Jolt, it's funny you said that about the hiking. I think the hiking adage is "go as slow as the slowest person." Generally, big groups of cyclists don't go slow, they go the speed of the advertised ride! AMC is different than most groups in that our liability rules say we have to keep the group together and no one can be dropped. This is hard on the show and go rides like you did, but generally, if someone wants to go faster, they have to tell us and then they are "off" the ride. I find hiking very difficult; I don't like heights and freak out on rocky steep sections. I do a fair amount of local hiking in conservation lands, and I have found if I bring my pole from snow shoeing, it helps. I am much faster on the bike! (in relation to my fitness level).
Maybe we can hike one day this summer (at my slow pace!).

Robyn