North Star Vol. 15, No. 1 (1996)

Trail work in Wisconsin during fall of 1995

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage

PAID Permit No. 47

Caledonia, Ml 49316

That's a lot of newsletters -- 37, in fact, since I've been editing this rag. It was fun to see them all laid out in one spot and reflect on how far we've come in a relatively short time. The first newsletter that I did was eight pages -- now, it usually runs 24 or 28, and we've, done 32. And, I've received some very flattering com ments on the newsletter. There are trail newsletters that have more budget, better production, better color - but there aren't many that get the content that some how we seem to manage issue after issue.

I do see some shortcomings, some caused by budget. But even given those limits, there are some improve ments in the works. Even with the airing outl gave the format a while back, it's still a bit dense; I'm going to try to work on the visual quality a bit, and try to make it more useful to the reader. But budget is the big limit.

Since the newsletter mostly goes to members, and membership is where our budget comes from, you can help improve the newsletter by helping add to our membership! A larger membership means an even better newsletter! The newsletter makes a good persuader for prospective members -- and if you need extra copies, or some of those back issues, they're available from the NCTA office.

Last Fall, Pat Allen and I decided that we ought to centralize the extra back issues of the newsletter, so as to make them better available to those interested. Since I've been doing the newsletter, I've been stuffing a handful of each one into a cabinet at my office, in order to have them available when I need to check on some thing, and the cabinet was starting to get full. So, I sorted them out:

One of the nice points about our Website being on the Grand Rapids Freenet is that it's available to all - unlike the much-ballyhooed American Hiking Society "National Trails Information Center", which unfortu nately is located on America On-Line, and thus is only available to a small percentage of Internet users. The last study I saw, only about ten percent oflnternet users have AOL access.

I have mixed emotions to report that the North Star Bulletin Board will go off-line on January 20. After a year of operation, the use factor just hasn't been high enough to continue making the effort. Part of this has come from the explosive growth of the Internet, and especially the World Wide Web, in the past year.

However, we still feel that there's a need for an electronic presence for the trail -- and so, we're announc ing our new World Wide Web site:

http://www.grfn.org/-northsta.html Much of the information on the trail available on the

North Star Bulletin Board has been transferred to the Website, which has just gone on line, with a lot help of a volunteer netsurfer, Tom Houghtby of Adrian, MI. We could not have pulled this together without his glad assistance.

The NCTA Website is not the first for a national trail association; we're behind the Appalachian Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail, and have links to both those pages. In time, we expect considerably more trail infor mation to be available online for trails across the coun try.

There's lots going on this winter, and there's some comment deserved.

The first, and most important comment, is that we're sorry to see Pat Allen have to leave the Executive Director post. Pat informed us at the November meet ing of the board that she was going to have to leave sooner or later, if she wanted to finish up vesting her retirement with the State of Michigan. Needless to say, we were all hoping for later than sooner, and it worked out to be sooner, rather than later. Pat has taken on an important position as Interim Director of the Michigan Children's Trust Fund, and there's some troubled areas there that need attention. However, we feel sure that the children of Michigan will be in good hands.

Pat has done a terrific job for the Association and for the trail, and she will be missed. Needless to say, there is a search under way for her replacement, but we hope that she won't stray too far away from the North Country.

The deadline for the April-May issue of the Newsletter is April 1, 1995. Items received after that date cannot be assured of a place in the newsletter. Items received well before that date are much appreciated. The deadline for the June-July issue of the newsletter will be June 1, 1996.

by the Editor

Keyboard Trails

NORTH STAR: The Newsletter of the North Country Trail Association, January-March 1996 Page 2

*** THE PACIFIC NORTH

WEST Trail Association has re leased on computer diskette the revised second edition of its guide book. The fimt guide was a print edition from 1984. ThePNWI'uses existing roads, foot and horse trails to cover 1,100 miles between Gla cier and O]ympic National Parks. For more information, contact PNTA, (206) 842-4547.

THE ICE AGEParkand Trail Foundation has moved into an his toric 19th century office building that served as the first offices of the Pewaukee State Bank. Their

· new street address is 101 W. Wis consin Ave., Pewaukee, WI 53072. Their mailing address and phone number remain the same.

***

(Point 27 on the same map, (614) 385-8187; andRainbow'sEndB&B between points 36 and 37 (614) 385-2537. Reservations are neces sary, and Daniel suggests getting rates in advance. Anyone else know of other good "Inn-to-Inn" hikes?

1995 Fall Board Meeting Report 6 Trail building In lower Michigan 6 Annual conference to be Sept 6-9 7 NCT now on World Wide Web 7 AHS supports National Tran Partnership 8 A vision for the new mlllenlum 9 1995 Annual Report 11 1995 Trail Status Report 15 Where Is our wandering girl tonight? 16 Eastern New York: Alternatives and issues 17 Lots of coming events 21

UKE TO have a nice multi day walk without a heavy pack? The BTA's Paul Daniel has iden tified an Inn-to-Inn hike oppor tunityin thescenicHockingHills section. The key Inns are The Inn at Cedar Falls (Point 17 on the BTA's Old Man's Cave map, (614) 385-7489; Spencer House

*** TWO NEW NCTA State Co

ordinators have been named: In · Pennsylvania, Don Dorn, Star Rt. Box 476, Sheffield PA 16347 (814) 968-5759; Minnesota, Rod Mac Rae, 1210W.22ndSt.,Minneapo lis, MN 55405 (612) 377-0130.

***

*** PENNSYLVANIA'S Key

stone Trails Association held its 40th annual meeting at Camp Swatara in Berks County last fall. Congratulations on 40 suc cessful years!

Ginny Wunsch, long-time NCTA Headquarters Manager.

ON NATIONAL Trails Day last spring, the BTA'sJim Sprague was honored by Vibram shoes as Ohio's outstanding trail volunteer of the year, according to the BTA Trailblazer. This makes two NCTA stalwarts to receive the award this year, the other being Michigan's

***

*** APLANNING MEETING to

develop trail in southern Michigan was held in mid-November, and several projects are under consid eration, including trail in Lost Nations State Game Area, where permission to put the trail has fi nally been received, after efforts dating back to 1987. Some new segments could be in place next summer.

*** BEFORE THE SHUTDOWN

came, the Park Service office in Madison did a fair amount of certi fication activity-- 23.2 miles in 10 separate segments in central New York, and 2.9 miles in Wilderness State Park, Michigan. The new certifications bring the total certi fied length of the trail to 1294.2 miles, and the total signed mileage to 1304.4 miles.

THE SHUTDOWNoftheFed eral Government at the end of the year hit the Park Service espe cially hard, and it hit the trail hard. Work on the trail route in northwestern WJSCOnsin, and plans to hold a meeting about funding a land staff in the Park Service office had to be delayed or abandoned, and several other items were thrown off track, including publi cation of the Trail Construction and Maintenance Handbook and work on Minnesota's Arrowhead ' project.

Page 3 NORTH STAR: The Newsletter of the North Country Trail Association, January - March 1996

Editor's note: E-Mail can be sent to Pat Allen -- or her replacement, since she's leaving -- at the above address, but you 're better off sending it to [email protected] as that address is checked more frequently. You can E-mail me at [email protected]. But, despite the over whelming majority of E-mail in this column,you can still contact the trail association offices at 3777 Sparks SE, Suite 105, Grand Rapids, Ml 49506, or mail stuff for the newsletter to me at 14815 Rome Road, Manitou Beach, Ml 49253 -· Wes

From: [email protected]'' Reading the Northstar:

Derek mentions pictures of various CCS projects to be published in future editions. Just thought I'd let you know that I'm getting quite a few pictures with the reports on the projects that are being submitted.

Electronic Addresses: Why don't you list Pat Allen? It's [email protected]

From: "[email protected]" Please add me to the NCTA Email directory listing

next time you publish it in the North Star. You may describe me as ''Member, West Michigan Chapter" or whatever your standard nomenclature allows for.

Bruce Eckert I [email protected]

From: "GaylY [email protected]" My recently published computer address in the

latest edition of''North Star''is not correct. My address for Internet is [email protected]

If you run corrections in the next edition, will you please show the correct address.

Gaylord Yost

From: '[email protected]" ''Joan H. Young" Hi Wes-

1 got the October North Star. The picture with the vista blew up nicely·· you can feel the wind, and see the space!

It's not clear to me if the e-mail directory is just for organizations and agencies, or if it is to include indi viduals. If the latter, count me in.

Hope all is well with you. Joan Young

Gail Werner

From: ''[email protected]" "GailK. Werner" Dear Wes, I would appreciate your including me in the mes

sage when you publish a list ofE-Mail addresses for trail organizations.

Board nominations sought Nominations are being sought for five positions on

the Association Board of Directors for terms beginning in May of 1996 and ending May, 1999. Board members may serve two consecutive terms, and then must leave the Board for at least one year. Nominees must be current members of the Association.

The Board ofDirectors is made up of 17 members who are elected by the Association Membership, with some seats elected from each of four regions along the trail. The Board meets three times per year is is responsible to the members for administration of the budget, carrying out fund-raising, and setting priorities and policies. Board members agree to attend most meetings and to serve as chair or member of a committee.

Interested individuals should submot a 75-word de scription of their trail and conservation interests, and history with the Association. Submit nominations no later than February 29 to Nominations Chair, Doug Welker, Rl, Box 59A, Pelkie, MI 49958.

This is my final column as your Executive Director. I am reluctantly leaving the position this month to relocate of Lansing, Michigan, and resume my employ ment with the State ofMichigan. My husband's long daily commute there, and my own looming loss of prior state pension credit made it a "reasonable" decision, but not one of the heart.

Speaking of the heart, this week brought a warm letter from Maureen Smith, daughter of the late A. Vincent Smith, who led many work sessions along the trail in Michigan. Maureen called me last fall for maps so she could hike on sections of the trail which were devel oped by Vince. Some of his ashes have been distributed along the trail. We remember Vince fondly, and have his trail files here in the office. Congratulations, Maureen, on your imminent receipt of your MA in Journalism. Please visit us soon.

rm feeling a great deal of sympathy for our National Park Service partners in Madison. The government shut down penalizes these dedicated staff and makes it harder for them to catch up when they return. One of the most important meetings for the NCTA is scheduled in early January. We will be sitting down with the Park Service to discuss land acquisition issues. I am hoping this meeting will not have to be rescheduled.

I will be passing the torch to your next director. It is an excellent postion for a terrific organization. I will return to my former status of Member.


Your Board of Directors recently completed a bud get for the 1996 NCTAyear. As in the US Government, we had a lot of hard decisions to make, but unlike the government, came to an end result. Please also look at the 1995 Financial Report in this issue. If you would like a copy of the NCTA budget for 1996, you can request a copy from our office. The Board also decided to concen trate this next year on a few key committees: Trail Management, Membership, and Fund Raising. The last one will help us to become more financially stable and not have to reply on government support as much as we do now. David Cornell has graciously volunteered to head the Fund Raising Committee. If you have an interest in this area he would welcome any help he could get. Gaylord Yost has taken over the Trail Management Committee. This committee has been and will continue to manage the development, construction and mainte nance of the trail.

This spring, the 13th National Trails Symposium will be held in Washington, D.C. The three day event is surrounded by workshops, field trips, and an advocacy day. Some of the sessions will include "Selling Trails", Global Positioning Systems, RatingTrailsAccessability, Electronic Communications, Trails Maintenance Train ing, Working with Congress and Federal Agencies, and many more interesting topics. If you are interested in attending, call American Trails at (303) 321-6606, or FAX (303) 321-6864, or Internet E-Mail, [email protected].

I would like to propose a major project for the NCT. I am proposing the entire length of the NCT be marked in some way so that it could be traveled in long sections more easily, and also be perceived as a contiguous trail, rather than disjointed pieces. To do this, we would need the help of a lot of volunteers across the entire length of the trail. If you think this is a good idea, and would like to help in your section of the trail, please contact me through the NCTA office. It will in many cases just involve nailing up trail markers. In other areas, it may require the building of a trail head sign or kiosk. These are all small projects that anyone can complete regard less of age or experience. If you have ever wanted to get involved in a small way, now is the time.

It is that time of year again that we begin to look for new Board members. If you would like to serve on the Board of Directors and have the time to devote your energies to it, we would like you to nominate yourself by submitting your name to the Nominating Committee. You will be expected to attend three Board Meetings each year and serve on a committee. Just drop them a note with your experience and/or qualifications to the NCTA office. Four Board positions are up for election this year. If you need more information, call the NCTA office, Ken Gaclder or Doug Welker.

As a last note, remember that June First is Na tional Trails Day. Please try to get out on the trail that day. If possible, invite a few friends, a local political figure or business person. Just get out an~help us celebrate NTD 199(),, .. , ~. · ; r: ·>· ·

Happy Trails!

Winter. I know I don't have to remind you of the season, with all of the snow and cold that has inundated our region. It is important; however, to remind everyone that now is a good time to plan your Spring hiking trips or trail construction projects. Lots of new trail has opened this year, so look around at the new sections and tty one. If you plan a hiking trip and want a few others to join you, please let Wes Boyd, our newsletter editor, know, and he can include it in the list of activities.

Remember that the Mackinac Mush sled dog race will again be held on the trail in northern Michigan the first weekend in Febru ary. It's still not too late to get in on the fun. For informa tion, call 1-800-666- 0160.

The NCTA will be losing Pat Allen as our executive director this month. She is moving on to a new position with the State of Michigan as the Interim Director of the Michigan Children's Trust Fund. We will miss her greatly. She will bestayingonasanNCTAmember. She has given a great deal of guidance to our organization, and helped pull us into the forefront of the National Trails System. Her dedication and perseverance has helped place the NCT on the agenda of many govern ment units, volunteer organizations, foundations, and other interested parties. Through her efforts, we dragged the NCTA office from a back bedroom to a professional office building where we can now better serve the members and public. Each month the mail continues to rise in volume. Through her efforts, the NCT is being discovered by many more Americans. Thanks, Pat, and best of luck from all of us.

'The trail planning process is gathering speed in northwest WJSCOnsin, even as the Eastern Ohio Environ mental Assessment has been sent to the NPS Regional Office in Omaha. Kim Bair, our Recreational Planner, has begun to assemble the map presentations for the public meetings and has visited the area for background. She has assembled a core planning team that will take the process in hand and move forward in a new area for the trail. Kim does a lot of work in the preparation for trail development. Not only are public meetings held, but a full Environmental Assessment is conducted. All of this helps to bring governmental units, local groups and individuals into the planning process. Our trail planning process has gotten far more sophisticated and succeSsrul since Kim came on boa.rd. Thanks, Kim.


L---------------------~~- -- ~~ -- ~

provides a connection to the River Walk in Petoskey. A segment that was begun north of Petoskey last year

was completed and adds 6.8 miles. While most of this segment is in Pere Marquette State Forest, it required agreements with three private owners for small pieces to complete the segment.

'The trail was also completed through Wilderness State Park. The main trail from the past was extended 2.6 miles to the picnic area on Sturgeon Bay by a Boy Scout group two years ago., 'This section was cleared of many windfalls and improved to NCTA standards. Then the Sierra Club sponsored a work week in July and extended the trail from the picnic area to the south park boundary. Ralph and Barbara Powell organized this project and added another 2.8 miles offine trail. They are due thanks and congratulations for their efforts.

Laterin the summer, the trail was extended from the park boundary south around Wycamp Lake and down to levering Road, east of Croes Village. This segment was 5.7 miles long. As a result, there is now a continuous trail of over 25 miles from Mackinaw City through the state park and down 1D levering Road.

Trail Manager Arden Johnson wishes 1D thank all the members, volunteers and others who made a successful trail building season possible.

There was progress in 1995 getting the trail built in lower Michigan. A lot of people pitched in, and the results were significant.

Beginningatthesouthendofthestate,asurveyofthe Battle Creek linear Parkway in April resulted in the City applying for certification of 8.2 miles of really fine multi use trail. Congratulations to the city for building and maintaining an attractive trail segment.

Further north, the west Michigan Chapter surveyed a route through Lowell State Game Area, filed a project request with the DNR, and is ready to begin construction. 'This will be the first step in a joint effort with the Kent County Parks and Recreation Department to complete the trail through the county.

On the south edge of Charlevoix County, a 2.9 mile segment started last year was completed in the spring.

In southeast Emmet County, a 4.3 mile segment started last year was completed. This involved two sec tions of state forest, two sections of the City of Petoskey, and a private farm. 'This segment became possible when the farm owners invited us to cross their property. We need more people like that.

On the south side of Petoskey, an agreement with North Michigan Central College allowed us to build a connection to their nature trail, a 1.7 mile addition that

Trail building progress in lower Michigan

from operational funding, and seeking an increase in mem bership, in order 1D allow both more income and more services. Both it.ems are seen 1D be major priority it.ems for the board and the association in the upmming year.

In other business: • Wes Boyd was elected Secretaiy. He had been

acting secretaiy since last Summer. • President Derek Blount reported that trails do not

appear to lose very much in the new congressional budget, although it remained to be finalized.

• The board approved a resolution endorsing efforts 1D pass the "Teaming with Wildlife resolution, which would tax outdoor equipment and related materials for wildlife and other out.door funding.

• The board also approved a resolution endorsing efforts toward development of a coast-to-roast northern national scenic trail, of which the NCNSTwould bea part.

• Was informed of a $1000 grant from Ameritech. • Was informed that the 1995 Conference came out

close to even financially. A $362 profit will be shared with the FLTC. About 115 people attended the conference.

• The Board rejected the purchase of the Peter Wolf house near Ontanagon, Mi, because of possible encumberances and liens, on the recommendation of the Land Trust Committee.

• Voted a response recommendingthat no action be taken on the report of proposal for the American Discov ery Trail.

• Established an Emergency Fund made up of un used Challenge Cost Share fund.

'The next board meeting will be at the same place on May 18.

, While much else was discussed, making the North CoUntry Trail .Association's budget fit the goals of the organization was the primary topic of the Board of Direc tors meeting held November 10-11 at the Courtyard Inn in Romulus, MI,

For the past several years, income from the National ParkServicecooperativeagreementhasbeensubstantial enough that the association has been able to operate at least partly on the previous year's overruns, so funding has not been a major concern. However, with the new office in Grand Rapids, the recreational planner, and the desire for the executive directorship to be a full-time position, as well as other items, livingwithin a budget has become a priority. 'The board approved a spartan $112,500 budget that still manages to handle most of the goals for the upcoming year. However, it's a stopgap, and if other measures are not taken, next year's budget will have to be even tighter. One of the items that had to be left out was a reprinting of the popular National Park Service bro chure, which is now getting to be in limited supply.

Two things are especially needed: a more serious approach toward fundraising for the association, espe cially seeking grants to handle much of what has come

Ours, not theirs Board approves balanced budget


The North Country Trail is now on the Internet -- as are more and more trails around the country. If you have Internet access, you can access the NCTA Web site at:

http://www.grfn.org/-northsta.html We will be working on improving the appearance

and information available on the page. We also will be working out links to some other hiking trail sites, and will be asking some sites to link to that page.

In browsing about the Web the past few months, we've turned up a few other sites to add to Beth Hronek's list in the last North Star:

The Crescent Trail, Perinton, NY: http://www.nyeyp.com/cta/nytrail.htm

The Hiking and Walking Home Page: http://www.teleport.com/-walking/hiking.html

Keystone Trail Association: http://www.reston.com/kta/kta.html The American Hiking Society has also created a

"National Trails Information Center On-Line". How ever, unfortunately it's located on AOL, and thus not reachable by most Internet and WWW users.

NCTA goes on the World Wide Web

organic produce is served whenever possible. Dietary restrictions are easily accomodated-.

The planning team, lead by Pete Budde and Gaylord Yost, met with Sanctuary Director Christine Turnbull in November for a tour of the facility before settling down to talking over individual responsibilities and the conference agenca. Other team members included Kathy Bero, Adam Cahow, Steve Clark, Tracy Hamley, Rick Magyar, and Bill Stokes for the Ice Age Foundation, and Kim Bair, Patrick Nelson and George Tresnak for the North Country Trail Association, and Susan Nelson from the US Forest Service. NCTA Director Pat Miller is also part of the team, but was not able to make the meeting.

A second meeting is schedule for January 13 at Stevens Point, Wisconsin, to continue the planning and efforts needed to make the conference an interesting and fun event for both organization's members. Watch for further news. Early registration information will be published later in the spring.

A planning team began work in November for the joint Ice Age Park and Trail Foundation and North Country Trail Association conference to be held Sep tember 6-9 at the Hunt Hill Augubon Sanctuary. The Sanctuary is located about four miles east of Sarona, Wisconsin, and 12 miles south of Spooner. The site was chosen for its close proximity to both the Ice Age and North Country National Scenic Trails, which will allow good access for outings.

The Hunt Hill Sanctuary is one of WISCOnsin's best kept sectets. Hunt Hill is an environmental learning center managed by the Friends ofHunt Hill, and owned bytheNationalAudubonSociety.Nestledinthewooded, rolling hills of Washburn County, the Sanctuary offers 500 acres of mature hardwood forest, peppered with groves of ancient white pines, meadows, whispering with grasses and wildflowers, black spruce and tama rack bogs, surrounding two pristine, glacial lakes. The diverse habitats support many plans and animals which have disappeared from other areas due to habitat deteroiration and fragmentation. The undisturbed aquatic and terrestial communities support many osprey, bald eagles, common loons, and other rare animals and plants. A channel connects the glacial lakes on the property with Big Devil Lake to the north west. A network of trails wind throughout the grounds and provide excellent opportunities to study the flora and fauna, experience the tranquility of the sanctuary, and enjoy the companionship of other hikers and nature lovers.

The facilities consist of a unique cedar barn which houses a dining hall; a gift shop, which offers books, stationary, handcrafted and nature oriented gifts, T shirts and sweatshirts; a loft used for scientific studies, crafts, dances, meeting! and a large, modern kitchen. Two one-story wooden residential facilities offer restic coµntry charm for conference participants. The Long Dorm features four spacious wings, each housing six to 14 persons. Each dorm offers bathrooms, with sink and toilets. A modern showerhouse is just across a small courtyard.

Classes and meetings will be held in the beautiful Lodge-Library, where field guides and nature-oriented books are available for use during your visit. The water front provides swimming, canoeing, fishing, a "floating classroom" pontoon boat and a quiet place to observe waterbirds or turtles. Hunt Hill is reknown for its wholesome, delicious meals prepared from "scratch • foods to promote a healthy lifestyle. Locally grown,

North Country Trail Association/ Ice Age Park & Trail Foundation Joint Conference Planned for Sept 6-9


--Russ Fure

let my ears hear just the music

of your silent symphony

let my heart beat time with your heart

let my soul waft gently free

Earthsense ... a hiker's prayer

Let me stop here fora moment let me sit here

fora spell

let my eyes drink in your beauty

let my nose your perfume smell

"The best thing we can do for the long-distance trails of the National Trails System is to work more closely with them and provide financial support for the Partnership", said David Lillard, AHS President. AHS's financial contribution is made possible by a gift from Robert and Dee Leggett of Virginia. The Leggetts are Life Members of AHS, and Mr. Leggett serves as Trea surer of its Board of Directors.

Financial support for the Partnership from con stituent groups is also growing steadily. the Florida, North Country and Pacific Crest Trail Associations, as well as the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation, the Nachez Trace Trail Conference and the Iditarod Trail Committee have formally joined the partnership with annual dues contributions totalling $5,200.

The Partnership's new series ofleadership training workshops, conducted by the Institute for Conservation Leadership, is now under way. The National Park Service has committed itself'to funding at lease three of six projected sessions. The first workshop was attended by representatives of the North Country Trail Associa tion in November. Another is being organized for the Florida Trail Association for late April of next year, and planning in under way for a workshop for the Natchez Trace Trail Conference. Future workshops are open for interested Partnership members. For more informa tion, call the Partnership Chair, Gary Werner, at (608) 249-7870.

A national effort has begun to establish a stable, long term funding mechanism for nongame wildlife programs throughout the United States. The effort is patterend after the successful Pittman-Robertson and Wallop-Breaux programs which places an excise tax on firearms, ammunition and fishing tackle. Together, these programs have raised hundreds of millions of dollars for fish and wildlife management, yet they have not solved the whole problem. These fnds are primarily used for management involving game species, leaving an additional 700 species of mammals, birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians without any major direct fund ing.

The Initiative would place up to a five percent surcharge on selected items of outdoorequipment. Items being considered include binoculars, bird seed, back packs, tents, cameras, and field guide books along with other outdoor equipment. It is estimated that each year this program could raise from $100-$300 million dollars nationally. Michigan, for example, could receive fund ing up to $12 million for work on wildlife management pertaining to nongame, threatened or endangered ani mals.

More and more people are beginning to recognize and use our wildlife as a major part of their outdoor recreational activity. In Michigan, it is estimated that nearly half the residents participate in viewing, photo graphing or feeding wildlife. Fish and Wildlife manage ment historically has been supported by hunters and anglers. This initiative would increase the base of sup port for funding sound wildlife management while in suring a brighter future for all wildlife species.

Wildlife diversity initiative under way

The American Hiking Society has joined the Part .nership for the National Trails System with a two year commitment of major financial support and technical assistance. Through cash contributions of more than $30,000 over the next two years, AHS will help pay the salary for one staff member, and will provide staff assistance on selected Partnership projects. AHS has also agreed to accept and hold tax-deductible contribu tions made for the Partnership and to raise funds for specific Partnership projects, including an electronic communications network among the Partnership orga nizations, and support for teleconferences and meet ings.

AHS offers financial support to Partnership for National Trails

NORTH STAR: The Newsletter of the North Country Trail Association, January-March 1996 Page B

definable concept? A more exciting concept? A more unified concept? A concept that stirs the soul, and ca.uses the feet to it.ch?

It's not impossible, either. Some key players have already shown interest or support of the concept of a northern coast-to-coast national scenic trail, though much work remains to be done on the details.

The Pacific Northwest Trail Association has al ready expressed their interest in the Pacific Northwest Trail being part of a coast-to-coast northern scenic trail; their marked trail runs from Cape Aiava to Glacier National Park, and other routes could be followed. Glacier NP is already the northern trailhead of the Continental Divide Trail; the most completed sections are in Montana and Wyoming. A coast-to-coast north ern scenic trail could follow the CDT southeastward for a ways, before turning east. James Wolf, Director of the Continental Divide Trail Association, recently proposed just such an idea as a more scenic alternative to the mostly roadbound "American Discovery Trail".

There are two real gaps that need to have a real route worked out in this concept, and the biggest is between the CDT and Lake Sakakawea on the NCT.

The route that grabs the eye first is the one sug gested by Wolf·· follow the CDT southward until about thelatitudeofGreatFalls,Montana,followtheDearborn River out to the Missouri, and more or less follow the Missouri eastward, taking advantage of a fair profusion of public lands ·· especially the Missouri Breaks Wild and Scenic River Area, and the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge around Fort Peck Lake. Get ting from there to the North Dakota border could in volve roadwalking, but once in North Dakota, the Little Missouri Grasslands provide a potential route to the North UnitofTheodoreRooseveltNationalPark. TRNP officials have identified a route from there to Little Missouri Bay State Park on Lake Sakakawea, but concede that from there to the western NCNST trail head at Lake Sakakawea State Park, thirty miles to the east, may be a little harder to come by.

There's another route that's a little more round about, but deserves study: follow the CDT southeast ward considerably farther -- to Yellowstone National Park. From there, a steppingstone route of public lands would allow for a route that zigzags eastward across the Montana- Wyoming border in the Shoshone, Custer and Bighorn and Black Hills National Forests, the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, the Thunder Basin National Grassland and various other public lands, before angling northeastwards toward North Dakota's Little Missouri National Grasslands and the South Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park. The area around the Black Hills of South Dakota might also be involved, and sections of the Nez Perce National His toric Trail might also get into the act.

A trail recently constructed across The Little Mis souri National Grasslands between the two units of TR.NP was recently proposed as part of a western extension of the NCT, but was put on the back burner as "the time is not yet ripe."

The idea of a coast-to-coast hiking trail that would involve the length of the NCT has been receiving some attention of late, and deservedly so, since it's an idea that's within reaching distance. The idea was first proposed in this newsletter in 1989, but in the last year or so, several other organizations have agreed with the concept, and theNCTAatitsNovembermeetingagreed to support the concept.

A coast-to-coast northern trail has the potential to be a true scenic hiking trail, rather than an extensive roadwalk. Many major segments are already on the ground that would be needed in the development of such a trail; others are in the planning stages. While there's obviously a lot of work remaining to be done, many of the major pieces of the puzzle are in place,just waiting to be connected.

Why a coast-to-coast northern trail? Vision, that's the thing - a big concept, but one that makes a sort of unified sense. The Appalachian Trail is easy to explain ·· up the spine of the Appalachians, from the most prominent peak in the south, to the most prominent peak in the north. The Pacific Crest, the Continental Divide Trails both go border to border along mountain ridges.

The North Country Trail has always has come across as a slightly skewed and incomplete concept. Crown Point, New York, to Lake Sakakawea, North Dakota? What? Why? The original idea of the trail involved Vermont's Long Trail; they decided to back out of the concept, and, although they're again interested, that left the eastern trailhead of the NCT as Crown Point. Lake Sakakawea, the western trailhead, was chosen because it's here that the trail reaches the water route of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail, several hundred miles beyond the end of the boreal forest that gives the NCT its name.

Wouldn't Cape Aiava, Washington, to Eastpoint, Maine (The northwestern most and northeastern most points of the lower 48 states on the oceans) be a lot more

byWesBoyd

coast-to coast national scenic trail: a vision for the new millenium

A northern

Page 9 NORTH STAR: The Newsletter of the North Country Trail Association, January • March 1996

Northwest Trail and the Continental Divide, North Country and Appalachian National Scenic Trails cover ing much of the distance, it becomes a lot more manage able; somewhere between half and two-thirds of the necessary trail is marked and usable; perhaps as much as a third of it is already officially certified National Scenic Trail, as part of one trail or another. That's a pretty good start, however you look at it.

Comparing the route with the proposed "American Discovery Trail", the CDTs Wolf commented, "We see this as offering much more scenic and historic enjoy ment, with a minimum ofroadwalk., and with relatively few miles lacking acceptable public right-of-way."

Obviously, it's not all in place yet, but the potential is there. It won't be something that's done overnight, or even started overnight -- putting a northern coast-to coast national scenic trail together will take a lot of time and effort. Even the "national scenic" part ofit could and probably would take years, since it will take federal authorization for a study of the concept, then congres sional approval.

But nothing gets done until after it gets started, and there's plenty that can be done to explore and promote the concept. It's possible to study routes and make some decisions about where the gaps can be filled; it's possible to take a well-developed package to a federal study commission.

Given the current legislative atmosphere, it seems likely that a coast-to-coast northern national Scenic trail is not going to be a priority either offederal officials or legislators, at least until enough interest is shown in the concept to make it a priority, so if it's ever going to get beyond the category of pipe dream, it's important to extend the constituency of individuals and trail organi zations that would have to be a part of the project, in order to generate the interest that would result in a formal federal study of the trail, and generate the congressional support needed for it's approval. This will probably involve some sort of organization to lobby and collate information well in advance of possible federal designation.

Would it be one national scenic trail, or parts or many? If the latter, it could include as many as three new NSTs, and a new "supertrail" concept of a trail network. There are obviously some sensitive issues in this area that need to be worked out.

Yes, there's much that needs to be done before the first trail marker is placed.

Ron Strickland, Executive Director of the Pacific Northwest Trail Association recently wrote: "The Na tional Trails System already boasts amazingly good north-south coverage. We have the Pacific Crest Na tional Scenic Trail, the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail and the Appalachian National Scenic Trail ... What is missing is an east-west route to tie the two coasts and the interior together ... the east-west route acroesthenortherntieroftheUnitedStatescouldbecome a reality within a relatively short time. Should we not work together to begin the new millennium with a common vision of linking the Pacific and Atlantic?"

But wouldn't this be the dullest part of the trip? Not hardly! Here in this newsletter, we have recently seen reports of several fascinating trips taken in North Dakota. If getting away from civilization and out into the wild is the goal, it's possible to get farther from civilization here than it is almost anywhere in the forested portions of the lower 48. Eastern Montana and western North Dakota are the biggest undiscovered hiker's pleasure in the country. Much of this trail, on either route, would make an excellent horse trail, as well as hiking trail, and much would probably be noth ing more than post-to-post hiking as is done in the Sheyenne National Grassland and the Lonetree Wild life Management Area, both in North Dakota.

"What a treat it was!" Joan Young wrote of her trip last summer along the NCT a little further to the east. "The big sky encircled us and always seemed to offer some new sensational showing. Clouds forined, changed shape and color, scuttled away, and reflected evening and morning light. The distant thunderstorms provided light shows of titanic proportions. Mathilda was awed by the clarity of the stars unmasked by city lights."

According to Ed Talone, who end-to-ended the trail in 1994, it's more than 4000 miles as the trail wanders to eastern New York state. Of that distance, a little less than 1300 miles ofNorth Country NST is fully certified, and at least as much more is "usable" -- either marked trail on roads, as is much of the Buckeye Trail in Ohio, or hiking trail that's not yet certified for one reason or another, such as much of the Finger Lakes Trail in New York.

It's in central New York, southeast of Syracuse, that the second big gap begins. It is less a gap of trail, than it is a decision of which trail to use. The original plan for the NCNST called for a route that penetrates the Adirondack Park ofN ew York, but nothing has been done due to local opposition. The possibility of other routes eastward has been discussed, though they would be scenically less than optimum. The many possibilities for routes through eastern New York are beyond the scope of this article, but see the following article: "East ern New York -- Alternatives and Issues" for a more thorough discussion.

Given the uncertainty of the New York situation, it'sdiffi.culttodescribehowa trail wouldgetto:Eastpoint, Maine. If the New York decision involves the Crown Point gateway, as several alternatives do, then the Long Trail and the Appalachian Trail draw the eye, although alternatives exist. The AT probably would be a factor in a more southern route, as well, but again, there is the possibility of other routes -- the developing East Coast Greenway might be involved, as well. The coast-to-coast northern scenic trail, ifit involves the AT, would prob ably break away from the mother trail somewhere south of Mt. Katahdin, and wind its way across a new route to Eastport, Several places hold the possibilities oflinks to Canada

A big project? Yes. We're probably talking at least 7000 trail miles, passing through 13 to 15 states, de pending on the route. But given the existence of much existing trail needed as links, including the Pacific

NORTH STAR: The Newsletter of the North Country Trail Association, January-March 1996 ---Page 10

. : . :.·· . . · ;. ~- ~ .. •.

. ~ - .. •. . . . . . . . . . . . . ...

....... : . . .. . . . . _. .. . .

. . . . . . . . .

: ·.·.-·. ~: :.-:· ~:- ~::·:· ·:.: .. . . . . ... ·. . . . . .... - . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . : : . : · .. : .·: :· .... ;. : :· .' : : ::::·.·.::.·.·.···.· . .:·.:.·.- ::· .. _·:·.·_ . . . . . . . . . . . : ·.. . . .... · ·.·.: ~. . . . . .. . .. . : .... : .· . . . .. . . . . . . . . .. . .. ·... . . - .. ·. ·.· . .. . - . . . :-:.·.:. · ·.: .:: ... · · ._ : :: :.·_ ·: <: : . . . . - . . . :·:::: : : .. ··-: .-· !···:.··.:. :·: .. .I~·.·.·. ······ - !-:- .. ·::-:·.:: ·:i •· ~:.-:~~-:~~rr:~:::-11111111~~ ii';:'=~=: ..-:

CHAPTER CHAIRS Headwaters:

vacant NCT Hikers:

G~ne Elzinga (see above) ' Traverse City:

Gregg Law, 1953 Lardie Rd Traverse Citv, Ml 49684

Western Michigan: Bill Van Zee 7744 Thornapple Bayou

Dr. SE, Grand Rapids Ml, 49512

REGIONAL AFFILIATES

Ne\v York: Finger Lakes Trail Confer ence, PO Box 18048, Rochester NY 14618-0048

Ohio: Buckeye Trail Association, PO Box 254, Worthington OH 43085

Pennsylvania: AYH PlttsburghCouncll, 5604 Solway, #202, Pittsburgh PA 15217

Michigan (l.J.P.) Gene Elzinga, 12" Midale Island , M~quette Ml 49855 (906) 225-1704

Wisconsin Gaylord Yost

Minnesota Rod MacRae

North Dakota Dale Anderson, RR1, Box 1 (t Oslcp_ MN, 56744 (218)~65-4ou8

STATE COORDINATORS

New York Howard Beye

PennsY.lvanla DonalCI Dorn

Ohio Jim Sprague, 4406 Ma.E_lecrest, Parma OR 44129 \216) 884-4757

Michigan (Lower) Arden Johnson

COMMITTEES

Awards: Odell Bjerkness

Finance: Arden Johnson

Headguarters Virginia Wunsch, Rt. 1, White Cloud Ml 49349 (616) 689-6876

Meetings: Martha Jones

Membership: Kenneth Gackler

Planning: Arden Johnson

Publlcatl~ns: Wes Boyd

Trail Management: Gaylord Yost

~

1 i 548-1737 1 547-7402 1 623-8659 13 879-2068 10 853-0292 1 436-1795 1 586-3846

~

11567-3858 904 788-2232 1 884-0281 1 373-3735

41 364-2864 14 354-8987

TERMS EXPIRING IN 1997 W Odell Bjerkness R1 Box 221A, Ponsford, MN 56575 A Chet Fromm, 1001 tompkins Dr., Port Orange, FL 32119 B Emilv Gre99r, 6502 Olde York Rd.1.i;>arma Hts OH 44130 W Pat Miller, ""R1 Box 36A Washburn vvl G Glenn Oster, 784 Olive St., Pittsburgh\ PA 15237 A Gaylord Yost, 2925 W. Bradley Rd., River Hills WI 53209

TERMS EXPIRING IN 1998 D Derek Blount, 906 N. Alexander Royal Oak Ml 48067 A Wes Boyd, 14815 Rome Road, Manitou Beach Ml 49253 A David Cornell, 514 Cordes Rd., Delton, Ml 49046 C Elwood Ensor, 1304 Horison Dr. Fairborn OH 43524-5816 D Arden Johnson, 600 Tennyson, Rochester Hills .. ~I 48307 A John Leinen, Jr., 111 Quam Ct So Lakeland MN 55043 E Harmon Strong, 76 Shellwood Dr, Rochester NY 14618

A At-large repi.:esentatlves B Represents Buckeye Trail Association (Appointed by BTA) C East Central Region (OH) representative D West Central Reg~on '(Ml) representatives E Eastern Region \NY, PA) Representative F Represents ringer Lakes Trail Conference (Appointed by FL TC) G General affiliate repr~sentatlve (Current appointment by AYH Pittsburgh) H Honorary representative W Western region representatives

F A 'A A A i~ 288-7191

1 482-1877 1 957-9751 01 265-7571

338-2680

BOARD OF DIRECTORS TERMS EXPIRING IN 1996

Howard Beye, 202 Colebourne Rd., Rochester NY 14609 Hans Erdman, 116 E. Rose P~ Little Canada MN 55117 Kenneth Gackier, 113 Taos Nt:., Ada, Ml Tim Mueller, 625 Nichita Dr., Bismark ND 58504 Doug Welker, R1, Box 59A, Pelkie Ml 49958

(218) 573-3858

(517) 547-7402

(810) 853-0292

(810) 548-1737

(414) 354-8987

OFFICERS President

Derek Blount, 906 N. Alexander, Royal Oak Ml 48067 Vice President (Trails):

Gaylord Yost, 2925 W. Bradley Rd., River Hills WI 53209 Vice President (Admln)

Odell Bjerkness, Bad Medicine Lake, R1, Box 221A, Ponsford, MN 56575

Secretary: Wes Boyd, 14815 Rome Road, Manitou Beach Ml 49253

Treasurer: Arden Johnson, 600 Tennyson, Rochester Hills, Ml 48307

Executive Director: Pat Allen, 3777 Sparks SE, #105, Grand Rapids Ml 49546 (616) 452-4487

Office Manager: Claudia Day, 3777 Sparks SE, #105, Grand Rapids Ml 49546 (616) 452-4487

Plannlng Assistant Kim Bair, c/o National Park Service, 700 Rayovac Dr., Suite 100,

Madison WI 53T11 (608) 264-5610 NaHonal Park Service Administrator:

Bill Menke, National Park Service, 700 Rayovac Dr., Suite 100, Madison WI 53711 (608) 264-5610

the news letter of the

North Country Trail Association 3777 Sparl(s SE, Suite 105 Grand Rapids, Ml 49546

Phone (616) 975-o831 •FAX (616) 975-0957 •Email: [email protected] Editor:

Wea Boyd, 14815 Rome Road.Manitou Beach, Ml 49253

PAINTED ON

RECYCLED PAPER

NORTH STAR:

NORTH COUNTRY TRAIL ASSOCIATION NEW INITIATIVES AND HIGH POINTS IN 1995: 1. Recreational Planner hired. 2. Intern Program started 3. Office opened. 4. Staff Expanded. 5. Land Trust Fund Established 6. Planning efforts for trail corridor underway in New

York, Ohio, and Wisconsin; completed in Michigan 7. Certified trail nears 1300 mile mark.

NORTH COUNTRY TRAIL ASSOCIATION INCOME & EXPENSE-DEC. 31, 1995

ANNUAL YEAR JIEM BUDGE! IQ DAIE

INCOME Administrative

Coop. Agreement $85.448.00 . $58,027.41 Membership $10,500.00 $10,665.00 Trail Store $4,400.00 $2.080.70 Grants $0.00 $5,100.00 Other la~SQQ 12888.QZ

Subtotal $103,787.00 $78,761.18

Program Cost Share $41,530.00 $37,389.02 Other IQ..QQ

$37.J:.: Subtotal $41,530.00

Chapters IZ~QQQQ SfiQSD~ TOTAL $152, 717.00 $122,240.74

EXPENSE Administrative

Salaries $36,476.00 $34,021.18 Benefits & FICA $2,792.00 $2,600.04 Membership $1,600.00 $1,896.00 Publications $6,000.00 $3,373.12 Travel $5,000.00 $3,845.27 Office Supplies $960.00 $1,187.23 Trail Store $4,010.00 $2,146.55 Printing & Postage $6,300.00 $5,137.00 Utilities $2,800.00 $4,574.95 Consultants $0.00 $1,695.00 Equipment $0.00 $4,105.21 Insurance $720.00 $1,309.33 Meetings & Training $2,400.00 $2,227.22 Assn. Memberships $210.00 $1,896.00 Office Rent $3,600.00 $3,811.50 Miscellaneous 12~QQQQ ~ 62S.ll

Subtotal $75,368.00 $78,455.12

Program Trail Construction $41,530.00 $30,656.92 Other ll ~~Q QQ ll Q2l ~

Subtotal $42,970.00 $31,678.36

Chapters IZ~QQQQ 15S32 SQ TOTAL $125,738.00 $116,066.38

$39,357.82 Net Worth *Includes restricted funds of $18,672.16

$247 95 $247.95

Liabilities Accounts Payable

Total Liabilities

Total Assets

$2,122.08 $4,451.77

$10 565 86 $17139 71 $61,044.33

Checking Account Chapter Accounts Savings Accounts Subtotal

Cash*

Accounts Receivable

$20,000.00 $1,231.97 $2,000.00 $4105 21

$27,337.18

$16,567.44

Property Buildings Furniture Tools Equipment Subtotal

AMOUNT ACCOUNT Assets

BALANCE SHEET: Building and Tools· Value is estimated for the Felch Road property and some hand tools which have not been Inventoried and evaluated. Due to age, no depreciation schedule was set. Accounts Receivable· Consists of expenses billed under the Cooperative Agreement but not yet received. Accounts Payable: Consists of withheld taxes to be paid in January. Reserved Funds· Restricted Funds include the following: Life Member Fund, $4,485.38; Land Trust Fund, $4, 743.97; REI Grant, $2,500.00; Cost Share Funds, $7,201.41

Submitted by: Arden C. Johnson, Treasurer

Jan. 7, 1996

NORTH COUNTRY TRAIL ASSOCIATION BALANCE SHEET- DEC. 31, 1995

INCOME AND EXPENSE: Income· Income underran the budget primarily due to the inability to use funds available under the Cooperative and Challenge Cost Share Agreements. Expense·AdministrativeExpenseswere higherthan budgeted, because audit fees and equipment purchases were not anticipated. Also, miscellaneous expense included an intern that was not anticipated.

NORTH COUNTRY TRAIL ASSOCIATION FINANCIAL STATUS

YEAR END, 1995 This Income and Expense Statement and Balance Sheet reflects the operations of the North Country Trail Association for the year 1995. The following notes are In clarification of the results:

1294.2 --1.!l.1 1304.4

TOTAL CERTIFIED MILEAC)E Slgn!d 11 Connector TOTAL SIGNED MILES

WISCONSIN Copper Falls State Part< DNA 8.3 8/2183 City of Mellen Mellen 2.0 6115.s4 Chequamegon National Forest USDA-FS 60.0 8/2183 Bavfie!d County Forest ~ ..& ~ Total- Wl11eon•ln (83.3 U••bt.) '10.9

MINNESOTA Chippewa National Forest USDA-FS 68.0 6122/88 Itasca SP J:lli.B 1M. ~ Total-Min,,._,• (162.00 u••bl•) 81.0

NORTH DAKOTA Sheyenne National Grassland USDA-FS 25.0 7/9/90 Sheyenne State Forest NDFS 1.0 8/2183 Fort Ransom State Part< P&RDept 1.5 11/8/85 LonetreeWMA ~ ~ i94 Tot•l-North D•kota (109.5 UHbl•) 59.5

7/14/92 8/2183

7126,95 1/18,95 11/8/a5 3/1193

MICHIGAN Baw Beese Trail Hllsdale 4.0 M-99 Bikeway . MOOT 5.0 Battle Creek Linear Parkway Battle Creek 8.2 YankeeSpringsSRA DNA-Parks 2.5 Rogue River State Game Area DNA-Wildlife 7.0 Manistee NF • Croton ·Spruce St USDA·FS 6.3

(connectot} (2.0) Manistee NF • 40thSt-5 Mile Rd USDA-FS 66.6 4125/89

(connectorl (2.5) Manistee NF • 5 Ml Rd to RD Bdy USDA-FS 1.0 3/1193 Manistee NF· RD Bdy-Riverside USDA-FS 10.3 1/5/95 Manistee NF· Udell· Pine Creek USDA-FS 7.2 1/5/95 Manistee NF· Chicago· Beers Rd. USDA-FS 21.6 7/6/88 Manistee NF • Beers Rd to bdy USDA-FS 2.3 115/95 Shore-to-Shore Riding-Hiking Trail DNR-Forest23.4 8/2183 Mackinaw SF· CR38 ·Sec. 6 DNA-Forest 3.9 10/20/94 Mackinaw SF· 5 Lakes • Doerr Rd DNA-Forest 0.6 10/20/94 Jordan River Pathway DNR-Forest12.3 8/2183 Warner Creek Pathway DNA-Forest 2.2 8/2183 Mackinaw SF· Sec. 10·US131 DNA-Forest 0.7 10/20/94 Mackinaw SF· CR48 ·Sec. 21 DNA-Forest 4.6 10/20.s4 Stinner NCTA 0.4 7126,95 Petoskey • Sec. 25 to Sec 24 Petoskey 1.1 10/5,95

Petoskey- Krause Orto Brubaker Petoskey 0.6 10/5,95 Petoskey-Sheridan Stto US 31 Petoskey 2.2 12/21/94 Wilderness SP S bdry to picnic DNA-Parks 2.9 11/7,95 Wilderness SP Picnic area-Sec 33 DNA-Parks 2.6 611 /92 Wilderness SP-Sec 33-Bdry DNA-Parks 5.3 6/1 /92 Mackinaw SF· SP Bdry to Sec.24 DNA-Forest 9.0 6/1 /92 Hiawatha NF· FR3104to N Bdy USDA-FS 78.4 1215/89 T ahquamenon Falls State Part< DNA-Parks 21.5 5/16/89 Lake SuperiorSF • SP • Swamp Lk DNA-Forest 7.2 812183 Lake Superior SF Sec 13 to SP DNA-Forest 19. 7 812183 Muskallonge Lake State Part< DNA-Parks 1.5 5/16/89 Lake Superior SF-SP to H-58 DNR-Forest19.3 812183

connector (0.9) Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore NPS 43.8 8/2183

connector (4.8) Hiawatha NF • M-94-Buck Bay Cr USOA-FS 9.6 5118189 Little Presque Isle DNA-Forest 6.8 10/20/94 Ottawa NF-McCormick Wilderness USDA-FS 8.1 10/20/94 Craig Lake State Part< DNA-Parks 7.5 7/14/92 Ottawa NF Kenton, Ontanagon RD USDA-FS 42.5 812183 Ottawa NF Sec. 12 to S. Bdry Rd USDA-FS 29.6 812183 PorcuplneMtnsSP ,. DNR-Pari<s 17.3 5'24193 Ottawa NF CR519 to Coooer Peak VSDA·FS 1Q.2. ~ Total-Mlchlg•n (581.21uHble) 541.2(10.2)

8/2183 8/2183

1/16/86 8/2183 8/2183 ~

BT-East Fork State Part< BTAJDNR 7.9 Llttle Miami Scenic Part< DNA 44.8 Uttle Miami Park· Yellow Springs Greene Pks. 9.7 BT-Statler Rd. to Piqua Hist. Area BTA 6.3 BT-Miami and Erle Canal Trail BTA/DNR 42.0 BT-lndeoendance Dam State Parts BTA/!)NR ZJl Total- Ohio (658.69 u•abl•) 2114.1

6.3 8/2183 5.3 8/2183 6.0 8/2183 4.4 8/2183 2.7 8/2183 5.2 17/6/94

31.3 12/23/92 1.0 8/2183 2.1 8/2183 1.3 7/6/94 9.3 8/2183 0.4 8/2183 2.9 8/2183 2.2 8/2183

13.5 10/13/89 1.0 8/2183 2.0 8/2183 1.2 8/2183 3.2 8/2183 3.7 8/2183 1.5 8/2183 2.9 8/2183 5.1 8/2183 2.9 8/2183 2.6 8/2183

19.4 8/2183 1.5 8/2183 4.1 8/2183

14.5 8/2183

3/13,95 8/1/95 8/1,95 6/1/92 6/1/92 ~

OHIO Beaver Creek State Part< DNR-Pari<s BT-Tuscarawas CR82to CR109 BTA BT·TR213toTR288 BIA BT·US22 to Guernsey CA893 BTA BT .$alt Fort< State Part< BTA/DNR Wayne NF • Poulton to Co. Line USDAJFS Wayne NF • CR 128 to SR 26 USDAJFS BT~R23 BTA BT-TR232to TR377 BTA BT-Wayne NF USDAJFS BT-Burr Oak State Part< BTAJDNR BT.JenkinsDam,toSR13 BTA BT-Wayne FN SR13 to boundry USDAJFS BT ·Athens CR92 to Salem Rd. BT A BT-Wayne National Forest USDA-FS BT-Nunamaker Rd to Hunter Rd BTA BT-TR44 to TR39 BTA BT-Lake Logan Rd to Murphy Rd. BTA BT -Star Rt Rd -SR56-Hocking Hills BT A/DNA BT-VlntonCR47toTR13 BTA BT·TR11 toSA327 BTA BT-Clari< Rd ·Clari< Rd BTAJDNR BT-Sugar Run to Buffalo CG BT A/DNA BT-Musgrove Rd to US35 BTAJDNR BT-Woods Hollow Rd.· Prussia Rd. BTA BT-Davia Rd • Bell Rd (Pike SP) BTAJDNR BT-Bell Hollow Rd· SR41 Pike SF BTA BT-Fort Hill State Memorial BIA/OHS Shawnee Trail (Shawnee SP/SF) DNA

FLT-BurtHillSF FLTC/DEC 0.8 FLT ·Bully Hill, t<llpnocky SFa FL TC/DEC 5.9 FLT -Bully Hill, t<lipnocky SFs FL TC/DEC 4.7 FLT -Rock City & Bucktooth SF FL TC/DEC 7.5 FLT -Bucktooth SF FL TC/DEC 3.8 FLT ·AJlejfnv State Parts flTC/OPRHP lil. Tot•l-•w York (390.1 uHbl•) 131.6

PENNSYLVANIA Allegheny National Forest USDAJFS 86.8 8/2183 Baker Trail • Clear Creek St. ForestDER-Forest 1.5 8/2183 Baker Trail ·Cook Forest St Part< DER-Parks 8.0 8/2183 Jennings Environmental Ed. Ctr. DER-Parks 1.0 8/2183 Moraine St. Pk. (Glacier Ridge Tr.) DER-Parks 12.8 8/2183 McConnel'a Mill State Part< DER-Parks 1.6 8/2183 McConneJ's Mill State Paris DER·Portss 1.§. ~ Total-PMn•ylv•nl• (165.15u••bl•) 119.3

8/29/91 12/8/88 6/1/92 8/5/94 8/5/94 5/1/90

4/15/92

11/8,95 11/8,95 11/8,95 11/8,95 11/8,95 11/8,95 11/8,95 11/8,95 11/8,95 11/8,95 11/8/85 5/15/94 7/9/90

6121/88 6121/88 6/21/88 1/20/89

Segment Certified TraD ManagingLength Date Authority(miles) Cert.

NEW YORK FLT -Cuyler Hill SF FL TC/DEC 6.4 FLT· Taylor Valley SF FL TC/DEC 2.8 FLT-TaylorValleySF FLTC/DEC 4.7 FLT -Baker Schoolhouse SF FL TC/DEC 2.4 FLT -Hoxie Gorge SF FL TC/DEC 0.6 FLT. Tuller HiH SF FL TC/DEC ns FLT-TullerHiHSF FLTC/DEC 3.5 FLT .James Kennedy SF FL TC/DEC 0.9 FLT .James Kennedy SF FL TC/DEC 0.4 FLT .James Kennedy SF FL TC/DEC 1.0 FLT -Baldwin to Daisy Hollow Ads. FL TC/DEC 6.5 FLT -Potato HiU SF FL TC/DEC 2.0 FLT -Shlndagen Hollow St Forest FL TC/DEC 5.5 FLT -Danby State Forest FL TC/DEC 8.1 FLT -Robert H. Treman State Part< FL TC/QPRHP 3.5 FLT -Robert H. Treman State Part< FL TC/QPRHP .6 FLT -Connecticut Hill Wildlife Area FL TC/DEC 7.5 FLT-TexasHollowSF FLTC/DEC 1.8 FLT -Finger Lakes Nat'I Forest FL TC/USDA 2.4 FLT -Watkins Glen State Part< FL TC/OPRHP 4.5 FLT -Sugar Hill State Forest FL TC/DEC 8.4 FLT -Goundry Hill State Forest FL TC/DEC 0.6 FLT -Goundry Hill State Forest FL TC/DEC 2.1 FLT -Goundry Hill State Forest FL TC/DEC 9.5 FLT -Birdseye Hollow State Forest FL TC/DEC 9.2

NORTH COUNTRY NATIONAL SCENrcTRAIL CERTIFIED SEGMENTS as of 12/31/95

Quick math tells you that over 70% of the trail is off-road. Some of these off-road miles cannot be certified because some motorized use is allowed in the form of snowmobiles. However, they make fine temporary routes for the NCT

The next logical step is to mark a continuous end-to-end route for the NCT. This will be a huge task, but keep in mind that over 2400 miles are already marked in some fashion. In areas where standard

~ line of sight blazing is not possible, directions could be posted under ,. plastic at the end of a marked section. This will encourage use of the

trail, and generate interest among people who live near it.

250.3 638.7 116.4 850.3 525.9 280.5 fi3M

8192.1

475.0 822.4 148.4

1054.8 1008.5 339.6 filM

4528.5

North Dakota Minnesota Wisconsin Michigan Ohio Pennsylvania New York Totals

Off Road Miles Total Miles

"How long!:§_ the NCT? ii by Ed Talone ii When Sue Lockwood and I decided to thru-hike the NCT, we ;: expected to be hiking around 3250 miles. After much research, it ~ appeared that 4000+ miles was more realistic. The following chart * shows my measured estimate of both total miles and "off-road" miles ~ using the best current available routes:

=~ ili :::

Also of growing concern in this time of tight budgets is the quality of maintenance of the trail. Talone's log showed things to be pretty good,

· but there are areas of concern that need to be addressed.

Still, there are many interest ing pieces waiting to fall into place, and it should be interesting to watch the trail grow these next few years.

cerns was that many trail poten tials on public land had not been followed up on. Now, while there's still areas of public land that await having trail put down, their num ber is dwindling; more and more, putting the trail across private land is going to be a priority item, and one that will be a growing priority in the years to come.

2000 by 2000 Go I ,.........-....- ..--~~~-+-~~~--="'-F'-~~~--1

Behind Schedule, ,..... ,..... but not impossible ,..... ,.....

Page 15

We're still discovering the North Country Trail, and that there's a lot that we don't know about it.

For example, for years we were pretty sure that the actual length of the trail was more than the 3,259 miles announced fifteen years ago - but how much longer was anybody's guess, until Ed Talone added up the figures from his trail log of his 1994 end-to-end hike and told us that the trail was nearly half again longer than we thought!

Ed's figures also showed us that we had half again the "usable" trail than we thought we had. Earlier estimates showed about 2000 miles of marked, "usable" trail. an de fense of our estimates, and Ed comes up with almost 3200, Ed's figures includes the Arrowhead route in Minnesota, and trail in the Adirondacks in New York which weren't in the earlier estimates.)

Certified mileage of the trail fell just under 1300. It would prob ably have been just over that figure, but the final paperworkgotstranded on a desk when Congress shut down the Park Service at the end of the year.

We're still behind the curve we set in 1991 to reach the goal of2000 certified miles in 2000, but the po tential certification of much of the Arrowhead route in Minnesota and much of the McClusky Canal in North Dakota sometime in the next couple years should cause the line on the accompanying chart to take a big jump upward.

Still, there's a long way to go. A few years ago, one of our big con-

Status Report

Trail 1995

NORTH STAR: The Newsletter of the North Country Trail Association, January - March 1996

there they took a ferry to Greece, enjoying views of the Grecian Isles en route. Greece is very mountainous, and bicycling was tough. She mentioned a 23 mile climb one

day with an altitude gain from 140 feet to 3400 feet, nearly 3300 feet. They visited the antiquities of Greece and fer ried to the islands of Crete and Rhodes and on to Turkey, tak ing their bikes everywhere. She's had remarkably few fl.at tires, only three, but she got two of them on the same day climbing up to see an ancient monastery.

As this account of her trip is being prepared, she has flown to New Delhi, India and is bicycling on the road to Katmandu, Nepal, but none of us knows exactly how far along the way she is. Oh, where is ourwanderinggi.rl tonight? By the time you read this, she may have flown to Bangkok, Thailand and be well on her way bicycling to Singapore. From there, she'll fly to tour New Zealand and afterwards to Australia for the long ride from Sydney across the

outback to Perth on the west coast. If time permits, they may bicycle some of the Pacific islands and then make the contrast by flying to Alaska. Back in North America, they will wend theirwaydown the coast finally reaching San Diego, where they started. Whew!

The World Wanderers are truly world wonders, Some have gone ahead, we know not where. Some have lost the will to go on. But a small core group is hanging in there. Helen continually bubbles with excitement in her letters. How will this experience have changed them? One can only speculate. Wanta bet what will dilute Helen's wanderlust itch - the itch to hold those new grandchildren, that's what. Don't ever lose your enthusiasm and spirit, Helen. We envy you.

Wanderlust is an itch that some people can never scratch enough. It's an incurable disease for one of us. As many North Star readers know, the recent NCTAsecre tary and board member, Helen Coyne, is on a nineteen month bicycling trip around the world. Helen is traveling with a group from the United States and when finished will have ridden some 25,000 miles.

The group started from San Diego in the first week of March, rode across the United States to the east coast and then north to Washington, DC. She should have departed directly from DC, but a new development changed her plans. Her only daughter made her a grandmother. That was too compelling, and she sim ply had to see that little one beforeleavingthecountry. Helen made a quick trip back to Cran berry Township, Pennsylvania. She also has six sons, and some of them are becoming fathers, adding to the list of grandchil dren born during her odyssey.

The group started with 23 riders, but it changed its make up and numbers during their ''shake down jaunt'' across the USA. Some riders were faster and went on ahead, while some took it slower and smelled the roses, so to speak. They rode fully self contained with tents, sleeping bags, clothes, food, water purifiers, cooking stoves, tools, and a few spare parts. Helen reported that her bicycle weighed 135 pounds, and she weighed considerably less than her bike.

Helen flew to England, where she rejoined some of those who would be bicycling in her group. She tells of visiting everything possible in Bath and London in the time available and then taking the ferry to Holland. The group reassembled and soon was on its way bicycling across Europe, traveling to Belgium, Germany, Czecho slovakia, Austria, Hungary, Slovenia and Italy. From

Oh, where is our wandering girl tonight?


The following two routes link the FLT to the AT by various alternatives:

L Southem CatskiJJs to WP, Point. NJ: This route follows the Finger Lakes Trail to the Catskills, and leaves it after Balsam Lake Mountain, and takes the Mongaup-Hardenbaugh Trail south toward Roscoe. New trail would be needed to reach Roscoe. Abandoned railroad corridors would be used to reach Port Jervis, and new trail would be needed to the AT in High Point State Park.

Ieeue« and trade-offs: Most of the route is likely to occur along rail-trails, as opposed to mountainous foot paths. Significant sections of abandoned trail in Sullivan County are privately owned, but by a relative]y small number of people. Perceptions of oonflict between trail

certed investment of effort and a clear alternative. Both of these have been lacking to date.

The possibilities for completing the NCT through New York are several and complex. Rather than try to evaluate all possible combinations of segments that might result in a completed trail, we chose to consider each of the main segments individually. Most would not complete the trail alone, but must be used in conjunc tion with one or more other segments. Each of the alternative segments is laid out with a rough descrip tion of the route, some background about it, and a list of key issues and trade-offs. The descriptions are rough, vary is specificity, and do not necessarily reflect any decision or recommendation as to the location of a final route. They are primarily intended to provide some basis for comparison and evaluation of alternatives.

"'..,,·

'Ihisreportexaminesanumberofalt.ernativeroutes that could potentially complete the NCNST through New York state. The purpose of this report is to stimu late productive discussion leading to the establishment ofa trail route. Itdoesnotarriveatadefiniteconclusion about the trail's ultimate route through New York state; neither does it exhaustively list all possible trail routes for the NCT and the full multitude of issues that would attend each. What it does do is to capture the main alternative routes that have been discussed to date, and highlight the primary issues that have been raised about each.

Through western New York, the "Congressional" North Country Trail route generally follows the Finger Lakes Trail, but the completion of the NCT through eastern New York has been at issue almost from the start. Problems were perceived with the original con cept for the trail route. For a variety of reasons, local trail groups have been reluctant to actively adopt the NCT as a cause, and without the critical elements of local support and advocacy, the trail has literally gone nowhere.

The problem of routing the trail through the Adirondacks has been the crux issue. The ADK and others have recommended against routing the NCT through the High Peaks region of the Adirondacks. New York's 1994 Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recre ation Plan showed the NCTs terminus at the Mohawk River. This reflects the thought of the New York State Trails Council that route somewhere outside the AdirondackHigh PeaksR.egionismoreadvisable. Chang ing the route to another location requires moth a con-

Editors note: this article is extracted from the re cently issued NPS draft study: "The North Country Trail in New York: Alternative Routes and the issues that go with them", It's impossible to shrink the full report into a few pages, so those with an interest in this issue should request the original report from the Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program, National Park Ser vice, 519 Albany Post Road, Hyde Park, NY 12538.

by Karl Beam and llobin Snyder

Page 17 NORTH STAR: The Newsletter of the North Country Trail Association, January • March 1996

The following four routes would use one of the above two routes to get from the FLT:

5. NYS (Erie) Canal Becreationway; From the end of the FLT link, this route would follow the NYS Canal Recreation way Trail to a selection of northward linkages t.o the Adirondacks, or t.o the Albany vicinity (Wat.erford) t.o link with the Champlain Canal corridor, or a direct eastward linkage ofVermont on a new trail. The NYS Canal Recreationway is owned by the NYS Thruway Authority and Canal Corporation, It is cur rently the subject of a large-scale planning effort that includes creating 525 miles of canal trail spanning the stat.e.

Issues and trade-offs: Much of the rout.e is public land, and a continuous trail is planned. This includes t.owpaths, rail trails and wat.erfront walkways in down t.own areas. There are existing public documents and trail plans to support the effort. The route has many features of historic interest, but includes more urban areas than other alt.ernatives; it is the most developed alt.ernative. The route has potential funding available. It follows a valley corridor with no elevation changes and relatively little scenic variety. A significant portion is very near the NYS Thruway, but is close to a great number of pot.ential users. It's available for more di verse use, such as dog walking, bicycling and evening strolls around more populated areas. However, snow mobiles are allowed on some sections, negating NST certification on those section. It provides opportunities t.o a variety of good linkages in New York's trail syst.em whether or not these ever become part of the NCNST. What.ever we do, it will become a trail. The Erie Canal has good national recognition, and is not one long, monotonous corridor; its terrain is varied even though it follows valleys. It includes a lot of wildlife viewing areas and mountainous vistas, and much ofit is sparsely populated; the precedent for canal use is already set in Ohio. But, New York has good trail options other than canals, and it may not be necessary to settle for a less appealing alt.ernative, as from the perspective of a hiker, this route is "easy but lousy."

This route was the subject of lively discussion. Some feel this rout.e captures the maximum pot.ential

Erie Canal. This route would link with the FLT via the Onondaga trail, and go northward to the Fabius vicin ity. New trail would be needed from Fabius to Woodstock, but would follow the Cazenovia Trail (abandoned rail road) northward t.o Chittenango Falls. New trail would be needed northward to Canastota, but might continue on the abandoned railroad. The Old Erie Canal tow path, an existing state park, would be followed to Rome.

Issues and trade-offs: The Cazenovia Trails section may be complet.e or nearly so. The abandoned RR grade north from Chitt.enango Falls to Canastota is privately owned, and several years ago the owners were not receptive t.o trail use. This is essentially the "Congres sional Route", and is one of only two apparent routes available t.o bring the NCT to either an Adirondack route of the NYS Canal Recreationway.

The following two routes are links to the central and northern corridors proposed.

:,. Chenan&n> Canal Corridorto Erie Canal, The rout.e would leave the FLT near Norwich in Chenango County, or further north in Madison County, and create a new trail to link with the Chenango. New trail would be needed along the Chenango Trail towpath or alterna tive t.o Utica, and then the rout.e would follow the NY Canal Recreationway Trail.

Issues and Trade-offs: The Chenango Canal ~ ciation has opened 1 to 1 1/2 miles of towpath as trail. This group and the broader community may be support ive of a continuous trail and of NST designation. This is one of only two options open for a connection t.o either the Canal Recreationway or the Adirondacks. It is likely that the rout.e must utilize a great deal ofprivat.e land along the canal route, There is, however, a lot of NYS DEC land in Chenango County, and trails are planned on stat.elands. -- but must go through the Unit Manage ment process, and many needed UMP plans are not done yet. The region has a good population base for volunteers. A trade-off exists between east-west on the Erie Canal and the Finger Lakes Trail/

4. CazenoVia/l&hii:h Valley RR Corridor. to

use and hunting have been indicated. The rout.e is not "North Country", though much ofit is very scenic, hilly, wooded countrySide. Dipping southward t.o make the connection t.otheATinNewJerseyseemsoutofcharact.er with "North Country." The FLT includes an extensive roadwalk just west of the Catskills. The trail might provide some economic boost, though increased t.ourism, and requires a relatively short mileage of new trail. There is not much public land in Sullivan County that would provide a wider selection of alt.ernatives.

2. Central Catskills to South Taconics; The rout.e would follow the FLT to the Catskills, then exist ing trails t.o the Long Path at Denning Lean-To, then follow the Long Path northward t.o the NE corner, and depart the Catskills in the Palenville area. New trail would be required to the city of Catskill, and the trail would cross the Rip Van Winkle bridge on existing walkway, then take new trails and the Harlem Valley Rail Trail t.o the AT.

Issues and trade-offs: Extensive new trail is needed, mostly on privat.e lands across the Hudson Valley. No new trail is needed within the Catskill State Forest Preserve, except to make linkage outward toward the Hudson Valley. The rout.e co-aligns with the Long Path for over 55 miles between Denning and the Escarpment Trail. This route would use one of the most popular and heavily-trafficked trails in the Catskills, over Slide Mountain, Cornell and Witt.enberg. They are steep trails on sensitive soils that require high maint.enance. Increased traffic caused by NCTdesignationmayworsen the current crowding on the trails and worsen already excessive trail erosion. Sections of the Long Path in the Catskills are very rugged, rocky slopes, and are difficult hiking. The Harlem Valley Rail Trail is publicly owned between Copake Falls and Wassaic.


predomi nately DEC Wild Forest Land, then to the Glens Falls/ Hudson Falls vicinity, and link with the Champlain Canal (described above) or go eastward into Vermont to link with the AT.

Issues and trade-offs: This route is relatively unde fined. It was suggested largely because it seemed to offer a reasonable potential, retaining a backwoods character while avoiding most of the negatives associ ated with the central Adirondack area. The DEC wild forest designation of much of the route places it outside of ADK and DEC policy restrictions against new trails in designated wilderness areas, but the area is not well enough known to identify a definite route or set of local alternatives for more concrete discussion. The area has a lot of snowmobile trails, but appears to have an abundance or wetlands. It may be difficult to build and maintain an all-season hiking trail. Placing new trails here would have to involve the DEC UPM process, but much of the route would be on state land, and be protected. More study of a potential route in this area is needed.

8. Central Adimndacks; This route uses existing trails and some new trail from near Boonville eastward through the Black River wild forest, and existing trails and some new trail through West Canada Lake and Siamese Ponds Wilderness areas, existing trail through Hoffman Notch Wild Forest, new and existing trail through Hammond Pond Wild Forest, and new trail

trail use, helps maximize the benefit intended for the canalway, and otherwise meets NST needs, regardless of the fact that not all sections are certifiable. Others in the trails community are looking for more special char acter for the NCT, typified by more remoteness from the built environment, and more variety of terrain. These two viewpoints seem to reflect two different images of the NCTs character -- one as a lively and actively-used community resource, the other as more of a solitary backwoods experience. This discussion is one of the core issues whose resolution will guide our efforts in the future.

6. Champlain Canal Corridoc The route follows the NYS Canal recreationway eastward to Saratoga County, then follows new trail northward along the Champlain Canal towpath to Crown Point.

Issues and trade-offs: Several points are similar to those listed in the Canal Recrationway section. Several local trail sections exist or are in progress along the Champlain Canal, though each is limited in extent. There is an abundance of historical resources. The route is part of the NYS Thruway Authority/Canal Corpora tion plan; even though they do not own continuous towpath, the job of establishing new trail may be easier. The route has potential funding available. Some sec tions of the canal allow for snowmobile use in the canal bed, but not on the towpath. This may not negate NCT certification, as treadways are separate. The route provides good linkages to other trails.

7. Southern Adimndacks This option would follow new trail from the Rome or Utica area north to the Hinckley Reservoir vicinity, possibly using the Black River Canal, and follow new trail eastward through

Chenango Canal Corridor to Erie Canal Canada via the Long Path Cazenovia/Lehigh Valley RR Corridor to Erie Canal Champlain Canal Corridor Southern Adirondacks Central Adirondacks NYS (Erie) Canal Recreationway Corridor Southern Catskills to High Point (NJ) Central Catskills to South Taconics (CT/MAI Congressional NCT Trail Corridor

• , . • • ... c: 0 D 0

NORTH COUNTRY NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL Altematlve routes through eastern New York


There is no clearly-defined decision process for selecting and establishing a trail route. In order to be truly viable, the majority of the interest and initiative must come from the bottom up. There is no mechanism at the federal level for forcing any decision, let alone any final route, from the top down, and most trail propo nents would be uncomfortable having it any other way. While the lack of federal leverage would be reassuring to local communities fearful of any government role in the trail, it also provides no motivation or clear direc tion for action. The initiative must spring from the local level.

The first step in this process is that trail groups and interested individuals should respond to this paper, either through their trail club or conference, to the authors, or directly to the NCT Coordinator. To be helpful to the discussion, these responses should be voiced as soon as possible.

Responses are invited to Karl Beard and Robin Snyder, Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program, National Park Service, 519AlbanyPostRoad, Hyde Park, NY12538 [ph. (914)-229-9115; fax (914)229- 0739], or to Bill Menke, North Country Trail Coordina tor, National Park Service, 700 Ray-0-Vac Drive, Suite 100, Madison, WI 53711 [ph (608) 264-5610, fax.(608) 264-5616].

of opinion over the character of trail envisioned for the NCT in New York .. Should the NCT be a quiet back woods trail or a more active recreation trail? Some envision the NCT as a continuous backpacking trail, set as far as is reasonably possible from the built environ ment, with hikers and backpackers its intended users. Others envision the NCT as fitting with the built and cultural environment, following rail trails or canal towpaths and passing through villages and small cities. Themajorityofusersinthiscasewouldbemorecommu nity-oriented, and would include more walkers, joggers and other family users. If the NCT is to be a mix of these two kinds of trails, with different things in different places, what is an acceptable mix?

Who supports the NCT in Eastern New York? There seems to be a relative lack of support for the NCT among key constituents. There is no group champing at the bit to take the NCT through their part of the state. The NCT does not have strong recognition in New York, and faces competition with other trail efforts. So far, the most active trails groups have not given the NCT the same priority as other large trail projects. Most new effort for trails is drawn to multi-use recreationways serving local communities. In addition, the active trails community in New York is small, but growing, and already busy on a great number of trail projects.

What is more important: a route we can get done easily, or a really great trail? Should the trails commu nity pursue a NCT route that can be completed with a minimum of effort, or a route that may be of higher quality but involve more difficulty? Does it make a difference how much of the route becomes officially certified by the NPS?

During the development of this report, several questions arose that will have to be answered before a final decision; can, be made:

What kind of trail do we want? There is a difference

Two alternatives were not evaluated as alterna tives for consideration. Since both involve existing trails, and might otherwise appear as oversights, some expla nation is in order:

• The Northville-Lake Placid Trail extends north ward through the central Adirondacks, and is nearly 135 miles long. The route was rejected since the Adirondack High Peaks area, of which Lake Placid is the hub, is subject to intensive overuse. The trail system here is crowded and the resource stressed. In addition, the trail is on wet soils for much of its route, and increased use could result in a level of wear that is unsustainable.

• The Long Path extends from the George Washing ton Bridge in Fort Lee, NH, about 325 miles north to Thacher State Park in Albany County. Much of the LP both north and sou th of the Catskills is on private lands, with trail access granted by revocable licenses with a multitude of individual landowners. Most agreements are less than five years old, and are specific to the Long Path. The NY-NJ Trail Conference maintains that adding National Scenic Trail designation would imme diately cause them to lose most trail access agreements.

through private land to Crown Point. This is essentially the planned "Congressional Route".

Issues and trade-offs: The route appears to require construction of new trails in state-designated wilder ness areas, perhaps 15 miles or more. These are mostly in small segments in widely-separated areas. Construc tion of new trails in DEC-designated Adirondack Wil derness areas is opposed by ADK. In addition, ADK is concerned about the creation of new trails in the central Adirondacks in general, and would have to revisit any trail proposal in this area. Anything new in forest preserve land, including designation of existing trail, must be in accordance with the areas Unit Management Plan. TheDEC'sUnitManagementPlanprocess, which is required for placing trails on DEC lands, is time consuming but not impossible. New trails can be in cluded in UMPs through amendments or at the time a new UMP is developed. UMPs must meet with the approval of the Adirondack Park Agency regarding their consistency with the Adirondack Park Master Plan. There is the potential for overuse of existing trails. The Adirondack region is characterized by nega tive perceptions of government presence, especially any federal role. The trail could provide some beneficial economic impact, but the potential for community sup port is mixed along the route -- public response may depend on how the idea is presented to them, and by whom. Never the less, the region has high scenic value. It is New York's "North Country". There is a lot of existing permanently protected public land; much of the trail would be protected.

NORTH STAR: The Newsletter of the North Country Trail Association, January-March 1996 Page 20 J, r- T

The Hikers Paradise

LEUKERBAD ENGELBERG

GSTAAD FLUELEN

KANDERSTEG ZERMATT MURR EN LENK WENGEN BETTMERALP RIGl-KALTBAD

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 e au (216) 867-3771, or write to:

ALPINE ADVENTURE TRAILS TOUR~. lac. 7 83 V Cliffside D~. swissair ~ AKRON, OH 44313 ..,

GRINDELWALD SAAS-FEE

SWISS ALPS

Partner Wanted I'm planning a 7 to 10 day hike on the AT starting

in Georgia in mid-April '96. I'm looking for a partner(s) for a nice enjoyable hike, not a rush hike. I'm 63 and just retired and quite new at this. Ken Oard, 1971 Bluehill NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505 (616) 363~8638.

Pennsylvania September 6-8: Work weekend on North Country Trail, Moraine State Park area. Conact Mark Eckler, (412) 588-6164.

Pathway. All skill levels from beginner to advanced. Groomed trails. Contact Matthew at (906) 249-9702. Feb. 17: North Country Trail Hikers (Marquette) Ski Rapid River pathway, 7 miles north of Rapid River. Groomed trails for all skill levels. Contact Carol at (906) 226- 7934. Feb. 19: North Country Trail Hikers (Marquette) Ski to the new bridge at Laughing Whitefish falls location. Moderate endurance. Contact Gene at (906) 225-1704. Feb. 24: North Country Trail Hikers (Marquette) Snowshoe to the Mulligan Escarpment. Strenuous. Contact Seth at (906) 486-9550. Feb 25 North Country Trail Hikers (Marquette) Ski somewhere in Harvey area with the amazing Marti. Contact Marti at (906) 249- 1697. Mar. 1-3: North Country Trail Hikers (Marquette) Friday and Saturday night stay in Best Western outside of Porcupine Mountain State Park. Groomed trails or bushwhacking. Trail fee. Deadline to register - Feb. 25. Contact Jan at (906) 225-1295. Mar. 9: North Country Trail Hikers (Marquette) Ski Chain of Lakes, moderate to advanced. 1 hour drive each way, leave at 8 a.m. Contact Gene at (906) 225-1704. Mar.10: North Country Trail Hikers (Marquette) Ski Anderson Lake pathway south of Gwinn. Groomed trails for all skills. Contact Mary at (906) 228-341 0. Mar. 17: North Country Trail Hikers (Marquette) Ski at Maple Lane in Skandia. Trail fee, warming hut, open for all skill levels. Contact Mary at (906) 228-341 0. Mar. 23: North Country Trail Hikers (Marquette) Snowshoe in Northern Marquette County. Strenuous. Call for details. Contact Seth at (906) 486-9550. Mar. 30: North Country Trail Hikers (Marquette) Ski in Northern Marquette County. Strenuous. Call for details. Contact Dan at (906) 225-6609

Page 21

Michigan Jan. 20: North Country Trail Hikers (Marquette) Ski/snowshoe trails around Echo Lake on CR 550. This will be a lengthy trip. Warm-up trailer available. Carol at (906) 226-7934 Jan. 23: North Country Trail Hikers (Marquette) Membership meet ing, 7 p.m. at P.W. Library. Speaker will be Keith Kepler telling of hike across Europe. Jan. 27: North Country Trail Hikers (Marquette) Ski Whitefish Lake Area east of Chatham. Moderate skill level. Contact Gene at (906) 225-1704. Jan. 28: North Country Trail Hikers (Marquette) Ski Harlow Lake Trails on CR 550. For all skill levels from beginner to advanced, several different trails. Contact Carol at (906) 226-7934. Feb 3-4: 1996 Mackinaw Mush, Mackinaw City, Ml. 3, 4, 6, and 1 O dog sled races. Musher's banquet Saturday. Contact (616) 436- 5243. Feb. 3: North Country Trail Hikers (Marquette) Ski Valley Spur Ski Trail in Munising. Different length trails with a warming cabin for lunch. Diagonal and skating available. Ski at own pace, for all levels from beginner to advanced. Travel 1 hour each way. Trail fee. Contact Jan at (906) 225-1295 Feb. 4: North Country Trail Hikers (Marquette) Ski with Kathy and Lou Peters on their property. Call for details. (906) 225-0487. Feb. 1 O: North Country Trail Hikers (Marquette) Ski the Chain of Lakes near Craig Lake State Park. Moderate to advanced. Travel 1.5 hours each way. Contact Gene at (906) 225-1704. Feb. 11: North Country Trail Hikers (Marquette) Ski Blueberry Ridge

NCTA April 1: Newsletter deadline. May 18: NCTA Board meeting, Romulus, Ml. June 1: Newsletter deadline. August 1: Newsletter deadline. September 6-8: NCTA Annual Conference, Wisconsin. September 15: Challenge Cost Share Projects due to NPS. For more information, contact Bill Menke, NPS, (608) 264-5610. October 1: Newsletter deadline.

ffEMS FOR THIS COLUMN IIUil.. be received before the deadline date given on Page 4 of this newsletter. We welcome listing activities of affiliated organizations, but we must be aware of them in sufficient time for publication.

NCTA TRIPS AND ACTIVITIES


GUIDE TO THE PICTURED ROCKS NATIONAL LAKESHORE by Olive Anderson. Includes revised Lakeshore Trail Gulde. The Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is the centerpiece of the North Country Trail -- a rugged, unique coast on the wild Lake Superior shore. Updated in 1994, this 56 page book by Pictured Rocks enthusiast Olive M. Anderson gives the reader revised maps and up-to-date Information about this Michigan section of the North Country Trail. $6.95 each; Wholesale (10 or more) $5.25 each.

THE NORTH COUNTRY TRAIL -- MANISTEE NATIONAL FOREST by the Michigan Trailflnders. Offers a detailed description of the trail from the White Cloud trailhead to Big Star Lake, and from us lo to McCarthy Lake. Current through June, 1989. $2.00 each, no wholesale available.

MICHIGAN MAPSETS developed by Arden Johnson. Maps to follow the NCNST in the Manistee, Hiawatha and Ottawa National Forests, and the trail between St. Ignace and Munising, and northern lower peninsula. $4.00 per set; Binder with indicles, $2.50. Contact bookstore for Information on ordering individual maps.

GUIDE TO THE NORTH COUNTRY TRAIL -- CHIPPEWA NATIONAL FOREST by Rod Mac Rae. Discussion of the route and trail log from east to west in the Chippewa National Forest. Wonderfully written by a Chippewa National Forest expert. 12 pages. $1.25 each; Wholesale (10 or more) $.75 each.

CERTIFIED SECTIONS OF THE NORTH COUNTRY 1RAIL by Byron and Margaret Hutchins.The long-awaited start to a trail guide for the entire trail. Accurate route descriptions by an experienced guidebook writer who's walked the sections with a measuring wheel, cover ing many certified sections of the trail long enough to be a hiking destination, published in an easy to carry loose-leaf form. Individual map sets at various prices (see order form); whole set, including binder, is $23.00, use order form. Sorry, no direct wholesale.

North Country Trail Shop GREAT INFORMATION ON THE NORTH COUNTRY NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL

AVAILABLE FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY TRAIL BOOKSTORE/

FOLLOWING THE NORTH COUNTRY NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL, by Wes Boyd, NCTA Newsletter editor. Packed full of Information about the NCNST. 64 pages. Not a trall guide, but a trall discussion. 0The 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. The most Inclusive information on the whole trail. Printed 1992. $5.95, ($4.00 wholesale 10 or more).


Send order to: NCTA Trail Shop sm Sparks Dr., Suite 105 Grand Rapdis, Ml 49546

Make check/money order payable to: •North Country Trail Association•

Please enclose for shipping & handling: $0.00 -$10.00 $2.00 $10.01 - $25.00 $3.00 $25.01 • $100.00 $4.00 CNer $100.00 $5.00

Michigan residents please include 6% sales tax

Phone .

State, Zip .

City .

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Address .

PLEASE TYPE OR PRINT

BOOKS copies of 'Following the North Country National Scenic Trail'

$5.95 per copy ($4.00 per copy If ten or more)

copies of 'The North Country Trail - Manistee National Forest" $2.00 per copy. (no wholesale)

copies of 'Gulde to the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore• $6.95 per copy. ($5.25 each If ten or more)

copies of 'Gulde to the North Country Trail - Chippewa National Forest" $1.25 per copy ($.75 per copy If ten or more)

copies of Michigan mapsets (check appropriate ones:) Q Lenawee Co. - Calhoun Co. O Kalamazoo Co - SE Newaygo Co. Q SE Newaygo Co - NW Wexford O Wexford - Charlevoix Co. o Charlevols Co. - Mackinac City o St. Ignace - Marquette o Marquette - Ironwood $4.00 per set. Binder, $2.50 No wholesale

copies of 'Certified Sections of the North Country Trail' (Check sestlons) o Burr Oak-Sinking Spring $4.00 QAllegheny NF & Cook Forest, $2.90 O Wayne NF $1.50 o Little Miami Scenic Park, $1.15 o Miami and Erle Canal, $1.80 o Manistee NF $3.50 o Hiawatha NF E & Tahqua $2.70 QOttawa NF $2.10 o Hie.NF W & Pict Rocks, $2.05 o Chequamegon NF $1.80 o Chippewa NF. $2.20 o Sheyenne Grassland $1 .15

Complete set with binder, $23.00, shipping Included. No wholesale.

ORDER FORM -- NORTH COUNTRY TRAIL SHOP North Country Trail Patch @ $3.00 each North Country Trail State Segment Patch @ $1.50 each North Country Trail Volunteer Strips@ $1.50 each North Country Trail Coffee Mugs@ $6.95 each North Country Trail Supporter Cloisonne pin @$3.95 each

North Country Trail T-Shlrt (circle size): Adult, S, M, L XL XXL l 00% cotton, It. blue only@ $9. 95 each

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Patches and Stickers NCT Patch $3.00 Volunteer strip $1.50 State Strip $1.50

New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota

Hike Distance Strips (must qualify) $1.25 5, l O, 15, 20, 25 or 35 miles

hiked in one day NCTA Coffee Mugs $6.95 Trall Supporter Pin (3/ 4" Clolsonne)

North Country Trail Shop


Home Phone Work Phone · Occupation--------

1 would like to volunteer the following skills:-------------------- L- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - ---~

City State Zip _

2000 Members by 2000 2000 Certified Miles by 2000

lt's not going to be easy, but we can do it. Much has been completed, but there's still a lot to do. You can help meet the challenge by joining the North Country Trail Association, and by inviting others to join, too. Let's do it!

~------------------------------------, o YES! I want to support the North Country Trail Association. Enter my annual membership at the following level: o $20 Individual o $35 Organizational o $100 Pathfinder 0$400 Life (1 person) o $30 Household O $50 Trail Leader O $500 Corporate o $600 Life (couple)

O I would like to be a Member-at-large, or I would like $5 of my dues to be remitted to the following Chapter: o West Michigan o Grand Traverse Hiking Club o North Country Trail Hikers (UP-Ml)

O Headwaters (MN) O Wisconsin O North Dakota O Ohio O Pennsylvania

I would further like to support the NCT A with my tax deductible contribution of: $ _ Please make check payable to: North Country Trail Association and mail to : NCTA, 3777 Sparks Dr., SE, Suite 105, Grand Rapids Ml 49546 Name _

Address _

A CHALLENGE FOR THE so's


Documents

North Star Vol. 15, No. 1 (1996)