Local Hikers Rejoice in the Wintry Night

By: Erica Johnson
Posted In: Sports

Like most winter nights, it had already been dark for hours when I arrived shortly before 6 p.m. in the Easton’s Beach parking lot. The night was windy and cold, the last nor’easter had melted away and the hint of the next one was already in the air. The last thing I would ever expect to be doing is hiking, but that’s exactly where I found myself last Wednesday night.

After a phone call earlier in the day, to which I had replied affirmatively of being in good physical condition, I met with members of the Narragansett Chapter of the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC). I was there to conduct interviews on hiking for my feature article class but found myself fascinated by this group of fifteen who were laughing, chatting, and genuinely excited to be out in the frigid conditions.

A flashing red light on the end of a staff directed me towards the group’s meeting spot in the beach parking lot. In the dark, the hikers’ faces passed in and out of shadows, making it hard to distinguish anyone’s features and giving the impression that these were not just individuals out for a walk but a collective mass taking a journey together.

This thought was reinforced moments later when we began the ascent up the beachside of Memorial Boulevard as a dark crowd contrary to the headlights of the vehicles whizzing down the hill. Tonight’s expedition was along the Cliffwalk as part of the group’s Wednesday night ritual. Each week they meet for a short hour-long walk and then go out to eat at one of the local restaurants – tonight it was Johnny’s Atlantic Beach Club.

So why would anyone be out hiking on a winter’s night? For these slightly fanatic trekkers it is all about companionship and exploration. “This organization is about learning more about yourself and more about the world,” said Bob Cillette, a long-time member of the AMC. The Cliffwalk activity was organized by Cillette, who has been on countless trips with the club including an extended hike in the mountains of Colorado.

Throughout the walk, discussions of daily activities and recent hikes passed freely from the pace setters up front to the “sweep” with the red light bringing up the rear. The majority of this hike may have been spent socializing, but AMC member Suzanne Maclumbe was quick to point out that, “This is not just a social club. Everything we do is associated with the outdoors.” Many of its members are avid outdoorsmen and women. If they aren’t hiking, they are biking, swimming, backpacking, playing tennis or doing trail maintenance throughout Rhode Island. “I think it all depends on what you gravitate to physically,” said Maclumbe who says she hikes for the fellowship as much as for the physical exercise.

There are more than 90,000 members in the 12 chapters of the AMC who take part in a range of outdoor activities, like this walk, throughout the Northeast. The organization was founded in 1876 to promote the conservation, education and recreation of the Appalachian region particularly the Appalachian Trail (the AT) that runs from Georgia to Maine.

Although most members of the Narragansett Chapter are older (40-70 years old), that doesn’t stop them from inviting younger members to attend their activities. Or, better yet, some energetic individuals could start their own Young Members Committee for the Narragansett Chapter. The AMC website provides suggestions and resources for establishing a Young Members Committee like those of the Boston and Connecticut chapters. These young committees are currently offering trips for rock and ice climbing, alpine skiing, and snowboarding in the backcountry terrain. Yearly membership in the AMC is $40, but most of the trips are covered by the chapter or offered at discount to the members.

For more information logon to the website for the Narragansett Chapter or email them at amcri@ids.net.