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Musings From Our Outings Chair
Many people ask me, “what is the most beautiful place you have ever explored?” That’s an impossible question to answer. How can I call Hawaii more beautiful than Alaska? Both places invoke entirely different yet breath-taking memories. Each state is full of land so precious and sacred that I could not say one is more incredible or pleasing to the eye than another.
I enjoy leading Sierra Club outings because they allow me the opportunity to take others to places that have inspired me. The only thing better than going to beautiful places is bringing friends to them. Getting a chance to share a forest of Ancient White Pine and Eastern Hemlock with friends is good stuff. One such friend who joined us on an outing was Sue Fanok from the Pennsylvania Chapter of the Nature Conservancy. Sue and the Nature Conservancy are documenting and developing management plans for the Delaware River region. Exploring wild areas can sometimes bring on new discoveries, which can assist with the management of our natural resources.
During an outing in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area on the way to an old growth forest, we found a large healthy American Chestnut Tree. This unusual tree is now on our radar screen, and we will return to it next year to collect its seed. Encoded in its genetic makeup is a special resistance to a blight that has killed off more than 99% of our native chestnut trees. We fought off hordes of mosquitoes on our way to this old growth forest, as the path to this site is full of wetlands and vernal pools. Swatting mosquitoes for four hours could have brought out the worst in any group. About two and a half miles from the nearest road, the possibility of physical harm occurred to me as I realized just how outnumbered I was. Luckily our “swat to stay alive outing” brought on a sense of kinship and camaraderie that developed from overcoming the hungry, biting hordes.
We went on some additional memorable trips in 2003. All were equally pretty and enjoyable in their own ways. Is a vernal pool glistening like a mirror at the base of the Hog Back Ridge more beautiful than the sight of crimson red Virginia Creeper vines tumbling from Sycamore trees towards the Lehigh River? One sure way to see neat things is to leave your camera at home. It is a rule of thumb as true as Murphy’s law.
In the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area we watched perfectly camouflaged Jefferson Salamanders, waiting for their meals while perched on top of a toadstool. A student of ecology can read about the various roles that fungus play in the environment, but this lesson is not lost on those that watch Salamanders gather on and around mushrooms because of the insects they attract. I have my friend Ann to thank for graciously documenting these rare Amphibians with the camera she did not leave at home. The Jefferson Salamanders we studied would probably tell you that there is nothing more beautiful than a vernal pool. Their bias comes from the fact that they could not exist without vernal pools. The brightly colored Red Efts that we were careful not to step on as we made our way would also agree. The Baltimore Orioles who attempt to escape predation by building their nest in the Virginia Creeper vines would probably tell you the Virginia Creeper vines they rely on are far more pleasing to their eyes!
I personally did not have a favorite hike in 2003. They were all different, each bringing new experiences and leaving unique memories. These were a few of the memories, both good and bad, that have remained in my mind through this past year.
Meeting new members, and renewing old acquaintances is a big part of why we do what we do when we attend a Sierra club outing or program. Like most people who choose to belong to an organized group, members often feel a common bond with perfect strangers because it is understood there is a common interest or source of inspiration. What could be more important than preserving the very beauty that inspires, protecting the air we breathe, or the water we drink? These goals mean something to us, so we say, “sign me up.” I know I tend to feel better about people who “get it” and are motivated enough to actively participate in conservation and the environmental movement. Going to outings and programs is a great way to support the club, grow your environmental ethic, and meet others who share similar outlooks and inspiration.
Introducing and watching members meet each other for the first time always inspires and entertains. I did not attend the Sierra Club’s well-received series of programs on green buildings/green technologies, but my wife did. Itsy came home from the program beaming with joy at the rediscovery of a long lost friendship. She told me of a skinny little seventh grader who had grown up to become as beautiful and priceless as the planet she now seeks to protect through education.
Itsy and Sigi attended Broughal Middle School together back in the late 70s. They connected, becoming friends even though they did not know each other that well. Each had attended different elementary schools while growing up in separate neighborhoods. Broughal middle school brought them together, but their friendship was short lived as Sigi moved away in eighth grade. They went their separate ways for almost 25 years until the Sierra Club put them back in touch. The passing of time had almost made them forget, but the Sierra Club, their love of nature, and connection to this planet put this long lost friendship back into business! They say that great minds think alike, but perhaps it should be said of Sierra club friendships that great hearts think alike!
Okay, perhaps not all club interactions are so compelling. For the most part, the people we meet at Sierra Club programs are inspired, and the places we go to are beautiful. Looking for adventure? Tired of TV, shopping or the usual boring routine? Then try battling millions of hungry, biting mosquitoes with the few, the proud, the Sierra Club. Which outings in 2004 will take us to the most beautiful places? Perhaps you just have to go on a few and decide for yourself.
By: Bill Sweeney, Lehigh Valley Group Outings Chair
