Stones skipped across the water, minutes turned into hours and new friendships were made as students bonded over their love of hiking and the outdoors. At that moment, Autumn Jones realized the hard work it took to establish the Mountaineering Club finally paid off.
The University of Alabama brims with opportunities for students to be active outdoors through organizations such as the Outdoor Adventures Club and the Rock Climbing Club, which Jones, a senior majoring in food and nutrition, said had fees to participate. She sought to change that in fall 2024, when she decided to turn her personal affinity for nature into a campus-wide community without a cost.
“I grew up in the middle of the woods, and that’s where I felt the most comfortable and at home,” Jones said. “I’ve been hiking for a really long time, and every time I would go hiking around here, I wouldn’t really have anyone to go with. I really wanted to build that community where people could actually go hiking and have people to do it with.”
In January 2025, Jones applied to create a new organization at the University and began the process to build her club. She recruited the minimum of 10 interested members, created a club constitution, organized paperwork and partnered with Alvin Niuh, assistant professor in the Department of Nutrition, Hospitality and Sport Management, as the faculty advisor.
Jones hiked almost every trail in Tuscaloosa prior to starting the club and documented the duration, skill level and safety measures needed for a successful hike, so participants are ensured a safe and reliable experience.
After recruiting at Get On Board Day in January, the Mountaineering Club gained over 100 members, and it continues to unite students through outdoor excursions. The group has explored hiking trails in Tuscaloosa as well as Birmingham, with carpool arrangements offered for those who cannot transport themselves. Some of the destinations have included Lake Harris, Oak Mountain and Red Mountain.
A standout aspect of the Mountaineering Club is the fellowship it creates among members, largely fostered by the car rides to the hiking trails. Khang Nguyen, a senior majoring in aerospace engineering and criminal justice and secretary of the Mountaineering Club, said that the members are quick to get to know each other before the hikes even begin.
“If it’s an hour drive, it’s really awkward if you stay quiet the whole time,” he said. “By the time people get there, they’ve already started making friends and stuff. I think that’s really cool.”
Alyssa Dickson, a freshman majoring in microbiology and social media chair of the club, agrees that the students she has met in the club are easy to talk to and have allowed her to expand her social circle.
“I’ve definitely met people from different grades, and it’s definitely helped me meet other people outside of my circle,” she said.
This is only the beginning for the Mountaineering Club. The officers hope the club will expand and reach more students as they continue to foster a casual yet meaningful community.
“I’m super excited to see what happens and where it’s going to go,” Jones said. “I’ve had a lot of fun so far. It’s a little stressful at times, but once I’m out there on the hike with everyone, I’m like, ‘Yeah, it was worth it.’”
