The Over the Hill Hikers (OTHH) began simply in the summer of 1979. A small group of friends took their first hike together, past Jose's Bridge in North Sandwich, New Hampshire, to the rocky ledges at Great Falls for a picnic lunch. In the weeks that followed, their ambition grew, leading them to more challenging climbs in the nearby peaks of the White Mountains' Sandwich Range.Lib Bates, affectionately known as the original "Den Mother," along with her late husband Charlie Crooker, would later retire to Sandwich. They quietly took the reins, organizing the group and broadening its reach. Lib, having hiked New Hampshire trails her entire life as the daughter of one of the first AMC hut masters, Red Mac Gregor, was eager to share her favorite routes with friends.
Under Lib's passionate leadership, the Sandwich hiking group truly flourished. They tackled 4,000-foot peaks week after week, almost always on a Tuesday. Overnights at AMC huts and The Glen in Pittsburg became regular adventures. Ski groups formed, venturing to The Balsams and Bethel Inn. By 1986, the schedule expanded to include fall trips outside New Hampshire, with excursions taking them to the 4,000-footers in Maine, the vast landscapes of Montana, and even the majestic Alps!
Our group steadily grew to over 100 members, including some non-hiking spouses. Many OTHH members have summited the New Hampshire 4,000-footers, some multiple times, and impressively, some even after turning 70, 75, and 80! A dedicated few are even working towards completing the GRID and Red-Lining all the trails in the White Mountains.
In 1984, a companion group, the Friday Walkers, was formed for those seeking a more leisurely and social experience.
Each hiking group has a dedicated leader who plans the route, keeps track of fellow hikers with a proper pace/sweeper system, and makes crucial "go/no-go" decisions based on weather and trail conditions. While hiking in the Whites means being prepared for fast-changing weather, our scheduled hikes generally proceed unless deemed unsafe by the day's leader. At the start of each season, a planning meeting is held for each group to select upcoming hikes, assign leaders/volunteers, and publish the list to our blog and email community.
When Lib Bates stepped aside in the late 1990s, a "Life after Lib" committee oversaw the transition, with Bill and Claire Smith initially taking on leadership roles. Prior chairs include Bill Glenday, Jocelyn Gutchess, Pat Russell, Dave and Marion Blackshear, and Mark Tuckerman, who also led the NE100 group and winter hiking.
In 2006, an informal group began exploring the 100 highest summits of New England on Wednesdays and Thursdays. This faster-paced group embarked on longer days on the trail, famously bagging 10 4,000-footers in Maine during a fantastic hiking week in August 2007. By August 2008, a trip to Baxter State Park helped several members complete their NE67 4,000-footers through these Maine and Vermont excursions. This specific group has since branched off from the OTHH, and we unfortunately can't offer details on their current activities.
In 2007, Charlie Kuehn passed the torch for communications and website development to Mark Tuckerman. The late Mary Cullen served as treasurer (collecting money for postage) and maintained the roster. Sharon Vittum skillfully managed the important role of social director. In 2009, Ginny McDonald and Nancy Leighley took over organizing our successful winter awards banquet.
As of 2015, while many of our legendary Over the Hill Hikers have passed on or retired their boots, the spirit of OTHH continues strong. Tracy Ripkey now serves as the "Den Mother," manages the B group, and maintains our blog and general email distribution list. Doug Wright and Dick Russell keep the A group organized, and Ricky Banderob and Jane Harrington organize the Turtles and Friday Walkers. Cathy Crooker is keeping the tradition of our soup and snowshoeing adventures going, and sends out all the 52 WAV patches to those that complete their list.
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