The Gansett Gazette
February-March
2010

The New Member and Prospective Member Potluck Social will be at 6:30 pm at the Cathedral of St. John Episcopal, 271 N. Main St., Providence. New, current and prospective members are welcome.  Meet, eat, socialize and learn what activities the AMC has planned for the spring/summer season.  You'll have a chance to meet committee leaders and get a feel for what they have to offer. For information contact Mary Bonaventure, mlb448@yahoo.com.

Change in Web Site Password

The general password on our web site will be changed on February 1. The new password is in the current mailed Gazette. This password is only needed for a few menu items identified with a (pw).

SOLO Wilderness First Aid Training

Two day course will be taught at Camp Hoffman in West Kingston, RI. on April 24-25. The course will once again be taught by the outstanding instructors from Stonehearth Outdoor Learning Opportunities (SOLO). See listing...

2009 Annual Meeting Evening

The annual meeting this year was held Nov. 21, and for the first time at the “Save the Bay” center in Providence in the Field Point area. The attendence was over 100 and a good chance to get together with members who might not see others who participate in different activities over the Summer. The social was followed by a quickly moving business meeting. The AMC Executive Director, Andy Falender gave a talk on the accomplishments over the year for the AMC organization. The chapter awards were presented by leaders who know the recipients and are familiar with the contributions of the recipients. After the award ceremonies, dinner was served. After dinner Tom Eagan introduced our feature speaker Dr. Tim Warren who summited Mt. Everest. View photos...

2009 Appie of the Year Awards

The Appie of the Year is the Narragansett Chapter’s highest award. This year, we have two recipients, Charlie Killam and Brian Phillips.

Charlie began leading for the Backpacking and Northern Hikes committee in 2000. He has led or co-led more than 70 activities. Most of these are weekend-long endeavors, and include providing lodging and food (and the food is terrific). Charlie often runs beginner trips, especially beginner winter trips introducing many people to the winter mountain experience. Charlie has been an active with the Northern Hikes Sub-Committee for nearly a decade, instructing in numerous workshops in hiking skills and equipment, winter hiking skills and safety and map & compass. Charlie has been Leadership Development Chair since 2006. As such, he organizes the annual Wilderness First Aid Course, and has organized and run Leadership Development Workshops, and instructed at many Leadership Development Workshops.

Brian has been affiliated with AMC Technical Climbing for twenty years. After one year of climbing with the group he started lead climbing and volunteered to help teach the climbing classes each Spring. He has taught the classes and led trips every year since he started climbing with the AMC. He has been the Co-Chair of Technical Climbing for the past five years. He developed and maintains the AMC Technical Climbing website and email listserv used by 175, both AMC and non-member, climbers in Rhode Island. His love for climbing has brought him all over the country and various locales throughout the world to climb and he brings that enthusiasm to the group. Brian once likened leading a volunteer group to herding cats and at that he excels.

John Clark Service Award

The John Clark award is given this year to Roy Benoit He has been a member since at least the 1970’s and was active in technical climbing and northern hiking/backpacking. He was the Narragansett Chapter chair in the 1980-1982 period. He became very active in the chapter’s trails committee and has served that committee for many years as a project leader, planner and designer/builder of structures such as bridges, ladders, and most recently our present tool shed. His wealth of knowledge and technical advice to the trails committee, when questions arise, have been significant contributions to our project efforts.

Golden Appie Award

Over the years, some members have given their time and talent to the AMC, and to our Chapter, for such a long time that other yearly awards do not express the appreciation the Chapter has for these members. To show our appreciation, the Chapter has inaugurated our Golden Appie Award. This award is not a yearly award but a lifetime achievememt award for service to the Narragansett Chapter. Golden Appie Award recipients this year are Betty Allen, Bob Cillete, and Marjorie Gaunt.

Linda Pease presented the award for Betty Allen. Betty has been a member for well over 25 years and has made quiet contributions to the club over the years. She was the first person I know of to invite families to participate in regular events. She and her late husband Burt and participated on many hikes, walks and canoe trips. Later she became a walk leader and led some hikes but mostly walks and later became involved in conservation activities. She has enjoyed introducing members to the Lincoln Woods and Chase Farm and their trails. During her years in the AMC she has always enjoyed being with AMC members and have met many, many interesting people.

Maria Earley presented the award for Marjory Gaunt. Marjorie Gaunt has been a member of the AMC since 1966. During this time she has been very active in the club. She was the club secretary, and the trails secretary for a number of years. She did extensive travel with AMC members and she is a good advocate for the AMC. She is a member of the trails committee and at the young age of 87 she was carrying buckets of gravel to fill holes at one of our projects. She has graciously opened her house on more than one location to host the trails committee and always has good coffee and snacks with a smile for everyone.

Herrick Spencer presented the award for Bob Cilette. Bob has been a chapter member since the mid 80’s. He is someone so many us know and has done so much for chapter members through the many and varied activities he has sponsored and led over the many years. Bob was the 1996 Appie of the Year. 18 years ago he started the Wednesday Hike and Social as a way for members to get together 50 weeks a year. He has help make the chapter the success that it is and the award so fitting for him.

Feature Slide Presentation

Our feature presentation, sponsored by REI of Cranston, was by Dr. Tim Warren, a Warwick Chiropractor, who reached the summit of Mt. Everest at 29,035 feet and became the first and only Rhode Islander to reach the World's highest peak. Tim gave a most interesting presentation and slide show. He gave a good indication how difficult it is to climb Everest and the obstacles, and good or bad luck faced by all on the mountain.

Wed. Feb. 3. Hike and Social-Jamestown. Meet at 6:00pm at the Town Dock. Bring flashlights. L Donna Chellis (423-1259), Reg with Gregg O'Brien (245-0677, goh243@aol.com)

Fri. Feb. 5-7. Ski Best XC in the Whites. Stay at the popular AMC Highlands Center at Crawford Notch. Bretton Woods has the best snow; we can ski there on a great groomed trail from our lodge. If the snow is better at other locations (examples: Jackson or Great Gorge) we may ski there. We will have our own happy hour up on the 3rd floor, or we may enjoy the wonderful ambiance of the Mt. Washington Hotel. We have 4 two person bunk rooms reserved. We suggest immediate contact if you would like to join us. L Jack Schempp (331-4553, jschempp1@gmail.com)

Fri. Mar. 12-14. Mount Madison Winter Hike. Join us on a true alpine summit. For those with some above-treeline winter experience. Excellent follow-up to Mount Monroe hike. Willey Range if too windy for Madison. Full winter gear required, including face protection. Sunday's hike is leaders' choice. $112 for two nights motel, two breakfasts and one dinner. L Ed Poyer (edpoyer@gmail.com), CL Peter Broderick

Wed. Mar. 17. Hike and St. Patrick's Day Social - Wakefield. Wakefield Bike path - Meet 6pm. Park at Post Office lot. Bring flashlights. Rain cancels. L Aram Deradoorian (401-789-7811)

Fri. Mar. 19. New Member and Prospective Member Potluck Social. 6:30-9:00 pm at the Cathedral of St. John Episcopal, 271 N. Main St. Providence. New, current and prospective members are welcome. Meet, eat, socialize and learn what activities the AMC has planned for the spring/summer season. You'll have a chance to meet committee leaders and get a feel for what they have to offer. Those whose last names begin with A to L should bring a substantial appetizer to feed 8; M-Z - bring dessert. For information contact Mary Bonaventure, mlb448@yahoo.com; for church directions go to www.episcopalri.org.

Fri. Mar. 19-21. Mt. Mansfield Weekend. Join us for a weekend of day hikes in scenic Vermont. Saturday we'll hike to summit of Mt. Mansfield, the highest peak in Vermont. Sunday - Leader's choice. For experienced, well-conditioned hikers. Approximate cost $160.00, includes 2 nights lodging in Stowe, 2 breakfasts, 1 dinner. L Charlie Killam (508-252-4349, Charlie.Killam@gmail.com), CL Joe Piotti

Sat. Mar. 20. Spring Seal Walk, Rome Pt. Enjoy Springs' first seal walk. URI Professor Bob Kenney will lead us on a beach combing expedition, checking for migrating birds/ducks and culminating with a seal watch. Last trip, we spotted 94. A light spring lunch will be provided. Limited enrollment. L Jack Schempp (331-4553, jschempp1@gmail.com)

Sat. Mar. 20. Leaders Hike. Meet at 9:00 for a 8 mi. hike in the Arcadia Management Area. All hike leaders and co-leaders are invited to attend. Social will follow and we'll share experiences, exchange ideas and enjoy the friendship. L Maria Earley (789-8331 7:00PM - 9:00 PM, momearley@netzero.com), L Dick Sullivan (338-2880)

Sun. Mar. 21. George Parker Woodland Coventry Hike. (new) Start at 10:00am. Moderate 5.5-mile hike through Audubon conservation property. Formerly a farming area, remnants of their building foundations and sawmill expresses the struggle to earn a living on this property during the Revolutionary War. Biscuit Road crosses the property, named for what happened on it at that time. This hike passes stone cairns of unknown origin and tremendous glacial erratics. A visual treat with streams running through the property. Meet at the first parking lot on your left as you enter Maple Valley Road from Route 102. L Matt Putnam (401-862-2861, mattputnam@verizon.net), CL Tom Shackelford (401-369-5615, tombikel48@gmail.com)

Wed. Mar. 24. Hike and Social in Narragansett. Hike and Social in Narragansett. Meet at 6:00pm at Narragansett Towers Park. Bring flashlights. L Bob Richardson (364-7056), Reg with Gregg O'Brien (245-0677)

Fri. Mar. 26-28. Cabin Backpack to Mt. Adams. Backpack to rustic, (i.e.unheated, unlit) Randolph Mountain Club Crag Camp cabin at treeline on Mt. Adams. Great way to practice skills for winter backpacking. Full winter gear and winter hiking experience req’d. Cost $63 fee includes motel & cabin. L Ed Poyer (EdPoyer@gmail.com), CL Tom Grasso.

Sat. Mar. 27. 7th Land-Water Summit. The Summit offers 30 workshops relating to land & water reservation,restoration & more, fosters partnerships. fee, 300 attend. Contact Lesley for more details. L Jack Schempp (331-4553, jschempp1@gmail.com), Reg with Lesley Lambert (874-6482)

Sat. Mar. 27. Stepstone Falls Hike, West Greenwich. Escoheag and Ben Utter Trails in Arcadia Management Area, 6-7 mi. at a moderate pace. Lunch at Stepstone Falls. 9:00am start. L Pam Hill (269-1610 7:00-9:00pm, pjsh40@aol.com)

Sun. Mar. 28. Conservation Meander. Enjoy winter tranquility on an easy paced meditative meander at The Lloyd Center in S. Dartmouth, MA on a variety of trails in forest, farm and shore habitats. We'll also go inside the Center to view exhibits. www.lloydcenter.org. Families, new members welcome. Meet in Seekonk at 9 am to carpool. L Linda Pease (401-351-2234), CL Kris Caproni (401-333-6589, krcapro@aol.com)

Sun. Mar. 28. Family Hike at Cumberland Monastery. (new) Afternoon hike. We'll visit historic Nine Men's Misery. Hike is approximately 4 miles at a leisurely pace. Meet at 2:00p.m. L Debbie Mitchell (401-743-4192, dmitchell@thebravergroup.com)

Wed. Mar. 31. Hike and Social in Bristol. Hike and Social at 6:00pm in Bristol. Meet in front of Leo's Ristorante, 365 Hope Street. Bring flashlights. L Gregg O'Brien (245-0677, goh243@aol.com), CL Wendy Farr (533-3084, wendyfarr42@gmail.com), Reg with Gregg O'Brien (245-0677)