National Trails Day project — clean-up at Historic Bridge Park:  We had an awesome turnout and a beautiful day for our National Trails Day observance, a cleanup project at Historic Bridge Park in Emmett Township, Calhoun County, along the Kalamazoo River east of Battle Creek.

We met for breakfast at the Homespun Restaurant in Battle Creek, and all I can say is, Wow! we all ate very well.  We needed a busy workday to burn off the calories!  We had thirteen for breakfast, so we challenged the staff to find seating for us all.

Joining our Chief Noonday crowd were four volunteers from the Historic Bridge group: Vern Mesler from East Lansing, who is the driving force behind Michigan's bridge preservation project, Wayne Conklin from Battle Creek, Luke Gordon from East Lansing, and Nathan Holth from a 'dot on the map' called North Street (near Port Huron). 

They are all active members of Historic Bridges of Michigan and Elsewhere.

Boy, do these folks know their bridges!  We all learned a great deal from them.  Moreover they were exceedingly excited about our project with the Historic Iron Bridge Trail.  Vern has already committed himself to helping us with placing the bridge in Kimball Pines over the wetlands by the beaver ponds.  A lot of good networking took place.

The Chief Noonday crowd included Bob Cooley from Battle Creek who is training under John Rudnicki to take over as adopter for the Ott Preserve, Kimball Pines and Historic Bridge Park next year.  He and John did a lot of information exchange during the morning.

Mary Rebert, a new chapter member from Delton had her inaugural workday with us. 

The crew was rounded out by Steve Hicks, Tom Garnett, Jeff Fleming, Ron Sootsman, and the Brothers Hawkins, Mick and Larry.

While the county had come in and mowed the park, there was a ton of brush work to do. 

Using the DR mower, a weed whacker, extension saws and extension loppers, as well as regular loppers, hedge trimmers and bow saws, the crew cleaned out under and all around the magnificent big red Charlotte Bridge that dramatically spans the entrance to the park.

We have more pictures from the workday on our Photos page.

Ron took chainsaw in hand and cleaned up some fallen trees.

Steve proved, once again, that our mighty DR mower is amphibious and cleaned the markedly soggy area around the metal sculpture in the park, while everybody else cleaned and lopped around the other bridges in the park.

Larry and John set up an information table by the trailer during the project, but, strangely, the park wasn't particularly busy, so we didn't accomplish much by way of P.R.

Many thanks to everyone who turned out. It was a very productive work day and a worthy service project.

Larry Hawkins
President, Chief Noonday Chapter
 

DOINGS ALONG THE TRAIL:
●  NCNST through-hiker in our neighborhood:  Dave Cornell has just sent out the word that he met up with NCNST thru-hiker M. J. Eberhart, a.k.a. Nimblewill Nomad, yesterday in Lowell.  Eb has been trekking on the NCNST eastward from North Dakota since March.  He recently took part in festivities in Michigan near Kalkaska.

Dave anticipates that Eb will cross into our Chief Noonday area shortly — possibly near Irving tonight (Thursday June 18) and near Delton on Friday.  Dave has extended an invite for Eb to stay with Dave and Jan and share a meal on his journey.  Anyone is invited to stop by and visit.

Check out Eb's journal of his NCNST trek on his web site.  We'll add more data here as we get it.

Friday June 19 11:35 AM update:  Eb stayed with Chief Noonday folks in Middleville last night, so he missed out on tenting in the rain!!   He is heading down through Barry County today and expects to have supper in Prairieville.

Tom Warner's message: 

I ran into Nomad in Middleville last night (Thursday).  We ended up picking him up at M-37 and Peets Rd where the trail crosses there, and he stayed the night.  Excellent house guest.  We very much enjoyed having him, and I think he really appreciated not having to be tenting in that crazy storm.  Anyway he REALLY wanted to thank all involved for the hard work in making the NCT the trail it is today which allows him and many others to enjoy it.  So Thank all of YOU.

Friday June 19, 2:30 PM update:  Dave Cornell is picking Eb up at Prairieville around 3:30 PM, and Eb will stay tonight with Dave and Jan at their place at Wall Lake. 

You're invited to stop by and say hello.  It would be a good idea to let them know you're coming.

Saturday June 20, 9:30 PM update:  Dave picked Eb up as planned on Friday at 3:30, Dave and Jan hosted Eb for an overnight at their place, and Dave dropped Eb off at the Trail Saturday morning at 7:30.  New Chief Noonday member Mary Rebert met Eb as he set out, and other members were going to try and meet him along the way.    Eb anticipated being in Battle Creek by this evening.  Dave reports that Eb has been averaging about 30 miles a day!

Wednesday, June 24:  Read Eb's journal of his hike through Chief Noonday country and all the people he met along the way.

●  Yankee Springs Celebrating Michigan's State Parks Anniversary:  Saturday, June 20th, all Michigan State Parks are celebrating the 90th anniversary of the Michigan State Park system.

NCNST's and Chief Noonday Chapter's partner on the Trail, the Yankee Springs Recreation Area, will celebrate with cake and ice cream — followed by a golden opportunity to burn off those ice cream and cake calories — a hike.

The cake and ice cream will be served at 4:00 PM.  Then YSRA will then be kicking off their Hiking Spree Program with a hike down the Sassafras Trail, led by our Explorer Guide, Colleen.

The Hiking Spree Program works like this:

1.  Free Hiking Spree cards can be picked up at the campground office, park HQ or from the Explorer Guide.  You can keep track of when and what trails you hiked, along with any other notes or adventures, on the card.

2.  Hiking staffs and hiking staff medallions will be sold: medallions $3, hiking staff $7:

•  2009 Hiking Medallion featuring the 90th anniversary of Michigan State Parks
•  Yankee Springs Recreation Area Medallion
•  North Country National Scenic Trail Medallion

3. If you hike three (3) different trails (not the same trail 3 times) you can earn a free 2009 medallion.  Just present your card to staff at the campground office or park HQ showing when and what trails have been completed.

4. In 2010 there will be a new medallion issued.

5. Only one free medallion per person, please. (We bet you'll be back to hike the rest anyway.)

●  More hikes along the North Country National Scenic Trail:  See the Events Calendar for more details on our Chief Noonday Chapter monthly hike in Albion and the Volksmarch in Middleville celebrating the Village's 175th anniversary.

 

A bicycle pilgrimage:   Yrs Truly had serious misgivings about what lay in store for the day early last Saturday morning as I loaded gear into my vehicle in the midst of loud, wet thunder-boomer in Lansing Township.  For the first few miles of the drive to Delton, the amount of rain coming down made the driving almost hazardous.  But things looked better off to the southwest, and by the time I got to Delton, it was actually looking to be a great day for a bike ride in the country.

Eventually at the Barry Township Hall some seasoned bicyclists Dave Cornell, Joe Higdon, and Cal Lamoreaux (accompanied by Jean) arrived on the scene on (or with) their bikes. 

After a few minutes spent checking gear, applying sun screen, and settling on a route to follow, the three cyclists headed out east along Orchard Street with me bringing up the rear in the "SAG wagon" equipped with cooler and bottled spring water, first aid kit, extra sun screen, tire pumps in two flavors (motorized and human-powered), tire gauge, bicycle tool kit, and maps.

When we started going up hills south of Delton on Pleasant Lake and Floria Roads, I knew it had been a stroke of genius on my part on Wednesday when I'd declared myself unfit (i.e., in no shape) for the bike trek.  I think I'd have been a goner after that first hill.

For the first several miles it was a peaceful ride.  Not much traffic.  Not far south of Delton we saw deer romping in the fields — and at least a dozen sandhill cranes on the ground partaking of a late Saturday morning breakfast and apparently not bothered at all at having us cruising through their environment.  We followed Osborne Road west, then Parker and Milo.  A short stretch of Osborne west of M-43 was the only gravel road we traveled on, and the bikes seemed to weather it well.

Somewhere along the way we ran into another cyclist, Dave's son-in-law, John Letarte, who joined us for the rest of the ride to our destination.

When we turned south on Lockshore Road, traffic began to pick up in both directions but generally slowed and took it somewhat easy passing our group.

After about an hour's ride we arrived on Cressey Road at the destination of our little pilgrimage, the plot where lies a headstone monument to Nawehquageezhik, better known to us as Chief Noonday, and his wife Somonoque. 

The plot was well tended and, along with the monument, featured a sign, put up I believe by the Bernard Historical Society, identifying the location and, leaning up against it, a native ceremonial staff. 

If you were really quiet, you could almost hear ... in the gentle breeze ... the beat of the drums....

According to information engraved on the reverse side of the monument (studied here by Cal and Joe), the area contains "the graves of over one hundred Native Americans who once resided here at the Slater Baptist Mission." 

The legend admonishes, "Let us tread this earth gently."

The cyclists confer on a question of local geography.  From left, Joe Higdon, John Letarte, Dave Cornell, and Cal Lamoreaux.

Chief Noonday played a prominent role in the Native American history of lower Michigan, but unfortunately many details are not clear.  For instance, he is usually believed to have been a Potawatomi chieftain, but the grave marker implies that he was Ottawa.  One history text (most likely mistakenly) identified him as an Iroquois chief.  One conjecture is that the treaty known as the Council of Three Fires among the Ojibwe, Ottawa and Potawatomi may have blurred the conceptual boundaries and distinctions enough that Noonday could have been not inaccurately considered both Ottawa and Potawatomi.  (See our Web site page on Chief Noonday for more information.)

By the time we had ridden back to Delton we'd been on the road about two hours and twenty minutes and traveled somewhere between 17 and 20 miles, depending on whether you believe the bike odometers or Google.  Everybody appeared to be thriving.  We just may plan something like this again in the future.

Thanks to all who took part!

Mick Hawkins, Webmaster     
 

"Bring On the Bridge!":   Ever have a hankering to walk on a section of the North Country National Scenic Trail that you can only walk on one day a year?

If you're from these parts, you know I'm talking about The Annual Labor Day Mackinac Bridge Walk.  And if you're a member of the North Country Trail Association, you no doubt know that the Mackinac Bridge is where the North Country National Scenic Trail crosses the Straits of Mackinaw on its way from Michigan's Lower Peninsula to the Upper Peninsula (or vice versa).

It's the only stretch of the NCNST I know of where you can do a stretch of the NCNST in the comfort of a car or van — and still get credit for hiking five miles.  Except on Labor day.  On that day you get to rack up the Trail miles the old fashioned way.

This year the Hiawatha Shore to Shore Chapter of the North Country Trail Association has put together a great rally program, called "Bring On the Bridge!", to enable NCTA Members and Supporters to fulfill their dream of actually hiking across the Mackinac Bridge — and in the process promote awareness of the North Country National Scenic Trail and of the great Mackinac Bridge as part of the Trail.

For full information, as well as the requisite paperwork, click here. 

Note that in order to participate in the rally, including the camping provisions, you must be a member of NCTA.  If by any chance you haven't had a chance to join yet, now's the time! 

Mick Hawkins, Webmaster     
 

2009 NCTA National Conference — Valley City, North Dakota:   Eight members of the Chief Noonday Chapter made the trek to Valley City, North Dakota, for the 2009 National Conference.  Anchored by board members Dave Cornell and Larry Hawkins, Mick Hawkins, Mike Wilkey, Ron and Linda Sootsman, Larry Pio, and, to our delight, Martha Jones made to trip to Valley City State University.

The Chief Noonday team in North Dakota:  (l-r) Mike Wilkey, Mick Hawkins, Larry Hawkins, Linda Sootsman, Ron Sootsman, Larry Pio, Martha Jones, and Dave Cornell.

Mick and Larry arrived a day early to take the Western Terminus Day Trip with National Park Service partners Tom Gilbert, Fred Szarka, Ken Howell and Dan Watson. 

As well as visiting Lake Sakakawea*, we visited three National Historic sites proposed as landmarks along the proposed reroute to the western terminus at Lake Sakakawea State Park.  We visited the Knife River Indian Villages site, the Fort Mandan site, and the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center. 

We also gained a great appreciation for Tom Gilbert's extensive knowledge of the exploits of Lewis and Clark.  The reroute looked like a winner to all on the trip. We also hiked the final mile and a half of the NCNST — in rain and hail!

Thursday, Dave and Larry attended the Board of Directors meeting where Dave passed the president's gavel to Bobby Koepplin of the Sheyenne River Valley Chapter, and Larry Hawkins was confirmed as the First Vice President of the Board.  We also welcomed new Board Member, Tom Moberg, who hails from far western Minnesota across the river from North Dakota. 

Mick Hawkins heads out toward impressive scenery on Lake Sakakawea on the Western Terminus of the North Country National Scenic Trail in North Dakota.

The board meeting was rather lengthy, but nothing startling to report.

We begin anew the search for a new Director of Trail Operations, as our previous search did not produce a worthy candidate. 

Movement east from Lake Champlain is going well, the Arrowhead reroute in Minnesota is moving well through the halls of Congress and the Senate, and we continue to look at alternatives for the Westward Ho project to extend the trail from Lake Sakakawea to the Continental Divide Trail.

Friday and Saturday's days were filled with workshops, hikes and sight seeing with very tight schedules. The evenings were filled with banquets, auctions live and silent, the Annual Membership Meeting, awards presentations, and extraordinary entertainment highlighted by a presentation by Deia Schlosberg and Gregg Treinish, a young couple from the University of Montana who had trekked 7,800 miles along the Andes crest from Ecuador to the lighthouse on the tip of Tierra del Fuego, a hike that took two years to complete.  (See their impressive Web site, with pictures and journal.)

Sunday morning, we said good-bye to our many friends from far-flung places and left Valley City and our wonderful hosts from the Sheyenne River Valley Chapter who outdid themselves in making us feel welcome and putting on a best ever National Conference.
 
Until we meet again next year along the shores of Lake Superior in Ashland, Wisconsin, happy hiking!

Larry Hawkins     
Chapter President - Chief Noonday Chapter of the NCTA  

* Sacagawea, after whom Lake Sakakawea was named, was an originally Shoshone woman who accompanied the Lewis and Clark expedition, serving as an interpreter.  The current spelling, Sacagawea, is based on national scholarly consensus that it approximates the name she had after being adopted into the Hidatsa tribe.  The spelling Sakakawea was adopted in North Dakota over 50 years ago to reflect the Hidatsa pronunciation of her name, which earlier had commonly but incorrectly been rendered Sacajawea.

[Webmaster note:  See the gallery of pictures from the Conference on our Photos page.]