Rudi Hargesheimer to Present at Quiet Adventure Symposium

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Garden Cove segment of the Group of Seven Trail, Ontario (photo by Rudi Hargesheimer)

Intro by jhy: Rudi has been an advocate and publicizer of the Superior Hiking Trail, and thus also of the North Country Trail, for decades. I first saw his media program "Sentiments from the Heart" 26 years ago. This was based on entries left by hikers in log books enhanced with his own phenominal photos. This is a must-see program at QAS.

submitted by Rudi Hargesheimer

Rudi Hargesheimer has published a new book about all the best hiking trails on Lake Superior's Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Ontario shores. Twenty of them are backpacking trails! Of, course the NCT is featured! He will be a speaker at the Quiet Adventures Symposium in Lansing on February 28, 2026 at noon. Rudi has hiked and backpacked every trail in the book, gathering 320 of his best shots to share. On some trips, he used a packraft as well as his backpack or daypack. Of interest to Michigan hikers are the incredible trails north of Sault Ste. Marie. A new one, the Group of Seven Trail, is a highlight. Come visit with Rudi; he will surely whet your appetite for adventure.

Rudi Hargesheimer was an early board member and President of Minnesota's Superior Hiking Trail, now part of the North Country Trail route. He wrote the history of the SHT and included 400 of his photos! His books, The Superior Hiking Trail Story, the Trek Continues and the new Superior Trails, A Photo Tour of Lake Superior's Best Hiking Trails will both be available for purchase at the symposium.

See Quiet Adventures Symposium


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Date Set for Tacos and Trek for the Pentwater-Hart Trail

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cPentwater Hart Trail Logo (graphic from Facebook)

from runsignup.com

Work has been ongoing to extend the Hart-Montague Trail northward to Pentwater, Michigan. A route has been determined, and a portion of designated trail through Pentwater has been marked.

There will be a fundraiser this summer called Tacos and Trek for the Trail on Saturday, June 27, 2026. There will be a 5K Run/Walk/Bicycle event followed by a taco lunch. Registration is $35, for which you get a t-shirt and two tacos. Tacos are also available for sale for those who come out to support the trail for the price of 2/$15. All proceeds and donations are placed in a future maintenance fund for the Pentwater Hart Trail.

This event is sponsored by Friends of the Pentwater Hart Trail. Register at the link above before June 25 at 6 pm.

See more about the proposed trail route at Pentwater- Hart Trail Connection


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Input Requested on Interlochen SP Management

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Interlochen State Park (photo from Michigan DNR)

a news release of Michigan DNR

How would you improve Michigan’s first state park?

Nestled between the shores of Duck and Green lakes, Interlochen State Park offers both modern and rustic camping, boating, paddling, fishing, swimming and much more. The park was acquired by the state in 1917 and established as Michigan's first state park by the Michigan Legislature in 1919. Some of the large, old-growth red and white pine trees, for which the park was originally protected, remain throughout the park. The world-renowned Interlochen Center for the Arts is located just across the northern boundary, offering a year-round calendar of concerts and events.

Those interested in long‐term planning for Interlochen State Park in Grand Traverse County are invited to provide feedback on a new general management plan for the park.

The public input process is essential to ensuring the park continues to serve visitors and the Grand Traverse community for years to come.

Visitors, community members, stakeholders and others interested in sharing their opinions, ideas and experiences are encouraged to participate in an online survey, available through Feb. 22. Links to both the online survey and the project website are available at Michigan.gov/Interlochen.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources uses general management plans to define long-range planning and management strategies that protect parks' natural and cultural resources, while also addressing recreation and educational needs and opportunities.

Link to survey at Interlochen State Park


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Bird Flu Identified in Ottawa County Chickens

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domestic chickens (photo byjhy)

from Wood 8 TV

At the end of January, avian flu was confirmed in domestic chickens in Ottawa County. This is the first case of 2026. This highly pathogenic strain was first found in Michigan in 2022. Wild birds with the virus contact domestic flocks and pass it to them.

The HPAI strain is highly contagious and can spread from contact with infected wild birds. Once in a domestic flock it is difficult to contain. Even clothing and equipment can spread the virus.

While the bird flu does not pose a high risk to human health, 71 people in the United States have contracted the virus since 2024.

If you notice multiple sudden deaths in a flock of wild birds, report those to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources through its Eyes in the Field app.

See the article linked above for tips on protecting domestic birds.

To report possible bird flu cases in wild birds use the Eyes in the Field app


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Saugatuck Hoping to Fund a Riverside Park

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cconcept map (map from Saugatuck Township Facebook page) The map is clickable to enlarge

compiled from several sources

The Land Conservancy of West Michigan is working toward protecting 119 acres of ecologically critical forest, wetlands, and the shores of the Kalamazoo River as it flows into Lake Michigan.

In December 2025, the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund (MNRTF) board recommended the Riverside Park project for a $2.46 million grant to support the Township’s acquisition of the land so it can become a public park—contingent on support from the local community. Eighty percent of the needed support is committed. The conservancy hopes to raise the remainder of the needed funds, and a private donor has agreed to match all gifts.

Over 75% of the land will be preserved and restored as native habitat, but the previously disturbed 25% of the land will be developed for recreational purposes including trails, a boat launch on the river, parking, pavilions and picnic areas, educational buildings, and athletic fields.

The acquisition would help the Conservancy meet one of its three strategic focal areas, preserving a critical migratory corridor and improving Kalamazoo River water quality.

The land is still privately owned and is not open for public use at this time.

See more at Nature Nearby


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Robots Doing Trail Work?

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trail robot (photo from WVU)

complied from several sources

A recent article from Backpacker reports that robots are being developed to do trail maintenance and more. Does this sound too fantastic? It's true.

West Virginia University student Camndon Reed, a robotics engineering and mathematics major from Watertown, Massachusetts, designs autonomous robots that navigate hiking trails.

Reed says, "Hiking trails are our gateways to nature. The U.S. has over 193,500 miles of trails on federal lands alone. More than 58 million Americans hiked in 2021, and it’s growing in popularity. But hiking trails present problems for land managers, conservationists and emergency responders, so we developed a system that can help a robot navigate trail systems on its own.”

He further explains that while most robots are designed for relatively level urban or indoor terrain, hiking trails are many levels of multiple factors more difficult.

“We try to balance three key factors — the unmanned vehicle’s adherence to the trail, its identification of off-trail shortcuts and its avoidance of hazards,” he said. “The eventual goal is to support rural communities with trail maintenance, environmental monitoring and emergency response.”

The trails serve as a laboratory for teaching the machines how to navigate, and they may also be able to help with basic maintenance or monitoring tasks.

Note: online response to the concept has been mostly disdainful.

See article from Backpacker
See article from West Virginia University


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North Country Trail Association Seeks New Executive Director

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NCTA Headquarters mural (photo by jhy)

from the NCTA and board president Jan Stewart

Andrea Ketchmark, Executive Director of the North Country Trail Association, has chosen to step down from her role with the North Country Trail Association (NCTA) on January 15, 2026, having accepted another professional opportunity. Andrea laid a strong foundation for our future.

Andrea says, "After 16 years, it's hard to put into words just what this trail and this community has meant to me. I'll be forever grateful for the experiences I've had, the relationships I've built, my time spent on the trail and advocating for it. We truly have a special resource and an even more special community. I will champion the North Country Trail whenever given the chance."

The NCTA has now posted the application for the position. The role summary of the document states, "The Executive Director provides visionary leadership for the NCTA, guiding its work across eight states through clear direction, strong relationships, and effective execution. The role directly supervises the Director of Trail Operations, the Director of Development and Communications, and the Director of Trail Protection, with a total staff of 13."

See Position Announcement and application


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Ludington State Park Skyline Trail to be Rebuilt

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LSP Skyline Trail from below (photo by jhy)

from the Ludington State Park Facebook page

Winding a half-mile through the treetops at the top of a 100-plus-stair climb, the Skyline Trail at Ludington State Park (Mason County, Michigan) will receive a major upgrade in 2026 thanks to a collaboration between the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Friends of Ludington State Park. This trail is south of the Big Sable River and provides views of the dunes at the south end of the park.

The $3.5 million reconstruction project will ensure the Skyline Trail meets modern safety and construction standards. The Friends are raising 10 percent of the cost, up to a maximum of $350,000, with the DNR using dedicated capital outlay funds to cover the remaining amount.

Additionally, the Friends of Ludington State Park approved an almost $100,000 improvement project to replace the existing concrete stage, add a protective canopy, refresh the seating, and explore tiering the grassy area to create additional seating for this amphitheater built in 1998. This project will occur in the same timeframe as the Skyline Trail replacement to minimize disruption on the south side of the river. Funding includes a $50,000 donation from Pennies from Heaven Foundation, continued support for the summer concert series from Safe Harbor Credit Union, and proceeds from Pure Ludington BRRRewfest 2026, which will directly support the amphitheater improvements.

See Ludington State Park


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"Rock Snot" Found in Michigan

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rock snot (photo by Thorney- Creative Commons)

from Bridge Mi

In the summer of 2015, "rock snot" was found in the Upper Manistee River, which should have been cold and clear trout waters. "Rock snot" is the nickname given to Didymosphenia geminata and also shortened to didymo. It is a diatom that coats rocks and branches with an unpleasant-looking slime. After the 2015 discovery, it bloomed again in 2021.

It has not yet been determined if the organism is native or invasive in Michigan. No one even knows what causes the blooms.

Didymo can temporarily ruin fishing habitat and make recreation unpleasant. Jo Latimore, aquatic ecologist, outreach specialist and director for Michigan State University’s Extension Center for Lakes and Streams, says “We’re worried about it because, even if it was here all along, it sure is acting differently than it was before. Even if it is a native species, it may be an indicator that something is out of whack in these waterways.”

Cells have been found on the Manistee and Jordan Rivers in west Michigan, and also on the Au Sable and St. Mary's Rivers. It reproduces asexually, so a single cell can start a colony.

It is not a hazard to human health, but is unsightly. The stalk can attach to rocks, plants, or other submerged surfaces. When it divides, eventually a mass of branching stalks forms. This slime is primarily polysaccharides and protein, forming complex, multi-layered structures that are resistant to degradation.

See Didymosphenia geminata at Wikipedia


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Cold Weather Probably Won't Reduce Ticks

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deer tick (photo from the US Agricultural Research Service)

from a news article by Michigan Public Radio

Michigan is home to more than 20 species of ticks, but the cold winter probably won't reduce the upcoming summer supply. Jean Tsao is an associate professor of fisheries and wildlife at Michigan State University. She studies ticks.

Tsao says there is plenty of leaf litter, and the heavy snow also insulates the ticks.

Black-legged ticks (deer ticks) are usually the first to emerge. Expect them around mid-March. The moisture level actually affects tick populations more than a cold winter. If the warmer months are dry, ticks tend to hunker down in the litter to stay moist.

A new problem is that the Lone Star tick was identified in Kalamazoo County in 2022. Bites from this tick can trigger a condition that makes the victim allergic to red meat. It appears they are spreading to other parts of the state.

There has been one recorded death from this tick-caused allergy, a man in New Jersey in 2024. Known as alpha-gal syndrome, it causes abdominal distress, hives, or anaphylactic shock. The syndrome produces a reaction to the alpha-gal sugar naturally occurring in mammalian meat.

See Alpha-gal syndrome at Allergy and Asthma Network


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Ludington Makes Campspot Top 12 List

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Big Sable lighthouse at Ludington State Park(photo by jhy)

from Campspot.com

Ludington State Park, Michigan, was in the top 12 camping destinations in the United States, as calculated by Campspot.

To identify the top destinations for Together-Trips in 2026, Campspot used a two-part approach combining real-time search trends with past booking behaviors. They started by identifying the most-searched destinations for 2026 travel across the Campspot platform—places already capturing traveler interest for the year ahead. From there, they evaluated those destinations using three key behavioral filters based on 2025 bookings:
• Group Travel Volume- Cities with a high percentage of bookings that included multiple campsites or 3+ campers, signaling trips designed around togetherness.
• Length Of Stay- Destinations with the most bookings of 3 or more nights, offering campers the time and space to form deeper bonds and spontaneous connections.
• Year-Over-Year Growth- Locations showing the largest increases in either booking volume or average group size, reflecting growing cultural momentum.

The winners in the Midwest Region were Waterville, Minnesota, Eagle River, Wisconsin, and Ludington, Michigan. High occupancy and long‑stay stats propelled Ludington into the rankings. Its expansive Lake Michigan beaches, iconic lighthouse and dune‑lined Ludington State Park make it perfect for multi‑family camping trips.

See an article on the topic in Grand Rapids Magazine


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Pure Michigan Launches Snow Coverage Map

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Michigan Snow map for Feb 4, 2026 (graphic from Michigan.gov/snow)

from Moody on the Market

Now there’s a Pure Michigan Winter Snow Map to help plan out a winter trip, similar to the Fall Color Map.

Travel Michigan’s Nick Nerbonne says the project was launched at Michigan.org last year. It tracks the winter snow cover throughout the state each day.

"It’s at Michigan.org/Snow, and it shows a combination of forecasting and real-world data and observations and historical data that allows people to discover where the snow is falling so they can plan their winter getaway," Nerbonne said.

• Measurements shown are daily snowfall predictions
• Zoom into reveal more snowfall measurements and city names
• Select a city to display the seven-day forecast.
• Snowfall predictions beyond two weeks are based on climatological normals and should be considered an estimate

The map uses both National Weather Service information and satellite images.

See Michigan Snow Report


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