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 ADK "at large" memberI am very lucky that my Dad took me with him on hikes during my growing-up years and I caught the bug from him. We hiked in the woods near our home in north central Pennsylvania, and each summer vacation my whole family took off for the White Mountains of New Hampshire, the Alps, Glacier National Park, Mt. Rainier, or Rocky Mountain National Park. As an adult I started participating in adventure trips with a variety of non-profit and for-profit organizations and found that I enjoy traveling with a group. My favorite trips involve hiking to a different hut or small hotel each night. I love being outdoors all day and find carrying a reasonable load and counting on a hot dinner and a dry bunk very appealing. Norway, the Haute Route (Chamonix to Zermatt), the Tour du Mont Blanc, and England Coast-to-Coast offered new delights each day, even in the rain. Over the years I found that ADK adventure trips suit my hiking style and offer the best value. The ADK folks I meet are from many walks of life but all share my passion for the outdoors. I've led several trips for small groups of friends and look forward to leading "official" ADK trips. I'm still working full-time as a catalog librarian at Brown University but as I contemplate retirement I hope to have even more time to plan and lead hiking trips in the future. I think often of a Navajo chant that is mentioned in one of Tony Hillerman's southwest mystery stories: With beauty before me, I walk With beauty behind me, I walk With beauty above and about me, I walk. I look forward to walking in beauty with many new ADK friends. Gretchen |