OUR HIKERS

Ken Wiig

We have lost a very special hiker, Ken Wiig, who came to Givens Highland Farms in 2018 and hiked with us faithfully, about a dozen times, until he was no longer physically able to do so. Ken was always friendly, cheerful, and upbeat. He had a respiratory ailment “idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis” (IPF) which required him to use supplementary oxygen on our hikes, and he stuck with us as long as he could. After he was no longer able to do our Saturday hikes, he continued to walk on campus, friendly and cheerful as ever, until he and Ann departed for Duke Hospital, where he passed away on January 16.

Ken's hiking and life companion Ann continued to hike with us after Ken no longer could, and she has hiked with us since Ken's passing. Ann, we are here for you.

Dot Kaylor

While hiking on the Swannanoa Valley Trails, we who have been Hifarmhikers for a while are often reminded of past hikes and some of the good hikers who are no longer with us. A few of these are able to come for a visit and a reunion hike. Most recently these have been Eve and Ginger Boyd and Elisabeth Feil.

Others have left our earthly trails: Howie Boyd, Suzanne Yoder, and most recently Dot Kaylor.

We pause here to remember Dot.

She first hiked with us on September 19, 2015. She was usually accompanied by her husband David, but several times he would be off somewhere and she would come by herself.

She was friendly, bright, pretty, and a joy to hike with.

Dot hiked with us 42 times. That's right, forty-two hikes, her last hike on May 27, 2017.

Those of us who had the privilege of hiking with Dot will continue to miss her and will continue to remember her fondly.

It is also good to know that we are continually building new friendships with new hifarmhikers joining our midst. May it continue.