<< Previous   of   Next >> Enterprise/ZACH WILSON  (click to enlarge) Happy Hikers Dorothy Kinnish and Leonard Back hike along the Iron Goat trail in Skykomish July 8. Many of the hikers meet every Tuesday at different Snohomish County trails.

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Born to hike

• Hiking group hits the state's trails together

By Zach Wilson
Enterprise reporter

Despite her age, Dorothy Kinnish, 93, is one of the most astute hikers you may ever meet.

According to members of the "Happy Hikers", she could tell you every blade of grass and the nooks and crannies of every trail she's hiked.

"She's been hiking all her life," said Connie Pearce, a member of Happy Hikers, which started 40 years ago. "She's the kind of person that encourages us on… If Dorothy is still going, I can go."

Recently, Pearce and 20 fellow Happy Hikers laced up their boots and pulled out their hiking poles for a nice, gentle walk on the Lime Kiln Trail in Granite Falls.

"It's the best thing I've ever done for myself," said longtime member Dale Frits.

During the seven mile walk at Lime Kiln, many of the hikers stopped to take in the beautiful atmosphere of the forest, noticing the sunlight seep through the tops of the tree branches and the overgrown vegetation creep onto the trail.

"(We) get out here in this wonderful nature, it's just a recharging thing," said Pearce.

Many of the Happy Hikers' members have been hiking their whole lives. Others heard of the group by word of mouth.

Della Ramsden has been a happy hiker since 1979. She met one of the members while playing a game of bridge and later decided to join the group herself. She said she enjoys the outdoors and the companionship of hiking with others.

Gail Konen, a 15-year Happy Hiker, said she was first introduced to the group after going on a wildflower hike with one of her friends. For her, the best part of hiking is being outdoors and "enjoying what Washington has to offer."

The group started in 1967 with local hikers Mariana Winn and Louise Marshall. Beginning with just a few members, the group has since grown a list of more than 50 hikers. Pearce said that the average attendance is anywhere from 20-30 people per hike.

Winn, a longtime resident of Lynnwood, died on December 11, 2005 at the age of 84. In her memory, members of Happy Hikers dedicated a bench and planted a cedar tree in the lower and upper areas of Meadowdale County Park.

One of the group's elders, Leonard Back (pronounced Bawk) 89, has been a Happy Hiker for 25 years, starting in 1982. Like many of the members, Back also appreciates the social aspect of hiking, though he admits he can't always keep up with the rest of the group. He joked that he was trying to win the competition as the slowest hiker.

Back, reflecting on the many hikes he's taken, said Washington has some of the best hiking trails in the country, and he also enjoys boating near the San Juan Islands.

"It's a hell of a way to spend the last years of your life," he said.

Today, the group continues to hike every Tuesday at different trails across the state.