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Success!
Norm Officially completed his Epic solo journey to
the Pacific Ocean. He arrived at the mouth of the Columbia River at
Astoria, OR at 1:15pm Monday September 27th, 2004. He traveled the 3600-mile
westward route of Lewis and Clark in six months and 4 days. See Sept
25th and beyond link for more details and photos. Norm's journals and
photos are archived here for your enjoyment. Stay tuned for many more
photos over the next several months that he will post.
Norm Miller Completes Epic Voyage: Newpaper Article by
the Crawford County Avalanche.
(Norm's boyhood hometown of Grayling, Michigan.)
Click
Here:
All journals and photos are at the bottom of this page:
Help Save a National Landmark!
The Lolo National
Historic Trail is being destroyed by the U.S Forest Service:Clearwater
District in Idaho. This historic trail was used by the Indian Nations
for centuries and followed by Lewis and Clark in 1805-06. The U.S. Forest
Service claims the "original trail" does not exist even though
records and research by many historians and researchers show otherwise.
The Forest Service over the years have destroyed this National Landmark
through "Trail Obliteration Projects" and have "relocated"
the trail and claiming it to be the original historic trail when in
fact it is not. This is
a violation of the National Historic Preservation Act. We are including
a very well written document written by historian and author Gene Eastman
(Bitterroot Crossing: Lewis and Clark Across the Lolo Trail).
A remarkable amount of care and work has gone into this report called
LOLO TRAIL NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK THREATS AND SOLUTIONS By
Gene Eastman. Please take the time to read this report. This relates
to our heritage and Landmarks being preserved and cared for properly.
This document can be found by clicking here.
Above photo is from Wendover Ridge, Idaho and
shows evidence of the U.S. Forest Service Trail Obliteration Projects.
The center trail is the original Lolo Trail followed by Lewis and Clark
in 1805. Note the logs and debris placed in the trail and the "new"
trail constructed to the left edge of the photo. The U.S. Forest Service
claims that the "new" trail is the orginal Lolo Trail. Lewis
and Clark followed century old Indian trails which were typically straight
line trails that followed high ridges such as here on Wendover Ridge.
The original trail matches William Clarks compass bearings recorded
in his journal as well as journal descriptions by Clark and other members
of the expedition. This is only one tiny segment that has been destoyed
by the U.S. Forest Service- which is a violation of U.S Heritage Laws.
The Forest Service claims the original trail does not exist even though
it has been surveyed, researched, mapped, documented, and studied as
far back as the 1866 Bird Truax expedition that mapped the original
Lolo trail. The U.S. Forest Service has "moved" many miles
of the original Lolo Trail to accomodate timber sales, timber management,
and ease for the traveler including horse packers and outfitters. It
would be like moveing the Sistine Chapel in Rome to New Jersey and claiming
it to be the original chapel. The Lolo Trail is the United States oldest
intact Indian trail system and is protected by Heritage Laws but they
are being ignored, violated and detroyed.
I
had the pleasure to hike the rugged Lolo Trail from Lolo Pass to Weippe,
Idaho with the Eastman's. It was a pleasure to walk the original trail
traveled by Lewis and Clark as well as the Native Indians who used the
trail as a major route for hundreds of years. I was appauled at the
destruction of the original trail by the U.S. Forest Service due to
poor timber management, clearcutting, and the relocation of the trail
due to trail obliteration projects. I have included many photos of the
original Lolo Trail here in my updates along with my journal entries.
I will soon include many more photos of the Historic Lolo Trail. The
route that Eastman has documented matches the compass bearings, journal
entries, and maps of William Clark and the Corp of Discovery. The route
also matches with many previous research projects including the 1866
Bird-Truax Expedition of which we also found evidence of which matched
the original maps of that expedition. It is our hopes to inform the
public of the destruction of the Historic Lolo Trail which we hope will
help change Forest Service Policy as well as help to preserve this National
Historic Landmark! Should we build another Mt. Vernon and claim it to
be the original? Do we relocated the Gettysburg Battlefield to Kansas
and claim it to be the original? This is what has happened to the Historic
Lolo Trail which is a violation of National Heritage Laws. Norm Miller
The Quotes listed in my journal
entries by members of the 1804-06
L&C expedition are posted with the
original grammar and spelling errors.
Each section from Lewis and Clarks journals will be posted in italics
Norm's journal entries will be in regular print
Jamie's comments and technical info in blue
Any comments expressed by the author are not necessarily those of the
Lewis & Clark Trail Heritage Foundation or American Rivers Org.
The journey begins.
Departure: March 23, 2004
March 24-27
March 28-30
April 2004April 1-4 |
May 2004May 1-4 |
June 2004June 1-4 |
July 2004July 1-4 |
August 2004Aug 1-4 |
September 2004Sept. 1-4 |
Thank you
I would like to personally thank all
of those who have helped out in some way to make this educational project
a reality. I have been planning steadily now for over 50 months and
this is where I must step away from the dream to be submersed in the
land, water, history and spirit of the Lewis and Clark expedition. There
is a part of me that feels I have been called to relive this journey
and to join once again in this historic undertaking. I will be posting
regular updates and photos as the convenience (or inconveniences) of
technology allow me. I anticipate problems and obstacles to overcome
and will take them one day at a time.
I highly suggest you get a copy of the Lewis & Clark Journals from your local library or bookstore to follow along with the interesting and wonderful passages written by members of the Corp of Discovery in relation to the locations I will be visiting. I hope you invite the spirit of this adventure to fill your life as I have done.
I highly suggest you get a copy of the Lewis & Clark Journals from your local library or bookstore to follow along with the interesting and wonderful passages written by members of the Corp of Discovery in relation to the locations I will be visiting. I hope you invite the spirit of this adventure to fill your life as I have done.
Thanks so much to Hillary Johnson
and Star Web Service's in Livingston, Montana for creating this
unique web site. If it wasn't for Hillary's patience and knowledge,
it never would have come into existence. She taught this computer dummy
a lot about web design. Thanks Hillary! Thanks to CoreComm Communications
and James Robinson in Lansing, Michigan for solving huge logistic and
technical problems by offering a means to post my updates. It always
seems that kindred spirits pull you through at the most trying of times.
Thanks to the discount service provided by Telestial Communications
in supplying a means to send data via a satellite phone for web updates.
Thanks to Kokatat for there generous supply in quality paddling clothing.
Lewis and Clark would be envious of my foul weather clothing! Thanks
to Coleman outdoor products for a new tent, sleeping bag, stove, and
cooks kit. Coleman has provided me with a home away from home. Thanks
to Pelican Cases for providing two waterproof camera and laptop cases.
Without them, my equipment would be ruined! Thanks to Chota Footwear
for the great pair of Nunavut Mukluks. My feet will stay dry in these
great boots! (I hate wet feet!). Thanks to Betty Lou's Inc for the
6-month supply of nutritious and healthy snack foods. I hope they last
more than a week! (Yummy!). Thanks also to Mark Prezedwejewski the new
owner of Kruger Canoes in supplying me with a new rain cover, rudder
cables, backrest, and sunshade. I have faith in the strength and comfort
of your canoes in reaching the Pacific. Every serious paddler should
have one of these boats! Thanks to NRS for supplying me with two pairs
of paddling gloves. I look forward in not having blistered hands. Thanks
to Steve Martens and Iowa Thin Films in supplying me with two portable
solar panels. Without the ability to resupply my high tech gear with
juice, I would never be able to update this web site. Thanks to Mountain
Air Sports in Livingston, Montana for a discount on screen-printing
for my "official expedition t-shirts". Thanks to Sharon Stachlowski
and Signs Now in Bozeman, Montana for the highly visual decal logo you
made for my boat. Your signs really do stand out! Thanks to Bob Zaveral
and ZRE for supplying me with two 7-oz. carbon fiber paddles. These
are the strongest and lightest paddles I have ever used. My arms also
thank you! Thanks to ProTech Skin Care for the 6-month supply of sunscreen,
which will help to keep my face from frying in the hot Dakota sunshine.
Thanks to GlobalStar for supplying me with the use of a satellite phone
and unlimited airtime for the numerous voice communications I will need
along this arduous trek. With so many logistical factors to consider,
your service eliminates many problems along the way. Thanks to Bob and
Annie at Food Works - Natural Foods in Livingston, Montana for the generous
discount on nutritious, organic bulk foods. I could never do this trip
without quality food and nutrition! Thanks for the financial contributions
by Dave & Kathy Fite, Tia Hopkins, Doug Smith, Kimbrough & John
Elstad, Jeff Defeo, Todd & Deb Hanna, Sharie Kepner, Rhea &
Dale Kepner, Vern & Linda Norris, Tom & Karen Metarko. I really
appreciate your contributions and thoughtfulness! Thanks to Deidrea
Fite for helping me with food preparation, moral support, digital camera,
and putting up with my frantic moods and piles of gear all over the
house. Thanks also for encouraging and believing in me. I love you!
Thanks to Verlen Kruger for your inspiration: "If you can dream
it, you can do it!" Verlen, you planted the seeds of adventure
in more than one dreamer besides me! Thanks to all those who have purchased
"official expedition t-shirts". Thanks to Ken Keenan who designed
the logo for the shirts. Thanks to all strangers, friends, and family
members as well as those at American Rivers and the Lewis & Clark
Trail Heritage Foundation for the moral and tech support, and provided
me with information pertaining to this undertaking. Thanks to Sandy
Harrick for helping me see beyond the dream. Your help is greatly appreciated.
Thanks to my late parents Harry and Betty Miller of Grayling, Michigan who showed me the American West at a very early age and allowed me to visit and explore every historic site I begged to see. You will both be with me all the way! Thanks finally to the creator of it all.
Thanks to my late parents Harry and Betty Miller of Grayling, Michigan who showed me the American West at a very early age and allowed me to visit and explore every historic site I begged to see. You will both be with me all the way! Thanks finally to the creator of it all.
