Milford, Ohio - Embracing the Trail Town Concept

the sign which will be placed at the actual junction of the eight trails, with Joan Young and Ron Strickland (photo by JHY)

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by JHY

The sycamore leaves were twirling on a lazy breeze, and the rain which had fallen all week backed off to at least a trickle, as the Citizens for a Better Milford hosted the 4th Annual Trail Junction Festival. A town crier rang his bell and Mayor Charlene Hinners presented certificates of appreciation to several members of the Citizens Group.

each trail had a display (photo by JHY)

Not only was each of the eight trails which meet in Milford, Ohio represented, many of them gave presentations throughout the day. Attending for the North Country Trail were Andrew Bashaw, Regional Trail Coordinator for Ohio/Pennsylvania, and Joan Young, hiker. Another face familiar to many NCT folks is Ron Strickland who explained the Sea to Sea Route which will include the North Country Trail.

Milford has a plan which, if brought to fruition, will set the bar very high for trail towns. In keeping with the theme, they hope to build a Trail Junction Park. This area along the Little Miami River includes everything from an elevated road crossing to safely bring hikers and cyclists across a busy highway to a hotel! Two camping areas are also included in the park, and a large conservatory for botanical displays.

Trail Junction park Master Plan (photo by JHY)

The key element of the park will be an eight-sided building, with one entrance on each face dedicated to one of the eight trails. As a person enters the building they will be able to see displays, a mini-museum about the designated trail. On the second floor of the building will be classrooms which could be used for education, workshops, etc. and offices where he hopes each trail will want to situate a staff member. And the top story of the building will be an open room for large meetings, banquets, etc.

Some NCT folks will remember Steve Boller, and wife Sharon, who attended the Annual Conference in North Dakota this summer. Steve, a retired lawyer, is one of the key players in the Citizens for a Better Milford group. They note that the small city was pleased to discover that they have a single meeting point for so many trails, and believe that the feature is too unique to ignore.

Steve Boller poses beside the Master Plan (photo by JHY)

It's unlikely that this plan would come to fruition in time for the Annual Conference 2011, but after spending a weekend with this energetic group, it wouldn't surprise me a bit to see Conference 2018 in Milford, Ohio!

See Trail Junction Festival
See Junction Trails Park Newsletter

Gone Hiking

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from JHY

I'm headed out hiking following the Trail Junction Festival. Planning to finish the NCT in Ohio with 104 miles - the southernmost of the entire trail.

Not sure if I'll be able to post along the way or not. See you in a few days.

SeeA Major Hiking Decision

Trail Junction Festival Tomorrow - Milford Ohio

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a news release of Rails-to-Trails Conservancy

The Trail Junction Festival in Milford, Ohio kicks off tomorrow, Sept 26, for two days of trail fun. The purpose is to celebrate and bring awareness to the over 22,000 miles of Long Distance Hiking, Cycling and Paddling Trails that converge in Milford.

Milford, Ohio is situated at a unique crossroads of America's Long Distance Trails. They celebrate this connection at The Junction! The Fourth Annual Junction Trail Festival in Milford celebrates the following trails:

• Buckeye Trail
• North Country National Scenic Trail
• American Discovery Trail
• Sea to Sea Long Distance Hiking Route
• Underground Railroad Cycling Route
• Ohio to Erie Cycling Route
• Little Miami Scenic Trail
• Little Miami Scenic River

A number of NCT folks will be there, including Joan Young, with a slide show, and informal question session, book sales and signing. Andrew Bashaw, OH Regional Field Coordinator for the NCT, and BTA executive director will represent our trail, and Ron Strickland will promote the Sea to Sea Route.

Hike, paddle, bike, go fishing, eat ice cream and enjoy a campfire. Everyone is praying that the predicted rain will hold off.

If you live anywhere near... it should be great.

Trail Junction Festival

Nimblewill Nomad is Back on the Trail

Nimblewill Nomad in NY a few weeks ago (photo from Mary Coffin)

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submitted by Todd McMahon

On Sept 11, Nimblewill wrote in his journal, from the Border Route Trail "My right knee gave me a fit the entire day last, not a moment of letup with the pain. Rolling out this morning, I am very stiff and sore. Finally, I'm pack up and moving, although ever-so-slowly. I've a hunch these last couple-three miles will stick in my memory awhile."

He had, indeed, injured his knee, and headed home for some work and recuperation time, hoping to finish the NCT yet this year. He continued "After 4100 miles, only 300 left to finish this odyssey--I don't understand, I just don't understand. And so, with great reluctance, we turn from this trail, load, and head for home."

But word was received via email to Todd McMahon on Sept 23 that Nimblewill Nomad is headed back to the trail! Todd said "Eb Eberhardt, AKA NimbleWill Nomad, is apparently going to be headed back up to Northern Minnesota to finish the last 8 miles of the Border Route, then hike the Superior Hiking Trail down to Two Harbors."

The knee is still a little swollen, but he just can't stay home any longer! Eb quoted Lance Armstrong, "Pain in temporary. Quitting lasts forever."

There is no update on his journal yet, but we wish him well!

Nimblewill Nomad's Journal

Tom Salwasser's Impressions of the Chippewa

where the NCT enters the Chippewa NF at the east on County Rd 132- prior to maintenance! (photo by JHY)

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from Tom Salwasser (excerpted from a a post to NCT Friends)

I recently took over maintenance duties of a small section of the NCT from the Forest Service. I've been amazed at the quality and beauty of the NCT in the Chip, something I'd long ignored. The Forest Service did an excellent job in building this trail and gave each section an annual mowing, but we didn't do our part. It's gone largely unused except for the occasional NCT thru hiker. All the maintenance in the world won't help a trail that isn't hiked.

I hope to section hike all 68 miles of the trail this fall and spring. Last week I hiked the eastern most section of the trail, 3.5 miles from CR132 to the National Forest boundary plus a bonus 2 miles. This section of the trail may be abandoned due to the Arrowhead Reroute, which would be a shame.

Easy access off Hwy 200 east of Remer on CR132 leads to an ample parking area. The Carsonite post will lead you into the woods. After a half mile of freshly mowed trail, it joins up with a Forest Service road used by ATV's. This road follows the abandoned railroad bed of the Pine Tree Spur #309. From 1911 to 1916 gear driven Lima Shay locomotives hauled logs up grades approaching 13% en route to the nearby Soo Line railroad and ultimately a lumber mill in Little Falls, MN.

You cross a wide bridge over the creek between Saylor Lake and Thibeault Lake. These pristine lakes and stream offer a good source of water (be sure to filter) and unofficial campsite. I want to return with a kayak when I get a chance. The remainder of the trail has been over run by ATV usage but is a pleasant walk none the less.

At some point I left the Chippewa National Forest and crossed from Cass County to Aitkin County. This trail is a snowmobile trail in the winter with wide wet wallows in spots. My goal is to reach Holy Water Lake, another pristine, undeveloped lake I saw on the map and heard about from others. The lake received it's name when in the early 1900s a Catholic priest owned land near the lake. Surveyors discovered most of his land was at the bottom of the lake so they named it Holy Water. I did reach this lake and it was worth the extra 2 (or so) miles. It offered a couple camp site options and a beautiful sandy beach. It was as wild and beautiful a spot as I had ever seen. I cleaned up a pile of beer cans and trash from the camp site.

I do hope we manage to retain this section of the trail as a spur to the main NCT after the reroute. Tracing my route back to CR132 gave me a nice 10 mile hike.

I've posted a map of the North Country Trail in the Chippewa National Forest, MN in the files section NCT Friends group. This is my favorite map of the several available. It was published by the Forest Service many years ago but is now out of print. In addition to being an excellent map, it has lots of interesting and useful information about the trail.

Join NCT Friends

5 of MI Top 10 Hikes Include NCT Sections

Tahquamenon Falls (from the NCTA web site)

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based on an article in the Saginaw News

Hugh Bernreuter, sportswriter for the Saginaw News has put forth a list of the ten best day hikes in Michigan, based on his personal experiences. He is an avid hiker and backpacker, and has been checking out Michigan trails since grade school.

Of the ten hikes he selected, five of them include sections of the North Country Trail. The very first words on his list are "North Country Trail." How cool is that?!

one of the falls on the Black River (photo JHY)

1. "North Country Trail/Porcupine Mountains waterfall hike, Bessemer" -- Here one can take an 11-mile walk and almost see one waterfall per mile. Head north along the Black River to Lake Superior passing 7 waterfalls, hike east four miles to the Presque Isle River and follow that to see 3 more falls.

2. "Chapel Loop, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Munising -- This 6.5-mile loop takes you past one of the state's top waterfalls (Chapel Falls) and to one of Michigan's most scenic beaches (Chapel Beach)." Chapel Beach is on the Lakeshore Trail, another section of the NCT.

4. "Tahquamenon Falls, Paradise -- Perhaps Michigan's best river hike. The 4.5-mile, one-way trail takes you from the Upper Falls to the Lower Falls along the Tahquamenon River." Once again, this piece of state park trail is also a portion of the NCT.

5. "McCormick Wilderness, Michigamme -- If you want solitude, this is your hike." Several short trails begin at the parking area on the west side of the wilderness. "The North Country trail runs along the southern edge of the McCormick and can also be accessed from the parking lot." Be prepared if you want to hike this one. Wilderness cannot be blazed, and many have gotten lost here.

pond on the main trail in the McCormack Wilderness (not on the NCT - photo JHY)

7. "Sturgeon Falls, Sidnaw -- A challenging one-mile trail takes you into a deep canyon to the falls, a powerful blast of 30 feet. The area is a hot spot for rock climbers and you can also access the North Country Trail from the parking area."

Be sure to check out Hugh's article for his other selections!

Top Ten: Michigan Day Hikes

Border Route Maintenance - East

the Border Route Trail heads north from Otter Lake Rd. at the northern end of the Superior Hiking Trail (photo by JHY)

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from Ed Solstad, Mechanized Maintenance Coordinator, Border Route Trail Association

We're pleased to announce that all portions of the Pigeon River Cliffs section of the Border Route Trail from The SHT / BRT Otter Lk Rd Junction through to McFarland Lk have now received both a dead-fall and a brushing sweep between mid-May, 2009 and mid-September, 2009. All it needs now is more users to help keep it open. This is where all of you come in.

If you've avoided hiking the BRT because of the usually exaggerated reports of impenetrable brush and dead-falls every few feet, take heart. While it is still not up to Hennepin Park standards, we want to keep it that way on purpose. The Pigeon River Cliffs Section has many of the same characteristics as the BWCAW sections such as magnificent overlooks, stands of old growth forest, and solitude without having to deal with wilderness restrictions, permits, lack of road access, etc. We guarantee that you won't be disappointed.

Pigeon River Cliffs on the Border Route Trail (photo by JHY)

We highly recommend that you give it a try this fall while the recent maintenance is still fresh. If you can't make it out to hike this fall, consider joining one of the BRT maintenance trips next Spring.

Speaking of maintenance trips, we're planning a non-mechanized trip to the East Rose Lake Section on Oct. 2nd through the 5th. Contact Chris Fothergill at 651-454-7030 or csfothergill@gmail.com for further information. There are also two mechanized maintenance trips to the Gunflint Section on the weekends of Oct 3rd & 4th and Oct 16 through 18th. Contact Ed Solstad at 612-822-0569 or esolstad@pressenter.com.

We welcome anything that will help to keep this trail open and usable be it as simple as a getting out and taking a day-hike to one of the easily accessible overlooks to a longer overnight, or for the truely hardcore, a through-hike. What the is most in need of however is maintenance in the Wilderness Sections. One way of improving the situation would be to establish a network of interested people who actually live closer to the trail. Trying to run an adequate trail maintenance program from the Twin Cities is certainly not the most efficient way of doing things. If you can provide anything along the lines of sugestions, contacts, actual manpower, etc. pleas contact us. The trail thanks you. In the meantime, get out there and hike.

Border Route Trail
Contact Ed Solstad at 612-822-0569 or esolstad@pressenter.com.

Hosting Nimblewill Nomad in New York

members of the Onondaga Chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club greeted Nimblewill Nomad in August

submitted by Mary Coffin

The Onondaga Chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club (ADK-ON) and Highland Forest Park staff co sponsored a welcoming reception and lunch on August 24 for through hiker Nimble Will.

Fourteen ADKers were on hand to welcome him at Highland’s beautiful Skyline Visitor’s Center as he passed through. Highland Forest County Park provided a great location as the North Country National Scenic Trail and concurrent Finger Lakes Onondaga Trail cross the park. The staff at Highland and caterer, Orchard Vali, donated a wonderful buffet lunch to the group. Highland Forest is proud to host both these prestigious foot trails and ADK Onondaga members enjoy maintaining them.

We had the opportunity to pick the brain of this through hiker, 70 year old, retired optometrist, to determine the enjoyment he receives from such a feat. Nimble Will has hiked nearly 20,000 miles including six original National Scenic Trails (ex: Appalachian Trail etc). He commented that his “grand dad and dad died in the woods” and he hoped to also. He loves the outdoors and the woods as he feels that “God is there”, it is a spiritual experience and added, “there is no cathedral as grand as a half acre (of woods).” Being outdoors “recharges his batteries”. In this busy world we can all take a lesson here. In Nimble Will’s opinion if one is reasonably fit and packs light, long distance hiking is 80% mental. It is most important to take care of one’s feet.

[Ed note: Nimblewill is currently off the trail recuperating from a knee injury]

See Nimblewill's journal
See Nimblewill Nomad Off Trail with Knee Injury

Gordon Lachinet Nearing the 1000 Mile Club

Gordon Lachinet)

by JHY, based on Gordon's journal and personal communication

Gordon Lachinet keeps vowing that he’s not going to do any more long hikes, but every time he gets home from one he’s quickly cooking up plans for another. Now he’s realized just how close he is getting to becoming a member of the unofficial 1000 Mile NCT Club, so he suspects that he’ll be tempted into the woods again. He’s affectionately known to many hikers as “Grumpy Gord,” nevertheless, he’s agreed to let me share some of his experiences with you.

This summer he checked out some of the great trail miles in Wisconsin. He likes to write up trip reports just for himself. It’s the “the type of thing I keep to read on winter evenings,” he says.

One of the things Gordon tried is that he used a shuttle service, D&J Shuttle to take him from Mellen to Solon Spring. It’s pretty awesome that there are at least a few places along the NCT where one can find this kind of service.

On August 20 he hiked the road section out of Solon Spring to reach the Brule- St. Croix Portage section of the trail, an awesome historical pathway. This major connection between the two waterways is marked with commemorative stones with the names of important people who have used the portage.

Gordy didn't take pictures, but this is from the Bayfield County Forest NCT, taken in October 2005

The first night he camped in the bluff site at Jerseth Creek. Following that he camped at Erick Lake Campsite in the Brule River State Forest and Bayfield County Forest.

After entering the Chequamegon National Forest, dispersed camping is allowed. Gordy reports that he didn’t have much trouble finding the trail through the Rainbow Lake Wilderness. This is really good news because Region 9 of the Forest Service (all but North Dakota on the NCT) does not allow blazing in designated wilderness.

At the Lake Owen picnic grounds he first encountered other people, a mother and children who had driven to this access point. Continuing east in the Cheq, Gordy reports that the trail became more difficult to find, especially where the ski trails in the Penokee area braid through the NCT. (Hikers found this very true ten years ago as well!)

He concludes that, in August, water can be difficult to find along the route but “overall it was a good trip.”

You can read Gordy’s full report at the NCT Friends message board, where he has posted his itinerary and comments. See the entry on Sept 18. This is a significant off-road section trail that really doesn't get the use it deserves. Why not plan a Wisconsin adventure for next year?

NCT Friends Yahoo Group

Color Blindness and Trail Blazes

a properly painted North Country Trail blaze

excerpted from the Finger Lakes Trail e-group, Sept 7,8, 2009

Recently, on the Finger Lakes Trail e-group there was a discussion about trying to follow trails if one is color blind. Some of the branch trails of the FLT system are blazed in orange, and these blazes are nearly invisible to those who are red-green color blind. The problem primarily affects men, with somewhere between 5 and 7% of the population being unable to discern red and green. Other, much less common problems with color perception occur. About one-half of one percent of women are red-green color blind.

Many trails are marked with colors that contain large amounts of red or green pigment, so in the discussion that followed several people offered suggestions for how to see trail blazes when there are problems discerning colors. Three different fellows in the group admitted that they have difficulties with this, so the situation does come up.

Someone said that it is a problem for him to tell the FLT white-blazed main trail from the blue-blazed side trails. At a junction he’s never sure if he’s continuing on the main trail or headed for a campsite or water source.

Another person mentioned that in Europe sometimes blazes have stripes so that the colors can be seen. That doesn’t seem like a very good solution. It’s often hard enough to get trail maintainers who will keep a trail blazed with one color, let alone coming back when the paint is dry to add a stripe!

Another man said that he always hikes with a non-color blind friend.

Lynda Rummel, the Finger Lakes Trail Conference Director of Trail Quality offered several good ideas. First she identified two parts of the challenge: “picking out the manmade blazes from the natural blobs on the trees, and secondly, identifying the color of the blaze, once the blaze has been seen”

She offered an interesting aid for color blind hikers. She suggests getting several pieces of vinyl siding (or something similar), and cutting them into 2x6" rectangles, which is the size of an FLT, or North Country Trail, or Buckeye Trail blaze. Then paint each one with the official colors of the blazes in the areas where you hike. The local trail maintainer should be able to help you with this. When these dry, write on each one with a permanent marker what color it is.

When you are hiking you can hold these color swatches up to a blaze to see which shade is the better match.

Linda also suggested using other clues, which are good advice for anyone:

• At junctions, ask yourself, "Which trail has more use?" The main trail is likely to be well worn, where a side trail will be narrower and less compacted.
• If the blazes are not the precise rectangles they are supposed to be, is there some similarity between the wrong-ness of the blazes. Perhaps they tend to trail off down the tree. Noting such details can help a person tell a blaze from a blob.
• Become familiar with GPS and use it

On the other hand, trail maintainers can help by

• making sure that blazes have crisp corners (a rectangle is not a normal shape in the woods so it can be spotted)
• touching up often so the blazes are fresh and bright.
• Bbeing sure to paint over blazes on abandoned trail sections with black, gray or camo paint so that they really are gone.
• adding reassurance markers following junctions which may be disks, emblems or whatever symbol is preferred by the trail manager.

See Guide to Painting Trail Blazes