MARCH 2009 SCHEDULE
Sunday, March 1, 10am, BLT, Johnnycake Mountain Winter Ramble, Burlington Postponed due to "wintry mix". Stay tuned for new date.
Start at the end of Johnnycake Mountain Rd. on the yellow-dot blue trail. About 3 miles -- approximately 2.5 hours. Opportunity to learn about the history of the area. Who built those foundations on the side of the trail and when? Why did they leave? What does the word "johnnycake" mean?
Also, for those interested in "natural" details of the woods, Henry and Carol Perrault, Master Wildlife Conservationists, will accompany the group and talk about how to recognize different animal tracks and non-tracking evidence of wildlife in the woods. They will share reference materials for your future hikes in the forests of Burlington.
(Optionally) bring your snowshoes - conditions permitting; if you prefer not to snowshoe, wear your boots and bring a hiking pole for balance. The conditions can range from easy to difficult.
Go west about 2 miles on Rte 4 from intersection of Rte 69 and take 2nd left onto Johnnycake Mtn. Rd. (across from the Hogan Cider Mill and Golf Center). Go 2+ miles to the end. Park on Old Field Rd. or Warren Glen. Bring a snack and a beverage. L: Karen Geitz (to register, call 673-0340 & leave your first and last name and a phone number on her machine)
Tuesday, March 3, 12:30pm, LH, Ethel Walker School, Simsbury
Meet at St. Albans Church on Bushy Hill Rd. We will snow shoe the Ethel Walker trails for 2 to 3 miles with plans to finish by 2:30 to 3 PM. L: Tom Iezzi
Saturday, March 14th, 9am, LH, Reservoir 6, West Hartford
We will hike from Reservoir 6 - Rt 44 [BLUE Trail] along the reservoir and hook up with Blue/Red. We will again hook up with Blue near Rt 185 and Penwood Park. Terrain flat to rolling. We will car spot at Penwood which will be end of hike. Conditions may still be icy. Bring your ice grippers (Stabilicers, etc.) Expect 3 hours. Please e-mail or call 810 0087 if you plan to hike. We will need to know how many cars to spot at end of hike. L: Jerry Marcum
Saturday, March 14th, 10am, SC, Westwoods, Guilford
This is a hike of about 6 miles/ 3.5 hours in a very special preserved space
on Connecticut痴 overdeveloped coast. We値l discuss the importance of saving
such land in CT as well as the difficulties in doing so. (Mosquito repellent
would be a good thing to bring
even though this is early Spring and may not be needed. Try some of the new deet-free
repellents like Herbal Armor.) Take I-95 to exit 58. Go south on Route 77. From
the junction of CT 77 and CT 146 in Guilford, follow CT 146 west 1.3 miles to
Sam Hill Rd. to your right. Parking for the Westwoods trail entrance 3 is at
this corner. After the hike, we値l reward ourselves with some ice cream at
Ashley痴 (942 Boston Post Rd. Route 1, a block east of Route 77)!! L: John
Calandrelli
Tuesday, March 17th, 9am, LH, Huckleberry Hill, Avon
Meet in the back of the school/condo on Huckleberry Hill Road. Hike about 2.5-3 miles. Back around noon. Bring water, snacks, etc. Rain, sleet, snow, ice, cancels, but we won't have any of that. It's almost spring! L: Jane Macomber
Thursday, March 19th, 9am, LH, Metacomet Trail, West Hartford Cancelled due to weather
Meet at Reservoir Number 6 Parking Lot off Albany Ave, Rt 44 in West
Hartford. We'll hike south and do an out and back. No car spotting. Many
of us have never hiked this section of the Metacomet Trail. Allow 2 1/2 to 3
hours. Heavy rain cancels.
Will send e-mail Thursday early AM if we need to cancel. L: Jerry Marcum
Friday, March 20th, 9am, LH, Sweetheart Mountain, Collinsville
Meet at Collinsville Rails-to-Trails parking lot. Will car pool to Sweetheart Mtn parking lot, just a couple of miles away. Hike 2.5-3 miles. Back by 11:30-noon. Bring snacks & water. Expect great views because leaves aren't out yet. L: Jane Macomber
Sunday, March 22, 11am, SG, Spring Hikers' Hike
A strenuous hike over rough terrain - FOR EXPERIENCED HIKERS ONLY! 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, March 24, 9am, FCE U - Metacomet Trail, Farmington
See May 21st. Same hike except meeting time. L: Len Berton
Thursday, March 26, 9am, LH, Onion Mountain, Simsbury
Meet at Onion Mountain Park on West Mountain Road. Good size parking lot. At intersection of Routes 44 & 167 (Bushy Hill Road), go north on 167. At the first traffic light turn left onto West Mountain Rd. Park is across the street from Mailbox #72. If you pass Flamig Farm or Shingle Mill Rd you've overshot. Hike 3 miles. Back by noon. Easy on flat, but significantly more difficult on the hillside. L: Linda Barton 658-6634
Saturday, March 28th, 10am, SC, Sunny Valley, Bridgewater
(C, 3 miles, 2 hours). We値l pass glacial erratic and ponds carved from the glaciers. We値l also pass by quartz mines the colonists carved in the hillsides. Some came to Connecticut thinking of getting rich in mining minerals like iron ore, garnets, and silica. Obviously, they moved on pretty quickly. A mink was spotted here so you never know what chance encounters we値l have with wildlife! Take I-84 exit 9 and go north on Route 25 to Route 133 north approximately 6 miles and turn left onto Hat Shop Hill Rd. After 0.6 mile, turn left onto Christian Street, then right onto Hemlock Rd., which you follow for 1.7 miles to the gated Stony Brook Farm entrance. Park on your left just before the gate, where there is room for three cars. We値l head to Bertucci痴 for pizza and more after the hike! (98 Newtown Rd, Danbury, CT (203) 739-0500) L: John Calandrelli
Sunday, March 29, 1:30pm. SG, History-of-the-Giant Hike
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.