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Contact: Peter McKnight
203-257-6876, email Peter here, 58 Robin Ln., Fairfield, CT 06824
MEETINGS: Our next meeting of the Eastern Fairfield County Group, will be on Wednesday April 7th at 730 pm.
We'll be meeting at Bloodroot, a popular vegetarian restaurant in Bridgeport. In addition, Bloodroot will be
displaying a photo show of Remington Woods for the month of April - the show will be hung on April 4th.
LOCATION/DIRECTIONS: Bloodroot: 85 Ferris Street, Bridgeport, CT 06605-3138, (203) 576-9168.
From Fairfield - I-95 to Exit 24. After exit, go straight through intersection and turn right onto Black Rock
Turnpike/Brewster Street. Turn left on Fairfield Avenue (4th stop light). Turn right on Ellsworth Street (next stop light).
Turn left on Thurston Street (2nd street). Turn right on Harbor Avenue. Turn left on Ferris Street (3rd street).
From Stratford and Route 8- I-95 to Exit 25. Turn left on Fairfield Avenue. Turn left on Ellsworth Street. Turn left
on Thurston Street. Turn right on Harbor Avenue. Turn left on Ferris Street.
ACTIVITIES: A Facebook Page has been created for the Group to take advantage of online social networking.
In addition, a slide show on Remington Woods and its history was presented for the Bridgeport Community
Historical Society in November. The Friends of Remington Woods, a project of the Eastern Fairfield County
Group, continues to meet regularly, and can be contacted at 203-375-1284, or email the Chair above. You can
check out their website at www.FriendsofRemingtonWoods.org or www.home.earthlink.net/~remington_woods.
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Sierra Club hikes for 2010! (keep your eye on the website; additional hikes to be added)
The hikes listed below all start at 10 AM unless otherwise stated. Please bring:
Good Hiking boots
Water
Snacks (we'll always have a food break)
And the love of being outdoors!
Options: binoculars, camera, trek poles, sunscreen, bug spray (Herbal Armor has been the best non-deet spray I’ve used) Please email or call me with your best contact phone number just in case something happens to yours truly the day before or the weather turns horrible! We usually make a decision on the weather the morning of the hike because forecasts can be dubious at times. Our phone and email are:
860-236-4405 or connecticut.chapter@sierraclub.org
The day of the hike; my cell phone: 860-508-9952
We would sure love it if you were a member of the CT Sierra Club but you don’t have to be a member to come on a hike. All hikes are free of charge unless there are parking fees for State Parks or kayak rentals. Please consider the length and duration of the hike when considering bringing children along. We’ve had children on our hikes as young as 8 and then did fine, but you’ll know best. These are educational hikes but 2-plus hours may be a little much for kids any younger.
March 20th Equinox Hike Audubon Center Greenwich (1.5-2 hours)
Join a Sierra Club guide for a special hike throughout the Audubon Greenwich sanctuary - a 295 acre site with miles of trails that wind through forest, field, and riparian areas. This hike will be an ideal way to search for the early signs of spring and learn more about this biologically rich site. No charge but RSVP required. Please sign up with the Sierra Club by calling John Calandrelli at 860-236-4405 or emailing the office at: connecticut.chapter@sierraclub.org
Directions: Take the Merritt Parkway south to Exit 28. Turn right and go north on Round Hill Rd. Take a left onto John St. Take a right on Riversville Rd, the center will be at 613 Riversville Rd.
March 27th; Berlin, Ragged Mountain Preserve Loop (6 miles, 3 ½ hours).
This loop features several spectacular views, including the splendid vista from the summit of Ragged Mountain. We’ll also learn how to identify trees in their leafless state. An acoustical surprise: from far above Hart Ponds, hear the surprisingly loud beating of wings as waterfowl rise from the surface of the water. Our snack break will be on a ledge overlooking the Wassel Reservoir. The pace will be moderate, with some ups and downs involved. Sharp drop-offs near the trail make this hike unsuitable for children under 18. We can relax after the hike at Bella Pizzeria, in the Ferndale Plaza, off 71-A (north of West Lane). David Yih will be leading this hike. Please email him with any questions here or call to confirm the day of the hike at 860 995-8669
Directions: From route 15 or I-91 take route 9 north. At exit 24 go straight. Turn left onto 71-A. Turn right onto West Lane, and go three blocks to the trail head on right.
April 17th Castle Craig Meriden, West Peak and Castle Crag (6.4 miles, 4 hours).
This is probably our most demanding hike of the year. Vertical elevation covered, 1200 feet and it’s almost six and a half miles. But the views will be worth it from the top on what hopefully will be a clear Spring day. The great views are topped by the climb of metal stairs to the top of Castle Crag. You’ll learn about the underwater history of these rocks now over 1000 feet up!
Directions: Take exit 4 off I-691 and follow West Main Street east toward downtown Meriden. After about ¾ mile turn left into Hubbard Park. Keeping the pond to your right, bear right at the first intersection to continue around the pond to a stop sign. Turn left toward the highway overpass and then park to your left in front of the concrete roadblocks.
April 24th; East Hampton, Shenipsit Trail (4 miles, 2 hours).
Join us for a pleasant woodland walk on the Shenipsit Trail. Above Great Hill Pond we will pause to admire the panoramic view of the Connecticut River winding its way west from Middletown and south toward Haddam. Along the way we’ll learn to identify some of the native flora. David Yih will be leading this hike. Please contact him with any questions at: yyih@wesleyan.edu or call to confirm the day of the hike at 860 995-8669
Directions: From Route 66 in East Hampton go north onto North Main St. After about a mile, turn left onto Clark Hill Rd. After 1.6 miles turn right into the State Forest on an unmarked dirt road (a few yards down, you’ll see some small wooden signs). Go half a mile to a makeshift parking area bordered on the right by large rocks. You’ll see trees with the blue trail blazes on both sides of the road.
May 8th Dinosaur State Park
A great day for the family! We’ll start with a short hike (about 40 minutes) and learn about the geology of Connecticut. Then there will be plenty of time to enjoy the museum with 600 early Jurassic dinosaur footprints preserved in gray sandstone, a bookshop, a discovery room, and a live animal demonstration! (Fortunately, no real dinosaurs in this demonstration) Admission Costs for the museum: $10 adults (13 & up); $4 youth (6-12); under 6 free.
Dinosaur State Park is located one mile east of Exit 23 (West Street) on Interstate Highway 91, a few miles south of Hartford.
May 22nd Bear Mountain, Salisbury (about 8 miles, A)
Nestled in the northwest corner of Connecticut, Sages Ravine features the state’s largest area of ancient forest, 100 acres of old growth, and its tallest mountain. At 2,322 feet above sea level, Bear Mountain is the tallest mountain entirely inside the state of Connecticut. This rugged 600 foot deep ravine and ancient forest starts in Massachusetts and descends through Connecticut. Despite this mountain’s intense human history, it has gained a kind of wildness Two Waterfalls here crated barriers to logging operations that otherwise would have removed the area of its stately hemlocks. Rust-hued hemlocks are 250 to 400 years old. You’ll learn what saved these eastern giants and the ancient white pine and yellow and black birch which also grow here.
Directions: From Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90), take Exit 2 –Lee. Follow Route 102 to Stockbridge and turn left onto Route 7. On the south side of Great Barrington, turn right onto Routes 23 and 41 to South Egremont. Just west of town, turn left, and stay on Route 41 until it crosses the Connecticut state line. Drive 1.6 miles to the hikers parking area on the right. This is Mt. Riga State Park’s trailhead, which leads to the Appalachian Trail.
June 5th Historic Guilford Homes
This is a rare urban hike of sorts. Coming up on our nation’s birthday, we’ll meet at the Henry Whitfield State Museum at 248 Old Whitfield Street, Guilford. We’ll take a short tour of the house, Connecticut’s oldest house (1639), and have time for the museum shop. (Adults $4, Seniors $3, Children 6 – 17 $2.50) We’ll see about leaving our cars there or parking around the green. Next we’ll walk down to the Hyland House (84 Boston Street). This house was built in 1660 and features “walk-in fireplaces!” (Adults $2, Seniors/kids $1.50) And we’ll end by walking to the Thomas Griswold House down Boston St. This unusual saltbox was built in 1774 and features a blacksmith shop in back. (Adults $2, seniors/students $1). Come on this fascinating look into what life was like in Colonial Connecticut and learn what connection this area had with Benjamin Franklin!
September 18th Gold Pines Cornwall
Keeping with the theme of old growth in Connecticut, we’ll visit the Gold Pines in Cornwall, which boasts the tallest tree in the state – a 144.6 foot-tall, 32-inch-diameter white pine. Ironically, in this old growth forest, you’ll learn about managed forest projects. This hike will also highlight one of the largest tulip trees around; 127.6 feet tall and 35 inches in diameter. It grows near the northern edge of the species’ range.
Directions: Take Route 8 to Torrington. At Exit 44, drive 14 miles west on Route 4. Where Route 4 meets Routes 43 and 128 in Cornwall, go straight on Route 128 for 4 miles. Two miles past the junction with Route 235, turn left into a small parking area with a kiosk with information about Gold Pines.
October 2nd Green Fall Pond Voluntown, Green Fall Pond (5.7 miles, 3 hours).
This secluded part of Connecticut may remind us of hibernating for the approaching winter. It’s part of the Last Green Valley and after this hike, I’m sure you’ll want to see it stay that way. You’ll learn about plans to acquire land between patches of the Pachaug State Forest before development can get a foothold. This hike features a beautiful view of Fall leaves and an island suitable for a calendar!
Directions: Take I-395 to exit 85. Be sure to go straight off the exit and keep looking for Route 138 signs. It looks like you’re continuing on the highway if you go straight but you’ll be going to Route 138 east. Take Route 138 to the intersection of Routes 138, 49, and 165 in Voluntown. They all meet at an intersection. Take Route 49 south for 4 miles, and then turn left onto Sand Hill Rd. In about a mile turn right onto Wheeler Rd. and go 0.5 mile, where you will see the blue blazes of the Narraganset Trail. Park near the blazes, pulling off the road as far as possible.
November 6th Barkhamsted, Peoples State Forest (7 miles, 4 hours) This hike we have return to again because of the views from the top and the elevation changes. This can be a long hike if we like; 7 miles with 1,000 feet of elevation rise in about 4 hours with a stop for lunch. Come and learn about the local history of the Barkhamsted Lighthouse and its connection with the slave trade.
Directions: From the junction of CT 318 and US 44 east of Winsted, proceed east of CT 318 across the Farmington River and take the first left onto East River Rd. In 0.8 mile, by the Peoples Forest sign, fork right onto Greenwoods Rd., the paved state forest road. You have missed your turn if you come to a picnic area on your left. Then, in 0.2 mile, turn left up a short gravel road to a parking lot by a well-constructed trailside museum.
