While Covid Closed Doors, a Mid-Hudson Hiking Club Flourished
As businesses closed their doors and people shut themselves inside when the pandemic began, nature returned to what it was before industry and construction dominated most parts of the globe. Eventually, people yearned for activities that would break them out of the claustrophobia of the lockdown, looking for anything that could reconnect them with what life was like before COVID had begun.
One of the few options was hiking, which allowed for easy social distancing and eliminated the worry of proper ventilation. As the general public’s interest in hiking and the outdoors grew, so did the Mid-Hudson chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club.
“The membership did go up,” said the Clubs Chair Carla Barrett. “It went up quite significantly. I would say at least by 25 percent. It’s been very good.”
Those new members, as well as the old, partake in several activities all across the Mid-Hudson region. Some of those activities include snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, paddling, and mid-week hikes. The association also hosts park cleanups and promotes conservationism, teaching others what it means to leave no trace.
Naturally, with an uptick in members, more activities were needed to account for the increase in interest.
“We have a really great group of experienced leaders,” said Barrett. “They have really stepped up and they are actually offering more than they ever did because they see the need. And without even really being pushed my leaders have decided on their own to at least, once or twice a month, offer beginner hikes as well. So, we really have more of a variety than we’ve ever had.”
Those leaders are volunteers, experienced hikers looking to be a part of a community while also teaching newcomers the ins-and-outs of hiking. This is the main reason why many of these members decided to take a leadership role, as it’s an extremely rewarding experience.
“It’s better to hike with people than anything else,” said hiking leader and Nominating Committee Chair Lalita Malik. “That was part of the main reasons for becoming a leader. It gives like minded people to go out with.”
Hiking in the Mid-Hudson doesn’t come without struggles, though. Of course, the pandemic was still ongoing when the club began to resumed activities about four months after the lockdown began in March. A whole new set of rules were put in place and they constantly needed to be adapted as more and more was learned about the virus.
“Hand sanitizer, masks and gloves became necessary gear. Masking up and stepping off trail when others passed was the norm,” said leader and Outings Chair Ginny Fauci. “It worked out well. Now we follow CDC guidelines and require everyone to be fully vaccinated. We also allow ten to twelve hikers.”
Another added struggle is that, with more unexperienced hikers, there has been an increase in litter left on trials. This was especially true early in the pandemic, when many new and unexperienced hikers began to hit the trails.
“We did notice in 2020, especially in the summer of 2020, that there was a lot of trash,” said Barrett. “That tells you that the people who were coming there did not yet understand that these trails weren’t just another park. No one is paid to come clean it up.”
There have also been issues with amateur hikers walking off of trails, which can have a dangerous impact on natural plant life and the sediment of the ground. Thankfully, as time passed and new hikers gain more experience and knowledge, these issues began to subside.
Now, as more people return to work each day and as restrictions are lifted thanks to vaccines, there is the possibility that interest in hiking will diminish. Barrett and the rest of the Mid-Hudson Adirondack Mountain Club hope that isn’t the case, as having the opportunity to teach new hikers about the outdoors and experiencing nature’s beauty with others is what the club is all about.
