John recently designed a new cross country trail system at Kents Hill. It encompasses approximately eight kilometers with the potential to be expanded to up to twenty. Throughout his time here John's work was noteworthy for its thoroughness, careful planning, and attention to detail. The result is that we have a trail that is the envy of our neighboring schools and which will serve our students for generations.

I would add that John is not only an extremely skilled trail designer but also a very hard worker. Time and again, when it seemed that we were getting bogged down in creating the trail system, John would arrive and infuse enormous energy into the project, personally clearing extensive sections of trail and providing an inspiration to others.

John is also a man of great integrity and warmth. Working with him is not only a professional but a personal pleasure.

I cannot imagine anyone equaling John Morton in abilities as a ski trail designer. Utilizing the insights lifetime on skis, John brings great vision, patience, determination to his work, and the result is sheer artistry. He has my most enthusiastic recommendation.

During the period of 1993 - 1995 Mr. John Morton was the responsible person for the preparation work for the Biathlon-course of the Universiade 1997 in Muju/Chonju, Korea. Winter Universiade is beneath Winter Olympic Games the second biggest sport event all over the World.

The Biathlon courses in Muju had to be planned, constructed and designed from the very beginning. It was the first time that a Biathlon Championship was organized in this region. Mr. Morton chose on the golf course of Muju a system of Biathlon, which allows to combine different laps for all distances of women and men. He also took care that the races became attractive for athletes and spectators.

His solution and his courses suited Universiade very well. The design was excellent and the courses were homologated by the International Federations, FISU (International University. Sport Federation), IBU (International Biathlon Union) and FIS (International Ski Federation). The degree of difficulties correspond to the skill of University students.

The planning was not an easy one, because the competitions must take place together with the cross-country events which took place at the same time in the same region.

The planning was perfect, the courses were very interesting and corresponded with the international requests. The cooperation with Mr. John Morton was very satisfactory. His work was professional.

I am highly recommending Mr. John Morton for developing and designing Biathlon courses.

Fritz Holzer, President FISU Winter Commission

I'd like to take the opportunity to write a letter of reference for Mr. John Morton in his work as a designer of cross-country ski trails.

Mr. Morton designed cross-country ski trails for 1997 Winter Universiade Game in the Muju Resort, Korea. He carefully surveyed the area and designed the best challenging trails which we believe will meet all international homologation specification. Mr. Morton's counsel and recommendation were critical components to our project's success.

I would highly recommend Mr. Morton to those who are interested in developing professionally designed cross-country ski trails. His in-depth experience in the Nordic sports together with genuine environmental concerns will make him a great asset to any ski trail designer.

J S. Yoon, Executive Director

I live in the coastal community of Cumberland, Maine. Several years ago I chaired a committee whose task it was to develop a recreation site plan for a 250-acre parcel of land that the Town had recently acquired. The Town was interested in developing the land to provide athletic fields for use by the Recreation Department as well as the local school district. At the same time, the Town wanted to preserve some valuable open space near the center of a desirable community that has been, and continues to be, under intense residential development pressure.

As a committee, our vision was to create a recreation complex that provided high quality athletic fields carefully placed in a pastoral landscape of fields and woods. Additionally, we wanted to create a multi-use trail system that would provide public access to all comers of the property while also serving as a competition site for cross-country running and Nordic skiing. As soon as we identified trails as a key feature of the site, we knew we wanted John Morton to be the resource to design those trails.
With his customary warmth, easy going manner, and professionalism, John worked seamlessly with a group that included civil engineers, landscape architects and the Town's public works director to design a trail system that would make optimal use of the available landscape. Today, this site is known as the Twin Brook Recreation Area. The centerpiece is a beautifully laid out 1 O-kilometer trail system that weaves through the fields and woods and crosses streams.

John's trails receive daily use by dog walkers, high school cross-country runners and recreational Nordic skiers. Twin Brook has been the site of countless running and skiing events. Next year the trail system will play host to the NCAA Division 3 Northeast Regional Cross-Country Championships and the year after the NCAA Division 3 National Cross-Country Championships.

The Town of Cumberland is justifiably proud of Twin Brook, which has become a model that other greater Portland communities are seeking to follow. The Town is also indebted to John Morton for bringing to life a trail system which receives a variety of uses from a broad cross section of the community. I would heartily recommend John as a resource with vision, a keen appreciation of the natural landscape, and the ability to get things done.

John Eldredge, Chairman, Cumberland Town Lands and Conservation Commission