In honor of it being National Volunteers Week, today we're talking to Cindy Hession - scientist by day, hiker and volunteer chair for the 48 Peaks Hike to End Alzheimer's every other waking moment she can manage!

Cindy and I talk about her love affair with the White Mountains and hiking, her personal connection with Alzheimer's, and how the 48 Peaks fundraiser grew out of one man’s devotion to his wife. Her enthusiasm and dedication to this event will pour through your earbuds and make it obvious why Cindy was recognized with a national award earlier this year for her volunteerism.

To lend my support to Cindy AND the 48 Peaks initiative, I have started a fundraising team called Guides Gone Wildcats, and we are going to hike Wildcat A (and D on the way there, for all you peak-baggers!) If you want to join me on this epic hike, or support our team’s fundraising efforts with a donation of literally any amount, you can do both over on our Guides Gone Wildcats Team Page: http://act.alz.org/goto/guidesgonewildcats. Let’s DO THIS!

I hope you’ll hang with us until the end on this episode, because I’ve got a special offer for the Longest Day 48 Peakers out there, too!

But first, a few key links:

• Alzheimers Association - alz.org - 24/7 Helpline: 1-800-272-3900
• 48 Peaks - A Longest Day Event
• Longest Day Fundraiser
• NewsCenter Maine feature on 48 Peaks
• Guides Gone Wildcats Team Page
• RekLis Brewing Celebration (Bethlehem, NH) - June 8th, 2024

AND - what would a podcast about hiking be without TONS of great hiking links (and even more over on our episode page at GuidesGoneWild.com!):

• Mt. Sugarloaf (South Deerfield, MA)
• NH48 (list of the 48-4,000 foot mountains in NH)
• Pioneer Valley - a hidden gem? (MA)
• Seven Sisters (MA) 
• 52 with a View
• Pemi Loop vs. Mt. Pemi (there’s a difference!)
• The Belknaps
• Mt. Moriah (NH)
• Mt. Watatic (MA)
• Wapack Range (MA/NH)
• Kula Cloth
• Hike Safe Card (NH)