Howard Mcdonald There Are a Fortunate Few Who Know Manager
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FIRST QUARTER 2012 Quarterly News Bulletin and Hike Schedule P.O. Box 68, Asheville, NC 28802 • www.carolinamountainclub.org • e-mail: [email protected] The trail maintainer's trail maintainer Howard McDonald There are a fortunate few who know Manager. In this last position, he their role in life, and the world is designed and built shelters, privies, enriched because of it. In a club in bridges, and installed bear cables. He which trail maintainers are a breed was always able to do what had to be apart, Howard McDonald is a trail done in the most cost-efficient man- maintainer’s trail maintainer. ner. Howard has accumulated about Howard has been A.T. supervisor, 8,000 trail maintenance hours. At our President of CMC, and Trails Facilities recent Annual Dinner, he was given our Distinguished Service Award. In 2011 he was given the President’s Howard receives the Distinguished Service Award Call to Service Award, from Becky Smucker at the Annual Dinner. which is the supreme volunteer award in the the Tennessee border, we encountered Howard nation and comes with alone returning from inspecting a shelter. a congratulatory letter Someone asked him if he knew that the club from President Obama. was doing this hike that day. Howard made it On a cold winter immediately clear that he didn’t read the hike day several years ago schedules and always scheduled his own hikes. while hiking on the A.T. Howard has always walked his own walk and Howard with the President's Call to Service Award, our own walks are better because of it. signed by Barack Obama. between Hot Springs and COUNCIL CORNER It is with great tive is to maintain the 92 miles of the CMC can continue to serve our approximately pleasure that I Appalachian Trail assigned to the Club 800 members is if we, the members, actively begin my first term by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy participate. What, you don’t feel confident as president of the and to develop and maintain 140 miles about leading a hike? How about leading the CMC. I will be of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail. Over effort to recruit new volunteers for our many working with the 100 volunteer section maintainers and activities? You don’t feel strong enough to Council to better 55 volunteer crew members work dili- take on trail maintenance? Maybe you could serve our members, gently to fulfill this objective. Other volunteer instead to help maintain and enhance but we need your CMC members volunteer with the our new website. If you care about the CMC, help in this task. Conservation Committee to track and are willing to help, and have the time, we want The Club’s primary objective is to advise CMC members about issues that you! Contact me at [email protected] explore and enjoy the mountains of may impact hiking in the region. Still or 828-505-0471 and I’ll identify a role that’s western NC by hiking their trails. We others volunteer to serve on the CMC just right for you. strive to meet this objective by offer- governing Council or one of the Club’s Early in the new year you will be given ing over 180 hikes a year. Because we committees. Most recently volunteer the opportunity to share your suggestions and are an all-volunteer organization we efforts led to development of our new expectations for the CMC through a short on- depend on members to lead our hikes. website and accompanying databases. line survey. Be on the lookout for it in eNews During 2011, 65 volunteers led 185 I hope by now you have caught and on our Facebook page. hikes – individually or in pairs, one hike on to the theme of this message – I look forward to seeing you on the trail! or many hikes. A second critical objec- VOLUNTEER! The only way that the – Marcia Bromberg 1 CMC "packs" Pack's with over 100 members Three standing ovations highlighted a willing volunteers in a variety of capac- Barth Brooker, outgoing President, classy and celebratory annual dinner and ities. Lenny will be happy to talk to read the slate of officer nominees for meeting enjoyed by over 100 CMC members you. 2012-2013, and all were unanimously and guests. Recognition and awards next took elected: President Marcia Bromberg; The warm ambience of The Century Room the stage. Peter Barr recognized several Vice President Don Gardner; Treasurer in Pack’s Tavern with its large windows set in hikers who had completed one or more Jim Ariail; Jim Reel, Councilor for brick walls framing a beautiful view of Pack of CMC’s Challenge Programs. Then Hiking; Jim Spicer, Councilor for Square Park in downtown Asheville set the Becky Smucker introduced this year’s Education; Barbara Morgan, Councilor stage for an evening of laughter with friends, recipients of CMC’s most prestigious for Membership; Lee Silver, Councilor a colorful buffet dinner, a brief business awards. The Award of Appreciation at Large. Good luck to our new leader- meeting, awards, and a terrific speaker. went to Stuart English for his many ship! And thank you very much, Barth, The bartenders stayed busy during a live- years of work as editor of Let’s Go. The for your leadership which was likened ly social hour finally reined in by Marcia Distinguished Service Award went to to “herding cats,” a thankless job and Bromberg, who planned and executed a fine Howard McDonald for his thousands of one you did well. evening. Diners enjoyed a buffet dinner of hours of trail building expertise. Both The evening’s grand finale was chicken and sides, a crunchy green bean and men are worthy of their enthusiastic Charles Maynard’s talk and slide show. tomato salad and scrumptious mini brownies, standing ovations. Maynard, a teacher, author, storyteller, followed by some necessary business. Becky thanked the people who are and hiker with an enduring love affair Lenny Bernstein approached the micro- leaving Council as their terms expire with our mountains, told the tale of phone to make the first, but certainly not – Becky Smucker, Charlie Ferguson, two best friends who hiked together the last, plea to volunteer for the July 19-26, and Ashok Kudva. Everyone in the over the course of their lives. Maynard 2013, Appalachian Trail Conservancy bienni- club owes each of these members a focused on Beeson (who always wore al conference, to be held at Western Carolina huge and hearty pat on the back. Their a necktie when hiking) and Mathis’ University. This event, sponsored by CMC behind-the-scenes work is what keeps eight-day backpack over the crestline and four other regional organizations, needs our organization strong. Kudos to all! of the Smokies in 1914. Armed with a canvas tent, a cast iron skillet, canned food, and a wooden camera on a tripod, this duo trekked in an era before there were trails. They kept a journal, which included references to getting lost daily, and they took photos, gorgeous photos. These photos, which Maynard flashed on a big screen, were phenom- enal in their beauty and their sense of the times. These pictures are a treas- ure! Maynard challenged everyone to get out and experience “interruptions of life” like Beeson and Mathis did which keep us connected to our natural 2012 Council members (l to r) are Barth Brooker, Marcia Bromberg, Pete Peterson, Danny world and also to introduce our chil- Bernstein, Jim Ariail, Jim Spicer, Stuart English, Peter Barr, Don Gardner and Tish Desjardins. dren to the beauties of nature. What an inspirational speaker! Not surprisingly, New trail open on MST near Raleigh Charles Maynard received a standing ovation as this wonderful evening drew The following is an excerpt from Kate hikers with backpacks who are explor- to its close. Dixon’s recent article in the Raleigh News ing our beautiful state – one step at a and Observer: time. How to join the CMC This week the city of Raleigh opened Approximately 530 miles of the MST 1. Go to www.carolinamountainclub.org what will be a 28-mile trail along the Neuse are now complete. By the end of 2012, 2. Click on Join (top left) or Join CMC! River. The Neuse River Greenway is a we expect that number to grow to 610 (right center). significant accomplishment in itself, but it miles with new trail openings near 3. You will see instructions for joining online or via mail. is also a great addition to North Carolina’s Boone, Pilot Mountain, Greensboro, or ... write to us at Mountains-to-Sea Trail. Raleigh has asked Burlington, Hillsborough, Durham and CMC, PO Box 68, the state parks system to designate the Clayton, in addition to Raleigh. Asheville, NC 28802 Neuse Greenway as part of the MST. Soon Kate Dixon is executive director of and we'll mail you an Raleighites out for a stroll will encounter Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail. application 2 TRAIL MAINTENANCE CHALLENGE PROGRAMS P400, WC100 This loop hike is scheduled for our All members are encouraged to participate SB6K For hiking all 40 peaks above 6000’. coldest month to see 50-ft. frozen cascades along in trail maintenance activities. Non-members Contact Peter Barr, [email protected] the closed BRP. We’ll do a two-mile climb up to are invited to try it a few times before decid- P400 For hiking every trail in Pisgah Ranger the MST and some gentle MST hiking before our lunch spot with great views of the mountains. ing if they want to join the Club and be a regu- District.