North Country Trail Expo on September 23rd
By Peter Nordgren
New sections of the North Country National Scenic Trail are being completed in Douglas County and other parts of northwest Wisconsin. An “open house” on Wednesday, September 23rd, will offer the opportunity to meet some of the volunteers who build and maintain the trail, learn about its scenic highlights in the region, and find out how to get involved in creating this high quality hiking pathway.
The North Country Trail Expo runs from 3 to 8 pm at the Superior Public Library. Stop by anytime during the Expo to enjoy refreshments, register for door prizes, and talk hiking, backpacking, and the outdoors with members of the North Country Trail Association’s Brule-St. Croix Chapter.
Three presentations will be offered. At 4 PM, take a virtual tour of the North Country Trail across northern Wisconsin, visiting state parks, backcountry campsites, and historic locations along the 200+ mile route. At 5:30 PM, learn about the Brule-St. Croix Roving Trail Crew, the group of volunteers who build the trail; see their accomplishments and learn how you can work with the crew. At 7:30 PM, the presentation will focus on highlights of the trail in Douglas County, including the Brule-St. Croix Historic Portage, St. Croix National Scenic Riverway, and UW-Superior MacQuarrie Wetlands.
The North Country Trail is one of 11 National Scenic Trails, designed for foot travel through high quality scenic landscapes across America. When completed, the trail will be 4600 miles long, crossing the northern tier of states between Vermont and North Dakota. More than 50 trail enthusiasts are members of the North Country Trail Association’s Brule-St. Croix Chapter, supporting the trail’s development in northwest Wisconsin.
For further information on the North Country Trail Expo, contact the Brule-St. Croix Chapter at bsc@northcountrytrail.org or 715-292-3484.
Peter Nordgren was a faculty member at University of Wisconsin-Superior for 27 years, who retired in 2013 as associate vice chancellor for outreach. He serves on the boards of Wisconsin Citizens for the Arts, Wisconsin Public Radio Association, and the UW-Superior Alumni Association. He is also a founder of the Brule-St. Croix Chapter of NCTA, now serving as its membership coordinator, and an active trail maintainer.