The Happy Hiker Online | Posts Filtered by Month

Surrounded by fellow club members and hiking enthusiasts, long-time Allentown Hiking Club member Mary Ann Nissley recently celebrated a milestone birthday on the Appalachian Trail by hiking the Pinnacle and Pulpit loop.

Mary Ann started hiking later in life but started with gusto! Never having hiked a step previously, she reached out to the Appalachian Trail Conference (now Conservancy) to understand where to begin. It was suggested that she reach out to and join a local trail club and the rest, as they say, is history ... hiking history, that is. Mary Ann went on to hike the full length of the Appalachian Trail twice, once as a thru hiker and once as a section hiker. She has also completed a long list of other trails throughout the country; the list is several pages long!

I first really spoke with Mary Ann about ten years ago, shortly after she hiked the Pulpit and Pinnacle loop with her family in celebration of her 80th birthday. I was so in awe. After all, I had only just started hiking and knew that trek was quite the challenge. But she seemed unfazed and proudly told me that she would be making the same trek in ten years for her 90th birthday. I think from that moment forward I have always told her that I want to be like her when I grew up ... and that’s true even more today.

The day of the hike we could not have asked for more perfect weather, warm but not too warm and with minimal humidity. Mary Ann arrived at the hike start having already completed her 6 mile bike ride for the day. She was smiling from ear to ear and was ready to go! She was joined by 21 hikers, mostly club members but some who wanted to come along because they saw her on a segment on WFMZ News the day before. We couldn’t let the occasion pass without cake and before we started hiking there was cake with candles and a Happy Birthday banner. Everyone there joined in singing "Happy Birthday" and shared in the cake to help power us up the mountain. And then we were off...

Slow but steady we trekked up the almost 1000’ elevation gain to the Pinnacle, one of the most beautiful vistas on the Appalachian Trail, stopping only to drink some water or admire the flowing waters of Furnace Creek and an abundance of mushrooms along the way. And then before we knew it that big pile of rocks was in sight (if you know, you know). The Pinnacle was just ahead. Mary Ann picked up a rock and tossed it to add to the pile, a long-standing tradition, and then settled in for a snack and a surprise birthday cupcake. She truly was beaming with happiness that the club helped to make her birthday trek happen. There were lots of pictures taken up at the top. Mary Ann was a celebrity, after all, with an entourage, and everyone wanted their picture taken with her.

After another slow and steady trek back down the mountain, with Mary Ann "putting on the brakes" in the steeper spots, we made it back down to the Hamburg Reservoir and then the starting parking lot. Along the way we told every other hiker we saw about this milestone birthday and made sure Mary Ann got lots of Birthday wishes throughout the day ... and with the beautiful weather there were several dozen people out on trail that day so there were a lot of well wishes! Honestly, my face was sore at the end of the day after smiling so much, watching Mary Ann enjoy her day doing what she so loves to do.

They say age is just a number and I believe that even more now. I wouldn’t doubt we will be making this same trek in ten years for Mary Ann’s 100th birthday ... I truly would expect nothing less. And it just goes to show that hiking is indeed just one foot in front of the other, over and over, until you reach your goal. If this doesn’t give everyone the needed inspiration to get to on trail, I don’t know what does.

Happy Trails!

October 4, 2023
Club Member Completes the Appalachian Trail

Club member Hal Wright ("A.T. Pokey") has finished the Appalachian Trail after 25 years of section hiking.

Having started in the late 1990's by hiking outward from Pennsylvania in both directions, Hal's last hike was on the northernmost 115 miles of trail, the Hundred Mile Wilderness and Baxter State Park in Maine. The weather during his summit of Katahdin was perfect - 70's and clear with low winds - after downpours aplenty in the Hundred Mile Wilderness.

Hal thanks the many people who offered inspiration and practical assistance, especially Judy ("Peanut"): his wife, hiking partner for over 300 miles, and support person for every section from beginning to end. This journey would not have happened without family, friends, the hiker community, and of course the staff and volunteers of the ATC and the other organizations which support the trail. It is a team effort and a team accomplishment!

"I made it!" The standard celebratory photo at Baxter Peak, Katahdin, the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail. Elevation: 5267 feet.

The view down from the Gateway on Hunt Spur, Katahdin. Climbing Katahdin on the A.T. involves a steep rock scramble here with near 360° exposure.

Table Land, a flat section with alpine vegetation reached after scaling the Katahdin massif. Baxter Peak can be seen in the background, still almost two miles away.