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. 14.  Discussion will involve strategic planning for our chapter in 2006.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
    Are you interested in becoming a trail adopter?  Dave Cornell reports that there is a need for a new adopter in Barry County.
    The Winter Hike is planned for the first Saturday in February.  Want to demonstrate your cooking abilities?  We need help with lunch, contact Larry Hawkins at hawkeyemd@cablespeed.com .

SAVE THE DATE:
    WINTER HIKE!  First Saturday in February.  Start at Augusta trailhead (Hutchinson’s) and hike north of Kellogg Forest.  Larry Hawkins will have a hot lunch at waiting at Kellogg Forest.  Elective hike north from there in the afternoon.
    Remember: The next annual conference is in Clarion, PA on August 10-13, 2006.

TRAIL CARE:
    January 21, 2006: Construction project for the Fort Custer Cemetery.
    February 18, 2006: Complete the construction project for the Fort Custer Cemetery.

WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING?
    Larry Pio presented a video program on his family backpacking trip into the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness in southern Montana at our last meeting. It is said that in this area mosquitoes have been known to show up on radar screens!!!
    On October 15 a new kiosk was installed at the trail entrance of Stagecoach Park, downtown Middleville. Thank you, Dave Cornell, Steve Hicks, John Morgan and Larry Hawkins, for all of your hard work.
    On November 5 the trail through the Sackett property was widened and a small reroute was done. Thank you, Jeff Fleming, Steve Hicks, John Morgan, Larry Hawkins, and Lynne Durham, trail adopter for this section.

Cave Dog Hike
    Approximately 20 Michigan hikers joined Teddy "Cave Dog" Keizer on the MI portion of his 50/50 challenge.  Cave Dog reported that MI represented the halfway point in his challenge.  MI provided the largest turn out in hikers so far.  Our state also provided the largest number of people who did the entire 50 km with him, including Chief Noonday member Lynne Durham.  Joan Young of Spirit of the Woods Chapter coordinated the day.

Be a Field Tester:
    BackpackGearTest.org is an international volunteer organization dedicated to testing gear. It is NON-commercial and there are NO fees. More testers are needed.  For more information go to BackpackGearTest.org.

Progress in 2005
    Kalamazoo County Road Commission: NCTA Logo signs were erected 100’ on either side of the trail crossings on county roads.  Per our President, "They are classy signs, check them out!"
    Calhoun County Trail Alliance: Kalamazoo River Pathway Planning.  Tom Garnett has been working with Annette Chapman on this project.  Jim Heaton has volunteered to join Tom in this effort.  The goal of this project is to continue down the river to Albion and Homer.

Working vacation next year?
    Maybe you’d like a vacation working on trail with the American Hiking Society as a vacation volunteer.  As an example: two weeks in May in the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.  Locations are rated EASY to VERY STRENUOUS, so you can match your abilities.  See other locations throughout the USA (and also Chile) at http://americanhiking.org/events/vv/index.html

Thank you to those businesses that support our chapter:

Lee’s Sports & Sportswear
311 W. Kilgore
Kalamazoo
(269) 381-7700

Sandhill Marketing Communications
1715 Glendale Blvd.
Kalamazoo
(269) 382-2561

Mid-Lakes Mini Storage
11235 S. Wall Lake Rd., Delton
269-623-5005
Provide storage for the Chief Noonday Tool Crib.

Yankee Springs Outdoor Center
Long Lake and Chief Noonday Outdoor Centers
269-795-3856
Provide use of lodge for scheduled Chapter winter hikes

Katies & Christy’s. Midlakes Screen-Printing,
Monogramming Active Wear and Tanning Salon
Delton, MI.
Can put NCT Logo on clothing, by special order.

Web sites:
The web site for the North Country Trail Association is:
http://www.northcountrytrail.org/index.htm .
The web site for the Chief Noonday Chapter is:
http://www.northcountrytrail.org/cnd/index.htm

Events of Interest
    Specialty Dinners offered at W. K. Kellogg Manor House Oct 29, Dec. 1, 8, 15 and 22.   For more information, contact (269) 671-2400 or e-mail conference@kbs.msu.edu . 

Have you looked at our web site recently??
    Jerry Pattok has contributed a large section on hiking opportunities in Barry County.
    Larry Hawkins has contributed a listing of camping opportunities near the NCT in Barry County.
    Perhaps you can make a contribution as well in an area of your expertise.

Newsletter Editor: Linda Warren  linblessed54@aol.com