APRIL 2003 SCHEDULE
Tuesday, April 1, 8:45 a.m., Farmington DEP Trails
There are two new DEP trails in Shade Swamp Sanctuary. Meet beside CVS in Post Office Square on Rt. 10 Farmington to carpool to the "blue" trail in Shade Swamp off Rt. 6. We will try to bushwhack over to the "white" trail to complete a loop. Expect return to cars by noon. L: Diana Meyer
Thursday, April 3, 9
a.m., FCE Hikes Begin: Fisher Meadows, Avon
First meeting at Farmington CPL, Rt. 4 at Town Farm
Rd. This is the first of 8 consecutive Thursdays (plus extra
"unofficial" hikes are usually added). Call Farmington
Continuing Education at 860-404-0290 to register for "Course 1301".
The theme of this series is Water.
See Hiking Notes. L: Marie Coons
Saturday, April 5, 2003, ? a.m., AMC Hike, Natchaug Trail (B2C)
9.6 mi. hike on Natchaug Trail from Rt. 198 to Westford Rd. E-mail Leader or call before 9 p.m. for meeting place & time. Call Leader before bringing dogs. Rain cancels. L: Bernadette Tuthill (203-468-8091 bernthkr@attbi.com ).
Sunday, April 6, 2003, 12:30 p.m., AMC Hike, "Unfinished Business" (C3BC)
Cover piece of Metacomet Trail not covered in L’s “Hike ‘Round Hartford” series. 3-4 mi. loop over Short Mtn., views, short steep sections, possible mid- post-hike surprise. Meet after lunch at parking lot N of Timberlin Park GC clubhouse, Rte. 364, Berlin. Precipitation or snowy/icy conditions cancel. If doubt call leader by 10:30 a.m. L: David Cullen (860-889-5056 dlcul@conncoll.edu ).
Sunday, April 6, 2003, 1:30 p.m., SG Hike, History-of-the-Giant
Hike will leave from the bulletin board at the park entrance. The Sleeping Giant Park is on Mt. Carmel Avenue in northern Hamden, about 0.5 mile in from Whitney Avenue, on the left-hand side of the street. Hikers should wear comfortable, supportive shoes and bring snacks and water, as desired. Please do not bring pets. The hike is open to the public, and there is no fee.
Tuesday, April 8, 8:45 a.m., Metacomet Trail Cancelled due to weather and road conditions
Pinnacle Rock and other local landmarks. Meet beside CVS in Post Office Square on Rt. 10 Farmington. Expect return to cars before noon. L: Diana Meyer
Thursday, April 10, 8:45 a.m., FCE
Hike,
The Western Highlands, Simsbury
Meet in the parking lot of the Simsbury Farms Complex and we will
carpool from here. Follow Rt 167 north through Avon, into Simsbury, take a left
onto Stratton Brook Rd., follow until you reach Rt 309, drive across Rt 309 onto
Old Farms Rd. and the entrance is less than a mile up on your right. Park in the
lot to the left farthest from the golf clubhouse. L: Marie Coons
Saturday, April 12, 2003, 9:30 a.m., AMC Hike, CFPA Metacomet Hike (B2A)
Join CT Forest and Park Assoc sponsored hike on the premier Metacomet Tr; hike entire trail this year and win a Metacomet Badge. Hike 6 miles from Rt. 71 to Rt. 364. See spectacular vistas from West Peak and Castle Craig. Heavy rain cancels. If in doubt, call leader by 8:30 am. Meet Timberline Golf Course on Rt. 364 Southington Rd. – rear parking lot, Southington. From Meriden I-691 exit #5, go north on Rt. 71 then west on Rt. 364 to Timberline. Leader: George Arthur (860-871-0137).
Sunday, April 13, 2003, 10 a.m., AMC Hike, Wadsworth Falls State Park/Mount Higby – Hike #1 of Spring Waterfall Series (C3C)
3.3 mi. loop hike. See big falls, little falls, giant laurel, possible wildflowers. Optional hike (C3B) to Mt. Higby after depending on group’s desires – 3.4 mi., 610’ elev. gain. See Mt. Higby, long basalt cliffs, natural bridge. Meet at Wadsworth Falls SP parking lot, Rt. 157, Middletown. Rain cancels. If doubt call leader by 7:30 a.m. L: Jenifer Nadeau (860-486-4471 jnadeau@canr.uconn.edu ). CL welcome.
Tuesday, April 15, 8:45 a.m., "Unofficial" FCE Hike, Mattabesett Trail—Bluff Head & Totoket Mt., Durham
Meet at the commuter parking lot at the corner of Rt 4 and Town Farm Rd. and we will carpool from here. Anticipate a 1 pm return time.
Thursday, April 17, 8:45 a.m., FCE Hike, Roraback Wildlife Management Area, Harwinton
Take Rt 4 west through Burlington into Harwinton. Take a left onto South Rd. (about the third left after Rt 72), a right onto Swimming Hole Rd., and park in the lot on the left before the bridge. L: Marie Coons
Saturday, April 19, 9:30 a.m., AMC Hike, Tunxis Trail in Burlington (B3B)
About 8 mi. depending on conditions. Sessions Woods Trail and Mainline Trail and Orange Dot Trail thru Devil’s Kitchen area. Meet Sessions Woods parking lot, Rt. 69, Burlington. Storm/rain cancels. If doubt call leader by 8:30 a.m. Leader: Bill Novoa (860-677-7520) CL welcome.
Saturday, April 19, 10 a.m., SC Hike, WHITE MEMORIAL FOUNDATION & CONSERVATION CENTER, Litchfield
Meet at the park entrance parking lot by the museum off Route 202 (Whitehall Road, about 2 miles west of Litchfield Center), for a relaxed 6+ mile hike. Rain date April 20. Call Michael Hofmann at (860) 521-6161 for more information.
Tuesday, April 22, 8:45 a.m., "Unofficial" FCE Hike, Mattabesett Trail, Durham
Meet at the commuter parking lot at the corner of Rt 4 and Town Farm Rd. and we will carpool from here. Since this hike will be just over 6 miles long, anticipate a 3 pm return. L: Marie Coons
Thursday, April 24, 8:45 a.m., FCE Hike, Tariffville Gorge, Simsbury
Follow Rt 10 north through Avon, through the center of Simsbury, take a right onto Rt 315, and about a half mile up on the right park in the lot at Curtis Park. L: Marie Coons
Saturday, April 26, 1 p.m., AMC Hike, Airline State Park Trail (B23D)
6.5 mi. hike on abandoned RR bed. Hike at your own pace. Leader will sweep. Pizza stop after. Steady rain cancels. If in doubt call leader by 12:30 pm. Meet at CPL, Exit 16 (Rte. 149) off Rte. 2, Colchester. Leader: Steve Braciak (860-267-4371).
Sunday, April 27, 2003, 9:30 a.m., AMC Hike, Natchaug Trail (A2C)
10 mile hike from Phoenixville to Goodwin Conservation Center. Trail varies from woodlands, across streams and by settlement remains. Possible lunch at General Lyons homestead. Meet at Goodwin Conservation Center., Potter Rd. just off Rte. 6 in Hampton. Steady rain cancels; if in doubt call leader by 8AM. Leader: Debbie Tedford, 860-742-7673, Co-leader: welcome.
Sunday, April 27, 2003, 1:30 p.m., SG Hike, Spring Wildflowers
Hike will leave from the bulletin board at the park entrance. The Sleeping Giant Park is on Mt. Carmel Avenue in northern Hamden, about 0.5 mile in from Whitney Avenue, on the left-hand side of the street. Hikers should wear comfortable, supportive shoes and bring snacks and water, as desired. Please do not bring pets. The hike is open to the public, and there is no fee.
Tuesday, April 29, 8:45 a.m., "Unofficial" FCE Hike, Regicides Trail, New Haven
Meet at the commuter parking lot at the corner of Rt 4 and Town Farm Rd. and we will carpool from here. This hike will be about 7 miles long, so anticipate a 4 pm return. L: Marie Coons