**April 2025** Fri: April 4 – Sun: April 6 – Young Members mud season camping trip. We will campout in the Hudson Valley and either day hike or bike, depending on the trail conditions. Potential day hikes in the area include Storm King Mountain, along with Mount Beacon and Ninham Mountain, both with Fire Towers. The Hudson Valley Greenway is paved all the way from Van Courtland Park to New Paltz. Costs for the campsite will be split among the participants and meals will be potluck style. Level: Moderate. Leader Joe Conaci - jconaci@hotmail.com or 860-324-4930. Sat: April 5 - Day hike 2nd section of the Narragansett Trail. Meet at 1st Baptist Church on Pendleton Hill Road at 9am. We will stage a car there and then drive to the Wyassup Lake Boat Launch to start the hike. Level: Moderate. 6.4 miles. Leader: Mandy Brink - trekeragb56@gmail.com or 860-237-7426. Wed: April 9 - Day Hike. Menunkatuck Trail, Guilford. Rt. 80 south to Sullivan Drive, approx. 5.5-6 miles. Level: Easy to Moderate. Sarah O'Hare, seohare7@yahoo.com, 860-502-0880. Fri: April 11-Sat: April 12 - [POSTPONED - WILL BE RECHEDULED] Full Moon Backpack to Riga Shelter on the AT in Salisbury CT, via Lions Head Trail from Bunker Hill Road. About two miles each way. Level: Moderate. Contact leader for details. Jim Robertson, jrobert685@aol.com, 860-918-0964 mobile, 860-633-7279 home. Thurs: April 24-Fri: April 25 - Overnight at Great Meadow Pond shelter in Pachaug State Forest. Meet at parking lot at 3pm. The parking lot is near the shelter so if anyone is working and would like to join us later than 3pm that is an option also. For parking take Route 138 (Shetucket Turnpike) to Bailey Road. Turn left on Bailey Road, Go past Erickson Pond and Dawley Pond,stay left when road forks and parking will be at the tip of Great Meadow Pond. We can set up camp and if group desires we can do a little hiking on the Pachaug trail. Bring you own dinner/breakfast. Feel free to bring campfire snacks to share. If you are interested in this overnight, please include your license plate number when you RSVP as I must include that on the shelter application for our car permits. It's free to use the shelter but they send a pass for all cars parking overnight. Level: Easy. Leader: Mandy Brink; trekeragb56@gmail.com. Sun: April 27 - Day Hike, Peoples State Forest, Barkhamsted. Meet 10:00 AM at the forest Nature Center on Greenwoods Road. At a minimum, we'll hike the 3-mile loop that's part of the 2025 Connecticut DEEP Sky's the Limit Hiking Challenge (https://ctparks.com/skys-the-limit-hiking-challenge), with an option for a longer hike. In the afternoon, the Barkhamsted Earth Day Nature Festival takes place from Noon to 5:30 PM at nearby Matthies Picnic Grove on East River Road. (https://falps.org/events/). Contact leader for more info. Jim Robertson, jrobert685@aol.com, 860-918-0964 mobile, 860-633-7279 home. **May 2025** Sat: May 3 - Day Hike Northwest Park in Windsor. Meet at 10 am at the entrance on 145 Lang Road. Hike 4-5 miles. Level Easy. There are a variety of things to do afterwards including their Heritage Breed Farm and a Nature Center. Co- leaders Carol Langley: 860-385-3891 and Jenn Ernst: 860-919-7365 Mon: May 5 - Cinco de Mayo and 40x2 hike at Gay City State Park. Meet at Gay City State Park at 10am. Loop to be chosen by George Jackson, the birthday guy. 4-5 miles. Level: Easy. I will bring some salsa and chips to go along with a birthday cake to celebrate. Leader: Mandy Brink 860-237-7426 or trekeragb56@gmail.come Mon, May 12 - Tues May 13 - Full Moon Backpack to Riga Shelter on the AT in Salisbury CT, via Lions Head Trail from Bunker Hill Road. About two miles each way. Level: Moderate. Contact leader for details. Jim Robertson, jrobert685@aol.com, 860-918-0964 mobile, 860-633-7279 home. Wed: May 14 - Day Hike, Exeter, Rhode Island. A loop hike on the Tippecansett Trail, Hemlock Ledges Trail, and the Wildcat Spring Trail. Approx. 5.5 - 6 miles. Level: Moderate. As it is the end of hunting season all participants must wear a fluorescent orange vest or hat. Dogs must have orange on, too. We'll meet at Beach Pond/Rt. 165 just over the CT border in RI. Sarah O'Hare, seohare7@yahoo.com, 860-502-0880. Sun: May 18 - Trail Maintenance - Walkthrough of our section to determine conditions and plan for 2025 trail work. Joe Conaci, jconaci@hotmail.com, 860-324-4930 Fri. May 23 - Sun. May 25 - Trail Maintenance - Work trip to maintain our section of the Long Trail and associated shelters. Specific projects will vary, but may include clipping brush, clearing waterbars, cutting up blowdowns, and light carpentry. This post will be updated following our May 18th walkthrough. Volunteers are responsible for their meals, and we recommend bringing a tent. Reach out to Joe Conaci for more information; Joe Conaci, jconaci@hotmail.com, 860-324-4930 **June 2025** Fri: June 6 - Tri-Town Hike in North Stonington. Meet at parking lot of Miller Road at 10am. Level: Moderate. Loop hike and mileage to be determined by group Leader: Mandy Brink: trekeragb56@gmail.com or 860-237-7426 Sat: June 7 - Sun. June 8 - Trail Maintenance - Work trip to maintain our section of the Long Trail and associated shelters. Specific projects will vary, but may include clipping brush, clearing waterbars, cutting up blowdowns, and light carpentry. Reach out to Joe Conaci for more information; Joe Conaci, jconaci@hotmail.com, 860-324-4930 Mon: June 9 - Kayak at Lake Waramaug State Park. Meet in Main Parking Lot at 11am. Location at 30 Lake Waramaug Road, New Preston CT. Beach is directly across from the street from parking area. Leader: Mandy Brink: trekeragb56@gmail.com or 860-237-7426 Fri. June 13 - Sun. June 15 - Trail Maintenance - Work trip to maintain the southern part of our section of the Long Trail. We will be based out of Kid Gore Shelter and will patrol for trail conditions from the summit of Glastenbury Mountain to the South Mountain Snowmobile Trail. Projects will include clipping brush, clearing waterbars, and cutting up blowdowns. Volunteers are responsible for their meals, and we recommend bringing a tent. Reach out to Joe Conaci for more information; Joe Conaci, jconaci@hotmail.com, 860-324-4930 Sat: June 14 - GMC Annual Meeting at Headquarters in Waterbury Center, Vermont. Morning meeting followed by lunch and hikes. For details, go to: https://www.greenmountainclub.org/members/annual-meeting/ Sun: June 15 - Father's Day Wed. June 18 - Day Hike. Mattabesett and Seven Falls Loop Trails, Middletown. Approx. 5 miles. Level: Moderate with a couple of rock scrambles. Leader: Sarah O'Hare, seohare7@yahoo.com, 860-502-0880. Fri: June 20 – Sun: June 22 – Young Members Ascutney camping trip. We will campout at Pillsbury State Park and day hike Mount Ascutney - followed by ice cream at a local dairy farm. Costs for the campsite will be split among the participants and meals will be potluck style. Level: Moderate. Leader Joe Conaci - jconaci@hotmail.com or 860-324-4930. Sat: June 21 Wed: June 25 -Kayak at Lake Waramaug State Park. Meet in Main Parking Lot at 11am. Location at 30 Lake Waramaug Road, New Preston CT. Beach is directly across from the street from parking area. Leader: Mandy Brink: trekeragb56@gmail.com or 860-237-7426 (Rescheduled from June 9) Fri. June 27 - Sun. June 29 - Trail Maintenance - Work trip to maintain the northern part of our section of the Long Trail. The main tasks will include cutting up blowdowns and clearing waterbars. If time allows, we will work on new drainage projects. Volunteers are responsible for their meals, and we recommend bringing a tent. Reach out to Joe Conaci for more information; Joe Conaci, jconaci@hotmail.com, 860-324-4930 Sat: June 28 Sun June 29 - Mon. June 30. Back by popular demand! Backpack to Bourne Pond, Sunderland, VT. A 2.5 - 3 mile hike along the Branch Pond Trail to Bourne Pond. As there is no shelter participants must supply their own tents. Level: Moderate. Sarah O'Hare, seohare7@yahoo.com, 860-502-0880.