Friends, Fun and Adventure 32-Year Tradition Continues for Moreno Valley Trekkers

Trekkers Club was founded in 1991 by Kathy and Herb Kalen to promote hiking in the Enchanted Circle area. Herb said it was rewarding for older people to participate in arduous hikes. “A lot of those people who go on the hikes never would have dreamed … of what they could do,” he said. “Kathy and I are proud that we could get them up there.”

Today, the Trekkers welcome a wide range of hiking abilities and have grown to almost 100 members of different ages, not just retired folks.

About one to two hikes per week are organized and led by Trekkers from May through October. They range in difficulty from easy mountain wildflower hikes to hiking the Angel Fire Enlightenment Trail.

November through April hikes include snowshoeing and moonlight treks when conditions permit. All hikes are graded according to their degree of difficulty and most descriptions can be found on popular hiking apps. No matter how strenuous the hike is, fun times are had by all.

CHRISTINE SMITH, MORENO VALLEY TREKKER PRESIDENT

New member Allison Tesar Woodall humorously shares advice, “If you stop suddenly to sightsee, don’t forget brake lights or the person following may plow into you!”

Longtime Trekker Terry Maxwell recalls a trekking adventure where “we all got our rain gear on and started singing Christmas carols, because there was so much hail on the trail it looked like snow.”

Headquartered in Angel Fire, the Trekkers are also active in trail maintenance, working in conjunc tion with government and private outdoor recreational organiza tions. Recently, we have installed benches at the top of Cougar and Oeste Vista Trails in Angel Fire, and replaced signage at the Elliot Barker trailhead off US 64.

We combine community outreach with fun and fellowship. Monthly potluck socials are scheduled throughout the summer on the last Tuesday of every month from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. We have guest speakers to educate members on hiking topics like safety, geography and fire prevention. The Trekker leadership team monitors fire status alerts and updates our membership through e-mail announcements.

“We take the ‘leave no trace’ principles to heart,” says Smith. If you are interested in membership, inquire through our e-mail. Cost is $10 per person per year. Visiting friends and family are also welcome on our hikes.

Christine SmithandChrisSorensen