Next Chapter Meetings:

Our next meeting is December 10 and Larry Pio will present video of his backpacking trip to Alaska, including the Kenai peninsula, and Denali National Park. Meetings are at 7:00 PM at the Barry Township Hall on Orchard Street in Delton on the second Wednesday each month, and are open to the public.

Work Sessions

• November 15  (Battle Creek)  For the November 15 work session, we will be scouting the section of trail between Kimball Pines County Park and Bridge Park to review plans for puncheoning, bridges, or possibly rerouting. Please wear orange as a precaution, although hunting is not allowed in this area. A new beaver dam in this area may require use of waders.  We will meet for breakfast at the McDonalds on 1160 Michigan Avenue East at 8:00 am, and then heading to the back parking area of Kimball Pines at 9:00 am. Contact Tom Garnett with any questions at 269/382-2561, or GarnettT@trinity-health.org. 

• December 13  (Adopters, please note)  We are tentatively scheduling a work day for December 13 in case we have downed trees to work on as a result of the wind storm on November 12.  Adopters, if you can check your trail out some time before the next meeting, and report your findings to Dave Cornell at 269/623-8659, or onestep@mei.net. We will then determine where to meet for that work day. If you need to know where the work day will be after the December meeting, contact Larry Pio at 269/327-3589, or nalcoman1@aol.com.

Hikes in December and January, NCTA

Here are some extra hiking opportunities as seen on the chapter events page of the North Country Trail Association web site (see last page for site address):

• Spirit of the Woods chapter (Manistee, Mason, Lake, and Oceana counties) is hosting “Christmas in the Woods” on December 13 near Freesoil, Michigan. “Meet at the SPW Boardwalk, 10 am, and we will make bird feeder cones to hang on the trees, enjoy hot cocoa and popcorn, and hike the new reroute around private property east of the boardwalk.” Contact Joan Young at jhy@t-one.net for more info.
• The Buckeye Trail Association, an affiliate, is hosting a hike near Akron, OH at the Big Bend Trailhead on January 3. Contact Phyllis Devlin at 330/864-8872 for more info.
• Spirit of the Woods chapter is also hosting a winter backpacking overnighter at Bowman Lake on January 10-11, or you can do a day hike with the group on Saturday only. Reservation required. Again, contact Joan Young for more info.

Winter Hike Leader Wanted

We are looking for a volunteer to set up and lead the winter hike to be held sometime in late January or February. Please contact Tom Garnett (see number above) if you are able to help.

Work Crew Leader Wanted

We have been building and maintaining trail without a crew leader for some time now, but that position is still open and we need a candidate. Please contact Tom Garnett on this opening. 

Report on the Fall Color Hike October 11

We had a very nice day for our fall color hike at the Fort Custer Cemetery section of trail that we are just about ready to open.  We had about 15 participants, ranging in age from 3 months to 86.  Thanks to Joe Higdon for his work in arranging our hikes. 

Report on Interpretive Project Data Gathering Hike October 25

Christy Stewart and Barb VanDyken led an interpretive project hike from McKibben Road to Norris Road, and other contributors included Charles Krammin, Dave Cornell, Jerry Pattok (resident geologist), Joel VanDyken, Larry Pio, Steve Hicks, LaVerne BeBeau, Tom McCarty, Angela Roles, Trent Thompson, Jack Stewart, and Brook Rizon.  This section features rock piles built by farmers clearing the rocks out of their fields (now in the middle of the woods), a kame (look it up), interestingly branched oak trees, and Charles Krammin showed us the original Yankee Spring.  We are still looking for more participation with this effort.  Barb and Christy report they are planning to move on to a new section of trail in the spring.

Report on Night Hike (November 8)

Joe Higdon led our night hike again this year, and he timed the full moon perfectly with the lunar eclipse. We had about 15 participants who braved the cool weather, including the youngest at 4 months old. Thanks again Joe, for pulling this one together.

Report on NCTA member Jack Buege’s Presentation

on Volunteer Vacations with American Hiking Society

Jack Buege, a board member of the West Michigan chapter of NCTA, gave an interesting presentation last night on Volunteer Vacation opportunities arranged through the American Hiking Society. In a nutshell, for $80 and transportation costs (all tax deductible), you can participate in work and fun at locations around the USA, with food and a place to stay generally provided (could be a campground).  The host organization (for example, the National Park Service) provides the “room” and board. These vacations last one or two weeks. Jack has gone to Virginia, Arkansas, and South Carolina as a volunteer and reports interesting experiences on all of these trips. A list of projects for next year can be seen by clicking here.  There are projects in 29 states, ranging from easy to strenuous, with most being at the moderate level. 

Hutchinson Parking Lot Update

Dave Cornell, Steve Chapman, and Larry Pio installed the posts for the stile at the parking lot, and we anticipate the fencing and stile will be completed soon. 

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

• Mark Atma – Bellevue
• Ketevan Magalashvili – Battle Creek
• John Muellen – Baroda
• Matthew Shaffer – St. Joseph
• Samuel Van Boven – Battle Creek
• Neil Wester – Birmingham

New Trail Adopter

Patt Bartig has agreed to adopt the new Hutchinson parking lot, as well as the connecting roadway over to the Fort Custer Cemetery trail. Thanks for your help Patt.

Newsletter Editor:  Larry Pio   nalcoman1@aol.com