Notes from the Board Cherry Festival Volunteers Needed

@ Notes from the Board
John Heiam
Our club is responsible for almost ninety miles of
the North Country Trail starting near the
Hodenpyl Dam south of Buckley to the Manistee
Lake area east of Mancelona. Since the club was
formed a little over ten years ago, we have been
concentrating on the trail along the Manistee
River between M-37 and US-131. That stretch is
now in great shape, and we are turning our
attention to the trail closer to Traverse City. Dick
Naperala has spearheaded that project and has
come up with a plan that would link the Muncie
Lakes Trail system, the VASA Trail, and Sand
Lakes Quiet Area system, with trails in the
Kalkaska area. This is an ambitious plan, but not
out of the reach of our club. Dick has drafted a
very impressive proposal and has made
presentations to DNR officials in Traverse City,
Cadillac, and Lansing. We are now waiting for
their approval.
This spring I have been on four club hikes, two of
which Lois and I organized. Club hikes have had
as many as eighteen people show up, and as
few as twelve. Clearly there is a big demand for
these types of outings in our club. Unfortunately,
we haven't found enough people to lead trips to
fill out the calendar. We need some additional
members to step forward and offer to host some
day hikes. This is the last newsletter until
September, so it's too late to add anything to our
schedule for the summer. If you would be willing
to lead an outing for the club in the fall, please email me ([email protected]) so I can your
name on my leader list. In mid-August I will send
out a note requesting information about hikes for
September, October, and November.
Cherry Festival
Volunteers Needed
Our club is again volunteering to be part of the
Community Share Program at the National
Cherry Festival. The money earned by our
member volunteers from this event pays for our
meeting room expenses, newsletter printing/
mailing costs and other operating expenses
including tee shirts for our volunteers this
year. The National Cherry Festival will run from
July 2 - 9. For the past two years we have been
assigned to the Waste Collection tent. Assuming
we will again be assigned to this task, we will be
responsible for the collection tent for one day of
the eight-day Festival. The assigned day consists
of three shifts. Last year the shifts were as
follows:
11 AM - 3 PM – 4 volunteers plus one back-up
3 PM - 7 PM – 6 volunteers plus one back-up
7 PM - 11 PM - 6 volunteers plus one back up.
We ask for a back-up person for each shift just in
case an unexpected emergency comes up and a
scheduled member cannot make their shift. All
working volunteers will receive a new GTHC
tee shirt to wear during their shift at the
Festival.
We will not know our assignment or scheduled
date until the end of May, but please volunteer
now and we will confirm the date with you when
we are advised.
To volunteer, please contact Barb Kennedy via
e-mail [email protected] or call
995-7438, and let her know your preferred
time/s, tee shirt size and contact information
including phone number and e-mail address. See
you at the National Cherry Festival!
Hiking Buddies
Lois Goldstein & John Heiam
Picture this scenario: It's been cold and raining
for a week, but the forecast is looking up. We just
decided that we'd like to check out a new section
of the North Country Trail, or do a clean up at
Muncie Lakes. We're looking for people who
might be ready to drop everything and spend
some time hiking (or snowshoeing or x-c skiing).
We have a list of "hiking buddies" in our e-mail
address book. Periodically, we send out a note
asking if anyone would like to join us on
impromptu outings in this area. These non-club
outings occur both on weekdays and weekends.
Last season we sent out about 20 of these
requests, and we frequently had groups of two to
ten people join us. We have made a lot of friends
on these unofficial trips, and are always happy to
have new people come along.
If you would like to learn about these last minute
plans, you can be added to our "hiking buddies"
list. Let us know if you would like to be included.
e-mail: [email protected] or
[email protected]
NCTA Annual Conference
Petoskey – Aug. 11-14, 2005
The Grand Traverse Hiking Club is a co-host of
this year's conference. The conference includes
great hikes, historical tours and an opportunity to
meet people who share our passion for the North
Country Trail. They will come from as far away as
New York and North Dakota. See the April - June
issue of the North Star magazine for details on
the exciting outings, programs, lodging and
costs.
If you attend the conference for at least two
days, we will give you a free tee shirt with the
club logo that you can proudly wear and
represent the GTHC. For those who would like
to commute rather than stay overnight, carpooling might be arranged. If interested, contact
Beverly Cuthbert e-mail:
mailto:[email protected]
Phone: 929-9022.
GTHC T-Shirts
For Sale
If you are unable to work at the National Cherry
Festival or go to the NCTA Annual Conference in
Petoskey, but would still like a club tee shirt, you
can order one for only $10. It is a beautiful
moss green Hanes Beefy Tee with our logo
embroidered on the left upper chest area (See
Picture). Ordering Deadline is May 13th.
If you are interested, send your check for $10
made out to the Grand Traverse Hiking Club
along with your shirt size to John Heiam, 3947
Havenhill Lane, Williamsburg, MI 49690
John will deliver the shirts at the picnic on Trails
Day June 4 (see article elsewhere in this issue).
If you will not be able to attend that picnic,
include your e-mail address and John will work
out another time when you can pick up the shirt.
Submit Your Hours
If you work in some volunteer capacity for
the club, whether it is bringing goodies to
a monthly meeting, leading a hike, or
doing trail maintenance, you should report
the hours you spent on club activities to
the NCT headquarters. It is important that
we report these hours because this information is
used in justifying grants from various funding
sources.
By far the easiest way to do this is online through
their web site, or go directly there by using this
address:
http://www.northcountrytrail.org/voluntrs/rephours
.htm
Page 2
NCT Backpacking Trip
Rick Halbert & Dick Naperala
Andrew Skurka, the young man who is
thru-hiking the North Country Trail as
part of his C2C route from the Atlantic
to the Pacific oceans has this
comment on his web site, “The best
section of the North Country Trail in the
Lower Peninsula is along the Manistee River”.
We, the members of Grand Traverse Hiking
Club, are the lucky people who are in charge of
maintaining this beautiful section of trail.
Beginning June 10th, Dick Naperala and Rick
Halbert will be backpacking the entire section of
the North Country Trail that is maintained by the
Grand Traverse Hiking Club. This will take us
from the Hodenpyl Dam near Mesick to
Kalkaska, including beautiful sections of trail
along the Manistee and Boardman rivers.
Please join us for anything from the entire trip to
a day hike on a selected section of the trail. Our
itinerary, with camping locations, is posted below
to help you select a place to join us. We expect
to hike about 15 miles per day. If you need
directions please call Rick or Dick before
June 9th.
June 13: US 131 to Dollar Lake. This pretty
lake can be accessed from Supply Road south of
Traverse City. Most of this day and the next will
be spent hiking recent additions or proposed
sections of the North Country Trail.
June 14: Dollar Lake to Kalkaska
Contact: Dick Naperala 231-223-7903, Rick
Halbert 231-947-8485
Trip Report
April 3, 2005 – VASA Trail Hike and Cleanup
Leaders: Lois Goldstein & John Heiam
We had eighteen people join us on this gorgeous
sunny day. There were still a few ice patches on
the trail, but it was fairly easy walking. Most of
the trash we found was GU wrappers and water
bottles, but near the end we did pick up an
exhaust pipe. There was a nice article written
about the trip in the Grand Traverse Herald, so
the club got some good press.
June 10: Marilla Trailhead on Bears Road
west of Hodenpyl Dam to Wheeler Creek
Campsite (near the M37 trailhead south of
Buckley). This is the southern end of our section
of the North Country Trail.
June 11: Wheeler Creek Campsite to Baxter
Bridge State Forest Campground (south of
Kingsley). This section follows the Manistee
River and includes some great views of the river.
June 12: Baxter Bridge State Forest
Campground to US 131. We will not camp in the
Old US 131 State Forest Campground, but in the
primitive camp located along the junction of the
trail and the railroad tracks about a mile west of
the state forest campground. This trail section
continues along the Manistee River.
: Join the NCTA online @
https://cerulean.site-secure.net/
northcountrytrail/ncta/join_us.htm
Page 3
Programs & Meetings
Tuesday, May 17, 2005 - 7:00PM
“Wildflowers and Spring"
Hickory Hills - Traverse City
Tom Haxby, GTHC member and
employee of the Michigan
Department of Natural
Resources, will lead us in a
great evening outing at Hickory
Hills to explore the many
wildflowers and spring budding
trees within the city limits of
Traverse City. Meet at the west
end of Randolph Street and wear comfortable
walking shoes.
Thursday, May 26, 2005 - 7:00PM
Board Meeting
Lower Level – Horizon Books
Traverse City
Plans for National Trails Day and Cherry Festival
along with other club business will be discussed.
All club members are welcome and encouraged
to attend.
Tuesday, Sep. 20, 2005 - 7:00PM
“Trail Food-Beyond Jerky & Gorp"
NMC-Main Campus-Oleson Center
Traverse City
Joan Young, North Country Coordinator for lower
Michigan, will present "Trail Food, Thinking
Beyond Jerky and Gorp". This is a presentation
on how to dehydrate your food for backpacking.
She also will promote her new book released in
August – North Country Cache: Adventure On A
National Scenic Trail.
Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2005 - 7:00PM
“Primitive Skills Hike in the Pioneer
Mountains"
NMC-Main Campus-Oleson Center
Traverse City
Guided by Tom Elpel of Hollowtop Outdoor
Primitive School, Rick Halbert was part of a small
group that participated in this four-day
experience in the mountains of southwestern
Montana. Each person carried a knife, a blanket,
and a few extra cloths as they set off on an
adventure where they would learn to work with
nature to provide the things they needed.
Club Outings and Activities
Note: Please consider leading a hike or
backpack. Contact: John Heiam; email:
[email protected] or phone 938-9655.
Saturday, June 4, 2005
National Trails Day Hike
Guernsey Lake Campground
Time: 8:30 AM
Leader: Dick Naperala
This should be a fun-filled day, involving three
enjoyable activities. We will hike, work and eat!
Well, maybe two out of the three are enjoyable!!!
We will meet at Guernsey Lake Campground at
8:30 AM. Tools and work projects will be
assigned to those people who would like to work
on the NCT. Hiking is available for those who
would rather hike! At 1 PM, everyone will return
to the campground for a potluck picnic. So remember to bring a dish to pass, your own
dinnerware and something to drink.
Directions to Guernsey Lake Campground, about
ten miles southeast of TC - Take Supply Road to
Broomhead (about ½ mile east of the intersection
with the Boardman River), turn north on
Broomhead and go about l.5 miles to Guernsey
Lake Road. Turn right (east) on Guernsey Lake
Road and go approximately three miles until you
come to the Guernsey Lake Campground. For
more information - call Richard Naperala at
231-223-7903
Page 4
Club Outings and Activities (Continued)
Trip Report
April 16, 2005 – Discovering the NCT - Anderson
Creek – Baxter Bridge Leader: Pete Ostrowski
Sunday, June 5 , 2005
Hike- Antrim Creek Natural Area
Time: Early Afternoon – Call Leader
Leader: Bonnie Craig
This area near Eastport, was established a few
years ago through efforts of the GT Land
Conservancy. It has marked hiking trails and
almost a mile of protected beach. The group will
do a loop hike of about four miles. Come check
out an area you may not be familiar with. Wellbehaved dogs are welcome. Directions: From
Traverse City drive north on US-31 to Eastport.
One mile north of M-88 is Old Dixie Hwy, turn left
(toward the bay) for approximately 1/8 mile, Old
Dixie turns north (do NOT go straight), continue
for approximately 3 miles. Shortly after Antrim
Creek is the natural area drive and parking area,
which is marked by a sign. If you get to the Old
Antrim Cemetery (on the right) you went about ½
mile too far.
Contact leader, Bonnie Craig at (231) 5992504 or e-mail [email protected] to
learn the exact meeting time and to sign up
for the hike.
$$
Classified
Twelve people met at the campground near
Baxter Bridge. We left most of the cars at the
boat access, and all of us rode in two minivans to
Anderson Creek. The car I was in scraped
bottom a few times, but we made it. We all
walked down to see the creek (see photo below)
and then hiked the nine miles back to Baxter
Bridge. Again it was a gorgeous sunny day with
temperatures in the sixties and seventies. We
saw spring beauties and trout lilies along the
way, as well as a six-foot blue racer snake. The
views of the river were terrific because the trees
had not yet leafed out, and the bugs were nonexistent. Submitted by John Heiam
$$
As a member of the NCTA and Grand Traverse
Hiking Club, you’re entitled to advertise free in this
newsletter. Submit your items (Less than 50 words
per ad please) to Brian Cox at (231)275-9833 or
email at:[email protected]
Kelty "Red Cloud" internal frame backpackLittle used, like-new condition-5400 cu. in.
w/fanny pack top-Cobalt blue/black/yellow
$80 OBO
Picnic backpack, suitable for bikers or hikers
New-in-box, forest green "table service" for two
with insulated food and beverage compartments
$25 OBO
Call Jerry Freels 231-922-1801
:Log on for the latest GTHC
Newsletter!!
Visit our GTHC Web Page@
http://www.northcountrytrail.org/gtr
Page 5
Trail Tread Ways
Arlen Matson
SHECK’S PLACE SOUTH
REROUTE
The 5-mile reroute south of Sheck’s
Place SFCG was submitted in
February to the Traverse City DNR
by Arlen Matson, Dick Naperala &
John Heiam. The objective of this
proposal is to eliminate using the
deteriorated SST, and two and a
half miles of gravel roads. The DNR
informed us that currently the
southern portion of this reroute is up
for Compartment Review and may
take awhile before approval.
MUNCIE LAKES--SAND LAKES REROUTE
This proposal is a continuation from last fall’s
reroute that ended at the northeast corner of
Muncie Lakes Pathway where it reconnects with
the SST. The new proposal recommends going
north to Dollar Lake and using the snowmobile
parking lot near the intersection of Supply Road
and Williamsburg Road as a trailhead. The route
would then proceed eastward to the Boardman
River. After an interim along the river, the NCT
would head directly north into the Sand Lakes
Quiet Area. Utilizing that trail system, we would
move from the north section due east to the north
end of Guernsey Lake and shortly thereafter,
return to the SST which is now more hikeable .
Again we justify this change due to the severe
horse damage to the hiking tread.
This proposal also includes spur trail linkage from
the NCT to the VASA Trail on the west, and a
spur trail into Kalkaska. There would be 6.5 miles
of new trail to build; however, the existing trails
utilized would be quite a sizeable network.
Dick Naperala and John Heiam presented this
proposal to the Traverse City DNR in March. It
was also presented to the Cadillac DNR, and the
Lansing Headquarters for the DNR the same
month.
NPS CERTIFICATIONS APPROVED
Three certifications were mailed to the National
Park Service in Madison, WI in January. The
approvals were received in March. These
include .4 mile south of No. 16 Rd (Mesick) away
from a power line. The second was the 7.1-mile
reroute west of US 131 completed last year.
The third was 4.2 miles north of Sheck’s Place
and the utilization of the Muncie Lakes Pathway.
ADOPT-A-TRAIL MAINTENANCE
Information has been mailed to all adopters for
their annual spring maintenance. Forms should
be returned by National Trails Day, June 4. If
your section was not painted with fresh blue
blazes last year, it should be done this year.
Paint and brushes a re located at our tool trailer
at the residence of Arlen Matson.
Note: When painting an abrupt turn on the NCT,
the two vertical marks should appear above each
other and the top one offset in the direction of the
turn. There are a few errors that need to be
corrected. Contact Betsy Duede, Adopt-a-Trail
Coordinator at 231-946-4524 for more if you
would like to adopt a section of trail.
STARVATION LAKE TRAIL WORK
We are still planning on a Saturday workable in
the vicinity of Starvation Lake (northeast of
Kalkaska). Since we are coordinating this with
the adopter for that section of trail, we have not
arrived at a work date except it will be on a
Saturday. I am gathering a work list of
volunteers. It could occur anytime between midmay and mid-June. Contact Arlen Matson if you
may be available, or wish to be included on our
master list of trail workers.
MAY TRAILWORK
We have scheduled a Tuesday work session on
the SST from M-72 southward for May 17. The
work will include painti ng fresh blue blazes,
removing debris from the trail, some bow saw &
lopping, and the installation of signage at road
crossings. We will meet at either the Matson's or
the Acme Tom's Parking Lot at 8:30. The location
for the beginning of the work will be at Smith
Road just west of Kalkaska. Contact: Arlen
Matson, 941-4152 or Dick Naperala, 223-7903.
Page 6
2005 Officers
President:
John Heiam
Tel. (231) 938-9655
E-mail: [email protected]
Vice President:
Bev Cuthbert
Tel. (231) 929-9022
Email: [email protected]
Secretary:
June Thaden Tel. (231) 947-8476
Email: [email protected]
Treasurer / Membership
Mona Liska
Tel. (231) 947-4159
Email: [email protected]
Advisors:
Mike Schaeffer Tel. (231) 947-9379
Email: [email protected]
2005 Committees
Administrative Trails Coordinator:
Arlen Matson Tel. (231) 941-4152
Email: [email protected]
Field Trails Coordinator:
Dick Naperala Tel. (231) 223-7903
Email: [email protected]
Adopt-a-Trail Coordinator:
Betsy Duede
Tel. (231) 946-4524
Email: [email protected]
Tool Trailer Supervisor:
Jerry Freels
Tel. (231) 922-1801
Email: [email protected]
Publicity:
Barb Kennedy Tel. (231) 932-9733
Email: [email protected]
Hospitality:
Kim Arbour
Tel. (231) 271-6450
Newsletter Mailing:
Gini Browne
Tel. (231) 223-9207
Newsletter & Web Page:
Brian Cox
Tel. (231) 275-9833
Email: [email protected]
Our Sponsored Membership Program allows current members to sign up
new members at an introductory rate of just $18.00. To qualify, Sponsored
Members must be new to NCTA, or not have been members for at least
two years. The $18 rate is good only for the first year of membership.
To use the program, just fill out the form below and mail it with a check
for $18 payable to the North Country Trail Association.
The address is : NCTA, 229 East Main Street, Lowell, Michigan 49331.
Member of a specific Chapter: Grand Traverse Hiking Club
Sponsored by
John Heiam (NCTA #5951)– President Grand Traverse Hiking Club
Name (Please Print)
Daytime Phone (Area code first)
Address
City
State
Skills to volunteer
E-mail Address
ZIP
Page 7