February 2026 Newsletter
“Happy February! May your journey through this month be adorned with love and hiking.”
February 2, 2026, On this day, people eagerly await the emergence of a groundhog from its burrow. According to folklore, if the groundhog sees its shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter; if not, spring will come early.
Sunday hikes start at 2:30 pm, go approx. 5 miles, last 1 1⁄2 – 2 hrs.
Tuesday hikes start at 11:30 am, go approx. 3 miles, last about 1 hour.
The SPHC walks at a moderate speed of 2.5 -3.5 mph. (17-24 min. mile)
Hikers are expected to maintain that pace. Hikes start on time.
HAPPY PRESIDENT’S DAY SPHC President, Vicky Beutel
2026 MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS...
Annual membership dues are due March 1st.
$20.00 gets you an e-mailed copy of the Trailblazer and $25.00 a mailed copy.
Make checks payable to: St. Paul Hiking Club and mail to:
Rose Nelson, 2393 Eldridge Ave E., North St Paul, MN 55109.
HAPPY February BIRTHDAYS TO...
2/2 Mary Ann Warner, 2/3, Debbie Peterson, 2/3 Julia Dady, 2/5 Betty Conley, 2/14 Bonnie Wold, 2/25 Han Phan, 2/29 Sandy Herlick.
Congratulations to the following people who have been with the club for at least TWENTY
Years! Dave Baker, Bill Barrett, Wendy Chen, Richard Currie, Liz DeLay, Vic Fickling, Viv Fickling, Barb Fitzpatrick, Pat Hustings, Judy Nelson, Char Svobodny, Phyllis Swenson.
ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING AND ELECTION OF OFFICERS...
Will be Saturday, February 14th in a reserved room at the White Bear Lake Library, 2150 2nd St., White Bear Lake. Pot luck begins at 1 pm followed by the annual meeting, election of officers & proposed programs for 2025. This is your opportunity to vote for or against proposed changes. Bring a salad, hot dish or dessert to share and your beverage. Plates, utensils provided. A leisurely stroll will follow the meeting. (about 2:30) Contact: Vicky 651.335.8079
Hiking stats through December 2025:
TOTAL SPHC MILES HIKED in 2025 = 7613.
Club members hiked 7468, Guests 145
Women hiked 5,333 miles Men hiked 2,135
Average Sunday hike had 22 participants,
Tuesday hikes averaged 19 participants.
There were 97 completed hikes and 6 canceled
because of weather.
Sharon Heaton led the most hikes with 13,
Judy Nelson was 2nd most with 11.
The hottest hike was the White Bear Lake hike led
by Brock and Sandy Herlick on June 22 at 93 F
The coldest hike was the North St Paul hike led
by R + R Nelson from their house on February
18. It was minus 4 F
Drum roll please...
Final SPHC mileage totals of 2025...
Hiking stats through December 2025 from mileage director/statistician Rick Nelson…
Patty Peterson 368, Sharon Heaton 354, Brock Herlick 326, Sandy Herlick 305, Don Crawford 300, Rick Nelson 296, Sue Crawford 289, Bernie Wildes 288, Viv Fickling 272, Rose Nelson 262, Vicky Beutel 260, Jane Boyer 257, Vic Fickling 256, Shirley Lee 251, Bryana Garcia 243, Judy Nelson 242, Doug Carlson 233, Scott Lee 218, Wendy Chen 209, Bob Tholkes 194, Bonnie Wold 185, Jean Diekmann 155, Marta Moore 136, Terese Almquist 121, Jean Boyd 107, Peter Berglund 91, Gloria Larson 91, Teresa Buhl 88, Mary Ann Warner 74, Martha Moore 72, Elaine Lee 72
Compass points start of hikes...
Farthest west hike was at Lake Harriet led by Doug Carlson on August 12th [93.2995 degrees W]
Farthest east hike was in Hudson WI led by Kieran Duncan on March 11th [92.7539 degrees W]
Farthest south hike was in Hastings led by Judy Nelson on August 3rd [44.7451 degrees N]
Farthest north hike was at the Blaine Wetland Sanctuary led by Vicky Beutel on both January 7th
and June 10th [45.1874 degrees N]
“Winter hikes are worth the chill!”
The Prognosticator of Prognosticators, Punxsutawney Phil, will once again appear at
sunrise on Feb 2 at Gobbler’s Knob in Pennsylvania Wilds to make his annual prediction
on the 139th Groundhog Day. According to folklore, if the groundhog sees its shadow,
there will be six more weeks of winter; if not, spring will come early.