PURPOSE:This site is devoted to
providing you with information about
long distance trails and the National Trails System. Our premise is that we hikers are fortunate to live in a
golden age of opportunity. Not only are trails better than ever
but also hiking equipment is now so light that
physical conditioning is much less of a deciding factor in determining who can enjoy
the outdoors. The joys of hiking are now available to almost everyone.
Scenic Trails Research hopes to generate a renaissance in the development of new long distance trails such as the
1200-mile Pacific Northwest Trail and the transcontinental Sea-To-Sea Route. We
are working toward a future in which there will be a long distance trail within
a 4 hour drive of almost everyone in the Lower Forty-eight. America
currently has 8 "national scenic trails" but none have been added to the
National Trails System in a quarter century. Meanwhile fabulous new trails
(such as the Arizona Trail) have been developed by
regional hiking clubs. We advocate the expansion of the National Trails
System to include many of these routes in order to better
serve the public.
As part of the renaissance in recreational walking, we also advocate the
creation and funding of a National Trails Center. Though America's National Trails System (NTS) was
founded 40 years ago, it has lacked (1) a cohesive structure
and (2) a national headquarters. We wish to facilitate a discussion
within the trails community concerning the creation, functions, and funding of a National Trails Center.
Hiking is wonderfully democratic. America's long distance trails are open to you.
NEWS OF THE LONG DISTANCE TRAILS WORLD:
November 15-18: National Trails Symposium, Little Rock AR.
http://www.regonline.com/Checkin.asp?EventId=612731
October 1, 2008: Will the Senate amend omnibus bill S. 3213 to
include the Pacific Northwest Trail bill? Will Congress pass the omnibus
bill before adjourning? If so, will there be time for the House to act?
This is a real cliffhanger!!
September 11, 2008: The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural
Resources ordered S. 2943 (PNT) to be reported with amendments favorably.
August 10: The news from the North Country Trail Association is
that the NCTA's next annual conference will be held July 30-August 1, 2009 at
Valley City, ND. The conference's theme will be "Westward Ho", the NCTA's
push to extend the 4600-mile NCT westward all the way to the Continental Divide
Trail. (That plus linking to the Appalachian Trail across Addison County,
VT will give the NCT two new, very attractive termini.) Scenic Trails
Research recommends that hikers from far and wide attend this important meeting
to learn how to become involved in filling in a major gap in the
transcontinental Sea-To-Sea Route. Valley City's Bobby Koepplin (the
NCTA's next president) and his wife Deb Koepplin (head of the Sheyenne Valley
Chapter) will put on a fabulous program.
July 15: The Arizona Trail bill H.R. 2297
was the subject of a House subcommittee hearing to consider making the
Arizona Trail an official national scenic trail. We hope that the Senate
will pass its equivalent bill in September, probably as part of omnibus bill S. 3213
(which also includes the New England Trail.) September will be the make
or break time for New England, Arizona, and Pacific Northwest Trail legislation.
Every day until July 31. Be sure to vote every day for the
Catamount Trail in Redwood Creek Winery's $50,000 prize contest.
Founded in 1984, The Catamount Trail Association (CTA) is a non-profit,
member-driven organization based in Burlington, VT that builds, manages, and
conserves the 300-mile Catamount Trail, a public-access ski trail. CTA will use
the grant to conserve the remaining 90 miles of unprotected Catamount Trail. The
specific project includes improving outreach to landowners, collaborating with
local communities and partner organizations, negotiating trail easements with
interested landowners, and completing these important land transactions.
Vote daily at:
http://www.redwoodcreek.com/greatoutdoors/index.html
June 17, 2008. Hearings were held on S. 2943, the Pacific Northwest National Scenic
Trail Act of 2008. Please FAX (202-224-6163) a letter of support for the
PNT bill to: Dear Sir or Madam, Senate Committee On Energy And Natural
Resources, 304 Dirksen Senate Building, Washington, DC 20510.
Or send an E-mail to:
http://energy.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Home
June, 2008. Congress has recognized no new "national scenic trails"
in the past quarter century. However, thanks to the hard work of many,
many volunteers, three outstanding long distance trail bills could conceivably
pass (with your help) in the waning months of this 110thCongress. Scenic
Trails Research advocates the creation of a Senate omnibus bill that would
include the following:
- New England National Scenic Trail. H. R. 1528: January
29, 2008: passed by the House (with an unfortunate amendment to give
priority to state and local laws regarding hunting, fishing, and trapping
along the Trail.) S. 923: H.R. 1528 was (May 7, 2008) ordered to be reported by the
Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources after hearings were held.
- Arizona National Scenic Trail. H. R. 2297:
stalled in the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands
ever since it was introduced in May 2007. S. 1304: April 10, 2008:
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar after being reported out by the
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources after hearings were held.
- The Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail. There has
been no action on H.R. 5926 but hearings were held June 17 on S.
2943.
April 30, 2008. The Pacific Northwest National Scenic
Trail Act of 2008 was introduced in the House of
Representatives as
H. R. 5926 by Congressman Norm Dicks and in the Senate as
S. 2943 by Sen. Maria Cantwell. This important legislation
would add the 1200-mile Pacific Northwest Trail
to the National Trails System as a "national scenic trail."
Under development since 1970, the PNT is one of America's finest outdoor
resource treasures. Please write or FAX (202-225-1931) Hon. Raul M. Grijalva, Chair,
Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands, 1324 Longworth
Building, Wash., DC 20515. Ask that the Subcommittee hold a hearing on H.
R. 5926.
April 7, 2008. At its March meeting, the board of directors of The
Green Mountain Club, builder and maintainer of Vermont’s historic Long Trail,
voted to notify Ernest Quintana, Midwest Regional Director of the National Park
Service, that GMC supports continuing the process of exploring a North Country
NST extension into Vermont. A letter to that effect was sent to Mr. Quintana,
copied to Tom Gilbert of NPS and Bruce Mathews and Clare Cain of NCTA, on April
7.
February 2, 2008. Pacific Northwest Trail Guidebook digital map:
cartographer Ted Hitzroth created a GIS file to
display the route of the Pacific Northwest Trail as described in our 2001
guidebook, The Pacific Northwest Trail Guide. We recommend that you obtain this file from us, then open it in Google Earth.
Though not sufficient for navigation, this file will give you a good overview of the
PNT at any scale you choose.
(Note: about 12 percent of the Route has recently been relocated by the Pacific
Northwest Trail Association; those changes are not reflected in this file.)
January 29, 2008. The House Of Representatives passed HR 1528, the New
England National Scenic Trail Designation Act, by a vote of 261 to 122.
Action has been woefully lacking in the Senate on its version, S. 923.
January 1, 2008. To encourage discussion about a future National Trails
Center, Ron Strickland suggested that it might contain the following elements:
The National Trails Center
is a resource for America’s trails community and is the overseer for
congressionally-mandated parts of the National Trails System. Within the
Department of the Interior, the National Trails Center provides funding via
discretionary grants for trail projects nationwide. The Center’s director
reports to the Assistant Secretary for Fish And Wildlife And Parks. The
Center’s mission is to:
• Empower and unite grassroots efforts, particularly among stakeholders
that serve the nonmotorized public.
• Foster interagency coordination for congressionally-mandated parts of
the National Trails System.
• Fund competitive grants to both “official” and non-official trails.
• Publish an Annual Report about the status of the National Trails System
and of progress in the broader trails community.
• Promote public awareness of recreational opportunities on America’s
trails.
• Provide training:
1. National Trails Training Partnership (NTTP)
2. Provide technical support
• Establish trail standards such as (1) the Interagency Trail Data
Standards or (2) uniform signage and blazing.
• Plan and host a biennial National Trails Conference.
• Collect and develop trail information
1. Reports: e.g., a comprehensive study of the economic impacts that
NSTs have on their regions.
2. Maps and Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
3. Reference materials. E.g., a comprehensive, GIS trails inventory.
4. The National Trails Library and Trail Archives.
