WI- May 21, 2006- west of Mellen WI-01 West Segment and WI-02 East Segment:
At 12:01 a.m. on Friday, July 21, burning restrictions will go into effect for Federal lands within the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. The restriction effects National Forest lands in Ashland, Bayfield, Florence, Forest, Langlade, Oconto, Oneida, Price, Sawyer, Vilas, and Taylor Counties. According to Fire and Aviation Staff Officer Jim Grant, "Fire indices are extremely high and dangerous conditions exist on Federal lands within the Forest. Burning restrictions will help protect both people and the resources from the dangers of wildland fires." An Emergency Fire Restrictions Order issued by Forest Supervisor, Anne Archie, outlines the following prohibited activities on National Forest lands, roads and trails.
1. Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire of campfire, including charcoal fires and charcoal grills, except inside constructed steel fire grates provided by the Forest at improved campsites, campgrounds and other developed recreation sites, or when using pressurized liquid or gas stoves.
2. Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, or developed recreation site.
The Order issued by the Forest Supervisor can be found on the Forest web site at www.fs.fed.us/r9/cnnf. The Wisconsin DNR is also enacting emergency burning restrictions and suspending burning permits in several northern Wisconsin counties.
For more information about the DNR restrictions, contact Catherine Regan, Wildfire Prevention Specialist at 608-266-2359, or visit www.dnr.wi.gov and navigate to the Forestry and Fire page.
WI- May 21, 2006- west of Mellen WI-01 West Segment and WI-02 East Segment:
My son and I hiked the NCT in Wisconsin's Chequamegon Natl. Forest May 19-21, 2006, starting at Forest Road 383 (Snake Trail Road) and hiking west through the Marengo Non-motorized Area and the Porcupine Wilderness Area, finishing up where the trail exits the wilderness area at the Forest Road 213 (Porcupine Road) crossing. This was out first time on the NCT (if you don't count the Superior Hiking Trail), and I was very pleased. The chapter volunteers and Forest Service have done a good job. The trail was clean and well marked, although many of the plastic tree blazes in the non-wilderness area sections of the trail are old and about to pop off of the trees due to tree growth. We did notice some some new markers, well-mounted on the trees. We met NCTA Chequamegon Chapter President Marty Swank working on the trail just west of West Davis Lake, and had a nice chat with him.
The only spot where the trail was hard to follow was at the outlet (north end) of Porcupine Lake, where the trail crosses Porcupine Creek. We follwed the trail to the creek, and crossed on some logs placed across the creek. On the far (west) bank, however, a path lead either left or right, upstream or downstream along the creek. It seemed to me that the trail should have crossed the creek further downstream of the lake outlet than where we crossed, but we re-scouted the east bank and it seemed clear that, from the east, we had the correct crossing site. However, we were still a bit baffled by what to do on the west side: go upstream or down? We ended up going upstream, and within 100 yards or so the trail climbed uphill and topped out, teeing into another trail that led left down to the lake or right southward. I knew the NCT ran north/south along the west side of the lake, so we turned right and headed south. Within another 100 yards or so we met the *real* NCT; turn!
We had come up from the creek and junctioned into a spur trail that leads from the NCT down to a lakeshore site. I'm not sure if that is part of the official NCT, but that spur trail *is* marked on the map contained in a Forest Service pamphlet of the Porcupine Wilderness Area. So, we now had our bearings and had no other problems along the rest of our journey. There were a lot of blow-downs in the northwestern part of teh Porcupine Lake Wilderness Area, but the trail had cleared.
Regarding water sources, I didn't keep a record of all of the possible sources, but, going east to west, good water sources are the Marengo River, Twentymile Creek, East Davis Lake, a nive beaver pond proably a quarter-mile west of West Davis Lake, another beaver pond I would guess 3/4-mile west of the last one (this is where we met Marty, re-routing the trail across the beaver dam; it seems the beavers havn't been invited to chapter meetings!), Porcupine Creek and Porcupine Lake, and Eighteenmile Creek Springs. All of those would be year-round sources, except perhaps Twentymile Creek during very dry periods? Note that West Davis Lake is surrounded by a wide margin of bog, so accessing the lake for water would be difficult, to say the least. Also, there were *lots* of woodland ponds, but most of these will dry up through the summer and fall, are of questionable water quality, so I think one would only use them in an emergency.
Happy hiking!
Contact
WI- October 30, 2006- Drummond area WI-02 East Segment:
Hiked approx. 12.5 miles of the NCT Oct. 27-29th, 2006. Started north of Drummond at FR 228 and went south ending at Drummond. Great weekend - cold nights, but great days. All foliage is off the trees, and awoke the 29th to find a crust of ice on mirror lake. A few downed trees along the way that need tending to. Also, some boardwalks have broken/rotten boards. One boardwalk around the Esox lake area was partially crushed by a large tree. Approx. a dozen or so trees total across this 12.5 mile stretch. Great thanks to all who maintain these trails! I will be back!
Contact Mark Walters, hiker
WI- November 7, 2005- Lake Owen, Drummond area WI-02 East Segment:
The NCT should be cleared of blow down from the storm that occurred on the Chequamegon NF, outside the Porcupine Wilderness For the wilderness portion, they plan to bring a crosscut saw team from the BWCAW next spring and train local FS crews as well as open the trail. No set date for the spring work as yet.
Contact WASHBURN RANGER DISTRICT, 715-373-2878
WI- February 23, 2007- US 27 crossing WI-02 West Segment:
Update of trail condition at the Highway 27 crossing. This section of trail was completely rebuilt in October 2007. The trail has been moved further into the red pine stand east of the highway and is clearly blazed. Actually, the new reroute is an improvement over the route even before the highway impacted it.
Contact Bill Menke, Great Lakes Regional Trail Coordinator
WI- September 23, 2006- near Solon Springs WI-02 West Segment:
The Brule-St. Croix Rovers have completed a new segment of trail just west of the St. Croix Lake trailhead, extending from the trailhead to County Highway P. This new segment, about 1/2 mile long crosses part of the Brule-St. Croix headwaters bog on a boardwalk. See the Brule-St. Croix chapter page for a photo of the boardwalk under construction. The new trail offers high scenic values and a comfortable bench at the bridge over St. Croix Creek.
To reach the new segment from the St. Croix Lake trailhead, go to the start of the Brule-St. Croix portage trail, then turn west and follow the new marked trail. The Highway P access is from a hunter walking trail which exits Highway P about 1/4 mile north of the intersection with Highway A.
Contact Peter Nordgren, maintainer
WI- July 26, 2005- Co Road A to Solon Springs WI-02 West Segment:
Hikers and outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy a newly completed 31 mile continuous section of the North Country National Scenic Trail in northwest Wisconsin. The new trail, built by volunteers over an eight year period, extends from the Iron River area to near Solon Springs. The trail offers outstanding scenic views of the Brule River State Forest and Bayfield County Forest as well as access to remote kettle lakes and beautiful streams, such as Jerseth Creek. The trail passes through a mixture of forest types, ranging from northern hardwoods to aspen to pine plantations, with a considerable number of large old growth Red and White pines passed along the way. The new trail is the longest continuous stretch of the North Country Trail
built to the design standards for high quality hiking prescribed by the National Park Service.
Six marked trailheads with offroad parking and interpretive panels, as well as four backpack campsites are available along the new trail segment. Access is available from Bayfield County Highway A south of Iron River, Wisconsin Highway 27 south of Brule, Douglas County Highway S near Lake Nebagamon, and Douglas County Highway A at
St. Croix Lake northeast of Solon Springs.
The new trail in northwest Wisconsin has been developed and is maintained by the Brule-St. Croix chapter of the North Country Trail Association. Other major partners for the new trail are the Brule River State Forest and the Bayfield County Forestry Department. A private land easement needed to link the
trail has been provided by Wausau Paper Corporation.
Contact Peter Nordgren, Secretary, Brule- St. Croix Chapter
WI- May 18, 2004- Bayfield Co., Wisconsin, WI-02 West Segment:
The trail between Wills Road and County Line Road in Bayfield County, WI is now complete.
Contact Bill Menke, Brule St-Croix Chapter
The spur trail leading from Winneboujou Bluff Campsite to a spring creek at the bottom of the bluff is now complete. Spur length is approximately 1,600 feet.
Contact Bill Menke, Brule St-Croix Chapter
WI- Nov 12, 2005- Bayfield and Douglas Co., Wisconsin, WI-02 West Segment, WI-03 all (this map still in production):
In October I hiked 102 miles through Jay Cooke SP (in MN) from the bridge over the St. Louis River, through to County Road A at the Lake Ruth Trailhead at the west side of the Chequamegon. A little over half of this is still road walk, but there is trail in place in Jay Cooke, Pattison State Park, and from County Rd. M south of Solon Springs, through to the end (with a small raodwalk in Solon Springs).
The Brule-St. Croix Roving Trail Crew has done a great job with their new trail (see entry above on July 26). Thanks!
My entire report is long and detailed for those who truly want all the info to hike through here, so it's linked as a Word Document. Western Wisconsin Hiker Report
Contact Joan Young, hiker
WI- February 23, 2007- New Trail south of Solon Springs WI-03 East Segment: (this map still in production):
New trail has been completed south in the extreme southern part of the Douglas County WL area and beyond into the Douglas County Forest. Continuous trail now exists from Solon Springs to a two-track road in Section 28. This is about 2.6 miles southwest of CR-M. Upon reaching the two track road, turn right and head back NE following a temporary route (not marked). Constructed trail actually extends for another mile beyond the two track but it is dead end and only recommended if you are willing to retrace your steps.
A very nice backpacker campsite is located 0.9-miles south of CR-M on small but beautiful Rovers Lake. This campsite is located on a knob overlooking the lake.
Contact Bill Menke, Great Lakes Regional Trail Coordinator
or see Brule- St. Croix Chapter
WI- Nov 17, 2005- Solon Springs and Douglas Co., Wisconsin, WI-03 East Segment: (this map still in production):
Additional new trail is open within the Douglas County Wildlife Area. The most recently completed stretch extends south from Hwy M to Stuckey Road. About 2/3 of that distance (1.0 mile certified) is certified and the rest is easily walkable (mowed but tread not yet smoothed. Within this new segment, there is also a very nice campsite,with three tent pads, overlooking the small lake near the center of Section 22. A bench, register, and latrine will be installed in April 2006.
In summary, continuous trail extends from Solon Springs to Stuckey Road.
Contact Bill Menke or see Brule- St. Croix Chapter
WI- Nov 17, 2005- Solon Springs, Wisconsin, WI-03 East Segment: (this map still in production):
New Campsite. A new hiker campsite has been constructed just north of Leo Creek. There is one tent site just off of the main trail and another (primary site) is located on a 200 foot spur trail. A bench, register, and latrine will be installed in April 2006. Leo Creek at the NCT is southwest of Solon Springs just east of the Wild Rivers ATV Trail.
Contact Bill Menke or see Brule- St. Croix Chapter
"I'll mark reports of problems you may encounter. So sad... hope they will be fixed soon."