Code,917042
Subject,Ruth Skuly and Leo Deininger
Date,12/8/17
Interviewer,Betsey Luce
Abstract,"Ruth Skuly and Leo Deininger joined the Cleveland Hiking Club in 1974.  Along with discussing their earlier experiences in hiking with other leaders, they describe how they found leading hikes in Ohio counties to be most satisfying and took on the role of organizing such hikes.  "
Tags,"Clevelandl Hikilng Club, hiking, nature, Buckeye Trail"
Special Notes,
minutes:,
0,"Intro to Club by Pete & Joe Mayer, a.k.a. Mr. Hiking Club  "
1,"Leo and Ruth complete six hikes; ""under the table;""  Leo's second hike a 26 miler"
2,"2-month wait  period to officially join offers time  to  determine ""fit"" for Club; most always accepted."
3,"Leo among the younger members, the norm; overall, variation  from youngsters & their families to the older group"
4,Ruth: Generations of hiking families some in for  50 years; today subgroups of  families within special hiking circles  
5,Ruth: Before hikes were one place only; everyone went there; now more hike choices various locations; evening hikes.   
6,Leo: Enjoys club from earlier times.  Jay Beswick good leader. One leader hikes more miles  than advertised.  A big hike about 15 people. 
7,"Leo: In late 80s-early 90s club greatly increased; interest in health, more hikes.  A June hike at Coe Lake hike had 102 people. "
8,"Leo:  Ray Lusin's CV feb hike, 104 people on hike; Leo the ""sweep"" couldn't keep up.  Large groups created need for more hikes.   "
9,Morning hikes added.  More of a couples club; in 50's-60s club members met and married.  Not a singles club but falsely advertised as one.
10,Ruth: Social dynamics change: Individuals without spouses.  Emily Gregor's many  roles.  Leisure hikes by Emily Gregor; needed a special element. 
11,"Ruth recalls stopping at a monument, viewing wildflowers, etc;  Walt Lennartz took over, broke away from Emily's element rules. "
12,Ruth: Leisure hikes not vigorous. Recalls a favorite hike in Holmes County. Yellow flowers on both sides of path resemble candles.
13,"Ruth:  More visual aspects include   S. Chagrin snowy day, sparkling in sun.  Leo:  Penitentary Glen.  "
14,Leo recalls Ruck's  challenging 5-day hike in Kentucky.  Ice storm with many trees down.   Need to find bus back and getting dark.  
15,Leo's adventure as fastest hiker to bus; desparate for water. Driver supplies soda.  Some couldn't make it.  
16,Those left behind built a fortress in the woods; but then picked up by bus.
17,"Ruth:  Explore Ohio hikes. Leads excursion to Gand Manan in the Bay of Fundy, Canada. 50 miles of trail & cliffs."
18,Ruth: Stay in Canada.  About 24 on hike.  Fresh fish catches.  Led Greenbriar River trail hike. 
19,"Leo: In 1978 the first international trip for Club; Cecil Dobbins, Switzerland.  Cecil lived there; visits with Cecil."
20,Ruth: Cecil give credits for 2-hikers on  Swiss-visit-hikes.
21,Ruth: At Camp made apple butter from apples from  Mr. VanDusen's apples orchard; women cooked it. Leo overnight at camp.
22,Ruth: Taking care to process and package and sell apple butter as fundraiser for Club. No insurance.
23,"Ruth: Forty-mile hikes starts at  cabin.  Soup served at cabin; like a party. Leo quits doing ""boring"" 25 mile hikes."
24,"Ruth: Recalls doing Buckeye A, B (partly), C,D,E,F (6 hikes) with group; goal 20-miles a day. Maps not adequate."
25,Ruth & Leo: Oct 1975 hike set as 26 turns to 34.  Leo describes episode with bridge and crossing deep stream to get to cars. 
26,"Ruth: Surprised to find  bridge so close next day.  Hiker's mother treats late arrivers  to  chili.  Emily Gregor's Buckeye B,  15 miles. "
27,"Finishes BT 27 days in 1975, 23 miles a day.  Joins Emily's group, and Jeanette DeSimone's section group. "
28,Buckeye D Jim Sprague's differing section hike into town.  Interesting; Buckeye trail plus Explore Ohio.  
29,New pursuit for Ruth & Leo: Explore Ohio - a weekend a month every county in Ohio;  9 years to complete; 10 a year. About 100 do part of it.  .
30,"Core group did most. Rule 15 mile a day, find interesting highlights in town, eat well. Unusual food."
31,"Ruth & Leo: Hiking through Cuba, OH; free beer on hot day. Jim and others volunteer to lead certain counties."
32,Popcorn farmer invites to farm. Candy cane tours.  Other interesting places.  Mercer County by Louise McDonough
33,Leo:  Mercer County predominantly German-Catholic.  St. Henry town. Louise McDonough does shrine visits.  
34,Leo & Ruth: Stays in most  counties.  Sometimes camp on weekends.  Very hot day. Trout on campfire meal in Champaign county. 
35,"Leo & Ruth:103 degree heat on Sprague's hike.  Flat ferry across  Ohio river to Sistersville, West Virginia for lunch. Rachel's astounding tonics.  "
36,Ruth: Visits locks on Ohio avoiding heat.  Hikes commence at night.  Watermelon vs Water skinny-dipping tale.
37,Ruth recalls Lou Shainker on same episode.  People having fun.  Explore OH ends 1996.  Keep up those  get-away weekends. 
38,Repeats some of counties for Get-Away Weekends.  Decline of interest later. 
39,Less interest in Get-Away Weekends  for limited miles perhaps.  One rule to stop  at County Courthouses for group pictures.
40,"Leo: Tom Lavelle's in-error hike finding  Courthouse in Elyria, not Lorain; comes in late.  "
41,"Ruth: Explore Ohio varies with mileage from same group , official ending at Bratenhal, Gwinn Mansion dinner."
42,"Leo:  John Schade interesting character, lived at camp as camp chairman; toolshed became bunkhouse. Rural area."
43,Ruth: Outhouses rugged. People use camp for their own picnics; not scheduled.
44,Leo recalls Harold Poole for his long hikes.  Getting us back late.  Hiked anywhere even private property.   
45,"Lady chases Harold's group off property with dogs, gun shots and more. Sherlan was the star can collector; crawled in dumpsters.  "
46,Ruth: Sherlan collects  Marlborough cigarette labels.  Harold and Sherlan compete on hikes for cans and labels. 
47,Ruth recalls Joe and Justine Mayer and Frank and Miriam Cepp.  Miriam's Thanksgiving Dinner. Matilda Varga.
48,"Ruth: Jay Beswick, librarian, botanist, fern expert. Died on a hike. Book on Ohio ferns went unpublished."
49,Ruth: Banana Man Bob Krupa dies of heart attack on his own hike.  
50,Leo: Lazlo Reidel  heart attack at Punderson died on hike.  Newsteps image more professional.
51,Ruth:  Newsletter became professional. Changes in printing.  Angie Lennartz typed everything.
52,Handouts of  hikes to save money. No Newsteps in earlier years.
53,75th Anniversary book reveals how Newsteps evolves;  Centennial book same.  
54,Visitors charge was 10 cents for a copy of schedule to cover postage. Walter's card states this.
55,Interview ends at 54:41
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