“Keep moving!” is the motto of Glenn Anderson. It also motivates his decades-long passion for hiking in all seasons, not to mention the chill of winter.
“I’ve always loved the outdoors,” said Anderson, who is one of his favorite activities: hiking, biking, and kayaking. While he and his wife Georgia raised their three children, family vacations focused on hiking and skiing.
In his 50s, a colleague introduced Anderson to the Appalachian Mountain Club. Before going to work, the pair hiked frequently up Mount Pisgah in Northborough. After retiring in 2013, Anderson began hiking the Midstate Trail in Central Massachusetts and soon hiked other trails in the area. Hiking Mt. Wachusett became a weekly routine. He has created a table with more than 30 hikes, sorted by difficulty and location, with links to hiking maps.
After a tai chi class at the Holden Senior Center sparked conversation among attendees about hiking, Anderson agreed to organize group hikes for retirees.
“As we get older we have to keep moving,” he said. He notes that hiking “is probably in my genes. My mother went twice a day throughout the year until she was 90 years old. “
The traveling group of retirees called themselves The Vintage Vagabonds; They started hiking together three years ago and the membership grew rapidly. “The oldest member of the hiking group is 80 years old and in better shape than most of us,” said Anderson.
The shutdown of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020 slowed the wanderings of the vagabonds for a few months. In the meantime, Glenn and Georgia Anderson set out to explore new ways in the area. Soon they added the Harvard Forest and several hiking trails maintained by the Trustees of Reservations to their walking routes.
“One of my rules is that I don’t lead a group hike down a trail I’ve never been before,” said Anderson. “I’m a frustrated tour guide,” he adds. “I love to introduce people to places that are new to them.”
In the early summer of 2020, Anderson had found a way to continue the group hikes. He reduced the number of participants per hike and required that every hiker wears a mask. He also increased the number of hikes each week to make them more accessible to more people. Anderson often led five hikes a week through mid-winter in early 2021.
Both beginners and experienced hikers were impressed by the friendliness and patience of the group leader. “I see hiking as a game; That and the camaraderie of the group are the keys to happiness at our age, “said Anderson. He adds that the health benefits of hiking are important as we age.
Anderson’s zeal for nature gives the hikes he guides a sociable tone. As a result, the vagabonds are a sociable group. Chatting with other hikers while walking is a great attraction for many of them. “Hiking with Glenn is like going to a cocktail party, only without alcohol,” says vagabond hiker Patty Jacobs.
Jacobs, a retired schoolteacher who lives in Holden, admits that she used to “survive the winter” but the group hiking experience has changed her mind. Although camaraderie was the main draw, Jacobs soon learned that “hiking makes you feel good. When you’ve made it to the top of a ridge or mountain, you feel pretty successful, ”she said.
“Hiking in winter has the added benefit of being able to see the beauty of the forest when it’s covered in snow,” added Jacobs. “Not only does snow make everything look beautiful, it also provides a nice cushion over the rocks and roots that are so abundant on the New England trails.”
Another fan of winter hiking, Joe Massery, agrees. He is the past chairman of the Worcester Chapter of the Appalachian Mountain Club (http://www.amcworcester.org/hiking.html) and has led groups on snowy trails for eight years.
“Hiking on trails is much easier in winter,” says Massery. “You just have to deal with the weather conditions.”
Masssery describes himself as a “late bloomer” who started hiking after a back injury. “There wasn’t much I could do for months in my recovery, but one afternoon I went crazy and decided to run around my neighborhood,” he said.
Almost five miles later, Massery was surprised that his back didn’t bother him.
Soon he was searching the internet for routes in Westborough and found one practically across the street from his house.
Finally a link led to the Appalachian Mountain Club. “They have fantastic workshops; After recording one of ‘How to Hike in Winter’ I got hooked, ”he said.
Massery runs winter hikes three days a week; in the summer he often guides backpackers hiking in the White Mountains. He has his own table of walks and has accumulated over 4,000 miles of trails across the region.
Some of the hikes he recommends include the Westborough Charm Bracelet Trail System (https://westboroughcharm.org) and the Greater Worcester Land Trust trails (www.gwlt.org).
Winter hiking requires special equipment and attention to clothing to ensure the experience is safe and enjoyable. Removable traction aids such as microspikes prevent slipping on icy trails. Anderson needs them on winter hikes. He also emphasizes the importance of well-fitting, waterproof hiking boots. Trekking poles “take the strain off your knees and help build upper body strength,” said Anderson.
Correct clothing is just as important, he continued. “The Norwegians have a saying, ‘There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing.’” Anderson recommends synthetic and moisture-wicking materials and layers for winter weather. Add gloves, a hat, and sunglasses to protect your eyes from the sun on snowy trails and you’re good to go.
Jacobs agrees. “I quickly learned that a heavy sweater and jacket make a miserable hike,” she said. “When hiking you really keep warm.”
Massery recommends the AMC’s 10 essentials list for winter hiking equipment, which includes a flashlight or headlamp, matches or a fire starter, first aid kit and an emergency blanket (https://www.outdoors.org/resources/amc-outdoors/ gear / the-10-essentials-revisited /).
He also adds an 11th item: a lightweight, portable sled board. “After a hike up a mountain, there is nothing better than tobogganing down the mountain,” he says.
Although there is a waiting list to join the Vintage Vagabond Hikers, Anderson encourages anyone interested in winter hiking to look for other hikers. If you’re looking for trails to explore in the winter, check out the following websites for more information:
The trails at Wachusett Meadows: https://www.massaudubon.org/get-outdoors/wildlife-sanctuaries/wachusett-meadow/about/trails
Harvard Forest: https://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu/trails-recreation
Reservation trustee: https://thetrustees.org/content/hike-trustees/
Appalachian Mountain Club: http://www.amcworcester.org
Greater Worcester Land Trust: https://www.gwlt.org
