CONNECTICUT HIKING

Thursday, December 1, 8:45am, FCE, Westledge & Firetown Trails, W. Simsbury

We will do the Westledge Trail [out and back] plus a portion of the [loop] Firetown Trail.  The trail ascends over terrain of a former stagecoach route and passes old stone foundations of a once thriving agriculture community.  Total distance approximately 4.5 miles.  Meet at Farms Village Shopping Center, 244 Farms Village Road, West Simsbury. Parking is now very limited at start of hike. We will car pool to start. L: Jerry Marcum, 860 810 0087, jerry@cthikes.com  NOTE: Several of us tried to hike the West Ledge Trail on Friday, November 25th. The water in the brook is quite high and running fast. There is no bridge or safe crossing.  Instead of West Ledge we will hike the gray- blazed Firetown Trail which starts at same location.  The trail parallels the north side of Bissell Brook and goes past a glacial kettle hole.  There is no change in the meeting location.  Jerry Marcum

Thursday, December 8, 8:30am, FCE, Peak Mountain,Suffield/E. Granby  postponed to 12/22 due to weather and road conditions

Peak Mountain and the Metacomet trail from Suffield to E Granby. Meet at 8:30 at the Rt 20 and Newgate Rd trailhead, which is 0.7 mile W of E Granby center on Rt 20 (Turkey Hill Rd). Park on Newgate Road, which will be a left turn if you are traveling W on Rt 20. We will carpool to Rt 168 in Suffield and hike back to the Newgate trailhead. Hike is 5 miles with moderate difficulty and should take approx 3+ hours. Beautiful views of the Metacomet Ridge and Manituck Mountain and the Litchfield Hills.  Note: for this hike we will meet at 8:30 and drive to the starting location to start the hike at 8:45.  Ref: CWB West, p. 172 L: Tom Iezzi, 860-404-8945 tom@cthikes.com 

Meet at the trail parking lot on Rt 6 near Pinnacle Rd. We will carpool to Rt. 372 in Plainville and hike back. This trail has several magnificent overlooks, highlighted by Pinnacle Rock with views in all directions. Then we will pass Will Warren's den. CWB map ME-4a/b. L: John Vibert (860-675-7007, cell 860-874-3747) John@cthikes.com

Thursday, December 22, 8:30am, FCE, Peak Mountain,Suffield/E. Granby

Peak Mountain and the Metacomet trail from Suffield to E Granby. Meet at 8:30 at the Rt 20 and Newgate Rd trailhead, which is 0.7 mile W of E Granby center on Rt 20 (Turkey Hill Rd). Park on Newgate Road, which will be a left turn if you are traveling W on Rt 20. We will carpool to Rt 168 in Suffield and hike back to the Newgate trailhead. Hike is 5 miles with moderate difficulty and should take approx 3+ hours. Beautiful views of the Metacomet Ridge and Manituck Mountain and the Litchfield Hills.  Note: for this hike we will meet at 8:30 and drive to the starting location to start the hike at 8:45.  Ref: CWB West, p. 172 L: Tom Iezzi, 860-404-8945 tom@cthikes.com