Newsletter  June 2004

Request from the chapter President

The North Country Trail is a national linear park consisting of approximately 22,000 acres of land (8’ wide and 4,600 miles long). Being good stewards of this national scenic trail takes a lot of man/woman hours of hiking for enjoyment, scouting for access problems due to storms, tall grasses and new off road  opportunities, promoting it through educational efforts and leading hikes.  At present the Chief Noonday Chapter is responsible for approximately 93 miles of trail in Calhoun, Kalamazoo and Barry County. Of 150 chapter members about 20% are active in accomplishing all of the needed hours.  Those who are members of the NCTA/Chief Noonday Chapter who haven’t taken the opportunity to participate in any of the activities of the Chapter are missing an excellent opportunity to meet new friends with common interests and enjoy the beautiful out-of-doors almost in your own backyard.  I encourage each of you to take advantage of the various activities of the chapter and come to an event, trail care day, chapter meetings, promotional event (Summerfest), organized hike and join the fun.  We look forward to seeing you and hope to demonstrate how much enjoyment we can have developing this great trail together.  I look forward to meeting and talking with each one of you.

Tom Garnett, President

HELP US SAVE THE TREES!!!!

Receive the Chief Noonday Chapter newsletter on-line.  Contact Larry at nalcoman1@aol.com.

We have over 200 members, and we usually have 10-20 folks at our meetings. Please come and join us. Let’s share the fun, adventure, knowledge, challenge, and friendship.

Did you know?

“Michigan” comes from the Chippewa word ”meaning “great water.”

Chapter Meetings

Meetings are at 7:00 PM at the Barry Township Hall on Orchard Street in Delton the second Wednesday of each month, and are open to the public.  We are looking for presenters. If you or someone you know would be interested in presenting a topic at one of the NCT meetings contact Tom Garnett at garnettt@trinityhealth.org or Linda Warren at linblessed54@aol.com

July 14th at 6:30pm Kimball Pines.  Summer potluck get together. We are hoping to see YOU there. Don’t be shy. The more the merrier, please come and bring a friend.  Kimball Pines is located east of Battle Creek off east Michigan Avenue. You will see an M-DOT along side of the road after you cross over the bridge announcing the “North Country Trail & Kimball Pines”. Turn right into the driveway, which is a nursing home after the sign, if you are traveling east.  Follow the road back to Kimball Pines Park.

Elections for board members and officer will be held at this meeting. Those elected will serve for a two-year period.  For more information, please contact Tom Garnett at garnettt@trinityhealth.org or Linda Warren at linblessed54@aol.com

Board of Directors Meeting, Saturday, July 10, 8am

Prairieville Inn.  Anyone interested may attend

ADVENTURE HIKE!  August 7~Summer Hike, 9am  Lead by Jerry Pattock

A section of approximately 3 miles that we haven’t had a group hike on. Meet at Chief Noonday Trailhead and hike with us to Peets Road.

FRIENDSHIP!  August 5-8~ North Country Trail Association Annual Conference Marietta, Ohio.

This is not the “typical” conference,-lots of hikes, tours, food and friendship.  Watch the NCTA North Star for more details.

MORE ADVENTURE!  October 9- Fall Color Hike. 9am  (Enjoy the beauty)  Lead by Joe Higdon

Ott Preserve-near Kimball Pines off East Michigan Avenue; north on Arlington to parking area.

CHALLENGE!  November 20- Night Hike 7pm (We are not alone).  Lead by Joe Higdon

Kellogg Forest- approximately a 3-mile hike.

Look for more information about these hikes in upcoming newsletters.

Contact Tom Garnett at garnettt@trinityhealth.org or Larry Pio at nalcoman1@aol.com with questions regarding hikes, events, presentations and trail care.

My heart is tuned to the quietness that the stillness of nature inspires.

Hazrat Inayat Khan

GREETINGS TO OUR NEW MEMBERS

• Robert Golda- Sterling Heights

• Susan Kitchen- Galesburg

• Rick Marek- Middleville

• David and Lila Tirsell- Mt. Clemons

• Lawrence touch- Marcellus

We hope to see old and new members at the picnic in July. Good food and GREAT company!

Adopters Needed

If you would like to adopt a portion of the NCT please contact Dave Cornell at: onestep@mei.net.

New Adopters - THANK YOU!

• Wayne Marvin

• Pat Bartig

Volunteer Appreciation

Without volunteers where would we be today? The time, hard work and dedication of the North Country Trail volunteers is being rewarded. Want to find out how? Come and spend some time with us and leave in the latest trail attire. Yep, a North Country Trail T-shirt of your very own. Give us an hour, get a shirt.

Trivia: Michigan segment of the NCT extends how many miles?

(Answer at the end of the newsletter).

August 27-29tth- Hastings Summerfest

Sharing of information, festivities, fun and a fair to boot. Who could ask for more? Please join us. Volunteers are needed for 2-3 hour shifts:

• Friday 11am-2pm, 2pm-5pm, 5pm–8pm

• Saturday 10am-1pm, 1pm-4pm and 4pm-6pm

• Sunday 10am-1pm and 1pm-4pm

Contact Larry Hawkins to volunteer at hawkeyemd@cablespeed.com

Thousands of tired, nerve shattered, overcivilized people

are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home:

That wilderness is a necessity. John Muir

June 5~ National Trails Day:

What did you do? Send us an e-mail telling us about it at linblessed54@aol.com.

Support our Supporters

See Mid-Lakes Mini Storage southwest of Delton for your storage needs. Mid-Lakes provides us with storage for our Chief Noonday Tool Trailer.

Katies & Christy’s.

Midlakes Screen-Printing, Monogramming Active Wear and Tanning Salon Delton, MI.

Interested in supporting the Chief Noonday Chapter? Let us help you advertise.

Contact Tom Garnett at 269-382-2561, or GarnettT@trinity-health.org

Share and Tell

Adventure on the North Country National Scenic Trail

I do volunteer work for the North Country Trail Association, Chief Noonday Chapter, which builds, maintains and promotes the trail as it passes through Barry County. On Friday, May 21, I started the spring mowing season. The weather was dismal and cloudy. I unloaded the mower and mowed a path a half-mile to the north in about a half-hour. Back at the trailer I stopped for a break and noticed that the sky to the north was getting dark. By my reckoning, I figured that I could finish the next ¼ mile north before the weather got worse. I thought that I saw some flashes in the sky but decided that I was imagining things. After passing through a wooded section I broke out into an open field. At this point it was apparent that it was not my imagination and there was a lot of flashing going on . I surmised that I could finish the section and make it back to the trailer before the storm. I mowed as fast as I could and started my return trip. I could feel sprinkles as soon as I started back. About halfway back I broke out into the short open field, it was getting much darker and very windy. At this point I turned off the mower blade and shifted the mower to high speed to get back to the trailer. It got so dark coming through that last wooded section that I could barely see the trail. At the end of this woods I passed under two large hickory trees at the side of the road. The wind was increasing dramatically and rain and hail were starting to come with it. I had finally arrived at the supply trailer. Shutting down the mower I rushed to the truck to get my rain jacket. I debated for a few seconds, then got back out of the truck into the wind and driving rain to load the mower in the covered trailer and leaped back into the truck.. Suddenly I heard a loud “boom”. With the windows of the truck fogged up and the driving rain outside I couldn’t tell what had exploded. Turning on the radio I soon found out that there was a tornado warning centered on the location where I was sitting. No kidding! Next I noticed that my cell phone was signaling that I had a message. This turned out to be messages from my wife and daughter, trying to notify me of the tornado warning. All this time the truck was rocking and rolling. I started the engine and turned on the defroster to try to clear the windshield. In four-wheel drive I managed to drive the truck and supply trailer onto the road and turn back in the direction of the trail crossing. I immediately noticed a fresh break in one of the large hickory trees that I had just passed under. On the ground were the entire remains of the top of the tree, resting on the freshly mowed trail. I am guessing that the “boom” that I heard was that tree coming down. That would put the timing of that tree coming down at less that five minutes after I passed under it. I quickly contacted all the concerned parties and assured them of my safety.

His eye is on the sparrow

And I know he watches me.  

Submitted by Steve Hicks

Do you have a trail story, a section of trail that is your favorite, a bit of trail wisdom? Share your knowledge, and wit with our readers. Send your thoughts, short stories, or pearls to Linda Warren at: linblessed54@aol.com.

We are always looking for new members, share your newsletter with a friend, and tell someone about Chief Noonday.

W.K. Kellogg Biological Station is hosting teas:

• May 11:The Girlfriend’s at W.K. Kellogg Manor House. 3pm

• Sept. 28: Feng Shui Tea

• Oct. 26: Harvest Tea

• Dec. 7: Dickens Tea

• Dec. 14: Holly and Ivy Tea

The cost for tea and a tour of the Manor House is $18 for adults and $12 for children 2-12 years. Prepaid reservations are requested. Please call 269-

671-2416 or e-mail manorhouse@msu.kbs.edu for reservations or more information.

Brunch at W.K. Kellogg Manor House

Hickory corners, MI. Sundays 10:30-12:30

• June 27

• July 25

• Aug. 29

Cost $14.95 adults and $9.95 children.

Call 269-671-2400 or e-mail: conferencecenter@msu.kbs.edu . for more information.

Answer to Trivia Question: 875-miles.

Beware of Poison Ivy!

Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in,

where nature may heal and cheer and give strength to body and soul alike.

John Muir

To see our previous newsletters, click on the desired newsletter to read it.   Then, hit the 'back' button on your web browser to return to this page.  Note:  For future dated newsletters, you will receive a 'not found' for the newsletter.

Last modified: Monday, February 06, 2006
Site visitations since 08/29/2000: