Alumni
On the Hiking Trail with Kathy Cole Liotta ‘79
We all have those special activities that ground us and bring us joy. For Kathy Cole Liotta ‘79 and her family, hiking does just that. Led by her parents Charlie Cole and Bartie Riggs Cole ‘52 and their love of the outdoors, Kathy and her sister Bee Cole Raymond ‘75 started hiking as children in New Hampshire’s White Mountains. These trips included many excursions to Mount Washington, the highest peak in the Northeastern United States.
Throughout the years, the family regularly visited the Swiss Alps, hiking from town to town, and experiencing the local culture. “It’s one place where we can put aside the business of our day to day lives, find peace, and just spend time together as a family,” said Kathy.
Earlier this month, the Cole sisters returned to Switzerland with their families including Kathy’s husband Scott and daughters Maclean ‘10 and Liza ‘12, and Bee’s husband Gene and children Ellie and Riggs. The group stayed in the town of Wengen which is located in the Bernese Oberland region of the country. Days consisted of six to seven hours of hiking as they traveled to various villages in the region.
Kathy’s favorite destination was the peaceful and quaint town of Murren, located at the base of the Schilthorn. In addition to the hike, the trek to reach Murren included stints in a train and a cable car. The group also hiked to the village of Gimmelwald where they watched the World Cup in a local pub.
When asked what she enjoys most about hiking in this part of the world, Kathy noted the special, uninterrupted time the family gets to spend together. She added with a smile, “It’s simple and beautiful.”
Calvert School is a coed independent lower and middle school.
