north star vol. 16, no. 4 (1997)

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~ ach book in America's Best Day Hiking Series features • detailed descriptions of 100 or more trails;

• more than 100 easy-to-read park and trail maps; • practical information about parks, from park hours to available facilities; • a section on nearby points of interest, with contact phone numbers; and

• a convenient trail-finder grid, which provides a summary of each trail's features and location in the book.

The books in the series also provide detailed descriptions of the history, terrain, flora, and fauna of~ featured hiking area, ensuring that you won't miss a thing on your outings.

1997 • Paper • 224 pp Item PPOS0568

ISBN 0-88011-568-8 $19.95 ($29.95 Canadian)

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NORTH STAR: The Magazine of the North Country Trail Association, August-September 1997 Page2

5 6 7 8

15 28 30

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24

COVER PHOTO: Members of the Northwest Ohio Rails to Trails Association (NORT A) work to slide a handrail support between the ties of a railroad bridge they're decking. Certification on this segment is expected this year.

Regular Departments Keyboard Trails The View from Monroe Center Trail head Hiking Shorts North Country Trail Shop Lots of coming events North Country Trainania

The Other Lakeshore For those that want to walk along the lakeshore to get away

from it all, this might be the place.

In the last few years, the wolf has returned to Wisconsin and Michigan's upper peninsula, and wolves are poised to enter the lower peninsula. The

trail goes through a lot of wolf country, but you'll be lucky to see one.

Return of the wolf

NCTA goes to National Trails Conference 22 The second part of NCT A President Derek Blount's report

on the meeting of National Scenic and National Historic Trails, held in Florida last Spring

Long Distance Hikes on the Longest Trail 19 It's a long trail -- so long that there have been only a handful of attempts

to go the full length of the NCNST, and fewer successful ones.

New Board Members 14 The 1997 election brings a highly qualified group to the NCT A.

Features A Report From New York 11

With the door to the Adirondacks appearing to swing open, NPS North Country Trail Representative Bill Menke takes a

look at trail possibilities in eastern New York state.

The Magazine of the North Country Trail Association

Published five times annually in January, April, June, August and October by the

North Country Trail Association, a private, non-profit 501 (c)3 organization as a

benefit of membership in the organization. All rights reserved. No part of this

publication may be reproduced in any form without permission of the North

Country Trail Association.

PRINTED ON (i) RECYCLED

PAPER WITH NATURAL SOY INK

Treasurer ArdenJohnson,600Tennyson,

Rochester Hills, Ml 48307 (810) 853-0292

Secretary Wes Boyd, 14815 Rome Road,

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

Vice President (Admin ): Odell Bjerkness, R1, Box 221A,

Ponsford, MN 56575 (218) 573-3858

Vice President(Trails ): Gaylord Yost, 2925 W. Bradley Rd.,

River Hills WI 53217-2052 (414) 354-8987 E-mail: [email protected]

OFFICERS President:

Derek Blount, 906 N. Alexander, Royal Oak Ml 48067 (810) 548-1737

E-mail: [email protected]

Office Manager: Claudia Day, 49 Monroe Center, Suite 200B,

Grand Rapids Ml 49503 (616) 454-5506

STAFF Executive Director:

Bob Papp,49 Monroe Center, Suite 200B, Grand Rapids Ml 49503 (616) 454-5506

E-mail: NCT [email protected]

Editor: Wes Boyd, 14815 Rome Road,

Manitou Beach, Ml 49253 Email: wesboyd @delphi.com

49 Monroe Center, Suite 2006, Grand Rapids, Ml 49503

Phone (616) 454-5506 FAX (616) 454-7139

Email: [email protected] WWW Site:

http://people.delphi.com/wesboyd/ ncnst.htm

Page3 NORTH STAR: The Magazine of the North Country Trail Association, August-September 1997 ~--------------------------------~

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

vacant ND Coordinator:

WEST TERMINUS TRAIL CONFERENCE (Minnesota and North Dakota) MN Coordinator: Rod MacRae, 1210 W. 22nd St., Minneapolis, MN 55405 (612) 377-0130 Headwaters Chapter: Rod MacRae, 1210 W. 22nd St., Minneapolis, MN 55405 (612) 377-0130 Superior Hiking Trail Assoc.: to be assigned Rovers Outing Club: to be assigned Kekekabic Trail Club: to be assigned

WEST CENTRAL TRAIL CONFERENCE (Upper Peninsula Michigan and Wisconsin) Ml (Upper) Coordinator: Gene Elzinga, 12 Middle Island, Marquette Ml 49855 (906) 225-1704, [email protected] NCTrail Hikers Chapter: Gene Elzinga, 12 Middle Island, Marquette Ml 49855 (906) 225-1704, [email protected] WI Coordinator: Gaylord Yost, 2925 W Bradley Rd, River Hills WI 53217-2052 (414) 354-8987, [email protected] Heritage Chapter: Pete Budde, 3803 S. Brook Place, St.Francis, WI 53235 (414) 769-0441 Chequamegon Chapter: Kurt Schmitt, 2121 S 87th St, West Allis, WI 53227-1719 (715) 769-3527 Brule-St. Croix Chapter: Peter Nordgren,1800 Grand Avenue, Superior, WI 54880 (715) 394-8340

EAST CENTRAL TRAIL CONFERENCE (Ohio and Lower Peninsula Michigan) Ohio Coordinator: Jim Sprague, 4406 Maplecrest.Parma OH 44129 (216) 884-4757 Buckeye Trail Assoc: Dana Zintek, 2369 Suncrest Dr.Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio 44221 (330) 928-8931 NW OH Rails to Trails Assoc: Gene Markley, PO Box 234, Delta OH 43515 (800) 951-4788 Ml {Lower) Coordinator: Arden Johnson, 600 Tennyson,Rochester Hills, Ml 48307 (810) 853-0292 Chief Noonday Chapter: Lynn Waldron, 8133 Norris Road, Delton, Ml 49046 (616) 623-5340 Western Ml Chapter: Gladys Hoogterp, 0-703 Lincoln NW, Grand Rapids, Ml 49504 (616) 677-1621 Grand Traverse Chapter: Gregg Law, 1953 Lardie Rd., Traverse City, Ml 49686 (616) 941-4964

(716) 288-7191, [email protected] (315) 687-3589 (716) 586-3846 (814) 968-5759 (412) 364-2864

(906) 225-1030 (715) 762-2461

(701) 250-4242,x3618, [email protected] (716) 586-3846 (716) 288-7191, [email protected]

(517) 547-7402, [email protected] (616) 623-8659, [email protected] (612) 436-1795, [email protected] (513) 879-2068, [email protected] (810) 548-1737, [email protected] (810) 853-0292

Howard Beye, 202 Colebourne Rd., Rochester NY 14609 Bill Coffin, 328 Deepspring Drive, Chittenango NY 13037 Harmon Strong, 76 Shellwood Dr., Rochester NY 14618 Donald Dorn, Star Route, Box 476,Sheffield,PA 16347 Glenn Oster, 784 Olive St., Pittsburgh, PA 15237

NY Coordinator: Central NY Chapter: Rnger Lakes Trail Cont.: PA Coordinator: AYH Pittsburgh:

EAST TERMINUS TRAIL CONFERENCE (New York and Pennsylvania)

Terms Expiring in 1998 At-Large: Wes Boyd, 14815 Rome Road, Manitou Beach Ml 49253 At-Large: David Cornell, 514 Cordes Rd., Delton.Ml 49046 At-Large: John Leinen, Jr., 111 Quant Ct So, Lakeland MN 55043 East Central: Elwood Ensor, 1304 Horizon Dr.,Fairborn, OH 45324-5816 West Central: Derek Blount, 906 N. Alexander.Royal Oak Ml 48067 West Central: Arden Johnson, 600 Tennyson, Rochester Hills, Ml 4830 Terms Expiring in 1999 At-Large: Bill Herron,423 W. Park Street.Marquette Ml 49855 At-Large: Susan Nelson, 1170 4th Avenue SouthPark Falls WI 54552 At-Large: Kathy Olstad, PO Box 1017, Bismarck, ND 58502 East Region: Harmon Strong, 76 Shell wood Dr., Rochester, NY 14618 Rnger Lakes Trail C.: Howard Beye, 202 Colebourne Rd., Rochester NY 14609 Terms Expiring in 2000 At-Large: Joan Young, 861 West US 10, Scottville, Michigan 49454 (616) 757-2205, [email protected] At-Large: Werner Veit, 49 Monroe Center,Ste 200B, Grand Rapids,MI 49503 (616) 235-2330, [email protected] West Region: Tricia Ryan, 232 Old North Shore Rd, Two Harbors, MN 55616 (218) 8344342 West Region: Paul Stone, 834 W. Bayfield St., Washburn, WI 54891 (715) 373-2664 Buckeye Trail Assoc: Dana Zintek, 2369 Suncrest Dr.Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio 44221 (330) 928-8931 General Affiliate: Glenn Oster, 784 Olive St.,Pittsburgh, PA 15237 (412) 364-2864 Honorary Appt.: Pat Miller, Rt #1, Box 36-A, Washburn, WI 54891 (715) 274-2346

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

North Country Trail Directory

All in all, redesigning the North Star, changing the concept a little, and exploring new territory has been a heady experience.

The first newsletter I did for the NCTA, almost ten years ago, was eight pages, and crammed tight at that.Now, we're going to be running a standard 32 pages, and given some more advertising and more contributions, 48 or even more might not be far off -- in fact, we're thinking about a special issue not far in the future that would call for it. I don't remember the press run for the first Newsletter of the North Country Trail Association that I did (it had been going for nine years before I started doing it), but I'm guessing that it's quadrupled. We've moved through typewriters and xerox machines through pho totypesetting and on through two or three generations of computer equipment.

We've come a long, long way; who knows what can happen next? *

For the sake of cost, we intend to not go wild with the use of color, so theNorth Starwill continue to be mostly a black and-white publication, at least for the time being. In the old days, I used to prefer black-and-white original photos, but that's now gone by the boards -- thank goodness, since decent commercial black-and-white processing is a thing of the past. The only thing you should steer clear of is real light or real dark photos, black and white or color; while the new system is better at picking subtle tonal differences, it's still not perfect. I'm going to be on the prowl for cover photos; while a print will do in a pinch, I would much prefer transparencies (postive or negative), again for the sake of quality. Yes, I will return them. I promise. Note, however, that cover photos have to be specially framed: they have to be verticals, with the top third of the photo essentially neutral (sky, trees, etc.); items of interest can extend into the upper right comer of the picture, but not the left.

members, and in order to best serve them, the North Star should give news of the North Country National Scenic Trail that can be found nowhere else. But, in general, we avoid items that it's possible to get somewhere else. In spite of the new appearance, that philosophy will not change.

It's my intent to continue to move toward a greater spectrum of feature-length illustrated articles, and I hope to see a greater range of contributions, especially of longer articles, from the readership. I'm specifically looking for articles about trail experiences and /or locations, anywhere on the trail. (A side note: early in the process of designing the new cover logo, I made up a dummy cover and sent it off to Bob Papp for his opinion. Just to be cute, rather than a trail scene, the dummy cover photo was a woman in a bikini, with a cover blurb about an article, "Great Beaches on the NCNST". The more I thought about it, the more I realized that it'd be nice to see someone write that article!)

So, there's been some time spent on the redesign of the North Star. You'll notice some new departments, and some old ones have been changed around a little. However, the primary focus remains the same: the North Country National Scenic Trail. My philosophy of this magazine-vyou'll notice that with this change, we've quit calling it a newsletter -- has always been that theNorth Staris the most important service that the North Country Trail Association provides to most of its

If you've gotten this far, you've noticed that there have been a few changes in the North Star. Well, more than a few.

In order to provide a better service to our members, we've been wanting to expand and upgrade theNorth Star for some time, and move more toward a magazine format. In addition, we've been looking toward the idea of having advertising support the North Star more than it has in the past, and that called for better quality. The old printing setup had taken us about as far as we could go, and was incapable of giving us the color that we wanted. However, all the quotes I had gotten for moving to a different setup just didn't fit into our limited budget. Then, about the time the last newsletter was being printed, I was given a quote ona different system that was just too good to pass up; any time you can get a better product for less money, you have opportunities.

This represents a major move toward high tech, using some systems that were unavailable at any price even five years ago. Anyway, given the new capabilities, it seemed to argue for an overhaul in more ways than one, improving the design, lightening up the pages, doing more with photos, and doing a few things that had long been tempting but a little beyond reach.

Actually, I find myself a little amazed at it all.When I started out messing around with newspapers 30 years ago, cold type was just corning on board, and there were still a lot of places using Lino types, and even hand-set type-- I've even set a little type by hand, myself, and we still keep some laying around the shop.just to remind us of the way things used to be. Now, I find myself doing things with the click of a mouse button that we never even dreamed of back then, things we never would have attempted in the old days.

The deadline for the October-December issue of the North Star is October 1, 1997. Items received well before that date are much appreciated. The deadline for the January-March issue will be January 1, 1998.

by the Editor

Keyboard Trails

NORTH STAR: The Magazine of the North Country Trail Association, August-September 1997

One~e~~lore~e~ One~~~! 1,0001/by.ll,OOO! State Current Change Trail miles Members State Miles Change %

members since June 1 in state to goal certified since Apr 1 Done North Dakota 11 0 435 424

North Dakota 60.5 0 13.9 Minnesota 44 +2 5% 375 331 Wisconsin 60 + 12 25% 155 95 Minnesota 81.0 0 21.6

Michigan 441 + 34 8% 875 434 Wisconsin 71.4 + 0.7 46.1

Ohio 48 +4 9% 700 652 Michigan 571.0 0 65.3

Pennsylvania 39 0 180 141 Ohio 287.5 + 4.0 41.1

New York 63 +6 11% 520 457 Pennsylvania 119.3 0 66.3

Other 67 + 1 2% New York 152.8 + 12.3 29.4

independent nonprofit organization that manages a portion of the North Country National Scenic Trail and that has signed a basic partnership agreement with us. Often, the North Country Trail only shares part of the overall trail managed by the Affiliate.

A Chapter, on the other hand, is actually a local subsidiary of the North Country Trail Association, dedicated to a certain segment of the trail. Although technically all their assets are assets of NCTA, each Chapter has its own by laws and officers and manages its own funds. We encourage all our members to choose a local Chapter, if one exists nearby. This will cause a portion of their dues to go directly to the Chapter, and the member will begin receiving mailings from the Chapter with local reports and opportunities.

Much of our membership growth in the past year has been due to the formation of new Chapters. In one year, we've jumped from four to nine Chapters! Meanwhile, local mem bers are considering what could amount to four more Chapters to fill in some critical gaps. This is an amazing surge that will ultimately change the way we think, plan, and conduct busi ness here in the national office. Our efforts will more and more shift toward assisting these chapters, while still maintaining national priorities like raising public awareness and support, lobbying and fund raising.

We'd also like to do what we can to provide more recognition for the work of our members and volunteers. To this end, Board member Joan Young has agreed to head up a an effort in every issue of the North Star to feature reports on the accomplishments of Chapters, Affiliates and volunteers. You can help her by sendingyournews items by mail ore-mail, or giving her a call (check the Directory on page 4). She has the goal of reporting something from each Chapter and Affiliate in every issue, so the more you report to her the happier she'll be. Also, any photos to go along with your reports would be much appreciated. (They will be returned, but a SASE would be great too!)

So, again, welcome to all of our new members and especially to the new Chapters and our new Affiliate. With your support and enthusiasm, we will easily meet and exceed the goals below.

Last issue, I wrote about how memberships in the Asso ciation ultimately contribute toward the trail itself. Since then, 72 new members have joined us! I'd Like to welcome all of these folks on board. You've picked an exciting time to begin your support. The great improvements in the North Star are symbolic of more great accomplishments that lie just ahead for the organization and the trail.

With all these new members, I thought I might just repeat my column from Last month, for their benefit. Unfortunately, I realized that I could never slip this past Wes, our editor. Wes has put a Lot of work into the transformation of the North Star. Even nowthathe's received the coveted Distinguished Service Award, it's c1ear that he has no intention of resting on his laurels.

Volunteer dedication like this is what truly makes the organization hum. Although we welcome the dues of our new members (and put them to good use), we also hope that some of you may eventually find a way to apply your skills and interests through volunteer work. Members and volunteers are the greatest asset of the organization and the greatest hope we have for the trait's completion.

That being said, I have to add that the second greatest asset we have is ourlocal Chapters and Affiliates. To members, they provide guidance, a sense of belonging to a greater whole, the chance to meet other people of similar interests, and countless activities and opportunities to volunteer. To the trail, the provide maintenance, construction, increased public aware ness, and a core of people dedicated to building local support. ALI of these things are very difficult (ifnot impossible) forus to accomplish from the national office.

New members may wonder about the difference between Chapters and Affiliates. In a nutshell, an Affiliate is an

by Executive Director Bob Papp

The view from Monroe Center

NORTH STAR: The Magazine of the North Country Trail Association, August-September 1997 Page6

IT WASN'T ALL WORK AND NO PLAY at the Partnership for National Scenic and National Historic Trails Conference last spring. NCT A members, including Joan Young and Executive Director Bob Papp, got some time to interact with people from other trails. See the story on. Page 22.

It's mid summer and the black flies are behind us. !noticed this year that the normal onslaught of black flies and mosqui toes was double that of previous years. It was probably due to the short spring season. Fortunately for trail workers and hikers there was also a bumper crop of dragonflies. Frogs, bats and birds were also prospering. In any case the new onslaught is sand flies and not much is making a dent there.

This year on the trail I have noticed more wildlife than in previous years. On one day in a quarter mile section near Mackinaw City, Michigan I saw two Sandhill cranes, a White Tailed deer, a beaver, a porcupine, and a multitude of frogs and birds. That's not bad for one morning. If one walks softly along the trail one sees many creatures. Surprising things can crop up at the least expected times.

Although forests and mountains are wonderful places for scenery, you will find that those places on the fringe of woodlands, streams, rivers 'and Jakes are abundant with wildlife. Each environment has it's own scenic quality given the opportunity to experience it at a walking speed.

This past winter, a pilot sighted two wolves on the south shore of the Straits of Mackinac. These are the first wolves seen in Lower Michigan since 1937. This is the area our trail traverses. I look forward to seeing tracks in the future and perhaps a glimpse of a wolf some day. It harkens back to a time when they were not uncommon.

Historical sites abound on the NCT. Each state has historical sites along the trail. Sites like Serpent Mound in Ohio, Fort Stanwix in New York and Fort Ransome in North Dakota often come to mind. Some are com memorated and others are not. If you know of a historical aspect of the trail that is not marked or commemorated in some way, let us know. It is important to let trail users know about the history that occurred along the trail. We can help do that through trail guides,

markers or on maps._,_ Sometimes a reenactment with a local group would add interest to the trail and perhaps start an annual event. As an example, one section of trail I know has a future archeological site. It also uses 1, 700 feet of an old logging narrow gauge rail bed from the tum of the century. Both sites will become chapters in an upcoming trail guide and be marked on site with interpretative markers. It adds interest to the trail and gives people more reason to travel our trail.

This column marks my silver anniversary (25th column) writing as President and my last. I will be stepping down as President in August and the Board will choose a new Presi dent. This trail has become a reality due to the efforts of thousands of volunteers who over the years have given their sweat and tears to build this trail. Partnerships with govern ment agencies, companies, communities, legislators, land owners, service clubs, other volunteer groups, trail clubs, hiking groups, NCTA Chapters and Affiliates have made the path smoother and created a support structure to carry the trail into the next millenium. Thanks to all of you it has made my job easier to guide this trail association the past five years. A special thanks goes to the many people who have served as NCTA staff, fellow Board members and officers over the years. It has not been without its controversies and disagree ments. But as in our American way we found some consensus in our different views and continued to move forward. I will be staying on the Board for one more year and helping to begin the formation of our Regional Trail Conference operation and the NCTA reorganization.

I hope to see many of you in August at the NCTA

by President Derek Blount

Trail Head


Sprague honored by Buckeyes Membersof the Buckeye Trail Association honored NCTA Ohio State

Coordinator Jim Sprague on April 27 by dedicating a segment in Pike County, OH, as the "Jim Sprague Trail."

"I can't think of anyone more deserving," said Richard Lusk, ODNR Pike Forest manager. About 30 people attended the dedication ceremony at Greenbriar Hill, where Sprague unveiled a carved wooden sign emblazoned with the tribute.

Sprague said he chose to have the tribute erected on the Greenbriar Hill section when he learned of the honor, because of the effort put into cutting the trail. The section was built in 1995. It starts at the intersection of Greenbriar and Auerville Roads in Benton Township and extends across Greenbriar Ridge to Pike Lake Road. ·

The section in Pike State Forest mostly followed roads until the early 1990s. "Since they've been trying to get as much of the Buckeye Trail as possible for North Country Trail certification, they wanted to get it off the road," Lusk said. "One thing about Jim Sprague is the way he lays these trails out. He puts a lot of thought into where a trail's going to go. I bet he walked 20 miles back and forth across the ridge to find just the right route."

A retired chemist, Sprague, 67, of Parma, OH, spends endless days each year hiking, planning and assembling workers to upgrade needy looking trail sections or cut miles of new trail. -- from Buckeye Trailblazer

Trails Day Hikers with Levin at the Battle Creek (Ml) Linear Parkway.

Levin hikes Michigan on Trails Day About a dozen NCTA members, many from the new Chief Noonday Chapter

of Calhoun and Barry Counties, Michigan, accompanied Sen. Carl Levin (D MI) on a National Trails Day hike on the Battle Creek Linear Parkway early on the morning of June 7. Levin later flew north and hiked a trail segment with members of the Grand Traverse chapter.

Good start for Brule St.Croix Chapter

"Congratulations on a very successful and enjoyable National Trails Day event," Wisconsin Coordi nator Gaylord Yost wrote to Brule-St. Croix Chapter President Peter Nordgren. "That was the best turnout for an NCTA event in Wisconsin ever."

Eighteen people hiked the newly certified segment east of Solon Spring, WI. "Thanks also to Chuck Zosel for leading the hike and telling about the history of the area," Yost added. "It certainly added a nice twist to the hike."

Certification news On June 4, the National Park

Service certified 4.0 miles of the Little Miami Scenic Trail from Church Street in Xenia, OH, north to Hedges Road. Managing authority is the Green County Parks Department. This action fills in a missing link on the Little Miami.

A few days later, on June 10, the Park Service certified 0.7 miles of trail in the city limits of Mellen, WI, extending toward the edge of town toward the Chequamegon National Forest.

Then, on June 12, the Park Service certified several segments along the Finger Lakes Trail in New York. The action includes 1.6 miles in Swift Hill State Forest, 2.6 Miles in Farmersville State Forest, 3.6 miles in Bush Hill State Forest, 1.9 miles in Bear Creek State Forest, and 2.6 miles in Boyce Hill State Forest. The segments combined total 12.2 miles.

The action brought the total certified length of the NCNST to 1343.5 miles. Total signed mileage comes to 1355.6 miles.


Hiking Shorts PageB

FLT Bed & Breakfast trip makes for "A Hiker's Dream Weekend"

Mary Z. Domanski of Sloan, NY (in the Buffalo Area) recently took advantage ofa Finger Lakes Trail Conference Bed and Breakfast Hiking weekend. She reports: "I stayed at the Northwest Comers B&B in South Otselic -- just try and find it on the map, I dare you. It so happens that the FLT goes right through this quaint little burg. The Northwest Corners is a lovely renovated old farm house situated on 50 acres of hilltop property. Beside the host, John, and Hostess, Claire, there are two dogs, seven cats, five horses, one chicken and one rooster to complete this pastoral setting.

"The trail is fantastic. I could see thediffemce in soil and forest compared to our western NY section. Perhaps there were more similarities than differences. We hiked through carpets of spring beauties, zillions of red trilliums, yellow violets, the beginnings of trout lilies and entire slopes of leeks. We had rain on Saturday, but greeting us on Sunday was not only the bright sun but a stunning scarlet Tanager. We also had a guardian angel by the name of Ed Sidote, who greeted us at every crossroad. Not only did I have two great days of hiking, but I was also taken out to dinner and fed nice hot breakfasts. Lunches were picked up at the local store. It felt great to be so spoiled. I can't wait to go again."

FLTC Bed & Breakfast Hike Chair Sidote reports that the event covered 20 miles in two ten-mile hikes on FLTC Map M-22, toward the eastern end of the FLTC shared by the NCNST. The successful first start will mean more bed and breakfast hikes on the FLT; five are planned in Chenango County in 1998.

There are a number of places along the NCT, especially in Ohio and New York, where the existence of bed and breakfasts offers the possibility of several day hikes -- one string in Ohio could be stretched out over nearly two weeks!

Domanski, a teacher, is president of the 300 member Foothil1s Trails Club, a FLTC member club. The Foothi11s Trails Club is the originator and maintainer of the 177-mile Conservation Trail from Buffalo south through Alleghany State park, to a mile south of the Pennsylvania border. The southern third of the Conservation trail is shared with the NCNST.

For more information about the FLTC's series of Bed and Breakfast Hikes, contact Sidote at 5 Clinton St., Norwich, NY 13815-1903, or cal1 his answering machine at (607) 334-3872, and he'll give you a call back if he's busy, as he often is, with helping people work on their end-to-end hikes of the 559-mile Finger Lakes Trail.

Butler's Outdoor Extravaganza The Butler Outdoor Club is planning an "Outdoor Extravaganza", or summit

meeting of trail clubs, to be held at Camp Luther-Lynn, near Moraine State Park, August 29-September 1. All the outdoor clubs in western Pennsylvania and surrounding areas have been invited. The BOC hopes that the event will become an annual one, providing outdoors people from all over to get together and share interests, experiences and activities. In addition, this event is serving as a mini-tryout for BOC's planned hosting of the 1999 North Country Trail Annual meeting.

For more information, contactJohnJ. Pollack, Jr.,4137 Grandview Ave., Butler PA 16001-2817. (412) 482-4773.

Alley Cats spruce up Finger Lakes Trail

Supervised by FLTC/NCTA New York State Trail Coordinator Howard Beye, a dozen people participated in the 1997 Camp Gorton Alley Cat Trail Crew on the FLTC: Stephen Catherman, William Czudak, Robert LaBelle, John Malcom, Robert McCormick, Charles McClellan, John Morse, Mary Putnam, Robert Reese, Joesph Vieira, Margaret Watrous and Al Wruck. The project involved a 1 1/2 mile trail relo in the Sugar Hill State Forest, installing seven new water bars and repairing two others in the Finger Lakes National Forest, along with new switchbacks and sidehilling.

Forester Jim Bagley from the NY Di vision of Lands and Forests located an old CCC water cistern near the trail, so the crew could clear a side path and to clean up the area around the spring and cistern.

"We finished all the tasks we had laid out for the crew," reports Howard Beye, "And, in addition to the general maintenance we did on the trail between South Bradford and Corbit Hollow Road we also had a chance to use the new DR mower on some high grass and small sapling trees in the trail pathway. The mower worked great and we are all very pleased the NPS was able to provide the mower. Another accident-free work week is a credit to all who participated."

Total hours worked came to 367. The FLTC provided 45 breakfasts, 42 luches and 49 dinners. Each of the crew members working all five days will receive at-shirt.

Beye reports that there's still room on the crew set for Allegheny State Park in September. For more information, contact him at (716) 288-7191 or e-mail [email protected].

Hiking Shorts Page9 NORTH STAR: The Magazine of the North Country Trail Association, August-September 1997

,

North Star a late arrival in some areas

The last issue of the North Star, and a mailing of registration forms for the NCTA Annual Conference, went out by third class mail, as always.but there were reports from some areas that both mailings were very slow to be received by readers. Once again, the NCTA is frustrated by the slow service provided by the post office, and exploration of sending the North Star by somewhat faster second class mail is again underway.

We're sorry if the late arrival of the North Star or the conference mailing caused any inconvenience, and we'll take steps to try to avoid this in the future.

FLTC Walk-Across series heads west

The Finger Lakes Trail Confer ence's successful "walk across" series headed for the Western Wall of the Finger Lakes Trail this year, starting at the Pennsylvania border and heading east on the FLT. Of the 118 registrants, 80 actually showed up for the first hike, held on a sunny April 26. Two rented school buses were used to transport the hikers to the trail head.

This series has been going on for several years, as a series of hikes, one day each month, to walk across one of the counties crossed by the FLT. It's been successful at drawing new members and new interest to the Finger Lakes Trail.

FLTC Fall Campout to be international event The Finger Lakes Trail Conference Annual Fall Campout will be held at

Camp Wetaskiwim (Scouts Canada) just north of St. Catherine's, Ontario, at Short Hills Provincial Park on the Bruce Trail. The event will be September 19- 21. There will be short and long hikes, plus the opportunity to visit the Niagara Grape and Wine Festival, plus a fossil dig.

For further information, contact Mark Hittle, 1331 Brookfield Drive, North Tonawanda NY 14120, phone (716) 695-9220, or e-mail "[email protected]".

Lilga receives Wallace Wood award

Foothills Trail Club member Ken Lilga won the annual Wallace D. Wood Distinguished Service Award from the Finger Lakes Trail Confer ence at their Annual Meeting, last spring. Lilga has overseen over 140 miles of rerouting of the Conservation Trail, the southern portion of which is shared with the NCNST; the northern portion connects with Canada's Bruce Trail.

For close to ten years, Alpine Ad ventures of Akron, Ohio, has been the North Star's most faithful -- and often, only -- advertiser. Now, owner Cecil Dobbins, a former NCTA board mern-

. · ·. ber, is announcing that he's hanging up ' the lederhosen atthe end of the summer

and retiring. With his summers free, he says he wants to get more actively involved with the NCT again.

The best of luck to Cecil and his -wife Joanne as they pursue their retire ment.

Alpine Adventures come to an end

-- extracted from "The Ridgeline" Superior Hiking Trail Association

There are at least two things John Leinen, Jr., is an expert on:

First, he's a specialist in "post frame construction", and as a general contractor, his company, John Leinen Con struction, builds commercial and industrial buildings, warehouses and hangers.

Second, he's quite possibly more in tune with every last hiking organization in Minnesota than any other individual. He's a members, in some cases very actively, of Minnesota Parks and Trails Council where he's a member of the Board and Executive Committee, and Trail Committee Chair, Minnesota Wilderness Trails Alliance, Superior Hiking Trail Association, Kekekabic Trail Club, Gateway Trail Association, Friends of Afton State Park, American Hiking Society, where he's been Trails Day Coordinator for

the last three years, Pacific Crest Trail Association ... and, oh, yes, a Board Member of the North Country Trail Association.

Hiking Groups are invited annually to name nominees for Minnesota's Vibram Volunteer of the Year (each state has an award). And it's little wonder John was nominated by the Minnesota Parks and Trails Council Board.

John received a plaque, and a package of items from Trails Day sponsors. More to the point was the official press-relase statement ofVibram's Kevin M. Donahue: "More so than any other recreational or cultural resource in America, the story of trails in the United States has been written by volunteers."

NCTA's John Leinen wins Vibram Volunteer award


Hiking Shorts

THE BRIDGE TO THE FUTURE? The Crown Point Bridge, the long-sought east end of the North Country Trail. With the Adirondack issue nearing resolution, can the old idea of a link to Vermont's long trail over this bridge be revived?

During the last week of May and the first week of June, I was able to visit several locations along the trail in New York. Over the course of the last couple years, a number of exciting developments have been fermenting. Talking with people on the phone is one thing, but seeing the actual projects on the ground and talking face to face with the proponents is another.

by Bill Menke National Park Service Representative North Country National Scenic Trail

A Report From New York

With the Adirondack door apparently open, the NP S's Bill Menke finds much potential in

Page 1 NORTH STAR: The Magazine of the North Country Trail Association, August-September 1997

able." It was agreed that the next step would be for the National Park Service to meet with the individuals proposing the various route alternatives and identify the route on topo graphic maps for further evaluation.

One of the primary reasons for the May-June trip to New York was to accomplish this next step. While in the Adirondack Region, I was able to meet with a number of people to discuss alternative trail routes. ADK's Bill Cranker provided maps and discussion about their proposed Adirondack Backcountry Trail. All alternatives that have been identified will use some portion of this trail. Two days later, I was graciously hosted by Barbara McMartin and her husband, Alex Reed at their beautiful home on Canada Lake. Barbara, who is on the Adirondack Park Advisory Council, was one of the indi vi du als with ideas for a potential route at the April meeting. She has written over 20 books, many of which are trail guides to the Adirondacks and is considered to be an expert on the area. Barbara and I poured over maps for eight solid hours while Alex prepared lunch and snacks to keep us going. Barbara was able to identify a logical trail route that passed through extensive areas of old growth forest and scenic opportunities. These included a number of waterfalls and several areas where long distance views are available from the hilltops Several alternative trail opportunities were also identified.

Reaching Ithaca later in the week, I made connections with Kurt Seitz-another April meeting attendee with trail route ideas. An AT thru-hiker, Kurt has been scouting a route for the North Country Trail for several years. His proposal is a little farthernorth than Barbara's but in the eastern end of the park, both are practically identical.

Crown Point State Historic Site: The Congressionally authorized route of the North Country NST begins at Crown Point State Historic Site near the bridge across Lake Champlain into Vermont. Over the years since 1982, no attempt has ever been made to anchor the east end of the trail because of the Adirondack controversy. With that impasse now appearing to be behind us, I was anxious to see the eastern end of the trail.Without going into detail about the historical significance and natural beauty of the area, let me just summarize by saying that the historic site will make a very nice addition to the trail.

After driving across the bridge into Vermont for a moment and taking a couple of pictures, I was able to make contact with the acting park manager. Gerald Putnam stopped what he was doing at the time and guided me around the park. Excitingly, the park has an existing series of interpretive trails and cross country ski trails that traverse the park from near the bridge, all the way to the park's south boundary. These are all well maintained trails that could be quickly certified. A few posts and some signs and blazes are the only things needed. Since returning from New York, I have written to Mr. Putnam to encourage certification. We'll see what happens.

Beyond the park, a long abandoned railgrade crosses private property and leads most of the way to State Highway 22. Just west of the highway is the start of the high hills or mountains of the Adirondacks. Although still private property, it is only about 5 miles to the eastern edge of Adirondack State Park. We are sketching a route across this stretch.

The Adirondacks: In the June-July issue of the North Star (page 10), readers were informed of the exciting possibil ity of the North Country Trail achieving a route across the 6- million acre Adirondack State Park. As you may recall, a very successful meeting was held in Albany on April 25, 1997. Meeting participants reached unanimous consent that "a southern route through the park would be feasible and accept-

The following run down will convey the sense of the excitement brewing in New York and the North Coun try NST route possi- 1

bilities from Crown Point to the Finger Lakes Trail-orga nized from east to west.

FORTIFICATIONS AT CROWN POINT State Historical Park, the eastern end of the North Country National Scenic Trail. Lake Champlain, where the park sits, was much fought over in the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812; much of h!storical interest still exists.


is very interested in helping with the trail not only in Rome but throughout the area. Gary graciously gave up about two hours on a Sunday afternoon to meet with me to discuss how he and his staff might be of assistance.

Old Erie Canal Village and Old Erie Canal State Park: At the west edge of Rome, hikers will find Old Erie Canal Village-a restored canal town. In addition to tours of the village, one can actually take a ride on an authentic canal boat. A towpath trail can be walked across the property.

Just beyond the village is the eastern end of Old Erie Canal State Park. This linear park includes an existing trail that can be followed all the way to the point where the North Country Trail needs to head south to reach the Finger Lakes Trail. It is a multiple use trail, surfaced with crushed rock. While very acceptable from a scenic and hiking standpoint, a major problem is that it is also a snowmobile trail. So far, we have not talked with the State to discuss our options about the snowmobiles. In the meantime, the trail provides an off-road route even if it isn't certifiable.

The Link Trail and The Onondaga Branch: The dis tance between Old Erie Canal State Park and the main Finger Lakes Trail is about 40 miles. The FLT-Onondaga Branch Trail spans perhaps half of this distance offering one north south link possibility. The 1982 plan shows it as the route for the trail. However, over the years, FLTC has wisely followed the course of not applying for certification on either the branch trail or the main trail lying either north or east of the junction. This is another decision that has been based on the uncertain ties in the Adirondacks.

Another, more recent north-south link possibility is what is known as the Link Trail. This route lies east of the Onondaga Branch-mostly in Madison County. An interesting meeting was held with the Madison County Planner Jim Petrezyn, a Madison County Commissioner, NCTA's Central New York Interim Chapter President B iii Coffin, and others. After a very nice slide presentation by Jim, we toured the Madison County route and discussed its potential. The Link Trail is strongly backed by Madison County officials and it too would make a nice north-south connection.

Seldom do we find ourselves in a position where we are faced with two good trail route opportunities through the same area. It is a new but very encouraging experience. While both the Onondaga Branch and the Link Trail are close enough to the authorized route to become the official trail, we are taking the position that no decision will be made until FLTC and the ADK-Onondaga Chapter has had an opportunity to be in volved in the decision. Howard Beye has already been in contact with the ADK-Onondaga folks to seek their thoughts on the two possibilities.

So, bit by bit and mile by mile, the saga continues. In eastern New York, it looks like a number of things could come together rather quickly. We'll anticipate the best. Watch for future updates. *

Back in the office, I have been transferring the information from all of the topographic maps to one map which will hopefully provide a broader picture of how the various alter natives compare. This map will be in the hands of ADK, the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), the Of fice of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation (OPRHP), Barbara, Kurt, and others on approximately August 1. Rather than identifying a pref erred altemati ve at that time, we will be seeking additional input and critique on all of the alternatives. When all interested parties have reached agreement, a pro posal will be carried forward to the DEC for approval.

The Black River Canal: Not too many miles west of the Adirondacks, the Black River Feeder Canal begins near the community of Forestport and heads west to Boonville. The old towpath along the canal has always been considered as the route of the trail. If several things were to happen, it would become a very acceptable route. The current problem is that the route is open to snowmobiles, ATVs, and highway ve hicles-I drove it in my rented compact car. Old Department of Public Works signs state that it is not a public highway but there is nothing to prevent it from being driven. Gates could be easily installed to control access.

Exploring the southern edge of Boonville, I was happy to discover a sign informing me about the Towpath Trail. This well maintained cross country skiing and hiking trail extends along the towpath of the Black River Canal (not the feeder canal) to beyond Pixley Falls State Park-a distance of 7-8 miles. Operated by BREIA (the Black River Environmental Improvement Association), the trail is gated, signed, patrolled, and maintained and could become instantly certified.

The site manager at Pixley Falls was able to put me in contact with BREIA's Terry Fitch. Mr. Fitch expressed inter est in obtaining certification information-which has since been provided. He also informed me that BREIA is interested in taking over the towpath from Boonville to Forestport as a non-motorized trail. We have discussed how we might be able to assist in this venture. All in all, BREIA was an exciting discovery.

About a mile south of Pixley Falls, the towpath is no longer continuous. In many places, it has been destroyed by the river or is being actively farmed. However, I was able to scout and sketch a possible trail route through wooded hills all the way to the city of Rome. Portions of this route are on state owned reforestation areas and on the state operated fish hatchery property. The sketched route gets us to sidewalks in Rome.

Fort Stanwix National Monument: Trail users will find a stop at Fort Stanwix, located in the center of Rome, to be an educational experience. This completely recreated Revolu tionary War era fort was the only fort that actually sustained a British siege without surrendering. There were other forts that didn't surrender but, they were not under siege. The current NPS superintendent at Fort Stanwix, Gary Warshefski,


.,

through Minnesota. and is concerned about the preservation of trails and continued access and protection of wild places.

Paul Stone, of Washburn, Wisconsin, was elected to the other west region three year seat. He has a degree in forest management, and has experience with private and governmen tal forestry agencies in a number of states. He manages the fourth largest county forest in Wisconsin, with 167 ,000 acres lying mainly in the Lake Superior watershed. Mr. Stone has been working actively with trail relocation and construction in northern Wisconsin, and would like to focus local communi ties on the exceptional resources which are combined to create the North Country Trail

Dana Zintek, of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, was appointed to the affiliate representative seat of the Buckeye Trail Associa tion, replacing long-time board member Emily Gregor, who has reached her term limit. He has been a member of the Buckeye Trail Association for four years, and a memberof the Board of Trustees for one year. He is leading a group that is currently hiking the entire Buckeye Trail. He enjoys building trail and tries not to miss a single work weekend. He also maintains a section of trail at West Branch State Park, and is the Akron Section Supervisor, covering about 50 miles of trail. In addition to his trail work, Zintek also helps promote the trail by working to place exhibits in parks and libraries, and by serving as sales manager for Buckeye Trail maps. He hopes to work to continue the strong relationship between the Buckeye Trail Association and the NCTA.

Glenn Oster, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been reap pointed by AYH Pittsburgh to a second term as their affiliate representative.

Leaving the board due to term limitations are Odell B jerkness, currently serving as administrative vice-president, and Gaylord Yost, currently serving as trail management vice president. Current Board Member Pat Miller of Washburn, WI, will be leaving his seat as a full board member, but will be taking a seat as an honorary board member.

With the reorganization approved this spring, after this year there will be no more members appointed directly to the Board by affiliates. However, affiliates and NCTA chapters will appoint representatives to the regional Trail Conferences, and the Trail Conferences will then name representatives to the NCTABoard.

No Board member currently seated will lose their post as a result of the reorganization until their term of office is completed. *

The annual election for the NCTA Board of Directors brings several new people to the Board with the potential to be able to contribute a great deal to the North Country Trail Association.

Werner Veit, of Grand Rapids, Michigan, was first named to the NCTA Board last fall, to fill a seat vacated by resigna tion, and in this spring's election, was named to a full three year term. Veit is a former President of Booth Newspapers, a publisher of daily newspapers in several cities. He is current Trustee and past Chair of the Michigan Nature Conservancy, and serves on the Board of the Gerald R. Ford Foundation. He has been active in the establishment of six preserves for the Nature Conservancy and in the acquisition of beach properties for Michigan State Parks and other recreation areas. Veit has authored a column called "Mature Walker", catering to the hiking interest of senior citizens. He is the current chair of the NCTA Membership Committee. His goals include strengthen ing the roles of Chapters, boosting member recruitment and retention, and improving promotional and fundraising efforts for the trail. (Note: due to an editing mishap, the ballot incorrectly listed him as being from Marquette, Ml.)

Joan Young, ofScottville,Michigan, waselectedtoafull three-year term after serving as a nonvoting honorary member of the Board of Directors for the past year. Employed part-time by Matthaei Botanical Gardens, she coordinates the develop ment of a constructed wetland project for water quality improvement, which she helped design. She holds degrees in communication arts, and civil and environmental engineering, and has served in leadership roles in several volunteer organi zations. She has over 35 years of experience in backpacking, canoeing, and long distance bike touring trips. Her goals for the trail are to focus on its potenital as a national resource to showcase its rich variety of heritage, vegetation, and scenery. Meeting the needs of long-distance hikers is also of concern since she has set a personal goal to hike the entire NCNST.

New to the board are: Tricia Ryan, of Two Harbors, Minnesota was elected to

one of the west region three-year seats. She is currently employed in administration by Granite Gear, a manufacturer of innovative products for the outdoor industry. She served for six years as the Executive Director of the Superior Hiking Trail Association, where she coordinated the growth of the trail, its membership and the publication of "The Guide to the Superior Hiking Trail." She has a bachelor's degree in Applied Design from the University of Minnesota. Ms. Ryan would like to assist in the development of the NCNST as it extends

The 1997 election brings an excellent group of

New NCTA Board Members


Ml-A) SE Lenawee Co. to W. Calhoun Co. Ml-B) NE Kalamazoo Co.to SE Newaygo Co. Ml-C) SE Newaygo Co. to NW Wexford Co. Ml-0) NW Wexford Co. to SE Charlevoix Co. Ml-E) Charlevoix Co. to Mackinaw City Ml-F) St. Ignace to SE Marquette Co. Ml-G) Marquette area to Ironwood

An excellent reference for the entire North Country Trail in Michigan. Includes all off-road segments and suggests on-road routes where the trail is incomplete. Also provides good general information about access points, terrain, markers, camping and water, etc.

$4.00 per set Michigan Map Sets by Arden Johnson

$ 1.50

$ 3.50

$ 3.00

$ 8.00 $ 5.50 $ 4.00

$ 2.50 $ 5.50 $ 5.50 $ 3.00 $ 2.50

$ 4.50

$26.50

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

Whole set w/ binder Pennsylvania

Allegheny NF & Cook State Forest Ohio

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

Michigan NCT in Lower Michigan Ml-37 to Doblesky Rd,Wilderness SP Ottawa National Forest

Wisconsin Chequamegon National Forest

Minnesota Chippewa National Forest

North Dakota Sheyenne National Grassland

Proceeds benefit the North Country Trail Association In Its eHorts to build, maintain, and promots the North Country National Scenic Trail.

Norrth Countq 1rai o

Guide to the North Country Trail, Chippewa National Forest by Roderick MacRae Description of the route and trail log, east to west. Wonderfully written by a Chippewa National Forest expert. 12 pgs. $1.25

Minnesota

FLT in Cortland County $5.95 FLT End-to-End Guide for Backpackers $2.50 FLT: Conservation Trail to Hornell $7.95 FLT in Steuben Co. (Hornell-S.Bradford) $6.95

NY-A) PA border - Portageville NY-8) Portageville - Watkins Glen NY-C) Watkins Glen - NW of Cuyler

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

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

Finger Lakes Trail Resources

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

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

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

HIKING! A fresh look at hiking and its benefits. Chapters include: philosophy of hiking, stress management, physical and health benefits, creativity and hiking, and romance on the trail. The authors also explore how hiking addresses the issues of today: strengthening family ties, improving comrnunicatton, offering a healthy lifestyle for childrert, pursuinq- an inexpensive passtirne and providing seniors with a natural prescription for health. A must read for anyone who currently enjoys hiking and for those who are thinking about starting out. 245pp. $14.95

Trail Atlas of Michigan by Dennis R. Hansen Michigan trail enthusiasts - don't get caught without this atlas! New Second Edition includes maps and descriptions for over 600 hiking, biking, skiing, and nature trails in Michigan. Search by location or types of use! $26.95

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

Following the North Country National Scenic Trail by Wes Boyd, NCTA newsletter editor Full of information, this book directs readers to more in-depth resources on the trail. Although not really a guidebook, it's our most inclusive publication covering the whole North Country National Scenic Trail. 64 pgs. SALE PRICE: $2.951

. . Great Books •• ~·

Old Man's Cave: Hocking, Ross and Vinton Counties Scioto Trail: Ross and Pike Counties Sinking Spring: Adams, Pike and Highland Counties St. Marys: Auglaize and Shelby Counties Stockport: Morgan, Perry and Athens Counties Troy: Greene, Miami & Montgomery Co's West Union: Adams and Brown Counties Williamsburg: Brown and Clermont Counties

Buckeye Trail (Ohio) Section Maps They are published by

$3.50 per map These convenient and detaifed maps cover the North Country Trail where it overlaps with the Buckeye Trail. the Buckeye Traif Association. Belle Valley: Morgan, Noble and Guernsey Counties Bowerston: Harrison, Carroll and Guernsey Counties Ceasar Creek: Greene and Warren Counties Defiance: Defiance, Paulding, Putnam, Henry & Wood Counties Delphos: Putnam, Allen and Auglaize Counties Loveland: Clermont, Warren and Hamilton Counties Massillon: Stark and Tuscarawas Counties •

\.New Straitsville: Athens, Hocking, Morgan and Perry Counties

r

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

S 3.00 ea.

S 1.50 ea.

$ 3.00 ea. Round Patches Yellow, blue and black on white background.

Volunteer Patch Blue thread on white background.

Trail Supporter Pin 3/4" cloisonne, gold color lettering and star.

$ 1.50 ea. State Patches Available for all seven states.

CapA: Low profile washed cotton, khaki crown, dk green bill, buckle strap $14.95 Cape: Low profile cotton twill, solid navy crown and bill, snap strap $12.95 CapC: Low profile cotton twill, solid khaki crown and bill, snap strap $12.95 CapD: Mesh back, cotton twill front, royal blue, snap strap $10.95

North Country Trail Caps Embroidered design with eight thread colors is based on the NCT A logo only it reads "North Country National Scenic Trail." Adjustable sizes in four styles .. ---'

NCTA Trail Building & Mainten ance Manual by Thomas J. Reimers This very useful manual for trail volunteers provides: 1) guidelines for planning and construction of the North Country Trail, 2) guidelines for continued maintenance, and 3) helpful suggestions regarding trail construc tion and maintenance. It covers rural and roaded natural, semi-primitive and primitive trail. 22 pgs. $2.00

TShirt-93 (light blue) CLEARANCE SALE! Lt. blue cotton pre-shrunk, two color trail map on front. Med and XXL sizes only. $8.25 while supplies last!

For the ·1rail .Supporter TShirt-96 (white) White cotton pre-shrunk "Beefy-T." 3 color NCTA logo on front and 2 color trail map on back. Slogan on back reads "Going the Distance on the North Country National Scenic Trail" and includes a seven state map of the trail. S,M,L,XL: $10.95 - XXL: $11.95

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in 1974, when a former alcoholic street person, Peter Wolfe, decided to hike the full length of the trail to celebrate drying out. It took him seven years to complete the journey, and he became one of the early legends of the trail in the process.

Before Wolfe finished the trail, and before it was officially designated, the trail had its first single-season end-to-ender: Carolyn Hoffman. She started from Crown Point with deep snow still on the ground on March 5, 1978 with a party of six, but four soon dropped out. She continued with a companion, Lou Ann Fellowes, until Lou Ann was injured in southern Ohio. Alone, Hoffman rode a bike several hundred miles north until Fellowes could rejoin her and take to walking again. The two ended their hike at Lake Sakakawea 222 days after starting.

It was sixteen years before the next attempt to end-to-end the trail in a single season. On March 12, 1994, Ed Talone, of Maryland, and a friend, Sue Lockwood, of Van Buren, Mis souri, started eastward from Cincinnati. Lockwood, being blind and severly diabetic, needed daily kidney dialysis, so the two were followed in a van containing a portable dialysis unit, driven by Lockwood's brother, Gordon Smith. Lockwood and Smith had to part company from Talone in eastern New York, due to the need for hospital treatment for Sue; he continued to Crown Point, took Amtrak back to Cincinnati, and started north. Smith and Lockwood rejoined him in southern Michi gan, and they continued westward reaching Lake Sakakawea on November 21. Talone hiked 4500 miles in 243 days, including side trips. In spite of hospitalization and severe personal difficulties, Lockwood completed 2800 miles.

The final end-to-end hike was completed in 1995 by Chet Fromm, a formerdirectorof the NCTA. Fromm hiked the trail in four-summers, with his first year, 1991, in New York, shortened by injury. He finished the eastern half of the trail

Made It! Sue Lockwood and Ed Talone finish the first all walking end-to-end of the NCNST in a single year on November 21, 1994, at Lake Sakakawea State Park, North Dakota.

Peter Wolfe

Every year, two thousand people or more set out to hike the Appalachian Trail from end to end. Hundreds make it success fully. The Continental Divide and Pacific Crest Trails also have tens of successful end-to-end hikes each year. But, you can count the number of successful end-to-end hikes of the NCNST on one hand and still have a thumb left over.

There are a few more long-distance hikers who have hiked segments of several hundred miles, but really pretty few, considering. The most numerous of these are on the western part of the Finger Lakes Trail, where an organized program encouraging end-to-end hikers has had the spin off of about 60 300 mile NCNST hikes over the past ten years. In addition,

there are a hand ful of people that have walked most of the Buckeye Trail where it shares its route with theNCNST, and a handful of people who are section-hiking the trail, expect ing to take many years to finish. But, long-dis tance hiking on the nation's long est scenic trail is

"' rare. The first at

tempt to end-to end thetrailcame

longest trail

Long distance hikes on the

It's a long trail -- so long that there have been only a handful of attempts to go the full length of the NCNST, and fewer successful ones.


.1

Each has its advantages and disadvantages, though on the face of it, in the early part of the trip, starting from the west has a slight edge. Hikers at either end will have to be starting at about the time the snow turns to mud. Heading eastbound from central North Dakota takes advantage of the fact that not much of the trail has been completed there; most of the first 500 miles or so of the hike will have to be on roads, and even gravel roads are less muddy than forest trails. Besides, those chill spring winds would be at the back -- but as the eastbound trip continues, hikers would get into the heavy forest country right at the height of the spring mosquito and blackfly season.

Heading west, at least in a season oflight snow the winter before, puts the hardest part of the trip right at the beginning, but once it warms up the bugs will be a little less of a problem. Once the first third of the trip is over, there will be occasional tough days, but the hiker will have an idea of how hard they have to travel to get caught back up with that eighteen or twenty miles per day average.

Probably the most effective tactic for the single-season end to ender is to maximize the weather window, by heading out from southern Ohio toward one end of the trail, traveling from there to the other end, and hiking back to southern Ohio. Talone and Lockwood did it partly this way, heading from Cincinnati to both ends of the trail; as Talone put it, "Who wants to look forward to getting to Cincinnati?"

But that 18 or more miles a day is still there. To be able to make the trip in a more leisurely fashion, taking time to stop and smell the roses, really demands breaking the trip up into two or more sections. Each year of a two-year trip is still pretty close to doing the AT in a year, although perhaps easier due to the lesser elevation change and generally easier going overall.

One scenario for the slower hiker involves starting in

4/1 4/1 4/1 4/1 4/1 4/1 4/1 5/16 5/10 5/5 5/1 4/28 4/26 4/23 7/20 714 6/22 6/13 616 5/31 5/26 8/2 7/15 7/2 6/22 6/14 617 6/1 9/17 8/24 8/5 7/22 7/11 712 6/24 10/28 9/28 9/6 8/19 8/5 7/25 7/15 11/27 10/23 9/28 9/8 8/23 8/9 7/30 1/13 12/3 11/2 10/9 9/20 9/4 8/22 2/4 12/22 11/18 10/24 10/3 9/16 9/02 3/31 217 12/30 11/29 11/5 10/16 9/30

364 312 273 242 218 198 182 437

16 24 22 20

With winter facing the potential end-to-ender at both ends of the trip, a basic decision has to be made: go east, or go west?

Total days

eastbound from White Cloud, MI, in 1992, then returned to White Cloud in 1993 to hike Michigan and Wisconsin westbound, completing the Minnesota and North Dakota segments of the trail in the early summer of 1995.

At around 4400 miles, depending on which route is taken, the NCNST is more than twice the length of the AT. Generally speaking, it's easier going than the AT, with much less up and down hiking, but it's a big number to swallow under any circumstances.

The sheer size of the North Country Trail tends to make the idea of an end-to-end hike an awesome one; yet, the trail has another obstacle, one that is easier to avoid on the nation's other long trails, which run more or less on a north-south axis: winter. Most end-to-enders of the big north-south trails start in the south in the early spring, and follow spring northward, eventually racing with fall's southward advance. This doesn't work on the NCT, which runs more or less east and west. While its center dips down a bit, either end is well up in latitude and in the country of long winters.

In an average year, potential end-to-enders have about a maximum of 210 to 220 days of reasonable weather between hard winters. Hoffman probably started a bit early; it-would seem better to not start at Crown Point much before April 1, or perhaps even April 15, and the chilling winds and snow in the open country of North Dakota would seem to argue against travel there after early November for all but the hardiest individuals. By starting in Cincinnati, Talone and Lockwood were able to push the window open a little wider, and they had the luck to catch one of the mildest North Dakota Novembers in memory. But still, it's a lot of walking. Talone and Lockwood had to average about 18 miles a day, as can be seen by the above chart -- and that includes rest days, travel days, side trips, and everything else, so a typical day for them probably was close to 25 miles a day.

Chet Fromm at Lake Sakakawea

Waypoint Lk Sakakawea 4/1 ND-MN Border 5/26 MN-WI Border 8/11 WI-Ml Border 8/27 Mackinaw Ml 10/21 Ml-OH Border 1211 Cincinnati OH 1/14 OH-PA Border 3/12 PA-NY Border 4/8 Crown Pt. NY 6/12

This chart is Intended to give a feel for how long it will take hikers to thruhike the NCNST at various speeds, and should not be taken as gospel or "par" values. On some sections, it will be easier to maintain an average speed; on others, It will be harder.

18 14 12 Miles oer day 1 o

THRUHIKING THE NCT AT VARIOUS SPEEDS Showing anticipated dates of passage

NORTH STAR: The Magazine of the North Country Trail Association, August-September 1997 Page20 --~~~~~~~"'T""'~---,

AVERAGE MAXIMUM/MINIMUM TEMPERATURES at various points near NCNST route by month

JAN FEB MARAPR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCTNOVDEC BISMARK.ND 20 23 35 55 68 77 86 84 73 59 39 27

·2 2 15 31 43 52 59 56 45 33 18 7 FARGO, ND 16 21 33 53 68 76 84 82 71 58 36 23

-3 1 15 31 43 53 59 57 47 35 19 5 INT'L. FALLS MN 14 19 31 49 63 72 78 75 64 53 31 19

-8 -5 8 26 38 48 53 51 41 32 16 9 DULUTH.MN 18 21 31 47 61 70 77 75 65 54 34 19

·1 1 12 28 39 48 55 54 45 35 20 6 MARQUETTE, Ml 25 26 34 48 59 70 75 74 65 56 40 29

12 13 20 32 41 50 57 57 49 41 29 18 S. ST. MARIE, Ml 22 23 32 47 59 70 75 73 64 55 39 27

6 7 15 29 38 47 52 53 46 38 26 13 GRAND RAPIDS, Ml 30 33 42 57 69 79 83 82 74 63 46 34

16 16 24 36 45 56 60 58 51 41 31 21 TOLEDO.OH 34 36 45 58 70 80 81 83 76 64 47 36

18 19 26 35 46 56 60 59 51 40 30 21 CINCINNATI, OH 41 43 52 54 75 84 88 86 80 69 53 43

26 27 33 44 54 63 66 65 58 47 36 28 YOUNGSTOWN, OH35 36 45 59 70 79 83 81 74 62 48 37

21 21 28 37 47 56 59 59 52 42 33 24 BUFFALO,NY 30 30 38 52 65 75 60 79 72 60 46 33

17 16 23 34 44 55 59 58 51 44 32 21 SYRACUSE, NY 32 32 40 55 68 78 82 81 72 61 47 35

17 17 25 37 47 57 62 60 52 42 33 21 BURLINGTON VT 27 29 38 53 67 77 82 80 71 57 44 31

9 10 20 33 44 54 59 57 49 39 29 15

- Carolyn Hoffman


North Dakota in the first part of April. The target here is to be at the Mackinac Straits in Michigan by the first of September, to use the annual Mackinac Bridge Walk on Labor Day to hike every mile of the trail from end to end. Continuing south, the hiker should be able to stay ahead of most of the snowflakes, until reaching the Cincinnati area in late October.

While it would be possible to continue on east through the winter - somewhat milder than further north -~the hiker could also take a break for about three or four months to go and see if the family is still alive, or, perhaps, grab a bus and do the Florida National Scenic Trail; at ten miles a day, this could take about four months, but'in March or April the hiker will want to be back on the NCT for another four or five months of hiking. This approach obviously takes rather more than a year, but the hiker gets to end-to-end two national scenic trails in a single 5000 mile bargain.

Even someone who can only commit part of a year to the hike can still hike a large and satisfying hunk of the NCNST in this fashion, and a hike, say, from central Minnesota, somewhere around Itasca State Park to Grand Rapids, Michigan would see some spectacular hiking-- the Chippewa National Forest, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, the Lake Superior shore on the Superior Hiking Trail, the Chequamegon and Ottawa National Forests, the Porcupine Mountains, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Hiawatha National Forest, the Mackinac Bridge, and the Manistee National Forest -- about 1700 miles of memorable hiking in four to six months. Cincinnati to Crown Point is about as long a hike, somewhat more rugged, but passing through some memorable scenery, as well.

MostNCNST long-distance hikers to this point have had Appalachian Trail experience, but the North Coun try Trail is a rather different experience. The biggest difference they will find is the general lack of develop ment, compared to the Appalachian Trail. The NCNST is about where the AT was forty years ago, and in some respects, not that far along. There is not the nearly completed off-road trail, nor the extensive network of shelters and other hiker amenities; it's sometimes hun dreds of miles between NCNST shelters. There is not the extensive collection of guidebooks and other trail data that makes an AT hike very much a known factor; nor is there the huge backlog of experience from other hikers. There is not the crowd of thru-hikers on predictible, programmed schedules; in fact, there will be few hikers of any kind met, except in certain popular areas such as the Pictured Rocks. There are few trail towns where an invasion of hikers is a common and expected experience, but at least there are a few of them; in most places, though, the local folk will be but vaguely aware of the trait's existence. There will not be the sociability of the fellow thm-hikers; to date, no NCNST end-to-ender has ever met another end-to-ender on the trail. There will not be the trail names, the common experiences; there will not be the AT charisma, but at the same time, there will not be the AT chauvinism, either. But, a successful completion of an end-to-end will not be treated as a routine occurance, as it is on the Appalachian Trail; it willbeatrueandarareachievement. *

Trails Coordinating Council, Ruth Christian, Vice President, Over Mountain Victory Trail Association and Terry Del Bene, BLM Archeologist. They discussed how a reenactment event is put together and how to make it a success. They discussed how it can generate support for a trail to enable significant site and resource protection. They spoke of several examples that illustrated increased local support for the trail. This is the type of activity that can be developed along the NCT at historical sites.

The third session discussed "Living with nature's cata clysms without destroying the trail and its history". Steve Elkin ton moderated with Karen Wade, Superintendent, Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Morgan Sommerville from the Appalachian Trail Conference. A lot of discussion was created when they described the damage on the AT in the Great Smoky Mountains by hurricane Opal. It remined me of the devastation that we experienced from two tornadoes some years ago on the NCT in the Allegheny National Forest in Pennsylvania. They talked about how land managers and their trail partners deal with these types of disasters. There were significant details expressed about how natural and cultural resources were assessed for future protection. Discussion also surrounded how to locate trails to minimize emergencies and cataclysmic damage. Many times if a trail is not properly situated it can be a runoff for excessive rain or even wiped out by floods. A lot of it came down to simple common sense. Look around you when you place trail. Look for the stream that may wipe out your trail in heavy rain or the rockslide that can take out a small bridge. Simple care and adherence to many of the trail construction guidelines in the NCNST Handbook will help avoid a lot of problems.

Monday afternoon brought two educational field trips. One led by Gary Goodwin, Florida Division of Historic Resources showed "How to avoid preservation triage: Hold ing onto that last, forlorn, deteriorated historic structure and its site". The second was lead by Wiley Dykes, Florida Trail Association's Past VP of Trails showing ''The birds, the bees, and the trees: Landscapes restoration and vegetation manage ment within trail corridors". This hike showed how problems with exotic species and undesirable plants are resolved. Dem onstrations showed how fostering native species and other natural features can enhance the scenic character of a trail.

"Using special events and re enactments to foster good resource protection". Jere Krakow, Superintendent NPS Long Distance Trails Office (Salt Lake City) moderated with Jim Renner, Executive Director, Oregon

Historic Trails.

GARY WERNER, head of the Partnership for Nat ional Scenic and National vast resources.

A second session discussed

Last issue I promised a continuation of the report on the National Trails Conference. We pick up on Monday morning, the second day of the conference. The day begins with a plenary session that summarized the previous days key issues (read last issue of the North Star Pg. 20). This was followed by a half an hour brainstorming session with Steve Elkinton, NPS Long Distance Trails Office (Washington, D.C.) dis cussing "What's working out there - and what's not". A lot of interesting ideas were thrown out and kicked about. We were able to share a number of successes with the other trails. The morning progressed with a presentation by Randall Arendt, author of Rural by Design, who spoke on the topic, "Open space networks: linking together sustainable resources of all kinds". He spoke of a number of examples of. how resources like trails, streams and rivers can be integrated into subdivisions and city plans. It was interesting to note how the addition of these resources added value to the land surrounding them.

Morning workshops followed with a trio of interesting subjects. Tom Gilbert, Superintendent NPS Midwest Region Trails Office, moderated the session with David Gaines,

Superintendent NPS Long Dis tance Trails Group (Santa Fe), and David Stratzell, Executive Director, Appalachian Trail. Discussion considered the Com prehensive Management Plan as the key tools in setting the stage for good resource preser vation and management. Each person described the history of how their plans were developed and how they and their partners use them today to manage these

by NCTA President Derek Blount Part2

NCTA represented at 1997 National Trails Conference


available. The next one will be west, probably in Montana on the Lewis and Clark Trail or the Continental Divide Trail. Plan now for it and be there with us. *

to hike on the Florida Trail, historic St John's River area, the National Trail and Greenways corridor through Greater Or lando, Wekiva Springs State Park, Canaveral Wilderness Trail and a maintenance hike on the Florida Trail. Yes, a couple ofour NCTA folks went out and did maintenance work on the Florida Trail. It was a very different experience. Some folks also toured the Disney Wilderness Preserve and some others went canoeing on the Wekiva River. A good time was had by all (except those who had to stay inside in meetings all day).

The day closed with a speech by Kate Stevenson, NPS, Associate Director for Cultural Stewardship and Partnerships on "Where do we go from here? Future needs and strategies". A fine banquet followed and a final panel discussion moder ated by Gary Werner, Chair for the Partnership for the National Trail System, concerning "The Political Outlook for Trails Today" with Mary Margaret Sloan, Conservation Director American Hiking Society and Tom Ross, Program Manager, Trails And Greenways NPS. Awards were pre sented and "King" Leo Rasmussen's (Iditarod Trail Advisory Council) famous raffle was conducted to help support the Partnership. The raffle netted over $1, 100 from donated items. So ended the conference on a very high note.

As you can see there was a vast amount of information available with many qualified people on hand to help and answer questions. These conferences held every two years are open to anyone in the National Trails Community who wants to attend. You don't have to be an officer or Board member to attend. We have had a history of having one of the largest contingents to these conferences since the beginning. We would like to see that continue. We will publish information about the conference in 1999 when information becomes

A FAMILIAR FACE to the NCTA, Tom Gilbert of the Madison Trails Office of the National Park Service was one of those addressing the conference.

NORTH STAR: The Magazine of the North Country Trail Association,_ August-September 1997

Neither one I was able to attend so I cannot comment further on them.

Also in the afternoon our own Bob Papp moderated three workshops discussing "New partners for managing large landscapes". The first was on volunteers. Volunteers as the "eyes and ears" of the trail are our best stewards of the trail. Panel members were Mike Dawson, ATC, Howard Beye, Finger Lakes Trail Conference and Ross Marshall, Santa Fe Trail Conference. The second was "Learning from Greenways" with Joanne Dolan, Executive Director, New York-New Jer sey Trail Conference. The third was "Innovative state pro grams which help trail resource protection" with Jim Renner, Kent Wimmer, Florida Greenways and Trails Program and Nady Moore, National Association of Service and Conserva tion Corps. This workshop group presented a diverse variety of approaches to bring in new partners to help our trail.

Another set of workshops discussed "Honoring the layers of the Past" and was moderated by Steve Elkinton. These sessions included "Preserving the cultural and historic context of scenic trails" with Pam Underhill, Manager of the NPS Appalachian National Scenic Trails Office and "How the National Trust For Historic Preservation and the Nature Conservancy can help our trails" with David Brown, NTFHP and Robert Bendick, the Nature Conservancy. Discussion covered how trail corridors can be protected through creative partnerships with established organizations which specialize in protecting either natural or cultural resources.

The final Workshop of the afternoon was "New ways of managing resources". The first session was" Access, conflict, and wrecked resources: Minimizing adverse visitor impacts (especially mountain bikes!)" with Dr. Jeffery L. Marion, USGS National Biological Service, Joanne Dolan and Mor gan Sommerville. The second session covered "Ensuring compatibility between recreational features and conservation objectives" with Dr Marion, Dave Dailey, Director of Recre ation, USDA and David Startzell, ATC. A lively discussion and debate covered challenges in good trail management, balancing human recreational desires and conservation of the fragile resources on which the trails are based. This discussion bled over into everything that went on from here after in the conference and the Federal Trail Administrators meeting that followed the conference. Problems relating to overuse, im pacts on the wildlife, and various approaches in management to protect the trail corridors was discussed in great detail.

The evening brought a presentation by Fred Ayers, Direc tor of Florida Greenways and Trials Division discussing "Florida Green ways". It was an interesting discussion of how the Florida Green ways program interconnects with the Florida Trail. Slide shows of various trails followed with a final campfire beside the lake.

The final day broke with a discussion of previous days findings and conclusions followed by a meeting for the Part nership for the National Trail System. Most folks after the first discussion went out and spenttheday on field trips. Trips went

peninsula shoreline. Since then, outdoor writer Len McDougall has spent days hiking through the Emmet County woods looking for a hidden den where a female wolf might be raising young. He's concentrating on the swamps near French Farm Lake, where a segment of the North Country Trail passes nearby. No sightings have yet been confirmed.

It's fairly certain that there have been no wild wolves in the lower peninsula since the early years of this century; the most recent confirmed sighting was made near Rogers City in 1911.

The reservoir for wolves for many years has been north east Minnesota's "Arrowhead" district, including the Bound ary Waters Wilderness Canoe Area, where it's hoped that the North Country Trail will be rerouted in the future, is a concentration point for the gray wolf, where about 2,000 are believed to exist, in numbers where they have been reduced from an "endangered" species to a "threatened" one.

Wisconsin is believed to have about 150wolves; the North Country Trail penetrates the heart of the wolf country there, too.

Wolf sightings by hikers are extremely rare. Even on Isle Roy ale in the early 1980s, when an overpopulated 52 wolves shared the islands with about 12,000 hikers annually, a dozen wolf sightings by hikers were considered a large number. Even at that time, there was no known wolf den within a mile of any oflsle Royale's hiking trails.

There are no known wolf attacks on humans in contempo rary times, though Michigan wolves are known to have killed and eaten domestic dogs released to track bears.

According to the Free Press article, "Recent research has shown the success of Michigan's wolves is tied to the white tailed deer, which experts believe accounts for about half the wolves' diet. A single wolf eats 17 to 30 deer a year, biologists estimate. Other sources of food include beaver, snowshoe hares, moles, mice and woodchucks. Michigan's biggest male wolves are known to reach 100 pounds and resemble unsually large German Shepherd dogs. Most males weigh at least 70 to 80 pounds, and female wolves weigh somewhat less." *

Fifteen years ago, the only wolves in Michigan were on Isle Royale. Nine years ago, only three of the endangered species were known to be in Michigan's upper peninsula, believed to be nomads from Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Canada.

However, in a survey done this spring, according to the Detroit Free Press, a confirmed number of 136 wolves in 37 separate packs are thought to be roaming the U.P. -- an unprecedented comeback for an endangered species. The total number could be over 160. Wolves have been reported in every upper peninsula county in recent years; some of the places in the upper peninsula where wolf concentrations have been reported are near the North Country Trail in Hiawatha Na tional Forest, Tahquamenon Falls State Park, and in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.

The increase in population has been so great that Michi gan DNR officials are beginning to think about the day when Michigan wolves will come off of the endangered species list, where they've been protected since 1973. However, even if the decision is made to downgrade their status, in order to control "problem" wolves, it will probably be years before the actual status change takes effect.

"Nobody ever expected this to happen," said Rolf 0. Peterson in the Free Press. Peterson, a Michigan Technical University researcher whose studies of the interdependence of wolves and moose on Isle Roy ale made him a wolf authority sought worldwide, continued, "Fifteen years ago, we thought the upper peninsula probably had room for three packs of wolves -- between 15 and 25 animals. Now we think there's easily enough room for 500 to I 000 wolves. Very, very few endangered species have done this well."

Wolf sightings in Michigan actually dropped slightly this year, possibly due to the hard winter and the effect it had on Michigan's deer population -- but that may have sent some hungry wolves ranging far enough to return to the lower peninsula for the first time in almost a century.

In February, Coast Guard pilots patrolling Lake Michigan near Mackinac City reported seeing two wolves on the lower

In the last few years, the gray wolf has returned to Wisconsin and Michigan's upper peninsula, and wolves are poised to enter the lower peninsula. The North Country National Scenic Trail goes through a lot of wolf country, but you'll be lucky indeed to see one.

Return of the wolf


few and far between in this thinly-populated region. The North Country Trail Hikers of Marquette, MI, have taken the lead in the effort. Also, during 1996, the DNR marked off-road routes east of Grand Marais, and Americorps volunteers spent several weeks clearing and marking these segments.

Recent reports indicate that additional maintenance re mains to be done west of the Big Two-Hearted River. Expect to lose the trail in spots where the trail has eroded out along Lake Superior, and it becomes necessary to walk the beach or

. inland roads to the next marked segment. Camping is permitted anywhere in the state forest, but

must be at least 200 feet off the trail. There are segments of private land wherecampingisnotpermitted. In addition, there are several state forest camp grounds (SFCG), and a devel oped campsite at Muskallonge Lake State Park.

A combination of the maps given here, or the North Country Trail Store's Michigan Mapset-either of which are a little vague for a primary map in this area, given reports of spotty blazing- and good county and/or topo maps is about the best that can be expected. The western section is covered by the -Grand Marais NE, Muskallonge Lake West and Muskallonge Lake East 7 1/2 minute topos. For the eastern section, the Betsy Lake NW and Betsy Lake SW 7 1/2 minute topos are highly recommended. No 15 minute topos cover the area.

There's no public transportation available, so the person on a longer hike is going to have to get creative on carspotting. For shorter hikes, though, the proximity of paralleling low-use county roads make separate return loops feasible without retracing steps.

For visitor information on Luce County, where most of this segment is located, contact the Newberry Area Tourist Association, PO Box 308, Newberry MI 49868 (800) 831- 7292.

There's no doubt about it -- the central Lake Superior shoreline in the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is one of the centerpieces of the NCNST. It's picturesque scenery and wide, empty beaches are one of the places we pointto when we talk about terrific hikes on the trail.

And that's the problem: everybody knows it. Pictured Rocks is probably on the top-ten destination list of most midwestern backpackers.

Pictured Rocks is heavily visited. Popular place though it is, steps have had to be taken to minimize impact on the place. Camp only in camping areas. Stay away from cliff spaces. Read the signs. Get a permit. No pets. Let's face it; it's a rather civilized backcountry.

But what if you want a nice walk by the lake, and really get away from it all?

There's always the other lakeshore, wild, little known, little visited. While it lacks the vertical scenery of Pictured Rocks, it still has the great woods walk, the open beaches and the wide expanse of the big lake looming over you. What it doesn't have is the development, the prepared trail and camp ing areas, and the people.

Where is it? It's the next 40 miles east from the Pictured Rocks. The

trail continues eastward, mostly along the Lake Superior shoreline, with occasional trips inland. First constructed in the late 1970s in an early burst of North Country Trail enthusi asm, and named in some Michigan DNR publications as "Michigan's North Country Trail", Lake Superior State Forest allowed the trail to fall into disrepair in the early '90s, and there were many reports that the trail had become unfindable.

Michigan DNRForest Division doesn't put much priority on hiking trails, preferring to save available funds, time and effort for snowmobile trails, so most work to resurrectthe trail in this area has been done by volunteers, which are sometimes

The Other Lakeshore Pictured Rocks National Lakes ho re is one of the jewels of the North Country Trail. But for those who really want to get away from it all, there's

1.0mie ....... , ......

.,«

* CRH58 ..

Page25 NORTH STAR: The Magazine of the North Country Trail Association, August-September 1997

17.4 (0.7] LAKE SUPERIOR SFCG Lake Superior SFCG is another fee campground, with 36

developed sites and flush toilets. The trail continues to the east, increasingly squeezed between the Blind Sucker River and the lakeshore. Trail conditions were marginal in this area when Talone passed through in 1994.

16.7 [3.0] SPUR TRAIL TO BLIND SUCKER SFCG Blind Sucker River SFCG is a fee campground, about a

mile south of the Lake Superior shoreline, with 13 developed sites and pit toilets. The NCT continues on along the lakeshore.

13.7 [0.7] LEAVE BLIND SUCKER RIVER LOOP TRAIL

The trail continues to return to the lak.eshore, and then continues down it, sometimes behind a row of heavy trees. After a distance, a two-rut trail to Blind Sucker River SFCG is reached.

13.0 [2.2] JOIN BLIND SUCKER RIVERLOOPTRAIL Shortly after joining the ski trail, the ski trail and the

NCNST continue on the lak.eward side of CR H58. The loop trail branches off to the south shortly afterward.

10.8 [ 4.5] CROSS CR H58 About a mile into Luce County, the trail turns inland and

crosses H58 to skirt south of private property. This tum may be poorly marked. The trail recrosses H58 to the north just east ofRandolph Lake and goes through open woods, and parallels the Lake Superior Shoreline until reaching a loop ski trail out of Blind Sucker River SFCG.

6.3 [1.1] REACH LAKE SUPERIOR SHORELINE For about the next 35 miles, the trail mostly follows along

the Lake Superior shoreline, sometimes quite close to the shore, sometimes cutting inland to avoid private property. Close to the shoreline, there are places where the trail is blocked by downfall, or where wave action from the lake has washed part of the trail into the lake. There are places where the blazes are thin, and there may be bushwhacking - but mostly the trail stays in a narrow corridor between CR H58 and the shore. Shortly after reaching the shoreline, the trail leaves Alger County and enters Luce County.

5.2 [1.2] ENTER LAKE SUPERIOR STATE FOREST Certification begins at this point. The trail continues north

another half a mile to the Lake Superior shore, where it turns east to follow the shoreline.

4.0 [1.S] CROSS CR HS8 The trail turns away from the road, and heads north on a

ski trail. The tum has a small "Grand Marais Ski Trail" sign and a "North Country Pathway" sign. Certification begins at this point. The trail follows the well-marked cross-country ski trail eastward along a creek, then northward, turns back to the west, and finally north again.

2.S [2.S] TURN SOUTHEAST ON MARKED TRAIL The newly-developed trail in this area starts out to the

southeast, then turns to the east to parallel CR H58. After 1.5 miles, it turns back to the northeast, and rejoins CR H58 to cross Grand Marais Creek.

0.0 [0.S] TURN EAST AT SOUTH M77 & CR 858 INTERSECTION

The North Country Trail turns east for a roadwalk along CR H58 to get out of town, which doesn't take long. About2.5 miles out, start watching for a new trailhead leading to the south.

GRAND MARAIS, MI 49839 (Pop. 400). One of Michigan's most isolated towns, over 25 miles in any direction from any other village, nestled in trees overlooking Lake Superior. It's a pretty good trail town, used to backpackers hiking the Pictured Rocks, so it makes a good place to start. down the "other trail". Limited services are available, but it's a long way east on the NCT before hitting the next store. LODGING: Dunes Motel, on M- 77 at south end of town, open May-Oct, cable TV, (906) 494-2324; Hilltop Motel, open May-November, TV, 1 mile east of town on H-58, (906) 494- 2331; Welker's Lodge, on beach north of H-58 intersection, open May-Oct, pets welcome, satellite TV, pool, jacuzzi, saunas, laundry. (906) 494-2361. GROCERIES: small gro cery/convenience store. OTHER SERVICES: Bank, sporting goods. POINTS OF INTEREST: Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Maritime and Historical Museum, Music and Arts Festival the second week of August.


So, if you're looking for a quiet walk on the beach, this might be your place. *

42.1 [1.8] CULHANE LAKE SFCG Culhane Lake SFCG is another fee state forest camp

ground, with 22 sites, pit toilets and limited development, and is the last of these that are located along this stretch. The trail circles around the west side of the lake, and continues in a southerly direction, passes through a marshy area, then angles southwest to CR 500 (Northwestern Rd.). The trail south from Culhane Lake to inside the Tahquamenon Falls boundary has also been the subject of recent work, but trail maintenance has often been thin in this area.

40.3 [3.3] LITTLE LAKE SFCG Little Lake SFCG is another fee state forest campground

with pit toilets and limited development. Little Lake, which is a state harbor of refuge, and is popular with small-boat sailors. Here, or at Culhane Lake SFCG to the south might be a good place to spot a car on a longer trip. The Edmund Fitzgerald, the largest ore carrier on the lakes at the time and the most recent large "iron boat" to sink on the great lakes, sank in a furious "Witch of November" storm about 30 miles northeast of here in 1978; it was later the subject of a famous Gordon Lightfoot song. Here, the trail finally leaves Lake Superior, and follows around the west and the south shore of the lake, then heads inland to the Culhane Lake SFCG.

campground with 45 sites, pit toilets and limited development. The trail crosses over the Big Two-Hearted river ona suspen sion bridgenearthecampground. The Big Two-Hearted River is famous for being the subject of one of Ernest Hemingway's early stories, but it's flying false colors; Hemingway lied to cover up good trout fishing in the Fox River, 40 miles to the south. It's still a pretty good trout stream, though. The trail continues on eastward, still on the shoreline or close to it.

37.~ [7.2] PASS TWO-HEARTED RIVER SFCG Two-Hearted River SFCG is another fee state forest

29.8 [5.3] PASS REED AND GREEN BRIDGE SFCG Reed and Green Bridge SFCG is another fee state forest

campground, with moderate development, and pittoilets. The trail continues eastward mostly along the lakeshore, or slightly behind it, with little vertical travel; the Big Two-Hearted River lies to the south, almost parallel to the trail.

24.5 [1.5] LEAVE MUSKALLONGE LAKE SP Shortly after leaving the park, CR H58 turns to the south.

The trail continues eastward, sometimes along the lakeshore, but dipping inland to avoid private land holdings, until reach ing Reed and Green Bridge SFCG.

23.0 [1.7] REACH MUSKALLONGE LAKE SP Muskallonge Lake State Park is under Michigan DNR

Parks Division, where the priority for trails is higher. As a result, the trail here is in good shape, and it's a shame that the park only has 217 acres. The campground is a fully-developed fee state campground, with 179 modem camping sites, flush toilets, a picnic area, beach house, boat launch and play ground. For more information, contact the park at (906) 658- 3338. The trail route continues out of the park on the access road.

21.3 [3.9] CROSS BLIND SUCKER RIVER The Blind Sucker River is crossed on a log jam, and

continues along the lakeshore. "The next three miles were incredible," Talone wrote of his 1994 hike in this area. "The trail followed a bluff 20-30 feet above Lake Superior in an open white birch forest. I enjoyed the pounding surf and the distant views everywhere I looked." The trail briefly joins CR H58, and follows along it until turningnorthintoMuskallonge Lake State Park.


Ohio August 9-10: STA Circuit Hike. Meet near Point 20, Caesar Creek section. For more details, contact Dana Zintek, 330- 928-8931. August 16, 9:00 a.m. NE Ohio BT (Note earlier time). Outing at Sand Run & Nature Realm, Akron Metroparks. 1 Ok, some hills. Morning coffee & buns provided. Starting early to avoid

New York August 17: Cayuga Trails Club Walk, Look and Learn Hike #407 in Lime Hollow Nature Center near Cortland, NY. For more information, contact John Andersson (607) 898-3058. August 17-23 Finger Lakes Trail Conference Volunteer Vacation at Little Pond Campground for the Alder Lake to Balsam Lake Mountain trail project. For information, contact Howard Beye (716) 288- 7191. August 31: Cayuga Trails Club trail maintenance session on FLT, from Blackman Hill Road to NYS Route 79. ContactTom Reimers, (607) 272-8679. Sept. 13: The Western Wall hike #6. September 20: FL TC Board of Managers meeting 3:00 PM, atthe FL TC Fall Campout, Camp Wetaskiwin, St. Catherines, Ontario, Canada. For information, contact Howard Beye (716) 288- 7191. September 22-26: Alley Cat Trail Crew, building shelter in Allegany SP. For information, contact Howard Beye (716) 288-7191. October 4: FL TC Erv Markert Memorial Hike for all members and guests on the main Finger Lakes Trail. Meet at the Masonville Inn in Masonville, NY, at 9:30 AM. Hike will be about 8 miles long. Call Joe Donovan at (315) 253-9863 or Jim Dewan at (607) 775-3001 for more information. October 11: The Western Wall Hike #7.

Minnesota September 11-14Minnesota Park & Trail trail building in Paul Bunyan SF. For more information, contact John Lienen, 111 S. Quandt Ct., Lakeland MN 55043 (612) 436-1795. September 27: An 8.1 mile hike from Crosby Manitou State Park to Caribou Wayside. Shuttle back. Free and open to the public. Contact SHT A at (218) 834-2700. October 11: A 2.5 mile round trip hike overlooking the Sawmill Valley. Free and open to the public. Contact SHTA at (218) 834-2700.

October 4: North Country Trail Hikers Hike new section of NCT west of Victoria. Doug Welker (906) 336-2680 or [email protected]

Michigan August 16: North Country Trail Hikers Echo Lake potluck. Swim, canoe, hike. Richard 226-7934. August 23: North Country Trail Hikers Little Presque Isle cleanup with Sierra Club. Optional bring lunch and hike in the afternoon. Dave 228-9453. August 23: North Country Trail Hikers Softies hike. Shirley 228-6666 or Jan 225-1295. August 24: North Country Trail Hikers bike on paved paths and roads in Marquette. Will include Presque Isle. Carol 226- 7934. August 30: North Country Trail Hikers Annual public hike at Blueberry Ridge. Volunteers needed. Gene 225-1704. September 1: North Country Trail Hikers McCormick bushwack to Summit Lake and views. Moderately strenuous. Richard 226-7934. '. September 6: North Country Trail Hikers Grand Island outing. Ferry $13. Mountain bikers call Richard 226- 7934, hikers call Russ 225-5039. September 13: North Country Trail Hikers Softies hike. Shirley 228-6666 or Jan 225-1295. September 20: North Country Trail Hikers Equinox hike from AuTrain CCC camp to Valley Spur. 5 miles. Lon 942-7879. September 27: North Country Trail Hikers McCormick bushwack to two falls and views. Moderately strenuous. Richard 226- 7934.

NCTA August 21-24: North Country Trail Association Annual Membership meeting, Hervida 4-H Camp, Beverly OH. A great weekend, filled with workshops, hikes, campfires and camaradarie. A chance to learn a lot about the NCT A and the North Country Trail, and have a lot of fun, too. Phone (616) 454-5506 or E-mail "[email protected]" for more details. October 1: Newsletter deadline. October 1: Deadline for 1998 Challenge Cost Share proposals and reporting VIP hours. November 8: Board of Directors meeting, Romulus, Ml.

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

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


CALL FOR FREE BROCHURE 517-371-1330 31OSeymore,Apt.610

Lansing, Michigan, 48933

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

Mountain Biking •Winter /Summer Survival Environmental Education

Wilderness Skills

---- ... 1 _, !::;:: ....... ,. '

~ Star Stat~~~o!~~rres- ~ pendents for North Star: the Magazine of the North Country Trail Association. Cover trail club activities, local events, trail updates, etc. No pay, except for the satisfaction of helping out, and maybe someday a "North Star Correspondent" patch. Some writing and photography skills needed, but you need not be a Hemingway or a Weston. E-mail capability preferred. Contact Wes Boyd, 14815 Rome Road, Manitou Beach, Ml 49253 _([email protected]).

Wisconsin Sept. 5-7: Heritage Chapter membership meeting, location TBA. For more information call Jim Burow, (414) 425-5146. Sept. 27: Chequameon Chapter Fall Hike. For more information call George Tresnak, (715} 274-2401. Oct. 18-19: Heritage Chapter work days, segment H-J. For more information call Jim Burow, (414) 425-5146. Dec. 6: Heritage Chapter get-together, Milwaukee, WI. For more information call Jim Burow, (414) 425-5146.

Pennsylvania Sept S-7:Worktripto build trail in SGL95. Contingent on PA Game Commission approval. Contact Mark Eckler(412) 588-6164.

The Superior Peninsula Seasons in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan

by Lon L. Emerick, Ph.D. Join a long-time lover

of the "U.P." as he explores on foot, skiis, snowshoes and by canoe through all the seasons. Hike the Grand Island Bay de Noc pathway. Wander the dunes and cliffs of the Pictured Rocks and backpack Porcupine Mountains. Discover hidden lakes, summer berries and autumn colors along the peninsula's old woods roads.

A book which celebrates a special people and a special land

Color photos - B/W drawings * $19.95 shipped At book&.. gi~ stores ( ISBN 09650577-5-5)

or autographed copies from: North CountJy Publishing - NS

355 Heidtman Road., Skandia, Ml 49885 Ph: 906-942-7879 * Fx: 906-226-6886

~ VISA &.. MASTERCARD ac.c.epted .. _- ... -.·:,:-rn::-j

midday heat. Parking details by postcard closer to date. Leader Phyllis Devlin. To register call Liz McQuaid, 216-941- 3443, or the Jones', 216-467-4338. August21-24. BT A hosts the North Country Trail Association Annual Meeting, Beverly, Ohio. August 30: 8.3 mile hike around West Branch reservoir. Meet at 10:00 near point 16, Mogadore section. For details, contact Dana Zintek, (330} 928-8931. September 11-14. BTA Work Party. Tar Hollow State Forest (Vinton County). Call Jim Sprague for details, 216-884-4757. September 20-28. BTA. Adirondack Mountains, New York. The dates for the Adirondack Hiking Trip are September 20 to 28, 1997. This is a great time of year to goto New York with a great group of people. Since we are carpooling, the cost will be very reasonable. There are lots of trails, so you can do as much or as little as you like. We'd love to have you. Call Herb Hulls, 614-585-2603. October 11 &12. BTA Work Party. Burr Oak State Park. Call Jim Sprague for details, 216-884-4757. October 18-19. STA Circuit Hike, Caesar Creek section, point TBA. For details, contact Dana Zintek (330) 928- 8931. October 25. NE Ohio BT. Trip to Kelleys Island. Details to come. October 30-Nov. 2. STA Work Party. Fort Hill State Park. Call Herb Hulls for details, 614-585-2603. November 22-23. BTA Circuit Hike. Meet at point 37, Mogadore Section. For details call Dana Zintek (330) 928- 8931. .

Page29 NORTH STAR: The Magazine of the North Country Trail Association, August-September 1997

Come on, you can do better than this! Let's have some funny stories, top ten lists, good trail jokes, or whatever. -- WB *

... you think that a Big Mac and a shake refer to a bridge on a windy Labor Day.

... you consider Velcro to be high tech.

... you know 16 ways to cook ramen noodles.

... you think the Milwaukee Brewers and the Green Bay Packers are labor unions in Wisconsin.

... your mosquito repellant doubles as your aftershave.

... your summer shirts are plaid wool (the same as your winter shirts).

... you think the sign saying "Fine for Parking" means this is a really good spot to leave your car.

... being a "Red Wings" fan means you really like their new line of hiking boots.

... your most expensive clothes are Gore-Tex.

You might be a biker if ...

With that thought in mind: * * *

... office staff show up in the field and actually get out of the vehicle.

... you can pick up the morning paper at your front door without putting on a parka.

. . . bowling lies give way to golfing and fishing lies.

... the snow melts enough for you to find the snow shovel you lost in November.

... you are on a first name basis with the tow truck operator.

... your car doors open without a hair dryer.

... your pet is willing to do his/ her business outside.

... the snow on your car floormats finally melts.

You know it is spring in the Dakotas when ..•

The following question was asked of the Dakota Area Office staff, and here are some of the responses:

North Dakotans take pride in being a tough and hearty breed: I don't think that Kathy meant for us to include the following, but what the heck:

***

"The places where trails do not exist are not well marked."

"Reflectors need to be placed on trees every 50 feet so people can hike at night with flashlights."

"The coyotes made too much noise last night and kept me awake. Please eradicate."

"Chair lifts need to be in some places so that we can get to wonder ful views without having to hike to them."

"Please pave the trails so they can be plowed of snow in the winter."

"Too many bugs and leeches and spiders and spider webs. Please spray the wilderness to rid the area of these l 'its."

\ "Trails need to be reconstructed.

Please avoid building trails that go uphill."

"Found a smouldering cigarette left by a horse"

"All the mile markers are missing this year."

"Trails need to be wider so people can walk while holding hands."

"Instead of a permit system or regulations, the Forest Service needs to reduce worldwide population growth to limit the number of visitors to wilderness."

"Escalators would help on steep uphill sections."

"A small deer came into my camp and stole my bag of pickles. Is there a way I can get reimbursed? Please call."

"Need more signs to keep area pristine."

This list is circulating among U.S. Forest Service employees. These are actual comments left last year on Forest Service registration sheets and comment cards by backpackers completing wilderness camping trips:

North Dakota Board Member Kathy Olstad forwarded the follow ing to us, taken from the Bureau of Reclamation Great Plains Newsletter.


Trainania

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

-~---~ . . .... \

I j

~ ef Environmental ~· support center Quality Outdoor Gear and Clothing Since 1938

Major funding for 1997 also is being provided by:

Bruce Nelson Scott Nelson Peter Nordgren Peter O'Rourke Byron Panasuk Suzette Psyhogios Mark Putvin Dan Ryan Mark Schauer Louise Sis Robert Smedes Leonard Spadter Lisa Symons Gerald Trzybinski Barbara VanDyken Douglas Way Teri and Ron Williams/Harshman Rob & Chris Yuill Richard Zalewski Marie Zangmeister Donna Zintek Chuck Zosel Tim Zylstra

Organization Allegheny Outdoor Club

Finger Lakes Trail Conference Kent County Road & Park Commission

Susan Mabee Northwestern Ohio Rails-to-Trails Assoc.

New Members: Jerry and Sharon Glenn Paul Haan Greg Haney Rob Hemmer Jack Hendon Donald Hinman Paul Holman Jill Houghton David Hutchinson Grace hutchinson Margaret Jansen Linda Jennette and Family James King Robert Kirkland John Knapke Charles Krammin Ronald Kulak Dick LaBarre and Family Pete and Janet Lanser Susan Mabee G Michael Mantas Rodney Martin Jack Miller Tom and Rose Mitchell Janice Morgan

Pathfinder Janette Sweasy

Northwestern Ohio Rails-to-Trails Assoc. Jill and Dan Baes Bernice Baron Nathan Bayer Joe and Mary Beedlow Dawn Bennett Hans Berg Donald Bickley, Northern Lights Specialties Suzanne Boley Tom Bradford Bill Brosseau Adirondack Mountain Club Trails Progr.

Randall Brune Clarice Burns Charles Burpee Bob Cairns Frank Clarkston David Conley Amy Connor Jeff Doerr Nancy Ferrar Mark Frank Patti Gehring Joanne Gerke William Gerke

Trail Leader Marvin Deur - Shack Enterprises

John Leinen Joseph Raynor

Gaylord and Marlene Yost

Joined or Renewed in a Special Category:

Judy Rippentrop Werner Veit

Kevin and Robin Wilson & Family

Donors: Tim Griffin

Howard Hintz Nelson Leavitt

Charles Axthelm John Borders Cynthia Jones

Contributions. Special Renewals and New Members for May 15 through July 21, 1997

Trail Supporters NORTH STAR: The Magazine of the North Country Trail Association, August-September t 997

..

North Country Trait Association 49 Monroe Center, Suite 2008

Grand Rapids, Ml-49546

• Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage

PAID Permit No. 47

Caledonia, Ml 49316

•ASSOCIATION•

To begin your membership, please complete this form and send It with your $15 payment to: North Country Trail Association• 49 Monroe Center NW, Suite 2008 •Grand Rapids, Ml 49503

Please choose your affiliation (check one): • o Member of a specific chapter: _

0 Member of my closest local chapter (if one exists) D Member-at-Lar e not affiliated with any Cha ter)

Name(s) of New Member(s): ._ -

Address:

City, State Zip: - - Phone:

e-mail: '

I would Hke to volunteer the foHowlng skills (optional):

SIGN UP YOUR FRIENDS AT A $15 INTRODUCTORY RATE! Our Sponsored Membership Program allows current J Sponsored by: I NCT A members to sign up new members at an intro ductory rate of just $15. To qualify, Sponsored Members must be new to NCTA, or not have been members for at least two years. The $15 rate is good only for the first year of membership. To use this program, just fill in your name, then give-the form to your friend to complete the shaded areas. If you sponsor enough members, you may win a prize!

Our Recruitment Contest will end on Aug. 15, 1997. At the Annual Meeting, we'll announce the final results. You don't have to attend the Annual Meeting to receive your prize.

Any member of NCTA can participate. If you get someone new to join, just ask them to write down your name as "sponsor'' or "recruiter'' and we'll be sure to give you credit. Good luck, and thanks for your help in getting the word out!

Please call us if you need more forms or have any questions: 616-454-5506, or [email protected]

Time's Almost Up!

.. t ~ont st

Grand Prize (1): Jacket with embroidered logo Runners Up (5): $25 gift certificate at the NClA Trail Shop

Iii Members <I>

Recruiter's Name(s) Recruited ·t:! Q..

Bob Papp* 17 :::..., I:: (I) '-

Claudia Day * 12 .E ~

Mary Kunzler-Larmann 12 Q 2>

Bill Menke* 9 <I> ,,.... I::

Ga lord Yost 9 ~ (I)

Kathy Sabel 6 ~ <1) .Q

Derek Blount 4 E <I> E

Grace Hutchinson 4 :t: (I)

Len Baron 3 Ci5 •


north star vol. 16, no. 4 (1997)

Documents

long trail

trail possibilities

longest trail

canadian north star

lot of wolf country

convenient trailfinder

national historic trails

trails association nort