12 Randolph Mountain Club Newsletter “… sharing the collective knowledge of its members …” June 2015 LEAD A TRIP THIS SUMMER! RMC at THE MUSEUM of the WHITE MTS. by Barbara Cutter and Brian Roberts by Judith M. Hudson Finally, summer is almost here! That means it is time to start The RMC and various Randolphians have contributed to the planning the RMC Tuesday and Thursday trips, hence this newest exhibit at the Museum of the White Mountains in FIRST CALL for trip leaders. All are invited to lead a hike Plymouth. Entitled “Trail Clubs: Connecting People with the (or perhaps a canoe trip, bike ride, bird watching or artistic Mountains,” the show features eleven current White expedition). If you can hike, you can lead a hike! Trips are Mountains trail clubs, and will run until March 6, 2016. The scheduled for Tuesdays and Thursdays between July 4th and exhibit is well worth a visit. the end of August. Traditionally, the Tuesday trips are less Exhibit curators Mike Dickerman and Steve Smith visited strenuous than the Thursday outings. Randolph in the summer of 2014 to ask Al and me about While many would-be trip leaders wait until the Tea to sign materials from the RMC’s archive that might be used. What up, we encourage you to sign up as soon as possible, for a did we think would interest the general public? We thought couple of reasons. First, you can beat the rush and get your newsletter readers would be interested in the history of these pick of dates and destinations before others snap them up. items, and how they came to the RMC. How many times have you thought about leading a group to First on our list was the goatskin register that had been Bridal Veil Falls or Puzzle Mountain, only to have someone pinned to the wall of Crag Camp between 1925 and about else volunteer first? Second, you can relax at the Tea and 1931. The supple skin is roughly 4 feet high and 3 ½ feet socialize with your friends, free from fear that the trip chairs wide, with large red letters “CRAG CAMP—Camp will accost you with a sign-up board. Register”; it is covered with partially legible signatures or To sign up, please contact either of the trip co-chairs: initials of more than 300 visitors and the dates they were at Barbara Cutter, (319) 290-4404 or [email protected]) Crag. We have transcribed the names, although some are too and Brian Roberts, (319) 290-4406; or ask us for information faded to decipher. about leading a hike or another type of adventure. We are Continued on page 8 looking forward to seeing you all this summer, and thanks in advance for volunteering! Above: Crag Camp goatskin register. John Hession Above: RMC trip to Mt. Caribou, 2012. B. Cutter photo. photo, courtesy of the Museum of the White Mountains. Also in This Issue: Summer Social Events & Annual Meeting……….….… page 3 Dandelions in the Alpine Zone……………………...… page 9 2015 Trail Crew and Caretakers…...………...……... pages 4, 5 The ‘Randolph Ramble’ ……..…………….……….... page 10 2015 Volunteer Work Trips …………………………… page 6 Trailhead Stewards wanted for Appalachia….….…… page 11 RMC Newsletter June 2015 page 2 From the President … Randolph Mountain Club 2014-2015 Officers, Board of Directors, Spring turns now to summer as we pass into committee chairs and life members June, the snow on the high peaks melts away, and we prepare for another season in Randolph. Welcome back! Our caretakers and crew are President Randy Meiklejohn, Brookline MA setting up and training for camps guests and trail projects, and summer events will kick off th Vice President Bill Arnold, Randolph NH on the 4 of July, with the Kelleys again hosting us for the Tea. There’s more information in this Treasurer Samarjit Shankar, Arlington MA newsletter issue, and on the website, about what is going on in 2015 and how to get involved. Secretary Jenn Scarinza, Randolph NH In my February letter I wrote about our participation in the exhibit at the Museum of the White Mountains in Plymouth, “Trail Clubs: Connecting People with the Mountains”. The title reinforces the Other Directors: Pete Antos-Ketcham, Starksboro VT museum’s message that much of the value of the trail clubs’ work is in George Brown, Gorham NH the shared experiences of club members – the human capital Chris Campbell, Belfast ME underlying the mountain recreation and stewardship work that Benzo Harris, Portland ME continue today. The people I’ve connected with at the museum have Kate Hudson, Pelham MA led to some opportunities and events featured in this newsletter: the Meg Hoffer, North Conway NH “trailhead stewards” invitation by the Forest Service, for the program Barb Phinney, Bozeman MT they would like to expand to the Appalachia trailhead, and our Annual Jim Shannon, North Reading MA Meeting speaker Kim Nilsen, who is the founder of The Cohos Trail Nate Shedd, Gorham NH Association, one of the exhibit’s other trail clubs. (See also page 3.) I Jeff Smith, Berlin NH was going through some RMC files recently and came across a 1997 Ryan Smith, Lynnfield MA Memorandum of Understanding between RMC and TCTA, outlining protocols for routing of their newly proposed trail on parts of two Camps: Pete Antos-Ketcham RMC trails. Fast-forward to April 2015, when we learn that TCTA’s Trails: George Brown work on the Cohos Trail has earned them significant outside grants for Social Events: Barb Phinney and Jenn Scarinza ongoing projects, including $27,555 from the NH Recreational Trails Merchandise: Michele Cormier Program, which has been a source of funding for similar trails Planned Giving: Randy Meiklejohn improvements by the RMC. I’m looking forward to learning more Communications: Samarjit Shankar about the Cohos Trail at our Annual Meeting, and I hope you will join Membership: Michele Cormier me there. Stewardship: Samarjit Shankar Safety: Bill Arnold Within the club, we’ve made some progress with the Planned Giving Stearns Lodge: Paul Cormier Committee, which was established in 2011 to advise the board of Work Trips: Chris Campbell directors on estate planning or bequests to benefit the RMC. The Newsletter: Randy Meiklejohn newly appointed committee consists of directors Jim Shannon and Webmaster: Jeff Smith Kate Hudson, along with myself, and former presidents John Scarinza, Archivist: Al Hudson Jamie Maddock and Ben Phinney. I’m very grateful for the memorial Historian: Judy Hudson gifts and bequests received by the club since last summer, and at the Cartographer: Jon Hall Annual Meeting we can tell you more about how these resources can help sustain the club in the long term. My brother Scott was in Randolph a couple of weeks ago, and sent out Life members: Edith Tucker a photo of the “7” in the Great Gully (below), looking especially Paula Bradley distinct this year. It has always been my favorite giant snow numeral, Bill & Barbara Arnold and this spring I’m taking it as a reminder Al & Judy Hudson of my upcoming year off after six as an Louis & Ann Cutter RMC director, as our by-laws require. I’ve enjoyed the work and getting to know some The mission of the Randolph Mountain Club is of you better since 2009, and as I rest in the to promote the enjoyment of the Randolph area seventh year I’ll be thinking of how I can through hiking, trail development and continue to serve the club in 2016 and maintenance, upkeep of camps and shelters, and beyond. See you soon in Randolph - the sharing of the collective knowledge of its members. www.randolphmountainclub.org 12 RMC Newsletter June 2015 page 3 Summer Social Events New RMC Director By Barb Phinney and Jenn Scarinza th Kate Hudson was appointed as a Saturday, July 4 : Mark and Katie Kelley have graciously director of the club in January invited us back to their barn at 98 Randolph Hill Rd. for the 2015, to fill a vacancy on the annual RMC Fourth of July Tea. Join us from 3:00 to 5:00 board. She is expected to be a PM for punch, iced tea, and delicious baked goods. Catch up nominee for election by the on RMC news, check out merchandise, meet the trail crew and membership to a two-year term caretakers, sign up to lead a hike, reconnect with old friends and at the 2015 Annual Meeting. meet some new ones. Accessible parking is available, and assistance with stairs is provided for those who need it. th Wednesday, August 5 : Don’t miss the summer RMC Kate Hudson has deep roots both in Randolph, where her Gourmet Dinner at Libby’s Bistro in Gorham, 6:00 PM. Many grandparents bought land near Bowman in the 1920’s, and in thanks to owner/chef Liz Jackson for continuing to welcome the the Randolph Mountain Club, through the involvement of RMC. Great dining, and a raffle to support the club! Space is members of her family over many years. Her parents Al & limited: to reserve, contact the Social Events Chairs (below). Judy Hudson and her cousin Jamie Maddock have all served as Thursday, August 6th: The RMC Gourmet Hike, on Pine RMC President, and her uncle Steve Maddock was a club Mountain ledges. Meet at Randolph East at 10:00 AM; ascent director. As a kid in the 1970’s, Kate always found the Charades to be a highlight of the summer, along with the via Ledge Trail. Thanks to the Horton Center, a shorter ascent th will be available for those who wish to take it.