Partnership Kicks Off Celebration of 40th Anniversary of the National Trail System

Duluth, Minnesota, welcomed delegates from the 25 National Scenic and Historic Trails for their biannual conference on September 7-11. The conferees were charged with remembering the 1968 signing of the National Trails Act, and kicked off a year of celebration to culminate in 2008, the 40th Anniversary of the National Trails.

"Hip, Hip, Huzzah!" rang in all ears throughout the weekend. Mike Dahl, dressed as Captain Sawyer, of the Overmountain Victory Trail (Virginia, Tennessee, and the Carolinas) led the cheer as each trail presented its delegation in the opening Roll Call of the Trails. Each trail responded with one person giving their trail's essence in one sentence.

While in Duluth the 175 participants in the conference attended workshops and plenary sessions, toured local landmarks and trails, and built camaraderie. The Partnership for the National Trails System was formed in 1993 to provide opportunities for trail staff and volunteers to help each other. Many goals are held in common by the trails, as well as many difficulties. Workshops for this conference followed one of four tracks: Healthy Resources, Healthy Partnerships, Healthy Experiences, or Healthy Organizations.

A high priority throughout was given to increasing the diversity of trail users. Dudley Edmondson's book "Black and Brown Faces in America's Wild Places," and tips for building relationships with diverse communities presented by Denise Meredith (Denise Meredith Consultants) encouraged trail promoters to reach out to other ethnic groups. An "idea fair" offered a chance to sample the potpourri of issues, initiatives and policies currently in play throughout various federal agencies with whom the National Trails must work. Leo Rasmussen of the Iditarod Trail (Alaska) served as auctioneer for an animated live auction. These auctions have come to be one of the high points of the conferences and raise funds for the Partnership.

Popular local landmarks visited by many included Split Rock Lighthouse, the Duluth Railroad Museum, Great Lakes Aquarium, the Skyline Parkway, and the North Shore Scenic Railroad. Several guided hikes, not surprisingly, attracted good numbers. New miles of the Superior Hiking Trail through Duluth were interpreted by Superior Hiking Trail Association Director, Gayle Coyer, and John C. Green (author of "Natural History and Geology Along the Superior Hiking Trail").

The host trail, the North Country National Scenic Trail, also arranged a bus trip to hike the historic portage route between the Brule and St. Croix Rivers in Wisconsin. Tim Barrett represented the newest trail, the John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail, and he presented video of the Shallop, a small oared boat, re-tracing this historic water route. The trail is being interpreted by state-of-the-art buoys which can be called by cell phone or accessed via the internet to receive interpretive and real-time weather and navigation information.

President Lyndon Johnson signed legislation on March 5, 1968, creating National Scenic and Historic Trails, and immediately authorizing the Appalachian and Pacific Crest Scenic Trails, for hiking. Since that time, the number of National Scenic Trails has grown to eight, and there are now seventeen National Historic Trails. Scenic Trails provide primarily hiking opportunities, while Historic Trails trace significant transportation routes. Locations, and interpreted sites, along these routes can be visited.

Finally, with another round of "Hip, Hip, Huzzah!" the Partnership formed a committee to guide all the trails into the ten years leading up to the 50th Anniversary of the National Trail System, and to plan for a celebration which will spread the word about these significant scenic, cultural, and historic trails to all Americans.