this Spring: building boardwalks over the mucky spots on the section of the trail it maintains near the Jordan River in the northern portion of Michigan's Lower Peninsula. Only 12 people were able to help, so those who participated literally had their hands full. Logistics for this chapter are particularly complicated since most of the members live two or more hours away from the trail. Reports Cora Killinger, the chapter's coordinator:

"The plan was to divide up, with one crew going to install two gates and the other crew building the boardwalk. But first we were all needed to get the lumber across the river.

"Our chapter President, Jerry Allen, had picked up the gates on his trailer and Vern Killinger had brought the 42 boards and posts in his truck. In order to get the lumber to the site the shortest way, we crossed over the Jordan River at a spot where some old logs were in the river. It was quite a balancing act, but we had the same problem last fall and now we knew just what to do.

"Using the boards to bridge the

Boards Over the River Jordan: Tittibawassee Reaches Site

-Jerry Keeney

New Edition of Harbor Springs Map

More than 5,000 maps have been taken from the trailhead boxes put up by the Harbor Springs chapter which just printed a new edition with revisions that include boardwalks built in wet areas.

To request a copy, you may e-mail Jerry Keeney, the President of the chap ter, at [email protected].

Backpacker Features Trap Hills A two-page spread by Eric Hansen

in Backpacker on the Trap Hills segment of the North Country Trail in Michigan's Upper Peninsula is prompting the Peter Wolfe chapter to pay particular atten tion to signage and maintenance proj ects in the area. President Doug Welker reminded members in the chapter news letter that such attention always leads to a significant increase in hiking to the area featured.

- Doug Welker

Krumm shelter near the Sturgeon River in the western part of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. They also built a smaller · bridge and 20 feet of puncheon board walk.

Scouts Create New Crossing More than 20 Boy Scouts and

adults, spearheaded by Eagle Sam Gardner, built a 28-foot bridge over a small stream on the North Country

" Trail between Tibbets Falls and the Oren zr

~ w -0 zr s ~ a :J

, ~ The steep, original crossing was ::;. usually muddy and was flooded by the ~· Sturgeon River during early Spring snow

melt this year.

Attention for the Schoolhouse

Jim Dufresne, columnist and out door writer for Booth Newspapers in Michigan, described the overnight shelter facilities for North Country Trail hikers afforded by the old schoolhouse, main tained near White Cloud, MI, by the Western Michigan Chapter. The struc ture was the first headquarters for the North Country Trail Association.

The article was published in the Venture Outdoors section of the eight daily Booth newspapers in Michigan. Jim, a longtime member of our associa tion, is the author of hiking, backpack ing and camping books, most of them carried by the association's trail shop. He was also the keynote speaker during the association's annual conference near Traverse City, MI four years ago.

-AlLarmann

port that will be furnished by the Village, and our contributions will be finalized shortly. Longer term, a loop option to provide alternate access to the Old Erie Canal Park is a viable option. All the required lands already are owned by either the Village of Canastota or the Town of Lenox.

The NCTA's Peter Wolfe chapter in the western part of Michigan's Upper Peninsula has built this attractive shelter at Old Victoria on the North Country Trail. Bunk beds accommodate four hikers.

HIKING~


Great Support Forthcoming From Key New York Village

Meetings with Mayor Todd Rouse, one of which included Fred Szarka, the National Park Service's trail manager for the North Country National Scenic Trail, have yielded a commitment to opti- mize the route and environment for the NCNST/Link Trail within the Village of Canastota, NY.

The route will head through a 300 , foot buffer strip in the Village Business Park that will remain green and undevel oped. The site offers an attractive view to the northwest and includes a 10-acre pond.

This route will bring the North Country to the center of the Village and to the "doorstep" of the Canal Town Museum on the Old Erie Canal State Historic Park with its towpath route east ward to Rome, NY ..

Agreement as to the final route <details, the mutually advantageous sup-

Welcome Advice from the NPS: Protect the Hiking Experience

Advice from Tom Ross, head of the National Park Service's Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance program:

Actively protect your trails from inappropriate "shared use" if it would dilute or change the quiet, slow hiking experience, Hiking organizations should protect actively their trails. The remark, paraphrased here, was greeted by wild applause at the close of the American Hiking Society's regional conference for hikers in the Southeast.

-Mary Margaret Sloan

The National Park Service closed all trails to mountain bikes in national

parks pending a full environmental assess ment. The NPS responded to a letter challenging a proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Park Service and the International Mountain Bike Association (IMBA).

Rather than an agreement between the full NPS and IMBA, an arm of the NPS, the Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance program, signed an MOU with the mountain bikers pledging to work together on projects of mutual interest. The areas targeted lie outside national parks.

Park Service Restricts Mountain Bikes in National Parks

July-September 2002 * North Star 29

MEDALLIONS AND PINS Add the North Country National Scenic Trail insignia to your hiking stick I. Painted color (P105) $4.00 J. Brass (P104) $4.00 K. The Trail Emblem cloisonne pin is 'l's'' and features the updated North Coun triangle design. (P102) $3.00

I K ~""

Back

SHIRTS D. Trail Crew T-shirt (C102) A trail crew shin for volunteers! 50/50 blend. Two color design on front with map and a "fired up" volunteer. Color: tan. M, L, XL $8.95, XXL $9.95 E. NCTA T-Shirt (C101) Pre-shrunk cotton "Beefy-T". Three-color NCTA logo on front and two-color trail map on back. Slogan on back reads "Going the Distance on the North Country National Scenic Trail" and includes the seven state map of the trail. Color: natural. S, M, L, XL $11.95, XXL $12.95 F. Sweatshirt M, L, XL $34.95, XXL $37.95 Goldenrod (C107 A) Kacki Green (C107B) Denim (C107C) Light Raspberry (C107D) G. Polo Shirt Color: Tan (C106) M, L, XL XXL $31.95 H. Fleece Vest Color: Grey (C108) M, L, XL, XXL $38.95

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

TWO NEW T~SHIRTS!

HATS A. Royal Mesh-Back Cap (C201) Mesh back, cotton twill front, royal blue, plastic snap strap $10.95 B. Ught Khaki/Navy Cap (C207) Trail emblem design. Low profile washed cotton, unconstructed. Light khaki crown with washed navy bill. Adjustable buckle on fabric strap $14.95 C. Denim Blue Cap (C203) Pro-wash cotton twill with extended bill, deep blue crown and bill (looks like denim), adjustable buckle on a leather strap $15.95

Great Wisconsin Walks By Wm. Chad McGrath Experience the serenity of a stately birch forest, the rush of a river in spring and the excitement of an urban amble as you discover W1Sconsin's finest walking trails. In this book, Chad McGrath guides you to some of the state's most beautiful and inter esting paths. Whether you are in search of a long, healthful hike in the woods or a short, casual stroll in the city. Great Wisconsin Walks will help you plan your route. 160 pages (L116) $16.95

Trail Atlas of Michigan By Dennis R Hansen Michigan trail enthusiasts, don't get caught without this atlas! This third edition includes maps and descrip tions for over 600 hiking, biking, skiing, and nature trails in Michigan. Search by location or types of use. This edition is totally revised for 2002, the first revision since 1997. 789 pages (L102A) $34.95

'Porcupine Mountains By Jim Dufresne This detailed guidebook provides backpackers, hikers, campers, and ski ers with all the information they need f="'""""~~~..,.,.~~...,,,--..,,,,.,

to plan a trip to the tranquil Porkies in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Includes history, wildlife in the park, fishing opportunities, cabins and shelters, camping areas, family day hikes with complete information on trails, access points, waterfalls and backcountry trecks. 160 pages (L108) $11.95

·Edible Wild Plants and Useful Herbs By Jim Meuninck Discover how to identify more than 100 wild plants and useful herbs, prepare recipies using your wild har vest, identify poisonous plants, and make wild plants and herbs a part of your diet. 68 pages (L124) $7.95

50 Hikes In Michigan By Jim Dufresne From one of Michigan's leading out door writers comes this comprehensive guide to the best trails in Michigan's Lower Peninsula. Each hike write-up contains all the basic information you need: access, parking, trail dis tance and. difficulty, hiking time, con tour map, and explicit trail directions. Formerly titled 50 Hikes in Lower Michigan. 252 pages (L109) $17.95

50 Hikes 1ln Ohio By Ralph Ramey The 50 hikes in this guide are grouped geographically and range over the entire state, from the rugged Appalachian plateau of Shawnee Forest in the south to the Onawa Wildlife Refuge on the shores of Lake Erie. Many of the hikes are a short drive from each of Ohio's major metropolitan areas. There are outings for every ability, from easy walks to rigorous overnight backpacks. 272 pages (l121) $14.95

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

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

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

America's N'atlonall Scenic Trails By Kathleen Ann Cordes The history, its state today, a geo graphical description, points of inter est and all the statistical particulars for each of the eight National Scenic Trails is detailed, including, of course, our own North Country National Scenic Trail. 306 pages (L122) $19.95

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

wmt SUPPORT GROUP REFERENCE GUID£

Rrst Aid and Family Emergency Handbook The urgent need for treating life-threat ening situations makes it the responsi bility of everyone to be able to give proper emergency care until the victim is transported to a medical facility. First aid does not replace a physician, but it protects the victim until medical assistance can be obtained. This compact book, 3.5" x 5.5'', also contains .----------- information about support groups and disease control. 252 pages (L125) $6.00

New Revkec!U-

FIRST AJD + It PAMJLYDIUGl!!JICY

The Ap~ fr.ti(

Pood Planner

The Appalachian Trail Food Planner By Lou Adsmond Here are proven tech niques for planning and provisioning hik- _,.....,_t.-.t,000>16•

h 'II b alki /~>" ers w o e w ng ,_,........... /"-~' for a week or longer- :...."":.7--/i.·~~.' even those planning :::=::::;. · · "(" ,- ;> six-month "thru-hikes" ~, ';./' along the Appalachian x~ro<>"-'f' .,Loa..... '~: . .>-"" Trial. Includes proven recipies and advice on packaging ingredients for easy trailside cooking. 128 pages (L126) $15.95

Hiking! By Philip Farranti and Cecilia Leyva A truly fresh look at hiking. Read about: philosophy of hiking, stress management, creativity and hiking, and trail romance. Also, explore today's issues through hiking: strengthening family ties, improv ing communication, a healthy life style for kids, an inexpensive pas time and providing seniors with a natural prescription for health. A new twist for anyone who cur rently enjoys hiking and for those who are thinking about starting out. 245 pages (L106) $14.95

The Country Doctor, Alive and Wen By john G. Hipps MD. Stories recount the full spectrum of,__ ~ humankind's experiences. Sometimes informative and educational, frequent ly humorous, often whimsical, the stories will entertain and charm you with their simple philosophy, wisdom and wit. Includes advice on home remedies, herbal and alternative medi cine that promotes the common sense caring of one's self. 363 pages (L115) $19.95

l!·psmackin' Ba'Ckpackin'

Hiking with Kids By Robin Tawney Aie you thinking of introducing a child to the wonders of hiking? Hiking with Kids answers any questions you may have and provides valuable tips on what to bring and how to keep your young hiker safe and happy on the trail. 70 pages (L123) $6.95

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


MINNESOTA Chippewa N.F. to Paul Bunyan S.F.

(TMN-09) $3.50

MICHIGAN Bowne Township to M-37

(TMl-03) $3.50 Freesoil Trailhead to Cedar Creek Road

(TMl-05) $3.50 Grand Marais to Au Train Lake

(TMl-10) $3.50 Alberta to Cascade Falls

(TMl-13) $3.50 Cascade Falls to Ironwood

(TMl-14) $3.50 WISCONSIN

Together these maps cover the Chequamegon National Forest

Ironwood to Long Mile Lookout (lWl-01) $3.50

Long Mile Lookout to Solon Spring (lWl-02) $3.50

NEW YORK Rome to Finger Lakes Trail

(TNY-04) $3.50

1:100,000 SCALE Printed in full color on durable paper, this pocket size map unfolds to a full n" x 17", doubleside. These maps do not come in

•• · a plastic bag.

MICHIGAN Huron-Manistee N.F.: North Segment

(T401) $8.00 Battle Creek to Chief Noonday Road

(T402) $6.50 Huron-Manistee N.F.: South Segment

(T403) $8.00

PENNSYLVANIA McConnells Mill and Moraine State Parks

(T201) $5.00 Allegheny National Forest North Section

(T202) $6.50 Southern Allegheny National Forest and Cook Forest State Park

(T203) $8.00

. - .;,. 1:24,000 SCALE

y)'Printed in full <=?lor on d~le paper these -" new maps come in a clear plastic bag to assure

complete water protection. They have been carefully field checked for accuracy. Each map unfolds to a full n" x 17".

NCT TRAIL MAP SETS

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

VOWNTEER PATCHES 2.00 ea. Volunteer 2000 (P133) Volunteer 2001 (P134) Volunteer 2002 (P135) Trail Crew (P136) Hike leader (P137)

Trail Mapper (P138) Organizer (P139)

NCT PATCH Patch ofTrail Emblem 3V2" bottom measure North Country Trail emblem triangle design ,.., (P125) $3.50

New York (P126) Pennsylvania (P127) Ohio (P128) Michigan (P129) Wisconsin (P130) Minnesota (P131) North Dakota (P132)

32 North Star * July-September 2002

Following the NCT By wts Boyd Third Edition of Following the North Country National Scenic Trail. A Classic!

Includes general descriptions of the trail and efforts to build it in each of our seven states. This new edition also includes appendicies on through-hiking the NCT and the his tory of the Trail and Association. 96 pages (L112) $4.95

NCTA Trail Building and Maintenance Manual By Thomas Reimers This great manual for volunteers

provides helpful ~ guidelines and sug- ~ gestions for planning,

construction and contin- ,,.,.~~ .... -.:...- ued maintenance of the

,,,.,........,.""11 North Country Trail. It covers rural and roaded natural, semi-primitive and primitive trail. 22 pages (L101) $2.00

~iiliiiiil color illustrations are filled with humor and countless tips and trivia. Though at first glance this looks like a book for kids, adults also find this guide irresistible and infor mative. 64 pages (L103) $12.95

Buck Wilder's Hiking & Camping Gulde By Tim Smith and Mark Herrick One whole lot of fun! Buck Wilder and his pal Rascal the Raccoon share their considerable wisdom and wit. Wonderful

... .__.. __ - .,. __

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

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


Shipping and Handling Charges Amount of Order Charge $00.00 to $10.00 $2.50 $10.01 to $25.00 $5.00 $25.01 to $50.00 $6.00 $50.01 to $100 $8.00 Over $100 $10.00 Signature (We cannot process your order without a signature and the expiration date.)

Name on Card

Please mail, fax or phone your order to: 229 East Main Street

Lowell, Michigan 49331 Toll free telephone: 888-454-NCTA (6282)

If ordering by credit card, you may fax your order to: 616-897-6605

Merchandise total:

NCTA Members deduct 10%: -

Subtotal after discount:

Ml Residents add 6% sales tax: +

Shipping and handling: + (See shipping Info below) 1------1---_,

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GRAND TOTAL:

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D Check or money order enclosed (Made payable to "NCTA")

D Please charge my credit card

Ohio State Line at Waldron to Augusta (M411A) $4.00

Augusta to Rogue River Seate Game Area (M412A) $4.00

Coates Highway at Manistee River to M-115 West of Mesick

(M413A) $4.00 M-115 West of Mesick to M-32 West of U.S. 131

(M414A) $4.00 M-32 West of U.S. 131 to Mackinaw City

(M415A) $4.00 St. Ignace to SE Marquette

(M416A) $4.00 Marquette to Ironwood

(M417A) $4.00

MICHIGAN MAP SETS By Arden Johnson 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.

NORTH DAKOTA NCT in North Dakota 15 pages

(M701) $5.00

MINNESOTA Chippewa National Forest, Itasca S.P., 24 pages

(M601) $4.00

WISCONSIN Iron County Forests; Chequamegon N.F., Brule River S.F., 27 pages

(M501A) $4.50

MICHIGAN NCT in Lower Michigan, 81 pages

(M401) $12.50 NCT in Upper Michigan, 88 pages

(M402) $13.00

OHIO Wayne National Forest, 14 pages

(M301) $3.00 From Burr Oak State Park to Milford on the Buckeye Trail, 38 pages

(M3032) $14.00 Milford to Lake Loramie S.P., 42 pages

(M304A) $7.00 Miami & Erie Canal from Lake Loramie S.P. to Napoleon, 30 pages

(M305A) $5.00

PENNSYLVANIA NCT in Pennsylvania, 37 pages

(M201) $5. 75

CERTIFIED SECTIONS OF THE NCT

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 guidebook writers who have walked the sections with a measuring wheel. In easy to use looseleaf form.


... it seemed that God was laying his hand on each one of us, bless ing us and saying a prayer for our future."

In my youth in Grand Rapids, Michigan, I was involved in Boy Scout Troop 229. We took several hiking and camping trips to the Allegan State Forest, southwest of Grand Rapids. The Boy Scouts and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources had cooperated in establishing a 23- mile trail called the Wakazoo Trail. It was one of my favorite hikes during the 1960s.

This past year, while sorting through some old papers, I came across a journal entry I wrote in 1969 recalling one of those hikes. It reminded me that sometimes our hiking experiences border on being mystical:

"We entered a large planting of pines. It was Sunday morning and all was quiet. No one made a sound as we walked on the bed of pine needles. Wind was whispering in the tops of the pines and it seemed that God was laying his hand on each one of us, blessing us and saying a prayer for our future."

My imagination transcended time as we encountered features along the trail: "We came on an old farmhouse founda tion. My mind hopped back to the time when it was occupied. A million ques tions slid through my mind. I was as if in a trance thinking about who had lived there and why, and when they had left."

Often, however, our most precious memories relate to a hiking companion: "We stopped to rest by an old cemetery. Perhaps that was the first time I was fascinated by an old cemetery. But it was not the cemetery that I remember so much. It was sitting there with my dad, talking."

The experience-that's the essence of hiking!

walking. Perhaps like "beauty is in the eye of the beholder," hiking versus walk ing is in the mind of the one taking the steps.

That is also true of the second dis tinguishing quality: purpose. "Going for a hike" seems to inherently imply a conscious sense of determined purpose. It may be, as the definition suggests, exercise. But I think that today, with the widespread promotion of the health ben efits of pedestrian activity, most people think in terms of "walking for exercise."

The purposes for which people go hiking are as varied as the number of people who participate. Some go to explore a landscape and enjoy it at that scale. Some go to investigate and marvel at the most minute elements of a trait's environment, whether woods, field, marsh, or desert. Some go for the solitude-being alone and silent in the trait's environment, be that remote wil derness or the bank of a stream running through their community.

Others go with friends to enjoy the camaraderie. Some hikers go to familiar trails, having established a personal con nection through previous visits. Others seek out new places with unknown and perhaps unexpected features and chal lenges.

Whatever the purpose, the common thread among all these reasons is that hikers are seeking the experiences that trails provide. The "experience" is an inseparable part of hiking. Without it, hiking would just be moving our feet.

Hiking leaves deep impressions and vivid memories that shape our personal values and emotions. Memories of previ ous experiences are often recalled and enjoyed again when we feel the familiar softness of pine needles beneath our feet, hear the wind rustling the dried leaves of fall foliage, touch and examine the needles of a pine tree to identify its spe cies, or even look at a topographic map of a trail and environment once explored and assimilated into our consciousness.


hike \'h k\ vi la: to go on a long walk esp. for plea sure or exercise.

'""r}ie largest portion of my day is spent .1 translating ideas and information

into written form. Letters, reports, planning documents, articles (like this one): they all require it. The advent and expanding use of e-mail has only increased the amount of communication that is translated into written language.

One of my closest companions dur ing my career has been my "Webster's Seventh New Collegiate Dictionary." I've had the same one since I started working for the Federal Government on October 29, 1972.

It has stayed with me through two government reorganizations that resulted in me working for three different agen cies in three different locations. It still bears the stamp: "Bureau of Outdoor Recreation, Ann Arbor, Mich." That's the agency I started working for in 1972. It no longer exists, but the dictionary endures. I probably could have gotten a new one, but this one has served me just fine.

My dictionary doesn't get as much attention as it used to. I guess that's the way it should be as one practices the art of written communication. But now and then, I pull it out, not only to search for the meaning of a new word, but also to look up long-familiar words to see whether the way I am using them is cor rect.

The other day, I was thinking about "hiking" and decided to look it up. I didn't find it. My dictionary is one of those that doesn't include all the various forms and endings of a word. So I had to look at "hike." Here is what is says, in part: hike \'h k\ vi la: to go on a long walk esp. for pleasure or exercise.

I like that definition. It identifies two qualities that distinguish hiking from walking: length and purpose. The definition does not suggest a distance threshold that distinguishes hiking from

Hiking: So Much More Than Just Moving Our Feet FROM

If you're a current member who's not interested in volunteering, the most important thing you can do is stay with us. We need your continuing support.

If you're an active volunteer, think about how you can help. Certainly, the best source for new members is the trail itself, yet we do very little to recruit members from the population of NCT hikers. One idea is to put up special trail registers with tear-off note pads to request more information. These could be "business reply" postcards, or slips collected in a box and eventually for warded to HQ

All Chapter gatherings should have an ample supply of membership forms available, both for new visitors and for current members to take with and pass around.

Leaders should avoid the trap of doing all the work themselves. Members who don't feel needed will eventually shift their support to some other interest. The leader may get the work done, but in the long run the trail and the organi zation will suffer. Members should chal lenge their leaders to lead, and leaders should develop strategies to involve and recruit members.

There are lots of ideas out there. If you have ideas on how our Chapters or volunteers can help recruit and retain members, please send them to me. I'll make sure they get spread around. And, if you need help with these or other ideas, please let me know. In the mean time, we'll be working hard too, behind the scenes, to try to reach this new goal. j-~-1; · -~ - ·5~~~~~b~~- · 2002· --- -N-~-~ti;- · 51~;- · 35

To be honest, we have to do a lot better. Here's why: • Through our advocacy work, we've

tripled federal funding in recent years. That's great news because we're doing a lot more for the trail. Unfortunately, growth in private funding (dues, con tributions, grants, etc.), hasn't kept up. So, this year, 63% of the NCTA's general budget is covered by federal funds. If this funding declines due to federal budget cuts, it could decimate our operations because so much is rid ing on this single funding source.

• Members demonstrate public support, which is crucial in approaching foun dations, agencies and corporations for help. We can feel good about having nearly 2,500 members, but to someone on the outside that number will seem inadequate, given the enormity of the NCT.

• Most of our Chapters need additional volunteers with varying skills, and these volunteers typically rise from the ranks of our members. For a little perspective, consider this. The North Country Trail will be twice the length of the Appalachian Trail, yet the NCTA has less than one tenth the members of the Appalachian Trail Conference.

Considering where we are in the his tory of this trail, I'd like to set the goal of reaching 5,000 members in 2-3 years time. I have confidence that our organi zation can meet such a challenge. But, how do we get there? That's something we'll all need to think about and act on.

Where Our Members Live

D ecently, I've been reviewing resumes 1'.for our new Director of Trail Management (DTM). Ultimately, the DTM will direct all of our trail staff, including several regional coordinators. For now, though, we have funding for only two new people. So, the DTM will serve as regional coordinator for MI, WI, MN and ND, and a separate coordinator will be hired for OH, PA and NY.

We received about 40 resumes, representing two foreign countries and eleven states. I was struck by the geo graphic range of these candidates, and by the enthusiasm many showed for the opportunity to work on the North Country Trail. By and large, these are folks who work in natural resources, with agencies and organizations that are out "fighting the good fight" across the country. They know about the NCT. They admire what we are accomplishing. And, they want to be a part of it.

In focusing on our own involvement with the trail, it's easy to forget about the middle word in "North Country National Scenic Trail." Yet, the NCT is a national resource, and we are working to benefit a nation of hikers. Since the NCT will last indefinitely, we know that this "nation of hikers" spreads across both geography and generations. As our applicants illustrate, we also know that people across the country are aware of our work, and appreciate it.

Appreciating the trail and support ing it are two different things, though. The map on this page shows the distri bution of our membership. Not surpris ingly, our members are mainly focused near the trail. So, while we are creating a national legacy, most of our support comes from a regional constituency.

We currently have about 2,350 members. That's pretty good for us, and is near our high. However, while it's "pretty good for us," it's not good for a national resource of the caliber of the North Country National Scenic Trail.

Wanted: 5,000 Members Spread Coast to Coast

FROM ~

,eoe PAPP Executive Director

PENNSYLVANIA TRAIL COUNCIL Chair and Trail Coordinator: Bob Tait ·

Box 2968, Butler PA 16001-2968 · (724) 287-3382 · [email protected]

OHIO TRAIL COUNCIL Chair: Garry S. Dill Jr. · 4070 Traitorsville-Brigh

ton Road, London, OH 43140 · (937) 834-2891 [email protected]

Trail Coordinator: Jim Sprague · 4406 Maplec rest, Parma, OH 44134 · (440) 884-4757 · [email protected]

20. Northwestern Ohio Rail-to-Trails Assoc. Gene Markley· 22266 County Rd. 5, Delta, OH 43615 · (800) 951-4788 · [email protected]

21. Buckeye Trail Association Garry Dill · 4070 Tradersville-Brighton Rd., London, OH 43140 · (937) 834-2891 · [email protected]

22. Great Trail Sandy Beaver Canal Chapter Brad Bosley · 50900 Pancake-Clarkston Rd., Negley, OH 44441 · (330) 227-2432

16. Spirit of the Woods Chapter Joan Young· 861 W USlO, Scottville, MI 49454 · (231) 757-2205 · [email protected]

17. Western Michigan Chapter Werner Veit · 229 East Main Street, Lowell, MI 49331 · (616) 897-5987 · [email protected]

18. Chief Noonday Chapter Dave Cornell · 514 Cordes Road, Delton, MI 49046 · (616) 623-8659 · [email protected]

19. Baw Beese Chapter Richard Saur· P.O. Box 673, Hillsdale, MI 49242 · (517) 437-5033 · dksrufffronrier.ner

LOWER MICHIGAN TRAIL COUNCIL

Chair: Arlen Matson · 49684 Dracka Road Tra verse City, MI 49684-8837 · .(231) 941-4152 · as3 l [email protected]

13. Harbor Springs Chapter Jerry Keeney · 2385 Manitou Trail, Harbor Springs, MI 49740 · (231) 526-9597 · [email protected]

14. Tittabawassee Chapter Jerry Allen· 1561 Bomanville Rd., Gladwin, MI 48624 . (517) 345-2677

15. Grand Traverse Hiking Club (Chapter) Rick Halbert · 7385 S. Whispering Hills, Traverse City, MI 49684 · (231) 947-8485 · [email protected]

9. Heritage Chapter Jim Burow · 7067 Oakwood Circle, Nes koro, WI 53496 · (920) 293-8023 · [email protected]

10. Peter Wolfe Chapter Doug Welker · 26344 Tauriainen Rd., Pelki, MI 49958 · (906) 338-2680 · [email protected]

11. North Country Trail Hikers (Chapter) Jan Wester· 352 E. Hewitt Ave., Marquette, MI 49855. (906) 225-1295 Bettie Daly· 126 HC l, Marquette, MI 49855 · (906) 228-9018 Denise Herron · 423 W. Park St. · Marquette, MI 49855 · (906) 225-1030 · [email protected]

12. Hiawatha Shore to Shore Kirt Stage-Harvey · 950 Huron Street, Sr. Ignace, MI 49781 · .(906) 643-6379 · [email protected]

LEGEND - Chapters .......... Partners = Not Yet Adopted


GREAT LAKES TRAIL COUNCIL Chair: Bob Norlin· PO Box 718, Iron River, WI

54847 · (715) 372-5229 · [email protected] ysar.net ·

Wisconsin Coordinator: Brad Gingras · PO Box 416, Cable, WI 54821-0416 · (715) 798- 3890 · [email protected]

Upper Michigan Coordinator: Doug Welker · 26344 Tauriainen Road, Pelkie, MI 49958 · (906) 338-2680 · [email protected]

7. Brule-St. Croix Chapter Charles (Chuck) Zosel· 6697 S. Degerman Rd., Lake Nebagamon, WI 54849 · (715) 374-3489 · [email protected]

8. Chequamegon Chapter Tana Turonie ·P.O. Box 475, Mellen, WI 54546 · (715) 274-2521 · [email protected]

MINNESOTA TRAIL COUNCIL Chair: John Leinen, Jr.· 14205 Sr. Croix Trail,

Stillwater, MN 55082-9587 · (651) 433-4456 · [email protected]

Trail Coordinator: Daryl Williamson· 5901 Timberglade Dr., Bloomington, MN 55438 · (952) 835-2186 · [email protected]

2. Star of the North Chapter John Dreher· 7641 l Oth St. N, Oakdale, MN 55128 · (651) 738-3717 · [email protected]

3. Itasca Moraine Jerry Trout· 4379 Maple Lane NW; Hackensack, MN 56452 · (218) 675-5448 · [email protected]

4. Kekekabic Trail Club Peter Sparks · (651) 739-0378 · [email protected]

5. Rovers Outing Club Pat Ryan· 2021 James Ave., St. Paul, MN 55105 · (651) 699-9800 · [email protected]

6. Superior Hiking Trail Association Gayle Coyer· (218) 834-2700 · [email protected]

NORTH DAKOTA TRAIL COUNCIL

Chair and Trail Coordinator: Jon G. Lindgren · 2001 N. Seventh, Fargo, ND 58102 · (701) 232- 7868 · [email protected]

1. Sheyenne River Valley Chapter Lisa Engel · P.O. Box 100 Cooperstown, ND 58245 · (701) 797-3530 · [email protected]

Chapters of the North Country Trail Association are like local trail clubs. They build and maintain trail, host hikes and other events, and work to promote

the trail and the Association in their areas. For information about local activities and volunteering, contact Chapter

representatives. Partner organizations are independent nonprofit organizations that are working to build

and maintain certain sections of the trail.

North Country Trail Association Trail Councils .

Moraine previously were members of the Star of the North chapter or were mem bers of the association at large.

The new Minnesota chapter elected the following officers this Spring:

Jerry Trout, Hackensack, MN, President; Carter Hedeen, Park Rapids, MN, Vice President; Harvey Tjader, Bemidji, MN, Secretary, and WE. (Al Mitton), Hackensack, MN, Treasurer.

Hiawatha Shore to Shore, based in the Mackinac Straits area, is the first chapter in the eastern Upper Peninsula. The other UP chapters are Peter Wolfe in the West and North Country Trail Hikers in the Marquette area. The new chapter will be responsible for the trail from the southern end of the Mackinac Bridge northwestward to the bridge over the Two Hearted River in Luce County, a distance of 133 miles, more than 112 already certified. Less than three miles are temporarily signed on a road.

Kirt Stage-Harvey, of St. Ignace, was elected the chapter's first president. Other officers: Mark Halverson, St. Ignace, Vice President; Susan Deaner, Hessel, Secretary; Julia Rawlings, Sault Ste. Marie, Treasurer, and John Elliott, of St. Ignace, trail maintenance and tool manager.

Stay Tuned: The NCTA Board is expected to approved still another North Dakota chaper in August. J"~i;··~··5~~~~~i;~~··2iiiii·····N·~·rth .. st~~··37

Charters for new chapters in Minnesota and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan

were approved by the Board of Directors of the North Country Trail Association at its Spring meeting in Mt. Morris, NY.

The Itasca Moraine Chapter in Minnesota and the Hiawatha Shore to Shore Chapter in Michigan's UP became the 22nd and 23rd chapters of the Association.

Itasca Moraine, based in central Minnesota west of the Chippewa national Forest, is responsible for that portion of the North Country National Scenic Trail that lies between the western boundary of the Chippewa National Forest and the Old Headquarters site on the Bad Medicine-Section of the trail, excluding Itasca State Park, a distance of approximately 41 miles. Thirty of those miles will have to be constructed. There are about six miles already certified and another stretch, just under five miles, completed but not certified.

In addition, the new chapter, calls for Itasca-Moraine "to promote and celebrate the sections of the trail located within the Chippewa National Forest and Itasca State Park."

The new chapter is the second in Minnesota. The other is the re-organized Star of the North Chapter, based in the Twin Cities area.

Most of the members of Itasca

NCTA Boasts New Chapters In Minnesota, Michigan's UP

It didn't take long for John Elliott (right) elected trail manager of the Hiawatha Shore to Shore chapter to go to work on the NCT. Here he's shown helping Western Michigan chapter members during this Sprlng's maintenance workshop In the Huron Manistee National Forest.

[email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

National Park Service 700 Rayovac Drive Suite 100

Madison, WI 53711 (608) 441-5610

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Tom Gilbert, Superintendent

Fred Szarka, Trail Manager Ken Howell, Land Protection Coordinator

NEW YORK TRAIL COUNCIL Chair and Trail Coordinator: Howard Beye ·

202 Colebourne Road, Rochester, NY · (585} 288-7191 · [email protected]

28. Finger Lakes Trail Conference Irene Szabo · 6939 Creek Road, Mt. Morris, NY 14510-9638 · (585) 658-4321 · [email protected]

29. Onondaga Chapter, ADK Mary Coffin · 328 Deepsrings Dr., Chinenango, NY 13037 · (315) 687-3589 · Mccoffin72l@worldne t.att.net

30. Central New York Chapter Al Larmann · 7169 Forbes Road, Canastota, NY 13032-9999 · (315) 697-3387 · larman

23. Wampum Chapter Paul Henry· 469 Superior St., Hermitage, PA 16148. (724) 347-3282

24. Greater Pittsburgh Chapter Michael Kaizar · 933 Norfolk St., Pittsburgh, PA 15217 · (412) 321-0842 · mike@greenmarketplac e.com

24. Rock Chapter Frank Cetera· P.O. Box 151, Forestville, PA 16035 · (724) 735-1133 · [email protected]

25. Butler Chapter Ron Rice · 111 Ash Stop Rd., Evans City, PA 16033 · (724) 538-8475 · [email protected]

26. Clarion Chapter Carol Atwell· 18141Rt208, P.O. Box 15, Marble, Pa 16334 · (814) 354-2778. atwell@ma il.usachoice.net

27. American Youth Hostels-Pittsburgh Council Bob Roth· 80 Rose Leaf Rd., Pittsburgh, PA 15220. (412) 279-6219

In the last issue, we reported the possibility of a 23rd chapter in North Dakota. That's not only becoming real ity but the new group, the Lonetree Chapter, will actually become our 24th chapter! Charters for two new chapters, Hiawatha Shore to Shore and Itasca Moraine, were approved by the Board of Directors this Spring (See Page 37). The charter for Lonetree will be acted upon by the Board at its August meeting. After that, its particulars will be listed on the quarterly Trails Councils Page. In the meantime, interested members or pro spective members may get in touch with Elden Ehrman at (701) 465-3387 or at [email protected].

............. ···-------------------- -----··············


Recruiting Members Awards are given for recruiting J 0 100 and 250 new members. Ow: to recruiters in the Ist quarter of 20Q2, were: Al and Jean Moberly , . Kirt Stage-Harvey . John Leinen . Doug Welker . Rick Halbert . Jerry Allen . Marilyn Chadwick . . . . . . . . .

-1 0

-5

2

4

Percent Change

Current Change Since State Members Last Issue North Dakota 172 Minnesota 164 6 Wisconsin Michigan 1,196 28 Ohio Pennsylvania 243 -12 New York Other 87 -6 Totals 2,349 14

Percent Increase Other Total Marked Miles Since Last Off-Road Trail Road

State Certified Issue Miles Miles Miles

!North Dakota ',;,(';@

Minnesota 24.8% 93.0 0.0 4.7 97.7 0.0 Wisconsin

Michigan 53.9% 619.4 5.0 65.1 684.5 100.6

Pennsylvania 43.3% 129.9 0.8 8.5 138.4 5.8 New York

Totals 40.1% 1,682.8 10.7 155.8 1,838.6 184.0 ----------····-·············-- --------------------··--···································-----

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

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

Along the way to building the longest continuous hiking trail in the country, we pass many milestones. This page marks some that show our progress.


*Includes cumulative gifts, membership contributions and grants received between April I, 2001 and March 31, 2002.

I Associates of Marquette 708 Chippewa Square Marquette MI 49855

Butler Outdoor Club P.O. Box 243

Butler PA 16003-0243

Marquette General Hospital 20 West Magnetic Street Marquette MI 49855

's. Sports and Sportswear Portage MI 49002

(616) 381-7700

$1.0,000 or m National Park Servi

Lowell Area Community Grand Rapids Foundat"

Haworth, Inc.

David Hutchinson Joe Hyrman Hans Kappus John & Nancy Kennedy Brooks & Margie Kindel Kay Kujawa Dale Lack Ned Liddle Christopher & Margo Light Doug Lory John & Marianne Ludwick Curt & Julie MacDougall RodMacRae John & Diana Meyer Pat & Kathleen Miller Ray Miller Al & Jean Moberly Larry Mulder Gregg and Colleen Nelson Linnea Newman &

Tony Malikowski Peter O'Rourke Timothy O'Rourke Peter & Susan Ordway David Patrick Fred Peachman Richard Pfeiffer Aaron Phipps Thomas & Diane Piquet Tim Pond Joseph Raught Margaret Root J. Robert Routt Bob and Grace Rudd Michael & Erica SanDretto Edward Scanlan Merl & Patricia Schlaack Peter Schmitz Richard Schwaab Richard Seabold Stephen Selden Tom Simpkins Joseph Smith James Spencer James Sprague Harmon Strong Rolf Swanson Betty Tableman John & Mary Lou Tanton David Tattan Jerry & Beth Trout Donna Tuttle RogerTuuk Betty Van der Smissen John & Diane VanderVeen Steve Vear Anthony Veit John Wallace Doug Welker Gary Werner Donald Wicksrra Daryl Williamson Rodger & Denise Wolf Duke Yost Walter Zarnoch

$100 to $249 David & Jean Adams Jerry Allen & Connie Pausits-Allen Pat Allen & Mark Miller Daniel & Constance Arnold Thomas & Patricia Backe Len & JoAnne Baron Richard Beil & Dana Burkley Charles Benjamin Bert Bleke David Blewett LeRoy Bliven Richard . Boettner Ren & Carol Brander Baxter Brings Barb & Brian Buchanan Carolyn Butcher James Byrne Ed & Nancy Chappel Walter Clawson John Conway Anthony Cook Daniel Dardio Richard & Ann DeBoer Susan Derro John Diephouse Joe Dixon & Stephanie Kobylinski Dixon William Dixon Dennis Donarhen Kathleen Eisele William Eisenman Duane Elenbaas Kari Elias Richard Flinn Jon & Ellen Flood Douglas Fraits John Gall Marc Gilbert Tom & Janis Gilbert George Girod Robert Glesne Harry Gubbins Robert Hangel Chuck Hayden Paul & Jerry Henry Denise Herron Herbert and Suzanne Hulls

$250 to $499 David & Jan Cornell Loyal Eldridge Gene & Jean Elzinga Lou & Sandy Kasischke John & Pat Leinen Philip Lenko Bob & Annette Papp Raymond & Elaine Papp Michael Schuler Maureen Smith Gaylord & Marlene Yost David Younger

INDIVIDUALS $500 or more Garrett Dill William & Donna Menke Val Rauceps Irene Szabo Werner & Marianne Veit

We gratefully acknowledge the support of all our members and donors, and especially wish to recognize the following individuals, businesses, foundations and agencies, for their generous contributions over the past twelve months":

Trail Supporters

,!

I

NONPROFIT U.S. POSTAGE

PAID .j Grand Rapids, Ml

Permit 340 North Country Trail Association 229 East Main Street Lowell, Michigan 49331

north star vol. 21, no. 3 (2002)

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