The President's Corner

Part of the previous President’s Corner was on Jill Bennett—one of the members who help make the Piedmont Hiking and Outing Club an outstanding volunteer organization. Another such member who, like Jill, contributes mightily to PHOC’s outings program without being an officer or committee chairperson is Patty Balboni. Although in the club for only four years, Patty has quickly become a stalwart leader of outings and a much-appreciated participant in activities of which she isn’t the formal coordinator. She began her organized contributions to the club with the offering of a hike at Hanging Rock in September of 2010. Then in February of 2011, she and her friend Debby Harris led a walk presenting public art in downtown Greensboro, followed by an elaborate wine and chocolate tasting at Patty’s house. In June, Patty led the moderate walk for National Trails Day at Bur-Mil Park and served as one of the two presenters for PHOC’s new member orientation. She continued her offerings in September with a Sunday session on yoga for hikers. Unfortunately for intended participants, her scheduled October hike at the Peaks of Otter in Virginia had to be canceled because of heavy snow and ice. PHOC members who know Patty are aware that her contributions go well beyond being a leader of creative and much-enjoyed club events. Anyone who has participated in one of her outings, or simply shared a hike or walk with her, is grateful that her ever-present smile, her positive words, her contagious energy, and her occasional and unexpected bursts of melodious song help make club activities more pleasurable for all. Many PHOC members know, too, that, when friends in the club experience tragedy, Patty is the one who can be counted on to organize support quickly and efficiently, but quietly. In manifold ways unrelated to being a club officer or committee chairperson, Patty helps make PHOC the successful volunteer organization that it is.

Another reason for the club’s success is the abundance and variety of reasonably close strenuous-hike trails. One of those is a 14-mile section of the Appalachian Trail in the Roan highlands on the border with Tennessee, which can be hiked as an uphill, a downhill, or a partial out-and-back. One PHOC member for whom this section of trail is a favorite is Tony Phillips. Having enjoyed seasonal outdoor activities for most of his life, Tony decided about three years ago to identify a way to stay fit in the outdoors year-round and discovered our club. In addition to substantially increasing his walking strength and stamina since becoming a PHOC hiker, Tony has found our outings to be an excellent means of expanding his group of friends who share appreciation for the outdoors. Partly because the uphill Roan hike climbs 5300 feet through creek-lined valleys, across grassy balds, and through beech thickets, Tony considers this trail superb for both staying in strong physical condition and for enjoying an inspiring portion of our natural environment. Here are some of his observations about the Roan highlands trail.

“The Roan highlands hike is one of my favorites because few outings offer the varied terrains and views of this trail. The lush valleys of the climb up to the highlands support an impressive array of wildflowers and other interesting plants. Waves of grass rippling in the steady breeze of the balds can be spellbinding. With clear skies, Mount Mitchell is visible to the southwest and Mount Rogers and Whitetop to the northeast. Even on overcast days, the sight of clouds moving up and over mountainsides can be hauntingly beautiful. Although sections of rooty, rocky, or rutted trail pose hiking challenges, the viewing rewards of the nearby and distant vistas, as well as the companionship of fellow nature lovers, more than compensate for those challenges. And none of our outings is better for helping me maintain the good physical condition that is one goal of my participation in the club’s outdoor activities.”

Tony and I hope to share a beautiful and invigorating trail with you in the future.

David

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