Thechapter was established by Edward Barlow, Walter Biesemeyer and S. Burns Weston as means of strengthening relations amongst those who lived on East Hill through social activities and getting out into nature together.
Today the chapter has a robust membership of 413 representing 256 households living in Keene, its surrounding communities and New York state, as well as Connecticut, New Jersey, Ohio, Vermont and Canada.
Club activities take place year-round no matter the weather. They include alpine, backcountry and cross-country skiing, ice and rock climbing, snowshoeing, hiking and paddling on lakes and streams. Activities also include trail maintenance, cleaning up roadsides and riversides of trash, along with a variety of conservation and education efforts. No less important are their monthly potlucks and other social activities.
Many of these activities were reduced, modified or postponed during the COVID-19 pandemic as to be expected, yet they still managed a robust schedule as so many of their activities are held outside, including the pot lucks, with people masking up, as needed.
As exciting as all this sounds, the chapter was not always as vibrant. In the late 1990s, as their membership had reduced, officers felt it might be time to merge with the Keene Chapter. The turnaround came as a result of Tony Lucus stepping in as chair followed by the Mosleys. He did not turn around the club on his own; Lucas was ably assisted by wife Ellena along with George and Marcia Mosey, Ruth Kuhfahl, Joe and Elle Mcavoy, and others.
By any measure, the club has remained active ever since. A reflection of their longevity and vitality is that the Michael Barrett, executive director of the Adirondack Club joined their celebration at the Mountain House.
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