The Carolina Mountain Club, the largest hiking club in Western North Carolina, elected new officers in November. The new president is Lenny Bernstein of Asheville. Bernstein has been a hiker, peak bagger, and a member of hiking clubs for more than 30 years.

Before moving to WNC in 2001 — and promptly joining the Carolina Mountain Club — Bernstein served as president of the Union County, N.J., Hiking Club for four years, and has been a hike leader and trail maintainer for many more years. He has also served as secretary and vice-president of the Carolina Mountain Club.

Bernstein’s hiking accolades include completing the Appalachian Trail, the SB6K, the New England 4,000 footers and the Catskill 3,500 footers. The SB6K stands for South Beyond 6,000, a designation for hikers who have been to the top of all the 6,000 feet or greater peaks in the Southern Appalachians.