Date: Fri 14-Aug-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: CURT

Quick Words:

Paula-Burton-AMC-Zimmermann

Full Text:

Sandy Hook Woman's Trail With The AMC Has Few Limits

(with photo & logo)

Paula Burton has climbed into a volcano in Iceland (the rocks were still

warm), toured Europe by herself on bicycle, and is currently finishing a term

as chairman of the Connecticut Chapter of the Appalachian Mountain Club.

Although the Sandy Hook resident has always loved the outdoors, she is

surprised at the adventures she has had during the past 14 years.

"I've been a diabetic for 33 years -- I'm on an insulin pump -- and I also

have asthma. Through AMC I found myself doing more than I possibly thought I

could do," she says. Although motivated to try new things, she found club

members facilitated her journey beyond expectation. For instance, recently she

went on a 12-hour hike in the White Mountains and had to stop and reprogram

her pump. The AMC leaders were quite amenable to waiting for her.

"I was a little nervous about going on an AMC activity; I thought they would

all be super-strong hikers and would leave me in the dust," says Ms Burton,

recalling a 1984 hike in Devil's Den, Weston. Rather than leave her behind,

the members asked her to help lead the hike. "That led to a long series of

`yeses,'" she laughs.

A special education teacher at Seymour High School, Ms Burton spends her free

time hiking, bicycling, cross-country and downhill skiing, and winter hiking,

which brings into use crampons and snowshoes. And she can do any of these with

others through activities organized by AMC.

Based on the philosophy that successful, long-term conservation depends on

first-hand experiences in the natural world, AMC encourages "responsible

recreation." Members of the chapter lead hikes, rock climbing and bicycling

trips, teach the basics of cross-country skiing, backpacking, rock-climbing,

whitewater and flatwater canoeing, and other outdoor skills. Pot-luck dinners,

slide shows, family events, work parties (trail maintenance) and week-long

adventures outside of the country are other activities regularly offered.

AMC's emphasis is three-fold: recreation, education, and conservation.

Many people think AMC is a group that hikes only. This misconception probably

stems from the organization's high profile of maintaining vast sections of the

Appalachian Trail. Connecticut chapter volunteers are responsible for managing

the entire 52-mile section of AT in Connecticut. Their work also entails

monitoring and managing almost 7,000 acres of National Park land along the

trail corridor. Weekend ridgerunners traverse sections of the trail to monitor

the area and help educate visitors about low-impact hiking and camping; other

volunteers -- aged 3 to 85 -- keep the trail clear, maintain and build

shelters and privies, and use natural materials to divert run-off. Using

winches, the group has moved rocks as heavy as 800 pounds in Sage's Ravine.

"[The Appalachian Trail] is almost a second home to me. After you've done some

maintaining and ridgerunning, you think, `I know that rock; I know that water

bar,'" says Ms Burton, who will soon be a regional director on AMC's board.

"And you would think you'd go out and never see the same people, but you do.

It's sort of a community out there. There's that common interest, but you also

meet all kinds of people."

She translates some of her more humorous observations into stories for

publications including a local literary magazine, and a piece slated for the

fall issue of Appalachia Journal. Ms Burton is also an avid nature

photographer, who has had her work published in AMC Outdoors magazine.

When she serves as a volunteer weekend ridgerunner, Ms Burton camps at sites

on the trail. Often her dog, Shasta, a retriever mix, accompanies her in her

work, but the dog totes its own food and water in a special dog backpack.

Ms Burton enjoys meeting different people and says the majority of talk

revolves around gear and weather, although sometimes things take a

philosophical bent.

"Another misconception people have is the trail is just out there and is not

managed," says Ms Burton. Last year, volunteers spent 6,824 hours managing the

Connecticut section of the AT. Although AMC members monitor the trail, two

things they are not responsible for are law enforcement and search and rescue,

she adds.

A member of AMC since 1984, Ms Burton established the leader's training

program on outdoor skills (both hands-on and interpersonal), and made

wilderness first aid training a regular feature. In January, when she assumes

the responsibilities of regional director, Ms Burton will help the

Connecticut, Wooster, and Berkshire chapters with organizational, volunteer,

or interpersonal issues. She will also act as an information conduit between

the local and regional levels, and will help local chapters implement

policies.

Until now, the closest local chapter was based in Westport; this fall,

however, AMC will organize an additional chapter that will meet in Bethel.

This is a good opportunity for outdoor enthusiasts in Newtown and the

surrounding area to be introduced to and participate in AMC, says Ms Burton.

The organizational meeting will be held Wednesday, October 7, at Stony Hill

Fire House; for more information contact Paula Burton at 426-5369.

"I really like Newtown -- there's a lot of great hiking here with the state

forest and open space parcels," says Ms. Burton. She and Shasta hike in

Newtown at least two or three times a week. "We have a great time; you can

find adventure in your own backyard quite easily."

The Appalachian Mountain Club maintains a network of 9 huts and lodges (a

day's hike apart) in the White Mountain National Forest. A little closer to

home is Bascom Lodge on Mt Greylock in the Berkshires; hikers can bunk there

and enjoy family-style meals, and day-visitors can put their feet up and enjoy

a snack. AMC hosts workshops and clinics ranging from wildflowers and weather

to low-impact camping and nature crafts. It publishes a magazine, AMC

Outdoors, that lists local, and regional activities. The group also publishes

books, maps, and trail guides.

Membership to AMC is $40 for individuals, $65 for families, and $25 for those

under 23 or over 69. For information on the club, write AMC Membership, 5 Joy

Street, Boston, Mass. 02108; or call 617/523-0636.