Next Chapter Meeting

The next meeting is Dec 11.  Bob Papp, Executive Director of NCTA, is hoping to join us.  Meetings are at 7:00 PM at the Barry Township Hall in Delton, and are open to the public.  For directions to our meeting place, go to the web at http://www.northcountrytrail.org/cnd/delton.htm

Work Session November 16 (NEW DATE)

The last work session of the year has been scheduled this Saturday. We will be rerouting a section of the trail west of Bridge Park in Battle Creek to improve the trail, and at the same time, we are accommodating a neighboring landowner.

We are having breakfast between 7 and 8 am at the McDonalds near the Kimball Pines entrance; 1160 Michigan Avenue East; on the East side of Battle Creek.   For directions to Kimball Pines (you will see McDonalds near the entrance) go to the web at http://www.cccd.net/KimbMap.html.  We will then leaving for our work session at 8 am. If you come later, enter Bridge Park on Wattles Road, and turn right, going under the bridge to park.  For directions to Bridge Park, go to the web at http://www.cccd.net/BrdgMap.htm.  We try to let everyone know about event dates well in advance, but at times, change is required. Gail Speer is doing a great job keeping the latest schedule on our web page at:  http://www.northcountrytrail.org/cnd

Rob Corbett has been named Director of Trail Management at our Lowell headquarters. See the national web site for more info at the web http://www.northcountrytrail.org/ and scan down the right hand column and click on Oct 31- NCTA Hires Director of Trail Management

Board Meeting Report

At a 3 ˝ hour board meeting held on November 9 in Augusta, President Tom Garnett led a discussion on the progress our chapter has made in its 7 years, and we discussed, in fairly general terms, how we can continue to make progress in the future. Tom provided a preliminary summary at our November 13 chapter meeting, under the headings of:

• Trail Building and Maintenance

• Community Education and Involvement

• Trail Interpretive Project, and

• Chapter Administration

and he has requested comments and recommendations from those attending. Tom also included a preliminary mission statement for our chapter as shown:

Mission.  Develop the North Country National Scenic Trail, in the area of our responsibility, to be a premier hiking trail emphasizing the history, geology, and zoology of its environment.  Partner with public and private organizations seeking their assistance and providing ours whenever possible.  Encourage the community surrounding the trail to utilize it for hiking and educational purposes

Service Awards 2002

The North Country Trail Association recognizes volunteers who have contributed their time to the extent they have accumulated 100 hours, and 400 hours since they began volunteering. We are considering ways to add to that recognition, and as part of that, I wanted to let you know about our award recipients so far this year.

John Rudnicki is being recognized for 400 hours of service. John is a trail adopter, has been active in our trail building and maintenance work sessions, as well as being active at our Chapter meetings.

Also being recognized this year, for 100 hours of service, are Sheryl Drenth, Dave Cornell, Tom Funke, Larry Hawkins, Gail Speer, and Larry Pio.

Join me in thanking these volunteers for their contributions.  Remember to turn in your volunteer hours at least once a quarter to be sure they are credited towards these awards. Also important, your volunteer hours are used as matching funds for trail improvement projects, like the bridge installed in the Ott Preserve last year, and trail maintenance equipment.  You can record your hours by going to the web at Record Volunteer Hours

Future Hikes Planned

A winter hike is planned for possibly late January, and a spring flower / bird watching hike is also in the works. In general we are looking at promoting a hike to include the public once each season. Stay tuned for details.

Trail Adopters

Dave Cornell reports he has 4 more folks interested in becoming trail adopters, and he is working to match them with a section of trail.  Thanks to all for your response to this need. As for now, the following sections need adopters:

Work Session October 12 with the Boy Scouts

Charles Krammin led a work session in Hastings on October 12 with the Boy Scouts.  Steve Hicks and Jerry Pattok chainsawed, ran the big mower, and ran the roto-tiller for benching. Scouts used hand tools and collected old tires. Some of the tires will be cut up for use on the trail as mountain bike water bars.

The cub scouts installed bluebird houses.  A parking lot had previously been installed. Most of the trail is very hilly, in mature oaks, overlooking Carter Lake and is about 0.3 miles long.

We appreciate these folks taking time to work on this project, teaching the Scouts trail building skills, and perhaps generating interest for our group.

Email delivery

29 folks are now receiving the newsletter via email only. Thanks for helping us save postage. If you wish to sign up, contact me at: nalcoman1@aol.com.

Night Hike Report

Joe Higdon and Jerry Pattok did a great job planning the night hike held on October 19, and LaVerne BeBeau graciously prepared a hot drink and dessert reward for the hikers as they finished.  Eleven hikers enjoyed the trip, with 6 year old Rachel being the youngest. With Michigan weather sometimes being fickle, we had a great evening in the low 40’s with no rain or wind, and we even saw the moon a few times.

Fall Color Hike October 26

Tom Garnett led a hike the afternoon after our work session on Oct. 26, which we billed as a fall color hike. Five of our work crew joined Tom on a hike from Augusta, up to C Avenue, which is about a 7 mile hike. Tom reports everyone was pretty tired after hiking, especially after the hefty work day.

Recent Trail Work Completed

On October 26 our crew cleaned up a section of trail near the Harper Creek Schools between Bridge Park and Kimball Pines. We cleared some fallen logs, weed whipped, and cut overhanging branches. We also cleared some fallen trees at Kimball Pines. Our crew included D’Arcy Kelley, John Robinson, Steve Chapman, Bob Weir, Tom Garnett, Jerry Pattok, and Larry Pio.

We have also moved off the trail some fallen trees in Ott Preserve, the Cheff property, the John Gay property, and the Fort Custer Cemetery in recent weeks.

New Members

The following are new members; please join me in extending a welcome to all of them:

• Michael Fila – East Lansing

• Gerald Stein – Middleville