If you’ve ever been on a hiking trail in the central Pennsylvania region, you may have Ron Gray, a resident at Country Meadows of York-South, to thank. What started as a simple yes to a hiking invitation in 1972 led to a lifetime appreciation for the outdoors, a desire to make trails accessible and safe and a decade-long pursuit of an ultimate hiking goal—completing the Appalachian Trail.
This photograph, on display in Ron’s apartment, was a gift from the York Hiking Club recognizing Ron’s Club Presidency from 1981-83, 1993-95 and 1995-97.
He had always liked the outdoors and describes his childhood summers at his grandparents camping on their farm. But it wasn’t until after he was out of school and working as a horticulture teacher that he was able to really dive into his explorer-side. After joining a local hiking club, he quickly earned the trust from other members and rose into leadership positions, including serving as club president for more than two decades. With each hike he became more and more educated on the terrain, the landscape and what made trails interesting. He went from organizing hikes to coordinating trail maintenance and then seeing an opportunity and blazing it himself.
“I’ve never met a rock that I didn’t want to move,” joked Ron.
He preferred rugged, underdeveloped trails and was giddy over the unique challenges each trail presented physically as well as distance. Ron was not a casual hiker. His average hike was 10+ miles—a full-day adventure. He was often joined by his hiking buddy, Jim, who matched Ron’s speed and endurance.
Together, Jim and Ron regularly conquered the trails in the York County and surrounding areas and then set their sights to complete the full 2,200 miles of the Appalachian Trail—which they did over the course of eleven years. In sections, they passed through 14 states, preferring day-hikes over the thru-hike concept. Georgia was Ron’s favorite section, but he was proud to show his full bookshelf of scrapbooks that document each leg of the journey.
Ron didn’t get into hiking for the sweeping views and stunning landscapes. “While there was plenty of beautiful views, when you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all,” said Ron. “Not diminishing the views, but there is also beauty right in the trail itself.”
Which is why, as his passion for the sport evolved, he took to maintaining existing trails and building new ones. This led him to be a founding member of the Mason-Dixon Trail System, 199-miles connecting the Appalachian Trail with the Brandywine Trails following the Susquehanna River. Ron helped establish the earliest sections of the trail while also navigating land ownership agreements as well as legal and environmental considerations. He learned all about trail-building as he went and got savvier and more aware of the nuances that each trail presented.
“A trail doesn’t just appear—you have to know where it can survive,” explained Ron. “Sometimes that meant following the animals because they already knew the easiest way, other times its judging how steep you can make a trail without causing erosion.”
Ron and a team of other hikers planned and built the bridge (in the framed picture) along the Mason Dixon Trail.
Ron’s thoughtful considerations along with the hundreds of miles he logged on local trails made him the go-to expert when anyone needed guidance or had questions about Pennsylvania trails. He even recalls a situation in which he supported the Pennsylvania State Police in an investigation by getting them to a portion of the trail in the most efficient way possible. He has always kept hiker safety and environmental impact as top priorities when trail-building which meant advocating for crosswalks and even building bridges in a trail.
Over time, hiking got harder on the joints, but his commitment to the sport remained. While he may not be tackling days-long hikes now, he still gets out to a trail when he can with the help of friends and family members who do short hikes with him. He can also be seen trekking the walking paths around the York-South campus with hiking poles in hand.
“It’s good exercise, that’s the bottom line,” said Ron confidently. “Hiking gave me purpose, friendships and something to build. I’m grateful for that.”
Celebrating the Life Stories of Residents
Just as Ron is proud to share his Appalachian Trail achievement, every resident has a Life Story our campuses get to learn from. Among accomplished careers, honorable military service and unique hobbies and passions, our residents and their stories bring life into our communities. Which is why, when a resident moves in, our advisors invest time to learn about each resident’s Life Story. These details guide our whole team in understanding likes, dislikes, preferences and background that can inform how services are delivered and experiences are created for each resident. These stories are celebrated, and we look forward to learning about yours or your loved ones. Contact a local advisor to learn how life not only continues, it gets better at Country Meadows.
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