Tenth Annual Hiking Notice, 2022
Tenth Annual Hiking Notice, 2022
Greetings, clompers –
If you don’t respond to this notice, I won’t bother you with more messages. If you do respond, you can indicate which hikes you are interested in, and I will contact you about a week before for just those, or you can say “all” and I will contact you for each hike. “Contact” means confirmation and directions. Do not show up for a hike without eventually signing up – changes often occur. And try to be on time – we wait only 5 minutes, but experience consternation if you are expected and not there. It’s good to give me your phone number if you think I don’t have it in case of a last-minute change, such as postponement due to bad weather. Let me know if you want us to observe Covid precautions: masks as we gather, maintain distance as we walk unless your companions agree not to.
I have heard from Lynn & Howard Beach, Ellen Clattenburg, Ginny Franklin, Kathy Giurtino, Tim & Kathy Grieve, Ryan & Julia Gumbart, Rika Henderson, Betsy Howard, Beth Hunton, Julie Schmitz, Sheryl Smith, and Beth Tofel-Grehl, so they will hear from me (or not) as requested, but they might want to note the CPR tour of July 10th.
The hikes are being organized under the auspices of Weathersfield Parks and Recreation. Well-behaved dogs are welcome. We expect a range of hiking speeds.
Are you new to hiking? Wear footwear that is broken in and appropriate for our uneven trails. Hikers join us at their own risk. Feel free to call Steve, organizer, at 263-5439, or contact him by replying to this notice. Experienced hikers, too, please ask questions or comment freely.
This list has 3 pages. Hikes continue into October. I have not listed Cardigan Mountain because it would be a mid-week hike, being too crowded on the weekends. As mountains go, it’s a moderate ascent, a 1,200 foot climb to the very open summit at 3,155’, three miles round trip. The drive from Ascutney takes about an hour. If interested, specify Cardigan.
The Hikes! …
Birding:
Marianne Walsh is happy to lead a bird walk from the upper section of Bowen Hill Rd to the wetlands on the Springfield/Weathersfield town line on Skyline Drive. The walk would be during a weekday and would be early (6 AM ?). Marianne walks this section in spring, summer and fall. If interested, contact her at 802-885-9420 or mwalsh@vermontel.net.
Saturday, June 18th, 9:00 AM: Perkinsville Lower Valley
We will gather at the east end of the Stoughton Pond causeway and then walk near and above Branch Brook and the Black River through the valley and over some hills to Springweather. River views are limited, but occur. It’s a lovely valley. One-way is about 2 miles (guessing!). We can leave cars at Springweather for those who would like to go one-way and not round-trip.
Saturday, June 25th, 9:00 AM: Cathedral Rocks
This length of this hike is about three miles. The route follows Stokes Road, climbs to a nice view, and then descends to the erratics, which are not far into the woods with no trail to them. The rocks are very big. Two hours? We go down and then return back up.
Sunday, July 10th, time to be announced: Crown Point Road
This event is a Crown Point Road Association tour of 5 or 6 Crown Point Road sites as follows: a half-mile or a bit more round-trip walk to mile marker 10; not much of a walk to marker 11; the Grout Cemetery plaque at Plain Cemetery; a short walk from Cady Hill Road to the 1915 marker stone on Reservoir Road across from the 1780 Chamberlain home; a walk there up the CPR of length to be determined but ideally with the option of going all the way to the Asa Grout cellar hole (RT of 40 minutes for me); and a fairly short walk to Upham’s mill on the CPR north of Wellwood Orchard Road. I expect us to need to car pool. CPRA participants have priority. If we have more enthusiasts than we can handle in one tour, we will plan a second.
Saturday, July 23rd, 4:00 PM: “Up on the Hill” on conserved land near Charlestown
We will walk on trails up the hill to a view of Ascutney, a short hike of only a mile and a half round trip. Some people last year added some of the forest walk to that excursion. I searched “Up on the Hill UVLT” and went to the website.
Sunday, August 7th, 11:30 AM: To the Cabin
We follow Swift’s Logging Road up to the crest of Pikes Peak ridge. Then we follow a trail through the woods to Grace’s skiing trail, head down that, and finish on a woodsy trail to Steve’s cabin. There is a nice view there. We will linger – a bit of food provided. The distance to the cabin will feel like 2 miles, plus a short walk on the Center Road.
Saturday, August 20th, 9:00 AM: B-29 crash site
We will go up from Matt Keniston’s on a trail well-maintained, but steep in places and overall a climb. Round-trip of 3 miles?? It might feel like more. There is a nice viewing spot halfway up. If anyone wants to head up to the site in the future, contact Matt for permission. If not sure of making the crucial turns without the tape in place, contact Steve Aikenhead at 263-5439, steve@vermontel.net. NO SOUVENIRS! Responsible people only.
Saturday, September 10th, 4:00 PM: Ferry Road and the Connecticut River
This generally level route with one steep descent of about ten yards heads down shaded Ferry Road and into Skyline Nursery. Soon it follows the river, sometimes with views. At one point the remains of the huge Consul Jarvis sheep barn can be glimpsed. (Used to be – high corn last year!) The total length is about 2 miles. Carol Orth is the leader.
Saturday, September 24th, 9:30 AM: Cooks Pond Loop
This is a route on wooded dirt roads more than on trail. There is a lovely framed view of Mt. Ascutney from the south end of Cooks Pond. Other mountain views occur at later points. Difficulty: easy to moderate, with one long incline and a shorter one. Distance: almost 3 miles, unless a hiker goes only as far as the pond and then back up, less than 2 miles.
Saturday, October 1st, 8:00 AM: Ascutney Mountain
We will go to the fire tower and the Brownsville Overlook. We will go up the Weathersfield Trail, but people wanting a less strenuous hike (.7 miles up) could drive up and meet us at the top, we hope. I expect to join that shorter climb. We leave early because parking later is a problem.
Other days in October are open for rescheduling, maybe Mt. Cardigan, and a hike at your request. That last one could be earlier in the season.