VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – The Sheyenne River Valley Chapter of the North Country National Scenic Trail had a workday on the Karnak to Sibley segment to install a boardwalk over a rather large drainage into Lake Ashtabula on Saturday, September 17th.
Sheyenne River Valley Chapter President Becky Heise said thanks to a $3,000 grant from Doosan/Bobcat, $2,000 from Valley City Eagles Aerie 2192 and a $1,000 grant from Cass County Electric Cooperative Rural Development Finance Corporation for the funding to fabricate and install 5 new steel-framed boardwalks at Lake Ashtabula. The materials were delivered on site by representatives from the Lake Ashtabula Project Office of the US Army Corps of Engineers St. Paul District.
One of only eleven National Scenic Trails (and the longest) in the U.S., the North Country National Scenic Trail is a footpath extending 4,800 miles across 8 states from Lake Sakakawea State Park in North Dakota to the Appalachian Trail in Vermont. Locally, the trail hugs the shores of Lake Ashtabula, through Valley City, Kathryn, Fort Ransom State Park, and the Sheyenne State Forest along the way.
Heise said the trail’s local presence is due to the hard work of volunteers of the North Country Trail Association Sheyenne River Valley Chapter (SRV) of the North Country Trail Association (NCTA) who build, maintain, protect, and promote it.
She said the Sheyenne River Valley Chapter offers scheduled hikes and fun events May through October. The final hike of the year for 2022 is scheduled for Wednesday, October 26th at 6 pm. Those interested should meet at Medicine Wheel Park on Winter Show Road for a 2-mile hike through Valley City to the Dairy Queen. Hikers will be treated to a free Dilly Bar at the end of the hike. Those interested can meet afterwards for fun and fellowship at Brockopp Brewing at 114 East Main in Valley City.
Heise said the chapter is always looking for new members who are interested in hiking, maintaining or building trail! From now until August 2023, the Sheyenne River Valley Chapter is offering The Sheyenne River Valley Challenge. Challenge participants collect points for going on a hike with the SRV Chapter, pledging to volunteer for a day, visiting a Chapter event, etc. Participants may be eligible for awards of cash prizes, NCTA memberships, and swag (other prizes may also be awarded)
For more information on the North Country National Scenic Trail visit their chapter website at www.northcountrytrail.org/srv, the national website at www.northcountrytrail.org, or email srv@northcountrytrail.org.
Meetup group: www.meetup.com/NCThikersinND Facebook page: www.facebook.com/NCTinND/