Manistee River Trail Association.

Dedicated to the protection, preservation and enjoyment of the Manistee River Trail.
Home
About Us
The Trail
News & Events
Calendar
Projects
Expenses
Support The MRTA
Become a member
Base Camp
Contact Us
Favorite Places
Site Map

 

                                                                                           
                      
 
             MRTA HEADLINES:
 
                               Last update: 5/26/08
 
 
V.P.??
 
As A member of the North Country Trail Association and specifically the Spirit Of The Woods Chapter, I was asked to run for VP of the chapter comming up this September. I have accepted. Is this good or bad? I have to say it s a good thing. So you may be asking if I take the VP chair and the NCT moves to the East side of the river, what happens to the MRTA?? Good Question..... I dont know the answer. What I do know and like I've said before, I started this whole thing with the best interest of the trail and the Upper Manistee Rec. area in general, so maybe its not so bad......
 
Discuss here.
 
SE
Posted 8/19/08
MRTA gets first big plug!!
 
Its true!!!  the MRTA has enjoyed its 5 min. of sunshine with its first big plug.
Thanks to our awesomest friend at the NCTA (everyone applaude Clair Cain) I was put in touch
with one of the on-line editors from Backpacker Magizine that needed a write-up on the MRT-NCT loop.
Well of course I was happier than all get out to help, so with a little professional writer help "The Loop"
made its way into the on-line data base of the best hiking mag out there.
Yes ladies and gentlemen, we are know stars..... take a bow ;)
 
 
SE
Posted 5/26/08
 
 
 
 
WOW, the Numbers!!!!!
 
Well the Month is almost up and the one year mark for the MRTA is just around the cornor.
the site useage and visits have been awesome. Well, dont take it from me, have a look yourself;
Month                                     Unique visitors     New visitors      Repeat visitors          
June, 2007                                         31                              31                            0                           
July, 2007                                          46                              45                            1                           
August, 2007                                    64                              62                            2                           
September, 2007                            17                              16                             1                               
October, 2007                                  40                             40                             0
November, 2007                             36                             34                             2 
December, 2007                            106                          104                             2 
January, 2008                                   45                             44                             1 
February, 2008                                 24                             22                             2 
March, 2008                                     151                           146                            5 
April, 2008                                        110                          101                            9 
May, 2008                                         293                          287                            6 
Average per month                      80.25                      77.67                   2.58  
As you can see the exposure rates of our little group here is rising, and May has been a 
fine finish to mark one year.... 

 

SE

Posted 5/26/08

 


 
 
MRT may become part of the NTC...
 
The cards are on the table.  Since the re-route off Marilla to the pond has been the project of the hour, the Feds have asked the Spirit of the Woods Chapter to re-visit the idea of moving the NCT to the East side of the river where the Manistee River Trail is currently. This re-route would move at Coates Hwy there were the spur to the MRT is . I do need to point out that this doesnt mean the current NCT will close down, it will reamin an open trail by the USFS. The "loop" is not going to phase out.
 While this is not an issue set in stone, the following action was decided on by the Spirit of the Woods Chapter.  A ballott of sorts is to be sent out, wheather by email or in the newsletter  each member of the chapter will be contacted. It must be said that this decision is not solely the decision of the SW Chapter and in the end the ball will be called by the USFS. Here is the important part your input is needed, NCTA member or otherwise, these are your trails. 
You can email me directly shaun@mrtassociation.com  or there is the contact us to your left. I will take anything to the next SW Chapter meeting. You may also go to SW Chapter directly HERE  .
 On a personal note I am ok with the whole thing, the reason the MRTA was created was to bring attention to and put effort into repairing the trail. Yes, there is a slight sting, this ball just got rolling and now it may end but it is for the greater good.
 SE
posted 3/15/08
 
Whats worth a thousand words?
 
A picture of course. In progress is the new picture album made possible by our good friends  at Picasa. aka Google.  The pic in there currently is my father Roger and I. It was put in cause it was the first pic I grabbed to see how Picasa works. If anyone has pics they would like posted, send them my way.
  SE
posted 3/15/08
 
                                     
 
New Maps set for Spring.
 
We have gotten our fingers on some great technology.
gear used for GIS willbe implimented to build new,
highly detailed maps of the trail. This is something
we are really looking forward to, as most maps of the
MRT are, well, not so good.Look for TOPO and ariel maps
headed your way by the end of  '08
 
 posted 1/18/08
 
 
 Get Off the Couch.....
 
I have been asked to write a little something for the site get off the couch
to introduce our group to more people. I feel this is a great oppertunity to
gain more exposure and am deeply grateful for the oppertunity.
 
 
 
 
 
Base Camp...
 
We now have a message board for everyone to hang out in. Thanks to the folks at proboard, we have a place for everyone to exchange information, discuss, debate and anything else to do with "conversation". A great campfire to sit around and chill. So go, check it out and be social...
 
Go HERE to check it out...
 
 
 
NCTA
 
As some of you know I had requested becoming an affiliate organization.
After a couple emails with Clare Cain, the NCTA has decided to postpone
the affiliation agreement. Understandably, they would like to see us develop and get our feet under us first. The NCTA wants to give us a year, and see where we are at. This is good news at this point, we are being recognized and making friends with those that share the same ideas. Beyond that folks at the NCTA are excited for us in our mission. I encourage all to join the NCTA.  I see the start of a great alliance and friendship.
 
 
Tippy Dam Pond Dispersed Camping.
 
 
The Idea has been being tossed around to extend our reach a bit to the dispersed camping sites on the backwaters of the Tippy Dam. The idea is to use our resources to do some clean-up work on the sites, spread the word of the conditions and generally try and motivate people to take action in that area.

I am going to start a thread on our boards for this. let me know what you all think.

 

 

 

  •  Be sure to check out the Calendar page to see scheduled events we've got going on.

 

  •  In the Expenses page you will find projects the assoc. is working on, costs ituations.

 

  • The Donations page has all the information you will need to contribute to the MRTA.

 

  • Take a look in the Friends of the MRTA to see all the great people and organizations that share the same goals and interests as the MRTA.