Newsletter July 2003

Bridge Park Hike July 12 (Battle Creek Area)

Tom Garnett is leading a hike from Bridge Park to Ott Preserve on July 12 at 9 am. This is about a 4.3 mile hike, which also goes by a McDonalds for those needing a refreshment. (About 3.7 miles is in the woods.)  This segment is a real jewel if you haven’t hiked it in the past.  A link to a map to get you to Bridge Park, which is on the southeast side of Battle Creek, can be found at www.cccd.net/BridgePics.html.  Otherwise follow Interstate 94 to Exit 104, go about a mile west on Michigan Avenue (which is the intersection south of the ramp), and turn south onto Wattles for about a mile until you see Bridge Park on the left (just past the NCT road sign).

Work Sessions

At the July 19 work session, we will be working on the center section of the Fort Custer Cemetery property at 9 am. Meet at 8 am for breakfast at the Lakeside Cafe at 209 S. Webster Street in Augusta.  Time to start bringing your DEET.

A work date is also scheduled for August 16  (this date is new; the old date conflicted with the Hastings Summerfest).  We will meet for breakfast at the same location, but work location is to be determined.

At our Work Session on June 21, Randy Brodbeck, Leslie Brodbeck, Steve Hicks, Tom Garnett, D’Arcy Kelley, and Larry Pio worked on the puncheons at Fort Custer, and Randy, Leslie, and Steve then mowed at Kellogg Biological.  We are done hauling lumber, so the work going forward will be more routine.

Hastings Summerfest August 22, 23, 24

Jerry Pattok has begun signing up help for our promotional booth at the Hastings Summerfest in late August.  We still have a couple slots to fill at the booth.  Email Jerry at gspattok@iserv.net and see when you can help.  The Summerfest was a great promotional event for us last year, and Jerry’s leadership and time on this is greatly appreciated.

Late Summer Hike September 6 (Barry County)

Joe Higdon is planning a hike for Saturday September 6 from Norris Road to Keller Road, which we will be promoting at the Hastings Summerfest.  The hike will begin at 9:00 am.  To get to the trailhead, head west from Delton to Prairieville, and then head north on Norris Road. The trail head is on the east side of the road, just past the big North Country Trail sign.

Fall Color Hike October 11

Joe Higdon has also scheduled a Fall Color Hike for October 11 (location to be announced).  Also in the works is a late fall Night Hike.  Anyone who is willing to be an organizer for one of these hikes should let Joe know.  His email address is jhigdon@plainwellschools.org

Trail Interpreters Exploratory Walk June 28

Barb VanDyken and Christy Stewart report a very productive hike with about 6 advisors helping out with bird, flowers, and tree identification.  The purpose of this hike was to begin an interpretive analysis of this segment, which we will later expand into other trail segments.  This analysis will help provide the basis for an interpretive brochure.

Hutchinson Parking Lot Update

Ron Hutchinson has completed much of the construction of a trailhead parking lot on the south end of his property, on Augusta Drive north of Augusta.  A second gate will be constructed for his access to the property, from the parking lot, before the lot is opened, and our Chapter is close to purchasing this gate.

This site was the location of an inter-urban rail station, and Ron has items from that era for an interpretive display, which will be an outstanding addition to our trail.  We will be providing labor and materials for some construction.  Thanks again Ron for your generous support, and also Dave Cornell and Steve Chapman for your efforts.  D’Arcy Kelley will be working on organizing the interpretive display.  The City of Augusta has also offered support.

Donation of Chief Noonday Trailer Storage

Gary Buckland has donated space at his storage business southwest of Delton to keep our trailer, when we do not have it out for work days or for exhibition at publicity opportunities.  This location is in a central spot for our chapter, and is readily accessible for our crews.  Thanks Gary for your help.

Trail Adopters

Adopters, its time to get out there and check your trail.  Let us know if you find problems beyond your ability to fix.  We will occasionally need more adopters, so please continue to contact Dave Cornell at onestep@mei.net, if you have an interest in adopting a section of the North Country Trail.

New Members

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

• Bill Remmert - Portage

• Dale Wilson - Delton

• George Lee - Plainwell

• Dan Nash - Kalamazoo

• Susan Smith - Hastings

• Wendy Van Norman - Augusta

Joan Young visit to July Meeting

Joan Young spoke at our July Chapter Meeting in her capacity as Lower Michigan Trail Council Coordinator.  She is involved in a wide variety of efforts, and asked for input on trail promotion and publicity, state wide fun events for all the chapters in Michigan, as well as encouraging communication with the other chapters.  She mentioned Rob Corbett will soon be asking us for a list of our 3 biggest issues, 5 most needed land extensions, and project plans for next year.  (Give Tom Garnett your input.)

Remember: National meeting July 31 to August 3 in Marquette at Northern Michigan University.

Hikes in other chapters

For those interested in hiking with other chapters, while on vacation, etc., take a look at the calendar tab at the North Country Trail web site.  What a great chance to visit another part of the country, hike with some new friends, and have a lift back to your vehicle.  The web site for the North Country Trail Association is: www.northcountrytrail.org

The web site for the Chief Noonday Chapter is: www.northcountrytrail.org/cnd and all our previous newsletters are online here thanks to Gail Speer.

Thanks to Tom Garnett for distributing the newsletter this month as I head off to vacation.