FINGER LAKES TRAIL CONFERENCE
CLIFF and DORIS ABBOTT of New York spoke with enthusiasm about building the Abbott Loop of the Finger Lakes/ North Country Trail. They were asked to lead a hike for the Cayuga Trails Club, and they wondered where they could find a new and interesting location. "The Pinnacles," 1500 feet above the Cayuga Lake inlet, came to mind. Although part of the Danby State Forest, there was no existing trail there. So with compass and maps, following old roads, animal trails and streambeds, the Abbotts traced an 8.4 mile loop which includes about 1.5 miles of the existing Trail. The Club liked their route so much that the Abbotts approached the NY DEC to make the loop permanent. "That was the hard part," Doris said. "But Doris made such detailed maps that the DEC was very impressed," Cliff broke in, and the plan was finally approved, using most of the original route. The loop officially opened in 1992. Active in the Cayuga club, Cliff and Doris first learned of the North Country Trail from Tom Reimers. Tom soon had both of them serving on the NCT Board of Directors (1988-1992). They have also both served as President of the Cayuga Trails Club. The awards they value most are the FLT End-to-End patches. They are numbers 34 and 35; the first senior couple to complete the trail. Doris also helped to develop the "Hike Across Tompkins County" program and made a slide show about it. They both love the outdoors and have always spent time outside with their family. Cliff's occupation was managing a bank and Doris devoted her time to raising their three sons and volunteer activities. Since retirement Cliff has more time to spend volunteering as well. Despite their enthusiasm for building trail, Cliff says that about 95% of what they do is continuous maintenance. "We need a lot of dedication from people to get out and do this, " he stated.
BUCKEYE TRAIL ASSOCIATION
"If I want to see Herb, I have to go where he is!" asserted SUSIE HULLS with a chuckle, wife of BTA President, Herb Hulls. Thus Susie has been working on the Buckeye/ North Country Trails for the past ten years. She has been heard to say that Herb has bitten off more than she can chew! She admits to being a little anxious at first, thinking she would have to keep up with young people. On her very first work trip there was a big hailstorm and they couldn't find the crew, but this didn't keep them from coming back again. In fact Susie has come back so often that she has received a 500-volunteer-hour jacket from the BTA. And in 1995, she and Herb received the BTA Volunteer of the Year Award. Seems like most folks are now trying to keep up with her! Susie says she's not really a hiker, but what she contributes is working the chuck wagon, as cook for the work crews. Herb built the wagon, a small trailer, and they go out with trail crews about twice a year. The trailer opens on the sides to create counters and awnings, and has propane stoves for cooking. There is dry storage space inside, and a 55-gallon water drum which "will last all week, if we are careful," says Susie. She likes to get to know the trail; to learn where the quiet and restful places are. She likes seeing the reaction of new people when they are put at the front of work crews. The Ohio hills are often covered with a tangle of wild roses and greenbrier, "a real mess." But at the end of the day people can look back and see what they have accomplished. And that is satisfaction enough for any of us... contributing to turning messes into accomplishments!
WEST MICHIGAN CHAPTER
TOM LEARMONT posed an interesting dual answer when I asked him what he feels to be his most important contribution to the Trail. He sees the administrative task of serving as President of the Chapter to be his biggest accomplishment. He was able to act as a bridge during a period of changes within that group to keep it going. Tom's background is in Civil Service for the military. He's a retired mechanical engineer and worked in Quality Control on the M1 Tank Program. This background surely helped build his administrative skills. Tom loves to hike, hunt and fish. About six years ago he began looking around for hiking groups to find a companion for a trip to Alaska. He found the West Michigan Chapter and began to get involved in their regular hikes. On a fishing trip to the Upper Peninsula he discovered the NCT near Tahquamenon Falls and saw how badly it needed maintenance. This led him to begin the most personally satisfying trail task he's been involved with. He has organized crews to recover and maintain the Trail from Tahquamenon Falls to Muskellunge State Park. Again, administration plays a key role... working with management authorities, planning food and lodging, scouting out and arranging work projects. Tom is delighted to report that a hiker can now find the way along this section without fear of being lost. Tom is presently the Trail Committee Chairman for the chapter. He's dedicated to helping people enjoy the outdoors; "more people should get out," he says! He takes this to heart, leading his grandchildren on treks to the woods. He's also coordinated three Eagle Boy Scout projects on the NCT. Not surprisingly, Tom has earned a 400-hour shirt. Additionally, this past year he received the American Hiking Society Volunteer of the Year award for the Midwest Region. Congratulations and thanks, Tom!