Our Stories

2025 NCTA Volunteer Awards: Distinguished Service

This award is presented to individuals who have shown 8+ years of exceptional volunteer service in furthering the goals of the NCTA, and outstanding contributions toward the dream of the North Country Trail.

John Backes

Since the start of the NCTA Laurentian Lakes Chapter, John has served essentially as the sole organizer and administrator of its annual fundraising efforts. He ensures funds are readily available to purchase and maintain equipment, and contributes quite generously from his own pocket each year. John also sponsored a three-phased Eagle Scout project: They cleaned up tornado damage, designed and constructed interpretive signage about this storm and cleanup efforts, and built three trailside benches with tabletops. After working tirelessly to help establish the Chapter’s 66 miles of trail, he became a Trail Adopter of a three-mile section that he has maintained on his own ever since.

Jeff Fleming

Jeff helped rebuild a covered bridge on the trail in 1998 then joined the NCTA in 1999. For 20 plus years, he’s scheduled, directed, and participated in workdays with the NCTA Chief Noonday Chapter. He’s improved trail, structures, and signage. He mows, moves and stages building materials, and cleans up after storms. He’s a Trail Adopter and certified sawyer, and seems to have endless energy for both leading and committing to projects across Southern Michigan.

Pat Monahan

Pat has a long history with the Finger Lakes Trail Conference (FLTC). After becoming a member in 2001, he quickly became involved with major construction projects. In the early days of the FLTC, Pat was the moving force behind creating the 45-mile-long Crystal Hills Branch of the Finger Lakes Trail. He assessed routes, gained permissions, flagged trail, and organized many workdays to actually build it all. His talent for patient persistence has kept this segment open despite floods, windstorms, and landowner relations issues. He was a hike coordinator for the FLTC Hike the County program, completed an end-to-end hike of the main Finger Lakes Trail in 2008, and bagged all the branch trails in 2015. Pat also served as FLTC President for 15 years, where he significantly strengthened partnership with the NCTA.

Jo Taylor

Jo has been quietly supporting the NCTA and the Finger Lakes Trail Conference (FLTC) for almost 30 years. She is a jack of all trades when it comes to all things Finger Lakes Trail. She was editor of the quarterly Finger Lakes Trail News magazine for 10 years. She has hiked all 400 miles of the main trail, end-to-end. She is also a crucial member of the FLTC mapping group, dedicated to producing and updating high-quality maps of the entire Finger Lakes Trail system – which includes more than 400 miles of the North Country Trail. As the current Vice President of Mapping, she leads strategically and collaborates effectively. It is largely due to Jo’s efforts that trail users can navigate and enjoy the trail in Western New York.

Learn more about how the you can honor NCTA volunteers for their service on and for the North Country National Scenic Trail, and consider a nomination at northcountrytrail.org/volunteer-awards.