OCTOBER 2002 SCHEDULE
Tuesday, October 1, 8:45 a.m., "Unofficial" FCE Hike, Metacomet-Monadnock Trail, Agawam-West Springfield, MA
Meet in the upper parking lot of Sperry Park. Sperry Park is off of Rts 10-202 in Avon at the light for the Hartford Hospital Wellness Center. Anticipate a 2:30 PM return to the cars. Hike will be about 4.5 miles. L: Marie Coons
Thursday, October 3, 8:45 a.m., FCE Hike, Heublein Tower, Simsbury
From Farmington, take Rt 10 north to a right onto Rt 185 (by the Chart House), travel up the hill and take a right into Talcott Mt State Park. Only go about 200 yds and park on the side of road.. L: Marie Coons
Saturday, October 5, 9:00 a.m. AMC Hike, Tippecansett, Ben Utter & Escoheag Semi-Loop (B3C)
Hike approx. 8.5 mi on the Tippecansett trail to the beautiful Ben Utter Trail & exiting on the Escoheag Trail. Meet left side of Beach Pond on Rte. 165 in Voluntown, from jct w/ Rte. 138 and Rte. 165, go left onto Rte. 165 to Beach Pond, approx 5 mi, which is on the CT/RI border and take left into parking lot. Rain cancels, if doubt call L by 8 AM. L Ray Helie (860) 564-3949.
Sunday, October 6, 10 a.m. AMC Hike, Cathedral Pines & Mohawk Mtn. (B3BC)
6 mi, 1200 ft elevation gain. View effects of 1989 tornado, Mohawk Mtn summit lookout tower w/ 360 degree views, white pines, ski area and stone tower ruins. Meet parking area near trailhead in Cornwall, CT 4 W 0.5 mi from junction w/ Rte. 125 in Cornwall. Left on Bolton Hill Rd., immediate right onto Jewell St. for 0.5 mi, left at fork up Essex Hill Rd. 0.2 mi to parking area. Rain cancels, if doubt call L by 8:30 AM. L Jenifer Nadeau (860) 742-7203 CL Michelle Bouliane (401) 573-1946
Tuesday, October 8, 8:45 a.m., "Unofficial" FCE Hike, Metacomet-Monadnock Trail, West Springfield-Westfield, MA.
Again, meet in the upper parking lot of Sperry Park Sperry Park is off of Rts 10-202 in Avon at the light for the Hartford Hospital Wellness Center. Anticipate a 2:30 PM return time. Hike will be about 5 miles. L: Marie Coons
Thursday, October 10, 8:45 a.m., FCE Hike, Hedgehog-Cathles Trails, Simsbury
Meet in the parking lot of Simsbury Farms Park and we will car pool from there. One way to get there is to follow Rt 167 through Avon, into Simsbury, and take a left on Stratton Brook Rd. (at the first light after The Ethel Walker School), follow until you reach Rt 309, drive across 309 (at an angle I think) onto Old Farms Rd., and the entrance to the park is soon on the right. L: Marie Coons
Saturday, October 12, 8:30 a.m., PSF Hike, South Taconic Trail, Salisbury Hike Cancelled due to weather forecast and potential slippery trails. Rescheduled for October 27, same time, same place.
Hike in three states, visit the highest point in CT and the summits of Brace and Round Mountain. Meet at the entrance to the Matthies Grove Picnic Area, Peoples State Forest on East River Rd. Bring water, insect spray, lunch, and allow about 8 hours for this hike of about 9 miles, with some steep up and down sections. We plan to return to Peoples about 5 p.m. Steady rain cancels. L: Walt Landgraf
Sunday, October 13, 1:30 p.m. Sleeping Giant Fall Foliage Hike
Follows annual SGPA meeting. Meet at the bulletin board at the park entrance. The Sleeping Giant Park is on Mt. Carmel Avenue in northern Hamden, on the left-hand side, about 0.5 mile in from Whitney Avenue (Rt. 10). Hikers should wear comfortable, supportive shoes and bring snacks and water
Sunday, October 13, 1:30 p.m., AMC Hike, Mattabesett Trail - Eagle's Beak Point (B2C)
5-6 mi. loop on Mattabesett Tr. & connecting woods rds. Jointly sponsored by CFPA. Use toward your Mattabesett thru hike CFPA patch. 2.5-3 hrs. incl. snack break at Eagle's Beak Pt. Meet at Haddam Elementary pkng. lot, Rte. 154, NW of Rte. 81, Higganum. Heavy rain cancels. L Chuck Sack (860-644-9575). (happihiker@yahoo.com). CL Beagsley the Trail Beagle
Thursday, October 17, 8:45 a.m., FCE Hike, Lamentation Mt., Meriden/Berlin
From Rt 9 in Berlin, drive south on 5-15, when Rt 5 splits from 15, take 5 south (bear right) onto N. Broad St. Then, take a left onto Westfield Rd. (about 2nd left), follow the curvy road as it turns left past a golf course, and park in the parking lot of Giuffrida Park. L: Marie Coons
Saturday, October 19, 9:30 a.m., AMC Hike, CFPA Metacomet Trail (B2B)
Join a CT Forest & Park Assoc sponsored hike; use toward a Metacomet Badge. Hike 6 miles from Rt 189 to Rte. 185. Meet in Penwood State Park on Rt. 185. From Rt. 44 in Avon, N on Rte.10, E 2 miles on Rt. 185 to Penwood. Heavy rain cancels. If doubt, call by 8:30 a.m. L George Arthur (860-871-0137).
Saturday, October 19, 10:15 a.m., SC Hike, Foliage Hike. Cockaponset State Forest
Crunch through the leaves on a loop trail in Chester, stopping by Pataconk Lake for lunch. 5.7 miles, medium pace over mostly easy terrain. Bring boots, lunch and water. Rain date Oct. 20th. From I-91S, exit onto Route 9-S (towards Middletown) to exit 6. Go straight into the Park & Ride lot. Leader: Ken Selling (860)344-9774
Sunday, October 20, 1:30 p.m. Sleeping Giant East End Hike
Meet at the bulletin board at the park entrance. The Sleeping Giant Park is on Mt. Carmel Avenue in northern Hamden, on the left-hand side, about 0.5 mile in from Whitney Avenue (Rt. 10). Hikers should wear comfortable, supportive shoes and bring snacks and water
Tuesday, October 22, 8:45 a.m., "Unofficial" FCE Hike, Metacomet-Monadnock Trail, Westfield/West Springfield-Holyoke, MA
Meet in the upper parking lot of Sperry Park. Sperry Park is off of Rts 10-202 in Avon at the light for the Hartford Hospital Wellness Center. Anticipate a 2:30 PM return time. Hike will be about 4 miles. L: Marie Coons
Thursday, October 24, 8:45 a.m., FCE Hike, Leatherman's Cave, Watertown/Thomaston
We are going to attempt a different route to this beautiful cave but will car pool to the trail from a nearby parking lot. Your destination will be the lot off of Bidwell Hill Rd. which is a right off of Rt 6 in Thomaston just past (west) of Black Rock State Park. I go through Burlington on Rt 4 to Rt 118 to Rt 8 south to Rt 6 west. You may find it easier to pick up Rt 6 in Bristol somewhere and just continue west on it. From Avon, this usually takes me 40 min. with little traffic. L: Marie Coons
Saturday, October 26, 9:30 a.m., AMC Hike, Sleeping Giant State Park (B3B)
8 mi. of ups and downs over various trails. Meet at pk entr. Off rte. 10 in Hamden, across from Quinnipiac Univ. Rain cancels. L Dave Mihalek (734-2665) , CL Geri Mihalek
Sunday, October 27, PSF Hike, South Taconic Trail, Salisbury Hike Rescheduled from October 12
Hike in three states, visit the highest point in CT and the summits of Brace and Round Mountain. Meet at the entrance to the Matthies Grove Picnic Area, Peoples State Forest on East River Rd. Bring water, insect spray, lunch, and allow about 8 hours for this hike of about 9 miles, with some steep up and down sections. We plan to return to Peoples about 5 p.m. Steady rain cancels. L: Walt Landgraf
Sunday, October 27, 10:30 a.m., AMC Hike, Totally Tunxis 2 (B3C)
2nd in series of hikes to cover extensive Tunxis Trail system. Hike approx. 6.5 mi. in Figure 8 loop via Mainline and Orange Dot Trails. Primarily woodland trail. Meet at pkng area for Sessions Woods Wildlife Management Area on Rte. 69 in Burlington. Possible mid- or post-hike surprise. Rain cancels. If doubt, call by 8:30 a.m. L David Cullen (860-889-5056)
Thursday, October 31, 8:45 a.m., FCE Hike, East Peak-Castle Craig, Meriden
Meet in Hubbard Park, Meriden near the tennis courts. Take Rt 84 west to Rt 691 east to exit 4, Rt 322 east (West Main St.). Less than a mile up on the left is Hubbard Park. Take a left into the first entrance and follow around the lake to the lot. L: Marie Coons