Johnson City Resident Sets Fast Pace for Old Timers Hiking Club At Age 90

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – Life is an adventure for Bob Miller.

Twice a week, the retired chemist from Kingsport explores new worlds with a group of equally adventurous friends from the Old Timers Hiking Club.
From the Smoky Mountains to the Appalachian Trail, Miller savors each step.

“I enjoy the outdoors, the ambience of the forest and the overall hiking experience,” Miller said. “There’s always something new to see and do.”

And Miller has seen plenty since he embarked on his first hike 50 years ago.
At age 90, Miller is the senior member of the Old Timers.

Every Monday and Wednesday, throughout the year, club members gather at the Covenant Presbyterian Church in Johnson City at 8 a.m.
Ignoring the elements, this hearty group has marched on for 15 years.

“The weather usually doesn’t stop us,” Miller said. “We go even if it’s freezing.”

There are 60 official members, with backgrounds ranging from police work and education to medicine and the law.

“We have mostly retirees, but everybody is welcome to join us,” Miller said. “Our club includes men and women. Everybody has a great time.”

For Miller, the first step of the walking path began decades ago when he joined the thriving Eastman Hiking Club. Miller retired from Eastman in 1984, yet he has never stopped searching for more enlightenment.
For example in 2001, Miller led a group of 28 on a two-week hiking and sightseeing tour of Switzerland.

“My wife and I believe that the best thing we could leave our family is memories,” Miller said. “We certainly came away from Switzerland with lots of good memories.”

C.B. Willis, the 80-year-old secretary of the Old Timers Hiking Club, said Miller sets an example for his peers.

“Bob is to be admired,” Willis said. “In fact, he’s more like a 75-year-old than 90. He stays ahead of me all the time on our hikes.”

While many Mountain Empire residents were fighting a case of the winter blues on Monday, a brave cast of 18 Old Timers embraced the chilly gray skies during a scenic 3.5-mile hike from the Clark Creek area to Sills Branch Falls in Unicoi County, Tenn.

“It was a very nice trip,” Willis said. “When it’s cold, we just dress in layers and keep going.”

Willis said the hikes range from 2-10 miles.
The January itinerary for the Old Timers has included journeys along the Virginia Creeper Trail, Appalachian Trail, Blue Ridge Parkway, Big Laurel Creek and Indian Grave Gap. Five inches of snow on the Creeper Trail was only a minor obstacle last week.

Much like long-distance runners, hikers often head to the woods seeking much more than recreation.

“There are lots of benefits to hiking,” Willis said. “For example, it’s an opportunity for people to feel closer to God. You can talk to God really good in the wilderness.”

The personal slice of heaven for Willis is the Hump Mountain section of Roan Mountain State Park in Northeast Tennessee.
In addition to the visual wonders, the 6,327-foot peak features the largest display of blooming rhododendron in the world.

“Roan Mountain is just fantastic,” Willis said. “You have a 360-degree view of all the surrounding mountains, plus the rhododendron.
“A hike to the Roan is beautiful any part of the year. It’s especially nice during the fall.”

According to Miller, each journey offers small and large treasures. No high-definition screen or stereo sound system is required.

“I usually hike with the Old Timers 2-5 times per month for distances of 4-7 miles,” Miller said.
“We’ve seen deer and snakes, but what I really love are the different varieties of wildflowers.”

The youngest Old Timer is 50-something, according to Willis.

“There are other hiking clubs in the area, but they are mostly geared to younger people,” Willis said. “We have a whole gang of folks in their seventies, and we just all enjoy doing the same thing.”

Miller, the veteran of the Old Timer’s gang, is eager for more adventure.

“You see something new on every trip,” Miller said.

agregory@bristolnews.com (276) 645-2544