north star vol. 26, no. 3 (2007)

Volume 26, No. 3July–September, 2007 The Magazine of theNORTH COUNTRY TRAIL ASSOCIATION

Bemidji: 2007 Page 4

John Leinen Honored with Lifetime Achievement Award Page 24

2 The North Star July–September 7

In August at our Annual

Conference, after having completed four eventful years as the Association’s President, I turned over the job into the capable hands of Dave Cornell. It is fitting that in this, my last message to you as President, I begin by expressing my gratitude to all those with whom I have been privileged to work over the years and by expressing my confidence in the future of the North Country National Scenic Trail and the North Country Trail Association (NCTA). I will certainly remain active in the affairs of the NCTA, both locally and nationally, but also look forward to stepping back a bit and tending to a few things that have remained undone around here.

These past four years were not what I had imagined in 3 nor had observed during my eight previous years of board/inside experience. It’s fair to say that next to the early formative years of the organization these years had to be the most unsettling. All of the changes that have taken place in our office over the last three years — including three Executive Directors, two Interim EDs and a volunteer Office Manager — have unsettled everybody and everything. Often the services you have come to depend on from our office have not been forthcoming. Here, I will offer my apologies for any lapses in the past and promise that they will not be allowed to happen in the future.

Both unfortunately and fortunately this was a period of growing pains that all organizations must undergo in order to reach their full potential. I just mentioned most of the unfortunate aspects of this process. On the positive side we have started our Regional Trail Coordinator Program with great success. These local on-the-ground professionals aiding our volunteers are proving to be the way to build and main-tain highest quality trail. As soon as we are able to fill out this program and have Regional Trail Coordinators in each state we will be able to make even more effective progress toward completion of this huge task. Our restructured office

JOHN LEINENImmediate Past President

TRAIL HEAD

Prospects for Things to Comefunctions much more efficiently than before. All our staff are team players who are very dedicated to the trail and the Association and we are lucky to have each of them with us.

We now have Bruce Matthews as our new Executive Director to take us forward from here. Bruce’s experience as founder and long time ED of the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation will be a great aid as Bruce leads us in the national arena.

With inefficiencies removed from office processes, with the well-grounded start we have given our Regional Trail Management Program, with the beginning of the Bruce Matthews era of leadership, and with the dedication of our staff, all of the frustration and hardship over the past few years will prove to have been worthwhile and ultimately pay dividends for the organization, all of its members and, of course, the trail. I feel pleased with the progress our organi-zation has made over the past four years and I confidently look forward to the progress that will be made from here on. It’s sure to be a good time for the North Country Trail.

John Leinen at the AHS “Hike the Hill” event in Washington DC. The Association Board will miss John’s leadership and advocacy on behalf of the Trail.

North Country Trail AssociationThe North Country Trail Association develops, maintains, preserves and promotes the

North Country National Scenic Trail through a trail-wide coalition of volunteers and partners.

Our vision for the North Country National Scenic Trail is that of a premier footpath of national significance, offering a superb experience for hikers in a permanently protected corridor, traversing and interpreting the richly diverse environmental, cultural, and historic features of the northern United States.

Come Visit Us! The Lowell office is open Monday through Friday from 9 am to 4 pm.

9 East Main Street, Lowell, MI 49331Phone (866) HikeNCT • 616-897-5987 • Fax (616) 897-6605

www.northcountrytrail.org

July–September 7 The North Star 3

Staff Andrew Bashaw,

Regional Trail Coordinator Ohio/[email protected]

Clare Cain, Director of Trail [email protected]

Matt Davis, Regional Trail Coordinator Minnesota/North Dakota

[email protected]

Erin Lesert, Membership Services Coordinator/Office Manager

[email protected] Matthews, Executive Director

[email protected]

Bill Menke, Regional Trail Coordinator Great Lakes

[email protected]

Glory Meyer, Public Services [email protected]

Matt Rowbotham, GIS/IT [email protected]

Tiffany Stram, GIS [email protected]

National Board of DirectorsTerms Expiring 2008

Mary Coffin, VP East, New York Rep.,(315)687-3589 · [email protected]

Garry Dill, At Large Rep.,(614)451-0223 · [email protected]

Alicia Hoffarth, North Dakota Rep.,(701)490-3889 · [email protected]

Terry Serres, At Large Rep.,(612)414-4116 · [email protected]

Terms Expiring 2009Sarah Julien, Secretary, At Large Rep.,

(616)676-17 · [email protected]

Christopher Klein, VP West, Minnesota Rep.,(320) 766-9635 · [email protected]

Al Larmann, At Large Rep., (315)697-3387 · [email protected]

Terms Expiring 2010Dave Cornell, President, At Large Rep.,

(269)623-8659 · [email protected] Appel, Pennsylvania Rep.,

(724)526-5407 · [email protected] Lyle Bialk, Lower Michigan Rep.,

(81)679-41 · [email protected] Boesel Ohio Rep.,

(740)385-0074 · [email protected] Koepplin, VP Finance, At Large Rep.,

(701)845-2935 · [email protected] Yost Great Lakes Rep., (414)354-8987 · [email protected]

Len Price, At Large Rep., (651)267-9900 · [email protected]

Jim Hudson, At Large Rep., (905)527-7111 · [email protected] Hawkins, At Large Rep.,

(269)945-5398 · [email protected]

A Glance Inside

ArticlesBemidji: 7 .............................4NCTA's New Executive Director 8Incoming President ...................1To Check the Trail ....................13Fulfilling the Original Vision ....14Cazenovia ..................................15National Trails Day ...................16 Profiles in Courage ...................18Back From the Ashes .................A Wisconsin Miracle Mile or Five...............................1Keep the Customer Satisfied .....Ballad Premiers .........................3Honoring Our Heroes ...............4

North Star StaffIrene Szabo, Associate Editor Aaron Phipps, Art Director

The North Star, Summer Issue, Vol. 6, Issue 3, is published by the North Country Trail Association, a private, not-for-prof-it 501(c)(3) organization, 229 East Main Street, Lowell, MI 49331. The North Star is published quarterly for promotional and educational purposes 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.

Association Board members Mary Coffin, Garry Dill, and Al Larmann, learn more about using a GPS unit at this year’s annual conference in Bemidji, MN. Events from the conference are highlighted on page 4.

Clare Cain

About the Cover John Leinen, past Association president, is honored with this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Read more about this year’s award winners on Page 4. Photo by Pat Leinen.

ColumnsTrailhead .....................................Going for the Gold ...................On the Trail ..............................

DepartmentsHiking Shorts ...........................1Milestones .................................1Trail Supporters ........................9Who’s Who Along the NCT .....3


Irene SzaboAssociate Editor

Sandy and Pearl, two golden retriev-ers who are so well-travelled that

they have swum in every Great Lake and even rode to Valley City, North Dakota in , sampling famous spots along the North Country Trail as they went — Manistee, Copper Falls, McCormick Wilderness, Solon Springs, Sheyenne National Grasslands — just notched another 3 miles in Their Truck, the crew cab with a full back seat, protected with a water-proof cover that is now deeply lay-ered with Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota sand. They were privileged to join the hikers on the Jordan River Pathway during the Petoskey 2005 annual meeting, rambled in Ohio after Marietta 4, but had to skip Clarion 6: there are too many tempting porcupines in Pennsylvania for their little brains to resist.

SANDY AND PEARL DO THE NORTH COUNTRY:

Bemidji 2007

PA/OH Regional Trail Coordinator, Andrew Bashaw, enjoys the canoe trip on the Mississippi River.

2007 Annual Conference Bemidji, Minnesota

Getting to distant annual con-ferences is half the fun. Me, I pay attention to native tree populations as I travel, and the nature of the topog-raphy, and love to learn the flow of changes across our wide trail. While those who have walked a lot of it, like Bill Menke or Joan Young, have the best idea of the ebb and flow of geography along the NCT, at least by driving I get way more than those who fly can learn. I’m also a bit of a railroad history freak, so once I drove west past both my railroad atlas AND my topographical maps, I was bitterly frustrated!

After crossing the bizarre Mackinac Bridge, five miles long over open water joining upper and lower peninsulas of Michigan and bridging the marriage of Lakes Michigan and Huron, we went west on US across the Upper Peninsula. All three times Sandy and Pearl have journeyed to the UP they have appreciated Michigan’s

welcoming lake shoreline, which is NOT locked away in private owner-ship as it usually is in New York. Two dogs frolicking in the miniature “surf” of the north shore of Lake Michigan are funny, indeed: for a brief moment, they hesitated at the sight of little waves rolling toward them, chest-high, but not for long. Soon both were breasting the waves and swimming out to retrieve sticks as far as I could throw them.

White pine, jack pine, red pine, cedar, white spruce, black spruce, aspen, and birch delighted me across the UP. Jack is indigenous to Michigan so foreign to me, while white spruce in my NY neighborhood exists only in yard plantings, and black spruce is a northern oddity occasionally left over by glacial snowballs. Pinky-orange all-cedar lumber yards surprised with their color, while driving behind a truck loaded with red pine was an aro-matic love affair for miles. The unex-pected rosy theme continued across the UP and Wisconsin with a roadside pink Edsel for sale and two passing pink dumptrucks (honest!), followed by dark rosy pavement in Wisconsin and Minnesota.

“What a canoe trip! A hands-on demonstration of wild rice har-vesting, investigating the head-waters of the mighty Mississippi, lunch in a peaceful glade while listening to the call of the loon, and a great finishing touch: observing the Dragon Boat races on Lake Bemidji.”

Presumably crushed local rock accounts for the rosy segments of high-way, since the land changes dramati-cally at Felch, approximately in the middle of absolutely nowhere at the end of a long dead-straight road (paral-leled by a twenty-year-gone railroad, now a sandy snowmobile/ATV trail through cedar and pine), changes from flat lake plains to steeply rolling coun-

Claudia Bashaw


Explorer and educator, Eric Larsen, cap-tivates his audience with his presenta-tion on the beauty, hardships and the impacts of global warming he encoun-tered on his journey to the North Pole.


Jon Hanson (Chippewa National Forest) and Ed Morse of the Grand Traverse chapter enjoy a moment of rest at the pre-conference Trail School in Itasca State Park.

tryside with startling outcroppings of dark gray and rose giant rocks, the Gogebic Range that gives our trail real humpiness in the western UP until it reaches Wisconsin and settles down again.

Northern Wisconsin gave us a peek at Lake Superior, hinted at nearby Duluth’s mighty ore-shipping docks and trestles, then US crossed a swooping bridge across the St. Louis River, climbed the abrupt heights west of the Lake, then made me, at least, stop dead at Proctor to visit the displayed Duluth, Missabe, and Iron Range steam locomotive again. Among the largest and last built of legendary ore-hauling steam locomotives, this one ran up 694, miles of service during its relatively short twenty-year life from 1941-61, still hauling Minnesota’s undergound treasures to dockside long after most steam had been replaced by diesels. I will resist burdening our readers with more details: suffice it to say I put my hands on her inert giant side rods, connect-ing quartets of her 16 huge driving wheels, and did what girls do...fogged up my glasses. Oh, how I love steam railroads.

Not far inland, Minnesota assumed its characteristic northern nature, vast wetlands, lakes, and more

lakes, all surrounded by vast tracts of spruce. A bald eagle soared above me on the road, in a land where forestry and pasture had replaced crop farms ever since the eastern UP. The major-ity of trucks were tandem pups carry-ing pulp wood, modest-sized logs piled sideways across the trailers, and headed for huge paper pulp or particle board plants.

Sited next to Lake Bemidji, the college itself features frequent decorative touches celebrating native American heritage in sculptures and art, a welcome addition to the normal modern college brick boredom. And so we began our stay in a land flavored by its native peoples and the Scandinavian settlers who followed and stayed.

Sandy and Pearl were even granted permission to ride the pontoon boat across Cass Lake to Star Island, when they quickly developed sea legs and sat still for the trip, even though each of them would rather get into water than most anything else except food. Thus they were especially pleased that Star Island has its very own lake inside the island, so each time our hike reached that interior lake’s shore, they hap-pily got soaking wet as only a dog can. Needless to say, they shared their ecstasy by shaking copious gallons upon our legs.

Delightful bearded woodland sprite Harvey Tjader led our 8-mile hike around the winding trails of heavily forested Star Island, stopping occasionally to describe the current forest and its historic transitions. One must note that he walked the whole way barefoot. This is the same man who has participated in past articles about new trail route explorations in “nice” 1 degree Fahrenheit weather, driving through several feet of snow on two-tracks to get to the target area.One presumes he is not barefoot dur-ing those adventures.

Anne Dunn, native American sto-ry-teller who had entertained the night before with stories from the north woods’ native peoples (and managed to get Chris Klein to play The Coyote and Keith Klos the dancing Star) met us on the sandy shore of Star Island,

Pearl savors Minnesota. Only 9,999 lakes to go.

Clare Cain

Roger Meyer

Mick H

awkins


Robert Wetherell of the Allegheny National Forest instructs sawyers on saw safety at the post conference Chainsaw Training.

and walked inland to our lunch spot to share yet another story, this one about Windigo, the evil creature who may have been the cause of Strange Occurances on this legendary island, and the Anishinaabe maiden who outwitted him.

That was Friday for some of us, while others went to Itasca State Park, with many options for hikes long and short, a fire tower climb, or a boat tour to contemplate the modest stream of the Mississippi River at its beginning. On Saturday, our furry girls enjoyed the afternoon hike to Nelson Lake in Paul Bunyan State Forest, where the avail-ability of a good swim at the end made their day. The rest of us were impressed by the amount of trail work required to keep trail open through recently logged forest’s prickers and explosive baby tree growth, and by the wide benched trail around Nelson Lake, started by the Student Conservation (SCA) crew and completed the day before during our own Trail Construction Workshop.

At the same time on Saturday, others were enjoying a canoe trip on the beginnings of the Mississippi, probably playing voyageur in their imaginations, acquiring French accents as they paddled past low-floating loons. Dave Cornell reported, “What a canoe trip! A hands-on demon-stration of wild rice harvesting, investigating the headwaters of the mighty Mississippi, lunch in a peaceful glade while listening to the call of the loon, and a great finishing touch: observing the Dragon Boat races on Lake Bemidji.”

Some members made extra good use of their travel by learning new skills fore and aft of the conference schedule. The two-day Trail Skills School worked within Itasca State Park and advanced two re-routes. NCTA Trail Management staff was joined by six members and Forest Service work-ers to explore route-planning and trail-building skills for improving trail, while seven people became certified sawyers when they took the post-conference training offered over two days by Robert Wetherell from the Allegheny National Forest.

On the last day of our return trip, Sandy and Pearl Ray Vlasak, President of the Laurentian Lakes Chapter, leads hikers along the Ozawindib Trail in Itasca State Park.

Peggy MacRae and family pose together at the dedication of a plaque to Rod MacRae, MN trail advocate.

Conference attendees line up on the shore of Lake Bemidji for the 4th annual President’s Photo.

Matt D

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Mick H

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crossed Ohio through dramatically torrential rains. While eating breakfast outside Toledo, I cringed during a violent thunderstorm that produced fireballs across the way when lightning hit the transformer at my motel, reducing me later to no TV and a cool shower, waaah. Truckers used to Texas and Kansas were only moderately impressed: it wasn’t a full-bore tornado and the restaurant wasn’t actually on fire, now, was it? We ate our grits amiably, and waited out the worst.

It poured across Ohio and the southern border of New York, while I watched corn and soybeans return to adjacent fields as far as the eye could see, followed by steeply rolling forests again in NY. Then we turned north toward home, the rain ended, and I came back to the same brittle brown grass at home as I’d left behind on our journey. Dang, why can’t we have some rain along the northern tier of this trail? Above - This year’s pre-conference Trail School was organized

by RTC, Matt Davis. The group enjoyed camping together, eating Bill’s cooking, and sharing stories around the camp-fire. Here they rest for a group shot before getting back to work. (back row) Andrew Bashaw, Sara Auerbach, Jon Hanson, Mike Langinen, Ed Morse, Bill Menke (front row) Claudia Bashaw, Jerry Warner, Matt Davis, and Clare Cain

Tiffany Stram thanks the MN Conference planners, Ray Vlasak, Beth Trout, Jerry Trout, Florence Hedeen, and Carter Hedeen. Harvey Tjader is missing from the photo.

Keith Klos and Chris Klein “volunteered” to accompany Anne Dunn’s story of the Star and the Coyote with an improvisa-tional dance, while Florence Hedeen encouraged the audience to participate in song.Conference attendees line up on the shore of Lake Bemidji for the 4th annual President’s Photo.

Mick H

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Mick H

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Mick H

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On July 18, the North Star edito-rial volunteers sat down with new

executive director Bruce Matthews to interview him as he completed his fifth week on the job.

Editor: Bruce, you are the new cap-tain of NCTA’s ship. We thought a prob-ing, insightful interview might help our members get a better idea of who you are and what we can expect with your hand at the helm.

Bruce: Can we find a better anal-ogy? Something more trail-ish?

Editor: OK. How about NCTA’s new Trail Boss?

Bruce: Nope, I answer to the trail bosses among us. They’re leading the grassroots effort where it matters most. I better be making their jobs easier, not the other way around. Try again.

Editor: Let’s just leave it at that. Bruce: Sorry, but you don’t get off

that easy.

Editor: Maybe you could just share your impressions of NCTA so far. We’re writing this before the Bemidji Conference, so you haven’t yet met many members. What do you think of us so far?

Bruce: I’ve been amazed at the dedicated staff working at Headquarters and in the field. I’ve met Tom Gilbert, our NCT National Park Service Superintendent; his his-tory with and depth of perspective about the Trail are an incredible asset. I’ve had phone conference calls with our Board Executive committee, and I like the interest and commitment I see there. But best of all was the day I spent working on the trail crew with our Ohio team. The blisters reminded me of all the hard work by volunteers being multiplied over 46 miles and 7 states. It was their clear-eyed com-mitment to the vision of the trail that just blew me away. I loved it. They believed. I’m thinking I’m a lucky guy to be working for volunteers like these.

Editor: So have your blisters healed yet?

Bruce: Mostly. Want to see?

Editor: No, that’s ok. So what are you hearing out there?

Bruce: Out there’s the operative phrase, isn’t it? NCTA might have an HQ in Lowell but we darn well bet-ter be “out there” in our efforts with a strong presence in every community along the Trail, as well as in Congress and the respective capitols of states where our trail passes.

What am I hearing? Frustration, probably first and foremost. Frustration that the Association’s not approaching its potential. But I hear hope as well, Hope with a capital “H,” not so much expressed out loud but felt. Our members believe in the Trail and in what they’re doing to move the Trail agenda forward, and that com-mitment will get us past any short-term frustrations tossed in our path.

Editor: Was that a hiking metaphor?Bruce: Well, heck yeah!

Tom Gilbert (left), NPS Superintendent of the North Country National Scenic Trail, at the Milwaukee Ferry terminal with new Executive Director Bruce Matthews (right) during Matthews’ recent visit to the NPS Headquarters in Madison, WI.

Clare Cain

Editor: So what’s with you and the boating metaphors?

Bruce: Nothing, they’re great. It’s just that I spent the last 8 years promoting participation in fishing and boating, and now I’m trying to learn a different language.

Editor: So you’re not a trails guy?Bruce: I’m an outdoors guy. All of

my checkered career has been focused on getting folks outdoors, using our natural resources in safe, sane, and sus-tainable ways, and passing on outdoors traditions to future generations. I’ve taught backpacking, canoeing, sur-vival, first aid and a host of other out-door skills at all levels, including stints on the Recreation and Leisure Studies faculty at S.U.N.Y. Cortland (in New York), and the natural resources faculty at Cornell University. My biggest kick is helping share the outdoors with oth-ers.

Editor: So you like to hike?Bruce: I do. I especially enjoy a

hike when there’s a trout stream at the end of it!

NCTA’s New Executive Director


Clare Cain

Editor: Ok, we can accept that. But what about your management style? What do you bring to your job as NCTA’s executive director?

Bruce: Besides a passion for shar-ing the outdoors, enthusiasm for serv-ing a grassroots membership doing incredible things. Experience leading non-profits, and success in organiza-tional leadership. A sense of humor. Some creativity and the ability to build partnerships and keep things focused on the higher level shared agenda. Awareness of my limitations and a penchant for surrounding myself with good people, so it rubs off. How’m I doing?

Editor: OK so far. What will be your biggest challenges? How will you address them?

Bruce: First, we need to re-establish HQ’s credibility with our members. We need to deliver better on our chapter and member promises and services. We need our members to develop a buzz that goes “Yep, we’re back on track, and moving forward.”

With our members’ enthusiastic endorsement and solid backing we can start building and re-building the partnerships and relationships that

open doors to more funds and greater effectiveness and impact, a process that snowballs. It’s all good from there.

Editor: So how do you increase membership?

Bruce: It’s partly marketing---understanding members (customers), communicating effectively with them, and providing services they want and need at a price they can afford. It’s partly relationship---every member needs to feel valued, appreciated, and served in their membership. When we accomplish that we create pride, and members who are served by and proud of their organization will recruit and support other members. Simple, huh?

Editor: Right! Bruce: Believe it! Success begets

success, and people and organizations want to be close to success. We’ve got a wonderful vision and spot-on mission for the North Country Trail, thanks to our Association veterans whose hearts and souls are so tied up in who we are and what we do. People whose vision and hard work and heart over many years was so essential in bring-ing the old Schoolhouse project along the new Birch Grove loop trail to frui-tion. A happy membership grows itself through word-of-mouth, the best of all marketing tools.

Editor: So where will we be in five years?

Bruce: We’ll have 6, members, we’ll be certifying at least a couple hundred miles of new trail every year, we’ll be documenting 3, vol-unteer hours annually, and we’ll have more trail development money than we can use. We’ll have regional trail coordinators in every state. NCTA will achieve national status similar to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. We’ll have 6 through-hikers finish the entire trail. We’ll be linked formally to the AT in Vermont and part of an effort to reach the Pacific in a sea-to-sea trails network. For the next five years beyond we’ll know where we’re going to go, how we’ll get there and how we’ll measure success. Best and most important of all, people living in the communities touched by our Trail will know about and use the North

Country Trail throughout the year. Schools and community recreation programs will see the trail as an educa-tional resource and use it to interpret the cultural, ecological and historical landscapes through which it flows. And when people step onto the Trail they will feel the power of and con-nection with 46 miles of American idea-put-into-action, one step and one heart at a time.

Editor: Cool. Sounds pretty ambi-tious!

Bruce: Well, if a man’s reach doesn’t exceed his grasp, then….

Editor: (interrupting) Well, we’ve heard that one before. So what would you tell the members to do right now to help us get there?

Bruce: Sign up another member today, a friend, a neighbor, a member at church, the parents of your kids’ friends. Communicate with us, what it is you believe about the Trail and the Association, and how we can help support you in your efforts to grow the Trail in your own backyard. Join a local chapter and be active in it. If you don’t have one, start one. Say thank you to our veteran members who’ve been through it and hung in there for the long haul. Say a special thank you to the staff, for the same reason. I can assure you it ain’t the money that keeps them serving you; it’s the privi-lege of being part of something bigger than any of us.

Editor: How can the members get hold of you?

Bruce: Email’s great, at [email protected]. The phone is 866-445-3628 and my per-sonal extension is 3115. If I’m in the office I’ll get back to you within a day or so. Don’t be shy! I hope to visit many of your chapter functions in the next few years, so please don’t hesitate to invite me!

Editor: Any last thoughts?Bruce: What?

Bruce takes a much-needed break while trail building with the Buckeye Trail Association in Ohio.


Early Christmas for Wampum Chapter

PENNSYLVANIA - The Wampum Chapter from western Pennsylvania reports in their newsletter that they have a new trail work leader, Dave Brewer, and celebrates their new trail mower thus:

“Christmas comes early! We have received from the National Park Service a 15 hp Pro Model DR Brush Hog and aluminum folding ramps. They are being ‘bought’ with 500 of our trail maintenance volunteer hours. If you find a minute, please send a ‘thank you’ note to Fred Szarka,

NCT Trail manager for the NPS, who was a real help in getting Wampum the mower.”

NEW YORK - Community involvement has been a goal of the ADK-Onondaga Chapter: three hikes were advertised to the public this spring and summer, attended by more than a dozen each, in an ongoing effort to inspire neighbors of the new trail to view the trail as a com-munity resource and therefore help protect it. Each hike was pre-ceded by a presenta-tion at a local library that intro-duced local people to the NCT. The chapter has also produced, with help from the Association cartography staff, a brochure explaining the NCT with a map of new trail miles.

Mary Coffin of ADK-Onondaga (and board member of the NCTA) reports that 950 hours were expended by volunteers on the NCT trail exten-sion project in 6.

HIKING SHORTSIncoming President

Dave Cornell

I have learned numerous lessons about hiking and trails over the years and

for my first President’s Page I think it is appropriate to tell you about the most important lesson I’ve learned and a little about those who taught it to me.

I met Alf Loidl while hiking the AT in the spring of 1994. He and I were to become friends and share many adventures. Alf, who lives in Tasmania and was a very experienced hiker, had as his trail name Tassie D.

Anyway, back to the AT. It was a beautiful day in southern Virginia when we ran across a husband and wife who were working on the trail. As always, we were interested in what lay ahead and started asking the standard questions. During the conversation, I noticed that Tassie D had removed his hat. This was unusual as he slept with his hat on (I think). It turned out that the people we had met were adopters and Tassie D had removed his hat to show respect. That evening around the campfire the topic of discussion was the importance of adopters, how it was vital to the trail to have them, how they helped maintain the trail …how they traced hikers down in an emergency by using the registers …how they were always valued sources of information and sometimes of ice-cold beer. Everyone had a story that involved an adopter. Here are a couple of mine.

It was a rainy Easter morning somewhere in Tennessee. My spirits were down and my thoughts were of loved ones back in Michigan when I came upon a very strange sight. There sat a very large man in a rain suit with an apron and a shower cap. I could not help but laugh. It turns out he was an

DAVE CORNELLIncoming President

TRAIL HEAD

adopter who originally was going to dress up as a bunny but changed his mind because of the rain. He is prob-ably the only one in the world who had an idea of why his get up was appro-priate for Easter. He gave me a bag of candy. He shocked me by guessing my trail name (he had checked the register at the last shelter where I had spent the night). I think I was still smiling when I pitched my tent that night.

It was July in New York. The sources of water had dried up. Picture in your mind’s eye a very overweight, out-of-condition middle-aged bald, sunburned man pushing a wheelbar-row full of gallon jugs of water up the trail. Somewhere I still have his pic-ture. Turns out he was making at least one, and sometimes two trips a day to the shelter to get water to the hikers. Talk about trail magic!

It was September in Maine. I had sprained my knee and was barely mak-ing it (with the help of ibuprofen). An adopter saw my plight and asked if I needed help. I informed him I was going to continue hiking, as I was just a couple of days from the end of the AT. He watched me hobble off. The next morning there he was again, obviously waiting for me at a junction of a logging road and the trail. “Just checking” was all he said but his act of caring is just one of the reasons why I always remove my hat when I meet an adopter.


We read last year of the miracle work party consisting of more than 1 people, and this year’s June proj-ect has garnered even more support from the community, creating a happy snowball of enthusiasm. Chief orga-nizer Rick Adamson reports that “even as the last 3.9 miles were under con-struction, local people were walking the new trail before it was even blazed blue AND offering to lend a hand.” A concrete producer has offered as many truckloads as may be needed to construct an upcoming bridge over Blue Creek while camping and free breakfast and lunch have been offered to trail workers by local people. Other businesses are offering free water, ice, and all the culverts they need, no mat-

New Trail Along Canal OHIO - In western Ohio, owner-

ship along the abandoned Miami and Erie Canal has reverted to adjacent landowners, who now own to the cen-ter of the canal prism, EXCEPT that an 18’s law still gives the state a right-of-way along the canal, ten feet on the towpath side, eight on the other. Thus the Buckeye Trail Association has been enabled to extend the North Country Trail last year and this, another miles of off-road trail out of a potential 105.

Adirondack Mountain Club’s Onondaga Chapter members hike a new section of certified Trail.

ter the size. One Ohio college is con-sidering engineering that bridge as a student project, a gift worth thousands of dollars should the Buckeye Trail Association application be chosen.

Obviously this project is on fire in western Ohio, so the above is just a teaser. Look for a full article on the project from Rick in the next issue of North Star, and consider being part of this mammoth undertaking during next year’s huge work session.

Mary Coffin


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Change Since Last Quarter

Percent Change

North Dakota 71 75 4 5.6%Minnesota 190 195 5 2.6%Wisconsin 241 228 -13 -5.4%Michigan 1,187 1,159 -28 -2.4%Ohio 267 244 -23 -8.6%Pennsylvania 249 236 -13 -5.2%New York 243 226 -17 -7.0%Other 184 163 -21 -11.4%Total 2,632 2,526 -106 -4.0%

MILESTONESAlong the North Country Trail

Trail Building Progress on the North Country TrailThe National Park Service certifies those completed miles that satisfy its certification standards. In addition, there are many more completed miles that may be enjoyable to hike but have not been 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.

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 changed since the last issue of the North Star.

State

PercentDone andCertified

MilesCertified

ChangeSince LastIssue

OtherOff-Road

Miles

TotalOff Road

Miles

MarkedRoad

Miles*

North Dakota 46.8% 222.1 0.5 1.3 223.4 0Minnesota 30.6% 114.9 4.7 318.2 433.1 0Wisconsin 58.6% 117.1 0 4.9 122 5Michigan 53.9% 619.7 -2.7 127.4 747.1 9.1Ohio 33.4% 350.4 32.9 26.7 377.1 4.8Pennsylvania 50.0% 132.6 0 38.6 171.2 4.9New York 43.4% 271.2 1.3 81.0 352.2 0.6Totals 44.2% 1828 36.7 598.1 2426.1 24.4

*Marked Road Miles reflect those road miles that are both blazed and marked with NCT Connector signs.

Recruiting MembersTop recruiters since nd Qrt:

Ray Vlasak .....................................................4John Heiam ...................................................3Deb Koepplin ................................................3Ginny Ruppe ..................................................2

Fastest Growing ChaptersHighest percentage growth among

our chapters since nd Qrt:Western Michigan ....................................31%Chief Baw Beese .......................................9%Chequamegon ............................................ 4%Star of the North ....................................2.7%

Volunteers on the Trail Thanks to the following volunteers who have reported the most hours during the

1st and 2nd Qtrs of 2007

John Leinen .............................................714Gail Blakeley ..............................................464Al Larmann ................................................423Ron Rice ..................................................... 417Rick Adamson ........................................377.5

2500 Hour Dave Cornell, Lynda Rummel1000 Hour Jerry Allen, Jim Baldwin, JoAnne Baron, Joe Burton, Ed Chappel, Mary Coffin, Gary Johnson, Edwin Morse, Lynda Rummel, Marty Swank400 HourDavid Brewer, Tim Calloway, Marilyn Chadwick, Dave Galbreath, Mick Hawkins, Flo Hedeen, Becky Heise, Chris Hoffarth, Keith Klos, Bobby Koepplin, Linda Matchett, Darrel Rodekuhr, Anthony Rodriguez, Eugene Schmidt, JoEllen Sokoloski, Harvey Tjader, Ray Vlasak, Chuck Zosel100 Hour Clyde Anderson, Dawn Bennett, Roger Blanchard, Keith Brown, Nancy Chappel, Bob Cody, Bob Covey, Joan Cox, Phillip Dankert, Tim Davis, Dustin DeBoer, John Elliott, Richard Ferguson, Jerry Freels, Debbi Friedli, Lois Goldstein, Carol Gorton, Joe Hardisky, Mary Hayes, Daryl Heise, Lorana Jinkerson, Paul Johnson, Thomas King, Karl Klein, Karen Klos, Mikie Kuhman, Bob McCafferty, Tom Momenee, John Morris, Peg Myers, Andy Mytys, Lynne Nason, David Parker, Gene Pierson, Bob Pond, Jack Post, Joe Raught, Sue Robishaw, Paul Sacks, Kari Sauer, Sharon Scharfmeyer, Joe Schetter, Steve Schmeck, Horst Schwinge, Doug Seaney, Van Serrell, Carol Smith, Tom Snarey, Ron Sootsman, Susan Sweet Edwards, Stella Thelen, Jenna Weitzel, Omer Young

2007 Hourly Volunteer Awards

The National Park Service enables us to thank both award recipi-

ents and those who turn in their volunteer hours with tokens of our mutual appreciation. Remember: EVERYTHING you do that con-tributes to the trail and its support organizations counts! Those who have accumulated 100 hours receive a name badge and certificate; and 400-hour honorees receive a person-alized embroidered shirt. New last year were fleece embroidered vests for those who have devoted more than 1000 hours of service over the years, and this year fleece shirts were added for those who have reached the milestone of 2500 hours.


Trails and hiking are important in our family’s daily lives. As

residents of Solon Springs, Wisconsin, we are fortunate that our homestead borders a local segment of the 4,500-plus mile North Country Trail. We hike a lot, and some of our best friends once lived just down the timeworn trails from our quiet, old growth forest haven.

We will never forget our neigh-bors “Leon” and “Edwina.” On their own, they built a new house about two blocks south of our land, and were enjoying their retirement years there. As Debbi and I got to know them, they proved to be among the finest people who ever befriended us. They always had time to welcome us to their under-construction home, to feed us, and to chat about the many questions, problems, and fears in life we had as a soon-to-be-married couple.

Leon and Edwina, then both in their mid 7s, were hard workers, and led aggressively active lives every day. They grew a huge, lush garden, the likes of which we had not seen. Leon was able to coax, into full production, celery, melons, and other sensitive crops, which at that time in the early 197s, did not grow well in the north-west corner of Wisconsin. Edwina baked bread, cookies, and other good-ies, making their home so cozy.

Any chance we got to visit our Solon neighbors, we did. And we always came away well fed and well advised about so many things we needed to know. Leon and Edwina were there at just at the right time, when we, as young adults, needed some grandparents. They served the

role well.Leon often told of their trips to

Hawaii, and how Edwina loved sitting in the sun, while he surfed. He would animatedly doff his worn railroad cap, and show us the several skin cancer spots on his balding head. “You just gotta keep these covered,” he would say, while telling of his adventures on the beaches and riding the waves.

Debbi and I made mental notes every time we got together with Leon and Edwina. These were folks we wanted to be like; they were the nic-est people on earth, and so active and engaged with this world and their varied lives. We soon moved to other parts of the country and lost touch with them for several years. Though we wrote back and forth, we did not get to see either before their passing on.

At one point, Edwina had told us in a letter how Leon took a late after-noon hike nearly every day, returning to their home by way of the well-worn forest trails connecting our properties. Several large Norway pine trees were in a clearing on the south side of our land, and she told of how she would check down the trail there at supper-time to find Leon on the last part of his route home. He would often lean up against one of our giant pines and take a nap in the sun. She’d wake him, and they would walk home hand in hand for supper.

One day, she said, he had not returned for supper on time. So as usual, she went to check the trail and look for him. Up ahead, she saw Leon asleep in the sunlight against one of our big pine trees. She walked up and

tried to wake him, but could not. Leon had fallen asleep for eternity

in that serene, sacred place. He had left her on that brilliant day to go on ahead to check the trails and surf the stars. We knew, in all of her sadness, Edwina was glad for him, and for how he could spend his last moments in the place he loved so much.

We walk those same trails nearly every day now, and we revere Leon’s tree each time we pass it. Our active dogs need much exercise, so as we leave for a hike, we always say to them, “Let’s check the trail!” Checking the trail has become their daily job and our joy.

Someday, a long time from now, I trust, when the sun is shining in the giant pines, and it seems a good day to hike away, I will think of Leon and Edwina, our good friends and many-facetted mentors. And if you are look-ing for me that day when I don’t come home for supper, be sure to check the trail.

Copyright 2007, Thomas W. King. All Rights Reserved.

Thomas W. King 11 July 2007

Dr. Thomas W. King lives and writes in Solon Springs, WI, USA.

To Check the Trail: A Hiking Story


The original con-cept behind

the North Country Trail was that it should connect to the Appalachian Trail in Vermont, as evidenced in the 1968 National Trails System Act language calling for a feasibility study of the route: “North Country Trail, from the Appalachian Trail in Vermont, approxi-mately three thou-sand two hundred miles through the States of New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, to the Lewis and Clark Trail in North Dakota.”

During the feasibility study of the North Country Trail, several alternatives for connecting to the Appalachian National Scenic Trail (NST) were explored. When the draft study came out for public review in 1973, comments from Vermont interests opposed the trail entering Vermont. These comments included a letter from then-Governor of Vermont Thomas P. Salmon to Secretary of the Interior Rogers C. B. Morton ask-ing that the Vermont portions of the proposed North Country Trail route be deleted from the final report. The Green Mountain Club (GMC) that maintains the Long Trail became very concerned that the connection would draw significant numbers of eastbound North Country Trail hik-ers onto the Long Trail, resulting in further impacts to the already heav-ily overused trail. The GMC board opposed creation of another National Scenic Trail in Vermont besides the Appalachian NST. As a result of these concerns, the 1975 final study indi-cated that the eastern terminus of the trail should be at Crown Point, New York, while mentioning that future

planning for the North Country NST might explore possible connections to the Appalachian NST.

In early 198, when Congress was considering the bill authorizing the North Country NST, the GMC Board of Directors adopted a position that “neither supports nor opposes” the legislation. Knowing trail proponents still had hopes for an eventual link-age with the Long/Appalachian Trail, their position stated that “...until the location(s) of such a linkage and its associated impacts can be assessed, the Club reserves judgment... .”

Since 198, the subject of explor-ing an eventual connection to the Appalachian Trail has been discussed in occasional contacts with trail inter-ests in Vermont. The idea that there might come a day when the GMC would at least be open to discussing the possibility was often mentioned. In recent years, those occasional contacts became more frequent and it appeared that that day was drawing near.

New Life for the Original VisionOn June 8-9, 7, we had two

very successful meetings in Vermont, the purpose of which was to explore the interest in “reopening the conver-

Tom Gilbert and Gioia Kuss (of the Middlebury Area Land Trust) visit a trailhead just outside of Middlebury.

Tom GilbertNPS Superintendent

Clare CainNCTA Director of

Trail Management

sation” about connecting the eastern terminus of the North Country NST to the Appalachian NST in Vermont. A meeting was held on June 8 with local interests in the Middlebury, Ver-mont, area, hosted by the Middlebury Area Land Trust (MALT). The second “meeting” was on June 9 in Man-chester. We were invited to set up a display about the North Country NST at the Annual Meeting of the GMC and briefly address their membership.

It was very important that both of us were involved in these meetings. Tom was able to explain the histori-cal background of the National Trails System and the North Country Trail, including the fact that from the very beginning it was the intent and design that the North Country Trail should connect to the Appalachian Trail. He was also able to explain the National Park Service’s role as overall admin-istrator, the resources and services it provides, and give assurances that the individuality and autonomies of trails and partners making up the route remain intact.

Clare was able to speak about the Association as the primary nonprofit partner and the role that volunteers play in establishing and maintaining

Clare Cain

Fulfilling the Original Vision


the trail. This approach to trail devel-opment and management is familiar to trail interests in Vermont and her comments resonated with the audi-ence. Together, our presentations at the meeting laid the background for the question, “Are the time and circum-stances right to reconsider extending the North Country NST into Vermont to connect with the Appalachian NST?

The answer to this question from both meetings was a resounding “Yes!” Key leaders in the Middlebury area expressed high interest in working to develop a trail across Addison County, connecting on the west with the North

Country NST, tying in to the Trail-Around-Middlebury (TAM) network, and connecting on the east to the Green Mountain National Forest. We were given a tour of Addison County by MALT staff so that we could see some the existing and future trail routes that could be incorporated into the connection.

During the annual meeting of the GMC, there was much interest in the proposal. Many members we talked with said connecting the North Country and Appalachian Trails sim-ply made sense. The leadership of the GMC, which maintains the Long Trail

(left to right) Ron Strickland, Tom Gilbert, and Greg Wright (of the Finger Lakes National Forest) at the Green Mountain Club’s Annual meeting in Vermont.

Clare Cain

and Appalachian NST in Vermont, gave us a “green light” to continue exploring the subject of making a con-nection. There will be many questions to answer and we anticipate other meetings with interests in Addison County, the GMC Board of Directors, and state and local trail representatives as we move forward.Next Steps

The NPS staff in Madison will be consulting with the NPS Midwest Region staff responsible for planning and legislation to identify the steps for continued exploration of this oppor-tunity and to ensure that all relevant parties are appropriately involved at each step in the process. As was the case with the Arrowhead Reroute in Minnesota, it will be important to secure documented support from the GMC, appropriate state officials, Middlebury-Addison County inter-ests, and any other key stakeholders in order to move forward.

It is extremely satisfying once again to be discussing this aspect of the original design for the National Trails System with key stakeholders who are open to the possibility. We are committed to proceeding deliberately, yet carefully, with these stakeholders to ensure the best possible outcome serv-ing the interests of the National Trails System, state and local trail systems, and their supporters and users.

Cazenovia 2008

2007 MN Conference planners pass the “Conference Torch” to Irene Szabo of New York as we begin planning for Cazenovia in 2008.

Mick H

awkins

Irene SzaboChair, Cazenovia 2008

The Finger Lakes Trail Conference and one of its trail-sponsoring regional groups, the Onondaga

Chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club, along with the Central NY Chapter of the NCTA, will be your hosts for the 8 NCTA Annual Conference, August 7–1, in Cazenovia, NY.

I know from going to college in Michigan that many of you probably think New York is paved end to end, with skyscrapers instead of trees. Au contraire. Please save those dates so you can be happily surprised by our steep green hills, frequent lakes and waterfalls, and miles of deep forest.

We have such wonderful surprises for you!


A celebration of the 17th anniver-sary of the reopening of the Kekekabic Trail was organized by the Boundary Waters Advisory Committee and the 3M Outdoor Club. Volunteers and helpful Forest Service employees from the past and the present were hon-ored, and a letter from Congressman Oberstar was read: “…I want to com-mend all of you for making the ‘Kek’ a treasure for today and tomorrow.” Hiking gear prizes were awarded to the winners of the Boundary Waters essay contest, and local businesses pro-vided door prizes to the several dozen attendees. An afternoon hike to the Secret Blackstone Trail was followed by homemade dinner, after which Bill Rom shared his experiences as a young man building the Kekekabic Trail dur-ing the early 193’s.

–Martin Kubik (who was awarded the American Hiking Society’s 7 Volunteer of the Year for the Great Lakes Region)

Superior Hiking Trail had 55 attend a new trail opening celebration at Hartley Nature Center, and about 45 people on two hikes. John Green and three little kids cut the ribbon and it was so cute. The hikes started out in pouring rain and peasoup fog, but

the weather improved a bit as the hikes progressed. Everyone seemed to have a good time, and the new trail was in great shape despite the rain.

–Gayle Coyer

Grand Marais Chapter: A day like no other was shared by nine peo-ple as they ventured on foot from the Log Slide to the Au Sable Lighthouse situated within the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Wildflowers were abundant and we pooled our limited knowledge to name a few: Star Flower, Labrador Tea, Thimbleberry, white and pink Lady Slipper, Rattlesnake Orchid.

The hikers were treated to a tour of the lighthouse that was constructed in 1884, one of the few that has the original Fresnel lens still in place. Standing atop the structure we feasted on the spectacular views from eighty feet in the air. Thanks to Chris Case and Gregg Bruff from Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore for allowing us the opportunity to embrace the heritage of Lake Superior in a very special way, which was followed by a walk along the shore to the Hurricane River. Low lake levels have uncovered sandstone formations usually unseen along with the graves of shipwrecks from long ago.

Chapter members were joined by two new people who saw our notice in the town flyer. The day was a wonder-ful celebration of our Nation’s trails. I pity those who could not attend: you missed the experience of a lifetime!

–Steve Miller

Forecasted rain held off until evening for the Spirit of the Woods Chapter event, so 71 people came to enjoy either a 6 mile or a 1.5 mile hike and a hot dog picnic, and many stayed for the afternoon program, a third of them children, always our goal. The living history program featured one man dressed as an 18th century Voyageur and two others as Ottawas; they evoked an era on the Great Lakes from the days of earliest European set-tlement, and demonstrated how fires were started with either a bow drill or flint and steel, showing the superiority of the latter method.

The Manistee Forest Service mowed the site for us and brought in extra picnic tables.

–Joan Young

National Trails Day Across the NCTJune 2007

Gayle Coyer

Superior Hiking Trail Association volunteers also completed this bridge on National Trails Day.


The Western Michigan Chapter celebrated the opening of the white-blazed Birch Grove trail, a nine-mile loop off the main blue-blazed NCT in the southern Manistee National Forest. The loop can be accessed from several trailheads, and takes hikers past the NCTA Schoolhouse, which can be used as an overnight shelter. The Nature Conservancy bought a 117 acre private property which covers the southern part of the loop, and is in the process of transferring the property to the National Forest, so camping is permitted.

“We tried to connect things of interest,” said Paul Haan, trails man-ager for the chapter. “The best fea-tures include Loda Lake Wildflower Sanctuary, a really nice bog on the south end, and Diamond Lake, which has a public beach and people can camp there, too.”

–Howard Meyerson

The Allegheny National Forest Chapter conducted a trail improve-ment project, working with the Forest Service staff to do rock work needed to build a retaining wall at a seep and to widen the trail.

The trail was barely visible when we started but soon took on the appearance of a well-used footpath once blowdown and weeds were elimi-nated. Water bars were installed across a grade to control erosion, and by the end of the session, many of the crew members were asking about doing more projects later in the summer. Sounds like a worthwhile recruitment session in addition to the trail fixing!

–Keith Klos

Paul Haan (center) of the Western Michigan Chapter, welcomes a large group to the Birch Grove Schoolhouse (formerly the West Michigan Schoolhouse) for the opening of the Birch Grove Loop trail on National Trails Day.

Triple Cities Hiking Club, which tends a long portion of the Finger Lakes Trail just east of the spot where the North Country Trail route heads north and away from the FLT, held a work party under the direction of their trails chair, Mike Gebhard. About people, including some Scouts, divided into five groups to work on selected segments, removing blow-down, freshening up the paint-blazing, and beating stickers and tall grass into submission with the Club’s new com-mercial-scale power weedwhacker. The machine was purchased with the club’s profits from hosting the FLT campout in the fall of 6.

–Larry Blumberg

Clare Cain


Bruce MatthewsExecutive Director

NCTA’s newest staff member is Erin Lesert, who accepted the

Membership Services Coordinator/Office Manager’s position on July 3. Many members had the chance to meet Erin at the Bemidji conference. Amazingly, Erin’s still with us, even after seeing Keith Klos dressed as the dancing North Star!

As our new Membership Services Coordinator Erin will have responsi-bility for managing our membership processing as well as recruitment and retention efforts, our most direct point in communicating with members and representing member interests to the staff and Board. As Office Manager Erin covers our accounting and finan-cial management, as well as oversight of Trail Shop operations.

Erin brings a wealth of experi-ence in non-profit management and accounting to her position. Most recently she served as Acting Vice-President of Finance for the Women’s Resource Center, a Grand Rapids-based organization focused on women’s issues’ advocacy. She’s also had experi-ence in both program and financial management with Hope Network Behavioral Health and the Humane Society of Kent County.

We had a chance to catch up with Erin after the Bemidji Conference, to ask her about her first few days on the job.

Bruce: So what drew you to NCTA?

Erin: I did some research to find organizations whose missions were in line with what matters most to me, working to protect and preserve nature and all her inhabitants.

After finding the NCTA through a Google search on hiking, I knew that I had found what I was looking for. What really drove that home was the fact that this is a 1% positive initia-tive.

I was drawn to the fact that instead of being mired in negativ-ity about the current state of affairs,

NCTA is putting effort into building this incredible connection to nature and people. I really wanted to be a part of that.

So I joined the Chief Noonday Chapter. My intentions were to vol-unteer on the trail as well as take part in the group hikes. Two weeks later, I saw an ad for the Membership Services position in my local paper. Well, I’m a bit of a fatalist, so naturally, I took this as a sign that this was meant to be, and here I am!

Bruce: We’re glad you are! What are your impressions of NCTA and its members thus far?

Erin: In a nutshell – incredible. My first experience working for the NCTA was to head out to the Annual Conference in Bemidji, MN. I couldn’t have asked for a better indoctrination. Everyone I met was so warm and welcoming.

I was moved by how passionate people are about this work. I feel very fortunate to be among all of these wonderful people.

Profiles in Courage: Erin Lesert

Bruce: You joined NCTA’s Chief Noonday Chapter before you were even aware we had a position opening. Are you a hiker?

Erin: I am, ‘though I must admit I’m a newbie. I took my first trip a few years ago with my sister. We went to the Smoky Mountains for a week of hiking, and from that point forward, I was hooked. Each year since then we’ve gone somewhere else. This year it was South Manitou Island which is off the northwest coast of Michigan’s lower peninsula.

One of my favorite places is the Finger Lakes region of New York. I didn’t know it then, but I was on the NCT and the Finger Lakes Trail! I liked that area so much I had to go back a second time. For weekend getaways I usually head up to the Manistee National Forest area to camp and hike. Again, I never knew it, but the NCT runs through there. If I have only a little time to play on the weekend, I just step out my back door and go hiking in the Yankee Springs

Glory Meyer, Erin and Bruce Matthews review Association promotional materials

at the office.

Matt Row

botham


SPONSORED MEMBERSH IP FORM

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

229 East Main Street Lowell, Michigan 49331

Daytime Phone (Area Code First, Extension at End)Name (Please Print)

Address

City State ZIP

Skills to Volunteer E-mail Address

Our Sponsored Membership Program allows current members to sign up new

members at an introductory rate of just $18.00. To qualify, Sponsored Members

must be new to NCTA, or not have been members for at least two years. The

$18.00 rate is good only for the first year of membership. To use the program, just

fill your name in the "Sponsored by" box. Then, give the form to a friend to finish.

Sponsored by

Please choose your Chapter affiliation:

Member of a specific Chapter :

Member of my closest Chapter (If one exists)

At-Large Member (Not affiliated with any Chapter)

Recreation Area. Again, the NCT runs through it, but I never knew.

Bruce: What do you think will be your priorities as Membership Services Coordinator?

Erin: Increasing membership out-reach and retention activities. I’ll be working with chapters to find ways to promote the NCTA. Once someone becomes a member, I want them to have the best possible experience. My goal will be to fully engage new mem-bers and get them connected immedi-ately to their local chapters as well as answer any questions they might have.

The biggest challenge is the dis-tance between chapters. Outreach pro-grams that work in one location may not work in another. I think it’s impor-tant to recognize the unique qualities of each location and tailor our services.

Bruce: How will you increase membership?

Erin: By knowing our current members. One of the first things I’ll be doing is compiling a member survey that captures not only qualitative infor-mation, but demographics as well. This will allow me to focus on target groups with similar backgrounds and interests.

Erin takes a break from all her new work in the Lowell headquarters office.

Clare Cain

Once I have the information I need, the next step will be getting the word out. Unfortunately the NCT is the best kept secret: three of my favor-ite hiking places are on the NCT, but I never knew it. I’ve probably come across signs or seen the blue blazes, but without having prior knowledge of the full extent of the trail, seeing the signs didn’t have an impact. I intend to change that. We have something here that’s worth sharing. Letting people know what’s in their own back yard will be my strategy.

Retaining members will be key as well. Providing quality programs and services is crucial to keeping that con-nection. Our members work incredibly hard to forward the cause, so they deserve the best. Watch for new pro-gramming throughout the year!

My door is always open. Stop by if you’re in the area. If not, call (616) 897-5987, 866-HIKE NCT (445-3628), or email me at [email protected].

I’d love to chat!


FRED SZARKANPS Trail Manager

GOING FOR THE GOLD

We have two new Certified seg-ments for this issue, one in Ohio

and another in Minnesota. Thanks to Ken Howell for his description of the former, and to Carter and Flo Hedeen for description of the trail in Minnesota.

Ohio: Five Rivers Metro ParksThe National Park Service recently

certified 11.7 miles of urban trails managed by Five Rivers MetroParks in Dayton, Ohio. The eastern segment extends from the east boundary of Eastwood Park, just east of Harshman Road to Embury Road. The second segment extends from Rip Rap Road through Taylorsville MetroPark to Old

Springfield Road. These segments are on paved, non-motorized urban trails. The eastern segment is primarily in an urban setting, and provides an inter-esting and informative walk through Dayton. The northern segment is more rural and will enable visitors to view historic remnants of the Miami-Erie Canal and once-thriving village of Tadmor mixed with scenic forests to provide an interesting experience for the hiker. Both segments provide for a pleasant walk through the Dayton area. These newly certified trail seg-ments will allow trail users to see some great scenery, and visit some exciting and important places like the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park, the Air Force Museum.

Minnesota: Paul Bunyan State Forest and Hubbard County Forest

Paul Bunyan State Forest ( seg-ments-2.5 miles) and Hubbard County Forest ( segments . miles) consti-

Back From the Ashes: The Oren Krumm Shelter

The Peter Wolfe Chapter, respon-sible for the westernmost portion

of NCT in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, has hosted hikers at the Oren Krumm shelter since 1999. It was built in memory of an 18-year-old college stu-dent who had loved the outdoors, who had worked on the NCT for his Eagle

New Certified Segmentstute a continuous trail, but due to land ownership were reported as separate pieces.

This 4.7-mile trail wanders through the forested gentle hills of the Itasca Glacial Moraine. It passes not only many of the small wetlands characteristic of the area, but also sev-eral pristine lakes, only one of them with a cabin. Beaver, white tailed deer, and eagles are but a few of the animals commonly seen here. In fact an eagles’ nest is visible from the trail during “leaf-off.” The forest types are aspen in many areas in various stages of regeneration and scattered areas of hardwoods. The wild flowers of spring, the June berries, raspberries, blackber-ries and chokecherries of summer, the mushrooms and vibrant colors of fall, and the quiet white of winter await the hiker here.

The new 9' x 12' is a lean-to like the last one, with one open side, but differing from the original in that it used a truss roof rather than rafters, and features a screened front to permit bug-free sleeping.

Scout project, and memorial donations to his parents inspired them to build this shelter.

However, it was burned to the ground this past April by an out-of-control wildfire. So fourteen chapter volunteers and family members came on Saturday, July 14th, followed by four

on Sunday, too, to rebuild the Oren Krumm shelter.

Chapter members pre-cut most of the materials and built the trusses beforehand, while the Forest Service car-ried these materials into the site with an ATV and trailer the day before.

The notice to chapter members at the beginning of July, inviting them to the work party, instructed, “When arriving at the site, please check in with Doug Welker, who will be coordinating the project. He’s the middle-aged guy with a beard who will be in charge and who will be pretending that he knows what’s going on.” Naturally this was written by Doug himself, who planned and organized much of the project, along with chapter members Ted and Alice Soldan.

During the big construction day, Oren’s mother Marge was part of the work party. She said that the end result would be the shelter’s return to that “beautiful bend in the [Sturgeon] River. Even with all the black, burnt trees, it’s a beautiful place to be.”

Doug W

alker


nal call we had a corridor the DNR and The Conservation Fund could work with. We are pleased to announce the com-pletion of the real estate transaction and revel in the fact that 5 miles of trail corridor are now permanently protected for the North Country National Scenic Trail at no cost to any of the partners. Many thanks to Wausau-Mosinee Paper Company, The Conservation Fund, the Wisconsin DNR, and the rapidly responding NPS and NCTA staffs.

A Wisconsin Miracle Mile...or Five

We need your help. Can you survey a route across 4-5 miles of Wausau-Mosinee Paper Company property

in Douglas County by the end of next week?” That was the situation last September when Bill Menke

and I got a call from the Wisconsin DNR. A “White Knight”—The Conservation Fund—had appeared and was trying to facilitate a big land deal between the DNR and Wausau-Mosinee that could include an easement for the North Country NST, if we could provide a GPS line for the route, pronto. The best part was that it would not cost the DNR or NPS anything. That was Tuesday; by the following Monday, Bill and I were on our way north with GPS equipment on board.

From Tuesday through Thursday, we bushwhacked through the second growth forest from the point where the trail was expected to enter the Wausau-Mosinee property on the east to the road on the west side of the area. Bill, the NCTA regional coordinator, was thrilled to use his brand new Garmin GPS unit to plot our location and locate features on the topo map it contained. Because we had the Garmin unit, we didn’t have to guess where the hill that we could see was on a paper topographical map.

On Friday, we met with DNR staff and Wausau-Mosinee representatives to review our field work. Bill shouldered the big-ger Trimble GPS backpack unit we use to inventory the various features for the trail. Off we went on a trail that hadn’t been cleared or brushed, merely flagged, ducking and bobbing to get through. Everyone involved felt the route was a good one, so we went back to the offices to check on land descriptions.

Small changes had to be made to keep the trail within Wausau-Mosinee property, but within three weeks of the origi-

“

A bequest can take many forms. You and your advisor may consider one

of several types of bequest when prepar-ing your will. Here are two generally ac-cepted ways to make a bequest.

Specific Bequest. With a specific bequest, you designate that the North

Country Trail Association is to receive a specific dollar amount or specific property. “I give and devise to North Country Trail Association, Lowell, Michigan, a Michigan non-profit corpora-tion, (% or $) to be held, administered, and used by the Board of Directors for support of North Country Trail Association in the area of greatest need and opportunity.” (Or the designated interest area of your choice.)

Residuary Bequest. A residuary bequest is used to give North Country Trail Association all (or

a portion thereof) of your property, after all debts, taxes, expenses, and all other bequests have been paid. “I give and devise to North Country Trail Association, Lowell, Michigan, a Michigan non-profit corporation, the remainder of my es-tate, both real and personal, to be held, admin-istered, and used by the Board of Directors for support of North Country Trail Association in the area of greatest need and opportunity.” (Or the designated interest area of your choice.)

Let Us Know. We hope you’ll tell us when you have named the Association in your will. We would very much like the opportunity to thank you for your generosity.

For detailed information and advice, please consult your attorney, insurance broker and fi-nance manager.

Make a Bequest to the NCTA

Fred SzarkaNPS Trail Manager


Keep the Customer SatisfiedFred Szarka

NPS Trail Manager

With apologies to Paul Simon and fans of his songwriting, I would

like to write about customer satisfaction on the North Country NST. We do have customers on the trail, even though we often do not meet them. Those customers are the myriad hikers, walkers, strollers, backpackers, birdwatchers, wildflower lov-ers, and all the rest of the folks who walk segments of the North Country NST.

As volunteers and trail staff it behooves us to keep those customers in mind when we build and maintain trail. This is particularly important when we maintain the trail, because that is where failing to keep the customer in mind will lead to an uninviting trail.

I’ve had maintainers tell me that they didn’t mow the trail in May because “nobody walked the trail that time of

year.” Of course the trail in May had tall grass with abundant ticks just waiting for a free lunch. That is like stocking only one copy of a book and saying hardly anybody ever buys the title. Sometimes you have to invest more to get a bigger return.

Did you work hard to build a qual-ity piece of trail a couple years ago? Is it still a quality trail today? It isn’t enough to build great trail: somebody has to care for it. That means going out several times a season with the DR Mower or a weed whip to keep grasses and forbs trimmed away from folk’s legs and ankles. It means carrying a pruner or lopper to keep woody vegetation from slapping people in the face or obscuring blazes, and removing the season’s fallen sticks from the pathway.

Speaking of blazes, they are a special concern, because while you might be able to do an effective job of keeping vegeta-tion from intruding into the trail in one pass, you really have to look at blazes in

both directions. They need to be neat, bright, and visible regardless of which direction one hikes on the trail.

If you have amenities on the trail, are they in good condition? Is the infor-mation at your trailhead kiosk readable or faded? Are direction signs straight, pointed in the right direction, and free of graffiti. Is the trail clearly marked and easy to follow? Are campsites and trail-heads kept litter free? Would you feel comfortable using this section of trail if you saw it for the first time today?

When you go out on the trail next time, pretend that it is your first visit ever. Put yourself into the shoes of a new hiker and when you finish your hike, ask your-self, “Am I a satisfied customer?” Would you like to come back? I hope that whether it is a segment you care for or not, you can say “Yes, I’d come back and bring friends.”

By the time you begin flipping through this issue of your North

Star the crisp leaves of fall will be under-foot. We will all be closeting our sum-mer clothes and pulling out the fleece and long pants for our daily walks. The season is changing and I hope you have absorbed the impression that we are changing here at the Association as well.

Fall is always a time for reflection. This season I hope you take some time to focus on the accomplishments and adventures your chapter or group has had on the North Country Trail this year. We have made significant strides in signing the Trail, spreading the word, blazing new sections to standard, build-ing new bridges, and constructing new trail and relocations. We have improved and strengthened our partnerships, we

“What You’re Likely to Find”

with Clare CainDirector of Trail Management

ON THE TRAIL

have hired new staff, we are tackling challenging and exciting new tasks, and we have better quality trail on the ground than we did last year.

Our annual conference in Bemidji was well-attended and loads of fun this year. With great weather and great friends, we celebrated another year on the Trail. With the help of our National Park Service partners, we were able to recognize and award our volunteers for their important contributions. We had great evening programs and the food was terrific.

And, of course, we had the first offi-cial presentation of the North Country National Scenic Trail Ballad. Our ballad was written by Minnesota’s well-known folk singer/songwriter Charlie Maguire. The tune of the song continues to float through my head…

The Ballad encourages me to promote again the importance of con-sistency along the Trail’s entire length. I hope every Adopter has our Adopter Handbook. Hopefully “what you’re likely to find” on the Trail is consistent across all seven states. All of our blazes

should be the uniform size, our main-tenance should be regularly executed, and every hiker should feel that the solid tread under his feet is even and steady.

As we think of our duties as stew-ards of the Trail we need to keep in mind the importance of the hiker. We may use the trail locally, but the long distance hiker should not be forgotten. We have had a number of long distance section hikers on the trail this summer. They have seen more miles of the Trail than many of us ever will. They hope-fully have felt the “spirit” of the Trail, and will have seen a trail that is both solidly etched on the landscape and con-sistent in its execution.

Fall always takes me back to the woods and I hope you take time to get out walking as well. An autumn evening in the tent is a rare treat. A hot cup of coffee over the campstove is magical. I hope the North Country Trail continues to “bring you closer to knowing” your-self, your natural world, your commu-nity, and our public lands this fall.


Florence Hedeen

Timing, talent, and tenacity

came together with the premiere of the North Country National Scenic Trail Ballad at the annual conference in Bemidji, August 4.

In April, Charlie Maguire, known as the National Park Service Singing Ranger and Minnesota’s Troubadour, accepted the commission to write a ballad with funding from an NCTA Field Grant. Meeting with the Itasca Moraine Chapter grant-writer, Florence Hedeen, at Itasca State Park in May, Charlie began to appreciate the immense scope of the commission...a 46 mile footpath extending from Lake Sakakawea in North Dakota to Lake Champlain in New York! He’d been at the dedication of Minnesota’s Itasca State Park section of the trail in 199, and thought that’s all there was to it!

Over the next two months Charlie researched, wrote and re-wrote the words and music for the first ballad dedi-cated to the Trail in its 7-year history. A Scheels Sporting Goods grant paid for the studio recording of the ballad and Trail benefactors supported the production of Ballad CDs and Charlie’s live performance. An enthusiastic audience at the conference gave the Ballad a thumbs-up with two standing ovations, singing along at Charlie’s invitation. Bill Menke and Clare Cain even danced to the Ballad’s waltz beat, while Bruce Matthews harmonized.

The NCNST Ballad single is available through the NCTA Trail Shop. Each volunteer, chapter, and state along the trail will relate to the Ballad as it stands, but each might also write their own verse(s) to reflect what makes the trail special to them. When the NCTA meets for the 8 annual conference in New York perhaps we can sing along to an expanded Ballad!

Mick H

awkins

(refrain)

The North Country TrailBrings you closer to knowing

The spirit inside youThat grows and grows

Saying what to take with youWhat to leave behindAnd if you’re willing,

what you’re likely to find.Words and music by Charlie Maguire

©2007 Mello-Jammin Music

Charlie Maguire performs the pre-mier of the North Country Trail Ballad before a standing audience.

Ballad Premiers in Bemidji

Mick H

awkins

Clare Cain, Director of Trail Management, coaxed Bill Menke, Great Lakes Regional Trail Coordinator, into dancing to the Ballad.


Honoring Our Heroes:

2007 NCTA Awards Presented at Bemidji Conference

John Leinen listens to Peggy MacRae’s touching speech before being pre-sented with this year’s Lifetime Achievement award.

Alicia Hoffarth receives the Distinguished Service award from Bruce Matthews.

It was fitting that Peggy MacRae made an appreciative speech about

John Leinen’s contributions as he was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Peggy, wife of recently deceased Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Rod MacRae, has firsthand experience of John’s tireless efforts in their home state, Minnesota, and in the larger arena of our national trail. She noted that since the mid-9’s John has “men-tored all of us by showing us determi-nation, perseverance, and good humor. All of your nominations spoke of your excellent leadership skills but there are two in particular... one talked about how you are ‘fun to be with, both on and off the trail,’ and another spoke of your ‘admirable personal integrity which is apparent in all your actions.’”

“One of Rod’s favorite sayings was ‘always leave the campsite better than you found it.’ While you, John, are not leaving the NCTA, I would like to use that analogy. In Minnesota, we now have three chapters, several affili-ates, a paid position, and grant money. You are definitely leaving the organiza-tion in Minnesota and nationally bet-ter than you found it.”

Distinguished Service awards were made to two volunteers this year. Alicia Hoffarth of the Sheyenne River Valley Chapter in North Dakota has been serving the Association as Vice-President West since 4, and outgo-ing President Leinen praised her good sense suggestions in that capacity, even though she remains the young-est board member by far. Active on the ND Trail Council and organizing events, she is also recognized for trail work, paint blazing, and participation in the 4 “Hike the Hill” advocacy effort in Washington, D.C. Perhaps most astounding is the amount of grant money she has raised: her grant-writing efforts have resulted in 1 grants worth over $1,, covering trail construction and marketing mate-

rials, and even the purchase of a 6-mile abandoned railroad right-of-way!

Bob Norlin, recipient of the other Distinguished Service Award, is note-worthy for constant contributions to two separate chapters’ successful activi-ties, both Chequamegon and Brule-St. Croix of Wisconsin. Before he was Trail Adoption Coordinator for the former, only a few miles were tended, but now all 61 miles of the chapter’s responsibility in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest are adopted and maintained. Meanwhile, he has been a steady member of the Brule-St. Croix Roving Trail Crew for eight years now, and can always be counted on for cheerful promotion of the NCT. Nominator Marty Swank said, “Bob has provided the...spirit of volunteer-ism for many NCTA members, myself included. I would not be doing what I am doing now without Bob’s past influence.”

In Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Kay Kujawa of the Hiawatha Shore-to-Shore Chapter merits the Outreach Award not only for her work promot-ing the trail and inviting people to hikes, but her efforts to get an NCT trailhead kiosk placed at the MDOT

Welcome Center at the north end of Mackinac Bridge. The project will be constructed this fall, and will be a welcome landmark for hikers searching for any blue clues as to the beginning of trail we just KNOW is nearby.

An unusual four nominations were received for John Heiam’s Leadership Award, and all agreed that he is an excellent president of the Grand Traverse Hiking Club: he is a real leader and obviously loves doing it, runs a good organized meeting, gets others enthused and involved, too, all while promoting the trail through community presentations and coordi-nating chapter work with local agency people. Betsy Duede said, “John is so capable that he is able to do all of this and still...take long trips with his wife out of this region... He knows how to take care of business.”

The recipients of both trail work awards were women this year, Mikie Kuhman for Trail Maintainer of the Year, and Lynda Rummel for Trail Builder of the Year. Mikie has adopted 6 miles of the Chequamegon National Forest’s North Country Trail, and as nominator Marty Swank says, “Her extreme pride is evident in her main-tained sections.” She also contributed significant work to restoring the “lost” trail in the Porcupine Lake Wildnerss area, which was extremely labor inten-sive and time-consuming, and is one of two women in the Chequamegon Chapter to achieve chainsaw certifica-tion. Further, since she has taken on the post of chapter Social Director, their social events have been highly

Mick H

awkins

Mick H

awkins


Mick Hawkins is presented with the Communicator of the Year Award.

successful, bringing in new people with her obvious ability to “work the crowd.”

Once Lynda retired, she jumped into trail work on the Finger Lakes Trail in NY with a zeal and com-mitment seldom seen: not only does she tend miles of trail herself, but she has organized several major building projects designed to repair and reroute poorly placed old trail, using both volunteer and professional crews. She plans the reroutes, drives all over the state teaching others how to build bet-ter trail, works with the crews, and in some cases has even found the money, for instance, by applying for a federal-ly-funded Recreational Trails grant to hire a crew, one of the toughest grant applications around. Many a mile of the FLT/NCT that was too steep or crossed rough ravines at poor locations has been improved for hikers, led by Lynda Rummel’s initiative.

Myron “Mick” Hawkins of the Chief Noonday Chapter in lower Michigan was presented with the Communicator of the Year Award, and understandably so! Apparently he can-not say NO, so when asked to be the chapter’s webmaster, he agreed, even though he knew nothing about such things. Mick bought several books on web design and some software and took off running. Now, two years later, Mick’s chapter website is the envy of all with detailed hike information for not only the Chief Noonday sec-tion of the NCT but for many other southwest Michigan hikes. Frequent updates always include timely pictures from every chapter event, mostly taken by Mick himself even when it meant “unintentionally ... swimming in the river all while documenting chapter adventures,” said one nominator Ron Sootsman.

Two agency personnel received the Friend of the Trail Award for their invaluable and longtime help to our trail. Kent Goeckerman just retired as manager of Wisconsin’s Copper Falls State Park, where not only has a certi-fied section of trail existed for a long time, but also one of the first large signs explaining the NCT has long been a welcome bit of public outreach. Kent has also been extraordinarily helpful over the years, arranging both

storage for two chapters’ tools and mowers and also free camping space for trail crews from both the chapters and the professional SCA crew, even when they were working on our trail outside the park.

The other deserving honoree as Friend of the Trail is Harvey Tjader, a Minnesota DNR forester who has been active with the NCT since before there were chapters! In fact, he was responsible for inviting Bill Menke to speak to the Headwaters Canoe Club, out of which grew the Itasca Moraine Chapter, one of our hosts for the Bemidji conference, where Harvey remains very active. The mapping capabilities of his DNR office have been made available to the chapter, which has helped them plan new trail, while Harvey always advocates within his department and at public meetings for the wilderness character of the trail corridor. In addition, he contributes good articles on the natural world to the NCTA state newsletter. Itasca Moraine Chapter President Carter Hedeen said, “It is my pleasure to nominate Harvey, an articulate, soft-spoken, knowledgeable, environmen-tally conscious tree-hugging forester.”

The Sweep Award is reserved for those indispensable members who toil away behind the scenes, often care-fully staying out of the public eye. Deb Krieger from the Spirit of the Woods Chapter (SPW) in Michigan’s Manistee National Forest apparently can rise to any occasion as long as she can operate without notice: she edited

Matt Row

botham

Lynda Rummel receives the Trailbuilder of the Year award.

Irene Szabo


Bob Norlin is awarded with the other Distinguished Service award.

the chapter newsletter for years, cre-ated a camp kitchen for work days, and apparently knows everybody who can help pull together complex projects, in addition to being able to convince all of them to contribute! In fact, the year she was in charge of publicity for SPW’s famous National Trails Day events, they had their largest turnout ever, 125 people. No surprise, she is also a member of the patient and care-ful blazing team. As nominator Joan Young said, “She may not like to be in the spotlight, but the chapter would certainly be a dimmer light in the hik-ing world without Deb Krieger.”

There are other ways people or organizations help our trail, too, and several awards are reserved for those who contribute to our goals, even though they may not be members...or even hikers! For instance, this year’s Trailblazer Award goes to two regional newspapers in Wisconsin which have provided free public-ity through both ads and articles, a contribution Marty Swank, President of Chequamegon Chapter, says has increased public awareness of the trail to the point of dramatically increas-ing membership and trail usage. “We would not be where we are today with-out them!” The Superior Publishing Corporation, through their Ashland Daily Press and The County Journal, provides large ads and press releases for events hosted by all three Wisconsin chapters, plus has done stories about the Chequamegon Chapter and the

NCT by a reporter who actually par-ticipates in chapter activities. This is an invaluable gift, and should inspire all of us to approach our regional newspapers.

The Vanguard Award is presented to a public official whose actions and advocacy benefit the NCT. This year it is awarded with gratitude both to a whole agency and to a Congressman. The entire Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and spe-cifically Deputy Commissioner Laurie Martinson are recognized for provid-ing thousands of dollars for hiring trail building crews over the past three years. Agency professionals encouraged and helped the Itasca Moraine Chapter with federal RTP grant applications, the proceeds of which have been used to hire the Minnesota Conservation Corps’ crews to build new trail. Not only has a lot of new trail been cre-ated and the chapter’s abilities to raise matching money and public awareness been stimulated, but DNR enthusiasm for protecting the route as a footpath only has grown, despite the federal grant funding rules for sharing much of the money with multiple use trails.

Our other Vanguard honor goes to Congressman James L. Oberstar of Minnesota, whose district includes Duluth, Grand Rapids and about 625 miles of the desired Arrowhead

Vickie Swank

route of the North Country Trail. Spanning the lifetime of the NCNST, his 17 terms in Congress have dem-onstrated his active support of trails through active membership in the Sportsman’s and Travel and Tourism Caucuses. Currently he is working on the Arrowhead reroute which will change our route from the original Congressionally mandated path to one incorporating existing trails and utilizing the efforts of their respective support groups, the Superior, Border Route, and Kekekabic Trails. For his lifetime commitment to trails advo-cacy, his effective leadership in advanc-ing a trails agenda in Congress, and his dedication to conserving wild and scenic places, the NCTA is privileged to honor Congressman Oberstar.

Gary Pennington accepts the Superior Publishing Corporation’s Trailblazer Award.

Rick Olivio

Congressman James Oberstar, MN trails advocate, received one of this year’s Vanguard awards.

Bill Menke presents Kent Goeckermann, of Copper Falls State Park, with one of the Friend of the Trail awards.


Scheels is a 23-store operation with stores in 7 states including North Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota, Montana, Wisconsin and Nebraska. Providing Scheels’ customers with first-class customer service and the world’s largest selection of sports, sportswear and footwear are the priori-ties throughout the organization.

The North Country Trail Association received a very generous donation from Scheels based in Fargo, North Dakota, to be used in WI, MN, & ND. The Association has been able to make

$3000 of that donation available to our Chapters and Affiliates through a Small Grants Program.

Thank You Scheels, for Your Generous Support of the Trail!

SCHEELS®

e-mail: [email protected] ORDER TOLL FREE! 1-866-HIKE NCT www.northcountrytrail.org

The North Country National Scenic Trail Ballad (P-CD) by Charlie McGuire

Reserve Your Copy Today.......................$5.50

New: Performance Apparel Moisture Wicking Tee

Men's Cool Gray (C117)Available in sizes M - XXL..............$22.50

Women's Light Sage (C118)Available in sizes S - XL..................$22.50


ACE on the Lake, BemidjiACE Home Center, Hackensack

Lumber & HardwareACE Hardware, Park Rapids

American Hiking SocietySecret Garden

BearVaultBemidji State University

Bemidji Woolen MillsBeth Trout

Brigid’s Irish PubBruce & Linda Johnson

Bruce MatthewsBuckeye Trail Association

Butler County ChapterCache Lake Camping Food

CampmorCarter & Florence Hedeen

Clare CainClarion Chapter

ColemanDon & Marilyn Loupee

Eagle OpticsEd Ranson

Forestedge WineryFred Szarka

Gander MountainGlory Meyer

Harlen LiljequistHarmony Natural Food Coop

High Pines ResortHome Place Bike & Ski Shop

Hubbard County DACJansport

Park Rapids Outdoor Power Equipment

KossL&M Fleet

Littlbug EnterprisesLyle Bialk

Marjorie WrightPeggy MacRaeMartha Jones

Minnesota State University

Moosejaw MountaineeringMorells Chippewa Trading Post

Native HarvestNorthern SurplusJohn & Pat Leinen

PatagoniaQuabaug CorporationReeds Sporting Goods

Richard Hamilton Smith & Melodee Monicken

Scott TichyShell River Pottery

Sheyenne River Valley ChapterStella ThelenSun and Fun

Sunrise Natural Foods & CraftsSuperior Hiking Trail Assoc.

Swansons Bait ShopTherm-a-Rest

Tom & Jan GilbertWampum ChapterWorld of Christmas

Thank You to Our Conference Donors

This year’s silent auction raised

more than $2,500 for the

North Country Trail Land Trust Fund.

Barry BabcockBemidji Visitor & Convention

BureauE.T. Techtonics

Carter & Florence Hedeen

Itasca State ParkPeggy MacRae

QuakerLuke and Amy Rutten

Sheyenne River Valley ChapterJerry & Beth Trout

Thank You to the Following Generous Donors

for Services, Giveaways and other Donations!

Thank you to all those who generously donated items!


Trail Supporters

Businesses, Foundations, and Agencies

$10,000 or more

National Park Service $1,000 to $9,999

American Hiking Society • Gavin Bauer • Minnesota DNR Montana-Dakota Utilities Co. • Universal Forest Products

$250 to $999

DuraSupreme Cabinetry • Exxonmobil Foundation • Frazee Sportsmen’s ClubHillsdale County Michigan Republican Party

T & C Markets IM, Inc. • Valley City-Barnes County Development

$150 to $249 3M Foundation • Pfizer Foundation

Organization Members Barnes County Wildlife Federation • Border Route Trail Association

Boy Scout Troop 35 Sheffield PA • Boy Scout Troop 766 Cranberry Twp PABureau of Reclamation • Butler Outdoor Club • Campmor Inc. • City of Mellen WI

Foothills Trail Club • Great Lakes Adventure ClubKeystone Trails Association • Marquette Board of Power and Light

Michigan Mountain Bike Association Western • North Dakota Forest ServiceNorth Dakota Game and Fish Dept. • The OutfitterThree Creeks Cabinetry • Villaume Industries Inc.

Includes Gifts, Donations, Grants, and Memberships Received Between July 1, 2006 and June 30, 2007.

Thanks to all of our supporters for their donations and membership renewals!


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Who’s Who Along the North Country Trail?

NORTH DAKOTATrail Council Chair:

Curtis Vanek • [email protected]

State Trail Coordinator: Bobby Koepplin • [email protected]

1. Lonetree ChapterBobby Koepplin • (701)845-2935 • [email protected]

2. Sheyenne River Valley ChapterAlicia Hoffarth • (71)49-3889 • [email protected]

3. North Dakota Prairie Grasslands ChapterCurtis Vanek • (71)8-339 • [email protected]

MINNESOTATrail Council Chair and State Trail Coordinator:

Chris Klein • [email protected]

Parks and Trails Council of Minnesota (Affiliate)Dorian Grilley • (651)726-2457 • [email protected]

4. Star of the North ChapterDustin DeBoer • (952)239-0479 • [email protected]

5. Laurentian Lakes ChapterRay Vlasak • (218)573-3243 • [email protected]

6. Itasca Moraine ChapterCarter Hedeen • (18)73-96 • [email protected]

7. Kekekabic Trail Club (Affiliate)Martin Kubik • [email protected]

8. Border Trail Route Association (Affiliate)John Elliott • (612)829-5142 • [email protected]

9. Superior Hiking Trail Association (Affiliate)Gayle Coyer • (18)834-7 • [email protected]

GREAT LAKESTrail Council Chair: Vacant

State Trail Coordinator: Doug Welker • [email protected]

10. Brule-St.Croix ChapterDavid Zosel • [email protected]

11. Chequamegon ChapterMarty Swank • (715)682-2254 • [email protected]

12. Heritage ChapterDaniel Wilshire • (414)64-639 • [email protected]

13. Peter Wolfe ChapterDoug Welker • (96)338-68 • [email protected]

14. North Country Trail Hikers ChapterDenise Herron • (906)225-1030 • [email protected]

15. Grand Marais Chapter: Vacant16. Hiawatha Shore-to-Shore Chapter

Roger Morrison • (96)3-993 • [email protected]

If you have questions about the North Country Trail, there are many different places to go for information.

This directory provides you with key contacts.

When in Doubt, Try NCTA Headquarters: If you’re not sure whom to contact, or prefer to talk with our office instead of contacting a volunteer at home, your best bet is to connect with the NCTA’s National Office. If we can’t help you, we’ll be able to put you in touch with someone who can. Staff members are listed on page 3 (table of contents page).

North Country Trail Association

229 E Main St, Lowell, MI 49331Toll-free: (866) HikeNCT Fax: (616) 897-6605

www.northcountrytrail.org [email protected]

Visit our web site; it’s a sure bet that you’ll find most of what you need. Here you can join or contribute to the NCTA, browse the events calendar, explore NCTA Chapter pages, purchase maps and trail-related products, follow links to Partner organizations, read up-to-date news items, report volunteer hours, and, of course, learn more about the trail itself!

National Park Service: The NPS office in Madison is an excellent technical resource for volunteers, agencies, partner organizations, and the media. As our official trail administrator, the NPS sets trail standards, determines the trail route, and provides the overall vision for the trail.

700 Rayovac Drive, Suite 100, Madison, WI 53711

(608) 441-5610 Fax: (608) 441-5606Tom Gilbert, Superintendent: [email protected]

Fred Szarka, Trail Manager: [email protected] Howell, Land Protection Specialist: [email protected]

NCTA Chapters: For information about local activities or volunteering, contact the Chapter representative for your area of interest. We have more than two dozen local volunteer trail clubs scattered along the trail that are Chapters of the NCTA. NCTA members can affiliate themselves with any Chapter they’d like. Whether or not the member volunteers, a portion of their dues will help support Chapter activities. Chapters build and maintain trail, host hikes and other events, and work to promote the trail and the Association in their areas.

Affiliate Organizations: The NCTA enters into affiliate agree-ments with other organizations who envision the completed trail. Trail Maintaining Affiliates are independent organizations who also work to build, maintain, and promote sections of the trail. Supporting Affiliates are independent organizations who work with us to help fulfill our Mission, but are not responsible for a specific section of trail. Each has its own member-ship program, so we encourage NCTA members to support them as well. If you have questions about a section of trail that is managed by one of these organizations, your best bet is to contact our Affiliates directly.

Trail Council Officers: Our Chapters and Affiliates work together to achieve common goals through statewide Trail Councils. Each state has its own Trail Council, though Wisconsin and Upper Michigan share the “Great Lakes Trail Council.” Trail Councils have one or more officers, typically including a Chair and a State Trail Coordinator.


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LOWER MICHIGANTrail Council Chair:

Lyle Bialk • [email protected]

State Trail Coordinator: Joan Young • [email protected]

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

18. Tittabawassee Chapter Gary Johnson • (989)84-3478 • [email protected]

Friends of the Jordan River National Fish Hatchery (Affiliate)

(231)584-2461 • www.fws.gov/midwest/jordanriver/friends

19. Grand Traverse Hiking Club ChapterJohn Heiam • (231)938-9655 • [email protected]

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

21. Western Michigan ChapterWerner Veit • (616)776-163 • [email protected]

22. Chief Noonday ChapterLarry Hawkins • (269)945-5398 • [email protected]

23. Chief Baw Beese ChapterRyan Bowles • [email protected]

OHIOTrail Council Chair: Vacant State Trail Coordinator: Rick Adamson • [email protected] 24. NW Ohio Rails-to-Trails Association (Affiliate)

Tom Duvendack • (419)8-4788 • [email protected]

25. Buckeye Trail Association (Affiliate)Garry Dill • (614)451-0223 • [email protected]

26. Adams County ChapterJohn Johnson • (937)544-7248 • [email protected]

27. Ohio Valley ChapterRyan Smith • (740)374-5666 • [email protected]

28. Great Trail-Sandy Beaver Canal ChapterBrad Bosley • (33)7-43 • [email protected]

PENNSYLVANIATrail Council Chair:

Paul Henry • (74)347-38 • [email protected]

State Trail Coordinator: Ron Rice • [email protected] Butler Outdoor Club (Affiliate):

Joyce Appel • (724)526-5407 • [email protected]

Rachel Carson Trails Conservancy (Affiliate):Patty Brunner • (74)325-3224 • [email protected]

29. Wampum ChapterDiane Winston • (724)654-4918 • [email protected]

30. Butler ChapterDan Mourer • (724)445-3315 • [email protected]

31. Clarion County ChapterPam Logsdon • (814)43-3617 • [email protected]

32. Allegheny National Forest ChapterKeith Klos • (814)484-74 • [email protected]

NEW YORKTrail Council Chair and State Trail Coordinator:

Howard Beye • f [email protected]

33. Finger Lakes Trail Conference (Affiliate):Gene Bavis • (585) 658-9320 • [email protected] Maintaining Organizations Coordinated by FLTC:Adirondack Mountain Club (ADK), ADK-Genesee Valley Chapter, ADK-Onondaga Chapter, ADK-Niagara Frontier Chapter, Adventure Recreation Club at Ithaca College, Cayuga Trails Club, Fillmore Boy Scout Troop 748, Foothills Trail Club, Genesee Valley Hiking Club, and Hammondsport Boy Scout Troop 18

34. Central New York Chapter:Kathy Woodruff • (315) 697-7017 • [email protected]

NONPROFITU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDGrand Rapids, MI

Permit 340North Country Trail Association9 East Main StreetLowell, Michigan 49331

LV19892

Happy trails to you. Our eight newspapers across Michigan cover the great outdoors,including the best nature walks, day hikes and overnight backpacking trips. Read us,then find a slice of heaven of your own on foot. Booth Newspapers: The Ann Arbor News,The Bay City Times, The Flint Journal, The Grand Rapids Press, The Jackson CitizenPatriot, The Kalamazoo Gazette, The Muskegon Chronicle and The Saginaw News.

north star vol. 26, no. 3 (2007)

Documents

eventful years

regional trail coordinators

early formative years

office processes

volunteer office manager

north star julyseptember

great success

national arena