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Support
And
Respect

PHOTOS BY STEVEN TAPPER

Detroit Hikers explore
national parks and share a
special bond on the trail.

STEVEN TAPPER SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

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ABOVE: A group gathers to make a minyan to say Kaddish for Richard
Lezell’s father and of Dr. Marc Dowoskin, a Detroit Hiker; both
had died in the last year. TOP RIGHT: Members of the group move
carefully through a difficult stretch of the trail.

The 43 Detroit Hikers, plus guides, pose at a
beautiful waterfall in the Guadalupe Mountains
National Park in Texas.

22

March 8 • 2018

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ince 2001, Dr. “Ricky” Stoler
just a few hikers. The last trip, in
of Bloomfield Hills has orga-
November 2017, brought 43 men
nized and overseen the plan- to the Guadalupe Mountain range
ning of an outdoor adven-
and Carlsbad Caverns.
ture for a group of Metro
Each of us, with vary-
Detroit men.
ing degrees of ability,
With additional assis-
went knowing that this
tance from a couple of
challenge will be an
regulars, the growing group
opportunity to step out
known as Detroit Hikers,
of our daily comfort
looks forward to travel-
zones, while experienc-
ing and hiking in one of
ing nature’s magnifi-
Dr. Ricky Stoler
America’s national parks
cence. Whether hiking in
each year.
silence or telling a joke
Every detail — from where to
to relieve some anxiety during a
meet, when to fly, which hotel
particularly difficult climb, getting
to reserve and even which level
to know each other is a very spe-
group to hike with — has been
cial part of sharing this inspiring
carefully planned.
adventure.
Each of us, whether traveling
What makes these journeys
solo, with a family member or
most meaningful isn’t always a
friend, eagerly awaited details
tale from the trail. Sometimes it is
regarding the upcoming trip,
what occurs at the hotel the first
confident that even the most chal- night the group comes together.
lenging hikes would be led by a
As the sun began to set, we very
team of seasoned professional hik- hungry men were looking forward
ing guides.
to dinner. A request was made to
Previous trips took us to
make a minyan to say Kaddish to
Mount Rainer, the Adirondacks,
honor the memories of Richard
Mount Saint Helens, Arches and
Lezell’s father and of Dr. Marc
Canyonlands in Utah, and to the
Dowoskin, a Detroit Hiker, both of
towering trees in Sequoia National whom had passed in the last year.
Park. We have hiked in the rain,
At that moment, as I looked
sleet, snow and sunshine.
around the room, I realized we
It all began 16 years ago with
were already connected, joined by

our shared values and respect for
one another.
On our last hike, as we were
“bouldering” through a particular-
ly rough stretch, one of our guides,
walking alongside me, remarked
how often he saw the Detroit hik-
ers trying to assist, encourage and
support each other.
He said, “I was in the U.S. Navy
for over 38 years and have led
many different types of groups on
much less difficult hikes and still
heard a lot more complaining.
“But, to this day I have not met
a group of men that showed as
much respect and caring for each
other.”
I thought about what he said
and what I had experienced in
trips past, and I replied, “We don’t
just carry our backpacks, we carry
the values and respect we have
learned from our community and
our faith.”
These bonds of friendships that
have formed, whether someone
is new to the group or is one of
the originals, brings out the true
character in each of the 43 Detroit
Hikers. •

Steven Tapper of Orchard Lake has been on
seven trips with the Detroit Hikers.