SPRING 2017 SCHEDULE
Thursday, April 13, 8:45am, 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.
The first hike: Countryside
Park and Huckleberry Hill, Avon [note: dogs are not allowed]
Meet: Countryside Park at 335 Huckleberry Hill Rd, Avon, 2 miles south of Rt.
179 or 1.7 miles north of Rt. 4. We will walk briefly around this small town
park many of us have probably never seen, then will walk across the road to the
loop Huckleberry Hill trails for mostly easy and some moderately steep hiking
for about 2 hours. Be prepared for
seasonal wetness and mud.
L: Anne Fitzgerald 860-673-1216, 860-221-4225 that morning
Thursday, April 20, 8:45am, FCE, Simsbury/Granby
We will hike into the McLean Game Refuge on the North Trail (P) to the Blue Summit Trail and 580 foot summit of the North Barndoor Hill. Area perspective can be seen on McLean Game Refuge Trails, Map ML-1.
From Simsbury Center: Rte 10/202 North past town center and left at Antonio's Restaurant onto Hoskins Road, which straight on becomes Country Road. Drive about two miles to Intersection of Simsbury Road and Barndoor Hills Road where triangular parking area will hold about 12 tightly-parked cars (therefore, please carpool - at least from near Route 10/202 in Simsbury).
L: Ed Shaskan. Should bad weather cancel, email posting by 7 AM. Cell phone on hike day only: 860-833-8009.
Thursday, April 27, 8:45am, FCE, Antolini Trail, New Hartford
A moderate approximately 4
mile loop hike in the woods with a few small stream crossings and rolling
hills and one steep short climb. Meet at trailhead parking lot at 8:45 for a
9 AM start.
From junction of Rte 179 and 202 in Canton, go west on 202 for 6.5 miles to
Bakersville. At the flashing light turn left onto East Cotton Hill Road.
Drive approximately 1 mile to parking lot on the left.
L: Tom Iezzi (H) 860-413-2627 ; (C) morning of hike 860-856-1753
Thursday, May 4, 8:45 am, FCE, Chauncey Peak Trail, Meriden
Meet at Giuffrida Park parking
area for a 2.7 mile, 530 ft total ascent of the Chauncey Peak Loop trail with
several view points on the ridge. For details of this and related trails, click here.
Note: The Chauncey Peak Blue-blazed Trail has been recently renovated with
switch-backs and stairs in order to substantially ease the ascent.
From Rte 9 take I-91 South to Exit 20 (Country Club Road). At bottom of Exit
Ramp turn Left at Stop sign for about 200 yards and then turn Right onto Country
Club Road and proceed for 2.3 miles to yellow curve arrows. Immediately turn
right and parking lot is ahead.
L: Ed Shaskan (H) 860-561-0040 (C) 860-833-8009 Hike Day
Thursday May 11, 8:45 am, FCE - Roraback Wildlife Management Area
Meet at the parking area on Swimming Hole Rd., Harwinton (From Burlington, take Rt 4 to Harwinton center, turn left onto South Rd., about 1 mile down take 1st right onto Swimming Hole Rd, parking is down the hill on the left.). We will hike approx. 2 - 2.5 hours on unmarked trails and farming roads, looping through the preserve. L: John Vibert (860-675-7007) (cell 860-874-3747)
Thursday May 18,
8:45 am, FCE -
Meet: Main parking lot on East River
Road [Free Parking]. Take RT 181 to East River Road; go north to wooden toll
both and parking lot on left side of road.
We will hike the Agnes Bowen
[B/O] Trail, and the Robert Ross [B] Trail. See map AL/PE-1 p. 13 in Connecticut
Walk Book West.
L: Jerry Marcum 860 810 0087
Thursday May 25, 8:45 am, FCE - Breezy Hill Farm Loop, Canton postponed
We will be hiking 2 - 2 1/2 hours on several Canton Land Trust properties that encircle the Breezy Hill Farm. Meet at the Sun, Wind, and Woodland property parking lot. Take Route 44 past the Saybrook Fish House toward New Hartford. R onto Indian Hill Rd. until it ends. R on Breezy Hill Road. Go to the top of the hill past the red house on the left, and the Sun, Wind, and Woodland parking lot will be on your left with a big yellow sign and a kiosk. We will hike the Sun, Wind, and Woodland property, the Sweeton Trail, and the Breezy Hill Farm. Reference: Canton Land Trust. L: John Vibert JohnVibert@aol.com (860-675-7007) (cell 860-874-3747)
Thursday June 1, 8:45 am, Hike & Group Picnic Lunch, Northwest Park, Windsor, CT
Meet: 135 Lang Road, Windsor, CT
06095. From corner of Route 10/202 and Route CT185 E in Simsbury, head east on
185 for 2.7 miles.
Turn left onto CT 178E for 1.1 miles, then make a left onto Brown St. Slight
left onto CT 189N for 2.5 miles, then right onto Day Hill Rd. Go 1.9 miles to
Prospect Hill Rd., then go 1 mile. At traffic circle take second exit onto Lang
Road. Go .7 mile and N.W. Park is on left. Plenty of parking.
We
will hike along the Rainbow Reservoir, a pond with beaver houses, the
birdwatching boardwalk, ending up at the covered shelter for our picnic. Bring
your own cooler, lunch, beverage and something to share [optional]. Bring your
lunch cooler with you from the parking lot and leave on the picnic tables in the
first red building next to the pond as you walk into the park. The leaders have
reserved the space for our Hiking Class.
Questions: email geraldwmarcum@yahoo.com.
Phone 860-810-0087.
L's: Jerry Marcum, Tom Iezzi
Thursday June 8, 8:45 am, FCE - Breezy Hill Farm Loop, Canton (rescheduled postponed 5/25 hike)
We will be hiking 2 - 2 1/2 hours on several Canton Land Trust properties that encircle the Breezy Hill Farm. Meet at the Sun, Wind, and Woodland property parking lot. Take Route 44 past the Saybrook Fish House toward New Hartford. R onto Indian Hill Rd. until it ends. R on Breezy Hill Road. Go to the top of the hill past the red house on the left, and the Sun, Wind, and Woodland parking lot will be on your left with a big yellow sign and a kiosk. We will hike the Sun, Wind, and Woodland property, the Sweeton Trail, and the Breezy Hill Farm. Reference: Canton Land Trust. L: John Vibert JohnVibert@aol.com (860-675-7007) (cell 860-874-3747)