Browse Interviews

Bob talks about moving to Cleveland, for which he is very glad, his involvement in the CHC and getting his wife and hopefully his mother involved in hiking

Katherine Malmquest is a relatively new member of the Cleveland Hiking Club. She talks about the "East side sunrise hikers" and about the focus on mileage versus social aspects of the club. Katherine also talks about some members that she especially admires.

Bob joined the CHC in 2014 and became very active very quickly. He discusses his work as camp chair and his hopes for what camp should become.

Bob McLaughlin recounts how he joined the Cleveland Hiking Club, his years as camp chair, trips to Niagara Falls, Kentucky, Redwoods, and day trips in Ohio, how he led Hobo Hikes for many years, and changes in the club over the years.

Sharon Horvath, a self-described tomboy in her youth, felt that rediscovered her childhood when she joined the Cleveland Hiking Club. She describes some of the more challenging hikes, her wedding to a fellow member at camp, the steak roast that they hosted for many years, improvements at the camp, leading trips, and the personal benefits she has received by being a club member.

Dave and Denise Tobiasz joined the Cleveland Hiking Club in 1994. They discuss a number of trips that they led, some of the funny things that happened on those trips, and some of the special people they met in the club including Emily Gregor and Jim Sprague. They talk about changes over the years, weekend getaways, and how much behind-the-scenes work it takes to make the club work.

Marilyn and Dave Richards, 20-year members, of the Cleveland Hiking Club, talk about local, national, and international hiking experiences.

Marcia Steffen shares her passion for math, and her love of the outdoors and the Cleveland Hiking Club. She worked at NACA, which later became known as NASA. Once she joined the CHC, she hiked, led hikes, and was an officer.

Norma Delp joined the Cleveland Hiking Club in 1987. She talks about her musical family, her early work history at Cleveland Pneumatic Tool, and joining the club. She is very involved with long hike support (26 and 40-mile hikes) and keeping the CHC camp in good shape. She also talks about special old-time members.

A physicist and a nurse talk about their Cleveland Hiking Club experiences, including favorite hikes and social activities.

Ron Koniecynski joined the Cleveland Hiking club in 2001. He describes many hikes he has led and discusses the benefits of hiking.

Jeanne Henry joined the club in 1999. Having been well-prepared athletically, she ventured into hiking as her primary venue. Not only has she completed five 40-mile hikes but has done so as an older adult. She expresses her sadness in the loss of her hike leader on a hike. She ends voicing pleasure that her family who at one time did not hike are now hiking and assumes this will go on.

Mila Mandic joined the Cleveland Hiking Club in 1989 when she was working and single. It was the start of lifelong traveling for her. She remembers favorite hike leaders, and trips including the Colorado Rockies, Bryce and Zion, Washington State, France, England, and Argentina.

Barb Appel joined the Cleveland Hiking Club in 1985. After returning from a hike on her own at Mount Washington, she did a 10-mile hike with the club at the North Chagrin Reservation, and was hooked. She recalls favorite people, hikes and trips, including 16 Ridges and her five 40-mile hikes, and trips to England, Alaska, Washington, New Mexico, and Tennessee, as well as weekend trips.

In their narrative, Ohio natives Pat and Jim Spoth share many of their ambitious hiking experiences since becoming members of the Cleveland Hiking Club in 1987. One of the significant aspects of their dialogue is how they assumed the role of hike leaders for a particular hike in the Mill Creek Park area of Youngstown. Another significant milestone for the Spoths occurred in 2013 when they completed the Appalachian Trail.

Shirley Pashall recalls when the Cleveland Hiking Club was much smaller, enabling close friendships to form more readily. Aside from her hiking accomplishments, which include completing the 40-mile hike four times, backpacking numerous times, and leading hikes as well, Shirley has been in charge of the Kids Day at Camp Onwego. She first assumed this role in memory of her friend, Louise McDonough, and now 15 years later, Kids Day goes on with Shirley still at the helm.

Loretta Taggart joined the Cleveland Hiking Club in 1989. She heard about the club from a patient while she was working as an orthopedic nurse at the Cleveland Clinic. She describes hiking experiences in Ohio, Idaho, California (Yosemite National Park), Oregon, Washington, and on the Anhinga Trail in the Everglades.

John and Rita Gabrovsek joined the Cleveland Hiking Club in 1979. Rita is from Germany, where hiking is part of the culture. John learned about the club when some hikers were walking through Cleveland Heights near their home. The Gabrovseks describe favorite hikes and trips, hike leaders and other members, and New Year's parties at the club's camp. The club was much smaller when they joined.

Dorothy Ipavec joined the Cleveland Hiking Club in 1948. She reflects on her experience of hikes and social events, as well as on early members of the club and how they influenced her interest in hiking and canoeing and knowledge of nature.

In this very brief interview, longtime Cleveland Hiking Club member Gayle Zipay recounts what led her to join the hiking club in 1983. Her interview includes reminiscences about a couple of notable club members, a youth hostel that once operated in the Cuyahoga Valley, and some of the chores associated with maintaining the club's camp.

Jim Sprague joined the Cleveland Hiking Club in 1979 and was an active member through the 1980s. In this short interview, Sprague recalls memorable hikes and illustrious club members he encountered.

Jeff Lennartz joined the Cleveland Hiking Club in 1981. In this short interview, Lennartz provides vivid detail about memorable nighttime hikes in North Chagrin, Bedford, and Mill Stream Reservations. He also recalls notable hike leaders, including Jay Beswick.

Rachel Abernethy joined the Cleveland Hiking Club in 1980. In this very short interview, she recalls several memorable hikes and reflects on how the club afforded an opportunity for members to forge deep and lasting friendships.

Clare Coulis joined the Cleveland Hiking Club in 1981. Among the stories she relates in this interview are an unexpected snowstorm that hit during a hike along the Ohio River, going to mass in hiking clothes during long hikes, and a hut-to-hut hike in the Green Mountains of New Hampshire.

Warren Davis joined the Cleveland Hiking Club in 1988 and hiked a total of 25,135 miles. In this brief interview, Davis describes hiking trips with Elderhostel in Europe. He also discusses notable people and experiences in the hiking club.

Linda Heiden and John Heidenreich joined the Cleveland Hiking Club in 1988. Much of the interview centers on memorable hikes and hikers.

Wanda Gavriluk joined the Cleveland Hiking Club in 1981 and has hiked more than 14,000 miles as a member. She describes memorable hikes, including in Slovenia.

Jean and Paul Ruck have been members of the Cleveland Hiking Club since the late 1980s. Most of the interview is devoted to memories of several hikes, including in Kentucky, West Virginia, Utah, New Zealand and Switzerland.

Ken Howard joined the Cleveland Hiking Club in 1979. His parents were active in the club starting in the 1950s. In this short interview, Howard recalls his most memorable hikes and hiking leaders.