BRULE-ST. CROIX CHAPTER
Described as a "great personality, and man of many talents," PETER EDMUNDS loves to build trail. And his home in western Wisconsin places him at the center of a major opportunity to do just that. With crews working west from the Chequamegon National Forest, and east from Jay Cooke State Park, Wisconsin is making progress toward connecting its trail to Minnesota. And the center portion of that effort is located near Solon Springs, where Peter lives and runs a business restoring log buildings, and creating twig furniture. He has always liked to hike, and had hiked on the Appalachian Trail and out west. He was familiar with the National Trail System. So when he saw an ad about two years ago in the local "shopper news" for a Chapter of the NCTA, he just had to check it out! Soon he discovered that the North Country Trail was only a couple of miles from his home. He and some other great volunteers have built about 20 miles of trail already. Peter assured me that is only a modest achievement, since there are 50 miles yet to build, and they will be the hardest, crossing a muskeg. He humorously suggests the solution of just supplying a big box of rubber boots at each end of the swamp: take a pair at one end and leave it at the other. We wonder if the NPS will certify the boots with connector decals! Seriously, Peter has already shown his trail construction skills on a 200-foot boardwalk at Jerseth Creek, in addition to soil treadway. He sees the trail as a real opportunity to see the natural environment from season to season. "We are too connected to asphalt and gravel," he lamented. "Often, just 15 minutes from a highway it is quiet, and you only need a decent pair of shoes and some energy." In addition to trail construction Peter also maintains three miles of trail in Mott's Ravine. He also hopes that more people will learn about the trail. He would like to see a program developed to work with schools and take kids to the woods throughout the seasons. At this time of year, Peter is probably out skiing, but we know he'll be there again with his trail tools come spring. Thanks, Peter!
BUTLER CHAPTER
RON RICE has been president of the Butler Chapter for less than a year, but he has big goals. He wants to inspire and enlist volunteers, and he gets excited just talking about the North Country Trail! Recruited to the cause by Bob Tait, Ron traveled to the 1998 conference in Michigan. The summer before that he thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail (as "Chirping Turtle") and knew he wanted to be able to pay back the benefits he received from those who work on that famous trail. The NCT gave him an outlet for his enthusiasm. Bob says that Ron brings "new energy" to the trail effort. Ron values the fact that trails can be a means to preserve natural areas where people can walk "or they will be lost forever. They are paving the whole world," he laments. He wants to see the trail be truly "user friendly," so that those who find a trailhead would see signs telling them where they are and where they can hike. He describes himself as "big on blazing," trying to promote adequate marking so that people can follow the trail easily. This is so important to him that he has written a poem which might be a mantra for the entire trail:
Blaze My Trail Friendly
Blaze my trail friendly so that I won't get lost
In the details of finding my way.
I would rather be lost in the beauty of nature,
And in meditating my troubles away.
Some of Ron's other accomplishments include building several bridges at his home, then disassembling them and rebuilding them on site along the trail. He has scouted out a number of new miles of trail in Pennsylvania State Game Lands. One unique solution for a treadway was to recycle a large pile of cement blocks discarded in the woods into a stepping-stone pathway through a swampy area. He also helped build bridges near McConnell's Mill, and has worked on a long stretch of puncheon. Rice is retired from Armco Steel in Butler where he worked in technical services, but it sounds like he's not at loose ends for projects to keep his retirement time occupied. Tait also reports that "his enthusiasm is rubbing off on all the volunteers." We need more leaders like Ron!
PETER WOLFE CHAPTER
"Just give me a pair of hand loppers and a Swede saw," says ROLF SWANSON. Rolf (on left in photo) is one of those rare and wonderful people whose favorite trail task is maintenance. And that word, "wonderful," keep coming into our discussion of the NCT. Rolf especially likes to be able to move through a landscape, to see the "changes in timber type, and topography." Trails allow people to do this, which will help them appreciate nature, and perhaps lead them to take better care of the earth. Back in the 1980's Rolf had belonged to the NCTA, but had little time to give to the trail since he had returned to school and also had family responsibilities. But he had not forgotten the call of the North Country. Now, very busy as a vocational rehabilitation counselor for the State of Michigan, Rolf kept thinking that he would return to the NCTA when he retired. He was busy with projects of his own– building a house and a pond. But Doug Welker kept calling, and just as the chapter was beginning to build the Oren Krumm Shelter, Rolf found himself not in the middle of a personal project. "There I was, defenseless- with no excuse!" Rolf exclaimed. But he had a wonderful time working with people of all ages on this trail project. And from then on he's been a regular on trail crews. "I've met some great people," Rolf continued, "those who are attuned to the earth. It's good to work together." He's also helped with design and building of boardwalks and a storage shed made of cull wood from a sawmill. Rolf is also a volunteer Wilderness Ranger in the Whisker Wilderness of the Nicolet National Forest. It was there that he discovered his love for trail maintenance, and asked to do some on the NCT. He says it takes about four hours to clean and blaze a mile of trail through the area they maintain where there is vigorous growth of young trees, but he says "it gives me time to really get to know the trail." He must know the trail really well; he's cleaned about 30 miles of it all by himself! Rolf also offers the solution to the puzzle of why trail people tend to be so unique. Well, at least people from the Peter Wolfe Chapter... When Doug Welker is around, trail work builds character. "When I get old I want to be a character!" says Rolf.