Our Stories

2023 Volunteer Awards: Boots on the Trail

Steve Coz

A look through the Superior Hiking Trail Association’s (SHTA) guided hike archives reveals Steve’s name first appearing in 1997. There are some gaps in those records, but his name is on the list for at least one hike a year until 2010. After that, he led between two and five hikes each season up and down the North Shore of Minnesota. Each of those hikes required a tremendous amount of planning, yet this isn’t the full scope of his volunteer service. He has also logged hundreds of hours doing trail work in the Duluth and Two Harbors areas, building new trail and campsites, adopting sections of trail, and more.

Matt Patterson

Matt is the Williamsburg Section Supervisor for the Buckeye Trail, which shares corridor with the NCNST. He advertises and leads hikes every month – even organizing NCNST hikes in different states that sometimes last a week and conquer 60+ miles. He consistently provides shuttles for thru-hikers, and has opened his house to many hikers. Matt is organized, always on top of getting permits and ensuring his hikers have the right gear, and will change his pace as necessary for his groups. He brings new and returning hikers to the Trail, makes them feel welcome, and helps them achieve their goals.

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