About Us

Our Roots: How It Began

It all started in the spring of 1975 as an adult education class led by Arnold and Rose Buchsbaum, who wanted to bring people outdoors. Their first hike to Belmont Lake State Park that spring was followed by many more subsequent hikes for another 3 seasons. By the fall of 1975, Arnold realized how congenial and compatible a group the class had become, and he suggested the formation of a permanent local hiking club. After a steering committee review in December 1975, the Valley Stream Hiking Club was created in January 1976. The Adult Ed classes brought in more participants, along with member's recommendations to their friends to join. In later years, with the advent of the internet, we have had an online presence which has pulled in even more members.

When do we hike?

We hike mostly every Saturday of the month, throughout the year. We generally meet in the Valley Stream Memorial JHS parking lot. And we also meet at the designated trailhead. We hike in both cold and warm weather, although snow and rain will cancel a hike.

Our hikes range from informative city walks, to leisurely hikes in state and county parks, to more vigorous mountain treks.  When we announce a hike we will describe its difficulty:  Easy or  Level, 4-5 miles; Moderate 4-6 miles;  Difficult 6-8 miles. 

What to bring

The right equipment is crucial to a good hiking experience. Your gear should include:

• Layered tops with outerwear suitable for the weather
• Hats for sun, or wind; gloves for winter hikes
• Suitable hiking shoes, or boots; sneakers not recommended for rough terrain; hightop hiking socks, especially in summer.
• Hiking sticks, for uneven or difficult terrain
• A backpack loaded with 2 liters of water, lunch, snack
• Cell phone, extra socks, sunglasses, sunscreen, insect repellent
• Binoculars, optional