Joan Young Interview

opportunities left. We’ve already had the “First Woman” Astronaut,Supreme Court Justice and so on. How does it feel to be the “First Woman” to hike the NCT?

JOAN: Well, I’m not sure that this “first” is in the same category as the ones you mentioned, but it does feel great. I’m known for seldom finishing things that I start, so being able to stick with this long enough to complete my quest is extremely satisfying.

TMAN: At what point did you set the goal of completely hiking the North Country Trail, and at what point did you realize that you could be the first woman to hike it?

JOAN: For the first few years after I discovered the trail in 1988 I only thought of sampling some of the more interesting locations, and those close to where I live. However, in 1995 that changed. Three friends and I had gone to the western end of the trail to sample the prairies. We were being interviewed for a newspaper article, and I suddenly realized that I wanted to see all of the trail, not just samples. So my friend and hiking buddy, Marie Altenau, and I began hiking a new portion of the trail each year. But my goal was always to really experience the trail and its environs in depth, not to do it quickly.

However, around 2006 I began to notice that no other woman had walked the whole thing. The first person to follow the trail was a woman, Carolyn Hoffman, but she did so before very much of it was really a trail. She rode a bicycle for significant road portions. Sue Lockwood had walked 2800 miles with Ed Talone, the NCT’s first thru-hiker. Even more significantly, no other woman was even working on hiking the NCT.

After a couple more years, when nothing had changed, and I had added even more miles, I realized that I could actually be the first woman to complete it on foot. I decided that if I heard of another woman who was setting out to hike it that I could increase my pace a bit and actually be the first to finish. That’s exactly what happened when Bonita Curtner (Mother Goose) set out from North Dakota in the spring of 2009. Her intention was to hike the entire North Country Trail over two years.

At that point I had only about 850 miles to go. So I increased my hiking time and did 500 of them in 2009. Mother Goose decided not to return to her NCT quest in 2010, but by then I was locked in to a plan, and I completed my final 350 miles in 2010.

TMAN: Since you are a Biologist by trade were a wetland engineer for a time, you must hike the trail a little bit differently than other hikers. What are some of the most interesting plants that you have encountered on the trail? How does this change your perspective?

JOAN: Hiking with me can be a test for my companions! In some ways I was born in the wrong century. I would have made a good 19th century Naturalist. I like to learn as much as I can about plants, animals, the geology... all of it. But plants are my favorites. I’m always hunting for plants that I haven’t seen before, or are in a different stage of their life cycle. We’ve now seen most of the varieties of northern orchids. We’ve discovered rare horned bladderworts and seven-sided pipewort. Any hike where I see a new (to me) plant is a roaring success.

Since I’m focused on herbaceous plants I’m often looking down. But I have another hiking friend who is always looking at the trees. She’s taught me lots about identifying them by the bark. Other friends are more interested in birds or rocks. So there is always a learning experience. That’s important to me.

I suppose all of this means that although I’m always in awe of gorgeous vistas and great scenery, they aren’t required for me to have a really good time on the trail. Nevertheless, the NCT isn’t lacking in great scenery.

TMAN: We met briefly on the Kekekabic Trail in 2009. Who are some of the most interesting people that you’ve crossed paths with on the Trail

JOAN: Well, Todd, you are right up there! Not many people that I’ve met have kept in touch the way you have. Actually, we’ve met very few other hikers over the years. The NCT seems to still be quite a secret despite the efforts of a lot of people to raise awareness of the trail. I do think that recently there is finally beginning to be more interest.

We’ve been aided by many “trail angels,” from frail old women to local politicians to rugged construction guys. Hikers are always interested in people like that!

One of the closest friends I’ve made as a result of my trail adventures is Bill Menke. When I discovered the trail he was working for the National Park Service as the Manager for the NCT. Bill has always been tremendously helpful to anyone interested in supporting the trail. He had hiked quite a few miles of it, and we began a friendly rivalry to see who would finish first. Bill retired from the NPS and now works part time for the North Country Trail Association as a Regional Coordinator. One would be hard pressed to find a better advocate for the NCT than Bill. (I finished first... he got sidetracked with grandchildren.)

There are seven people who have traveled with me on long hikes. They have ended up being good friends... trail experiences do that to you; you always have things in common. They are Marie Altenau, who has hiked 2660 miles of the NCT with me. David Castro, Mathilda Nance, Bess Arden, Maggie Scheid, Lyle Bialk, and Ed Morse.

TMAN: What was your biggest challenge in hiking the trail?

JOAN: The biggest challenge for anyone who wants to hike long distances on the NCT is the planning logistics. There are not as yet consistent maps or a guide for the entire trail. The trail passes through over 150 different management units, and each of these have their own rules for activities and camping. Right now, there is probably no way to backpack the entire length and camp legally each night. That is being worked on, but it’s going to be decades before there are sufficient places to camp. Thru-hikes really require support at this point. We did long stretches working from a base camp and spotting ourselves each day.

TMAN: Your book North Country Cache documented your NCT hikes from 1988 to 2003. Will there be a second Cache for 2004 to 2010?

JOAN: Yes. I’m working on the sequel, entitled North Country Quest, and hope to have it on the market in 2012. Meanwhile, I’ve published an eBook of essays (which first appeared as columns in my local newspaper) about the last two years of this adventure. It’s called Get Off the Couch with Joan, and is available at http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/sharkbytes

TMAN: You’ve already ridden a bicycle from coast to coast, and now have completed the NCT. What is your next goal in the outdoors? Will you be hiking some other National Trails?

JOAN: I’m really in love with the North Country Trail. I want to keep working to improve and promote it. I know that with the diversity of experiences to be found along its length that it has the potential to become a highly popular trail. I like being a part of its growing-up years.

But I’m not about to give up hiking and playing outdoors. I have quite a few ideas lurking around the edges of my mind. I’ve always had a dream to swim across Cayuga Lake in New York, where I grew up. I’m thinking that a long bike ride, a long hike, and a long swim would form some sort of lifetime triathlon of experiences. But, the truth is, I haven’t quite decided yet what will be next.

TMAN: Joan, please add any other additional comments that you would like to make.

JOAN: I would encourage anyone to sample the North Country Trail. Lots of people discount the NCT, saying that it’s not finished, it goes through towns, or it follows other trails. None of these things has anything to do with the quality of experience that can be found in many places. It goes through 10 National Forests/ Grasslands, numerous state forests, parks, wildlife preserves, natural areas, county forests, etc. There is a great variety of ecosystems and geology to be sampled. And although it is a National Scenic Trail, anyone with an interest in history is going to fall in love with the opportunities to get a close-up look at our nation’s past as they follow the route. My tagline for my writing and my life is “Get Off The Couch,” and this means you!

TMAN: Joan, thanks for being such a great supporter of the trail. You’re currently on the Long Distance Hiker Committee of the NCT and you are a key person in the Spirit of the Woods Chapter of the NCT. You’ve been such a great promoter of the trail with your books and the North Country Trail News Blog. You truly are an inspiration to everyone out there working on and hiking the trail. Thank You!!!

--

For more information about Joan Young, check out the following websites

visit www.booksleavingfootprints.com to buy North Country Cache: Adventures on a National Scenic Trail

visit www.getoffthecouch.info to learn about quiet, muscle-powered recreation opportunities in West Michigan