Chief Noonday captured in Grand Rapids (in bronze):  On August 10th a $200,000, 7-foot tall bronze rendering of Noahquageshik or Nawquageezhig, better (and more pronounceably) known to Barry County residents and our NCTA chapter as Chief Noonday, was unveiled, dedicated and presented to Grand Valley State University, courtesy of the Peter F. Secchia Family Foundation.

The sculpture was created by the noted artist Antonio Tobias Mendez, who had done extensive research into the tribal costuming, head gear, and customs of Chief Noonday's tribe at the turn of the 19th century in the Grand River Valley.  No image specifically of Chief Noonday is known to exist, but the headdress, garb and accessories depicted by the sculpture are believed to be quite authentic.

For more information, see news media coverage here, here and here.  The picture (right) is from the Grand Rapids Press.


Chief Noonday Awards Night 2010:   Good friends, good food, and good fellowship were the recipe for our annual potluck and awards night on August 11th at the Barry Township Park Pavilion.  It was a great pleasure to meet and share with the spouses and families of our regulars. 

As usual, the fare was anchored by the pulled pork sandwiches from the Cornells, we had heirloom tomatoes, pasta salads, potato salad, veggies, fruit, blueberry pie and sinful kringle from Racine.  Of course, the highlight of the dinner was a case of South Shore Brewery Nut Brown Ale specially labeled for the 2010 NCTA Conference in Ashland, Wisconsin — and a fine brew it was.

Jim	Linda	Ron

Our 2010 National Park Service awards were announce and presented to those present.  Jim Martin received his 100 Volunteer Hours certificate and pin, Linda Sootsman was awarded her 200 Volunteer Hours recognition, a NCTA Water Bottle, and Ron Sootsman was awarded his 1000 Volunteer Hours award, a fleece vest with the NPS Volunteer patch.  Larry also announced that Ron Sootsman will be receiving the Chief Noonday Chapter Honor Award when it arrives from Lowell.

Cal and Jean Lamoreaux made a brief presentation about a project of the Thornapple Trail Association in which they are developing a system of trails on property left to the village which will be used for hiking and for the Thornapple Kellogg Cross Country Team. They are requesting and we will provide volunteers to open up the path the Saturday after Labor Day.

We had a very abbreviated meeting to make plans for the rest  of the month and Larry provided some highlights from the National Conference and Board of Directors meeting.
 

August 2010 hike:   The turnout for our August 14th hike was pretty small.  Charlie Krammin and I met for breakfast at the Village Inn in Allegan.  As we were leaving to go to the trail head, we met Don Krause, a chapter member from Allegan, who was joining us for the hike.

We caravanned to the trailhead on Monroe Road and set out on a bushwhack which Charlie said was a trail he used in his previous incarnation as an Indian scout.  We hiked along the top of the ridge of the Highbanks of the Swan Creek. 

Not too far along the way, as if to give support to Charlie’s claim, we came upon a campsite that was comprised of the frame of a Potowotami shelter with a very large fire ring outside and a smaller fire ring within. Other than the fact that it was held together with plastic zip straps, it was very authentic and a very interesting find.

We hiked out to the Swan Creek Dam and fish ladder.  As it is not the season for a spawning run, there were no steelhead or trout making the run upriver.  We took a break for snacks and hydration and enjoyed the view in spite of threatening sprinkles.  After resting, we crossed the creek and headed back on the opposite highbank.

We didn’t encounter much wildlife other than scads of tiny toads and angry blue jays.  We were hoping for a sighting of a pileated woodpecker, which Don assured us he had seen in the area, but no such luck.  We did see a fantastic array of different toadstools, mushrooms, and other fungal forms.

At the end of the hike, Charlie insisted that Don take a picture of my legs and his to make the point that I should have accepted his offer of long pants before we set out.  What I should have done was read the Webmaster’s description of the hike a little more carefully and dress appropriately.  Did you know that “sticktights” stick to bare legs as well as cloth?

Larry Hawkins    
President, Chief Noonday Chapter  
 

Oil spill in Calhoun County impacts NCNST:   A major oil spill from a pipe line south of Marshall ended up in the Kalamazoo River and as of 7/28 was creating havoc all the way past the Kalamazoo-Calhoun County line — including the North Country National Scenic Trail where it passed through that area along the river.

Area news media including the Battle Creek Enquirer were keeping on top of the story.

Hikers on the North Country Trail would be affected in two areas: Historic Bridge Park, which was closed, and along the river on the Battle Creek Linear Park pathway where it followed the Kalamazoo River.

Several Chief Noonday Chapter members are reporting that the smell along the spill is pretty intense.  Jeff Fleming witnessed not only the smell but the sheen from the spill at Augusta.

Word is that the pipeline company and the authorities are hoping to contain the spill before it reaches Galesburg in Kalamazoo County.

Check out our special map page to see the extent of the area affected.  And see photos supplied by Tom Garnett and the Webmaster.

Mick Hawkins    
Webmaster, Chief Noonday Chapter  
 

The puncheon — after and before:  In the inset, see those two steel rods sticking up to the left?  The end of the puncheon/bridge had been centered on those rods before the flood moved it off to the side and tilted it up against the bank.  The main picture, taken from the opposite end of the puncheon, shows the effort required — strong men lifting while while a come-along tugs on a tow rope secured to a tree to the right — to horse the heavy water-logged wood structure back into place.  Stephen Norton (gray sweatshirt in the background), the Eagle Scout who designed and supervised the project, keeps a careful eye on the proceedings.

Workday at Kellogg Forest, Sackett's, Hutchinson's:   I can't report in depth about the workday for this month as we had two separate projects and I was present for only one of them.  We had nine for breakfast at Duda's in Augusta to get fueled up for the morning's work, them we split up to go to the different job sites.

One by one these logs had to be carried down the trail and placed to form a corduroy which would produce a dry trail over what had been an enticing slippery pathway of ... muck.  Jeff Fleming (right) is the chapter adopter for the KEF Trail section.

With a course of logs partly in place, a sand/gravel mix was brought in and spread over the logs to create the new path while some of the crew continued to carry more logs further down the trail.  Stephen shows how the spreading needs to be done.

Larry Pio, Bob Sulaski, Ron Sootsman, Mike Wilkey and Charlie Krammin headed to E-F Ave to mow and lop both Hutchinson's and Sackett's properties.  They used the DR mower south of E-F and the new DR weed whacker north of E-F.

Jeff Fleming, Jason Buckner, Mick and I joined Stephen Norton and the scouts and their dads from Troop 294 on an Eagle Scout project in the Kellogg Experimental Forest. 

Stephen had developed a plan to restore an existing puncheon/bridge to its former position after it had been washed away in a flooding and then repair the path on either side of it by building up a corduroy footpath similar to the country roads of old. The need for the new footpath was immediately apparent when we arrived. The heavy rains of Friday night only amplified the need for dry footing.  We were sinking into several inches of muck.

Using a come-along, snatch strap and tow rope along with levers and brute strength, we were able to move the waterlogged puncheon bridge back to its original position and brace it somewhat. It required two lifting and dragging operations, one at either end of the puncheon, to get it back to where it had been before the flood.  In a drier season, we would likely have to go back and stabilize it better. 

Once that was in place and Larry Pio (the masked man, left) had come over with our old weed whacker and opened up a path for us, we started the really heavy work.  We had a large stack of pre-cut logs which were about four feet long and eight to ten inches in diameter which we needed to carry down to the trail site and lay side to side through the muck to the bridge.

When the logs were down, we brought in wheelbarrows of sand and gravel and built up the footpath on top of the logs.  The sand cemented the logs in place and provided a relatively smooth surface on top of the logs.

The path closer to the picnic grounds and the bridge over Augusta Creek was far more mucky.  We managed to get down a layer of logs and sand about halfway through the section needing repair. 

The Scouts didn't miss a beat providing an essential element to any productive workday on the trail — food and drink!

This section was going to require a second layer of logs as the ones we put down were already sinking into the muck with just our walking on them.  After the second layer of logs was down, then more sand would be added to build a smooth surface.

The crew worked until about 2:00 in the afternoon, with lunch and snack breaks provided by the troop.

Stephen was hoping to get some more volunteers in on Sunday afternoon to perhaps complete the first layer of logs and sand and then have another workday next weekend on Saturday. 

The plan was really well conceived and was, I think, an excellent Eagle project. 

Hopefully, we can get some more folks out next Saturday to complete it.

Larry Hawkins    
President, Chief Noonday Chapter  
 

Trails Day 2010 in the Manistee National Forest:   Though the weatherman had some threatening predictions as late as Friday evening, National Trails Day 2010 dawned with clear skies and not a little fog. Facing a two hour drive, I left Hastings at 6:30 AM. Just north of Walker I passed a green Jeep Liberty with a NCNST sticker on it piloted by my brother Mick. In Newaygo, we pulled into Mickey D’s and there we met Charlie Krammin, Steve Hicks and Mary Rebert.

We had coffee and/or breakfast and waited, as Jeff Fleming had told Mick he would meet us there at 8:30 — which came and passed, but no Jeff. Thank God for cell phones! We found that Jeff was up in White Cloud looking for a nonexistent McDonald's. The mystery solved, we set out for the NCTA's Birch Grove Schoolhouse on Felcher Avenue north of White Cloud where we found Jeff.

Interestingly, the Schoolhouse only lacks about 10 miles of being exactly halfway between the Lake Champlain and Lake Sakakawea ends of the North Country National Scenic Trail.

We decided to change our plans from hiking the short trail at the Loda Lake National Wildflower Sanctuary to a longer hike on the NCNST to put some “hiker miles” in for the Chief Noonday Hiker Challenge Cup. (Click anywhere on the map (right) to see a full-size map of where we ended up hiking.)

Steve, Mary, Jeff, Charlie and Mick take a break while Larry takes the picture.

Having firmed up our plans, Charlie, Mary and I set out for Seven Mile Road to spot a couple vehicles where the NCNST crosses. That turned into an adventure in itself. Seven Mile Road was a barely passable, very sandy two-track. We did locate the trail, left two vehicles there, and headed back to the rest of the crew. Deciding to forsake 7 Mile Road, we took off on another better looking two-track. Better maybe, but waaaay longer. With a couple more minor navigational mishaps, we finally caught up with Mick, Steve and Jeff, who were patiently waiting on 3 Mile Road.

The trail from 3 Mile 7 Mile was really great. It is a beautifully forested path through a mix of hardwoods and CCC- planted red and white pine forests. The Trail was very well maintained and well- if not overly-blazed.

Our wildlife encounters included a mother ruffed grouse who valiantly fluttered and limped to distract us away from her nest, a blue racer (right) in the middle of the trail who threatened Mary who was in the lead (and who took the picture), and an interesting growth in the trees which Charlie says are called “witches’ nests”.

We also encountered quite a few mountain bikers — but, curiously, no other hikers — as the trail in the Manistee National Forest being a dual-use trail shared by hikers and bikers. I must say they were all very polite and friendly. Interestingly, except for the wet areas, the trail does not look like it has suffered much from the bikes. Perhaps the layer of leaves on the tread protects it?

Although the day was not overly hot, we were all pretty hot and dry by the time we got to the spotted cars.

We picked up the other vehicles and headed for Sally’s restaurant in White Cloud, where we were treated quite royally. We had a great lunch and downed several carafes of ice water and iced tea. I have to say we were all a tad stiff when we tried to rise from the table to leave.

Though our group was small, the companionship was great and the hike was wonderful. I hope to see more of you on our future hikes.

Larry Hawkins    
President, Chief Noonday Chapter  
 

MSGA Workday:   We had a glorious day for our May Workday in the Middleville State Game Area. 

Most of us met for breakfast at the Cracked Pepper in Middleville where we ate very well.  We departed from our more usual fare and experienced ... soft shell crab Benedict, mushroom frittata, bagels and lox, giant blueberry pancakes.  Yes, we ate very well.  Meeting for breakfast were Jason Buckner, Larry Pio, Bob Sulaski, Mary Rebert, Ron Sootsman, Mick and Larry Hawkins. We actually did a fair amount of chapter trail business over breakfast.

We drove out to the Robertson Road trailhead. Charlie Krammin brought the tool trailer out to us from Delton. 

We initially scoped out a couple different alternative routes around the major washout about a third of a mile in from Robertson Road.  We settled on a gentle S-shaped set of switchbacks which crossed the existing trail about two thirds of the way down the hill.

Our initial efforts went into cutting up deadfall, some of which we dragged over to form barriers across the existing trail at the top and bottom, and then we spread heavy brush down the length of the trail to further discourage its use. 

Mick and Mary opened up the path with loppers. 

When Charlie arrived with the trailer, Ron Sootsman took the blower and cleared ... well, more like blasted ... the path of the new trail. 

He was followed by Larry Pio with our new DR 8.25 Pro-XL trimmer/ mower which cleared out the remaining vegetation.  Larry also was Johnny-on-the-spot with his blue blaze paint, marking the re-route before we could have any second thoughts.  (Larry also collected some video footage of the project in its late stages.)

Jason and Bob built a bridge/erosion barrier over the old trail where we crossed it.

Stump pulling, benching, and lots of McLeod work filled out the rest of the morning.  Throughout most of it, Charlie was there to supervise in his own inimitable style.  We finished with a really fine, gently graded re-route of a very severe washout.

Kudos to everyone on a job well done.

Larry Hawkins    
President, Chief Noonday Chapter  
 

Faithful stewards of the Trail gather:   Our annual Trail Adopters gathering at Kellogg Forest on May 1 was temporarily under new leadership this year as Larry Pio covered for the regular and long-standing adopter leader Dave Cornell.

This year's Trail Adopters gathering.  (Click on the image to see a larger version on the Volunteer Recognition page.)

On hand were adopters Susan Bond, Jim Mackey and son, Jeff Fleming, Larry Pio, Ron Sootsman, and Vicki and Greg Hall.  Also participating were Larry Hawkins, President of Chief Noonday Chapter, and Steve Hicks, Vice President for Trail Management.  Diane Hawkins served as the photographer of the day, capturing the annual Adopters picture. 

Jim Mackey and Greg and Vicki Hall are among a number of Chief Noonday members who are just getting into the trail adoption project for the first time, and we're glad to have them aboard.  Jim Mackey will be working with Jim Martin as they jointly tend to the rather demanding Kellogg Biological Station section.

Larry Pio and the other adopters of long standing drew from long experience in trail work as they discussed the various tasks entailed in trail care including blue-blazing, brush management, and tree and limb removal.  Larry provided show 'n' tell with the Chapter's new DR portable trimmer/mower — and Larry, Steve and Ron later gave it a test run at the Hutchinson section trailhead on Augusta Drive.

Other adopters not on hand for the picture were Mike Wilkey, Mary Fleming, Jim Martin, Bob Cooley, George Lee, Jerry Pattok, Roxanne Potter, Marcia Mellen, Tom Funke, Josh Richie, Joe Higdon, John Rudnicki, and Chris Vreeland and family.

Thanks to all who participated in the gathering — and to all who faithfully tend to Chief Noonday's section of the North Country National Scenic Trail to keep it something in which we can truly take pride.

Mick Hawkins    
Webmaster, Chief Noonday Chapter   
 

Catching up:  We've gotten a bit behind reporting on events lately.  This update should provide the salient details.  Our apologies!

Workday in Yankee Springs:  We had a good turn-out on April 17 to do some detail work and tweaking on the Trail re-route between Norris Road and Hall Lake Road preparatory to getting the section added to our certified segment list by the National Park Service.  Thanks to George Lee, Charles Krammin, Steve Hicks, Bob Sulaski, Larry Pio, Jerry Pattok and his granddaughter Anna, and Mick Hawkins for making up the team.

After our usual hearty breakfast at the Gun Lake Diner we drove to our staging area east of Hall Lake were the Pines Scenic Trail used to come out, got organized, and dispersed from there.

Jerry Pattok, Anna and Mick Hawkins installed new signs west of the "Little Mac" bridge and by Duck Lake next to M-179 directing hikers to the Deep Lake Campground, one of the only two areas in YSRA where camping is permitted.  The signs, ably crafted by Jeff Fleming, were placed at waypoints #9 and #13 (see our map) on the re-route and what had now become the north spur of the Trail off the re-route for the benefit of hikers needing camp sites.
 

Pictured by a newly installed sign near Duck Lake: (l-r) Anna, Mick, Steve, Jerry, and George.

Steve Hicks, our sawyer for the day, Bob Sulaski, and George Lee cleared downed trees and some "trippers" from the Trail between waypoint #9 and the old Pines Scenic Trail crossing (waypoint #7).  Steve had to head back to the M-179 crossing (waypoint #13) to provide "emergency" drill service when Mick's drill batteries pooped out. 

Larry Pio worked with our stump puller removing small stumps from the east half of the re-route and also removing the old tape flags with which we had marked the trail before the blue-paint-blazer had gone through and completed the trail marking.

After the other work was done, Steve took Mick and Bob back to the Norris Road trailhead to show them were Yankee Bill's spring had been located at the site of the old hotel on the stagecoach road.  (For future reference it's here by the green arrow — and the Google map has the road name wrong: it's Norris Road, not Yankee Springs Road). 

And Mick and Bob concluded their day by hiking back to the horse trail crossing (waypoint #9) where Mick put final touches on the new sign and Bob set out on the trail to complete an inspection hike all the way back to Hall Lake.

Mick Hawkins
Webmaster - Chief Noonday chapter

Memorial service for Martha Jones:  Mick Hawkins, Derek Blount and myself represented the NCTA yesterday afternoon [April 23] at Martha Jones' Service of Death and Resurrection at the First United Methodist Church of Birmingham, where Martha was clearly also a treasured and very active member.

Martha's picture from the cover of the service leaflet.

Martha, most will recall, was NCTA Board President from 1990-92.  All will recall Martha as a regular fixture at our annual conferences, a spry, enthusiastic, fully engaged lady of indeterminate age who lived to hike.

Martha's service was very well attended, with family gathering from all points, including her two daughters and families from Alaska and New Mexico.  It should surprise no one that Martha's daughters are both free spirits, living outdoors lifestyles in beautiful places; nor should it surprise anyone that Martha, even at age 90, still lived on her own in Royal Oak, Michigan, resisting her daughters' overtures to come live with them.  We understand Martha had a heart attack while talking on the phone with one of her daughters; we were assured that it happened quickly and was as Martha hoped — living independently in her own home.

In addition to meeting many of Martha's family, as Mick remarked, it was wonderful to see Martha through the context of her church home and family.  She clearly led, most notably an effort to bring a "tea party" to the home of members no longer able to attend.  According to those reminiscing, these weren't just any tea party; things happened just so and in accord with Martha's specific guidelines.

The family had assembled a collage illustrating many of Martha's interests.  NCTA memorabilia, including her name tag from last year's Valley City Conference, were prominently displayed.  I made a nice copy of the photo Marty Swank shared yesterday morning, of Martha completing a hike at last year's conference, arms outstretched and dancing lightly.  It was just as I remember her, full of life and joy and focus on what really matters.  I was glad to be able to share that with the family.

Martha will be missed.

Bruce Matthews
Executive Director, North Country Trail Association

Hiking in Yankee Springs:  Our monthly chapter hike the next weekend after the workday wasn't quite as well attended as the workday — with Charles and Verle Krammin and Mick Hawkins doing the honors.  The weather forecast probably had put a damper on wider interest in the hike, but as it turned out, we were not rained upon during our hike.

Where we hiked.  Click on the image for a larger version of the map.

We spotted our vehicles at the Chief Noonday DNR Trail trailhead on M-179, the starting point for the actual hike, and at the DNR parking area off Gun Lake Road where the old Yankee Springs stagecoach road had come out back in the 1800's. 

We managed to hit a number of trails in one hike.  We hiked the Chief Noonday Trail and the southern loop of the Deep Lake Trail, connecting the two via the North Country Trail along the Long Lake Trail and the Hall Lake Trail.

As he is prone to doing, Charlie shared way more from his vast store of knowledge and lore along the trail than my brain could possibly hold.  Next time maybe I should take notes!  Thanks, Charlie and Verle, for a great hike!

Mick Hawkins
Webmaster - Chief Noonday chapter
 

Chief Noonday Chapter loses its Senior Member:  We were saddened this afternoon to receive the news that Martha Jones had died suddenly last Thursday, April 15th.

Martha K. Jones September 21, 1919 - April 15, 2010

We received the news from Derek Blount via Dave Cornell.  Derek, Dave and Martha all shared the distinction of having served as President of the North Country Trail Association's Board of Directors.  Martha served as President at the beginning of the 1990's.

Martha in hiking togs in North Dakota last summer.

Although she lived in Royal Oak, Martha had designated Chief Noonday Chapter as her chapter of membership, and we have taken great pride in celebrating her as our chapter's senior member.

And she didn't just phone in her chapter membership either.  A number of times in recent years she made the trip from Royal Oak over to our tri-county bailiwick to take part in chapter activities, especially our hikes.

Customarily she would drive over the night before a hike, camp overnight somewhere nearby in her car, and show up bright and chipper for our traditional pre-hike breakfast the next morning.

The picture (right) shows her on a hike in North Dakota carrying a snazzy telescoping hiking staff.  She was compelled to buy a new staff after our chapter's Fall Color Hike in October 2006 ... during which we broke her old staff near Kellogg Forest trying to free a deer which had gotten caught up in a wire fence.

Martha Jones with Larry Hawkins and Tom Gilbert at the National Conference in North Dakota last summer.

Martha was not only a delight in any company.  She was amazing.  She hiked with us at last summer's National Conference in North Dakota.  We were on the Stairway to Heaven hike in the afternoon on the return leg from a visit to a falls (not a common sight in North Dakota, I'm told).  I was maintaining the best pace I could muster ... when Martha overtook me on the trail.  She walked with me a ways and we chatted.  But apparently I was holding her up and she decided to move on ... and walked on down the trail and left me!  Did I mention that she was approaching her 90th birthday at the time?

Martha lived a busy and enviably active life right up to her final hour.  She was on the phone talking with her daughter Cindy when she suddenly became unresponsive.  Cindy immediately contacted one of Martha's local friends who summoned emergency services.  Sadly for us, Martha had suffered a heart attack and died.

Martha was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts.  The family moved to Birmingham, Michigan, in the fall of 1964, and Martha moved to Royal Oak after her husband died.  Martha is survived by her daughters Cynthia Jones of Alaska and Sandra (& Max) Ratliff of New Mexico, by her older (can you imagine?) sister Elizabeth Johnson, and by her mother-in-law Irene Jones, along with other family members and special friends, young and old.  Martha was preceded in death by her husband Richard Jones in 1970.  At her request her remains were cremated and the ashes were to be spread on Mount Whiteface in New Hampshire where Richard's ashes also had been spread.
 

Martha negotiating a fence stile at Kellogg Biological Station in Kalamazoo County during one of our Chapter hikes in June 2007.	Past and Future Presidents:  Martha, who served as President of the NCTA Board in the early 90's, greeted incoming NCTA Board President Bobby Koepplin at the National Conference in North Dakota.

There will be a memorial service for Martha at the First United Methodist Church of Birmingham, 1589 West Maple Road, Birmingham, Michigan, on Friday, April 23, 2010, at 1:00 PM.  Bruce Matthews, Executive Director of the North Country Trail Association, will attend representing NCTA, and I will be attending on behalf of Chief Noonday Chapter.  We've been given instructions to "wear colorful clothes" to the service — and we can just see Martha smiling and laughing as she tells us to do that, not just for her memorial service but for life itself.

An on-line guest book is available for messages.

Donations may be sent to Lowell in Martha's name to continue her dream of promoting the North Country National Scenic Trail and the NCTA.  Other organizations for which Martha also requested donations were Alma College, The Detroit Institute of Arts, and the Appalachian Mountain Club.

(See also Joan Young's blog for more about Martha.  And Larry Pio has posted on YouTube a video clip from one of the hikes in North Dakota in which Martha briefly appears ... without slowing down!)

Mick Hawkins
Webmaster - Chief Noonday chapter
 

Denizens of the Falling Waters Trail — the deer, at least — go into vigilant mode as we pass by on the trail.  The sandhill cranes on the other hand don't seem to give a rip.  (Photo by John Merry)

Falling Waters Trail:  We ventured onto a trail on Saturday, March 27th, that was basically new to all of us — the Falling Waters Trail in Jackson County. 

This paved rails-to-trails linear bike trail runs from Weatherwax Road just southwest of the City of Jackson to the Village of Concord and connects three townships in the process.  It is based on the old Michigan Central Railroad bed.

Only a small group of us took advantage of the beautiful day in early spring: Larry and Mick Hawkins were joined by Larry Pio and John Merry for a tasty breakfast at the Wooden Spoon restaurant on King Road. 

This was our first outing with John, who had driven something more than 100 miles from his country home near Goshen, Indiana, to join us.  John had been in touch with the chapter for some time now, and it was good to finally meet him and get to know him.

The Falling Waters Trail as a whole is about 10.5 miles long.  Mick had earlier scoped out the parking options along the trail and determined that basically there was one place to spot vehicles for a one-way segment hike — at a parking area right along the trail just west of Lime Lake about 6.5 miles from the Weatherwax trailhead.  That allowed for a roughly 6.5 mile hike from the east end at the Weatherwax trailhead and a 4 mile hike from the Concord end. 

We went for the longer 6.5 mile hike, which took us along a tree- and brush-lined corridor through a varied landscape of wooded areas, wetlands with streams that looked like possible trout streams, agricultural fields, eventually over a causeway that had taken the Michigan Central trains of old across Lime Lake, and brought us out on Teft Road. 

We did see a few other walkers and runners, but most of the traffic seemed to be people out for a nice spring Saturday bike ride, and the mood was invariably friendly.  And from the picture at the top above you can see that we also came upon other "residents" of the area who weren't quite sure what to make of us.

It was very apparent that the dedicated Friends of the Falling Waters Trail do an excellent job of tending to this trail.  One of the very few items of flotsam we saw along the way was actually more of an artifact dating back to railroad days — an ancient white-wall automobile tire that had been there so long that a fair-sized multi-trunked tree had grown up around and through the tire.  It was as though the tire had earned an undisturbed resting place there for the duration.

Just a short walk down Teft Road from the parking area where we came out, the Lime Lake County Park offers a nice spot right on Lime Lake equipped with picnic tables where you could indulge in a post-hike lunch, although we didn't do that today. 

And if you continue walking another 4 miles west, at Concord the trail crosses a large scenic old mill pond (right) where you could launch a small boat or canoe and get some fishing in before heading home.  We didn't do that either.  Maybe next time.

Mick Hawkins
Webmaster - Chief Noonday chapter

The trail crew at Litchfield stands at the mill pond with the trail we worked on showing in the distant background across the pond.  (From left) Marcus Davenport, Kevin Bell, Ron Sootsman, Mike Ingels, Larry Hawkins, Jeff Fleming, Jason Buckner, Mike Wilkey, and Jim Studt.  Marcus, Kevin and Mike Ingels are members of Chief Baw Beese Chapter.  Jim Studt is a member of West Michigan Chapter.  Ron, Larry (chapter president), Jeff, Jason, and Mike Wilkey are members of Chief Noonday Chapter.  Not included in the picture were Chief Baw Beese members  Ryan Bowles (chapter president), Jeff Ward, and Ben Anklin who had left already, and Mick Hawkins from Chief Noonday, who was wearing his camera man hat for this picture.

Chapters build trail together:  Delegations from three chapters of the North Country Trail Association got their hands and jeans a bit dirty on March 13th clearing new trail just south of Litchfield in Hillsdale County.

Six members of Chief Baw Beese Chapter, whose bailiwick is Hillsdale County, were the hosts matched by six members of Chief Noonday Chapter plus one member of West Michigan Chapter.  The names of the guilty parties are listed in the picture caption above.

We cleared about a thousand feet or so of trail on a berm along the St. Joseph River north from Herring Road across the mill pond from the township park. 

(Click here for a map mash-up by Chief Baw Beese president Ryan Bowles.  And click here for Mike Ingels' blog report on today's activities.)

We were fortunate that Ron Sootsman, our certified sawyer, had a hike cancellation with the Fortune Bay Expedition group and so became available with his chainsaw.  He made short work of what would have taken the rest of us all day just using the bow saws we had with us. 

The trail tread itself still needs work, but if you're careful you can easily walk the section now — where before you would have needed a machete! 

This was not Chief Noonday Chapter's first visit to our sister chapter's hunting grounds:

• In 2007 we had joined Chief Baw Beese Chapter for a workday clearing and mowing existing trail as well as building trail re-routes in the Lost Nation State Game Area. 

• In October 2007 we returned to Lost Nation for our chapter's Fall Color Hike and were joined by several Chief Baw Beese members who had been doing trail work there that day. 

• We were back again in October 2009 for another Fall Color Hike. 

• In addition, Mick had hiked several times and had personal workdays in the Lost Nation section as well as on the old trail west of Bird Lake Road, and Larry had joined him on one occasion for a recon hike in Lost Nation preceding our first joint workday there.  (Click here for our map mash-up of the Lost Nation trail.)

There is great trail to be hiked in Chief Baw Beese country, with more to come.

Mick Hawkins
Webmaster - Chief Noonday Chapter

There was considerable visitor interest in the North Country Trail Association chapter exhibits at the Quiet Water Symposium at Michigan State University.  Participating chapters were Hiawatha Shore to Shore (right foreground), Chief Noonday (center), and Tittabawassee (left background -- this side of the reflective NCNST Triangle Emblem sign).

Steve and Larry chat with one of the many visitors to Chief Noonday's table.

Quiet Water Symposium:  Larry and Mick Hawkins were pretty amazed at their first experience of the Quiet Water Symposium.  Steve Hicks may have been somewhat less amazed because he'd been there before as an avid fan of canoeing and canoe-building, which is a prominent and very visible interest at the Symposium.  It had been Steve's very worthwhile idea that we come to the Symposium this year.

The 15th annual QWS was held at Michigan State University on Saturday March 6th.  It was part of Michigan State's 95th Agriculture and Natural Resources Week, once called Farmer's Week.

This was Chief Noonday Chapter's first exhibit at the Quiet Water Symposium, but it certainly won't be the last.  Larry, Mick and Steve figured they'd probably talked to more interested and eager outdoors people in their first one-day gig at the Symposium than they'd talked to in five years of other outreach activities. 

We passed out a boatload (pun intended) of NCTA and NCNST literature as well as overview maps of Chief Noonday's tri-county Trail section (we hadn't brought nearly enough copies of the latter item with us).  Somebody even made off with Mick's insulated travel mug with the NCNST Triangle Emblem logo, although that had decidedly not been part of the plan!

It was fortunate that the three NCTA chapters were grouped together, which served to increase our visibility and impact with the visitors.  Hiawatha Shore to Shore Chapter from the Upper Peninsula, capably represented by Kay and Stan Kujawa, were old hands at exhibiting at the QWS, and we learned a lot from their set-up.  Chief Noonday Chapter had our literature table with show 'n tell items in the center, with Larry, Mick and Steve greeting and interacting with an almost steady flow of visitors.  And Tittabawassee Chapter's large display, complete with wilderness sound effects, rounded out the NCTA presence at the Symposium.

Larry signs sponsor cards for a couple of potential new chapter members.

Our neighboring Chief Baw Beese Chapter was not directly represented at the Symposium, but we did have a stack of their brochures on our table and we did our best to recruit some new members for Chief Baw Beese who happened to hail from that neck of the woods.

Among the many visitors to our table were a number of friends we already knew including Cal and Jean Lamoreaux, Tom Funke, Mary Armitage and her family, David ("Hikerdave") Goodman, and Jim Studt and family.  Dave and Jim are members of West Michigan Chapter.

The only somewhat frustrating aspect of the day was that there was so much to see and do that we didn't begin to have the time and opportunity to take it all in and still engage our interested visitors at the Chief Noonday table.  So inevitably we missed out on hearing presentations and demonstrations by such well known Michigan outdoor people as Cliff Jacobson, Doc Fletcher, and Eric Hansen, and learning more about such things as canoeing, kayaking, hiking, cooking, and performing wilderness first aid in Michigan's great outdoors. 

With any luck, next year we can assemble a larger group of Chief Noonday people for the occasion and divvy up our teaching and promotional mission on behalf of the chapter and the North Country National Scenic Trail.

Mick Hawkins
Webmaster - Chief Noonday Chapter

Update 3/17/2010:  Here are links to NCTA-related images taken at the Quiet Water Symposium by Richard Bailey:

• Image 1:  (From left) Mick Hawkins (CND), Gary Johnson (Tittabawassee), Larry Hawkins (CND), Steve Hicks (CND), and Kay and Stan Kujawa (Hiawatha Shore to Shore)

• Image 2:  Larry and Mick  (Steve missed being in this picture because he was off gallivanting somewhere....)

• Image 3:  Duane Lawton, Gary Johnson, and Ron Wiley of Tittabawassee Chapter.

• Image 4:  Stan and Kay Kujawa (Hiawatha Shore to Shore Chapter)

Winter hiking 2.0 — Slogging through the snow:  Only a small group braved the elements today for our scheduled hike on Battle Creek's Linear Park pathway.  Mick and Larry Hawkins, Steve Hicks and Ron Sootsman met at the Homespun Restaurant for a hearty pre-hike breakfast and planning session.

Initially, we'd planned a long loop starting from Cereal City up to KCC and then to Bailey Park and back on the NCNST to Cereal City — and the Arcadia Brewery.  Once we got on the way, it became abundantly clear that Mary Rebert’s suggestion of snowshoes was dead on, and none of us had them!

We hiked as far as Leila Hospital and we were the first to plow through about a foot of virgin snow (Mick insists it was more like a foot and a half or more!) in Irving Park.  It was clearly going to be more work than any of us were in the mood for. 

So we adjusted our plan and did an urban hike down Emmet Street in the direction of Bailey Park where, once again, we began to break snow heading back along the Battle Creek River to downtown.  At one point, we did move a little off the trail and hike along the shoulder of Wagner Drive.

We arrived back at Cereal City tired and sweaty but satisfied.  The GPS recorded that in all we had walked just over 5 miles — which Mick asserts was the equivalent of 6+ "snow miles."  The map mash-up below shows where we walked.

We topped it off with a good lunch and fellowship at the Arcadia Brewery, which was really jumping due to a High School Wrestling Tournament at Kellogg Arena.

Next year, we’re going to have to think seriously about snowshoes!

Larry Hawkins
Chapter President - Chief Noonday Chapter

 

This impressive picture of the hoar frost early Saturday morning across the Kalamazoo River from the Historic Bridge Park gives an idea of how cold it was when we started out on our hike.  (Image by Steve Hicks)

Winter hiking from Ott Biological Preserve to Historic Bridge Park:  It was predawn when I left Hastings for Battle Creek. The thermometer registered a minus-3° as I drove down. Unfortunately for me, the Battle Creek PD was out in force despite the bitter cold, and I was delayed in my arrival at the Homespun Restaurant for breakfast.

Rest stop on the iron bridge in the Ott Biological Preserve: (l-r) Josephine Miller, Maureen Tucker, Larry Hawkins, Vicki and Greg Hall, Bob Cooley partially hidden behind Mary Rebert, and Steve Hicks (Mick Hawkins inset).

When I did arrive, I met Mick, Bob Cooley, Steve Hicks, Mary Rebert and, newcomers to our hikes, Greg and Vicki Hall from Battle Creek.

During breakfast, Greg shared with me his experiences in Antarctica when he was there working for Raytheon. He is now retired, and hiking is his retirement hobby — lucky for us.

When we spotted the cars at Historic Bridge Park, it was beautiful. The sun was out and shining on all the trees covered in hoarfrost along the Kalamazoo River with ice floes moving downriver. Steve got a couple pictures, and I later regretted that I hadn't gotten my camera out, as it was all gone when we arrived later at the end of the hike.

We all gathered at the Jameson Avenue trailhead for the Ott Biological Preserve. There we met Josephine Miller and her friend Maureen Tucker who had driven down from Grand Rapids.  It was still briskly cold but no wind, and though there was snow on the ground it was not enough to make hiking difficult.

We hiked the Ott Preserve along the traditional NCNST route, as Tom Garnett had been unable to join us to guide us through the Calhoun County Trails Alliance reroute. Even though Tom wasn't with us, I indoctrinated everyone on the progress and efforts of the Alliance and the quest to establish the Historic Iron Bridge Trail through the Preserve as well as Kimball Pines.

As we headed into Kimball Pines, Bob and Mary couldn't resist making snow angels in the middle of the virgin snow of the Silverleaf parking lot. Further on in the wetlands we experienced how easy it is to walk through wetlands ... when they're frozen. 

When we reached the school property, Mary and Vicki left us, and the rest of the group followed the proposed path on the school property behind the homes on Wattles Road, which effectively bypasses the street- and roadwalk from the former Harper Creek School property down to Historic Bridge Park — a big improvement.

Bob Cooley, the adopter for Ott and Kimball Pines, fell in love with the new route and vowed to keep it open. Bob is a retired freight conductor for the railroad; so he entertained us with railroad lore as we hiked down that section of trail to the tracks and out to Wattles Road.

We entered Historic Bridge Park through the old underpass and walked over several of the bridges as we made our way back to the cars.

The map mash-up above shows the path we took — although through no fault of ours it mis-names the Ott Biological Preserve.

Everyone pretty much had commitments after the hike, so we split up and left for home. The Arcadia Brewery awaits our next month's hike on the eastern portion of the Battle Creek Linear Park.

Larry Hawkins
Chapter President - Chief Noonday Chapter
 

Kiosks refurbished:  We had an amazing turnout for our workday for January. 

Jim Heaton and Bob Cooley post maps and information in our kiosk in the Historic Bridge Park east of Battle Creek.  (Battle Creek Enquirer photo by Kevin Hare)

We met for breakfast at the Grove Street Cafe in Delton.  Kudos to them!  The omelets were outstanding.  When they brought Steve his "Farmer’s Omelet", he thought he had made mistakenly ordered a "Family Omelet". 

As our group grew and grew, they graciously came out and asked if we wanted them to set us up at a family style table in their back room.  We’ll definitely keep patronizing them.

See related item in the Battle Creek Enquirer.

As much effort as I made to organize the kiosk restoration project, we still had a few snafus. 

The Battle Creek contingent, Jim Heaton, Bob Cooley and Mike Wilkey had to rush off early to meet Kevin Hare, a photojournalist for the Battle Creek Enquirer at Historic Bridge Park and unfortunately left some of their refurbishing supplies behind.  They met up with Jeff Fleming later and collected some of their lost material. 

Larry and Mick experienced some mix-ups with their supplies and had to pay two visits to the Robertson Road south kiosk. 

And Larry briefly lost his cell phone in the snow but luckily returned to the scene and found it.

Jeff, Jim Martin and Eric Longman went to the Kellogg Biological Station and did the kiosks at the Farm, Bird Sanctuary, KBS's bio-fuels field, Kellogg Experimental Forest, and Augusta Drive. 

(Update 1/25/10)  While Jeff, Jim and Eric were at KBS they ran into Gwen Pearson, Assistant Director for Education and Outreach for KBS, and offered to do some additional posting on the kiosk for KBS.  Later Jim and Eric went back to KBS to pick up the material from Dr. Pearson and post it on the KBS side of the kiosk by the Bird Sanctuary.

Steve Hicks and Mary Rebert re-did the kiosks in the south portion of the Barry State Game Area and Yankee Springs, while Larry Pio and Bob Sulaski, a recruit from Wyoming and the West Michigan Chapter, cleaned up the northern portion.

Larry and Mick Hawkins traveled to the Paul Henry Thornapple/NCNST trailhead at Irving and worked north through the Middleville State Game Area. 

The Stagecoach Park and Ott Biological Preserve at Jameson Avenue remain to be done as they are locked by our partner organizations.  We elected not to change anything on the Arlington Avenue kiosk at the Preserve for now as it has been subject to what appears to be gang related vandalism.

My very great thanks to everyone who showed up to work. It is very gratifying to have such dedicated and neat people with whom to work.

Larry Hawkins
Chapter President - Chief Noonday Chapter
 

2009 Chief Noonday Hiker Challenge results:   At our chapter meeting this month Larry Pio announced the results of the 2009 Chief Noonday Hiker Challenge. 

The challenge had been made to members of the Chief Noonday Chapter to see who could get in the most miles on the North Country National Scenic Trail.  Miles could only be logged in one direction and only once per section for the year — so the miles listed below do not necessarily reflect the total miles actually hiked on the Trail by the hikers listed.

Ron Jeff Linda Mike

The four who placed in the Challenge and will be awarded prizes were:

  ●  First place: Ron Sootsman — 287.7 miles
  ●  Second place: Jeff Fleming — 123.2 miles
  ●  Third place: Linda Sootsman — 71.6 miles
  ●  Fourth place: Mike Wilkey — 71.0 miles

This elegant engraved Hiker Challenge Bowl is to be awarded to the first place winner of Chief Noonday Hiker Challenge 2009 — Ron Sootsman.

The also-rans (pun intended!) were:

  ●  Mick Hawkins — 34.45 miles
  ●  Mary Rebert — 26.8 miles
  ●  Larry Pio — 23.0 miles
  ●  Bob Cooley — 9.4 miles
  ●  Larry Hawkins — 6.6 miles
  ●  Dave Cornell — 6.2 miles
  ●  Martha Jones — 4.2 miles
  ●  Total all others — 15.7 miles

Larry Pio points out that these recorded miles comprise mileage reported by the participants plus, in some cases, miles observed by Larry himself.  It is possible, even likely, that these participants and others hiked miles on the Trail which are not included here because they were not reported or because they were walked in both directions or on more than one occasion on the same Trail sections.

Congratulations to all who took up the challenge!

The 2010 Hiker Challenge is already under way.  At the chapter meeting Mick suggested to Larry Pio that rules be amended to allow Ron to donate "surplus miles" to other hikers, but predictably Larry didn't go for it....

(Update 1/27/10)  In the latest Newsletter Larry Pio pointed out that last year when the Chief Noonday Hiker Challenge was getting under way, hikers doing over 200 miles on the Trail in their lifetime would be listed on the NCTA web site as Hikers of Note.  When the national Web site was rebuilt, that list was discontinued.  However, Joan Young is still maintaining the list on her North Country Trail News blog.  Moreover, we will now have Chief Noonday Hikers of Note given recognition on our Web site.  Our award levels will be 200 miles, 500 miles, 1000 miles, 2000 miles, etc. 

In 2009 Ron Sootsman became a Chief Noonday Hiker of Note. 

Most likely there are a number of others who have accomplished this in the past.  Why not add your name to the list?  Contact Larry Pio.

See Larry Pio's official announcement of the 2009 results and the 2010 rules here.

See you on the Trail!

Mick Hawkins    
Webmaster, Chief Noonday Chapter   
 

Tman takes a picture break by the kiosk in the Ft. Custer section near the "beaver reservoir."

We saw Tman!   Tman — a.k.a. Todd McMahon of Madison, Wisconsin — did a winter hike on the North Country National Scenic Trail in Chief Noonday Chapter's and Chief Baw Beese Chapter's sections in recent weeks.  And he posted 500 pictures on his Web site as evidence.

As reported below, Todd hiked off-road trails in the KBS section from Baseline Road to 40th Street, from Kellogg Forest to the Augusta Drive trailhead, then Ft. Custer with Larry Pio and Ron Sootsman. 

Ron Sootsman and Larry Pio of Chief Noonday Chapter accompanied Todd on parts of his hike through our sections.

After Ft. Custer, Todd and Ron took a "break" for a few days and hiked most of the NCNST in Chief Baw Beese's sections in Hillsdale County including the Lost Nation State Game Area, hiking all the way across the State line into Ohio. 

After Hillsdale County, Todd returned to Calhoun County and spent New Year's Day hiking by himself from Armstrong Road into Battle Creek and walked the Linear Park pathway all the way to the Emmett Street bridge.  At that point, hearing reports of heavier winter weather approaching, he concluded his adventure with a hearty meal and headed back to Madison.

Click here to access Tman's Web site with links to his hike reports — and to the boatload of pictures he took along the Trail, with scenes that will be familiar to Chief Noonday members.

Mick Hawkins    
Webmaster, Chief Noonday Chapter   
 

Winter action on the Trail:   The North Country National Scenic Trail has not closed for the winter in and around Chief Noonday Country.  Visitors have done some winter hiking recently that involved significant miles — both on the Trail and getting to the Trail.

A group called the Fortune Bay Expedition Team has been journaling a section hike of the NCNST from Yankee Springs north to (they hope) the Straits of Mackinac.  In 2003-2004, they section hiked from the Ohio/Michigan Boarder to Highway US-10. 

On Saturday December 19 three members of the group hiked northward through the Yankee Springs Recreation Area and the Barry State Game Area.  They found the section north from the Hall Lake crossing a bit of a challenge at times due to the many intersections and crossings with DNR trails and to reduced blazing between McDonald Lake and M-179 resulting from deterioration and loss of some of the old plastic blazes used there. 

On the day after Christmas they made their way from the Peets Road trailhead via roadwalk and the Paul Henry Thornapple Trail/NCNST to Middleville.  And on New Year's they hiked the Middleville State Game Area section and on north a ways along the Harris Creek Road roadwalk.

You can read their account of their trek on their Web site.

Tman from Madison, Wisconsin, makes his way across our bridge over a very flooded creek in the Fort Custer State Recreation Area.  (Photo by Larry Pio)

Another winter adventure was carried out by Todd McMahon — known on trails as Tman — with some assistance from Chief Noonday Chapter members. 

Tman drove all the way from his home in Madison, Wisconsin — just over 300 miles' driving one-way — to hike most of the Trail from Baseline Road south to the Ohio State Line. 

He hiked not only on Chief Noonday Chapter's sections of the Trail in Kalamazoo and Calhoun Counties but on much of Chief Baw Beese Chapter's sections in Hillsdale County as well.

He received valuable assistance from Chief Noonday members Larry Pio and Ron Sootsman.  Larry, the able Trail Adopter for the Fort Custer segment, facilitated Todd's project, in direct contravention of the work of the beavers, by clearing the way to and across the bridge and rendering it accessible.  Ron provided parking and vehicle spotting services and actually accompanied Todd on much of the hike in the three counties it traversed.

On December 29th Todd hiked the Trail alone through the Kellogg Biological Station to C Avenue, then due to the winter conditions elected to follow a road walk down to Kellogg Experimental Forest where he rejoined the off-road Trail and followed it to Augusta.  After lunch in Augusta with Ron he continued east and over the Ft. Custer section, hooking up and hiking with Larry and Ron along the way, ending for the day at Armstrong Road.  They suffered one wet feet incident on their way across the puncheons in the wetlands.

On December 30th and 31st Todd and Ron by-passed Calhoun County for the time being and hiked together on Chief Baw Beese's section from Hillsdale down to the Ohio State Line, including the Trail from Baw Beese Lake and on through the Lost Nation State Game Area.  In places they had a little difficulty following the thread and hiked a few extra miles in the process of getting back onto the Trail.  And Ron had another wet feet incident.  On December 31st they hiked between the Pittsford Road parking area and the Ohio State Line, setting foot briefly into Ohio because Todd had never been to Ohio before.

Todd spent New Year's Day hiking by himself from Armstrong Road east through Battle Creek following the North Country/Linear Park Trail, reaching the Emmett Street Bridge over the Battle Creek River by evening.  After enjoying an evening meal (not to mention curious glances from other patrons) at an eatery near the bridge he got a ride back to his car on Armstrong Road.  Because the weather forecasts were less than encouraging, Todd decided to head for home in Madison that night.  He ran into major snow in places which had traffic crawling at 10 MPH but still managed to make it home by 2:00 AM.

Quite an accomplishment!  To find out more:

• You can read Todd's own accounts of his trek — milestones, mishaps, foul-ups and all — in the messages he posted to the NCT_Friends Yahoo Group (messages 398, 402, 405, 407, 410). 

• See also his report on Joan Young's North Country Trail News blog. 

• Eventually he will have his accounts and the pictures he took posted on his Web site.

Mick Hawkins    
Webmaster, Chief Noonday Chapter   
 

The moment of implosion of the Crown Point bridge over Lake Champlain. (Image from WPTZ, Plattsburgh NY)

Crown Point Bridge is history!   The bridge over Lake Champlain between Crown Point and Vermont is ... no more.  It was skillfully brought down by implosion this morning shortly after 10:00.

The bridge is ... or was ... at the easternmost terminus of the North Country National Scenic Trail. 

Luckily a recent inspection disclosed an ominous degree of deterioration in the piers supporting the bridge, and the bridge was promptly closed to all traffic.  (Click here for the inside story of how this discovery happened.)

The bridge will now be on a fast track to reconstruction. 

And the dream is that one day the NCNST will go over it into Vermont on its way to the Appalachian Trail.

What now needs to be cleared.  And you thought cleaning up your room was a big deal!  (Image from Albany TimesUnion)

Here is a sampling of coverage you can access on-line:

• video coverage of the implosion from television station WPTZ in Plattsburgh NY.  Access video also here.

• article in the Burlington Vt FreePress

• press release from the New York State Department of Transportation released soon after the demolition

• coverage from the Albany NY Times-Union.  Don't miss the picture galleries.

• about the clean-up operation — from WCAX, Burlington Vt

• a nearly full-span image of the bridge from MassLive.com which suggests it wasn't exactly in great shape!

• another image similarly reflects that the bridge's time had come.

• memories of the bridge's opening

Joan Young is also keeping on top of the story in her NCT Blog.

Mick Hawkins    
Webmaster, Chief Noonday Chapter   
 

Chief Noonday in the news:   The original Chief Noonday, that is.

Chief Noonday — or Nawquageezhig — has been selected as the next subject for a sculpture in the Grand Rapids Community Legends Project.  Sculptor Antonio Tobias Mendez has been commissioned to create a bronze sculpture of Chief Noonday, as one of ultimately 25 sculptures of important figures in the history of Grand Rapids.  The sculptures will be placed in various places in the downtown area of Grand Rapids. 

The planned site for the 7 foot tall bronze statue of Chief Noonday will be on the west bank of the Grand River near the Blue Bridge, the approximate location of an early Native American settlement.  The site, near Grand Valley State University's Eberhard Center, will be on GVSU's campus and therefore will belong to the college once installed.  Delivery is expected in August.

There is no known photographic image of Chief Noonday in existence.  So the sculptor will do his best to recreate an image as true as possible to Chief Noonday's tribe and times.

Click here to read the recent article in the Grand Rapids Press.

Joan Young has posted an item in her North Country Trail News blog.

Mick Hawkins    
Webmaster, Chief Noonday Chapter   
 

The good side of autumn:  November this year seemed to start ... well ... in early October.  But today we managed to hit more of a late October day in November, as we went a bit off-trail, NCNST-wise, to hike on the trails of the Pierce Cedar Creek Institute in Barry County.  What a day for a hike in the woods!

The Brothers Hawkins, Larry and Mick, joined Jeff and Mary Fleming and Charlie Krammin for our customary pre-hike repast at Big Boy in Hastings before convoying out to the beautiful natural preserve of the Pierce Cedar Creek Institute.

On our way down Broadway we received a call from Ron Sootsman that he would be ten minutes late.  We assured him we wouldn't leave without him — then found him waiting for us when we finally arrived at our rendezvous.

By the time we hit the trails the group had grown to include Verle Krammin, Susan Bond, Sheilah Mutschler, and Mary Armitage. 

The group as a whole first hiked the Institute's Red Trail.  Strong winds in the past week or two had downed most of the leaves, but the relatively balmy sunny day made for a most enjoyable hike setting nonetheless.  We actually found ourselves shedding layers as we went along. 

By the time we arrived back in the vicinity of the visitor center we'd walked just under 2½ miles. 

There Larry, Verle, Jeff, and the two Marys took their leave, while Mick, Charlie, Sheilah and Ron, hardier souls that we were, elected to continue on around the outside portion of the Orange Trail and the entire Blue Trail.  By the time we finished we had covered about 4½ miles for the day — which, of course, was no big deal for Ron Sootsman, but the rest of us sauntered back to our vehicles like we'd really accomplished something!

Thanks to all who took part.

Mick Hawkins    
Webmaster, Chief Noonday Chapter