FALL 2014 SCHEDULE
Thursday, September 11, 8:45am, FCE Hikes Begin
8+ weekly FCE hikes begin. Please call FCE at 860-404-0290 and register for Course NAT102 "Hikes", or click here to enroll on-line. Distances will be about 4 - 6 miles, with back-to-cars goal before 12:30pm. Also see Hiking Notes.
First Hike of the Fall Season, Thursday, September 11, 8:45AM,
FCE, Northwest Park, Windsor
The Park is a 470 acre facility with 12 miles of trails. We will hike for 3.5
to 4 miles along different trails. They are well maintained. Meet at the Park's parking lot in Windsor. We should complete
our hike before 12PM.
From Rt 10/202 in Simsbury take RT185; go left on RT178 to the Center of
Bloomfield. Go left on 189 and take a quick right on Wintonbury Ave. Then take a
left on Woodland St and continue to Rt 187 (Blue Hills Ave). Go left on Rt187 and
take the first right on to Day Hill Road. At the 3rd traffic light take a left
on Prospect Hill Road. Continue to traffic circle: 3/4 around circle take Lang
Road to the end and the Northwest Park parking lot.
For additional directions and more information, go to northwestpark.org L: Tom Iezzi 860-404-8945(H); 860-655-9714(C), day of the hike.
Thursday, September 18, 8:45AM, FCE, American Legion State Forest, Barkhamsted
From junction of Rte 318 and Rte 181 in Pleasant Valley, go north on West River Road 2.5 miles to ruins of footbridge. The trailhead is across from stone abutments at edge of Farmington River. Limited parking so try to carpool. We will hike the Henry Buck Loop Trail. We will then do a short carpool on Legion Road to Turkey Vulture Ledge Trailhead. CWBW pp.2,3. L: Jerry Marcum 860 810 0087
Thursday, September 25, FCE, No Hike (holiday)
Rosh Hashanah. Happy Jewish New Year.
Thursday, October 2, 8:45AM, FCE, Mattatuck and Jericho Trails, Waterbury
Meet: Echo Lake Road Trail Head Parking Area.
From southbound RT 8 take exit 37. Go 0.7 miles to parking area near Jericho Trail Head. NOTE: See p. 331 in CWBW for other directions. We will leave some cars at Echo Lake Road trail head. We will then carpool to Mattatuck Trail Head off of Bidwell Hill Road.
Hike 4.5 miles - hills and rolling terrain, some steep inclines & downhills.
Hills and rolling terrain, some steep inclines and downhills. Hiking poles, sturdy hiking boots, water and snack are recommended. CWBW Maps MT 3 p. 137 and Waterbury Area Trails p. 333. L: Jerry Marcum 860 810 0087
Thursday, October 9, 8:45AM,
We will hike about 4.4 miles on the Woodtick, Stonehouse, and Tunxis trails (the shape of a lollipop), along an ancient cemetery, the Old King's Highway and the New Britain Reservoir.
Meet at the trailhead: from the junction of Rte 72 and Rte 69 in Bristol, travel south on 69 for 3.7 miles. Turn left on Woodtick Rd and continue .7 miles to the trailhead on the Left, just north of high tension wires and opposite Wilson Road. There is very limited parking at the trailhead so travel approximately an additional 1/4 mile on Woodtick Road. On the left is St Maria Goretti Church. Park in the lower section of the church lot and walk over to the trailhead.
For more information please check the CWB p. 287. L: Tom Iezzi 860-404-8945(H); 860-655-9714(C).
Thursday October 16, 8:45 am, FCE - People’s State Forest, Barkhamsted postponed due to weather
Meet at the Jessie Gerard Trailhead parking area on East River Rd about 2.6 miles north of the Rt 181 bridge and about 1.5 miles north of the Matthies Grove picnic area. We will carpool to the James Stocking area. We will hike the Agnes Bowen Trail to the Charles Pack trail, connecting to the Jessie Gerard Trial and the beautiful Grand Vista and Chaugham overlooks, returning to the Jessie Gerard Trailhead parking area. For more information, check CWB pgs 5, 8-11, 13. The parking is limited so please carpool if possible. L: John Vibert (860-675-7007) (cell 860-874-3747)
Thursday, October 23, 8:45, FCE, Avon Land Trust, Nod Way postponed due to weather
Meet at the east end of the Marshalls/Michael’s shopping plaza at 315 West Main St., Avon in front of the now-empty Ninety Nine Restaurant. We’ll car spot about two miles to the Nod Way trail head where drivers will pull up over the nearby curb onto the grassy area. We’ll hike the green Nod Way trail up the grassy way then onto the white Garvin Trail, blue Maher Trail, red Red Blaze Trail, and back to the blue and white, then down the green. Difficulty ranges from an upward climb to begin with, flat, down, mild upward, almost bushwhacking on a rarely used but well-blazed trail, and stream and fallen tree crossings. Easy to strenuous for about 2 1/2 - 2 ¾ hours. This Spring 2014 hike was postponed twice and by July 3 only 8 hikers joined me so I am repeating it. We should enjoy wonderful foliage colors. L: Anne Fitzgerald (H) 860-673-1216; (C day of hike) 860-221-4225.
Thursday, October 30, 8:45am, FCE - Mary Edwards Mountain/Godard Preserve, Granby Land Trust
We will be hiking on several Granby Land Trust properties located on Donahue Rd. in North Granby, N of Mountain Rd. There is limited parking along roadside. Hikers from Farmington, Canton, Avon and Burlington should meet at the Canton Commuter Lot (on Rt. 179 just N of Rt. 44). Carpools will leave there at 8:30. Hikers from the Simsbury area are encouraged to form carpools as well. The hike will take between 2 and 2 1/2 hours. For more information, check the Granby Land Trust site (click here). L: John Vibert (860-675-7007) (cell 860-874-3747)
Thursday, November 6, 8:45AM, FCE,
Ski Sundown, New Hartford Hike + lunch postponed to 12/4
Take Rt 219 to Ratlum Road to Ski Sundown. FCE has permission to park in Ski
Sundown parking lot. Park cars away from main ski area closer to Ratlum Road. We
will hike the Tunxis Trail from the parking lot to the Farmington River Tpk
trail head. This trail is moderate with some hills. CWBW Map p. 324. Leaders
will leave a car at Farmington River Turnpike trailhead to drive drivers back to
Ski Sundown parking lot.
NOTE: This is the final FCE hike for fall session. We will have our luncheon at Portobello's, 107 Main Street, Rt 44, New Hartford, after the hike.
L's: Tom Iezzi 860-404-8945(H), 860-655-9714(C) (day of the hike); & Jerry Marcum 860 810 0087.
Thursday November 13, 8:45 am, FCE - People’s State Forest, Barkhamsted 10/16 postponement
Meet at the Jessie Gerard Trailhead parking area on East River Rd about 2.6 miles north of the Rt 181 bridge and about 1.5 miles north of the Matthies Grove picnic area. We will carpool to the James Stocking area. We will hike the Agnes Bowen Trail to the Charles Pack trail, connecting to the Jessie Gerard Trial and the beautiful Grand Vista and Chaugham overlooks, returning to the Jessie Gerard Trailhead parking area. For more information, check CWB pgs 5, 8-11, 13. The parking is limited so please carpool if possible. L: John Vibert (860-675-7007) (cell 860-874-3747)
Thursday, November 20, 8:45, FCE, Avon Land Trust, Nod Way 10/23 postponement
Meet at the east end of the Marshalls/Michael’s shopping plaza at 315 West Main St., Avon in front of the now-empty Ninety Nine Restaurant. We’ll car spot about two miles to the Nod Way trail head where drivers will pull up over the nearby curb onto the grassy area. We’ll hike the green Nod Way trail up the grassy way then onto the white Garvin Trail, blue Maher Trail, red Red Blaze Trail, and back to the blue and white, then down the green. Difficulty ranges from an upward climb to begin with, flat, down, mild upward, almost bushwhacking on a rarely used but well-blazed trail, and stream and fallen tree crossings. Easy to strenuous for about 2 1/2 - 2 ¾ hours. This Spring 2014 hike was postponed twice and by July 3 only 8 hikers joined me so I am repeating it. We should enjoy wonderful foliage colors. L: Anne Fitzgerald (H) 860-673-1216; (C day of hike) 860-221-4225.
Thursday, December 4, 8:45AM, FCE,
Ski Sundown, New Hartford 11/6 postponement
Take Rt 219 to Ratlum Road to Ski Sundown. FCE has permission to park in Ski
Sundown parking lot. Park cars away from main ski area closer to Ratlum Road.
No Parking At Ski Sundown As Originally
Planned. Ski Sundown is making snow and parking lot is closed. Park at Trail
Head across from Ski Sundown along Ratlun Road. Due to snow, parking may be
limited, so try to carpool.
We will hike the Tunxis Trail from the parking lot to the Farmington River Tpk trail head. This trail is moderate with some hills. CWBW Map p. 324. Leaders will leave a car at Farmington River Turnpike trailhead to drive drivers back to Ski Sundown parking lot.
NOTE: This is the final FCE hike for fall session. We will have our luncheon at Portobello's, 107 Main Street, Rt 44, New Hartford, after the hike.
L's: Tom Iezzi 860-404-8945(H), 860-655-9714(C) (day of the hike); & Jerry Marcum 860 810 0087.