MIB: SJ Hike-Camping Club opens doors to adventure

  • Published
  • By Airman Shawna L. Keyes
  • 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

With each step, the crunching of twigs and leaves hits his ears as a gentle breeze brings the scent of pine and earth into his sphere of senses. In the distance, a babbling brook flows icy water around rock formations as sweat drips down his back. Wiping perspiration from his face as he pauses for a quenching drink, Tech. Sgt. Richard Egan takes a deep, relaxing breath. He smiles as he continues on… he’s at peace, mind clear and content surrounded by the tranquility of Mother Nature’s thousand year-old creation.

Egan, a 4th Equipment Maintenance Squadron assistant chief for repair and reclamation, first fell in love with the serenity of hiking when one day he found himself angry, depressed and hating everything around him, and decided he wanted to walk it off.

“I found this strenuous 55-mile loop in the mountains, figured out what gear I needed and off I went,” said Egan. “I only made it 39 miles before I instantly became a 99-year-old man; I could barely walk or eat and had to take an expensive $90 taxi ride back to my car. During that first trip I thought to myself how mentally, spiritually, and physically satisfying the hike had been in only a short distance and began planning my next trip.”

A few months later Col. Mark Slocum, 4th Fighter Wing commander, began the Make It Better initiative and provided Egan and his fellow Airmen a chance to start the SJ Hike-Camping Club and bring their love of hiking and camping to the Airmen and families of all ages at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina.

“I can speak for everyone who helps run this club when I say that being outdoors is our outlet,” said Tech. Sgt. Justin Davis, 4th Logistics Readiness Squadron NCO in-charge of fuels service center. “The peacefulness, the conversations around a camp fire, the awesome views, these are the things that provide us with an opportunity to be mindful, to live in the moment, soak it all in, and to be thankful for the experience.”

Since starting the club, Egan has completed his first, failed 55-mile hike four times and included eight other members in the experience.

“Our club has completed more than 250 miles of hiking from the coast of North Carolina to the border of Tennessee,” said Egan. “The club has more than 150 members and is open to families, children, pets, and friends. We do our best to incorporate activities for everyone as well as varying levels of experience.”

The club meets and plans trips varying from short, one-day hikes to overnight camping trips, sometimes adding kayaking as part of the experience. Hike leaders travel at paces catered to members of the group as experience and fitness levels can vary.  Egan suggests anyone interested in joining the group on a hike contact leaders to gain information on necessary equipment, which can either be borrowed from other members, or rented at the Outdoor Recreation center on base.

The club alternates camping and hiking activities every month and holds a monthly meeting every second Tuesday at 4 p.m. at Kitty Hawk to plan events.

For more information on the club, visit their Facebook page “Hike-Camp NC” or contact Egan at 722-5911.