FEBRUARY 23 • 2023 | 29

As an adult, he sought out a sense of 
adventure and outdoor experiences, going 
on a few hiking trips offered at national 
parks. But Stoler thought it would be more 
fun to travel with a group of friends and 
a customized itinerary. Since then, he has 
arranged 21 hiking trips in state, nation-
al and Canadian parks for an expanding 
group of participants. 
“We enjoy hiking with passionate guides 
who teach us about the biology, anthropolo-
gy and geography of the area,
” he says. 
Last fall’s trip — “Canadian Rockies 
Adventure” — brought together 63 hikers, 
mostly Jewish Detroiters, ranging in age 
from their 30s to mid-80s. Stoler explains 
that the trips provide guided hikes with three 
levels of difficulty to accommodate a range 
of fitness. The hikers covered beautiful ter-
rain at Lake Louise in Banff National Park 
and Stanley Glacier in Kootenay National 
Park in British Columbia. They stayed in a 
lodge and hotel in Banff and Canmore.

The six- to seven-day trips include tours of 
nearby towns and cities, especially those with 
a Jewish connection. This year, the group 
toured Calgary with special emphasis on its 
Jewish community numbering about 8,500. 
Stoler explains that Alberta and 
Saskatchewan, Canada, have had Jewish 
residents since the 1880s when groups of 
immigrants established socialist farming 
communities, some supported by the British 
Montefiore family. Others became merchants 
in Calgary or Edmonton, which has a Jewish 
popular of 6,000. 
The hikers toured Calgary’s Heritage Park 
Historical Village, described by Stoler as “a 
mini Greenfield Village,
” which includes a 
synagogue dating from 1916 that served a 
Jewish settlement in eastern Alberta.
The hikers also connect with their Jewish 
heritage through one or two religious ser-
vices, led by Richard Lezell, who refers to 
himself as the “group rabbi,
” and Stoler, so 
that participants can say Kaddish for recently 

deceased relatives or those commemorating 
a yahrtzeit. Lezell brings printouts of the 
prayers.
Lezell heard about the hiking trips 
through word of mouth and has partici-
pated in at least 15 group hikes. “There are 
very few who don’t come back and usually 
it’s because of health reasons or some other 
event,
” he said.
Michael Maddin joined the Detroit Hikers 
when he was looking for new activities after 
a long career and has participated in multi-
ple trips. “Ricky welcomed me in. I like the 
hiking, travel and scenery and like to learn 
about an area — the rapids, rivers, glacier 
lakes. Probably 10-15% of the people I had 
known before. It’s nice to meet new people.
” 
Maddin brought two of his adult sons 
on the trip to the Canadian Rockies and 
encouraged others to do the same in order to 
sustain the Detroit Hikers tradition. Stoler is 
working on a 2023 trip that may focus on the 
Santa Fe, New Mexico, area. 

Peyto Lake fed by 
the Peyto Glacier, 
Banff National Park.

Andy Colman, Debbie Colman 
and Richard Stoler.

Hikers in front of 
The Tea House, 
Banff National Park 
 

Richard Stoler and Richard Lezell lead 
services in the Prairie Synagogue in Calgary.

BRIAN AND TOM HARTMAN

