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.

Cleveland Hiking Club member Chris Rettig describes her memories of hiking, social events, and personalities in the club starting in 1986.

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

Lee and Carol Schiemann joined the Cleveland Hiking Club in 1988. They had started hiking seriously when Lee was transferred for work to England. They lived in a small town where everyone used the "footpaths" recreationally. When they returned to the US, they began to hike regularly with the Cleveland Hiking Club and especially enjoyed many of the excursions.

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.

Ruth Skuly and Leo Deininger joined the Cleveland Hiking Club in 1974. Along with discussing their earlier experiences in hiking with other leaders, they describe how they found leading hikes in Ohio counties to be most satisfying and took on the role of organizing such hikes.

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.

This is an interview of a longtime member of the Cleveland Hiking Club who led excursions in Switzerland and "coffee break" hikes.

This is an interview of a longtime member of the Cleveland Hiking Club who often recited poems at CHC events and remembers Louise McDonough.

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.

This is a brief interview of a longtime member of the Cleveland Hiking Club.

This is a brief interview of a longtime member of the Cleveland Hiking Club.

This is a brief interview of a longtime member of the Cleveland Hiking Club.

This is an interview with long-time members of the Cleveland Hiking Club.

Peter Geller, a New York transplant, joined the Cleveland Hiking Club in 1988.

Dick and Darlene Wiegandt, Cleveland Hiking Club members since 1990, talk about their life in the Detroit area and other places before moving to Cleveland. They joined the Cleveland Hiking Club after meeting a CHC member who was also president of the Buckeye Trail Association. They started hiking the Buckeye Trail and then joined the CHC to "get credit" for their mileage. They eventually led Buckeye Trail hikes and talk about some of the trail happenings--a dog rescue, having police called…

Kathy Wilmer, a librarian and chaplain, describes her recollections of hiking in Ohio and nearby states starting in the 1970s and personal notes about the emotional and physical benefits of hiking.

Eloise and Cedric Plavney discuss their experiences with the Cleveland Hiking Club since they joined in 1987. Highlights include Camp Onwego experiences, outstanding hiking trips, and memories of hiking club members past and present.

Carol and Fred Jarosz discuss their experiences with Cleveland Hiking Club from joining in 1987 to the present. Topics include reasons for joining, club activities and excursions, memorable hike leaders, and changes in the CHC over the years.