![\"\"](\"http:\/\/pnts.org\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/nct_revised_route.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nMap Credit: North Country Trail Association<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nA crew working on the remote Kekekabic Trail in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, which will become part of the North Country Trail with this legislation. Photo Credit: Matt Davis<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Although we still have to make it through the Senate, we\u2019ve jumped our biggest hurdle. It took a long time to get the leadership of the House Natural Resources Committee to see that this legislation doesn\u2019t mandate land acquisition, it isn\u2019t adding to the backlog of maintenance needed in our National Park System, and it is championed by the communities and citizens on the ground, who are the biggest supporters of this change. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Since 2007, we\u2019ve had bills in five different sessions of Congress: 110th, 111th, 113th, 114th, and 115th. The Minnesota \u201cArrowhead\u201d route change was evaluated and identified as the preferred alternative in the National Park Service\u2019s \u201cNortheastern Minnesota Route Assessment,\u201d approved in September 2004, because of its more scenic and sustainable location. The Vermont route addition was evaluated and identified as the preferred alternative in the National Park Service\u2019s Feasibility Study and Environmental Assessment, approved in 2014, which would fulfill the original vision of the National Trails System. <\/span><\/p>\n Rep. Rob Bishop (UT), the Chair of the House Natural Resources Committee, recently told Outside Magazine, \u201cThis bill helps get more Americans outside and is a win for recreation, public access, and the enjoyment of our nation\u2019s beautiful scenic trails. This legislation demonstrates our commitment to working in a bipartisan fashion to enhance public access to public lands.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n