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                           APRIL 2009 SCHEDULE

First meeting is at Sessions Woods, Rt. 69, 3.3 miles south of its intersection with Rt 4, Burlington. We will carpool from there to the Barnes Nature Center on Shrub Rd. in Bristol and hike back to the cars on the black-dot Tunxis trail.

Tuesday, April 7, 8:45 am, FCE-U, Pine Knob, Mohawk Trail, and Kent Falls

Meet in the parking lot of Canton Ocean State Job Lots for this adventure. We will sample some of the trails western Connecticut has to offer. Each hike will be short with some driving between locations, but we should total about 6 miles (some steep). Bring snacks, lunch & water. Anticipate a mid to late afternoon return time. L: Marie Coons

Thursday, April 9, 8:45am, FCE  - White Memorial Foundation, Litchfield


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Meet at visitors' parking lot opposite museum. Take Rt. 4 through Burlington & Harwinton and go straight onto Rt. 118. Go past Rt 8 entrance & continue left on Rt. 118 to Litchfield, which runs into Rt. 202. WMF entrance is 2.5 miles W of Litchfield center on left. We will carpool to the trailhead of the Ponds section which has limited parking.

Saturday, April 11th, 10am, SC,  Hebron, Gay City

5 miles, 2.75 hours. Founded in 1796, Gay City has gone through some interesting name changes over the years. Come find out why these paths are some of the dirt roads of a New England ghost town! Located just off CT 85 just south of the Bolton-Hebron town line. Route 384 to exit 5 and take Route 85 south to the Park entrance. Or you can take Route 2 to exit 13 and take Route 66 east until you intersect Route 85 and go north to the Park entrance. There’s a hikers' lot just north of the Park entrance on CT 85. We can make an ice cream stop at the Ice Cream Stop at 277 Church St, Hebron. It’s right down Route 85 and take a left onto Route 66. (seems to be a theme here between hiking and ice cream) L: John Calandrelli

Tuesday, April 14, 8:45 am, FCE-U, Mohawk Trail, Cornwall

Meet in the parking lot of Canton Ocean State Job Lots for this 6.5 mile hike on the Mohawk Trail.  Bring snacks, lunch & water. Anticipate a mid to late afternoon return time. L: Marie Coons  (see 4/7 for map of meeting place)

Thursday, April 16, 8:45am, FCE  - Peoples State Forest, Pleasant Valley


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This time we will do the Elliot Bronson trail & the Walt Landgraf trail to the soapstone quarry. Take Rt. 44 W through New Hartford. Just over the Barkhamsted line, turn R on Rt. 181. At stop sign, go R over bridge and take 1st L on E. River Rd. In about 1 mile turn L into the Matthies Grove picnic area, just after passing Greenwoods Rd.

Max Participants: 10,  <1 mile, Difficulty: Steep, but short. Introducing Baileys Ravine, an 80 acre preserve donated by the Spencer family, in memory of John Ayer Trapper. The preserve’s colonial history, impressive waterfalls and rare fauna will impress any hiker. We’ll hike into the hemlock forest to enjoy a beautiful view at the peak of our hike. Then we will continue downward to learn the history of the area and spy some of the rare mountain spleenwort by the beautiful waterfalls. Bring appropriate shoes as trail will be muddy/snowy at this time of the year. Questions? Contact Kate: 860-941-5659.  Rt 2 East to exit 27. Rt 32N; Turn R onto Rt 207 for about a mile; parking is on your left across from Old Mountain Road. Or you may park on the Ayer Road. Off street dirt parking lot large enough for 3-4 cars & along street on rural road. L: John Calandrelli

All hikes are open to the public. Hike will leave from the bulletin board at the Sleeping Giant Park entrance on the north side of Mt. Carmel Avenue in northern Hamden, about 0.5 mile east of Whitney Avenue. Hikers should wear comfortable, supportive shoes and bring snacks and water, as desired. No pets, please.

Tuesday, April 21, 8:45 am, FCE-U, Mattatuck Trail, Cornwall  postponed to 4/28 due to weather

Meet in the parking lot of Canton Ocean State Job Lots for this 6.0 mile hike. We will walk the last section of the Mattatuck Trail to its intersection with the Mohawk Trail. Bring snacks, lunch & water. Anticipate a mid to late afternoon return time. L: Marie Coons  (see 4/7 for map of meeting place)

Thursday, April 23, 8:45am, FCE  - Mary Edwards Mountain/Godard Preserve, Granby Land Trust


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Meet on Donahue Rd. in Granby, about a mile N of Mountain Rd. Very limited parking along roadside; try to form carpools. One carpool will meet at 8:05am at Canton CPL, on Rt. 179 just N of Rt. 44.

Saturday, April 25th, 9:20am, LH, Masters School, Simsbury

We plan to hike the Red trail from Masters School to Saddle Brook Drive. Meet West Simsbury Shopping Center. 1.5 to 2 hours of hiking. L: Jerry Marcum 860 810 0087

Saturday, April 25th, 10am, SC,  Berlin, Ragged Mountain Preserve Loop

6 miles, 3 ½ hours. This loop features several spectacular views, including a splendid panorama from the summit of Ragged Mountain. An acoustical surprise: from far above Hart Ponds, hear the surprisingly loud beating of wings as waterfowl rise from the surface of the water. We’ll break for a snack on a ledge overlooking the Wassel Reservoir. The pace will be moderate, and some ups and downs are involved. Sharp drop-offs near the trail make this hike unsuitable for children under 18. We’ll relax after the hike at Bella Pizzeria, in the Ferndale Plaza, off 71-A (north of West Lane). Rte 9 exit 24, go straight onto route 571. L onto 71-A. R onto West Lane, and 3 blocks to the trailhead. Info: 860 548-9213. Day of hike only: 860 995-8669 L: John Calandrelli

Tuesday, April 28, 8:45 am, FCE-U, Mattatuck Trail, Cornwall  postponed from 4/14 & 4/21.  postponed again due to high heat.  see 5/5.

Meet in the parking lot of Canton Ocean State Job Lots for this 6.0 mile hike. We will walk the last section of the Mattatuck Trail to its intersection with the Mohawk Trail. Bring snacks, lunch & water. Anticipate a mid to late afternoon return time. L: Marie Coons  (see 4/7 for map of meeting place)

Thursday, April 30, 8:45am, FCE  - Sleeping Giant State Park, Hamden


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Meet at the bulletin board at the Park's main entrance on the N side of Mt. Carmel Avenue in Hamden, about 0.5 mile E of Whitney Avenue (Rt.10). If parking lot is full, park along road or up around the loop road past the parking lot. Carpool meets at Farmington CPL (Rt. 4/Town Farm Rd.) at 8am.