November 1, 2026
2027 Member Registration is Now Open
Hal Wright, Membership Coordinator

It's November, which means membership registration is open for next year!

Please renew at your earliest convenience. We need committed members like you to fulfill our mission of getting folks outdoors, and of maintaining local trails for all to enjoy.

If you know folks who might enjoy participating in our activities and supporting us, please ask them to consider joining as new members.

Or register by mail:

November 1, 2026
Trail Talk
Paula Uhrin

On hikes I often see folks chat and reconnect with others they may not have seen in a while and then drop back and catch some quiet time. And that's part of what I enjoy about group hikes, the ability to enjoy both camaraderie and solitude.

With so many new hikers on trail it's even more important to nurture that camaraderie but also understandable that it's not always easy to strike up a new conversation. On your next hike I challenge you to find at least one person you haven't met or spoken with much before and ask a couple of questions to break the ice.

What is their favorite local trail? Out of state trail? Favorite trail of all time? Favorite piece of underrated hiking gear? Do they prefer to hike in a group or solo and why? Do they take pictures while hiking? Do they keep a trail journal? Do they participate in other outdoor activities? What's their go-to trail snack? Or go-to hydration? Do they have a hiking bucket list? What keeps them going when the trail gets tough? (We can all learn from others' motivations!) Do they prefer paper maps? Trail guides/books? Phone apps? What's the most challenging part of hiking for them? The easiest? Do they have any favorite hiking trips or memories? Do they have any planned treks?

Regardless of the topic, let's keep the conversations flowing and continue to build ourselves a supportive community both on and off trail. I look forward to seeing all of you on a hike sometime soon!

November 1, 2026
In Memoriam
Barb Wiemann

Honorary member Nicholas P. Rosato, age 90, died March 11, 2026. An AHC member for almost 50 years, Nick was an avid hiker, hike leader, trail maintenance volunteer, and corridor monitor. For his contributions to the club, Nick was named an Honorary Member, AHC’s highest honor, in 2008.

Nick joined AHC in 1977 and led his first hike that year. Over the years he led hikes on the Appalachian Trail and other regional trails, hiking weekends, and long distance walks. Nick enjoyed challenges. In 1978 he recorded a time of 10 hours, 17 minutes in the one day JFK 50 Mile Memorial Hike-Run; in 1979 he finished the event 25 minutes faster. Nick also finished a run in the New York City Marathon. He completed many state hiking trails, such as the Old Loggers Path, and in 2005 he became an Appalachian Trail 2000 Miler at age 70.

Nick contributed his time to trail maintenance on the Appalachian Trail and Lock 2 in Lehigh orge. In 1978 when the club accepted responsibility for maintaining the Outerbridge Shelter at Lehigh Gap, Nick stepped up and became the shelter chair. To rehabilitate the structure, he organized work trips to install a floor, replace the roof, rebuild the fire ring, and clean up the site. In 2006 Nick joined the corridor monitoring crew and monitored a section south of PA 309 for ten years. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy and the National Park Service awarded Nick a Silver Service Award in 2013 in recognition of 25 years of volunteering for the trail.

Hikers can be thankful that people like Nick have been willing to protect and preserve hiking trails, and members of the Allentown Hiking Club should be inspired by Nick’s legacy of trail work. To honor Nick’s memory, contributions may be sent to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy at appalachiantrail.org.

October 5, 2026
Help Wanted

We are looking for new volunteers!

Duties:

Record minutes during the Monthly Meetings and read the previous month's minutes.

Time: 2 to 3 hours

Compile and distribute minutes at the meetings.

Time: 1 hour

Love social media and the outdoors? If you enjoy posting updates, sharing photos, and helping the club stay connected online, we’d love to hear from you. We need a Publicity Chairperson to help share our hikes, events, and trail stories. It's a great way to get involved and support the club.

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