Ramsey County History – Winter 2021: “Take a Hike: A Century of Walks with the St. Paul Hiking Club”

Take a Hike: A Century of Walks with the St. Paul Hiking Club
Author: Bob Tholkes, with Meredith Cummings

On January 15, 1921, twenty-five hardy young people bundled up in their warmest boots, knickers, hiking skirts, and woolen mittens and socks for a six-mile round-trip jaunt on the far east side of St. Paul in 10°F weather. With that inaugural trek, the St. Paul Municipal Hiking Club was formed. A century on and a few days past the anniversary of that first frigid excursion, members of what is today simply called the St. Paul Hiking Club recreated the journey—in warmer weather—15°F!  When not walking, Bob Tholkes, president of the club since 2014, spent the better part of two years researching the story of one of St. Paul’s early social clubs that formed to promote exercise and create opportunities to get to know one another and explore Minnesota’s great outdoors.
PDF of R. Thokes article

Supplemental Materials:
RCHS_Winter 2021_online sidebar-Hiking Club Presidents PDF
RCHM_Winter 2021_online sidebar-Anniversary Hike PDF