Letter to the Editor
By Lois Dunlop
I've been a member since my mid-twenties and am now 79, happily a Life Member.
Back when I first joined PATC, I was privileged to know
Egbert and Dorothy Walker. Egbert was the head of (and mostly the only person) the maps committee. He was the one who really set the standard for PATC's maps, spending hours at the N Street headquarters location working on the maps.
One of Egbert's strict requirements was that all trails be measured using the trusty bicycle wheel distance counter. I'm sure it had a formal name but I don't recall what that was. I only remember it was sturdy and accurate, depending of course on the skill of the user. I think he would be pleased to know his high standards are still in effect. Any articles about PATC maps should include a kudo in Egbert's direction.
Dorothy was also a force to be reckoned with. She came out on more club hikes than her husband. Carried her gear in a vintage (even then) L.L.Bean backpack basket. A small built woman with her gray hair neatly in a bun and a very sweet smile, Dorothy could really put in the mileage. Hard for a 20-something-year-old to keep up with.
I joined the club at a very fortuitous time in my life and in the life of the club. I also knew
Ruth and Fred Blackburn, Paula Strain, Ray Fadner, Robert Humphrey and many others who truly helped PATC become the strong, active organization that it is today.
Happy Trails everyone.
