Meshomasic Hiking Club Summer 2021 Schedule of Events http://meshomasichikingclub.org Ratings: A=very rough terrain, elevation gain over 1000 ft.; B=difficult terrain, elevation gain 500-1000 ft.; C=average terrain, moderate up and down; D=flat, little or no elevation change; E=exploratory, be prepared for anything; P=paddle; R=bike ride; 1=fast; 2=brisk; 3=average; 4=slow FOR THE ENJOYMENT AND SAFETY OF EVERYONE, PLEASE KNOW YOUR LIMITS AND HIKE TO YOUR ABILITY Thursday, July 1, 8:30a - Hurd State Park Thursday, East Hampton: A 3.6-mile loop at a good pace with a fairly steep climb of 300 feet. We complete the loop at 10:30 am. Friendly, well-managed dogs are welcome. Rating: B2. No kids please. Hiking boots only. Bring drinks. Bad weather cancels. Meet at the Hurd Park winter parking lot at the intersection of Route 151 (Middle Haddam Road) and Hurd Park Road at the traffic light. From Route 66 in Cobalt, take Route 151 south for 2.5 miles. RSVP by 06/30 to Alan at 860-510-3870. Friday, July 2, 8:00a - Gulf Road to Leesville Dam, East Hampton: A walk of between 5 and 7 miles down Gulf Road and back. Rating: C2. Kids and well-managed dogs OK. Sneakers are OK. Bring water and snacks. Bad weather cancels. Meet at the Covered Bridge parking lot on Comstock Bridge Road off Route 16 just west of the Salmon River in East Hampton. RSVP by 07/01 to Alan at 860-510-3870. Friday, July 2, 9:00a - Patchogue River Paddle, Westbrook: An exploratory paddle of indeterminant length on the Patchogue River in Westbrook. The Patchogue eventually flows into the Menunketesuck River. The group will decide where and how far to paddle. Rating: P2. No kids or dogs. Provide your own boat with a PFD and a safety whistle. Bring lunch & drinks. Bad weather cancels. Meet at the Portland Police Station parking lot on Main Street between Freestone and Waverly Avenues at 9:00 OR at the parking lot of the Westbrook Town Hall at 866 Boston Post Road (Route 1) in Westbrook at 9:40. Park at the corner of the lot that is farthest away from Route 1 and the right side of the lot as you face away from Route 1. Search Google Maps for “7GJR+RC Westbrook”. RSVP by 07/02 to Tony by text or voice at 860-490- 5584 or [email protected]. Saturday, July 3, 9:00a - Shenipsit Trail, Walker Reservoir, and Belding Preserve, Vernon: Get ready for Independence Day with a roughly 6-mile hike on Shenipsit Trail to Belding Preserve with side trips to a small waterfall and to a graveyard with several stones remembering Revolutionary War patriots who answered the Lexington Alarm. Post hike swim at nearby Bolton Lake? No dogs at the swim, please! Rating: C3. Kids and leashed dogs OK. Hiking boots only. Bring food and plenty to drink, especially for post hike swim. Bad weather cancels. Meet at the exit 67 commuter lot off I-84. From I-84 East, take exit 67, right at end of exit, right onto next road towards Walker Reservoir and right into commuter lot. RSVP by 07/02 to Jeff by text or voice at 860-794-9739. Sunday, July 4, 9:00a - Bolton Notch / Mohegan Loop, Bolton: Celebrate Independence Day on a roughly 3 mile hike to Flag Rock. Post hike swim at nearby Bolton Lake? No dogs at the swim, please! Rating: C3. Kids and leashed dogs OK. Hiking boots only. Bring food and plenty to drink, especially for post hike swim. Bad weather cancels. Meet at the Routes 6 and 44 commuter lot in Bolton. Directions: From I-384 east, take exit 5, left at end of exit, right at stop light onto Routes 6/44 east, then take a left towards commuter lot at top of hill past Georgina’s Restaurant and small shopping plaza as you are getting on highway ramp. RSVP by 07/03 to Jeff by text or voice at 860-794-9739. Monday, July 5, 8:00a - Red Cedar Lake Trail, Lebanon: A 4- or 5-mile hike around Red Cedar Lake and on bike trails. Rating: C3. Kids and well-managed dogs OK. Hiking boots recommended. Bring water and snacks. Bad weather cancels. Meet at the parking area by the gate. Take Route 2 south to Norwich Road, turn right on to Camp Moween Road, left to Red Cedar Lake Road. RSVP by 07/04 to Alan at 860-510-3870. Tuesday, July 6, Time TBA - “Irregular” Hike at Various Areas: An “irregular” hike at a brisk pace between 8 – 11 miles may be scheduled at one of several preserves in the area: 7 Falls (Middletown), Hubbard Park (Meriden), Sleeping Giant (Hamden), Cockaponset (Chester) to name a few examples. We typically break for lunch. The pace will average 2 miles an hour for a variety of terrain, but faster on trails with less elevation. Start time and location will be determined the preceding Sunday. Rating: B2. No kids or dogs. Hiking boots only. Bring lunch and plenty of water. Bad weather cancels. Contact Chantal to find meeting time and location. RSVP by 07/05 to Chantal at 860-573-2946. Meshomasic Hiking Club Summer 2021 Schedule of Events http://meshomasichikingclub.org Ratings: A=very rough terrain, elevation gain over 1000 ft.; B=difficult terrain, elevation gain 500-1000 ft.; C=average terrain, moderate up and down; D=flat, little or no elevation change; E=exploratory, be prepared for anything; P=paddle; R=bike ride; 1=fast; 2=brisk; 3=average; 4=slow FOR THE ENJOYMENT AND SAFETY OF EVERYONE, PLEASE KNOW YOUR LIMITS AND HIKE TO YOUR ABILITY Tuesday, July 6, 8:00a - Cockaponset State Forest, Chester: A six-mile loop trail through the forest. Rating: C3. Kids and well-managed dogs OK. Hiking boots only. Bring water and snacks. Bad weather cancels. Meet at the parking area off route 148. Take Route 9 to exit 6 and head west to lot. RSVP by 07/05 to Alan at 860-510-3870. Wednesday, July 7, 9:00a - Burr Pond State Park, Torrington: A hike of 5 miles including a 200 foot climb around Burr Pond in its state park Rating: C3. Kids and well-managed dogs OK. Hiking boots only. Bring lunch & drinks. Bad weather cancels. Meet at the Portland Police Station parking lot on Main Street between Freestone and Waverly Avenues at 9:00 OR at the parking lot of Burr Pond State Park at 10:00. From Canton take Route 202 west, turn right on Cedar Lane, at the “T” intersection turn right on Torringford Street, and then an immediate left on Greenwoods Road. Follow that across Winsted Road onto Burr Mountain Road then in 0.5 miles turn left into the park. Search Google Maps for “VW94+XH Torrington”. RSVP by 07/07 to Tony by text or voice at 860-490-5584 or [email protected]. Thursday, July 8, 8:30a - Hurd State Park Thursday, East Hampton: A 3.6-mile loop at a good pace with a fairly steep climb of 300 feet. We complete the loop at 10:30 am. Friendly, well-managed dogs are welcome. Rating: B2. No kids please. Hiking boots only. Bring drinks. Bad weather cancels. Meet at the Hurd Park winter parking lot at the intersection of Route 151 (Middle Haddam Road) and Hurd Park Road at the traffic light. From Route 66 in Cobalt, take Route 151 south for 2.5 miles. RSVP by 07/07 to Alan at 860-510-3870. Friday, July 9, 9:30a - Paddle on the Quinebaug River, Plainfield / Canterbury: A 10-mile paddle on the quiet water of the Quinebaug River with a couple of easy sections of quick water. Rating: P2. No kids or dogs. Provide your own boat with a PFD and a safety whistle. Bring lunch and drinks. Bad weather cancels. Meet at the put-in on Trout Hatchery Road just past the Quinebaug Valley Hatchery in Central Village. Coming from Windham, take Route 14 east. Just after crossing the Quinebaug River, turn left to stay on Route 14, then drive an additional 3.1 miles. After you cross the Moosup River take the second left turn onto Cady Lane. Look for the “Central Cycle Club” sign at the corner of Route 14 and follow signs for the hatchery. At the next intersection drive straight onto Trout Hatchery Road. At end of paved road, take left before the little brown cement block building then an immediate right before the Kiosk sign. Pass the gate and drive through meadow to the put-in. Drop boat(s) and then return to parking lot before the gate. If coming from I-395, take exit 32 and at the end of the ramp, turn right on Route 14 west. Drive 1.2 miles and turn right on Cady Lane. Follow directions as above. For the put-in search Google Maps for “P3PJ+23 Plainfield”. The take-out and car spot is a marked right turn just east of the Quinebaug River bridge on Butts Bridge Road in Canterbury. Search Google Maps for “M22J+MW Canterbury”. RSVP by 07/08 to Marge by voice only at 860-537-5385 or [email protected]. Saturday, July 10, 9:00a - Bluff Point, Groton: 4-5 miles at a slow pace on moderate terrain. Coastal views and some short beach walks. Rating: C3. Kids and well-managed dogs OK. Hiking boots only. Bring snack and drink.