75 people hike the entire 75-mile Dakota Prairie Chapter trail

Call of the North
Fall/Winter2014
75 people hike the entire 75-mile Dakota Prairie Chapter trail section to
celebrate the first ever NCNST Day by Tom Moberg, Dakota Prairie Chapter V.P.
September 27th was a great day! We really did ‗Hike Every Mile‘ of the Dakota Prairie Chapter's 75 mile NCT
route. There were at least 75 participants, ranging in age from 5 to a lot older than that, who hiked distances from 2 miles
to 16.5 miles. Altogether the group hiked more than 350 miles. Many thanks to
everyone who participated and contributed volunteer time to help make this a
wonderful event. Here are some comments on the event…
―What a wonderful day!! The hike, food, music, weather, and great people made
for an awesome day. I can't wait until the 2nd annual "Hike Every Mile" event
next year.‖ Comment by Rennae Gruchalla, DPC Chapter member
―Awesome like always! Very well organized. Music was great! What a nice way to
spend the day outside. Trail was in fantastic condition.‖ Comment
by participant Jackie Olson
Photos: Map with participating hikers by section, hikers relaxing afterward, hikers enjoying the day
The Call of the North
is the quarterly newsletter of the North
Country Trail Association for North Dakota
& Minnesota.
——-Vol. 20 #3——Inside this issue
LLC Chapter update
MN Trail Towns
Play Clean Go
Tech. Series Maps
DPC Chapter update
ITM Chapter update
Re-route update
Photos from the NCT
STN Chapter update
2014-15 Calendar
Editor‘s Note
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First ever Minnesota Hiking Celebration event is highly
successful by Matthew Davis, NCTA’s Regional Trail Coordinator for ND & MN
A total of 192 people participated in the first ever Minnesota Hiking Celebration.
It was hosted by the four Minnesota Chapters in late August at Spirit Mountain in Duluth.
Attendees came from as far away as New York, Arizona, and
even China. The group was a good mix of regular NCTA folks,
SHTA members, and some locals. Highlights
of the event included the group hike led by
Duluth Mayor Don Ness, presentation of the
NCTA‘s Vanguard Award to U.S. Rep. Rick
Nolan on Thursday night, the fundraising raffle,
and the Duluth Hiking & Outdoors Expo on
Saturday. Most attendee feedback was
positive despite inclement weather every day
of the Celebration. Hundreds of photos from
the event may be found on the 2014 Minnesota Hiking
Celebration Facebook group page (search for that name).
Thanks to the planning committee for their work and to the
SHTA and other sponsors for their support!
Share your favorite NCT hikes @ fb.com/NCTinMN or fb.com/NCTinND
PAGE 2
Volunteer Contacts for
Minn. & North Dakota:
Sheyenne River Valley Ch. Pres.
Bobby Koepplin—Valley City, ND
(701) 845-2935, srv@northcountrytrail.org
Dakota Prairie Ch. President
Gail Rogne—Kindred, ND
(701) 367-9410, dpc@northcountrytrail.org
Star of the North Ch. President
Kim Fishburn—Plymouth, MN
(612) 810-3732, stn@northcountrytrail.org
Laurentian Lakes Ch. President
Ray Vlasak—Ponsford, MN
(218) 573-3243, llc@northcountrytrail.org
Itasca Moraine Ch. President
Bruce Johnson—Park Rapids, MN
(218) 732-8051, itm@northcountrytrail.org
Arrowhead Ch. President
Doug Baker—Grand Rapids, MN
(218) 327-4030, arw@northcountrytrail.org
Kekekabic Trail Club Ch. President
Mark Stange—Shoreview, MN
kek@northcountrytrail.org
Local NCTA Board Members:
NCTA Board Pres. Tom Moberg—Fargo,
ND (701) 271-6769, tfmoberg@gmail.com
NCTA Board 1st V.P. Doug Thomas—
Burnsville, MN (612) 240-4202,
dthomas7000@gmail.com
Brian Pavek—Maple Grove, MN (763) 4254195, pavekb@comcast.net
Ed Gruchalla—Fargo, ND (701) 293-1839,
egruch@aol.com
Jerry Trout—Hackensack, MN
(218) 675-9448, jjtrout@tds.net
C ALL O F T HE N O R T H
F ALL / W IN T E R 20 14
Report of the Laurentian Lakes (LLC) Chapter
By Karen Stenberg, Chapter Communications Coordinator
The Laurentian Lakes Chapter
finished another successful and rewarding
trail building season on Oct. 27th. The
season began on April 7th with a group
scouting and flagging a loop trail in
Tamarac Wildlife Refuge. Nearly every
Monday the rest of the spring, summer,
and fall was spent on various projects
including the five mile trail completion
through Hubbel Pond WMA to the building
of several new kiosks. Also completed
were puncheon extensions, rebuilding
beaver dam damage, rerouting two
confusing intersections, and other trail
improvements.
In August several members
attended and helped during the Hiking
Celebration in Duluth. This was a great
weekend with many scenic hikes on the
Superior Hiking Trail, informative sessions,
and an expo with various exhibits. Special
thanks to Florence Hedeen for chairing the
committee and spending countless hours
in the planning and preparation of this
ambitious event which was held in place of
a National Conference.
Spring and summer hikes were
well attended and we are anticipating a
great turnout for Winter Trails Day at
Maplelag on Jan. 10th.This event also
serves as our annual meeting.
Next year‘s plans include more
trail improvements and construction of the
loop trail from Tamarac‘s newly
constructed ―Discovery Center‖ to the
NCT. One of the goals of this new center
―is to create more opportunities for the
youth and families of our local
communities and to make meaningful
connections with nature.‖ It is exciting that
the North Country Trail will be an integral
part of this goal and will introduce many
area youth to the benefits of our trail and
hiking. Next year‘s hikes will be in
coordination with the Itasca Moraine
Chapter. ―Hikers Challenge 165‖ will start
on April 25th and continue twice a week to
Continued on page 3
Celebrating the first two NCTA Trail Towns in Minnesota…
who will be first in North Dakota???
Contact the Call of the North Editor Stacy
Davis—Detroit Lakes, MN
thruhikergirl@yahoo.com
On the first ever North Country National Scenic Trail Day (9/27), the City of Frazee and
NCTA celebrated Frazee becoming the first NCTA Trail Town in Minnesota with a ribbon
cutting ceremony. Not to be outdone, the City of Walker became the second ever Trail
Town in Minnesota. Signs are currently up along the Shingobee Connector and
Heartland/Paul Bunyan State Trails informing hikers how to reach Walker. A formal
dedication will be held in the spring following installation of a new kiosk by Chase on the
Lake. Learn more about this relatively new NCTA program at
northcountrytrail.org/trail/trail-towns/.
F ALL / W IN T E R 20 14
C ALL O F T HE N O R T H
LLC Chapter update
complete the 165+contiguous miles from Hubbel Pond on
MN Hwy 34 to Remer. Hikes will vary in length from 4.5 to
10 miles. Though we may not all be
able to be ―thru hikers‖ this is an
excellent opportunity to explore our
trail and be guided on our natural
treasure.
Below: Hikers enjoying the NCT at the North
Country Hiking Fest at Itasca State Park
PAGE 3
PlayCleanGo by Ray Vlasak, LLC Chapter President
PlayCleanGo is a program sponsored by the State of
Minnesota and USDA Forest Service to help prevent the spread
of terrestrial invasive plants and animals. It is important for
hikers and trail adopters to be aware of the potential for
spreading invasive plant seeds along the NCT. This is
especially important in areas such as Itasca State Park, Hubbel
Pond WMA and the Greenwater Lake SNA where natural
environments are being protected and restored. In these areas
the machines need to be power washed prior to mowing and
trails should be mowed before the parking areas.
Due to these especially sensitive areas
and the general high biodiversity in the Laurentian
Lakes Chapter trail area, in the spring 2015 the
Laurentian Lakes chapter will install boot brush
stations at all trailheads including panels describing the
program, identifying common invasive plants in the area, and
actions needed to prevent the spread. Personal boot brushes
were handed out to attendees at the joint end of season
chapter meeting on Oct. 25.
Invasive species have already been observed leading
from some NCT trailhead parking areas. Trail adopters need to
be on the lookout for these plants and report their presence so
they can be monitored and eradicated. It is likely that seeds are
being spread with the mowers from the parking areas.
Go to playcleango.org for more information.
Report of the Dakota Prairie (DPC) Chapter
By Gail Rogne, Chapter President
The Dakota Prairie Chapter continues to be very active and
membership is growing. We hope the growth continues in the year
2015 when we plan to have more outings and activities. We will
continue building trail through our section. There are currently
about 40 miles of off-road hiking trails and about 35 miles of road
connectors – mostly on unpaved, low maintenance roads. We have
had a variety of groups helping us build trail, including Eagle Scouts
and Doosan Bobcat employees. A summer volunteer from out of
the area was also very helpful. We are planning to start a trail
maintenance volunteer program so that members can adopt
sections of the completed trail to maintain. We will also work with
towns on the trail to become Trail Towns. Our ―Hike Every Mile"
event for the National North Country Trail
Day on September 27 was a big success with
approximately 70 participants and 350 miles
hiked. We are planning to have a similar
event this year with more participants and
miles.
New Technical Series hiking
maps are available for MN
Available online @
northcountrytrail.org/shop
PAGE 4
C ALL O F T HE N O R T H
Report of the Itasca Moraine (ITM) Chapter
In our area two trail
improvements were completed this
season. The Trailhead at Cass
County 12 SW of Walker, MN, was
improved. Now the NCT going east
runs through the trailhead and directly
across Cass County 12 into the
forest. From the trailhead westward
the NCT enters the woods at the Info
sign/brochure box located at the edge
of the parking lot. Thanks to the
twenty volunteers who joined the
effort; a special thanks to U.S. Rep.
Rick Nolan who worked with us. As
far as we know, he is only the 2nd
member of the US Congress to ever
actually work on the NCT.
The second trail improvement was dubbed the ―Beaver Dam
Challenge.‖ It involved reclaiming
and rerouting the NCT near Green
Lake in the Chippewa National
Forest. This project has been ―on the
radar screen‖ since 2008 and last fall
was identified as the highest priority
improvement of the 170 miles of NCT
between MN 34 near Detroit Lakes
and Remer. Volunteers from the
Itasca Moraine, Star of the North and
Dakota Prairie Grasslands Chapters
helped with this ―full steam ahead‖
effort. Look at the last North Star,
July/Sept. 2014, page 3. The scary
bridge has been replaced. Going
eastward from the new bridge 1/3 of a
mile of trail was relocated to higher
ground. The old trail is now under
water, a part of the beaver pond.
Also, 180 feet of puncheon improves
what was previously a very difficult
crossing. The puncheon runs parallel
to an old beaver dam. It crosses over
alternating hammocks and holes all
covered with slough grass.
Everywhere sticks were well
F ALL / W IN T E R 20 14
By Bruce Johnson, Chapter President
embedded in the vegetation which was
a hazard to even the most seasoned
hiker. Mary and Tom Moberg are the
adopters for this section of the NCT.
How they managed to get a string
mower over the ―scary bridge,‖ around
the submerged part of the trail and over
the old beaver dam is a testimony to
their dedication. Mary and Tom helped
with the project and when we were
finished, both were all smiles.
The last project was installing a
campsite near Moccasin Lake between
the 3rd and 4th Crossing of the Woodtick
Trail in the Chippewa National
Forest. First the material was moved
one mile on the NCT to the site. By
mid-afternoon two improved tent sites
were finished and the latrine, fire ring
and table/bench were installed. Once
again there were smiles all around as
the crew of six admired the new
campsite. I have already heard from a
Boy Scout troop who plan to camp
there next spring.
One of the things we are
working on is promoting the NCT in our
area. Byron Knapp is spearheading
this effort. He, along with others, has
setup ―shop‖ at ten different places
between Park Rapids and Longville.
They hand out brochures and maps
and answer questions. Please let
Byron know if you have ideas as to
―getting the NCT story out there‖ or if
you can help him promote the trail at
an event.
Of course, the first ever
Minnesota Hiking Celebration held at
Spirit Mountain in Duluth this August
helped put the NCT on the
map. Thanks to all who volunteered,
especially Florence Hedeen who
chaired the event.
Another major project was
also completed this summer. Under
the leadership of Jerry Trout the
signage of the NCT in the ITM area of
the Chippewa National Forest has
been 99% finished. Hikers will be
more confident knowing their location
now that the signage project on the
―back roads‖ is finished. Next year
we hope to complete the signage
project with MN-DOT type signs
identifying where the NCT crosses
MN 34 and MN 371 in the Chippewa National Forest.
Also in 2015 we have
another campsite improvement in the
works and two Leopold-type benches
to install at scenic overlooks. If you
have any suggestions as to where a
bench
could go
along the
trail,
please
share
your idea
with us.
F ALL / W IN T E R 20 14
Arrowhead Re-route update
C ALL O F T HE N O R T H
By Matthew Davis, NCTA’s Regional Trail Coordinator for ND & MN
As was reported in previous issues, the NCTA was successful in getting
North Country National Scenic Trail Route Adjustment Act of 2014 bills introduced
in both the U.S. House of Representatives (H.R. 4736) and Senate (S. 2595)
during the 113th Congress. We were also successful in obtaining co-sponsorship
by nine Representatives and seven Senators from across the NCT.
Unfortunately, that is where our luck ran out. Neither bill was acted upon before
the election and it appears chances are very slim that any action will be taken in
the current ―lame duck‖ Congress.
We will be forced to start over again in the 114th Congress in January.
One bright spot in the Election was that Re-route ―champion‖ Rep. Rick Nolan
(DFL—MN 8th District) was re-elected. Did you see that he came out to work on
the NCT for a half day this summer? We are confident that Rep. Nolan will once
again do everything in his power to obtain passage of the legislation. NCTA‘s
leadership will begin working with Nolan‘s staff in early
2015 to chart a course in the House where we have
encountered difficulty. We will most likely need
many of you to help out by contacting your
Representative and Senators and requesting their
support! Look for calls on the NCTA website &
Facebook pages with specific action requests.
PAGE 5
PAGE 6
C ALL O F T HE N O R T H
F ALL / W IN T E R 20 14
From top left: Bruce & Matt Johnson atop the new ―Mary‘s Bridge‖ in the Chippewa NF; the new STN Chapter mower at work; building the new Beaver Dam Challenge puncheon; the ITM‘s new campsite workday; a Volunteer Vacation volunteer takes in the Sheyenne State Forest‘s waterfall; a group of Doosan-Bobcat employees volunteer on the NCT with the DPC Chapter; a new DPC Chapter
fence stile; LLC Chapter volunteer Larry Eisinger ―wheels‖ the NCT in Hubbel Pond WMA
F ALL / W IN T E R 20 14
C ALL O F T HE N O R T H
Report of the Star of the North (STN) Chapter
It‘s been just over a year since
I took over as President of the Star of
the North Chapter and I'm still learning
the job. The biggest problem I've heard
about concerned the old mowers that
the chapter has been using on the trail.
With them breaking down it‘s been hard
for volunteers to keep their section of
trail open. Brian Pavek has done a
great job obtaining funding from the
National Park Service to purchase a
new mower. Before it was even purchased a representative from Orec
America brought one of their Cyclone
Flail mowers up for various people,
including other chapter presidents to try
out, our folks liked what they saw
(Check it out on Youtube). With the new
mower in hand we then needed a trailer
to get it around, and we were able to
PAGE 7
By Kim Fishburn, Chapter President
find a used one. Trailers aren‘t cheap,
and I‘d like to thank the chapter member that paid for it. It saved the chapter
from spending a considerable amount
of money from its funds. We may use
some of those funds to buy another
mower in the future. As it‘s not exactly a
small mower, we now need to go out
next year and move some of the posts
that are meant to keep ATV's off.
To finish off the year, a group
of us put in 144 feet of puncheon west
of Remer near Green Lake, in what I‘ve
been told was probably the worst section of trail in Minnesota. One section
still needs to be completed, but we ran
out of wood, and it was decided that it
might be best to wait till spring to see
what the Beavers do. Their dam build-
Reminder: the “new”
Minnesota Guidebook makes
a great Christmas present
for all the hikers on your
shopping list!
ing is what forced the building of the puncheon, and the rerouting of the trail. A
new campsite was also added earlier this
summer to the STN‘s section of trail near
the Boy River. I think we need more
campsites so I‘ll be keeping an eye out
for possible future locations along the
trail.
I‘d like to try to lead hikes on all
the trail that the chapter maintains next
year. I'll make sure to post them on the
Meetup Group (http://www.meetup.com/
Chip-NCT-hikers/ ). I‘ve been leading
hikes in the Twin Cities, and taking the
opportunity to educate people about the
NCT while I have the chance, and possibly recruit new members. These hikes
have been part of the Twin Cities Meetup
group.
NCT Hikers for the
“HIKERS CHALLENGE
165” Sponsored by Laurentian
Lakes & Itasca Moraine Chapters
Take up the challenge! Hike 165 miles in
2015 on Wednesdays and Saturdays, beginning April 25th and ending September
23rd. For more information, visit
www.meetup.com/Chip-NCT-hikers/ or
www.meetup.com/HikeNCTinMN/.
Available online @ northcountrytrail.org/shop or
at many local bookstores
2014-15 activities schedule
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Chapter and Affiliate Group
Abbreviations:
ARW = Arrowhead Chapter
November 21-23: Outdoor Adventure Expo—Minneapolis, MN
BRTA = Border Route Trail Assoc.
November 24: Informational NCT open house meeting—Fergus Falls, MN
DPC = Dakota Prairie Chapter
December 14: DPC‘s ―Pre Winter‖ Hike—Location TBD
ITM = Itasca Moraine Chapter
January 10: Winter Trails Day
KTC = Kekekabic Trail Chapter
 LLC‘s Annual event at Maplelag Resort—Callaway, MN
LLC = Laurentian Lakes Chapter
 DPC‘s Snowshoe event at MSUM Regional Science Center—Glyndon, MN
SHTA = Superior Hiking Trail Assoc.
February 9: DPC Chapter meeting & Mile...mile and a half film screening—Fargo, ND
SRV = Sheyenne River Valley Ch.
April 24-26: Outdoor Adventure Expo—Minneapolis, MN
STN = Star of the North Chapter
April 25: 165 Mile Challenge—Hubble Pond to Boundary Rd. 5 miles. (MN Guidebook page 67)
May 2: 165 Mile Challenge—Boundary Rd. to Tamarac Lake Access. 5.3 miles. (MN Guidebook p. 67)
May 6: 165 Mile Challenge—Tamarac Lake Access to Black Bird Rd. 4.1 miles. (MN Guidebook p. 67) Get connected with the
May 9: 165 Mile Challenge—Blackbird Wildlife Drive to 400th Avenue. 4.5 miles. (MN Guidebook p. 76) NCTA via social media…
May 13: 165 Mile Challenge—400th Avenue to CR-26. 5.2 miles. (MN Guidebook p. 80)
meetup.com/Red-River-Valley-Outdoors/ —
May 15-17: SHTA‘s Annual Meeting at Wolf Ridge ELC—Finland, MN
Fargo-Moorhead area
TBA in May: ARW Chapter‘s Trail Building weekend—Grand Rapids, MN
meetup.com/HikeNCTinMN/ — Laurentian
May 13-21: AHS Volunteer Vacation trail clearing trip on the Kek—Grand Marais, MN
Lakes Chapter area
May 16: 165 Mile Challenge—CR-26 to Camp 6 Forest Rd. 7.2 miles. (MN Guidebook pp. 80 & 86)
meetup.com/Chip-NCT-hikers/ — Itasca
May 17-22: KTC‘s Trail clearing trip on the Kek—Ely, MN
Moraine & Star of the North areas
May 20: 165 Mile Challenge—Camp 6 Forest Rd. to Elbow Lake Rd. 5.7 miles. (MN Guidebook p. 90) meetup.com/Arrowhead-NCT-hikers/ —
May 22-27: KTC‘s Trail clearing trip on the Kek—Ely, MN
Arrowhead Chapter area
May 23: 165 Mile Challenge—Elbow Lake Rd. to Hwy 113. 4.8 miles. (MN Guidebook p. 94)
facebook.com/NCTinMN — NCTA in
Minnesota Facebook site
May 27: 165 Mile Challenge—Hwy 113 to CR-39. 4.3 miles. (MN Guidebook p. 94)
facebook.com/ArrowheadReRoute —
May 30: 165 Mile Challenge—CR-39 to Anchor Matson Rd. 7.3 miles. (MN Guidebook p. 99)
Arrowhead Re-route Facebook site
May 30—June 3: KTC‘s Trail clearing trip on the Kek—Grand Marais, MN
facebook.com/NCTinND—NCTA in North
June 3: 165 Mile Challenge—Anchor Matson Rd. to 540th Ave.-Itasca State Park. 4.7 miles. (MN
Dakota Facebook site
Guidebook p. 104)
June 6: National Trails Day
 SHTA‘s National Trails Day hikes—see shta.org/Events/GuidedHikes.php for details
 165 Mile Challenge—540th Ave.-Itasca State Park to Itasca State Park S. Entrance. 6.5
miles. (MN Guidebook p. 109)
Trail partner con SRV‘s National Trails Day event at Fort Ransom State Park—Fort Ransom, ND
tacts:
June 10: 165 Mile Challenge—Itasca S. Entrance to Spider Lake Rd.. 4.5 miles. (MN Guidebook p. 116)
June 13: 165 Mile Challenge—Spider Lake Rd. to CR-4. 7.8 miles. (MN Guidebook p. 120)
hike@shta.org
June 17: 165 Mile Challenge—CR-4 to CR-91. 8 miles. (MN Guidebook p. 125)
volunteer@shta.org
June 20: 165 Mile Challenge—CR-91 to Spur 1 Forest Rd. 9.5 miles. (MN Guidebook p. 130)
info@kek.org
June 24: 165 Mile Challenge—Spur 1 Forest Rd. to Hwy 64. 7.4 miles. (MN Guidebook pp. 136 & 145)
info@borderroutetrail.
August 12: 165 Mile Challenge—Hwy 64 to Hwy 34. 8.1 miles. (MN Guidebook p. 148)
org
August 15: 165 Mile Challenge—Hwy 34 to Hwy 371. 8.1 miles. (MN Guidebook p. 154)
August 19: 165 Mile Challenge—Hwy 371 to FR-3790. 7.6 miles. (MN Guidebook p. 160)
August 22: 165 Mile Challenge—FR-3790 to Woodtick Trail 4th Crossing. 7.9 miles. (MN Guidebook pp. 166 & 170)
August 26: 165 Mile Challenge—Woodtick Trail 4th Crossing to Hwy 84. 7.5 miles. (MN Guidebook p. 170)
August 29: 9th Annual North Country Hiking Fest @ Itasca State Park
September 16: 165 Mile Challenge—Hwy 84 to Hwy 200. 6.7 miles. (MN Guidebook p. 179)
September 19: 165 Mile Challenge—Hwy 200 to CR-4. 9.7 miles. (MN Guidebook pp. 184 & 188)
September 23: 165 Mile Challenge—CR-4 to Hwy 6. 10.2 miles. (MN Guidebook pp. 188 & 193)
September 26: 2nd Annual North Country National Scenic Trail Day—TBD
October 3: ITM‘s 14th Annual Hike for Hope—TBD
TBA in October: Joint LLC & ITM End of Season Meeting—TBD
In our house we are now at that stage of hiking where all the kids are
too small to walk very far and too big to want to be in a backpack.
Our longest hike this summer was about 6 miles, which was not bad
for a two-year old or his older siblings. Most of our hikes were less than two miles and quite slow. But, the
kids enjoyed themselves and enjoyed the woods and that is the most important part! I encourage each of you
to get out in the woods this winter. If you can’t do maintenance, that’s okay. If you can’t bag a bunch of
miles, that’s okay. Just be outside and enjoy yourself! Thanks for all the efforts to maintain this trail for all
those hikers young and old that are learning to love the outdoors.
Editor’s Note by Stacy Davis