July 16, 2024 • 26 mins
For this episode, I hit the trails with The Cleveland Hiking Club to discover what drives this all-volunteer-run organization with over 1,200 members. The answer? Cool people who are passionate about encouraging and promoting outdoor recreation and making it accessible to anyone who wants to join in. In my interview with the club's Community Engagement Coordinator, Kara Girvin, and David Schiraldi of the Pathfinder Committee, we speak about finding adventure and friendship on the trails and how hiking and spending time outdoors benefits us mentally and physically. Club members lead hikes year-round every day for all levels of hikers. You will find them in the Metroparks, in cities, in our national park, and even in other countries. I recently joined a club excursion to the New River Gorge National Park with 50 other hikers. There were ten hikes over a three-day weekend, and towards the end of this episode, you will hear from some of the members I met on the trail. Join us, experience a hike or two, and check out this welcoming, vibrant community. Anyone 18 and older can hike with the Cleveland Hiking Club. To qualify as a member, one must complete six hikes a year and pay a small fee. Once a member, all miles are logged, and milestones are celebrated. Some members have hiked over 50,000 miles with the club, demonstrating the enduring power of walking together in nature.
Resources:
About the Cleveland Hiking Club
Join the Cleveland Hiking Club
Hiking Schedule
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Diane Bickett (00:04):
You're listening to EcoSpeak CLE, a podcast for
the eco-curious in NortheastOhio.
My name is Diane Bickett and myproducer is Greg Rotuno.
Together we speak with localsustainability leaders and
invite you to connect, learn andlive with our community and
planet in mind.
A note about today's podcast Irecorded this episode during a
(00:26):
series of hikes I took recentlywith the Cleveland Hiking Club,
both in the Cleveland MetroParks and on an excursion to the
New River Gorge.
Greg was on his honeymoon, so Igrabbed our portable recorder
and hit the trail to speak withclub members and club leaders.
This remarkable club wasstarted more than 100 years ago
and today has over 1,200 members.
Some of those members havelogged over 50,000 miles.
(00:49):
If you want to find out how tojoin a hike today or any day, go
to clevelandhikingcluborg for alist of hikes, membership info,
history and more.
I hope to see you on the trail.
Hello friends, one of myfavorite quotes is from John
Muir, who said of all the pathsyou take in life, make sure a
few of them are dirt.
Now I'm a lover of hiking, sowhen my cousin invited me to be
(01:12):
a guest on an excursion to theNew River Gorge with the
Cleveland Hiking Club, I jumpedat the chance.
I've always been curious aboutthe hiking club.
I've heard about the club, I'veseen groups of them out and
about, so this was a chance forme to see if I wanted to join.
Well, a month later, I'm on myway to becoming a member and I'm
speaking today with two leaders, two hike leaders and
(01:33):
volunteers with the hiking club,kara Girvin and David Chiraldi.
And Kara is a communityengagement coordinator for the
hiking club and Dave does somestuff with scheduling hikes or
something.
David Schiraldi (01:48):
We have what's called the Pathfinder Committee
and we're responsible forgetting the schedule out every
month Awesome.
Diane Bickett (01:53):
So we just finished a brisk five-mile hike
in the Cleveland Metro ParkSouth Chagrin Reservation.
So please stay with us to hearall about this 105-year-old
volunteer-run organization, andwe'll also hear from some of the
members I've met on the trailso far.
So welcome Kara, welcome David.
Thank you, thanks for takingsome time.
(02:13):
You probably want to get homeand have breakfast and take a
shower, but it's a beautiful day.
Tell us, you know.
I understand that the ClevelandHiking Club was started in 1919
.
Correct.
And I think that the ClevelandHiking Club was started in 1919.
Correct.
And I think that's just such acool thing.
I can't help but wonder youknow what the impetus was for
that and what hiking might havelooked like back then?
Kara Girvin (02:34):
Well, I think back in the day and you know people
liked to get outdoors.
You know being outdoors was agreat way to stay healthy and it
still really is.
But the club, interestingly, wasfounded by two women awesome.
And they had their firstmeeting um fairly early in the
year, if I recall, and pulledtogether a bunch of their
(02:58):
friends and said let's go hiking, and they did just that.
Um, the club almost didn'tsucceed at first.
From what I understand and alot of this has just been passed
down over time Oral history butyou know we were going into
some difficult times in theUnited States but people carried
(03:20):
on and it has held on.
Now this is our 150thanniversary this year,
congratulations.
And I think if you look at ourdues, our inflation has stayed
well below the national average.
Yeah, it's not bad, no, I thinkwe started at like $2 a year,
which back then was a fair sumof money.
Yeah, it's $35 now yeah,exactly.
David Schiraldi (03:41):
So if you put $2 in the stock market, then
it'd be worth more than $35.
Diane Bickett (03:44):
Definitely $35 a year to become a member and you
have 1,200 or so members we do.
That's correct, amazing, and tokeep an organization going that
long on a volunteer basis andto grow over time is super
awesome.
So let's talk about how youbecome a member, because there's
a little bit of a process.
(04:05):
I understand.
When I went on the New RiverGorge trip, I was able to meet
the entire requirement in theone weekend, but it's six hikes
right.
You have to do with the hikingclub within a year period.
David Schiraldi (04:18):
That's right.
So at the start of each hike wehave what's called a circle up,
and so that's where the leaderexplains what's going to be done
sort of make sure everyoneunderstands the terrain and the
speed and so forth and thencollects little, either little
cards with your, your name andand some contact information, uh
, on them, and there's a boxthat's to check either member or
(04:38):
visitor, and so if you're avisitor, we ask are you thinking
about joining?
If so, that information ispassed on to the membership
committee and they keep track,and once you've done that six
times, then you receive a packetin the mail with all the
information about it and ask foryou to pay dues, and at that
(04:58):
point then you have all of themembership privileges.
Kara Girvin (05:04):
Which are many there are quite a few privileges
.
It's surprising, um what thisorganization do ceases to amaze
me.
They put out a newsletter everymonth.
We have several excursionsgoing on now that we're
post-covid again.
Um, this year you mentioned youdid the new river gorge hike,
but we've already had a groupcome back from greece, um, back
(05:29):
from well that last fall theywent to machu picchu yes, thank
you they're preparing next monthto climb mount blanc in france
uh, they just posted anexcursion to Spain to hike the.
Camino, the Primitivo, yeah.
David Schiraldi (05:50):
So there's a group.
Diane Bickett (05:51):
So this is a global Cleveland Hiking Club
with a global reach.
Yeah, very much so.
David Schiraldi (05:55):
Yeah, and they go to Colorado and do the
national parks out there as welland things like that.
And then there are about 20hikes a day, and so you have a
schedule and you can figure outwhere you want to go, and it's
all around you know what eastand west, north and south and
fast and slow and so kind oftailored to what your needs are,
(06:16):
what your interests are we tryto have a hike for all levels of
hikers, anyone who really wantsto get outside.
Kara Girvin (06:24):
Hikes can be as low as one milers and those are for
some of our folks who areeither aging out of their
traditional old days of hikingor returning from an injury or
illness, the one milers.
You may see canes and walkers.
It's far more common to seethree milers, five milersers,
seven-milers.
(06:45):
Dave leads a 10-miler throughgood weather and that's a very
energetic hike with three, fourhills of consequence.
David Schiraldi (06:52):
Three big ones, the three biggest ones in North
Chagrin, yeah.
Diane Bickett (06:55):
So, dave, you and I got to talk while we were on
the trail today and you said youjoined a little shortly before
you retired and how good it'sbeen for you to kind of fill
your days with outdooractivities in the morning.
Add some structure to your day.
How long have you been, whendid you join as a member and how
many miles do you have?
David Schiraldi (07:16):
Okay, so I've been in the club for about four
and a half years.
I actually got my membershippackage the Monday after
Thanksgiving in 2019,.
I guess, and I was preparing toretire and I played hooky for an
(07:40):
afternoon and took a hike on aThursday and said, oh, this is a
lot of fun.
And that was number one of six.
And the next two weeks poundedout the other five and got my
package right at Thanksgiving.
So I am about a week away fromhitting 7,000 miles in the club.
So that's about 7,000 miles infour and a half years.
So I do 140, 150 miles a month,typically five or six mornings
(08:07):
a week.
And yeah, you know, when peopleretire there's always this
question what are you going todo to fill your time?
Because you used to work 120hours a week and if you go on a
hike, you get up, have breakfast, get in the car, drive to a
metro park and then hike for acouple of hours and drive home.
That is your morning.
So I mean you leave right afterbreakfast, you get home right
(08:28):
in time for lunch.
So it imposes a great deal ofstructure on your week and for
me that's great because then Ican engage in my other hobbies
and life and so forth for therest of the day, but not
wandering around the housewondering what you want to do or
watching TV or something.
Diane Bickett (08:46):
Kara, is the club just for retirees?
Oh, absolutely not.
Kara Girvin (08:50):
I didn't think so we have all ages and some people
will kind of come and go, ifyou will.
We'll have some people whostart hiking very young in the
club and then they move out oftown or they have to get busy
with other life expectations andduties for a while and they
return to the club.
But we're absolutely open toall ages and all styles of
(09:16):
hiking.
We have fast hikes, we haveenergetic hikes, we have leisure
hikes and we have dog hikes.
I have to call my dog yeah, tedis joining us.
Diane Bickett (09:28):
Ted has joined us on our hike today.
So hikes dogs are welcome onhikes as long as they're well
behaved and they're it doesn'tspecifically say no dogs right,
hardly any, I mean, there's just.
David Schiraldi (09:37):
There's just a couple hikes each week that are
no dogs yeah almost all, and youknow, building on the age and
group, we have a lot of we, thegroup.
We have a lot of healthprofessionals.
We have a lot of nurses,practicing nurses, who are in
the club and so whatever theirday off is, we see them.
Diane Bickett (09:52):
They're on their feet all day and then they go do
a hike on their day off.
David Schiraldi (09:56):
Well, they want to get out in the fresh air,
and so forth.
Yeah good point and in additionto the club members, we also
have people who bring theirguests along.
Addition to the club members,we also have people who bring
their guests along, so someonewill bring their, their children
, their adult children, uh, youknow the kids.
The kids and grandkids arecoming in for the weekend and
we'll see them on the hikes with, with mom or dad so who's your?
Diane Bickett (10:17):
do you know your old, how old your oldest member
is and how young your youngestmember is?
I do not.
David Schiraldi (10:24):
Well, I know we have members in their 90s
Amazing, yeah.
I mean I think like 94 or soand these are people who
actually go out and hike threemiles.
Diane Bickett (10:36):
Okay.
David Schiraldi (10:37):
It's just you know it's inspiring.
Greg Rotuno (10:40):
Yeah.
David Schiraldi (10:40):
And we have actually one of my favorite hike
leaders that I go with veryfrequently.
I found out he was 83 and I wasshocked because he looks like
he's 50.
Kara Girvin (10:47):
Yeah, I'd like to say we're ageless.
David Schiraldi (10:51):
Some of us, hiking makes you ageless, that's
a good.
Diane Bickett (10:54):
that should be your tagline for your club.
Well, from a health point, ofview, it certainly helps.
David Schiraldi (10:59):
I don't know who our youngest is.
I mean, we have you have to be18 right to join.
I think that's one of therequirements.
That's right, yeah, and I don'tknow any, and currently I don't
know anyone in their 20s.
They probably are, but I I wecertainly have.
We have some.
Kara Girvin (11:14):
I know people in their 30s who are members, and
they are, of course, working,and so we tend to see them on
the weekend more and so eveninghikes, evening hikes, but our
hikes start at 7 in the morningand they end around 9 at night,
stepping off at like 7 in theevening.
Diane Bickett (11:29):
Yeah, yeah, what I learned my first hike was you
have hikes every day of the year.
The only reason you wouldcancel a hike is if it's
lightning, and there's usually20 hikes a day to pick from,
like Summit Metro Parks,cleveland Metro Parks, Jaga,
cvmp, lake Lorain, so it'sreally all over Northeast Ohio.
Kara Girvin (11:52):
Town hikes, sidewalk hikes, trail hikes,
bridal path hikes.
Off-tra town hikes.
Sidewalk hikes, trail hikes,bridal path trikes off trail,
off trail hikes for theadventurers down in the national
park our safety is our priority.
You can't hike if you're injuredand so nobody wants to see
anybody injured and we'll jokeabout some of our hikes, or you
(12:13):
know, it can be really muddy.
I think mud and loose leaves orice can be your worst enemy if
any time we get out there andthe conditions are such that we
don't feel we're safe, sothunder, lightning, too much ice
we've been out here when thisis an ice rink, um limbs coming
off of trees, we're going to getinside yeah or we're going to
(12:35):
shorten the hike and get it to asafe area of the park.
David Schiraldi (12:40):
Yeah, very much so, and even during the hike.
So if there's even an energetichike where we get up to a
certain mountain or hill orsomething, the hike leaders, if
it's not a typical route, thehike leaders will stop and say
is everyone comfortable withthis?
Absolutely.
If you're not, here's theworkaround.
(13:02):
You can go down this trailabout 200 yards and there's a
picnic bench.
Wait for us, we'll be back downthere in 10 minutes.
And so we're not going to askanyone to do something they're
uncomfortable with.
Diane Bickett (13:16):
So every hike has a hike leader.
Yes, both of you are leaders,so I think that makes it very
accessible for people who aren'tfamiliar with all the trails
around here or where to go, oreven they've never been on a
hike.
So I know that there's always aleader who will, you know, plot
the route and someone makingsure that you're not falling
(13:38):
behind, right well, I thinkthat's one of the cares laughing
because we got a little littleoff today.
We found a new trail today.
Kara Girvin (13:46):
Yes, we did um, and it is truly a trail we weren't
making.
Diane (club member) (13:51):
We were not bushwhacking let's be clear.
Kara Girvin (13:54):
Um, you know, I think a lot of us join this club
because we want to get off themain apt all-purpose trails, the
paved trails, and we want tosee different parts of our parks
.
We are so fortunate to have thenational park just south of us
and our metro parks.
It's such a gift.
(14:14):
It's amazing, A hidden treasurein my opinion and we've got
people who've been with thisclub for years.
They know the flora, they knowthe fauna, a wealth of knowledge
, and they will get you out andseeing things you've absolutely
never seen.
And I also want to point out,you don't have to become a
(14:36):
member of the hiking club tohike with a club good point a
lot of people do because theywant access to a campground that
we have.
They want that we use as a club, not individually.
They want access to thenewsletter and the excursions.
But a lot of people a friend ofmine that's still working says
(14:58):
I just am not going to hikeenough right now to join, so I
will join at a later time.
And she'll have another sixmiles because it has to be in a
12 year calendar month and youhave to join in at that 12
months, then Okay, not calendarmonth, 1212, rolling month year
so that really is in keepingwith your mission, which I think
(15:20):
you mentioned was to promoteoutdoor recreation,
predominantly through hiking,yeah, and be very inclusive and
accessible for anyone who wantsto join in and I should also
point out we very much also liketo give back to our community.
(15:40):
We have helped make new trailsin working with other groups in
the region.
We help maintain some veryspecific trails, one in the
Cuyahoga National Valley, andit's just slipping my mind right
now what trail that is oh, it'sright by the Boston Store.
Yeah, it begins with an H.
David Schiraldi (15:58):
Okay, well, actually I think it's actually
the one I worked on was theSanford Trail.
Kara Girvin (16:02):
Oh yes, sanford Trail is one of them.
David Schiraldi (16:05):
And you you know we go out there once a
month with shovels and so forthand do maintenance in
collaboration with the rangers.
Diane Bickett (16:16):
I love it and that I think there's a big
social I mean, that's really thepoint of any club is the social
nature of the club.
Having great conversations onthe trail, like you and I talked
and realized that we have.
I mean, you were a polymerengineer professor at Case
before you retired so that ledto a whole conversation about
(16:37):
plastics recycling, interestingand Kara, you do so many things.
You're a AKC dog trainer andyou're involved with the Pan Am
Games and you're an Olympiclevel.
Kara Girvin (16:50):
I'm retired, so I'm doing all those things I never
got to do while I worked.
Recently retired, yeah.
So my point is Tennis andcurling, yeah.
Diane Bickett (16:58):
So, my point is so interesting the people I've
met so far.
Kara Girvin (17:01):
This group has a wide array of people and it is
fascinating.
David Schiraldi (17:06):
as you said, they are fascinating, and
suddenly you have severalhundred new friends who have at
least one common interest withyou the hiking and so we're all
constantly trading tips.
Do you have a good electrician?
Do you know such and such?
Hey, have you ever gone toPortland?
Oh, where did you know?
(17:26):
What did you do?
What did you stay?
Is I mean you know?
Kara Girvin (17:28):
we're going out to Yosemite.
Where do we stay?
Diane Bickett (17:33):
where do you eat?
David Schiraldi (17:34):
great way to great with people with common
grounds and sometimes we say hey, next week when we do this hike
, let's all go out to lunchtogether or we'll do things like
that and someone's having abirthday or a milestone and we
will go out and take them outand feed them.
So it's that blue zone thinggoing well.
Kara Girvin (17:56):
Very much so I think there's really three.
I always think of the hikingclub a little bit like a stool,
which is an odd analogy, but itgets you physically.
You're giggling.
A three-legged stool or afour-legged stool Three-legged,
so maybe a little tipsy.
Greg Rotuno (18:13):
But not that kind of tipsy.
Kara Girvin (18:18):
No, I mean, it gets you physically moving and I
think that's always good.
It gets you outside and it'samazing You'll come out here in
January.
It could be raining, sidewaysit could be a blizzard.
You're sitting in your carsaying why am I doing this?
But three miles, five miles,seven miles later you feel
energized, you feel good forhaving done it and there are all
(18:41):
the social benefits that Davewas referring to.
Diane Bickett (18:45):
You just, it's a good, strong stool for three
legs and all you need is a goodpair of shoes and a bottle of
water probably Pretty much, Iwould love to point out.
So I I met um a neighborthrough one of the hikes I did
in west virginia.
(19:05):
She lives literally five doorsdown from me.
Her name is betsy and she haslike 53 000 miles in the hiking
club and I'm trying to find atime where I can get more and
sit down with her as well.
She's absolutely lovely.
I'd love to know when she joinedand how she got.
I mean 53,000 miles.
You walked around the globe.
(19:26):
How many times.
David Schiraldi (19:27):
I mean that's twice around the equator.
Diane Bickett (19:29):
Twice around the equator.
David Schiraldi (19:31):
If you.
Diane Bickett (19:31):
We do celebrate At 25,000 miles you are given a
globe, all right, because that'sone looper on the equator
exactly you.
David Schiraldi (19:42):
You have literally walked the equator of
the earth.
That blows me away.
Yeah, it's.
It's an astonishing number.
At 50 000 they put.
They, you, there's a park benchdedicated to you out at the
clubhouse.
Uh, so and so, and there's Idon't know, it's been six or
eight or something people in thehistory of the club that have
gotten to that milestone.
That's a lot of walking.
Diane Bickett (20:02):
That's a lot of walking.
My knees hurt just thinkingabout that.
David Schiraldi (20:06):
But we get little patches at 100, 500 in
every increment of 1,000.
So I expect in about a week toget my little orange and white
patch that says 7,000 miles onit.
Diane Bickett (20:17):
Yes, Well, congratulations.
And then, Kara, congratulationsto you because during our hike
today you got your 1,000-milemarker.
Kara Girvin (20:24):
Yeah, that's nothing with this club, but you
start with a step.
Diane Bickett (20:27):
Hey, you're young , you've got a long way to go.
Kara Girvin (20:30):
You start with a step, and a lot of us really
don't do it for the badges, butthey sure are fun when you
receive them, yeah awesome.
Diane Bickett (20:39):
Well, thank you so much for sitting down with me
today, and I think you'rewalking more than just a few
paths in with this club, andit's really a great organization
and I look forward to gettingmore involved Good.
David Schiraldi (20:54):
We look forward to hiking with you we look
forward to you joining us.
Diane Bickett (20:57):
Thank you, Hi Tim .
How are you today?
Tim (club member) (21:01):
I'm doing great.
How are you?
Diane Bickett (21:02):
I'm great we're here in the New River Gorge
National Park with the ClevelandHiking Club on a four-day
weekend.
It's been awesome, Tim.
What brought you here thisweekend?
Tim (club member) (21:12):
Come to a new location, new area, find some
new trails.
It's beautiful out here.
Diane Bickett (21:17):
Yeah, what's been your favorite trail this
weekend?
We're not done yet, but so far.
Tim (club member) (21:21):
We're not done yet.
Diane Bickett (21:24):
Long Point the Long Point.
Yeah, we just did that, theLong Point we just did that.
Tim (club member) (21:27):
Yeah, that was fun that was great.
Diane Bickett (21:29):
Yeah, you hike out onto the point there and you
can get great views of thebridge.
Tim (club member) (21:33):
Great views of the bridge, great views, but
we saw some fog out there, butit was still a great hike.
Diane Bickett (21:38):
Okay, yeah, the hiking was what counts.
Awesome, how long have you beenwith the hiking club?
Tim (club member) (21:41):
Maybe four years now, come this August.
Diane Bickett (21:44):
Really, and I've learned that everyone tracks
their miles.
Tim (club member) (21:49):
So how many miles are you up to Just over
4,000 now.
Diane Bickett (21:52):
That's amazing.
Tim (club member) (21:53):
Oh yeah.
Diane Bickett (21:54):
Great, and what do you like best about being a
member of the hiking club?
Tim (club member) (21:57):
It gets you outdoors.
It gets you outdoors, you getsome good exercise in meet great
people, uh-huh, and it's justfun to get on the trails and get
out there.
Agreed, get away from all theconcrete you know in the green
spaces and real fun, real fun.
Diane Bickett (22:12):
Couldn't agree more I encourage it.
This is Diane, and she's beenwith the hiking club since 2019.
And why did you join and howmany days a week do you get out
here?
Diane (club member) (22:27):
Oh, I get out to the hiking club's hikes
about four days a week.
I just hit the 2,000 mile mark.
I love being out in nature.
I love the exercise.
The friendships are great.
You learn so much from all thepeople you hike with.
It's unbelievable about allkinds of things, well-rounded
group of people it is, and allages too.
Diane Bickett (22:50):
Gary Jensen, tell me a little bit about the
excursions you've done throughthe Cleveland Hiking Club.
Gary (club member) (22:56):
Okay, well, I've been a member of the club
now for about 12 years.
I, okay, well, I've been amember of the club now for about
12 years.
I signed up about a year beforeI retired and in fact, the
first week we were members wegot on by accident.
A trip to Hawaii with the clubSounds like a good accident to
me.
It was a pretty good accident.
(23:17):
We had planned this tripanyways, and we found out the
hiking club was going to bethere the same week.
We were there and so we wereable to hook up with the club
and we hiked on four or fivedifferent islands in Hawaii.
Where else have you gone withthe hiking club?
Let's see, I have been toArgentina a few years ago Wow,
we've been to Sedona twice withthe club, argentina, san Diego,
(23:46):
and then a year ago, march, Iwas in New Zealand with the club
for 21 days.
Diane Bickett (23:52):
Yeah, that's what surprised me.
I can't believe you like goingall over the world.
Cleveland Hiking Club, they'reeverywhere we are everywhere.
Gary (club member) (23:59):
There are trips every year to Colorado, to
Florida, every year, toColorado, to Florida, every year
, usually Sedona, grand Canyon,san Diego, every year.
Next, well, august of 2025, I'malready signed up for a trip to
Switzerland with the club.
Diane (club member) (24:17):
I've been a member for about seven years
and I'm here because the natureis calling, the white water is
calling and I just love outdooradventure and all the people
that you meet in the hiking club, and how many miles do you have
under the hiking club?
Diane Bickett (24:31):
3,000.
3,000.
That's awesome.
How many miles is theAppalachian Trail?
What?
Annette (club member) (24:37):
is that 3,000?
Diane Bickett (24:38):
I think you've hiked the Appalachian Trail.
Diane (club member) (24:41):
I just did the Camino in Spain, did you?
Yeah, so that was 175 miles, sothat was fun.
Diane Bickett (24:47):
That's awesome.
Annette (club member) (24:49):
Hello, I'm Annette Jensen.
I've been a member of theCleveland Hiking Club for about
10 years and I probably amworking on about my 8,000 mile
patch, which is nothing comparedto some of the folks who've got
52,000 miles but still having alot of fun.
I am very interested in helpingout at the cabin.
They do have lots of activitiesat the cabin.
(25:10):
Where's the cabin?
The cabin is in Hinkley, ohio,on Kellogg Road.
It was bought by the hikingclub probably in the 30s.
Some astute folks way back thenbought a couple acres and it's
a Butts Hinkley reservation andthroughout the year we have a
couple of events, several eventssoup supper in the spring and a
(25:32):
couple of different generalmeetings and then in the end of
October, myself and two of myother colleagues hiking
colleagues we host the chilicook-off.
Greg Rotuno (25:43):
We hope you've enjoyed this episode of EcoSpeak
CLE.
You can find our full catalogof episodes on Spotify, apple
Podcasts or wherever you getyour podcasts.
New episodes are available thefirst and third Tuesday of each
month.
Please follow EcoSpeak CLE onFacebook and Instagram and
become part of the conversation.
If you would like to send usfeedback and suggestions, or if
(26:04):
you'd like to become a sponsorof EcoSpeak CLE, you can email
us at hello at EcoSpeakCLEcom.
Stay tuned for more importantand inspiring stories to come.
You're listening to EcoSpeak CLE, a podcast for
the eco-curious in NortheastOhio.
My name is Diane Bickett and myproducer is Greg Rotuno.
Together we speak with localsustainability leaders and
invite you to connect, learn andlive with our community and
planet in mind.
A note about today's podcast Irecorded this episode during a
(00:26):
series of hikes I took recentlywith the Cleveland Hiking Club,
both in the Cleveland MetroParks and on an excursion to the
New River Gorge.
Greg was on his honeymoon, so Igrabbed our portable recorder
and hit the trail to speak withclub members and club leaders.
This remarkable club wasstarted more than 100 years ago
and today has over 1,200 members.
Some of those members havelogged over 50,000 miles.
(00:49):
If you want to find out how tojoin a hike today or any day, go
to clevelandhikingcluborg for alist of hikes, membership info,
history and more.
I hope to see you on the trail.
Hello friends, one of myfavorite quotes is from John
Muir, who said of all the pathsyou take in life, make sure a
few of them are dirt.
Now I'm a lover of hiking, sowhen my cousin invited me to be
(01:12):
a guest on an excursion to theNew River Gorge with the
Cleveland Hiking Club, I jumpedat the chance.
I've always been curious aboutthe hiking club.
I've heard about the club, I'veseen groups of them out and
about, so this was a chance forme to see if I wanted to join.
Well, a month later, I'm on myway to becoming a member and I'm
speaking today with two leaders, two hike leaders and
(01:33):
volunteers with the hiking club,kara Girvin and David Chiraldi.
And Kara is a communityengagement coordinator for the
hiking club and Dave does somestuff with scheduling hikes or
something.
David Schiraldi (01:48):
We have what's called the Pathfinder Committee
and we're responsible forgetting the schedule out every
month Awesome.
Diane Bickett (01:53):
So we just finished a brisk five-mile hike
in the Cleveland Metro ParkSouth Chagrin Reservation.
So please stay with us to hearall about this 105-year-old
volunteer-run organization, andwe'll also hear from some of the
members I've met on the trailso far.
So welcome Kara, welcome David.
Thank you, thanks for takingsome time.
(02:13):
You probably want to get homeand have breakfast and take a
shower, but it's a beautiful day.
Tell us, you know.
I understand that the ClevelandHiking Club was started in 1919
.
Correct.
And I think that the ClevelandHiking Club was started in 1919.
Correct.
And I think that's just such acool thing.
I can't help but wonder youknow what the impetus was for
that and what hiking might havelooked like back then?
Kara Girvin (02:34):
Well, I think back in the day and you know people
liked to get outdoors.
You know being outdoors was agreat way to stay healthy and it
still really is.
But the club, interestingly, wasfounded by two women awesome.
And they had their firstmeeting um fairly early in the
year, if I recall, and pulledtogether a bunch of their
(02:58):
friends and said let's go hiking, and they did just that.
Um, the club almost didn'tsucceed at first.
From what I understand and alot of this has just been passed
down over time Oral history butyou know we were going into
some difficult times in theUnited States but people carried
(03:20):
on and it has held on.
Now this is our 150thanniversary this year,
congratulations.
And I think if you look at ourdues, our inflation has stayed
well below the national average.
Yeah, it's not bad, no, I thinkwe started at like $2 a year,
which back then was a fair sumof money.
Yeah, it's $35 now yeah,exactly.
David Schiraldi (03:41):
So if you put $2 in the stock market, then
it'd be worth more than $35.
Diane Bickett (03:44):
Definitely $35 a year to become a member and you
have 1,200 or so members we do.
That's correct, amazing, and tokeep an organization going that
long on a volunteer basis andto grow over time is super
awesome.
So let's talk about how youbecome a member, because there's
a little bit of a process.
(04:05):
I understand.
When I went on the New RiverGorge trip, I was able to meet
the entire requirement in theone weekend, but it's six hikes
right.
You have to do with the hikingclub within a year period.
David Schiraldi (04:18):
That's right.
So at the start of each hike wehave what's called a circle up,
and so that's where the leaderexplains what's going to be done
sort of make sure everyoneunderstands the terrain and the
speed and so forth and thencollects little, either little
cards with your, your name andand some contact information, uh
, on them, and there's a boxthat's to check either member or
(04:38):
visitor, and so if you're avisitor, we ask are you thinking
about joining?
If so, that information ispassed on to the membership
committee and they keep track,and once you've done that six
times, then you receive a packetin the mail with all the
information about it and ask foryou to pay dues, and at that
(04:58):
point then you have all of themembership privileges.
Kara Girvin (05:04):
Which are many there are quite a few privileges
.
It's surprising, um what thisorganization do ceases to amaze
me.
They put out a newsletter everymonth.
We have several excursionsgoing on now that we're
post-covid again.
Um, this year you mentioned youdid the new river gorge hike,
but we've already had a groupcome back from greece, um, back
(05:29):
from well that last fall theywent to machu picchu yes, thank
you they're preparing next monthto climb mount blanc in france
uh, they just posted anexcursion to Spain to hike the.
Camino, the Primitivo, yeah.
David Schiraldi (05:50):
So there's a group.
Diane Bickett (05:51):
So this is a global Cleveland Hiking Club
with a global reach.
Yeah, very much so.
David Schiraldi (05:55):
Yeah, and they go to Colorado and do the
national parks out there as welland things like that.
And then there are about 20hikes a day, and so you have a
schedule and you can figure outwhere you want to go, and it's
all around you know what eastand west, north and south and
fast and slow and so kind oftailored to what your needs are,
(06:16):
what your interests are we tryto have a hike for all levels of
hikers, anyone who really wantsto get outside.
Kara Girvin (06:24):
Hikes can be as low as one milers and those are for
some of our folks who areeither aging out of their
traditional old days of hikingor returning from an injury or
illness, the one milers.
You may see canes and walkers.
It's far more common to seethree milers, five milersers,
seven-milers.
(06:45):
Dave leads a 10-miler throughgood weather and that's a very
energetic hike with three, fourhills of consequence.
David Schiraldi (06:52):
Three big ones, the three biggest ones in North
Chagrin, yeah.
Diane Bickett (06:55):
So, dave, you and I got to talk while we were on
the trail today and you said youjoined a little shortly before
you retired and how good it'sbeen for you to kind of fill
your days with outdooractivities in the morning.
Add some structure to your day.
How long have you been, whendid you join as a member and how
many miles do you have?
David Schiraldi (07:16):
Okay, so I've been in the club for about four
and a half years.
I actually got my membershippackage the Monday after
Thanksgiving in 2019,.
I guess, and I was preparing toretire and I played hooky for an
(07:40):
afternoon and took a hike on aThursday and said, oh, this is a
lot of fun.
And that was number one of six.
And the next two weeks poundedout the other five and got my
package right at Thanksgiving.
So I am about a week away fromhitting 7,000 miles in the club.
So that's about 7,000 miles infour and a half years.
So I do 140, 150 miles a month,typically five or six mornings
(08:07):
a week.
And yeah, you know, when peopleretire there's always this
question what are you going todo to fill your time?
Because you used to work 120hours a week and if you go on a
hike, you get up, have breakfast, get in the car, drive to a
metro park and then hike for acouple of hours and drive home.
That is your morning.
So I mean you leave right afterbreakfast, you get home right
(08:28):
in time for lunch.
So it imposes a great deal ofstructure on your week and for
me that's great because then Ican engage in my other hobbies
and life and so forth for therest of the day, but not
wandering around the housewondering what you want to do or
watching TV or something.
Diane Bickett (08:46):
Kara, is the club just for retirees?
Oh, absolutely not.
Kara Girvin (08:50):
I didn't think so we have all ages and some people
will kind of come and go, ifyou will.
We'll have some people whostart hiking very young in the
club and then they move out oftown or they have to get busy
with other life expectations andduties for a while and they
return to the club.
But we're absolutely open toall ages and all styles of
(09:16):
hiking.
We have fast hikes, we haveenergetic hikes, we have leisure
hikes and we have dog hikes.
I have to call my dog yeah, tedis joining us.
Diane Bickett (09:28):
Ted has joined us on our hike today.
So hikes dogs are welcome onhikes as long as they're well
behaved and they're it doesn'tspecifically say no dogs right,
hardly any, I mean, there's just.
David Schiraldi (09:37):
There's just a couple hikes each week that are
no dogs yeah almost all, and youknow, building on the age and
group, we have a lot of we, thegroup.
We have a lot of healthprofessionals.
We have a lot of nurses,practicing nurses, who are in
the club and so whatever theirday off is, we see them.
Diane Bickett (09:52):
They're on their feet all day and then they go do
a hike on their day off.
David Schiraldi (09:56):
Well, they want to get out in the fresh air,
and so forth.
Yeah good point and in additionto the club members, we also
have people who bring theirguests along.
Addition to the club members,we also have people who bring
their guests along, so someonewill bring their, their children
, their adult children, uh, youknow the kids.
The kids and grandkids arecoming in for the weekend and
we'll see them on the hikes with, with mom or dad so who's your?
Diane Bickett (10:17):
do you know your old, how old your oldest member
is and how young your youngestmember is?
I do not.
David Schiraldi (10:24):
Well, I know we have members in their 90s
Amazing, yeah.
I mean I think like 94 or soand these are people who
actually go out and hike threemiles.
Diane Bickett (10:36):
Okay.
David Schiraldi (10:37):
It's just you know it's inspiring.
Greg Rotuno (10:40):
Yeah.
David Schiraldi (10:40):
And we have actually one of my favorite hike
leaders that I go with veryfrequently.
I found out he was 83 and I wasshocked because he looks like
he's 50.
Kara Girvin (10:47):
Yeah, I'd like to say we're ageless.
David Schiraldi (10:51):
Some of us, hiking makes you ageless, that's
a good.
Diane Bickett (10:54):
that should be your tagline for your club.
Well, from a health point, ofview, it certainly helps.
David Schiraldi (10:59):
I don't know who our youngest is.
I mean, we have you have to be18 right to join.
I think that's one of therequirements.
That's right, yeah, and I don'tknow any, and currently I don't
know anyone in their 20s.
They probably are, but I I wecertainly have.
We have some.
Kara Girvin (11:14):
I know people in their 30s who are members, and
they are, of course, working,and so we tend to see them on
the weekend more and so eveninghikes, evening hikes, but our
hikes start at 7 in the morningand they end around 9 at night,
stepping off at like 7 in theevening.
Diane Bickett (11:29):
Yeah, yeah, what I learned my first hike was you
have hikes every day of the year.
The only reason you wouldcancel a hike is if it's
lightning, and there's usually20 hikes a day to pick from,
like Summit Metro Parks,cleveland Metro Parks, Jaga,
cvmp, lake Lorain, so it'sreally all over Northeast Ohio.
Kara Girvin (11:52):
Town hikes, sidewalk hikes, trail hikes,
bridal path hikes.
Off-tra town hikes.
Sidewalk hikes, trail hikes,bridal path trikes off trail,
off trail hikes for theadventurers down in the national
park our safety is our priority.
You can't hike if you're injuredand so nobody wants to see
anybody injured and we'll jokeabout some of our hikes, or you
(12:13):
know, it can be really muddy.
I think mud and loose leaves orice can be your worst enemy if
any time we get out there andthe conditions are such that we
don't feel we're safe, sothunder, lightning, too much ice
we've been out here when thisis an ice rink, um limbs coming
off of trees, we're going to getinside yeah or we're going to
(12:35):
shorten the hike and get it to asafe area of the park.
David Schiraldi (12:40):
Yeah, very much so, and even during the hike.
So if there's even an energetichike where we get up to a
certain mountain or hill orsomething, the hike leaders, if
it's not a typical route, thehike leaders will stop and say
is everyone comfortable withthis?
Absolutely.
If you're not, here's theworkaround.
(13:02):
You can go down this trailabout 200 yards and there's a
picnic bench.
Wait for us, we'll be back downthere in 10 minutes.
And so we're not going to askanyone to do something they're
uncomfortable with.
Diane Bickett (13:16):
So every hike has a hike leader.
Yes, both of you are leaders,so I think that makes it very
accessible for people who aren'tfamiliar with all the trails
around here or where to go, oreven they've never been on a
hike.
So I know that there's always aleader who will, you know, plot
the route and someone makingsure that you're not falling
(13:38):
behind, right well, I thinkthat's one of the cares laughing
because we got a little littleoff today.
We found a new trail today.
Kara Girvin (13:46):
Yes, we did um, and it is truly a trail we weren't
making.
Diane (club member) (13:51):
We were not bushwhacking let's be clear.
Kara Girvin (13:54):
Um, you know, I think a lot of us join this club
because we want to get off themain apt all-purpose trails, the
paved trails, and we want tosee different parts of our parks
.
We are so fortunate to have thenational park just south of us
and our metro parks.
It's such a gift.
(14:14):
It's amazing, A hidden treasurein my opinion and we've got
people who've been with thisclub for years.
They know the flora, they knowthe fauna, a wealth of knowledge
, and they will get you out andseeing things you've absolutely
never seen.
And I also want to point out,you don't have to become a
(14:36):
member of the hiking club tohike with a club good point a
lot of people do because theywant access to a campground that
we have.
They want that we use as a club, not individually.
They want access to thenewsletter and the excursions.
But a lot of people a friend ofmine that's still working says
(14:58):
I just am not going to hikeenough right now to join, so I
will join at a later time.
And she'll have another sixmiles because it has to be in a
12 year calendar month and youhave to join in at that 12
months, then Okay, not calendarmonth, 1212, rolling month year
so that really is in keepingwith your mission, which I think
(15:20):
you mentioned was to promoteoutdoor recreation,
predominantly through hiking,yeah, and be very inclusive and
accessible for anyone who wantsto join in and I should also
point out we very much also liketo give back to our community.
(15:40):
We have helped make new trailsin working with other groups in
the region.
We help maintain some veryspecific trails, one in the
Cuyahoga National Valley, andit's just slipping my mind right
now what trail that is oh, it'sright by the Boston Store.
Yeah, it begins with an H.
David Schiraldi (15:58):
Okay, well, actually I think it's actually
the one I worked on was theSanford Trail.
Kara Girvin (16:02):
Oh yes, sanford Trail is one of them.
David Schiraldi (16:05):
And you you know we go out there once a
month with shovels and so forthand do maintenance in
collaboration with the rangers.
Diane Bickett (16:16):
I love it and that I think there's a big
social I mean, that's really thepoint of any club is the social
nature of the club.
Having great conversations onthe trail, like you and I talked
and realized that we have.
I mean, you were a polymerengineer professor at Case
before you retired so that ledto a whole conversation about
(16:37):
plastics recycling, interestingand Kara, you do so many things.
You're a AKC dog trainer andyou're involved with the Pan Am
Games and you're an Olympiclevel.
Kara Girvin (16:50):
I'm retired, so I'm doing all those things I never
got to do while I worked.
Recently retired, yeah.
So my point is Tennis andcurling, yeah.
Diane Bickett (16:58):
So, my point is so interesting the people I've
met so far.
Kara Girvin (17:01):
This group has a wide array of people and it is
fascinating.
David Schiraldi (17:06):
as you said, they are fascinating, and
suddenly you have severalhundred new friends who have at
least one common interest withyou the hiking and so we're all
constantly trading tips.
Do you have a good electrician?
Do you know such and such?
Hey, have you ever gone toPortland?
Oh, where did you know?
(17:26):
What did you do?
What did you stay?
Is I mean you know?
Kara Girvin (17:28):
we're going out to Yosemite.
Where do we stay?
Diane Bickett (17:33):
where do you eat?
David Schiraldi (17:34):
great way to great with people with common
grounds and sometimes we say hey, next week when we do this hike
, let's all go out to lunchtogether or we'll do things like
that and someone's having abirthday or a milestone and we
will go out and take them outand feed them.
So it's that blue zone thinggoing well.
Kara Girvin (17:56):
Very much so I think there's really three.
I always think of the hikingclub a little bit like a stool,
which is an odd analogy, but itgets you physically.
You're giggling.
A three-legged stool or afour-legged stool Three-legged,
so maybe a little tipsy.
Greg Rotuno (18:13):
But not that kind of tipsy.
Kara Girvin (18:18):
No, I mean, it gets you physically moving and I
think that's always good.
It gets you outside and it'samazing You'll come out here in
January.
It could be raining, sidewaysit could be a blizzard.
You're sitting in your carsaying why am I doing this?
But three miles, five miles,seven miles later you feel
energized, you feel good forhaving done it and there are all
(18:41):
the social benefits that Davewas referring to.
Diane Bickett (18:45):
You just, it's a good, strong stool for three
legs and all you need is a goodpair of shoes and a bottle of
water probably Pretty much, Iwould love to point out.
So I I met um a neighborthrough one of the hikes I did
in west virginia.
(19:05):
She lives literally five doorsdown from me.
Her name is betsy and she haslike 53 000 miles in the hiking
club and I'm trying to find atime where I can get more and
sit down with her as well.
She's absolutely lovely.
I'd love to know when she joinedand how she got.
I mean 53,000 miles.
You walked around the globe.
(19:26):
How many times.
David Schiraldi (19:27):
I mean that's twice around the equator.
Diane Bickett (19:29):
Twice around the equator.
David Schiraldi (19:31):
If you.
Diane Bickett (19:31):
We do celebrate At 25,000 miles you are given a
globe, all right, because that'sone looper on the equator
exactly you.
David Schiraldi (19:42):
You have literally walked the equator of
the earth.
That blows me away.
Yeah, it's.
It's an astonishing number.
At 50 000 they put.
They, you, there's a park benchdedicated to you out at the
clubhouse.
Uh, so and so, and there's Idon't know, it's been six or
eight or something people in thehistory of the club that have
gotten to that milestone.
That's a lot of walking.
Diane Bickett (20:02):
That's a lot of walking.
My knees hurt just thinkingabout that.
David Schiraldi (20:06):
But we get little patches at 100, 500 in
every increment of 1,000.
So I expect in about a week toget my little orange and white
patch that says 7,000 miles onit.
Diane Bickett (20:17):
Yes, Well, congratulations.
And then, Kara, congratulationsto you because during our hike
today you got your 1,000-milemarker.
Kara Girvin (20:24):
Yeah, that's nothing with this club, but you
start with a step.
Diane Bickett (20:27):
Hey, you're young , you've got a long way to go.
Kara Girvin (20:30):
You start with a step, and a lot of us really
don't do it for the badges, butthey sure are fun when you
receive them, yeah awesome.
Diane Bickett (20:39):
Well, thank you so much for sitting down with me
today, and I think you'rewalking more than just a few
paths in with this club, andit's really a great organization
and I look forward to gettingmore involved Good.
David Schiraldi (20:54):
We look forward to hiking with you we look
forward to you joining us.
Diane Bickett (20:57):
Thank you, Hi Tim .
How are you today?
Tim (club member) (21:01):
I'm doing great.
How are you?
Diane Bickett (21:02):
I'm great we're here in the New River Gorge
National Park with the ClevelandHiking Club on a four-day
weekend.
It's been awesome, Tim.
What brought you here thisweekend?
Tim (club member) (21:12):
Come to a new location, new area, find some
new trails.
It's beautiful out here.
Diane Bickett (21:17):
Yeah, what's been your favorite trail this
weekend?
We're not done yet, but so far.
Tim (club member) (21:21):
We're not done yet.
Diane Bickett (21:24):
Long Point the Long Point.
Yeah, we just did that, theLong Point we just did that.
Tim (club member) (21:27):
Yeah, that was fun that was great.
Diane Bickett (21:29):
Yeah, you hike out onto the point there and you
can get great views of thebridge.
Tim (club member) (21:33):
Great views of the bridge, great views, but
we saw some fog out there, butit was still a great hike.
Diane Bickett (21:38):
Okay, yeah, the hiking was what counts.
Awesome, how long have you beenwith the hiking club?
Tim (club member) (21:41):
Maybe four years now, come this August.
Diane Bickett (21:44):
Really, and I've learned that everyone tracks
their miles.
Tim (club member) (21:49):
So how many miles are you up to Just over
4,000 now.
Diane Bickett (21:52):
That's amazing.
Tim (club member) (21:53):
Oh yeah.
Diane Bickett (21:54):
Great, and what do you like best about being a
member of the hiking club?
Tim (club member) (21:57):
It gets you outdoors.
It gets you outdoors, you getsome good exercise in meet great
people, uh-huh, and it's justfun to get on the trails and get
out there.
Agreed, get away from all theconcrete you know in the green
spaces and real fun, real fun.
Diane Bickett (22:12):
Couldn't agree more I encourage it.
This is Diane, and she's beenwith the hiking club since 2019.
And why did you join and howmany days a week do you get out
here?
Diane (club member) (22:27):
Oh, I get out to the hiking club's hikes
about four days a week.
I just hit the 2,000 mile mark.
I love being out in nature.
I love the exercise.
The friendships are great.
You learn so much from all thepeople you hike with.
It's unbelievable about allkinds of things, well-rounded
group of people it is, and allages too.
Diane Bickett (22:50):
Gary Jensen, tell me a little bit about the
excursions you've done throughthe Cleveland Hiking Club.
Gary (club member) (22:56):
Okay, well, I've been a member of the club
now for about 12 years.
I, okay, well, I've been amember of the club now for about
12 years.
I signed up about a year beforeI retired and in fact, the
first week we were members wegot on by accident.
A trip to Hawaii with the clubSounds like a good accident to
me.
It was a pretty good accident.
(23:17):
We had planned this tripanyways, and we found out the
hiking club was going to bethere the same week.
We were there and so we wereable to hook up with the club
and we hiked on four or fivedifferent islands in Hawaii.
Where else have you gone withthe hiking club?
Let's see, I have been toArgentina a few years ago Wow,
we've been to Sedona twice withthe club, argentina, san Diego,
(23:46):
and then a year ago, march, Iwas in New Zealand with the club
for 21 days.
Diane Bickett (23:52):
Yeah, that's what surprised me.
I can't believe you like goingall over the world.
Cleveland Hiking Club, they'reeverywhere we are everywhere.
Gary (club member) (23:59):
There are trips every year to Colorado, to
Florida, every year, toColorado, to Florida, every year
, usually Sedona, grand Canyon,san Diego, every year.
Next, well, august of 2025, I'malready signed up for a trip to
Switzerland with the club.
Diane (club member) (24:17):
I've been a member for about seven years
and I'm here because the natureis calling, the white water is
calling and I just love outdooradventure and all the people
that you meet in the hiking club, and how many miles do you have
under the hiking club?
Diane Bickett (24:31):
3,000.
3,000.
That's awesome.
How many miles is theAppalachian Trail?
What?
Annette (club member) (24:37):
is that 3,000?
Diane Bickett (24:38):
I think you've hiked the Appalachian Trail.
Diane (club member) (24:41):
I just did the Camino in Spain, did you?
Yeah, so that was 175 miles, sothat was fun.
Diane Bickett (24:47):
That's awesome.
Annette (club member) (24:49):
Hello, I'm Annette Jensen.
I've been a member of theCleveland Hiking Club for about
10 years and I probably amworking on about my 8,000 mile
patch, which is nothing comparedto some of the folks who've got
52,000 miles but still having alot of fun.
I am very interested in helpingout at the cabin.
They do have lots of activitiesat the cabin.
(25:10):
Where's the cabin?
The cabin is in Hinkley, ohio,on Kellogg Road.
It was bought by the hikingclub probably in the 30s.
Some astute folks way back thenbought a couple acres and it's
a Butts Hinkley reservation andthroughout the year we have a
couple of events, several eventssoup supper in the spring and a
(25:32):
couple of different generalmeetings and then in the end of
October, myself and two of myother colleagues hiking
colleagues we host the chilicook-off.
Greg Rotuno (25:43):
We hope you've enjoyed this episode of EcoSpeak
CLE.
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Podcasts or wherever you getyour podcasts.
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(26:04):
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