TRR photo by Tracy Denman Dr. Mort Malkin, left, and Town of Tusten Supervisor Richard Crandall hike in the rain during their 46-mile walk along the Delaware on June 3. (Click for larger image)

‘Walk Doctor’ takes eighth ‘River Walk’

By TRACY DENMAN

RIVER VALLEY — While the rest of us were tucked in our beds this past rainy Sunday morning, Dr. Mort Malkin was making strides.

Starting at 7:30 a.m.(his departure delayed an hour due to the rain), Malkin and Town of Tusten Supervisor Richard Crandall went for a “River Walk” along the Delaware. That’s what Malkin is calling the eighth walk of his “Long Walk” series, underway for the past eight years. Past walks have included a route along the Hudson River to the Delaware River, and from Long Beach to Brooklyn.

Sunday’s hike along the Delaware is “my way of celebrating my new home here in the River Valley,” said Malkin. Malkin and Crandall started off in Equinunk, PA and finished up at the Roebling Bridge in NY, a distance of over 46 miles. Ernst VanBergeijk, who participates in the Callicoon Triad Wellness program with Malkin, followed in a trail car carrying supplies. The hike took 14 and a half hours to complete.

“The first eight miles were especially tough,” said Malkin, because much of the route was along a narrow dirt road that didn’t fare well against the rainstorms. The hikers had to go around the road, climbing over hills and even crossing a waterfall in one place. In spite of this adversity, as they trekked down the road towards Malkin’s Milanville home for a pit-stop, both men appeared to be in good spirits. Both men kept a good pace of 14 minutes per mile until, said Malkin, they hit Peggy Runway, a very steep hill over a mile long just south of Narrowsburg. “The hill took a lot of energy out of me,” said Malkin.

Malkin reached the Roebling Bridge at 10:00 p.m., while Crandall reached it five minutes earlier, at 9:55 p.m.

When asked if he had considered his walks as benefiting specific causes such as March of Dimes or AIDS research, Malkin said, “They walk to raise money; I walk to raise awareness.” Malkin said his goal is to show everyone through his own walking how beneficial the exercise can be towards health. He said, “Walking is what we are genetically programmed for” and that “it is very important for all ages to walk.” All chronic diseases respond to the exercise, said Malkin, which has the added benefit of strengthening ligaments, tendons and ankles. To reap health benefits, Malkin advises 45 minutes of walking three times a week at a strong pace. He warns against walking everyday because the muscles aren’t used to it.

Malkin is currently teaching a Triad Wellness method of living in Callicoon, which encompasses aerobic walking, proper nutrition and exercise for a healthy lifestyle.  Malkin said not many people don’t walk much at all anymore. “I see people get in their cars at one end of the street to travel to the other end.”

He also pointed out that, “Many people all over this area know I’m walking and many have come up with excuses not to do it.” As long as this kind of attitude continues, said Malkin, he will continue to walk.

For more information regarding Triad Wellness and walking exercise, call Malkin at 570/729-1244.