25 Hikers Celebrate National Winter Trail Days

Marilyn Chadwick of Fibre and Joan Cox of Harbor Springs pause on the Carp River Bridge during the National Winter Trails Day hike. (Photograph courtesy of Kay Kujawa)

Twenty-five people hiked the North Country Trail between M- 123 and Worth Road Saturday, January 12, to celebrate the 13th annual National Winter Trails Day.

Two families skied in to the Carp River Bridge, said event coordinator Kay Kujawa, while a group of five on snowshoes made their way from Worth Road into the new Silver Creek Bridge.

Steve Miller from Grand Marais provided information about tree species and some of the diseases attacking them.

The hiker coming the longest distance was Sam Norvello from Lansing.

The youngest was Theresa McCready from Sault Ste. Marie. Dianne Karsh and a friend drove over from DeTour.

After the hike, the group gathered at the Rock Bottom Grill in Moran for hot chocolate, prizes, lunch, and to share stories of the day. Colleen Seltzer of East Lake won a free lunch. Everyone left with a prize.

The event was sponsored by the Hiawatha Shore-to-Shore Chapter of the North Country Trail Association, which maintains 122 miles of the North Country National Scenic Trail extending from the Mackinac Bridge to the Lake Superior shore.

The general maintenance of the trail is done by volunteers working with the National Forest Service and the Department of Natural Resources.

To learn more about joining the chapter, contact any of the following members: Roger Morrison at rmorrison@sault.com; Kirt Stage- Harvey at hiknflyn_dad@yahoo. com, or Mrs. Kujawa at kay1940 @lighthouse.net or phone (989) 350-2826.