Backpacker

BACKPACKER.COM 19The 250 members of the Sun City Anthem Hiking Club areredefining retirement. “We go out and do all these things that youdon’t think about your grandparents doing,” says Club PresidentGreg Waterman, 65. Consider that they spend their golden yearson weekly hikes to places like Grand Canyon, Zion, and HavasuFalls. The Arizona group tackles trips that range from easy(3 miles and relatively flat) to challenging (more than 7 milesand lots of climbing). If you’re in the area—and over 55—visitsuncityanthemhikingclub.com to learn more.Think your club deserves some ink? Write in to [email protected] to tell us why.Turn-by-turnFrom theBackpackingtrailhead onOH 278``````Pick up the``````.``````oak forest near the hike’smidway point. Pack inyour water or call ahead tocheck if the nearby faucetis running (the water tanksare refilled weekly). There’sno dispersed camping here,but the site is big enough toshare, with room for a dozentents. If it’s already occupied(doubtful this time of year),be courteous and find anout-of-the-way flat spotwithin the grove.``````Campfire story``````Locals say the ruins ofan old coal-mining towncalled Moonville rest atthe bottom of the marsheswhere beavers now buildtheir dams.``````Make it longer``````Zaleski is Ohio’s second-largest forest, covering27,000 acres, so there’splenty to explore. To boostyour weekend, hike the full,28.8-mile Backpacking Trail:After finishing the SouthLoop, link to the West andNorth Loops.``````DO ITTRAILHEAD39.331187, -82.340193; 19miles west of Athens offOH 278SEASON Ye a r -round; fall foliage peaksthe third week of OctoberPERMIT Required (free);self-register at the trailhead.CUSTOM MAP bit.do/BPmapSouthLoop ($15)CONTACT bit.do/zaleski-sf``````Trip statsDistance: 11.2 miles(lollipop-loop)Time: 2 daysDifficulty:EasyLivingZaleski StateForest, OhioI lounge in a hammockslung beneath a canopyof old oaks, laughing withmy hiking partners. We’rereminiscing about ourchildhoods spent exploring these woods and the lily pad-covered marshes in the northern Appalachians as a bottleof cheap whiskey makes its rounds. Scattered light leaksthrough the treetops as the sun dips belowthe horizon, turning the already-russet leavesinto a crimson canopy. Looking around, I thinkthe place hasn’t changed much in the pasttwo decades. We only have 5 miles to go onthis quick, 11.2-mile loop, but like these woods,we’re in no hurry. Nostalgia takes time—and wehave plenty of it. BY ASHLEY M. HALLIGAN15WEEKENDS``````3 of 3No. 13 | Join the butterflies.Millions of tiger-striped tourists fly through the Lone StarState during the three-week period from late September tomid-October, which marks the midpoint of their 3,000-milesouthward migration to Mexico. Spot these monarch butterfliesthroughout the state, but zero in on their 300-mile path through.. .in which we honor the besthiking clubs in the country.12IN THECLUBSavor summitseason by trying outany of our favoritefall-perfect peakbaggingitineraries at backpacker.com/mountain-missions.14