Our Stories

Arlette Laan: NCNST Long Distance Hiker

Arlette “Apple Pie” Laan End-to-End Hiker; central patch + Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota; 1000, 2000, 3000, and 4000 miles I started my hike on April 8, 2021 in Defiance, Ohio, and finished my hike on February 21, 2022 back in Defiance. From Defiance, I went Eastbound toward Vermont and […]

2023 Volunteer Awards: Trail Blazer

  Kalkaska Downtown Development Authority Cash and Gayenell with the Kalkaska Downtown Development Authority (DDA) began working with the NCTA Grand Traverse Hiking Club Chapter in Michigan over five years ago to create a non-motorized, ADA accessible trailhead to connect downtown Kalkaska to rerouted NCNST. This project, which is still in progress, will remove two […]

2023 Volunteer Awards: Friend of the Trail

  Constance Cox Connie has been the Lead Naturalist at Itasca State Park in Minnesota for over 20 years, and is a great trail advocate. In 2016, when we celebrated 100 years of the National Park Service and 125 years of Minnesota State Parks and Trails, Connie was the main organizer of commemorative monthly hikes […]