North Country Trail Bridge Built near Hodenpyl

bridge builders at work (photo credit John Heiam)

by Arlen Matson (Grand Traverse Hikers Club and chapter of the North Country Trail Association)
This article describes part of the work done to build one of the bridges required to complete the North Country Trail re-route near Hodenypyl Pond and Mesick, Michigan. Ed.

The first phase in transporting the materials to the bridge site went quite well; good weather, 9 in our crew plus 2 boats and a canoe. Three trips took all the stringers (6), sills (6), planking (8), decking (100) and more sills (12) plus the tools and the workers. A nice boat ride at slow speeds.

We set 3 sills and 5 stringers in place for Saturday's assembly. Will use 2 boats and the canoe again. Workers will need hammers and lunches. I'm planning on the major portion done by noon.

The September 11 session was a most interesting one with the boats loaded to the hilt with materials. At the site, that 6" of water and 6" of muck turned out to be more like12 to 18" of muck. It had a tendency to claim its walkers by not releasing their feet from a set position. In one hole, I went all the way up to the top of my hip boots. Fortunately, I was holding onto the boat. There were compensations, however, such as the 3 flowers right at the site; turtle's head, blue gentian, and fleabane. By Saturday, our soreness should be releaved enough for setting the stringers exactly, decking and doing the boardwalk.

note the boat used to bring in materials (photo credit John Heiam)

Our 3 boats headed west on Hodenpyl Pond loaded with passengers and tools while 3 others walked in the 30 min. to the bridge site. Now with all of the sailors on land and a 5 minute walk from the boats, we commenced the anchoring of the 6 stringers and 4 sills. Quickly we found out that our battery operated drills were no match (ie. Mich. vs. Notre Dame) drilling through 12" of oily utility poles supplied by Consumer's Energy (Greg Mortenson) in Traverse City. Thanks to Sherman Atkinson and his generator we were able to drill and drive the 4' rerod through all of the sills & stringers. And thanks to whomever brought along the 2 big drills also.

The chainsaw was a buzzing like bees in the spring on dandelions as Dick Naperala ground away dulling 2 chainsaws in the process of making the stringers fit closely. And then there was Greg's come-a-long tool work which pulled the stringers too heavy to lift now and the other one not yet in place. Everyone found something to do and then the magic of placing the decking boards on the stringers put a new team in place nailing up a storm (not quite...a drizzle) the 100 pieces of 2'x8"x4' treated wood.

While more drilling and rerod pounding continued on the next stringers, some of us started placing the 2"x12"x16' boardwalk planking and sills in place.

Around noon it didn't look like we were quite half way, but we really were farther along than that; however, since I'm obviously not a prophet one o'clock came and I was wondering if we would have to come back. We poured the coals, actually the slimy muck, to the last phase of the boardwalks 5 sections listening to the woodpecker hammers of the decking boys coming towards us. Now we really were in high gear and by 2 o'clock more or less we were beginning to gather-up tools & load boats again. Oh yes, we did put 2'x4' bull rails along the edges of the bridge in keeping with the NPS Handbook.

Thanks to Jerry Heiman's tried and tested fishing boat, which moved like a tank through the mucky inlet, we reloaded the canoe he was to pull and hooked them both up at the mouth of the inlet. Traveling at turtles speed, he returned to Northern Exposure Campground beach area where the rest of us were waiting to unload him.

Now, you can walk from Woodpecker Creek all the way to Glengary. The 2 bridges are in place and with the exception of the blaze marks from the NE Campground to Fletcher Creek CG, you shouldn't get lost.

Yours, drenched to the gills,

Arlen

See Grand Traverse Hikers Chapter of the North Country Trail Association
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North Country Trail Re-route Near Mesick to be Explained January 10 in Manistee

Proposed NCT reroute near Mesick in red, existing trail and connectors in blue and black

The Grand Traverse Hiking Club Chapter (GTH) of the North Country Trail Association is working hard to establish approximately eight new miles of off-road trail near Hodenpyl Dam Pond and the village of Mesick.

GTH leaders have initiated talks with Consumers Energy company, the primary landowner along the proposed route for the North Country National Scenic Trail (NCT). Consumers Energy has responded positively, and although formal agreements have yet to be secured, plans are moving forward.

Arlen Matsen, of GTH, writes that the reroute will proceed "from the Marilla Trailhead [on Beers Road] east towards Hodenpyl Dam. This route continues along the back-water through tall pine trees interspersed with views of the water. Crossing M-115, it will continue along the river on an abandoned railroad bed, eventually reaching M-37." Volunteer Lower Peninsula Trail Coordinator, Joan Young, has also walked portions of the proposed route and reports that the new miles will be as beautiful as any to be found in lower Michigan as the trail winds along the Pond, and the Manistee River. Camping opportunities along the route are available at several commercial, but rustic campgrounds.

From M-37, until the route rejoins the existing NCT, there is still work to be done to determine where the trail would go.

The village of Mesick is very interested in connecting to the NCT via a spur trail, to become more of a trail town. This would be a great asset for the trail as well, since there is nowhere that a long distance hiker can re-supply or take a day off at a motel so close to the trail for many miles south through the Manistee National Forest.

At the southwest end of the new route there will be changes which affect the Spirit of the Woods Chapter's trail. The northernmost 2.5 miles of existing trail in the National Forest, north of Beers Road, would no longer be a part of the NCT.

On January 10, at the Lake Bluff Audubon House in Manistee, Grand Traverse members Dick Naperala and John Heiam will present details of this plan and the current level of progress. This will be the program of the regularly scheduled chapter meeting for the Spirit of the Woods. There will be a brief business meeting at 7pm, and the program will begin at 7:30. The meeting is open to the public. The Audubon House is located at 2890 Lakeshore Road, just north of Orchard Beach State Park.

by Joan H. Young
See Spirit of the Woods Chapter of the North Country Trail Association
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