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.  Next meeting: Dec 8.  Dan Nash will share his adventures from “Hiking New Zealand”. Dan will be telling his story and showing slides of the beauty he encountered.

Trivia:

November 4, 1879: William Penn Adair Rogers, Cherokee Indian was born in Indian Territory. Who do we know William Penn Adair Rogers as? What is “Indian Territory” called today?

A WARM WELCOME TO OUR NEW MEMBERS

We hope to see you at our next meeting:

• Jackson Scholl from Kalamazoo

Adopters Needed

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

Hold on to what is good, even if it is a handful of dirt.

Hold on to what you believe, even if it is a tree that stands by itself.

Hold on to what you must do, even if it is a long way from here.

Hold on to life, even if it is easier to let go.

Hold on to my hand, even if I have gone away from you.

- Pueblo Blessing.

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

Volunteers Needed

We are in need of a person interested in becoming our Webmaster, and another volunteer who would be willing to facilitate Media Releases.  If you have an interest in either of these positions, please contact Tom Garnett at 269-382-2561 or GarnettT@trinity-health.org .  John Bacon, at the Fort Custer National Cemetery, is looking for individuals interested in participating in the National Honor Guard.  If you or anyone you know qualify, please contact John at jbacon@cem.va.gov

The ECO Club of Albion College showed up at the National Cemetery section of the North Country Trail on Saturday, October 30 to clean up trash from generations past.  The club members received help from members of the Chief Noonday Chapter of the North Country Trail in making the area more beautiful for hikers.  Members of the ECO Club of Albion College: Sarah Carver, Janan Saba, Brooke Rickettson, Andrew Leinart, Kristen Karczewski, Bekah Beall, Amy Bruursema and Becky Bahr.

Happiness is not only good in itself but it is very healthful.

Hopi Teaching.

Year of the Beaver

You gotta love those beavers. I think we should declare 2004 as the “Year of the Beaver” or proclaim the beaver as the official “totem” of the Chief Noonday Chapter. First we had to reroute the trail through Kimball Pines when the beavers drowned it with a new beaver pond. We knew it was easier to reroute than try to fight the relentless beaver. Next, Larry Pio reported that the creek at the west end of the Fort Custer trail had gone from one foot to closer to three feet deep. Tom Garnett, Steve Hicks and I decided to investigate last Saturday. We checked downstream and found the creek almost up to the road. On the west side of the road in the newly created pond was – guess what!- a beaver hutch. Further investigation demonstrated that this clever little engineer had created a marvelous dam inside the culvert that is under the railroad tracks. Unfortunately, we did not have a camera to take a picture of it, but it is a thing of beauty – if you’re a beaver! -Larry Hawkins

Share and Tell

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.

W.K. Kellogg Biological Station is hosting teas and holiday walks:

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.  Holiday Walks are offered each Friday, Saturday and Sunday from noon to 4pm, beginning Nov. 26 and ending Sunday Dec. 19.  Entrance fees are $7 for adults and $5 for senior citizens and children.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Answers to trivia:

William Penn Adair Rogers was known to the world as Will Rogers. Indian Territory is present-day Oklahoma.