north star vol. 9, no. 4 (1990)

Kudos to Derek Blount, who, along with his hard work in getting the 10th Anniversary Hike going this summer, has also been hard at work at organizing and building the connection between Mackinac City, Michigan, and Wilderness State Park. Derek says he intends to finish the last 1.5 mile section in mid September, along with the help of volunteers that have been working with him on weekends. He's got to get it done, as a dog sled race is already planned on the trail for January 18-20!

* * *

I'm not really a hot-shot computer programmer, but like to mess around with writing programs a bit when the alternative is watch ing game shows on the television. One of the programs I have developed over the past year and a half or so is one that calculates the time of passage of various points along the North Country Trail at various rates of speed and dates of starting.

While I'm still adding wrinkles and swatting bugs, I believe that I've got the program far enough along that I can turn it loose to other computer-oriented people interested in the NCT. The program is in BASIC for IBM-based machines.

If you would like a copy ofNCfDATE.BAS, please send me a blank31/2" floppy disk, and a stamped, self-addressed envelope with 75 cents postage, and I'll get it right back to you. If you don't have a 3 1/2" disk drive or are one of those misguided souls that don't have IBM-based equipment, I'll be glad to send a hard-copy of the program; again, send a stamped, self-addressed envelope (this time with regular first-class postage), and I'll send you a copy. My address is in the upper left-hand corner of this page.

Does anyone else have an NCT-based program that they'd like to share?

* * *

The deadline for the next newsletter will be December 1, 1990. For future reference, the deadline for the Spring 1991 newsletter will be March 1, 1991.

Though the figure of3,259 miles for the finished North Country National Scenic Trail has often been used, realistic estimates put the finished length at 3,700 or 3,800 miles - or even more. 917 miles certified means we're only a quarter of the way there. Some time ago, NCTNational Park Service Representative Tom Gilbert put out a widely-repeated circular letter in which he stated, "Even if we certify 100 miles of trail a year, we're still 25 years away from the completion of the trail." The 100 miles per year goal has only been reached once since the Comprehensive Plan was writ ten, but Tom's goal seems eminently reasonable and reachable.

The 1990 hike has been the focus of the NCTA for several years now. With it completed, we need to look for new goals, and I cannot help but notice that we only have to do slightly better than Tom's figure- to be exact, 108.3 miles per year- to reach 2,000 certified miles by the year 2000.

It is not an unreachable goal, considering that possibly two thirds of the figure needed represent trail miles already on the ground, awaiting someone to push through the paperwork, but it will still take a fair amount of trail construction to reach the goal.

"2000 by 2000!" There's a battle cry for you.

-·

• Keyboard Trails

-

~00 ooammrrmiJ»,

by th,e Editor ;111111111111- c:m:::J •

North Country Troll Association Newsletter, Al)tum.n 1990

PIN11 report 1ny errors or omlulone to the editor.

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE ADMINISTRATOR Tom Gilbert, National Park Service, PO Box 5463, Madison WI 53705-0463 (608) 833-2788

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

(701) 232-8513

(612) 3n.0130 (612) 559.5994 (216) 375-4461 (612) 882-0569

(414) 354-8987

(616) 452-4487 (517) 547-7402 (313) 548-1737 (906) 225-1585 (616) 891-1366 (616) 784-6641 (313) 280-2921 (616) 363-5966 (313) 231-1257 (616) 784-5050 (616) 689-6876

(216) 884-0281 (216) 867-3371 (216) 884-4757 (614) 882-8023

(814) 968-5759. (814) 435-2371 (814) 435-2371 (412) 364-2864 (412) 561-3286

(607) 272-5119 (716) 288-7191 (607) 564-3548 (607) 272-8679 (607) 334-3872

(313) 280-2921 (814) 435-2371 (614) 882-8023 (616) 891-1366 (616) 689-6876

lllnne1ot1 Rod MacRae, 1210 W. 22nd St., Minneapolis MN 55405 Harlan Uljequist, 1605 W. Medicine Lake Dr., Plymouth MN 55441 Jim Richards, Rt 1, Callaway MN 56521 Ed Solstad, 3701 Pillsbury Ave. S, Minneapolis MN 55409

North Dakota Linda Vargason Meike, 1536 Second Ave. S, Fargo ND 58103

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

Ohio Emily Gregor, 6502 Olde York Rd., Parma Hts OH 44130 Cecil Dobbins, 783 Cliffside Dr., Akron OH 44313 Jim Sprague, 4406 Maplecrest, Parma OH Tomi Lou Spyker, 7040 Africa Rd., Rt. 1, Galena OH 43201

Michigan Pat Allen, 2215 Sylvan Dr. SE, Grand Rapids Ml 49506 Wes Boyd, 14815 Rome Road, Manitou Beach Ml 49253 Derek Blount, 906 N. Alexander, Royal Oak Ml 48067 Don Elzinga, 1010 Allouez, Marquette Ml 49855 Kenneth Gackler, 413 W. Johnson, Caledonia Ml 49316 Art Holland, 492 Four Mile Rd., Comstock Park Ml 49321 Martha K Jones, 1857 Torquay Ave, Royal Oak Ml 48073 Ruth Sack, 2317 Foster NE, Grand Rapids Ml 49505 Vince Smith, Box 76, Whitmore Lake Ml 48189 Darlene Snyder, 4067 Luxford, Comstock Park Ml 49231 Virginia Wunsch, Rt. 1, Mundy Ave. White Cloud Ml 49349

BOARD OF DIRECTORS New York

Doris and Clifford Abbott, Rt 1, Box 259, Spencer NY 14883 Howard S. Beye, 202 Colboume Rd., Rochester NY 14609 Laura McGuire, 1 Boylan Rd, Newfield NY 14867 Thomas J. Reimers, 3C Wildflower Dr., Ithaca NY 14850 Ed Sidote, 5 Clinton St, Norwich NY 13815

Psnnsylvanll Don and Brita Dom, Star Rt, Box 476, Sheffield PA 16347 Barbara A. Smith, 11 W. Main St., Galeton PA 16922 John G. Hipps, 11 W. Main St., Galeton PA 16922 Glenn Oster, 784 Olive St., Pittsburg PA 15237 Pat Tieman, 52 Greenbriar Dr., Pittsburg PA 15220

NEWSLETI'ER of the

NORTH COUNTRY TRAIL ASSOCIATION PO Box 311, WhHe Cloud, Ml 49349 Headquarters Phone: (616) 68~1912

Editor: Wea Boyd, 14815 Rome Road, ManHou Beach, Ml 49253

OFFICERS President: Martha K Jones, 1857 Torquay Ave, Royal Oak Ml 48073 Vies Pr11ldent: Barbara A. Smith, 11 W. Main St., Galeton PA 16922 Secretary:Tomi Lou Spyker, 7040 Africa Rd., Rt. 1, Galena OH 43201 Treasurer: Kenneth Gackler, 413 W. Johnson St., Caledonia Ml 49316 Headquarters Mgr.: Virginia Wunsch, Rt 1, White Cloud Ml 49349

Poge2

TWO SIGNIFICANTcertifications of new trail were announced by the Na tional Park Service July 9. In coopera tion with the North Dakota Forest Serv ice, the 25-mile segment in the Shey enne National Grasslands was certi fied. The northern portion of the trail, for approximately 16 miles, passes through a Burr Oak savanna environ ment; the southern 9 miles through rolling prairie; two major trailheads have been constructed. This represents in excess of 1000% increase in certi fied trail in North Dakota, over the 2.5 miles heretofore certified.

* * *

ARDEN C. JOHNSON has replaced NCTA President Martha Jones as Membership Chairman. His address is 600 Tennyson, Rochester Hills, MI 48063 (313) 853-0292. Ann Winder has agreed to act as a Public Relations Person for NCTA, and is particularly interested in any anecdotes, etc., cov ering the first 10 years of the organiza tion. If you have any such material for her, or basic history, please send to Ann, 6727 Lahser Rd., Birmingham Ml48010.

* * *

THE 40 MILES of trail along the Mi ami and Erie Canal between New Bre men and Delphos, Ohio, and the side route from New Bremen to Lake Lo ramie are in good shape, the Buckeye Trailblazer reports, thanks to the ef forts of Neal Brady, Leroy Goodwin and the Ohio DNR crew from St. Marys State Park. Joe Scheuer of Dayton has been blazing the trail from St. Marys to Lockington Dam.

* * *

I am writing in regards to the North Country Trail from beginning to end as I plan on walking the entire length of it in 1991. If you know of anyone who would be interested in this same adven ture, please put them in contact with me.

Sincerely, William Mendenhall 24704-048 FCI 1299 Seaside Ave. F- Unit. PO Box3007 Terminal Island, Calif 90731

To whom it concerns: -

JUST BEFORE he died at age 86 in August, "Mr. Michigan Outdoors," Mort Neff stated his concern about the state of the black bear population in Michi gan, stating that he had not seen a black bear in the wild in Michigan in 37 years. His statement emphasised con cerns for the bear population in the state, fueled by an upper peninsula group using the Freedom of Informa tion Act to publish concerns given by Michigan DNR conservation officers and wildlife officials about the state of Michigan's bear population. The state has issued 4,191 bear hunting permits for the current year, and the state legis lature, over the protests of the D NR and various sportsmens groups, is consid ering a two-year moratorium on bear hunting, and an independent study of bear populations. There have been few hikers reporting bear contacts along trails in the state in recent years.

* * *

In New York, another segment of the Finger Lakes Trail was also certi fied. The 5.5 mile segment, lying be tween White Church Road and Old Seventy-Six Road in Shindagen Hol low State Forest in Tompkins County, is established in cooperation with the Finger Lakes Trail Conference and the New York Department of Environmental Conservation.

The two certifications bring the total certified length of the North Country Trail to 917.21 miles.

ATTHEBUCKEYE TrailAssociation Annual Meeting, Jim Sprague was again . named BTA President. Jerry Starcher will be Vice President, Genie Conner Secretary and Connie Pond treasurer. Genie Conner, Ralph Evans, Howard Hintz and Dave Stilwell were named to the Board of Trustees, replacing outgo ing Brad Jones, Mary Hamilton, Tom Garvey and Edith Conzett.

* * * THE FINGER I.AKES Trail May 1990 Census in the Finger Lakes Trail News shows that all but 20.2 miles of the FLT and side trails that will carry the NCT are complete. Gaps remaining to be filled as of December 31, 1989, in cluded 10.1 miles near Bath under as sault by the "Birdseye Hollow Irregu lars" (see Spring NCTA Newsletter), and a 10.1 mile gap between a point east of Virgil Mountain and the Onondaga Trail 464 miles of the planned 538 main trail total (including non NCT sections) is usable; including side trails, 701 miles of a planned 776 are finished.

THE MILEAGE OF trails created from abandoned railroad corridors topped 3,100in1989, according to the Rails to Trails Conservancy. Americans used these trail-trails almost 32 million times. This mileage includes 242 trails in 34 states. An additional 200 to 300 corri dors are in some stage of conversion to trails.

THE IDITAROD NHTis not going to be the only national trail with a dog sled race. A newly-developed segment of trail intended for NCT use between Mackinac City and Wilderness State Park, Michigan, will have dog-sled sprints January 18-20, with longer races under consideration for the future. Call (616) 436-5243 for details.

* * *

* * *

THOUGH THE Comprehensive Plans for most National Scenic and National Historic Trails contain provisions for connecting sectioos and side trails, none have been designated since the passage of the National Trail System act - until now. Pathways Across America, Summer 1990, reports that two have now been designated: a connecting section on the lditarod National His toric Trail, and a 10-mile side trail on the Ice Age NST. The action could open the door to several badly-needed designations of connecting trail on the NCT.

Poge3 North Country Troll Association Newsletter, Autumn 1990

To most people, Labor Day weekend is the end of summer, the end of vacation, and back to school, but to all you North Country Trail Association members who were fortunate enough to be able to participate in some of the 1 Oth Anniversary celebrations across the seven states of the NCT I'm sure you see this Labor Day as the beginning of a new decade for the NCT, full of hope and enthusiasm and widening possibilities for completion of the job at hand. There has been much 'ground' work done this summer along the length of the trail, with a number of miles completed and being prepared for certification, plus other miles certified. Our beautiful new NCT brochures, prepared by the National Park Service, were ready for our 10th Anniversary activities, and our Executive Director now seems a certainty.

My own experience of the past 1 O days, celebrating the 10th Anniver sary of the NCT, I feel is worthy of sharing with you since it was not only fun, hard work, and rewarding, but also inspiring. The last week in August I spent in the upper peninsula of Michigan working with a great group of energetic, dedicated trail builders. (They were also fun-loving!) And some were working their second week! Members of this crew were not only from Michigan, but also Illinois, Wisconsin, Massachusetts and even a young student from Bath College in Bath, England, who chose the NCT to work for the Public Service Section of the 'Duke of Edinburgh Award' -- a prestigious British award for which he has been working since age 14. You might say a truely international group! After a day of clearing trail in the wilderness, our thoughts were of a hot shower (supplied by Van Riper State Park) and a good hot meal (provided each day by the 'cook-of-the-hour' for the whole two weeks, Jean Elzinga -- they were hot, they were delicious, and they were healthy, and yes, we've already signed her up for next year. Of couse, a successful project requires endless research and preparation by the group leader (our NCTA director and Sierra Club member, Vince Smith), local area leaders for their expertise of the area and dedication to searching out opportunities (the Elzinga brothers, Don and Gene, also NCTA members), plus the generosity, cooperation and support of the local people. It was truely inspring to see it all come together.

The weekend was spent at Mackinaw City where we participated in walks on both Saturday and Sunday in Wilderness Park, through which the NCT runs, all ably planned and executed by Derek Blount with the gracious assistance of local park personnel and area citizens. Monday was the annual Mackinac Bridge walk, led by Michigan Governer and Mrs. Blan chard and participated in by thousands(estimated at 40-60,000 walkers.) In his remarks at the end of the bridge walk, Gov. Blanchard graciously announced that "The 33rd Annual Labor Day Mackinac Bridge Walk coincides with celebrations honoring the 1 Oth Anniversary of the North Country National Scenic Trail. The Big Mac serves as an important link in this 3200 mile national hiking trail. With 500 out of BOO Michigan miles completed, I want to offer congratulations to the volunteers and organiza tions cooperating to build this trail. "The NCTA welcomes the governor as an honorary member.

I'm certain that many of you had similar, exciting experiences through out the 10th Anniversary Celebration. Won1 you please share them with all of us through the Newsletter or atthe annual fall meeting in October. We hope to see a lot of you there at Munising, Ml On the upper peninsula) October 19-21. Reports are coming in from the seven states and things are looking very good. Derek will have a full report for us at the meeting.

In closing my visit with you this time, I would like to extend a sincere 'Thank You' to all the state coordinators, to the members of NCTA and other participating hiking clubs and outdoor groups, to interested citizens in various areas, to the National Park Service, the US Forest Service and various state park personnel who cooperated in making this publicity effort for the NCT a success. It coulcnt have been accomplished without all of you. And by no means last, our thanks and gratitude to to Derek Blount, our Overall Coordinator of the 1990 Hike, who has spent many months in his labor of love for the North Country Trail. - Martha Jones

North Country Trail Association Newsletter, Autumn, 1990

ll1lllllllllllilli llllltll'llil

The Hikers Paradise

783 V Cllffalde Dr. AKRON, OH 44313

ALPINE ADVENTURE TRAILS TOURS, lac.

swissair/1

Moderate optional length DAY hiking along skyline trails. 7-2 week tours basing at 15 mountain· 3-4 star hotels. All hikes guided by NCT member- Cecil Dobbins. For a free color brochure call 12161 867-3771, or write to:

GRINDELWALD SAAS-FEE

GSTAAD FLUELEN

ENGELBERG LEUKERBAD

KANDERSTEG ZERMATT MURR EN LENK WENG EN BETTMERALP RIG I- K ALTllAD

S W I S S .A L P S

November 3-4. BT A Work Weekend in Pike County. Con tact BT A at above address for more information.

OHIO September 29-30. ETA Work Weekend on Ohio Power

Company lands. Contact Buckeye Trail Association, PO Box 254, Worthington, OH 43085 for more information.

December 4: Western Michigan Chapter and Christmas Party. Contact Darlene Snyder at above numbers for details.

November 10: Hike and Potluck at NCTA Headquarters. Meet at 9:00 AM for hike, 1 :00 PM for Potluck. For informa tion, contact Kay Host at (616) 949-6099 or Darlene Snyder at (616) 784-5050 evenings or (616) 364-8722 days.

November 7: Western Michigan Chapter Wednesday Walkers. Call Bernice Baron or Ginny Wunsch at above numbers.

October 19-21: NCTA Fall Meeting at Munising, MI. See elsewhere in this newsletter for more information.

October 3: Western Michigan Chapter Wednesday Walk ers. Call Bernice Baron at (616) 456-6187 or Ginny Wunsch at (616) 689-6876.

MICHIGAN September 29: Walt Byron Day (1917-1985) The flag pole

at the NCTA National Headquarters will be dedicated to Walt's Memory. For more information, contact Darlene Snyder at (616) 784-5050 or Joe Taber at (616) 457-6686.

October 2: Western Michigan Chapter meeting at 7:30 PM at 924 Burke St NE, Grand Rapids. Contact Bernice Baron at (616) 456-6157.

__..,.... October 19-21: NCTA Fall meeting at Munising, Michi

gan. See elsewhere in this newsletter for more information.

Page4

Pages

-Barbara A. Smith

~f{ections of t/ie 'J.lort/i Country Trall From the first stirring of spring in its exuberance to the full power of summer and on into their

subtle transformation of autumn, timing is critical. Seasons overlap and their pulsation is the very heartbeat of life.

The going of summer is the coming of autumn. It is goldenrods filling the fields with bright yellow sunshine and butterflies loving them with kisses. It is grasshoppers skirting across our view and the steady musical hum of uncountable crickets.

Reflections of the passing are mirrored in drops of dew that collect leaf edge and blade tip. The sun's bright rays reflect from them with the most brillant of red, orange and yellow. It is so intense it seems like each leaf has its own power to shine. The entire underground comes to light and life with precious gem-glow.

Precious pigments seem to come from nowehere and everywhere materializing in the red-orange of sumac and the orange delicacy of Touch-me-nots, in the golden yellow of aspen, ash and sassafras, in the greens of a hundred lingering kinds, in the whispering lavender blues of so many Asters.

The wind blows around with a message of seasonal change. The air is somehow different and its feel is a little colder. In brief moments it is still ... soundless as only the woodlands can be.

There is an enchantment to this fairyland world as we wanter-walk among the woodlands, fields and meadows.

Autumn is long walks that are decorated with indigo skies and whipped-cream clouds. The divine artist's brush paints an impressionistic rainbow of colors across the face of the land.

It is time to lay back and look at the world upside down as the soft yellows of evergreen needles flutter gradually to the ground. It is time to jump into piles of leaves and roll down a grassy hillside, to be burgundy deep in blueberry bushes, hip high in multicolored grasses and ferns and head high in the golden yellow and orange-red of sweet sugar maples.

Weeping willows droop with dry tear lashes. Canadian geese honk their way south in the high sky overhead. The dear have changed their rich-red summer coats for the deep-piled, gray-brown of winter. Their babies, too, have lost nearly all of their spots as they feel the sense of seasonal change.

The days are shorter, the nights longer as the kaleidoscopic wheel of time turns the changing patterns of deciduous autumn colors each year forever new.

Each of us has our own season that rolls like waves in the grass, ebbing and flowing in our own small rhythm within the larger cycle called life.

The experience of North Country's Autumn give to us these happenings to gather into our heart's life some simple treasures for a perpetual contentment with the rhyme and reason of its rhythm and seasons.

We of the North Country Trail invite you to share in our efforts to realize a 3200-mile trail traversing New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and North Dakota. Through a North Country Celebration you will breathe, taste and touch the trail as we journey over its days and nights, around the calendar and within its year.

All that is bright and beautiful will become an intimate part of you as its seasonal rhythm is experienced by way of the written word and a knowing that a much greater appreciation can be had from your own personal journey in your own time and in your own quiet space.

North Country Celebration -an Invitation

North Country Troll Association Newsletter, Autumn 1990

ON SUNDAY, September 2, Hiawatha Na tional Forest ranger John Hart led a NCT 10th Anniversary Hike in the forest near Brevort Lake, seen here crossing Brevort Lake Dam.

Thousands encounter NCT at annual Mackinac Bridge Walk

Standing in the path of 40-60,000 walkers makes one feel something like how a rock must feel when the salmon are swimming upstream. A never-ending stream of humanity poured off of the Mackinac Bridge during the annual bridge walk, (cover photo) and a number ofNCTA vol unteers and others were on hand to greet them with the line, "You just walked five miles on the North Country Trail." The beautiful new National Park Service brochures were among pieces of in formation given to the walkers, and many ex pressed much interest in the trail.

Some NCTA members joined the walk, includ ing President Martha Jones, National Park Serv ice representative Tom Gilbert, and Treasurer Ken Gackler (who double-dipped the walk!)

The Mackinac Bridge, connecting the upper and lower peninsulas of Michigan, is only open to walkers (and wheelchairs) one morning a year - Labor Day, and thousands upon thousands of people take the opportunity to walk it. As the bridge serves as a link for the NCT across the Straits of Mackinac, it was a good place to make the reality of the trail known to people who enjoy walking.

WITH 6000 or more of the beautiful new National Park Service brochures being handed out to Labor Day Mackinac Bridge walkers, along with NCTA membership forms and other items, a couple of tables were kept busy just inserting the information into single packages. Among those "volunteered" for this service were Bob Pinta), assistant manager of Wilderness State Park, Ed Potter, of Hudson, MI, owner of the print shop where the newsletter is printed, and Beverly Burcroft, also of Hudson. ,, '

MICIDGAN GOVERNOR James Blanchard, seen here congratulating NCTA President Martha Jones, made some remarks congratulating the volunteers that have spent ten years developing the North Country National Scenic Trail at the conclusion of his own annual walk across the Mackinac Bridge. The governor led thousands of citizens of Michigan and other states across the "Big Mac."

North Country Trail Association Newsletter, Autumn 1990

-- Nancy Schuler

The five-milers queued up at 10:30. This hike attracted 40 hikers, who did a loop hike through the Allegheny National Forest and returned on the North Country Trail. Ted and Nancy Grisez (AOC) led the group through the woods and across the creeks. Lunch along the way refreshed the hikers.

Twenty-nine hikers participated in the three-mile hikes, offered at various times during the day. Allegheny Outdoor Club leaders Chuck and Marge Neel, Don and Brita Dom, Dorothy Gregerson and Wadek Swartz served as guides on these inspirational hikes to the New York State line and back to Willow Bay Recreation area.

Allegheny Outdoor Club members furnished lemonade, cook ies, coffee and ice-cold water for all registrants. Lovely weather and beautiful scenery prevailed. Ninety-two hikers and eight other folks participated enthusiastically; no one had an accident, no one got lost.

The popularity of the North Country National Scenic trail can only increase; it's on solid footing here in the Allegheny National Forest.

Pennsylvania 10th Anniversary Hike Reoort Celebration hike in Allegheny Forest a success

<< m~r-~ ~1~~ 1n11~r!1r:~ g,1; )< \

~1121~ 101 e~e~~{I! 1~11 ~~ 11 .. u < <tn1n1~1Nmt1n~w11111tu >

County Mounted Police, and 13 riders from Dry Ridge, KY. Two riders at East Fork also came from Indiana.

A youth group from-the Batavia, OH, Church of Christ, includ ing 92 young people and one adult also participated in the Little Miami Park area.

Ohio Tenth Anniversary Hike Reoort

Many horsemen celebrate anniversary hike

One hundred people participated in the 10th Anniversary Cele bration Hike of the North Country National Scenic Trail held on the Allegheny National Forest Sunday, September 2.

Cooperating as sponsors of this happy event were the North Country Trail Association, the Allegheny Outdoor Club, and Allegheny National Forest.

Members of the Allegheny Outdoor Club (AOC) guided hikes of three different lengths, geared to different levels of interest and stamina. They chose an expecially scenic portion of the North Country Trail which winds along the Allegheny Rersevoir.

By 8:00 AM, the first hikers had begun sighing up; the first hike started at 9:00. Hike leader Merle Caldwell (AOC) and Forest Service employees Julie Moyer and Mark Goebl transported 23 hikers through the fog to the far end of the 10-mile segment.

After burning through the fog, the sun heated up the hikers. The 10-mile hike began at Nelse Run, where a plaque commemorates the dedication of the North Country National Scenic Trail and the work of the Allegheny Outdoor Club, and travelled north to Willow Bay Recreation Area on the reservoir.

A good turnout by members of the Ohio Horsemen's Council helped to make the 10th Anniversary Celebration hike of the North Country Trail a big success in Ohio.

One hundred fourteen riders in the Ceaser's Creek- Little Miami area, where Roy Trout, member and former vice-president of the Buckeye Trail Association led three trail rides over the course of the day. NCTA Secretary and horse enthusiast Tomi Lou Spyker said that the Little Miami Park staff did an excellent job of brushing out and clearing the loop trail that the riders used near the Little Miami Park area.

Approximately 90 riders turned out at East Fork State Park, Riders at East Fork included representatives of the Clairmont

Pagel

Wilderness hike About 30 hikers wind through the woods of Wildernea State Park, Michigan, south of the straits of Mackinac, where 10th Anniversary Hike Coordinator DerekBlountled bikes on Saturday and Sunday, Sep tember 1 and 2. Derek reports that the hike drew about 30 hikers each of the two days, and excellent coop eration from busy park personnel. The weather for both of the days hikes was spectacular, and .hikers in all the Mackinac-area hikes re ported enjoying their walk on the North Country National Scenic Trail.


By order of the Assembly,

b~~1i1.n~~ Francirre M. Misasi. Cterk

ADOPTED IN ASSEMBLY ON July 2. 1990

RESOLVED, Thal a copy al this Re sotutton. sullably engrossed. be lransmitted 10 lhe Finger Lakes Trail Conference Incorporated. Tompkins Counly, New York.

RESOLVED, Thal this Legislative Bocly pause In Its deliberations to honor tile work or l110 member s al the Hnqor Lakes Trail Conler ence as lhey cetebr ate the 1oth Annlver aary al Ille North Country Trail; and bo it runner

WHEREAS, This Assembled Body acknowledges lhe groat scrvlco that these dcolcatcd vorunteor s are providing for Illa conscrvauou al our pmctous onvlronrnont as well as tor lhe people or lho great Stale o/ New York; now, thcr efor e. bo It

WHEREAS, The maintenance al tho Finger Lakes Trail allows nature enthusiasts Ir cm around the world to enjoy the natur al splendor of upstate New York; and

WHEREAS, Through the work or dedicated ilnd envlronrnentaftv conscious volunteers 300 miles al the Finger Lakes Trail is meticulously matntatned: and ·

WHEREAS, Attendant lo such concern and fully In accord with lts lonq.standtnq traditions. 11 Is the intent of lhis Assembled Body to honor the Finger Lakes Trail Conference as it celebrates the IOtt1 Anniversary ol the North Country Trail; and

. W.HEflEAS, It I~ the sonso of this Assembled Body that those who give positive dennttion to Ille oromo and dtspostuon of tticlr communities, do so proroundty strengthen our shared commitment to tile exercise of freedom; and

HONOnlNG tho Flnqnr Lakes Trail Contcr ence 10!h Anniversary ol \llo North Country Trail

Stole of New 'rork

==Legislative Resolution _ Assembly No. 1620 v<:t~~h av: M. 01 A. Luster 11i}t(~j~

~·:&,";;-~~

dedication of a section of the FLT in Goundry Hill State Forest as a component of the NCT.

Tom Reimers, Anniversary Hike Coordinator for NewYork, would like to thank the hike leaders and assistants -- Doris Abbott, Cliff Abbott, Howard Beye, Bill Coffin, Joe Dabes, Terry Giar rosso, Tony Ingraham, Larry Komer, Betty Lewis, Laura McGuire, Ed Sidote, Robin Spry-Campbell and Irene Szabo. Prizes given away at the events were contributed by ABC Outdoors Store of Rochester, the Cayuga Trails Club of Ithaca, Eastern Mountain Sports of Binghamton, Eureka Camping of Binghamton, McGuire Gardens oflthaca, and the Wildware Store of Ithaca, The National Park Service provided a recently published brochure on the NCT.

Editor's note: this was one of the Tenth Anniversary Hike events. Joe Dabes was instrumental in getting this segment certified, the first of the Finger Lakes Trail certified as NCT.

Ithaca, New York's Joe Dabes won the Virgil Forest Monster Marathon Sunday Morning, Sept. 2, by nearly 11 minutes.

Dabes, 51, finished the course in 4 hours, 5 minutes and 34 seconds.Binghamton, NY'sJim Miner, 41, was second at4:16:30. The 26.21 mile run has a staggered start with females and masters runners given an advantage. The U.S. National Master News rules were used for the start.

The race is considered the toughest marathon course in the northeast. A 5,560 feet climb winds up on the narrow Finger Lakes Trail.

Ithaca's Shawn McDonald was third (4:17:22), Ed Miville of Covington (PA) was fourth and Paul Peterson of Rome, NY was fifth (4:29:09).

Maria Reija of Pompano Beach, FL, was the top woman finisher at 5:59:30. Only two women ran in the fieldof33 starters and 28 finishers.

The run was held in muggy and warm conditions. It was 65 degrees at the start and 85 at the finish.

=courtesy of Ithaca (NY) Journal

Joe Dabes wins Virgil Forest Monster Marathon on NCT

On September 2, 1990, Martin A. Luster, New York State Assemblyman from the 125th Assembly District, presented to the Finger Lakes Trail Conference a Legislative Resolution from the State of New York to honor the work of the "dedicated and envi ronmentally conscious volunteers" who maintain the Finger Lakes Trail. The resolution, presented in a ceremony before a hike on the FLT in Robert H. Treman State Park, was a highlight of the North Country Trail Tenth Anniversary Hike. The hike has been under planning for several years to commemorate Congressional authorization of the North Country National Scenic Trail (NCI) in 1980. Besides New York, special activites were held in Pennsyl vania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota and North Dakota, the states through which the NCT passes. The hike was sponsored by the North Country Trail Association, the Buckeye Trail Asso ciation in Ohio, the FLTC, and other trail organizations along the 3,200 mile route of the NCT.

The New York contribution to this national celebration was a great success. Over one hundred fifty hikers, trail runners and FLT I NCT supporters participated in the special events held on seven sections of the Finger Lakes Trail that have been or soon will be certified as offical components of the NCT.

Besides Mr. Luster, another special guest on the Trail in Treman State Park was Andrew Mazzella, Director of the Finger Lakes Region of the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historical Preserva tion. Participants in the park were treated to a very informative hike lead by Tony Ingraham of the Finger Lakes Region of the OPRHP.

Other hike events on the FLT included the Virgil Forest Monster Marathon Run, and day hikes in Watkins Glen State Park, Con necticut Hill Wildlife Management Area, Birdseye Hollow State Forest, and in Taylor Valley. The busy day also included official

New York Tenth Anniversary Hike Rf.Dort

FLTC honored at Treman hike ceremony

North Country Troll Association Newsletter, Autumn, 1990 PogeB

Send order to: NCTA Bookstore POBox311 White Cloud, Ml 49349

copies of "Following the North I -- Country Notional Scenic Trail" I ·

at $2.95 per copy ($2.00 per I copy if ten or more)

. I copies of "The North Country I

-- Troll -- Manistee Notional For I est" at $3.00 per copy.

I __ copies of "Gulde to the Pie- I

tured Rocks Notional Lake- I shore" at $5.95 per copy.

I Name 1 GUIDE TO THE PICTURED ROCKS NATIONAL LAKESHORE Address I

by Olive Anderson. Includes revised Lakeshore Trail Guide. The Pictured Rocks I National Lakeshore is the centerpiece of the North Country Trail -- a rugged, unique coast on the still-wild Lake Superior shore. Updated in 1988, this 56 page pj~~~~ .. ~·~·~·i~~~"'$'i'.oo"'P~~·t~g~ .. P~~ I book by Pictured Rocks enthusiast Olive M. Anderson gives the reader revised order. I maps and up-to-date information about this Michigan section of the North Make checks payable to "North Coun-1 Country Trail. $5.95 each; Wholesale (10 or more) $4.25 each. try Troll Association.• -------------------------- .. ·---------- ..

Just Published! FOLLOWING THE NORTH COUNTRY NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL by Wes Boyd, NCT A Newsletter Editor. Packed full of information about the North Country Trail. "The aim is to give the reader the information necessary to find out what they need to know to follow the trail"- - and lots of other useful information. Much more comprehensive than the now out-of-print National Park Service "User's Gulde to the North Country Trail". The most inclusive and up-to-date information on the whole trail. $2.95 each; Wholesale (1 O or more) $2.00 each.

Just Published! THE NORTH COUNTRY TRAIL -- MANISTEE NATIONAL FOREST by the Michigan Trailfinders. Offers a detailed description of the trail from the White Cloud trailhead to Big Star Lake, and from US 10 to McCarthy Lake. Current through June, 1989. $3.00 each, no wholesale available.

North Country Trail Bookstore

1'

--------------------------·----------- .. I I I I

ONE OF THOSE working windmills near the newly certified 25-mile segmentorthe North Country Trail in North Dakota's Sheyenne National Grasslands.

-- Linda (V argeson) Mieke

I'd like to thank Pam Dryer and Pam Bergerson of the North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department for their enthusiastic help and moral support. Also, thanks to Larry Potts of the North Dakota Forest Service for the maps. And, a special thank you to Steve Schumacher and his crew of Forest Service guys for a very well marked trail. Finally, Thank You Phyllis Wirries for being there every time I needed you. Without your help, I may not have done this. Happy Trails!

On Labor Day, 1990, forty-one people and one dog from eastern North Dakota and western Minnesota helped celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the North Country Trail in the Sheyenne National Grasslands of North Dakota. At 7:00 AM Lloyd and Arlene Erickson from Fargo were ready to hit the four mile trail, followed shortly by Bob Kruger and Lois Jorgensen and Hector, the dog. All five are avid volksmarchers and are used to starting out early.

Starting out about the same time was a party of five, including NCTA members Chris and Donna Bredlow from Moorhead, MN, and Kit Schemer, ND State Representative from District 44. The first three hikers planning to go 12 miles were LaVonne and DeAnn Beem from Milnor, ND, and Mike Miller from Brecken ridge, MN. They came with a party ofnine hikers. Twelve hikers went the full 12 1/2 miles, which is half of the total trail in the Grasslands. We provided a shuttle for all the hikers.

It was a beautiful day for hiking on the North Dakota praire. Forecasts were for highs in the 90s and a chance of thunderstorms. Fortunately, the weatherman was wrong, and, although the hu midity was high, the temps only got into the lower 80s with a nice southerly breeze for most of the day. Just as we were packing up to leave about 5 o'clock, it started to rain (what timing!)

Comments made about the hike range from "Beautiful!" to "A person could really get lost if it wasn't marked so well. Every direction you look, the landscape is the same." Some of the "city folks" were surprised and pleased to see working windmills. Several asked to be notified if we do this again next year. The wallins of Milnor, ND said they bring a Luther League group out to the Grasslands every year. The Munskis from Grand Forks, ND, said they'd like to bring a Boy Scout Group down.

Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves and left with several new NCT brochures, NCTA membership brochures, and Ameri can Hiking Society safety brochures.


North Dakota 10th Anniversary Hike Regort

Surprisingly good· turnout in Sheyenne Grasslands

NCTA MEMBERSIDP Chairman Arden Johnson of Rochester Hills smooths out the trail tread on the new "Croton Dam" section of the North Country NST.

--Photos by John Ebersberger, Jr.

DON CAMPBELL and the crew clear trail on a long straight stretch near Croton Dam in the Manistee National Forest, Michigan, during a "Volunteer Vacation sponsored by the American Hiking Society this summer.

[ '' 1~


Address

Name

FOUR ISSUES, SIX BUCKS! Please send me four exciting issues of

AMERICAN IDKER. Enclosed is my check for S6, payable to the American Hiking Society.

,._, _

The American Hiking Society would like to be your voice in the halls of Congress and with the federal land managers nation wide. Get to know us through the pages of our magazine. Four issues, just six bucks. Send your check today to receive the current issue.

Four issues, Six bucks.

A Magazine for the Hiking Community

American Hiking Society IOIS 31st St. N.W.

Washington, DC 20007

HIKER AMERICAN

Volunteers do trail section in Michigan

. · Organized by the American Hiking Society, participants in the "Volunteer Vacations Program" completed a new two mile section of the North Country National < .Scenic Trail through the aspen, red and

· · white pine of western Michigan. Treadway of the trail was laid to the standards set for the NCNST by the U.S. Forest Service for trail on forest service lands.

Located south of White Cloud, Michi gan, connecting the existing trail head with Croton Dam, much of the trail is still in planning. This section, and more in the future, will take hiking off the road and back to the woods and trails.

Two weeks of work and recreation this . summer were made possible with help from · the·U.S. Forest Service, White Cloud Dis trict. Assistant Ranger Diane T. Walker

. - and Recreation Technician Jane A. Hood ;. - foof daily hands of assistance to the group.

Thanks also go to the NCTA's Ginny Wunsch for the stay at the NCT A Head quarters and Hostel, and to Arden Johnson for trail labor.

For more information about Volunteer Vacations, contact Kay Beese, AHS Vol unteer Vacations, PO Box 86, North Scitu ate, Mass., 02060.

--John Jacob Ebersberger, Jr.

tee, and Dwain Abramowski, Chair of the Bicycling Advisory Committee, for helping address this concern in a positive manner.

In addition to Hansen, four other NCTA members sit on the Walk:inWJiiking Advisory Committee: Wes Boyd, Virginia W~, Derek Blount and Pat Allen.

"After initial concerns about the proposed regulations," Dwain Abramowski, chair of the Bicycling Advisory Committee said, "I found the DNR and responsible bikers have the same common interests, and we were able to identify those areas that needed protection and begin the process to establish bike trails in the right places. This will well serve the growing sport of mountain biking."

Abramowski noted that biking organizations throughout Michi gan, such as the Michigan Mountain Biking Association, have offered to provide assistance to the DNR in maintaining and marking trails, and, more importantly, to help educate bicyclists on responsible behavior that is sensitive to the environment and other trail users.

The new orders direct the establishment of designated biking trails in several state parks on or near the NCT route, including Fort Custer Recreation Area, Lake Hudson Recreation Area, Wilder ness State Park and Yankee Springs Recreation Area.

•

The use of bicycles, including mountain bikes, has been re stricted in Michigan state parks and recreation areas where envi ronmental problems and user conflicts have occurred, announced Director David Hales of the Miehigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

The new orders, which take immediate effect, restrict bicycle use to roads and parking lots in most state parks and recreation areas. Bikes will be allowed on trails in 27 state parks and recreation areas where their use has been determined to be enyi ronmentally appropriate and not in conflict with other trail use.

"Bicycling is a legitimate outdoor recreation activity," Hales said, "and the state should provide appropriate places for that use." Hales added that increased use of mountain bikes during the last two years created problems when they were used on environmen tally sensitive state park trails or in areas where they conflict with other existing recreation users.

"Thanks to the efforts of our newly formed citizens advisory committee on trails, we have worked out a way to prevent problems and accomodate this growing sport," Hales said.

Hales applauded the effort of the committees, particularly Dennis Hansen, Chair of the Walking/Hiking Advisory Commit-

Michigan restricts bike use in state parks

A LIKELY LOOKING TRAIL CREW. These six trailbuilders, Wes 'Boyd, Vince Smith, Don Elzinga, Arden Johnson, Rick Brazier and Gene Elzinga were a few of many that worked on the trail project near Marquette in late August.

A TELEVISION REPORTER from Marquette, Mich., interviews Rick Brazier of Bath, England. Rick spent two weeks working on the NCT near Marquette in late August.

North Country Trail Association Newsletter, Autumn, 1990

Superiorland trail is international project

For three years, a variety of trail workers have come together in Marquette and Baraga Counties in the upper peninsula of Michigan, to work: on the trail connection on mostly private WxB between the Ottawa and Hiawatha National Forests -- a big gap that must be filled in to complete the trail in Michigan.

Under the guidance of Michigan "trailmaster" Vince Smith, the group, organized by Don and Gene Elzinga or Marquette and Doug Welker of Baraga this ongoing group is putting in-some exciting trail, mostly on private lands acquired for use by "handshake agreements."

In addition to the Scandanavian accents common to the "U.P.", this year the trail bad an English accent echoing among the pines, asan student from England and bis girlfriend pitched in for two weeks of trailbuilding.

Richard Brazier, 23, of Bath, England, bas been work ing through lesser awards since age 14 toward "The Duke of Edinburgh's Gold Award", an award be likens to the American Eagle Scout; work toward the award must be completed before age 25. One of the many items that must be accomplished is to work on a volunteer project for two weeks with a group of people he's not worked with before. The combination of a plan to spend a couple months in the states, including rafting the Green River in Wyoming and a bike down into the Grand Canyon led him to "Helping Out in the Outdoors", and to the Vince Smith Sierra Club/NCTA project in Marquette County.

Rick was accompanied by a friend, Karen Boomer, also English, who recently graduated from Colby Col lege, Maine. Both proved to be enthusiastic trail workers.

Three years of work have made considerable progress on the Superiorland trail, which will be noted for the wild areas it passes through. The Elzinga brothers and Welker have made a lot of progress in arranging trail permis sions, but much work remains in future years. They'll be glad to have help next year.

1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990* Total NY 0 0 6.5 0 0 13.7 7.45 14.4 42.05 PA 119.65 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 119.65 OH 250.57 0 0 3.92 0 0 23.5 0 277.99 Ml 215.55 0 7.0 11.0 0 21.6 59.07 0 314.22 WI 67.8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 67.80 MN 0 0 0 0 0 68.0 0 0 68.00 ND 1.0 0 1.5 0 0 0 0 25.0 27.50

654.57 0 15.0 14.92 0 103.3 90.02 39A 917.21 (* - as of 7 /9/90)

• TOTAL CERTIFIED MILEAGE

ANNUAL CERTIFICATIONS BY STATE

NORTH DAKOTA Sheyenne National Grassland USDA-FS Sheyenne State Forest NDFS Fort Ransom State Park P&R Dept. Cu"ent Total - North Dakota

MINNESOTA Chippewa National Forest USDA-FS Cu!'l'ent Totr1! - .. Minnesota

OHIO Beaver Creek State Park DNR-Parks 6.25 8/2/83 BT-Tuscarawas CR82 to CRl 09 BTA 5.2 8/2/83 BT-TR 213 to Deersville BTA 6.5 8/2/83 BT-US22 to Guernsey CR893 BTA 4.0 8/2/83 BT-Salt Fork State Park BTA/DNR 7 .8 8/2/83 Wayne National Forest USDA/FS 19.0 l 0/13/89 BT-TR23 to SR377 BTA 5.0 8/2/83 BT-SR555 to Morgan CR39 BTA 4.1 8/2/83 BT-Morgan CRl 01 to SR78 BTA 2.6 8/2/83 BT-Burr Oak State Park BTA/DNR 8.0 8/2/83 BT-Athens CR92 to Salem Rd. BTA 2.2 8/2/83 BT-Wayne National Forest USDA-FS 14.5 l 0/13/89 BT-Mann Rd to TR40 BTA 4.2 8/2/83 BT-Lake Logan Rd to Murphy Rd. BTA 1.4 8/2/83 BT-Star Rt Rd to SR56 (Hocking Hills) BTA/DNR 13.25 8/2/83 BT-Vinton CR47 to TR13 - BTA 3.0 8/2/83 BT-TRl l to SR327 BTA 1.5 8/2/83 BT-Clark Hollow Rd - US 35 (Tar Hollow) BTA/DNR 17 .6 8/2/83 BT-Woods Hollow Rd. to Prussia Rd. BTA 2.2 8/2/83 BT-Davis Rd to Bell Hollow Rd (Pike SP) BTA/DNR 17.0 8/2/83 BT-Bell Hollow Rd to SR41 (Pike SF) BTA 1.5 8/2/83 BT-Fort Hill State Memorial BTA/OHS 4.07 8/2/83 Shawnee Backpack Trail (Shawnee) DNR 14.5 8/2/83 BT-East Fork State Park BTA/DNR 8.6 8/2/83 Little Miami Scenic Park DNR 44.8 8/2/83 Yellow Springs Segment Yellow sprs, 3. 92 l /16/86 BT-Statler Rd. to Piqua Hist. Area BTA 6.3 8/2/83

Copper Falls State Park Chequamegon National Forest Cu"ent Total - Wisconsin

WISCONSIN DNR USDA-FS

8/2/83 8/2/83 8/2/83 8/2/83 8/2/83 8/2/83

95.0 1.5 8.0

1.0 12.75 1.4

119.65

PENNSYLVANIA Allegheny National Forest USDA/FS Baker Trail - Clear Creek St. Forest DER-Forest Baker Trail - Cook Forest St. Park DER-Parks Jennings Environmental Education Ctr. DER-Parks Moraine State Park (Glacier Ridge Tr.) DER-Parks McConnel's Mill State Park DER-Parks Cu"ent Total - Pennsylvania

NEW YORK FLT-Baldwin to Daisy Hollow Rds. FLTC/DEC 6.5 l l /8/85 FLT-Shlndagen Hollow State Forest FLTC/DEC 5.5 7 /9/90 FLT-Danby State Forest FLTC/DEC 5.1 6/21 /88 FLT-Robert H. Treman State Park FLTC/OPRHP 3.5 6/21 /88 FLT-Robert H. Treman State Park FLTC/OPRHP .6 6/21/88 FLT-Connecticut Hill Wiidiife Area FLTC/DEC 7.45 1/20/89 FLT-Watkins Glen State Park FLTC/OPRHP 4.5 12/8/88 FLT-Goundry Hill State Forest FLTC/DEC 8.9 5/l /90 Cutrent Total - New York 42.05

5.0 8/2/83 7.0 11/8/85

28.0 4/25/89 11.0 11/4/86 21.6 7/6/88 34.3 8/2/83

9.25 8/2/83 1.6 8/2/83 1.7 8/2/83

42.0 12/5/89 20.0 5/16/89 24.6 8/2/83

1.5 5/16/89 18.l 8/2/83 42.8 8/2/83

2.81 5/16/89 6.76 5/16/89

26.0 8/2/83 10.2 8/2/83

314.22

7.8 8/2/83 60.0 8/2/83 67.8

68.0 6/22/88 68.0

25.0 7/9/90 1.0 8/2/83 1.5 11/8/85

27.5

917.21

Managing Length Date Authority (miles) C-fied

Segment MICHIGAN M-99 Blkeway MDOT Rogue River State Game Area DNR Manistee NF - 40th St to Nichols Lake USDA-FS Manistee NF - Nichols Lk-Cleveland Dr. USDA-FS Manistee NF - High Bridge to Beers Rd. USDA-FS Shore-to-Shore Riding-Hiking Trail DNR Jordan River Pathway DNR Warner Creek Pathway DNR Spring Brook Pathway DNR Hiawatha NF - Maple Hill to boundary USDA-FS Tahquamenon Falls State Park DNR Lake Superior State Forest DNR Muskallonge Lake State Park DNR Lake Superior State Forest DNR Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore NPS Hiawatha NF - West Unit (1) USDA-FS Hiawatha NF - West Unit (2) USDA-FS Ottawa NF (l) USDA-FS Ottawa NF (2) USDA-FS Cutrent Total - Michigan

NORTH COUNTRY NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL CERTIFIED SEGMENTS as of 7 /9/90 ·

BTA/DNR 42.0 8/2/83 BTA/DNR 7.0 8/2/83

277.99

BT-Miami and Erie Canal Trail BT-Independence Dam State Park Cutrent Total - Ohio


What's done so far: ments, based on an updated list Tom furnished me in early July. Given a little background, the list and summaries of certifica- 1990 Trail Status Survey tionsbrokendownbystateandbyyearmakesinterestingreading.

Last year, we reported a total of 1,945 miles of "usable" trail, by Wes Boyd certified or otherwise, or projects nearing completion. Though I

Tom Gilbert, NFS Administrator for the North Country Trail, have not made a full compilation this year, I can think of 50 or 60 and I bad several exchanges of letters and phone calls after the miles of "projects under way" to add to this list, so the total usable publication of last year's Trail Status Survey, in which I reported North Country Trail bas to be nearing 2,000 miles. Some of this 951 miles certified, or where certification was expected soon. At usable trail is located on roads and is uncertifiable, and some of the that time, Tom said be felt the figure was too high, but be wasn't projects are nowhere near certification - but at an educated sure himself what the total certified mileage of the North Country guess, there are 600 or700 miles of trail outtbere that mostly await Trail was. paperwork to be certified.

Tom is a busy man, but last winter be found some time to go Approximately 654 miles of North Country Trail were certified through bis files and total up all certifications to date, and came up with the publication of the "Comprehensive Plan" in 1983. In the 1 ·

with a figure rather short of what I reported, admitting that be bad first four years following, less than another 30 miles of trail were found some uncertified areas be thought bad been certified. certified, andanotber225 in thelasttwoandabalfyears-buttbis

After talking it over with Tom at the spring meeting, I decided does not represent the amount of certifiable trail constructed in the to forego the usual format of this report, in which we try to list all last seven years. The follow-up work on both the NPS and local certified and "usable" trail, as well as projects in progress, and take levels in getting trail certified since the Comprehensive Plan was the opportunity to publish a definitive list of certified trail seg- written could have been much better.

interested in its tonsils. My teeth and its tail rattled together but somewhat out of tune with each other. I had a sense that he was about to strike so I had a sudden inspiration to hear some music. I began to play a tune on the snake's rattler (Shake, Rattle and Roll). This intensified his anger and I felt the surge of what I thought was his last squeeze before the fatal strike.

It was then that the miracle happened! Because his coils were so large and my small body so wet, I suddenly slipped out of his grasp and was propelled high into the air out over the edge of the chasm. After more somersaults than I didn't remember to count, I looked down to see that I was about to plunge feet first into a deep pool of~ater. Just before I landed, a large, gray-colored shape appeared below me.The "rock" suddenly sprouted and raised its head out of the water and I realized I was about to land feet first into the wide open jaws of a gigantic snapping turtle.

As I again tried to insprire a creative thought, a gush of my now abundant sweat suddenly dropped into the eyes of the turtle, causing him to blink, and he missed his snap. I landed, therefore, on his head, whereupon he suddenly snapped open his jaws, launching me once more high up into the air. Again after an unknown number of somersaults I found myself landing on my feet, this time on the NCT on the opposite side of the chasm heading west. When I looked up to continue on my way, I was face to face with a huge black bear. He was charging rapidly at me; angry because of my sudden appear ance on the trail. My creative urge stirred within me once again but failed to materialize.

In my frustration, and not knowing which way to turn, I simply stooped over to retie my shoes that had ecome unstrung during my trek across the chasm. The bear passed over me and headed pell-mell to the edge of the gorge, falling all the way to the bottom. He landed in the water and made such a splash that the water leaped high in the air on my side of the gorge. It fell on me like a shower from heaven.

I felt better then, having transpathed the chasm, retied my shoe strings, freshly showered and especially to know that I would, in fact, get to the next NCTA meeting on time. I also made a mental not to ask the board of directors to do something about a bridge across that chasm.

by Dr. John Hipps Most of the Allegheny Mountain Plateau here in northwestern

Pennsylvania is relatively flat. The elevation differential varies only a few hundred feet, so the precipitous, craggy contours of the Adirondacks are uncommon.

There are some exceptions, however, and I was suddenly confronted with an unexpected one as I was hiking west toward Ohio. Looming deep and wide before me was a chasm whose

sides were rocky, wet and without a stitch of foliage. How was I ever going to transpath this section of the trail ifl had any hope of making the NCTA meet ing in White Ooud on time?

As I stood there contem plating my predicament, I became aware of a trem bling sensation beneath my feet. When I looked down to where I stood I relaized that I had wandered onto what I thought was a tree trunk that had fallen over a

stream which ran along the edge of the chasm just before it plunged over the edge to the larger stream below.

A moment later this quivering log suddenly confulsed in a spasm, springing to life, and I found myself in the clutching coils of the biggest timber rattlesnake imaginable. I began to perspire profusely as it's coils steadily tightened around my body. Its tail was touching my chin and I was eyeballing into its angry, wide open mouth. I was concerned at this point about not having asked it to say "Ahhhh" and I was not the least bit

over the mountain The bear went

What has happened since 1984? In a recent report published by ODNR, William E. Daehler, administrator of the SCORP devel opment, documented user participation, problems and benefits associated with this trail resource.

Overall, the most popular recreational use of the LMSP is bicycling. Walking ranked second and was most popular during October through March. Running and jogging ranked third. A very minimal use was made by hikers, horseback riders, wheelchair or fishing access.

User profiles pointed out some interesting observations. Most users arrived by car, driving less than 10 miles. More than 50 per cent were females. Average age of users was 43 years. About 60 per cent were married, 18 per cent single, the remaining widowed or divorced.

What factors influenced people from giving greater usage to the LLMSP corridor? Lack of drinking water, lights, toilets, rest areas, etc; Trail too crowded; trail surface not wide enough; user conflicts, related to bicy lists traveling too fast, unsafe passing; and unsupervised children.

For more information about the survey, contact William E. Daehler, Office of Outdoor Recreation Services, ODNR, Fountain Square, Columbus OH 43224.

- Emily Gregor in the BTA Trailblazer

In 1979, the Ohio State Park System acquired a 44-plus mile section of an abandoned railroad right-of-way. The major portion of the right-of-way is located within the seculuded and heavily wooded area adjacent to the Little Miami River. The acquisition of this unique recreational resouce was made possible by a $1 million appropriation from the Ohio General Assembly and matched with $1 million from the Department of the Interior's Rails to Trails program.

The development of the Little Miami Scenic Park was the stimulis needed for the development of the North Country Trail and the Buckeye Trail as it meanders northward from th Ohio River. The trails wander toward the Michigan border using the Ohio Miami and Erie Canal lands.

The Little Miami Scenic Park was dedicated in 1984. Partici pants from all departments from governments, local, state and national, attended this affair.

Ohio DNR studies use of Little Miami Scenic Park


The trail is one of the few places along the NCT where public transportation systems are set up to return hikers to the trail head. Schedules vary; contact Alger County Public Transportation, 101 Court Street, Munising MI 49862 (906) 387-4845 for details.

The trail leaves the visitor center at Munising, and after 1.0 miles reaches the park headquarters. Three miles farther on is Miner's Castle, a naturally sculptured sandstone cliff, one of many that rise as much as 200 feet above lake level for 15 miles along the coast. The trail descends to Miner's Beach, then contin ues to the next camp at Mosquito Beach. The trail passes the striking Battleship Rock on the way to the next camp at Chapel Beach; off in the distance are four waterfalls running down the sandstone cliff to Lake Superior. The next available camp is somewhat inland, on a spur trail, at Beaver Lake, and following that are campgrounds at 7 Mile Beach, 12 Mile Beach and Hurricane River. (From 7 Mile Creek, the biker can follow unmarked forest trails to Kingston Lake Campground, 3.5 miles southwest, and then connect with the 27.5 mile Fox River Path way, an interesting spur to the trail.)

The trail heads on to Au Sable Point Lighthouse, then on down the coast to the log slide, then passes through the Grand Sable Dunes, parallels a road to the information center, and continues on into the village of Grand Marais, where there is a township campground.

The 42.8 miles between Grand Marais and Munising is all certified North Country Trail, and is the only major section of the National Park Service administered-trail that is located on Na tional Park Service land.

The Pictured Rocks are, without a doubt, the centerpiece of Michigan's contribution to the North Country Trail. Hiker's fingers will grow weary of depressing the shutter buttons of their cameras as they try to capture the outstanding scenery of the Lake Superior shoreline - the massive Grand Sable dunes, beautiful sandy beaches, and the magnificant Pictured Rocks. Historic sights such as the log slide and the Au Sable Point lighthouse will

·intrigue hikers. A guidebook to the 42.8 mile trail in the Pictured Rocks is

available from the North Country Trail Association for $5.95. Two developed and 12 backcountry campgrounds are located

along the trail. A free permit is required to camp overnight in the back country. Camps are located about every four miles, allowing the hiker to make a long or short day of it as they desire. Permits

. can be obtained at the park headquarters or at the visitor centers at either end of the trail in Grand Marais or Munising. For more information, contact Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, PO Box 40, Munising MI 49862.

The Pictured Rocks cliffs are beautiful, but can be dangerous to the careless hiker. Fifteen miles of the trail are atop 50-200 foot cliffs. The top of the cliffs is covered with loose sand and gravel. Overhangs are weak, fractured rock. There are no guard railings in the back country, so for safety's sake, stay away from the cliff

·edges. The weather near Lake Superior is very changeable. Be pre

pared for cool, rainy weather, even in the height of the summer months. Black flies, mosquitos, and stable flies can be a nusiance in the summermonths.lnsect repellant is recommended.

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore 42.8

2.9 2.2 LO

.9 1.9 J.O 4.4 J.O LJ 1.3 LJ .4

4.0 2.9

.6 4.7 1.9 1.4 J.7

Total

# Individual # Group sites sites

A. Cliffs ("a" shows group site) 3 B. Potato Patch 3 C. Mosquito River 10 D. Chapel Beach IS E. Coves ("e" shows group site) 5 F. Beaver Lake 10 G. Beaver Creek 6 H. Trappers Lake 5 I. Pine Bluff 5 J. Seven mile Creek 5 K. Benchmark 6 L. Au Sable Point East 8 M. Masse Homestead J

BACKCOUNTRY CAMPGROUNDS

Munising Falls V.C. - Sand Point Sand Point - Cliffs (A) Oiffs - Cliffs group site (a) Cliffs group site - Miners Castle Miners Castle - Potato Patch (8) Potato Patch - Mosquito (C) Mosquito- Chapel (D) Chapel - Coves group site (e) Coves group site - Coves (E) Coves - Beaver Creek (G) Beaver Creek - Pine Bluff (f) Pine Bluff....:.... Trappers Lake Trail Trappers Lake Trail - 7 Mile Creek (J) 7 Mile Cr- 12 Mile Beach 12 Mile Beach-Benchmark (K) Benchmark - AuSable Point East (L) Au Sable Point East- Log Slide Log Slide - Masse Homestead (M) Masse Homestead-Grand Sable V.C.

MILEAGES

Adams

Unpaved from this point west

"' . Unpaved from this point east

Trail heads

Trails Roads

0 Backcountry Campgrounds A Drive-in Campgrounds

Lakeshore Boundary Buffer Zone Bouridary

• NORTH LEGEND

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Backcountry Campground Locations


At the fall meeting of the NCTA, to be held in October in Munising, Ml, the membership will be asked to vote on the removal of a section of the constitution that limits the number of years a director may serve.

Notice

Friday, October 19 4:00 "Work outthe kinks hike" -1 mile- meet at Miner's Falls parking lot, northeast of Munising. 5:00 Airport Van pickup at Marquette Airport. Pre-registation required. 6:00 Registration and social hour opens at the Fireplace Room of the Best Western Motel, 3 miles east of Munising on M-28. 7:30 Six-entree dinner - all you can eat, $12.75; Fireplace Room, Best Western Motel. 8:00 Welcoming, organizing committee remarks. (Later: Sing a-long if someone brings a guitar? Tall Tales of the North Country Trail by John Hipps?)

Saturda.y, October 20 All activities at the USFS/NPS Visitor Center in downtown Munising. 8:00 Late registration opens; coffee and rolls. 9:00 Business meeting 12:00 Catered pastie lunch, $5.00 1:00 1990 Hike report - national and state chairmen. 2:00 Trail Progress Report - Tom Gilbert; state progress reports. 3:00 Seminars: Trails on private lands, adopt-a-trail programs. 5:00 Dinner on your own. 7:00 Evening activites: tour of Visitor Center; presentations on Pictured Rocks, Lakeshore Trail, Grand Island development, and Hiawatha National Forest. Other programs possible.

Sunda.y, October 21 Breakfast on your own 9:00 Meet at visitor center for hikes (locale to be worked out and announced at the meeting, depending on weather and interest.) 9:00 Airport courtesy car leaves for Marquette Pre-registration required.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS 1990 NCTA Fall Meeting

Munising, MI

airport courtesy car. Several hikes and other activities are planned for the weekend,

depending on the weather, which can be quite variable at the time of year, so plan accordingly.

The NCTA will sponsor a short "Get-the-kinks-out" hike to Miner's Falls at 4:00 PM on Friday afternoon. Meet at the Miner's Falls Parking lot. To reach the parking lot, go about four miles east on County Road H-58 from downtown Munising, then about four miles north on Pictured Rocks Trail.

Other hike plans will be announced at the meeting, but hikes around the Chapel Lake and Chapel Beach loops are a possibility if weather permits.

For further information about Munising, the Pictured Rocks, . and the surrounding area, contact the Alger Chamber of Com merce, Box 405, Munising, MI 49862 (906) 387-2138.

Page15

The NCTA 1990 Fall Meeting will be held on October 19 through 21 at Munising, Michigan, near the famous Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Plan now to attend!

The meeting will be held at the new joint NPS/USFS visitor center in central Munising. Main meeting activities will take place on Saturday at the center. A hospitality suite and reception/dinner is planned for Friday night, at the Munising Best Western Motel, about three miles east of town on M-28.

The format of the meeting is a little different than normal in that there will be no extensive pre-registration for the meeting. There will be a general registration charge (not including meals) of $2.00.

There will be a buffet dinner with several different entrees, at a cost of $12.75 per person (drinks extra), on Friday night at the Best Western motel. While pre-registration is not necessary, we will need to know ahead of time if you are coming to the Friday night dinner. Please drop a card to Kathy Boyd, 14815 Rome Road, Manitou Beach, MI 49253, telling us you 're coming, or call (517) 547-7402notlaterthan the evening of Wednesday, October 17, to let us know if you will be at the dinner. . There will also be a pastie lunch at noon, Saturday, catered at the visitor center. Cost for the lunch will be $5.00. If you're not coming to the Friday dinner, it will be necessary to register by 9 AM Saturda.y for the lunch. All other meals will be "on your own", but several restaurants are located within easy walking distance of the meeting site. One you should see in particular is the Dogpatch, located 1/2 block west of the visitor center.

Meeting attendees will be on their own for finding accomoda tions, but with several motels and campsites around in a slow time of year, this should not prove difficult. Several motels are located within easy walking distance of the meeting location, including the Northern Motel (906) 387-2493, Voyager Motel ((906) 387- 2127; Vacationer Motel (906) 387-3400; Scotty's Motel (906) 387-2449, the Starlight Motel (906) 387-2291, and the Terrace Motel, (906) 387-2735. Somewhat farther is the Sunset Motel (906) 387-4574; east of the city, the Best Western, with indoor pool, sauna, whirlpool, and king size suites (906) 387-4864; the Alger Falls Motel (906) 387-3536; the Hillcrest Motel and Cabins (906) 387-9959; and at Christmas, 41/2 miles west, the Yule Log Motel and Cabins at (906) 387-3284 or (906) 387-2637. Several other motels are located in AuTrain, several miles further west.

Camping is available at the Munising City Tourist Park (906) 387-2095, and the private Otter Lake Campground (906) 387- 3559. Camping is also available at the Bay Furnace USFS Camp ground. If you plan on camping, prepare for winter weather as frost and/or snow are strong possibilities at this time of year.

A special airport courtesy car will be run to the Marquette Airport for the benefit of those flying into the meeting. The courtesy car will leave the Marquette Airport at 5 :00 PM Friday, and will leave Munising to go back to the airport at 9:00 AM Sunday. You must call Kathy Boyd at (517) 547-7402 not later than the evening of Wednesday, October 17 to register for the

at Munising, MI

Fall Meeting Oct. 19-21


Phone--------------

Name

Address

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

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

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

Adult. $ 10.00 Family (includes children under 18) $ 15.00 Student $ 5.00 Organization $ 25.00 Supporting $ 50.00 Donor ·$ 250.00 Life $ 300.00 Patron $ 5000.00 Commercial $ 500.00

D Yes, I would like to further support the North Country Trail Association with my tax free contribution of $ ......... enc,losed.

APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP

Contact the North Country Trail Association

PO Box311 IJ White Cloud, Michigan 49349

~~ v Si~~ 0 ~1{~ 1~- v (U'\,U:\ ~\.U

0 v Ji NR

0 ~

00410 Ol,...,•T•l"1 Of'

""'TLlll•H. 1190LIC&.I

OD~

To build a 3,259 mile National Scenic Trail takes great teamwork. Join our team! D

north star vol. 9, no. 4 (1990)

Documents