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