Help NCTA Win $100,000 in Marketing Services

Vote at Vote for $100K in Marketing Services for NCTA

Yes, you read that right. This is a voter-decided charity where ten organizations will win $100,000 each in marketing services. Most of the charities are Michigan based (that's where the offer comes from).

I appreciate the little win that you readers all just helped me get, but this vote is much more important, and you can potentially help nine other non-profits as well as the North Country Trail Association. If you are not from Michigan, don't pass it by. There are groups that should appeal to you. Many are animal rescues, women and youth support, faith-based organizations, aid to the disabled and homeless, and lots more.

We just ask that you choose North Country Trail Association as one of your votes!

The list is alphabetical, so you'll find us between New Hope Center for Grief Support, and Novi Athletic Boosters. Just scroll down!

Check ten boxes, then scroll to the bottom and hit Submit.

If there was ever a time to rouse yourself to action this is it! Great benefit to NCTA, and an easy voting process. You do have to enter your name and email, but that's all- no complex sign-up. Vote one time; you're done.

Vote at Vote for $100K in Marketing Services for NCTA

Bruce Matthews Interviewed on "A Watershed Moment"

Bruce Matthews, Executive Director NCTA (photo by jhy)

excerpted from the West Michigan Environmental Action Council blog

On the September 27th episode of the West Michigan Environmental Action Council's "A Watershed Moment," Bruce Matthews was interviewed about the North Country Trail. “A Watershed Moment” is a weekly radio program focused on environmental news and happenings in West Michigan, plus solutions for living a greener life.

Matthews is the Executive Director of the North Country Trail Association. He gives an overview of what and where the trail is, and urges more people to try it out. You can listen to the entire interview at WMEAC. Many audio formats are available.

See North Country Trail Association

The North Country Trail News blog is happy to welcome a new sponsor, Black Friday Deals. See the green ad box in the right sidebar. They offer lots of outdoor products, including many for hunting and fishing. Although those are not the primary focus of the NCT, we know that lots of sportsmen and women use the trail. If you browse their sales lists you'll find lots of items for camping or other outdoor pursuits, at a discount.

NCTA Unveils New Website

received from Andrea Ketchmark

The new and improved northcountrytrail.org is online. Check it out and you will find a new look, more detailed trail information, better volunteer resources and greater functionality and navigability. Best of all, we see this as the next step in building a seamless national and chapter web presence, owned and updated by the membership, with huge potential for member and chapter engagement.

With the leadership of Matt Rowbotham, this process has engaged the entire staff, our Board of Directors and many chapter leaders and volunteers along the way. We hope you like what you see but the great thing about this new system is the way it provides for endless customization and the ability to be as flexible as we need to be. It is not a finished product in the traditional sense but rather a dynamic tool for communication that can meet our needs as quickly as those needs change.

Pay special attention to the new Chapter/Affiliate/Partner portal pages, a new exciting feature to insure you get the recognition you deserve on the national level. We will be contacting you all in the coming months in an effort to gather your thoughts and ideas to make these pages even better.

So for now, take a few minutes to explore northcountrytrail.org and all of its new features. Let us know what you think, what you like and what else you would like to see. And please help us get the word out by including an announcement in your newsletter or at your next meeting.

We hope you enjoy it!

Andrea Ketchmark
Director of Trail Development

See North Country Trail Association

NCTA Hires David Cowles for Development

David Cowles

based on an article in the North Star

David Cowles comes to the North Country Trail Association from NOLS, the National Outdoor Leadership School, in Lander, Wyoming. His role for the NCTA is Development Director.

The NCTA has been hopeful of hiring someone for this important function for a number of years. One of the ongoing challenges for any non-profit is that of raising funds. The ability of the NCTA to fulfill its mission has continually been limited by the funds available. Cowles will dedicate his time to remedying this situation.

Cowles holds a Master's degree in Nonprofit Management from Regis University. His professional experience spans several decades, including seven years with NOLS as Associate Director of Development.

With wife, Anita, and his two children, David has moved to west Michigan to guide the NCTA fund-raising efforts. He says, "The single most transformational outdoor experience I have ever had was a 90-day trek on one of our National Scenic Trails. That trip chiseled life lessons into my life that still guide my values today."

Welcome, David!

See North Country Trail Association

New Superior Shoreline Chapter Forms

Munising Harbor on Lake Superior (photo by JHY)

if you like this article, click the Blip chiclet!
from the NCTA Blue Blaze Bulletin

The former Grand Marais Chapter of the North Country Trail Association in Michigan's Upper Peninsula has just been reactivated as the Superior Shoreline Chapter. With 75% of the chartered area along Lake Superior the new name seems appropriate.

Regional Trail Coordinator, Bill Menke, has been working with previous members and holding public meetings to revitalize the group.

Because the two main towns, Grand Marais and Munising, are located on opposite sides of the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, the chapter will take a two-pronged approach to activities, with a combined annual meeting.

If you are interested in getting involved, contact Tim at ssc@northcountrytrail.org

This segment is on NCTA map MI-10

See Superior Shoreline Chapter of the NCTA

Attend the 2010 NCTA Conference in Ashland, WI

if you like this article, click the Blip chiclet!
a news release of NCTA

The 2010 North Country Trail conference will be held in Ashland, Wisconsin, August 5-8. This year, a number of pre and post-conference options are being offered. There is a two-day backpacking trip in Wisconsin, led by Bill Menke, prior to the conference. Afterward, Mary Coffin will lead a trip to sample the Superior Hiking Trail on the Lake Superior North Shore, with lodge accommodations.

The conference itself offers a panorama of hikes, tours, and activities. Tours include the Apostle Islands, an Eco-Geo Tour offered by "Down to Earth," and a canoe trip. Hikes will explore the NCT in the western Upper Peninsula, the historic Brule Portage route, and Copper Falls State Park. In the Chequamegon National Forest, Porcupine Wilderness, Mirror Lake, Brunsweiler River, and Lake Owen will be visited on hikes. This conference is loaded with hiking choices from easy to challenging.

Workshops are always an important part of conferences. Topics offered will include Wilderness Medicine, Chapter Communications, Outdoor Photography, Obtaining Grant Money, and more.

Special activities for kids are also being offered.

Outstanding evening programs include Frida Waara, a member of the 2001 Womanquest trek to the North Pole; music by Take Three; and barn dancing with Donn Christensen and the Red Pine Resonators.

For best rates, register by July 1.

See 2010 Conference

Update on NCTA Wiki Guide

if you like this article, click the Blip chiclet!
by JHY

The Wiki Guide to the North Country Trail was launched on April 24 of this year. The premise is that because this trail is so long that the best way to get up-to-date trail information is to have those who are using the trail write it.

At the end of the first hiking season it's rewarding to see that a number of people have entered their knowledge to share with everyone, but there is still a long way to go.

Most recently, the Wisconsin Brule-St. Croix region has been added to the Wiki. This covers most of the central area of that state, and is nicely arranged in segments.

One of the drawbacks is that there is, as yet, no consistency in the way the entered data is organized. At this point, that is probably secondary to simply trying to gather as much information as possible. The entries are monitored by Matt Rowbottham, the North Country Trail Association's GIS Specialist.

Several people have spent quite a bit of time making entries, or encouraging others to do so. Their efforts are all appreciated.

As with any Wiki, anyone can enter information. If you have hiked a section of the NCT recently and are willing to check for an entry about that section, it would be greatly appreciated. Create an entry, if there is none, with whatever you can remember about the trail. If there is an entry, check it for accuracy and detail. Feel free to edit!

See NCTA Wiki Guide

NCTA Conference- Saturday

"stairway to heaven" (photo by JHY)

by JHY

Saturday at the Valley City NCTA conference was filled again with lots of activities. One of the hikes offered both Saturday and Sunday was to the Sheyenne State Forest, North Dakota's only state forest. It is an ecological oddity with bur oak and hills, and the state's only registered waterfall. The hike begins with the "stairway to heaven," a long climb up a hill on steps built into the hill.

Views from the trail are lovely with the rolling Dakota hills in the distance, here framed by leadplant. Many of the prairie plants will only be seen along the North Country Trail in North Dakota. The trail ends at the small waterfall. This is a certified section of NCT, but it does not currently connect to any other portion, so thru-hikers usually follow a road and miss seeing it.

"leadplant frames the North Dakota hills" (photo by JHY)

Annual awards were given in the evening, with many well-deserved recipients. The highest honor, the lifetime achievement award, went to Al Larmann of New York. His efforts to connect the Finger Lakes Trail with the Adirondacks have moved the NCT across New York and brought the trail to the attention of many people. Recipients must have more than ten years of volunteer service to the trail.

"Al Larmann (left) receives the Lifetime Achievement Award from past president John Leinan" (photo by JHY)

NCTA Conference- Friday

by JHY

The day began with workshops. Some were geared towards the goals of the NCTA, such as dealing with problem areas within chapters. Other sessions were of more general interest, such as GPS use or photographing wildlife.

In the afternoon, participants had several hikes to choose from. One hike followed the former rail bed of the "Ladies Line" from Kathryn, ND to Claussen Springs Recreation Area. The Ladies Line was so named because it connected the towns of Kathryn, Alice, Elizabeth, Marion and Myra.



Friday, dinner moved inside to a more elegant setting. This was followed by the live auction, with Bruce Matthews, NCTA Executive Director, serving as auctioneer. Here, Bruce poses with Molly the Wells Fargo bank mascot, as Molly goes up for bids.

Between the live and silent auctions, $6000 was raised for the NCTA. One of the two most expensive items was this quilt. It was made by members of the Sheyenne River Valley Chapter out of t-shirts that have been issued by the NCTA over its history. It sold for $525.



The evening concluded with a program by Gregg Treinish and Deia Schlosberg about their 7800 mile trek the length of the Andes Mountains.

NCTA Conference- Thursday

Dave Cornell passes the gavel to Bobby Koepplin (photo by JHY)

by JHY

The 2009 North Country Trail Conference began Thursday in Valley City, North Dakota. Many people went on hikes or took a bus tour to the western terminus of the trail. However, NCTA business is always conducted on Thursday including a meeting of the board of directors. Dave Cornell finished his two years as President, and passed the gavel to Bobby Koepplin. Bobby's custom license plate is ENER G, and that is certainly appropriate.

Bobby and Deb Koepplin do the polka (photo by JHY)

The evening included a barbeque, and live music. Bobby and wife Deb demonstrated some more of that energy with a lively polka.

Included in the evening's fun was a demonstration by a local Cavalry reinactment group. Not only did they show off military skills, but everyone was treated to pie, cornbread and other treats baked in dutch ovens.

Also, the National Park Service handed out volunteer awards to those people who have donated 100, 200, 500, 1000, and 2500 hours of service to the NCTA.

shooting demonstration by the Cavalry reinactors (photo by JHY)

Finally! NCT Trail Guide - DIY Wiki Style

from the North Country Trail Association

At long last... there is going to be a guide to the North Country Trail! And it will be built by the people who are out working on it and using it week after week.

Although several people have seriously considered doing a guide, the only effort that came close to covering the entire trail was make by Wes Boyd (editor of the North Star NCTA magazine at the time). He came really close to finishing, and finally made the entire work available for free. It is now seriously outdated, and has been taken off the web site.

But something even better has arrived! Using the same software as Wikipedia, the framework for a user-built guide has been added to the new NCTA web site. Anyone can log in and add or alter entries. To date there is only a small amount of information entered. But that will probably change rather quickly. The site was only publicly released today.

The guidelines are:

• Respect authors' and publishers' rights and do not add any content from existing guidebooks, websites or other sources that may be copyrighted.
• Please do not use it as a forum to push an agenda regarding allowed uses and activities on the NCT.
• Be respectful, but by all means push the content (and other contributors) to high standards of accuracy and creativity.

If you work on a section of trail, start entering what you know. If you have recently hiked a section of trail, start entering what you know. Most important... start entering what you know! In no time, we'll have a constantly up-to-date trail guide!

See NCTA Wiki Trail Guide

Communications Director Resigns

from Bruce Matthews, Executive Director, North Country Trail Association

I know you'll all join me in thanking Mary Meehan for her contributions and wishing her future success as she departs NCTA. We've learned much through her tenure and made progress in some key areas. As we consider next steps we will continue to build upon a solid communications platform that meets our member expectations and advances our Association agenda.

Mary's departure leaves some major holes to fill and no doubt creates some questions about what's next. The rest of the staff are working on short-term solutions, most notably to try to keep the new website launch on track, but also to keep to production schedules for North Star and Blue Blazes Bulletin. Please do let me know any questions or concerns, particularly if you are left with a project hanging in mid air. We may not know that and need you to close the loop so we can respond.

We will be coordinating key folks in building a solid strategy for next steps. We'll be looking at NCTA's broad staffing needs, in communications as well as trail management/administration, advocacy (state and national) and development. We have an opportunity to reflect current needs and landscapes and will move decisively in filling this position in the next few months. We have an opportunity to take a page from our new President as we're encouraged to embrace the change that's needed.

Contact Bruce Matthews

NCTA Plans New Logo- Asks for Feedback

current NCTA logo - take the survey to see the proposed new one

a news release of North Country Trail Association



NCTA is embarking on a branding and marketing effort to increase the visibility and recognition of the North Country Trail. A strong brand is a persistent, unique business identity that increases familiarity, image, loyalty and confidence. They propose an up-to-date look while maintaining the strong North Star image. Please take this very brief survey and tell them what you think!

They plan to use the new branding efforts in a new web site, new and updated literature, a completely redesigned North Star and Blue Blaze Bulletin, new trail shop merchandise and more- including regular and increased public relations.

Click here to take the branding survey.