February 2025 Newsletter
“Happy February! May your journey through this month be adorned with love and hiking.”
February 2, 2024, On this day, people eagerly await the emergence of a groundhog from its burrow. According to folklore, if the groundhog sees its shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter; if not, spring will come early.
Sunday hikes start at 2:30 pm, go approx. 5 miles, last 1 1⁄2 – 2 hrs.
Tuesday hikes start at 11:30 am, go approx. 3 miles, last about 1 hour.
The SPHC walks at a moderate speed of 2.5 -3.5 mph. (17-24 min. mile)
Hikers are expected to maintain that pace. Hikes start on time.
HAPPY PRESIDENT’S DAY SPHC President, Vicky Beutel You rock!!!
2025 MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS...
Annual membership dues are due March 1st. $20.00 gets you a mailed copy of the Trailblazer and $10.00 an e-mailed copy. Make checks payable to: St. Paul Hiking Club and mail to: Rose Nelson, 2393 Eldridge Ave E., North St Paul, MN 55109.
HAPPY February BIRTHDAYS TO...
2/2 Mary Ann Warner, 2/3 Julia Dady, 2/5 Betty Conley, 2/14 Bonnie Wold, 2/26 Hafizan Engebretson, 2/29 Sandy Herlick.
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS: Elaine Lee and Douglas Carlson.
ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING AND ELECTION OF OFFICERS...
Will be Saturday, February 8th in a reserved room at the White Bear Lake Library, 2150 2nd St., White Bear Lake. Pot luck begins at 1 pm followed by the annual meeting, election of officers & proposed programs for 2025. This is your opportunity to vote for or against proposed changes. Bring a salad, hot dish or dessert to share and your beverage. Plates, utensils provided. A leisurely stroll will follow the meeting. (about 2:30) Contact: Vicky 651.335.8079
TOTAL SPHC MILES HIKED in 2024 = 7376
Mbrs 7217, Women 5455, Men 1762, Guests 159.
There were 98 hikes in 2024.
Temperatures: 8 hikes between 20-29 F, 13 between 30-39, 16 between 40-49, 10 between 50-59, 14 between 60-69, 23 between 70-79 & 14 between 80-89.
Largest hike was Sharon Heaton & Bernie Wildes on 12/29 from Patriot’s in Stillwater with 31 participants.
Drum roll please...
Final SPHC mileage totals of 2023...
Hiking stats through December 2024 from mileage director/statistician Rick Nelson…
Brock Herlick 360, Sharon Heaton 351, Sandy Herlick 336, Patty Peterson 335, Don Crawford 322, Sue Crawford 314, Rose Nelson 304, Vicky Beutel 303, Bernie Wildes 284, Judy Nelson 278, Viv Fickling 273, Vic Fickling 266, Bry Garcia 254, Rick Nelson 240, Bob Tholkes 235, Shirley Lee 228, Jane Boyer 222, Bonnie Wold 204, Scott Lee 170. Wendy Worner 170, Jean Diekmann 156, Bev Lee 146, Wendy Chen 133, Jean Boyd 99, Carol Kelly 92, Gloria Larson 81, Karen Land 79, Mary Ann Warner 78, Julia Dady 73, Liz Miller 62, Peter Berglund 59, Celeste Riley 59, Teresa Buhl 55, Leslie Ferry 52, Judi Kellerman 52, Terese Almquist 50, Jodi Hardenbrook 40, Jim Hardenbrook 40, Jan Anderson 36, Rebecca John 31, KC Cox 30, Amy Peterson 29, Kieran Duncan 27, Elaine Lee 24, Lyle Mowery 15, Vicki Rachie 15, Tom Elerbe, Steve Gawron, Anne Merritt, Sherry Smith 14 each, Phyllis Swenson 12, Liz Delay 9, Ed Callier, Doug Carlson, Colleen Chermack, Brenda Ludwig, Patti Maher, Kathleen Schmitt, Mary Sievers 8 each, Gary McDowell, Karen Westphall 5 each, Susan Brink, Joan Lossing, Jim Lossing, Dick Nicholson 3 each.
Dark chocolate is high in antioxidants like flavonoids. It has been associated with a lower risk of developing calcified plaque in the arteries and coronary heart disease.
The Prognosticator of Prognosticators, Punxsutawney Phil, will once again appear at
sunrise on Feb 2 at Gobbler’s Knob in Pennsylvania Wilds to make his annual prediction
on the 139th Groundhog Day. According to folklore, if the groundhog sees its shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter; if not, spring will come early.