August 30, 2001

Sierra Club takes active role in environment

Hikers explore trails, scout out wildlife with group members

By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
       From scouting out loons to winding through wetlands to identifying flowers, fungi or plants, eight hikers weathered a gentle rain Saturday morning to explore a trail along the Brownbridge Pond.
      Sponsored by the Sierra Club - Traverse Group, the three-mile hike drew hikers from as far away as Grand Rapids for a slice of beauty, northwest Michigan style.
      "I came up this weekend to go biking and hiking," said Dave Vruggink of Hudsonville, who has attended previous outings with the local Sierra Club.
      John Lewis of Traverse City led the hike. An avid hiker for many years, Lewis said he has explored nearly every trail with in an 80-mile radius. He regularly hikes at least three times a week and is a member of the Sierra Club - Traverse Group's outings committee that puts together public hikes and other events.
      "Hiking is my big passion and there's so much good hiking around here," said Lewis, who moved to the area eight years ago. "I've also done a lot of hiking in Alaska and Scotland."
      A local chapter of the Sierra Club formed again nearly 18 months ago and this spring began sponsoring public outings. Harking back to the Sierra Club's founding philosophy more than 100 years ago, the local group plans to continue the sponsoring of outdoor events to bring people out into nature.
      "The idea is to get people out to explore nature appreciate it and through that be inspired to protect and preserve it," said Monica Evans of Honor, who helped revive the local group last year. "Almost every group in the Sierra Club nationwide has outings, it is a very important part of the group."
      The Sierra Club - Traverse Group has more than 600 members, some drawn from the national group and about 100 who have joined since the local group began. They cover a nine-county area of northwest Michigan and plan to hold two outings a month year round. They have drawn an average of six and ten people of all ages, from toddlers to seniors, to each outing since they began in May.
      Political activism is a newer emphasis of the Sierra Club and the local group does not plan to be shy in environmental advocacy.
      In an area packed with environmental groups large and small, local and national, Evans believes the Sierra Club brings another voice to promoting environmental awareness and preservation. She also noted that other area environmental groups, such as NMEAC, Michigan Land Use Institute and the Audubon Society have been very welcoming and supporting of the local Sierra Club.
      "There may be a lot of groups but I don't think there can be too many," said Evans, noting that five teens actively participate in the group's conservation committee. "There's so many issues up here: sprawl, air quality, water quality, people moving up from downstate and wanting lawns. Every group has something to contribute."
      Lewis agrees that there is room for yet another environmental group in the area.
      "There's so many things to be interested in working on up here, environmentally, like the South Fox Island situation or the Hartman-Hammond bridge- which seems to be a done deal," said Lewis. "It is just so good to be involved with people who feel the same way and are really effective leaders."
      The Sierra Club - Traverse Group meets on the fourth Saturday of every month from 1-3 p.m. at the Traverse Area District Library. Future outings include a Vasa Trail hike on September 8, Pyramid Point hike on September 29 and canoeing on the Betsie River on October 7. For more information, call John Lewis at 947-9104 or via e-mail at johnbetty@bignetnorth.net.