Events

Join the NCTA Grand Traverse Hiking Club Chapter for the September monthly meeting.

Dick Mallery will talk about his recent 220-mile hike on the North Country National Scenic Trail from Munising, Mich. to the Mackinac Bridge, and answer questions about the Trail, as well as take any questions about backpacking and thru-hiking. People are curious about what he takes on these trips so he will bring his backpacking equipment. He has a book out titled Packtoter’s Thru-Hiking Planner that he updates every year.

When Dick “Packtoter” Mallery turned 50, he hiked 3,200 miles from Mexico to Canada on the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail. His passion is backpacking so he’s done several short hikes like 600 miles along the Great Divide Trail (Canada) and 800 miles on the Arizona National Scenic Trail, to name a few. At age 70 he completed the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail, which was the highlight of all his hiking trips. Last month he hiked 220 miles of the North Country National Scenic Trail.

His wife Gaila has been his support through all of his hiking adventures, writing a blog to document his hikes. One time someone approached him and said, “Wow, you sure are brave! There would be no way I would dare ask my wife if I could go hiking for months at a time.” For 21 years Dick and Gaila published The Dick E. Bird News, a monthly tongue-in-cheek newspaper about nature, human and otherwise. Over the years they have also published several books, including Birdfeeding 101, Nuts About Squirrels, Crossing the Divide, Ramblings, RV Shrink, and Packtoter’s Thru-Hiking Planner.

“The trail is a metaphor for life. It can be hard, tedious and cold. But near the end you look back across the craggy horizon to where you toiled to climb and all you see is joy. The hard times have evaporated in the warming sun, leaving only the traces of a life well lived.” (Dick Mallery)