The club, which is the oldest and largest hiking and trail maintenance organization in the Southeastern United States, is a member-run volunteer organization, that embodies the spirit of community and shared passion for the outdoors, welcoming everyone who wishes to participate in its activities. 

In her introductory newsletter message, Schultz said she and her husband, Ken Scharmann, moved to Asheville during COVID and the club was their saving grace as they “joined the club before moving down here and spent the remainder of COVID hiking and learning about the incredible trails in Western North Carolina. We have made so many wonderful friends through CMC, and our passion for the natural world has evolved as we continue to learn about the area around us.”

She added that she “can be found most weeks hiking with the club and/or friends I have made through CMC. I’m a CMC challenge advocate—I’ve completed the 100 Favorite Trails and am currently working on the Pisgah 400 Challenge. In addition to leading hikes for CMC and Friends of the Smokies, I also volunteer at the NC Arboretum and am a volunteer usher at the Wortham Center.”

Her hopes for the club is to work with members to move the vision of CMC forward. That vision is to be a leading force for hiking, trail stewardship, and conservation in the Southern Appalachians, inspiring people to connect with the outdoors, care for our trails, and protect the natural beauty of our region for generations to come.

The club leads more than 200 hikes per year and maintains more than 440 miles of trails in Western North Carolina, including 94 miles of the Appalachian Trail and 150 miles of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail.

For more information about the club, check out their website: https://carolinamountainclub.org/