TRAILS PLANS NOR THERN FO REST LANDS As the snow gradually recedes from the mountains, it's time to start thinking about Living in the Northern Forest I have holdings of 976,000 acres of timberland in the upcoming trail season. In between become convinced that we must find the states of Maine, New Hampshire, skiing, keeping warm, and earning a the balance between logging , Vermont and New York. Six years later, living, the WODC Trails Committee has recreation, agriculture, and industry, in 1987, the French utility and been planning an exciting schedule of and of the need to protect our telecommunications firm Cie Generale events for 1994. Since a day with a 16 shrinking wildlands before it's too Electricite purchased the Goldsmith assets. pound crow-bar isn't everyone's idea of late. Greed and excess growth are our With no interest in managing lands for fun, this year's trail schedule has been greatest enemies, and our best timber, CGE, through a real estate broadened to include: weapons against that are common broker, began to sell its holdings. .Joint work trips with other sense, tolerance, and a good old In May of 1988 the NFL issue came to organizations, including Trailwrights, the Yankee distrust of waste and excess. public attention when Rancourt AMC Wonalancet Cabin, and the Andrea Sabata, JeffersoD NH Associates, a development consortium Chocorua Mountain Club. Each generation is presented with an dealing mostly in mobile home parks and .Overnight opportunities ranging from a opportunity to participate in protecting headquartered in Nashua NH, purchased backcountry work trip to free camping at some of the Nation's remaining natural 90,000 acres of the former Diamond White Lake State Park, to a nearly free resources. In the early 1900's WODC International property in New Hampshire all-expense-paid weekend at the AMC members responded to the opportunity by and Vermont. This sale came as a shock Wonalancet Cabin. actively supporting federal legislation to to citizens of New Hampshire who had .Great meals including the annual purchase private lands in eastern States in recently funded a Land Conservation WODC barbecue, pot-luck suppers, a order to create National Forests. The Investment Program to protect spaghetti dinner, and a night out for pizza. resultant 1911 Weeks Act was the undeveloped land. Through last minute .Special events including a trails mechanism for creating the White negotiations and funding by the State of presentation at Annual Meeting, a Mountain National Forest. In the 1980's New Hampshire, 39,500 acres of the lunchtime trail inspection walk, and even WODC members worked with other New Rancourt Associates property, the "Nash a chance to find out more about the use of England individuals and organizations to Stream" tract, were purchased. llamas in the Sandwich Range. establish the Sandwich Range and In response to public outcry following While we obviously need volunteers to Pemigewasset Wilderness Areas. In the these events, Congress appropriated participate in work trips, we're also late 1990's the challenge is to find ways $250,000 for a NFL Study, and the to protect part if not all of the 26 million governors of the four states appointed a looking for people to help arrange meals, lead special outings, make arrangements acres of undeveloped forest land Governors' Task Force on NFL. These extending through the northern portions of two groups were formed to assess the for trips, and just have fun. We even have Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and current and the historic patterns of land a trail available for adoption. To get involved or find out more, call any New York. This large land mass, known ownership, to identify the threats to the member of the Trails Committee. We'd as "The Northern Forest Lands" (Na), current ownership situation, and to is the largest remaining block of provide a series of strategies which might love to hear from you. undeveloped forest land within the United be used by Congress and the affected Trail Events States in the ownership of private States should they decide to take any On Saturday, May 14th, WODC and the individuals and corporations. action. In 1990, final reports by both AMC Wonalancet Cabin will work Prior to 1988, the NF1., were thought to groups recommended formation of a together to drain and harden a wet section be well protected from exploitation. Northern Forest Lands Council of Blueberry Ledge Trail. Free Unbridled real estate development in the {Council) to further study key issues. accommodations and/or tenting will be 1980's, fueled by high personal incomes Congress accepted the recommendation, available at the AMC Cabin, as well as as well as banking and investment and appropriated $4 million for a four free dinner on Saturday night for all deregulation, led to conditions where year study. volunte:ers. Reservations for the Cabin large timberland owners, especially There are seventeen members on the and/or dinner should be made by May 1st corporations, became aware that their Council, four from each of the four with Melinda Lyon at 508-887-5755. acres could provide greater returns to northeastern states, and a representative Reservations are not required for the work stockholders by selling land rather than by from the USDA Forest Service. Nine of trip. harvesting and processing timber. In 1982 the members currently hold or did hold an On Thursday, May 26th, the Over- The- Sir James Goldsmith, a British financier , office in state government. Several others Hill-Gang invites everyone to join them in a hostile takeover, acquired ownership are foresters or are employed by timber for a spring clean-up of the Big Rock of the Diamond International Corporation corporations. (Continuedon Page5) invited to camp at White Lake State Park Important Infonnation with one night free. For reservations call Except as noted, all trips will meet at the Park at 603-323-7350. Limited the parking lot for the designated trail and accommodations are also available at the will depart promptly at 8:30 a.m. Please AMC Wonalancet Cabin by calling arrive at least 15 minutes early to allow Melinda Lyon at 508-887-5755. time to coordinate with the trip leader. If Join us on August 6- 7th for a complete you arrive late, hike up the trail to meet The NewsleUer~ published twice each year by trail volunteers' weekend. A total cost the group. Reservations are not required the Wooalancet Out Door Club. The mailing of $30 per person covers accommodations except as noted. Bring work gloves, safety address~: at the Wonalancet Cabin, Saturday dinner, glasses, heavy boots, lunch, and plenty of WODC self-service breakfasts, and bag lunches. water. Bring clippers if you wish, Newsletter Editor Saturday's trail project will be clearing otherwise tools will be provided by the Wonalancet, NH 03897 water bars on Dicey's Mill Trail, with trip leader. For further information call The Editor eocourag~ members and inter~ted time remaining to climb to the top of Mt. Peter Smart at 603-323-8666. readers to submit material for use in future Passaconaway. Sunday is open for a hike, Additional Trail Work ~~. Artic1~, poems, drawings, comments, and a presentation on the use of llamas in critic~ms, sugg~tious, are welcomed. In addition to the volunteer projects the WMNF. Cabin space is limited, and listed above, other groups will perform preregistration required. Please call Peter some of the technical and labor intensive Smart at 603-323-8666 for trip (Continuedfrom PageI) work which is necessary to address more information. (Bed and breakfast serious trail problems. Cave Trail. For further information accommodations also available at higher contact Stephen Winship at 284-6626. cost. ) Reservations are not required for We're pleased to have the SRCA trail On the weekend of June 3-5 we'll be the work trip or other events. crew active again this year. SRCA will be working on erosion control on the Bennett conducting a special overnight trip on Several special events will spice up the Street and Walden trails. The SRCA is Walden Trail. As our National Trails WODC Annual Meeting on Sunday funded by the USFS and area trail clubs, Day project, we'll be brushing and August 21st. Bring a bag lunch to the including WODC. This year we're also blazing the entire trail. This will restore Ferncroft kiosk at 11 a.m. for an easy fortunate to have received a significant the remote trail and prepare it for erosion hike and a chance to inspect some of this additional gift from the White-Sylvania control work by the New Hanipshire year's trail work. From 4-5 p.m. join us Conservation Corp (NHCC) and the at the Wonalancet Chapel for a special Trust of Sandwich, which will be used for Sandwich Range Conservation slide presentation on trails. The potluck our Bennett Street project. Association (SRCA) later in the season. supper will begin at 5:30, followed by the The NHCC will devote a six~week Volunteers may camp in the vicinity of WODC Annual Meeting at 7:00. program to restoring sections of the upper Camp Rich or join us for a single day. Walden Trail. Funded by the USFS, the Saturday, August 27th, is the date for The summits of Mts. Whiteface and NHCC will correct trail erosion on Mt. the second annual WODC-Chocorua Passaconway are within easy hiking Passaconawayand install suitable drainage Mountain Club joint work trip. In 1993 distance of the camp. Look for mention of to prevent this problem from recurring. the CMC joined us for a major restoration this trip in the upcoming BACKPACKER of Big Rock Cave Trail. This year we'll We hope to have the Shock NTD issue. Space for this trip is limited return the favor by helping them, Incarceration Unit working on several and preregistration is required. You may probablyon the Whit tin Brook Trail. We trails this year, including Big Rock Cave, pick up a registration packet at the hope to close the day with a joint potluck Cabin Trail, Kelley, Old Mast, and Ferncroft kiosk or by calling Peter Smart supper. The trip will leave the Liberty Wonalancet Range. Work will consist at 603-323-8666. Trail Kiosk at 8:30 a.m. primarily of installing water bars, clearing On Saturday June 25th we'll work on drainage, hardening wet areas, and On Saturday, September 17th we've Cabin Trail clearing drainage, brushing, invited Trailwrights to join us in building repairing treadway. and blazing the entire trail. rock cribbing to repair a section of Kelley And finally, the wonc Trails Saturday, July 16th, is New Hampshire Trail. This will be a great chance to get Committee will be continuing the work of Trails Day, and we'll be working on the to know members of one of the State's reblazing and signing all trails, clearing Bennett Street Trail. Depending on the most devoted volunteer trail groups. A water bars, and coordinating the efforts of turn-out, we'll clear drainage, define a dutch-treat pizza dinner will follow. the many groups and volunteers who make section of the treadway, and brush the up our 1994 trail activities. Thanks to you Saturday, October 8th isn't scheduled trail. All volunteers are invited to the all. See you on the trail! yet, but its .sure to be fun. Meet at the Annual WODC Barbecue on Route Ferncroft kiosk and find out! An updated Peter Smart 113A in Sandwich at the home of Julie schedule will also. be posted at the and Dick Daniels, 2 miles north of the Ferncroft kiosk throughout the summer . Bennett Street junction and 3 miles west of the Wonalancet Chapel. Volunteers are WHO IS T AINTER ? sawing White Mountain spruce for the The importance of these lands to the Boston market. National Forest rests as much on their Probably you have seen the plaque. quality as their quantity. Mount High on the windswept summit of With his extensive knowledge of timber Washington itself (except for the summit, Whiteface, near the great ledges that look operations -a commodity reportedly in cog railway, and carriage road) was across the valley of the Bearcamp to the short supply among the other officers of Conway Lumber Company land; so was Ossipees, a modest bronze plate has been the company -Louis Tainter rose rapidly much of the rest of the Presidential set into the weathered rock. A brief to become vice-president and general Range. Other beautiful and beloved areas inscription reads: manager of the Conway Lumber Company, and president of Publishers acquired by the people from Publishers In Memoriam Paper or Conway Lumber include: Mount Low S. Tainter Paper Company, an affiliated corporation Chocorua, Passaconaway, Whiteface and 1862-1920 which served as a holding company for the Bowl Research Natural Area, Moat IN THE ACQUISITIONOF LANDS vast tracts of land in northern New Mountain, Bear Mountain, Attitash, Black FOR THIS NATIONAL FOREST Hampshire and western Maine. He also HE RENDEREDA NOTABLESERVICE acquired a significant -but probably not Mountain and Doublehead, Humphrey's AND IN CONFORMITYTO HIS WISH controlling -equity interest in the latter Ledge, Tripyramid, part of Osceola and HIS ASHESREPOSE HEREIN. Tecumseh, the lands through which the corporation. Who was Louis S. Tainter? What eastern section of the Kancamagus Meanwhile in Washington, a decades notable service did he render? While the Highway now passes including the long battle to save eastern forest lands by plaque has become a local landmark, the Covered Bridge and Blackberry Ledge government acquisition had been raging man the plaque was intended to Campgrounds, Russell Pond where Louis through all three branches of the federal memorialize has been forgotten. Tainter had a hunting camp, Gordon Pond government. The legal and political issues and Trail, the entire Hubbard Brook White Mountain history buffs, if musty that had snarled forest legislation were Experimental Forest, and part of Mount enough, might recognize the name. Louis finally untangled by New Hampshire born Tainter is mentioned briefly in two widely John Wingate Weeks, a Massachusetts Liberty. read local histories: Logging Railroads of Republican in Congress. On March I , The Tomb on Whiteface the White Mountains by C. Francis 1911, President Taft signed into law the Unfortunately, Louis Tainter died of Belcher and The Tamwo11h Narrative by Weeks Act empowering the government to cancer before the transfer of lands from Marjory Gane Harkness. In the former he buy private land for the creation of his companies to the National Forest could appears in a listing of lumber company national forests. be completed. However it is clear, from executives, and in the latter he plays a Less than three months later, Louis documents in the acquisition files and more colorful character bit as a timber Tainter tendered an offer to sell the Forest statements made by contemporary baron scheming to get his hands on the Service a well-timbered tract along the lumbermen, that he was the driving force Sandwich Range before the government Ellis River and Wildcat Brook. Failing to behind the sale of Conway Lumber mobilizes to save it. secure a deal with the government, Company and Publishers Paper Company A more complete picture of Louis Tainter proceeded to cut the best spruce lands. The momentum of his policy Tainter and his "notable service" begins and hardwood from a good part of the carried the company forward after his in the White Pine Empire of Wisconsin, tract. Two years later the government death. where he grew up in the lumber business. bought the land and remaining timber at a By November, 1919, Louis Tainter was His father was a partner in Napp, Stout& price equal to Tainter's initial proposal seriously ill. In his Boston home he Company, a giant lumber operation that minus the value of the stumpage prepared his will, stating: shipped between 100 and 150 million liquidated. From this point on, "1 direct that my body be cremated; board feet per year during its heyday negotiations between Tainter and the and it is my desire, if the consent of when it controlled and systematically Forest Service became increasingly the department officials can be liquidated a vast tract of virgin pine in congenial, and Tainter's valuations were obtained, that the ashes be enclosed in Western Wisconsin. After studying seldom quibbled with. an indestructible container of copper business and law, young Louis Tainter Eventually Publishers Paper Company or other appropriate material, and joined Napp, Stout as assistant to his and Conway Lumber Company sold some securely deposited in a suitable father, and gradually assumed increasing 204,000 acres to the White Mountain excavation hollowed out of the solid responsibility, eventually becoming vice- National Forest, more than a quarter of its rock upon the ledges on Whiteface president. He held this position until the present extent. Although timber barons Mountain which are situated, company cut the last stick of pine in its such as J.E. Henry, George Van Dyke, according to my present recollection, domain and abruptly shut down. After and the Saunders family have become upon Lot 49, in Waterville, New working in several less successful local legends while Louis Tainter has Hampshire, said lot, together with ventures, he came east in 1908 or 1909 remained obscure, not one of them (and other lands formerly owned by the and accepted a position with the Conway perhaps no two of them) delivered as Publishers Paper Company, having Lumber Company. This concern owned the "big mill " in Conway where it was much land to the public as did Tainter and been acquired by the United States of the two companies he ran. America, through its Forest Service, as a part of the White Mountain money both parties knew she did not Vanderbilts for $5.00 an acre, far less Forest Reserve. If this disposition of have. than Tainter was asking. my ashes can not be made, th~n I Since raising that large sum privately Edgar J. Rich (Who Is E.J. Rich? desire that they be scattered to the was not a realistic option, the efforts of WODC Newsletter, June 1993, P.3), a' winds at some spot in the White Mountains. " the Wonalancet people turned to impelling prominent Boston lawyer and a stalwart of the federal government to acquire the land the WODC, wrote back -Republican to for the nascent White Mountain National Republican stating that "The Forest. However, the National Forest Vanderbilts were individuals and could Reservation Commission, which held sell their land at any price they saw fit; ultimate control over each purchase, the officers of the Publishers Paper operated under a stated policy of acquiring Company were trustees for. their forest lands in large blocks. Kate Walden stockholders and they could not, even if was informed that an isolated parcel of they would, put a price on their property 3000 acres would be a poor candidate for which would be less than its fair value." purchase. The dispute over valuation was probably On May 21, presumably after further settled primarily on the basis of timber discussions between the lumber company, cruises done by a Forest Service Kate Walden, and the government, Louis Examiner during the summer. His Tainter tendered to the Forest Service an appraisal was slightly less than Tainter's option to purchase 2835 acres in the asking price. In turn he recommended that watershed of the Wonalancet Brook for the government offer ten percent less than $50,000. Together with other land the appraised value. This recommendation offered at this time and previously, the became the figure at which the National parcel would meet the government's large Forest Reservation Commission finally block requiremenL To give negotiations approved the purchase on September 2, Louis S. Tainter the best chance for success, Publishers 1914. Louis Tainter succumbed to cancer on Paper Company delayed the start of their At the same September 2 meeting the January 25, 1920. His funeral was held in logging operation. Commission also approved the purchase Boston three days later. The Pilgrim Meanwhile Kate Walden mounted a of Mount Washington and much of the Quartet played for the service. The "big lobbying campaign designed to apply Presidential Range from Conway Lumber mill" in Conway was closed that day out pressure in favor of the purchase. Her Company, another deal designed by Louis of respect for the departed leader. On Wonalancet partisans collected signatures Tainter. Naturally this purchase September 19 of the same year his ashes on a petition, and enlisted everyone they overshadowed the Wonalancet purchase in were carried to the summit of Mount could find to write a letter to the powers both the New Hampshire and national Whiteface, placed in a crypt that had been in Washington. Senator Jacob Gallinger of press. But we can well imagine that here hollowed from the rock and covered with New Hampshire was singled out for in the intervale, a collective sigh of relief a bronze memorial tablet. The party that particular attention. He was not targeted was brought forth. made the climb consisted of friends, because of any sympathy with the cause Louis S. Tainter and the WODC family, and lords of the timber industry . -on the contrary, he had stated flatly The archives of the WODC contain a One intrepid soul lugged a movie camera that the land offered was not worth the fascinating series of Jetters between Edgar and shot a film of the proceedings that price. Neither was Gallinger's support J. Rich and Louis Tainter which were played as a short subject for three nights sought because of his access to the exchanged a few weeks after the in Louis Tainter's home town in esteemed potency of the United States Wonalancet purchase was approved. They Wisconsin. Senate. His operational importance was far more direct; he was one of the seven give a rare insight into the possible The Bowl, Threatened and Saved members of the National Forest motives of timber owners who sold their In the spring of 1914 the Wonalancet Reservation Commission. land to the National Forest. intervale was roused by fears that the On July 20 the WODC held a special Tainter's office in downtown Boston was Publishers Paper Company intended to set meeting to consider campaign strategy. just a short walk from Rich's. He wrote up a mill in the midst of the cottages The option to purchase could be to Rich: "1 wish some day when you have here, and log the slopes of Mount withdrawn by Publishers Paper at any a little leisure' time that you would call in Whiteface. Kate Sleeper Walden, founder time after July 21. Yet the government at the office, or let me go to your office of the WODC, sprang into action. When seemed to be dragging its feet. In reply to and give you a bit of inside history as to Louis Tainter stopped by the Wonalancet letters from WODC members, Senator the negotiations, which were all open and Farm to talk business with her husband, above board. I want to show you that the she buttonholed Tainter and obtained an Gallinger complained that the government had been able to acquire large tracts of Publishers Paper Company and the option to buy 3000 acres on the watershed Conway Lumber Company are not of the Wonalancet Brook for $50,000 - land in North Carolina from the soulless corporations, and that they have endeavored to meet the views of the Government, actually selling the land and 1994 Summer Activities Calendar timber for less money than they could have gotten out of it by operating. " May 14 Harden and drain a section of Blueberry Ledge Trail. Joint work trip and dinner with AMC Wonalancet Cabin. Speaking in terms of the business sense which both men shared, Tainter asserted May 26 Spring clean-up of the Big Rock Cave Trail by the that the "Forest Service has made a Over- The-Hill-Gang. purchase at a price that, by the operation June 3-5 National Trails Day: Backcountry overnight to brush and blaze Walden of the timber under Forestry methods, Trail. will pay them at least 5% upon the investment from now on to the end of June 25 Cabin Trail brushing and drainage clearing. time." (In 1914 high-grade 30-year July 16 NH Trails Day: Brush and clear drainage on Bennett Street Trail corporate bonds were yielding about 4% .) followed by the Annual WODC Barbecue. Rich wrote back accepting the Aug 6-7 Trail volunteers \veekend. Saturday we'll clear water bars on Dicey's invitation, and reassured Tainter that: "In Mill Trail with Sunday open for other diversions. talking with men who have been especially interested in the preservation of Aug 7 Deborah Frock demonstration and slides on Llamas. 4:00 p.m. at the White Mountain forests, I find the Wonalancet Chapel. unanimous sentiment to be that the Aug 21 11:00 a.m. At Ferncroft kiosk. Easy hike and trail-work inspection. attitude of the Publishers Paper Company 4:00 Trails presentation at Wonalancet Chapel. had been entirely fair, although I have 5:30 Potluck supper at Grove. found some criticism of the methods employed by the Government. " 7:00 WODC Annual Meeting at Wonalancet Chapel. Aug 27 Joint work trip with Chocorua Mountain Club on Whit tin Brook Trail. Today's historian can only dream of Potluck supper to follow. what might have been said when the two men sat down to share "inside history ." Sept 17 Kelley Trail sidehill repair with the assistance of Trailwrights. Apizza Just as the forest has grown to obscure dinner will follow. the fact that it was stripped and burned in Oct 8 Project to be determined. Watch for notice at Kiosk or phone Peter Smart a distant era, so has time covered the at 603-323-8666. events of the past with layers of modernity. It has become impossible to know for sure just how far Louis Tainter As the next to last step, in March of years, and have studied the draft went out of his way to help the little 1994 the Council released a recommendations in detail. I would like to hiking club in Wonalancet. Ironically, it is comprehensive package of specific share my present thoughts and opinions. A now the club that serves the lumberman, recommendations which it believes will good beginning has been made, but as we are the custodians of the trails that encourage the long-term protection of the protecting forest lands is a long and lead to his memoriaJ. In a broader sense NFL, and if implemented will sustain the controversial proce:ss. Present it may now be said that we have become cultural and economic character of the recommendations are reasonable and custodians not only of the memorial - region. The strategy detailed in the carefully worded, but bland. They are but of the memory itself. recommendations is based on three designed to find common ground between Douglas Mc Vicar interrelated objectives: to strengthen the members of the environmental community forest-based economy of the region, to who seek action, and members of the foster long-term stewardship of private property rights movement who want no (Continuedfrom Page I) land holdings, and to encourage public part of any state or federal role in In order to thoroughly investigate issues, acquisition of land when that property has protecting NFL. I shall support the the Council outlined eight major work exceptional public values. recommendations at the April listening areas: biological resources, conservation In all the Council makes 33 specific sessions because they are a necessary first strategies, land use conversion, local recommendations -too many and too step. forest based economies, property taxes, detailed to present here. There are several notable omissions in recreation and tourism, state and federal Following two months of public the list of recommendations. (1) The NFL taxes, and a natural and economic comment, review, and rewriting by were studied as a unit unrestricted by resource inventory .Each issue was Council members, final recommendations political boundaries. Protection of studied in detail by a working group of will be released in September 1994 to wildlands in all four states is at stake. The about 20 experts, using research data Congress, governors, local elected forests are contiguous; moose, deer, compiled by professionals hired for the officials, and the general public. robins, and brook trout move freely purpose. During the investigations citizen within the forests, seemingly unconcerned participation was encouraged and utilized. I have made an effort to follow the with state lines. Yet the Council process as it has unfolded throu2h the recommends no joint action by the states, In recent years the appropriation of And then TRACKS. A single track nor continuation of the working funds to the northeastern states has showed a canine arrangement of toes in a relationships initiated in previous been disproportionately small when semicircle around a pad, with the print meetings. The formation of some entity, compared with what has been provided longer than wide. The prints were evenly with participation by members from the other regions of the country. placed and directly in front of one another, indicating a "perfect walker. " four states, broadly representative of the 0 Write to your Congressmen urging people, should be recommended. them to fund the Forest Legacy Dogs give erratic tracks and varied gaits. (2) There is need of a quick response Program more consistently and We were in the fox family. The tracks acquisition program in the northern New adequately. Emphasize the need of: the were recent and had not been enlarged by England states whereby sums of money option of state ownership of melting, so we felt confident in measuring are held in readiness for situations where easements, the option of direct grants them. Five centimeters in length. We forest land comes on the market quickly, to states, payments in lieu of taxes to referred to a wallet size green laminated with little prior warning. The program communities for easements, amending card, on loan from Dick, which was a would resemble that of the Nature the "Purpose" section of the law to compendium of sign information. Try Conservancy, be broadly based, and include timber management, and EMS if you want one. Voila! A gray fox. utilize the resources of area people, that funding of states for monitoring Onward. Snow tunnels, chewed nuts, is, not a national program. easement compliance. tips of hemlock twigs littering the snow. (3) The Council should recommend and Should you wish further information or A pit is dug to seek evidence of a encourage the formation of community assistance, phone or write the WODC subsnow air layer caused by earth action groups such as the Community Newsletter Editor at 603-323-8693. warming, in which rodents travel. Action Task Force, a citizens organization GeorgeE. Zi1Ik No more tracks but a great walk in the of Berlin, NH, which focuses on regional woods on a pleasant day. Questions from issues of concern to the people of us for Dick to ponder. Why do deer rub Northern New Hampshire. To paraphrase the velvet off their antlers? TREKKING AND TRACKING the words of the Coordinator of the Task We even left a track for the denizens to Force, its members believe strongly that When Dick Fortin, the naturalist from contemplate. One of our party stepped off the communities themselves should not Tin Mountain Conservation Center, began the trail and sunk to her waist in snow. A simply wait and see what happens. They talking to a small group of WODC sure sign of a homo sans sapiens. feel that the communities should organize members about bounders, he was not and be proactive in resisting in every way referring to an Englishman who had JohnMersfelder possible the sale of the mills. These are cheated on his wife, but to animals which our jobs, our families, our communities, leap, touch the ground with both forefeet, and we must do everything we can to and then place their hind feet in nearly the LLAMAS ON TRAILS? protect them. same prints. Then again, maybe new On August 7, at 4 p.m. in the Chapel meaning is given when one considers that How can you help protect the NFL? Grove, the topic will be llamas. Deborah bounders are mostly in the weasel family. Here are several suggestions. Obtain a Frock, a resident of Freedom, will copy of the draft recommendations by In the middle of March, with two feet of demonstrate the virtues of llamas as hiking phoning the Northern Forest Lands snow on the ground outside the Cook companions and burden bearers. Council at 603-224-6590. Attend a public Memorial Library in Tamworth, Dick, Llamas are usually placid animals, listening session during April and early surrounded by skulls, bones, and bottles intelligent and appealing. They have a May. Locations, dates, and times, are of scat, gave us a primer on identifying natural curiosity. Watching Deborah with available by calling 603-271-2214 or the signs of animals in their habitats. The her animals, one is aware of her Council. Most importantly, express your field trip which followed presented less enthusiasm, and the understanding gained opinions in a letter to the Northern Forest than perfect tracking conditions. It had by several years breeding and raising Lands Council at 54 Portsmouth Street, been warm the previous day followed by them. Concord, NH 03301. freezing temperatures at night, making the snow too hard for tracks to be easily Llamas have become increasingly The Executive Committee of WODC observed. popular as domestic animals in the past has approved this brief report to ten years in the United States. Deborah members, and suggests: Ragged tips of red maple sprouts which would like to see them used more often. had been chewed by molars, presented the 0 Support the draft recommendations. This is a good opportunity for children first unmistakable sign, although not and adults to learn about the animal. Shall o Write to your Congressmen urging recent, of deer foraging. Given the snow we see llamas on our trails in the future? them to increase Land and Water depths, the deer, growing leaner during Conservation Funds funding to the this hard winter, would be in yards under NFL region. This Congressional fund hemlock trees. Farther along the path, Sally Zillk provides money to the states to bark stripped from trees gave further purchase land, easements, and to evidence of deer struggling for survival. develop outdoor recreational facilities.