Forest Flower Watch Program Help track the development of these flowering plants (found trailside in eastern U.S. natural areas)

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1 Volue 33, Nuber 2 Suer 2012 A View Fro The Chair As the winter of 2012 draws to a conclusion and spring and suer are upon us, we as a club have an opportunity to introduce people to the wonder of the outdoors. Certainly, winter provides those chances as well, but this winter there has been a distinct lack of snow here in Connecticut. That said, we have been able to continue, alost uninterrupted, to enjoy activities typically reserved for the spring, suer, and fall seasons. Now that we have a jup start on spring, let s share our club and our outdoor experiences with soe new folks, particularly soe young folks who ight be looking for new activities as warer weather akes its way to Connecticut. I hope we can all, as club ebers, strive to introduce young people to the outdoor activities that we all enjoy. It s so easy to get caught up in the coplexity of our day-to-day lives that we can lose sight of soe of the iportant interactions that we have at our fingertips. If each tie we hike, bike, paddle, or even talk about the outdoors and whatever activity we fancy, we ake an effort to introduce soeone new to the enjoyent we have found, we ight accoplish several things. First, the potential exists to bring new ebers to our chapter who will enjoy the outdoors and all that it has to offer. In that group of folks we introduce to what we do, there ay be a new eber, a new volunteer, a new trip leader, or a new activity participant. If individuals are never introduced to all that our club has to offer then they will never experience the enjoyent we have; what a pity. Second, even if individuals we introduce to our club never volunteer or lead a trip, they can still gain an appreciation for the outdoor world. That can only lead to good things for the, for us, and for the outdoors. That person who we invite to join us on a hike ay bring along a friend, a relative, a child, a co-worker, who knows. Those folks will share what we all share. Those folks will love the outdoors. Those folks will want to hike instead of watch television. Those folks will want to bike instead of playing a video gae. Those folks will want to paddle instead of taking a drive. Everyone will gain. And all we have to do is share our enthusias for what we love. Please Stay Safe ~ Wayne J. Tursi Sr. Forest Flower Watch Progra Help track the developent of these flowering plants (found trailside in eastern U.S. natural areas) ~ subitted by Faith Salter, Director of Volunteer Engageent, AMC Have you ever noticed flowers on the trail when you are on a hike or bike ride? If so, then you are qualified to help our scientists with a very iportant task finding flowers, then reporting when and where you saw the. AMC Outdoors is looking for reports fro AMC s entire region fro D.C. to Maine. Choose your favorite naturally wooded area, download one of our free flower checklists, and go in search of our targeted flowering plants. If you want ore than the siple check list, download the coplete citizen science datasheet and flower field guide at: cf. For ore inforation write to: AMCtnwatch@outdoors.org Bunchberry, Cornus canadensis, of the Dogwood faily. Hobblebush, Viburnu lantanoides, of the Honetsuckle faily. By helping with this project you will becoe failiar with these plants and provide useful inforation. You can also engage others in this hands-on trailside activity, which is great to do with kids. By participating you will also: Help AMC s scientists onitor the pace of cliate change based on the tiing of the flowering plants. Spread the ission of AMC to ensure clean air in the outdoors. Build botanical prowess and confidence and ipress your friends!! Blue Bead Lily, Clintonia borealis, has bright blue berries. Note that tutorials about the in-depth citizen science activities are available at: But the ultiate option is to sign up (as an individual or group) to Adopt-A-Peak at: conservation/ountainwatch/adopt-a-peak.cf providing repeat data throughout the spring and suer. Stay tuned for ore on the latest AMC research results fro Flower Watch by signing up for our Conservation Network online at Outdoors.org.or by visiting the AMC on Facebook. Visit: for ore inforation.

2 UNCLE AMC WANTS YOU! UNCLE AMC WANTS YOU! The Newsletter of the Connecticut Chapter - Appalachian Mountain Club Volue 33, Nuber 2, Spring 2012 Editors & Publishers: Darcy Witha & Maggie Grayson Please send future newsletter subissions and advertising to: Editor: The AMC In CT, 71 Noble Street, Staford, CT or ctaceditor@ct-ac.org Read online: Please send all address and e-ail corrections to: AMC, 5 Joy Street, Boston, MA or inforation@outdoors.org Introducing AMC s New President, John D. Judge If you haven t had a chance to eet AMC s new president, read ore on page 6. AMC Outdoors Magazine Looking For Ideas What s in your pack? What s a place you love? We want to know! If you d like to contribute to AMC Outdoors, eail a description of a unique ite you carry in your pack and why, or of a place you love to visit and why, to: acpublications@outdoors.org. Pictured is an AMC group that participated in the AMC Adventure Travel trip to the Canadian Rockies. They are pictured in front of the Valley of the Ten Peaks near Lake Eiffel. One of the ten peaks in the background was naed after Charles Fay, past president of AMC, who helped found the Canadian Alpine Club in For ore inforation on AMC s Adventure Travel Progra go to: Subitted by Cindy Martell, Event & Volunteer Coordinator, AMC. HIKE LEADERS - Like to be a Hike Leader? Contact David Roberts at: excursions@ct-ac.org. Get involved! - Conservation Coittee: Get trained! - Get Out, Get Going - For ore inforation - About outings, eetings, education, training, events and this year s entertainent, review listings in AMC Outdoors agazine and on the web at: Receive Your Newsletter Electronically - Opt in to receive future CT-AMC Chapter newsletters electronically. To sign up online, visit www. ct-ac.org or for detailed instructions to update your newsletter delivery preference. CT-AMC Is Looking For You! Need Progra Coittee Mebers! The Progra Coittee ebers plan events, research and secure featured speakers/workshops, anage reservations and registration, aintain chapter event equipent, handle event set-up and clean-up, and coordinate with other CT-AMC coittees. Currently we really need help with sponsorship recruitent, researching/ securing speakers for the workshops for the Annual Gathering and soe data anageent. If you have a way with words, like playing and researching on the Internet, and enjoy finding interesting people, please contact Stacey Hoffan at: progras@ct-ac.org and/or call Trails Coittee-Secretary Not interested in shovels and saws, but fascinated by Trails business? Record the transactions of the Trails Coittee and other Trails business. Strong applicant ust be able to read and write English! Attendance at onthly eetings required. Contact Trails Chair Dave Boone at or trails@ct-ac.org for further details. Mebership Chairperson Enthusiastically seek new ebers! Coordinate volunteers and distributors at all CT-AMC events throughout the year: Spring Dinner, Trails Day, New Meber Day Dinner, FCG presentations and at the Annual Gathering. Write to Wayne Tursi at chair@ct-ac.org for ore inforation. Leadership Training Session Saturday, June 23th, Sleeping Giant State Park in Haden, CT This session covers the sae aterials as the Leadership Training School copressed into one intense day. To register, download the online for: SessionRegistration.pdf, fill it out and ail in with your check. Address is on the for. Cost is $10 for ebers and $15 for non-ebers. Confirations will be sent by e-ail on a first coe, first served basis upon receipt of a copleted registration for and payent. For additional inforation, visit: and/or contact John Crist: education@ct-ac.org. NOTE!!! Class is held outdoors. Coe prepared for the weather. All CT-AMC Mebers! We want to hear about it. Share your experiences! Send us your stories and pictures. Get published: ctaceditor@ct-ac.org. 2 -

3 Suertie and The Clibing Is Easy? ~ subitted by Pete Gajdosik, Co-Chair Mountaineering Coittee As you read this the outdoor rock clibing season will be well underway. The early onset of spring this year allowed people to get out early and start clibing real rock and not plastic substitutes. Although I like clibing in the gy, there is no substitute for clibing outside. And that perfect day where the teps are ild, the sun is shining, and the rock is dry is the one we wait for all year. Every Thursday night during the outdoor season the Mountaineering Coittee holds top rope sessions at local crags for after-work clibing. These sessions are great because there are usually quite a few clibs set up fro easy to hard. If you feel abitious you can get in a bunch of clibs or if not you can just take it easy and socialize. I look forward to Thursdays and at work find yself watching the clock (and radar if there is a chance of stors) uch ore than usual. We also will be running weekend trips to the Gunks and Adirondacks in New York and to the White Mountains in New Hapshire. More details on all these events can be found within the Chapter website: Ask Leo... I have been told to watch for a Fir Wave when I visit the White Mountains of New Hapshire. Is this a sort of Appalachian Mountain Club welcoe salutation? ~ Mike Well no. It is in fact a phenoenon that only occurs in just two parts of the world - in the Northern Appalachian Mountain chain and in the ountains of Japan. Iagine being in a packed football stadiu with all the fans standing and packed tight together. If a section of fans was to fall over into another section of fans they too would lean and fall in to the next section and so on and so on. Fir waves are the ountain version of this! Trees, usually tightly packed stands of balsa fir, reaching for sunlight grow but are eventually shaded out and die. This wave of death igrates across the ountainside in the direction of the prevailing winds, and a regenerating stand of young trees takes place on the now opened area or in y exaple new Fans get the good seats on the 50-yard line! Don t look for this to happen in front of your eyes as it will take 80 years (just a few years ore than it takes to get season tickets for the NY Giants ) for those seedlings to ature and becoe tall enough to take the brunt of the harsh conditions and begin to die, continuing the cycle! Welcoe to the Club! Stay Safe ~ Leo If you would like to subit a question to Leo, e-ail your inquiry to: ctaceditor@ct-ac.org CARBON NATION: Call & Response ~ subitted by Andrew May, Conservation Coittee Co-Chair Thanks to the work of Faith Salter, Chapter Relations Coordinator, the Connecticut Chapter of AMC has enjoyed the privilege of showing the ovie, Carbon Nation at several locations throughout the state this winter. The ovie bills itself as: A cliate change solutions ovie that does not even care if you believe in cliate change. It draatically, and effectively in our opinion, deonstrates how solutions to cliate change can also address social, econoic, and national security issues. As Green Hawk Col Dan Nolan says in the ovie, This is no longer the purview of Birkenstock-wearing tree huggers, not that there is anything wrong with that. CALL: According to the fil, forty percent of greenhouse gas eissions coe fro buildings. Increasing efficient heating, lighting, and cooling of buildings saves consuers oney, puts uneployed trades people back to work, and helps save the planet. As entioned in the fil, Dow Cheical Corporation spent $1 billion on energy efficiency easures and realized $9 billion in savings. RESPONSE: Thanks to the efforts of stalwart Conservation Coittee volunteer Russ Charest, CT-AMC now displays the iportance of energy savings through a custo-ade Energy Savings Display Board. Half a dozen ties a year, Conservation Coittee ebers table out in the counity showing the value and virtue of energy savings. (To see the board, Google, CT Energy Savings and you will be directed to a YouTube video Russ put together.) Also, this past year Conservation Coittee volunteer, Bob Andrews volunteered to install a hoe energy tracking syste called TED: The Energy Detective. He was able to track power usage and attept to adjust personal habits accordingly; again, saving oney and the environent. Lastly, we have purchased three Kill-O-Watt eters which can tell the educated consuer which appliances in the house are pulling the ost electricity. Forer Chapter Chair and intrepid cliber Ti Linehan borrowed one of these devices and was able to systeatically track the negative environental and econoic effects of phanto power. CALL: Twenty percent of carbon eissions coe fro deforestation, especially the Aazon Rain Forest. According to the fil, every year we destroy the equivalent of eight Veronts. RESPONSE: Two years ago, CT-AMC helped raise $10,000 in support of AMC s Maine Woods Initiative. Working with the local chapter of the Nature Conservancy and other partners, this progra hopes to preserve hundreds of thousands of acres in Northern Maine which can help the local econoy by prooting eco-touris and sustainable forestry, while also sequestering carbon. Last year, CT-AMC also heard fro Dr. Herster Barres of Reforest the Tropics, which is a Connecticut-based nonprofit that works with ranchers to preserve rainforests in Costa Rica. CALL: Fourteen percent of carbon dioxide eissions coe fro transportation. RESPONSE: Clubwide, CT-AMC is encouraging use of ride boards to arrange carpools to the places throughout the Northeast that we love to recreate in. In Connecticut, we sponsored a talk fro Brian Ellis of NuRide, which is a Connecticut-based copany that offers rewards for those individuals who take alternative odes of transportationcarpool, train, bus, bike etc. The ost gratifying part of this experience was the fact that we were able to show the fil at three colleges -- Three Rivers Counity College, Wesleyan University (In partnership with their CFPA capus organization) and Eastern Connecticut State University (In partnership with their Office of Counity Engageent.). Young people know that they are going to live with the consequences of cliate change, so they are very engaged and enthusiastic about working on possible solutions. Their spirit is contagious!!! - 3

4 Trish Ellis Herr & Her Girls Conquer the Mountains ~ subitted by Janet Ainsworth, Faily Activities Co-Chair As Faily Activities Coittee co-chair, I have done a lot of talking and thinking about what age kids should be when they hike in the ountains. I ust adit, I ve been on the conservative side of this question. Maybe it s because y own children would have tried to fly off those peaks if I had taken the up in the ountains at a young age. Recently, I have had occasion to change y views on what hikes are suitable for very young kids. I ve learned that it really does depend on the child. Patricia Ellis Herr of Massachusetts and New Hapshire has been hiking the 4,000 footers of the White Mountains with her daughters since the oldest was five. Both girls have bagged all 48 New Hapshire 4,000 footers and the oldest, now 9, was a few peaks fro her winter 48s in early March when this article was written. Trish s account of the girls experience peakbagging in New Hapshire is the subject of a book due to be released by Broadway Books (published by The Crown Publishing Group) in early April. An excerpt of Up, A Mother and Daughter s Peakbagging Adventure, is available on their website, trishalexsage. co. After reading the excerpt, I a looking forward to the whole book. The excerpt begins with the story of an ill-fated attept to suit Mt. Tecuseh in Waterville Valley. (In the book, it is lesson two.) Mo and the girls were not prepared for an April hike with deep snow and no snowshoes. The several onths after this attept were devoted to research and shopping so that they would be properly equipped as they dove into an activity that would becoe a regular part of their lives. Alex took to it right away, Trish said in a recent telephone interview. With her younger daughter, Sage, the approach was different. Trish only took her to places she wanted to go, starting with short walks to landarks like waterfalls. There were two rules with both girls: she would not carry anyone and if a child wanted to turn back on a hike, she had to ask without whining. When they re not hiking, the girls do noral kid things. They generally hike one day per week, often on Saturday, unless they re trying to achieve a particular goal. In id-march, for instance, Alex was trying to finish her winter 48s, so Trish was carefully ulling over a idweek forecast for the Presidentials. (Alex reached the suits of Mts. Jefferson, Washington and Monroe during the week of March 5.) Most of their regular friends are not hikers, although there are several failies they hike with who are doing siilar types of hikes. The girls stay in touch with these hiking friends on Facebook. Soe tips Trish shared for attracting kids to hikes is to ake the interesting. For instance, Sage loves hikes with rock scrabling and water crossings. For a safe hike, ake sure everybody has a whistle. When conditions are unfavorable, turn around. The Herr faily s experience has taught e that all our activities are potentially suitable for failies. Our coittee tries to offer one or two generally easier hikes per onth, which we specifically identify as suitable for failies. But, the chapter offers a whole list of other hikes or activities every week. One or ore hikes or activities on those lists ay be suitable for your child, whether or not it is identified as a faily hike or activity. Parents are urged to evaluate all the hikes and other activities that the chapter offers. In a note to other hike leaders in the chapter, I recently received an inquiry fro a Girl Scout leader who was interested in getting her girls out on the Appalachian Trail. The Girl Scouts are celebrating their 100th anniversary by hiking the AT. See I ay try to accoodate the by scheduling a faily hike soewhere along the AT in Connecticut later in the spring, but other leaders who live closer to the trail ay also wish to consider scheduling the occasional faily hike on the AT. After all, if we don t interest ore young people in the type of activities that we as a club proote, our ranks will dwindle in the years ahead. CT s Own Ledge Clayton - AMC s 2011 Volunteer Leadership Award Recipient ~ courtesy of outdoors.org Ledge Clayton has been an active AMC eber for alost 50 years. During that tie, he served as Chapter Chair of the Connecticut Chapter as well as serving as Chapter Bicycling Chair and Flat Water Chair. He has been a Major Excursions and Interchapter Excursions leader as well as being involved with August Cap for any years. At August Cap, he has served several ters as a Cap Director and Chair of the August Cap Coittee, going above and beyond his call of duty. Ledge s any years of coitent to AMC have ade hi failiar to and beloved by any. His willingness to step up to the plate and take on challenging roles akes hi a worthy recipient of AMC s Volunteer Leadership Award. 4 -

5 Fairfield County Group to Feature Places Less Travelled ~ subitted by David Roberts, Fairfield County Group Co-Chair On Tuesday May 8th, Fairfield County Group s Speaker Dinner with feature John Lawrence, who will ake a presentation about his travels and work in soe of the world s ost reote places, including Yeen, Myanar and Azerbaijan. During an extreely varied career, John has been a British Royal Marines coando, an instructor at Outward Bound schools, a eber of expeditions to Antarctica and Alaska, a lecturer at Colubia University, and ost recently an advisor to the United Nations. John has even won yodeling copetitions and plays fiddle in a blue grass band. His work for the United Nations has allowed hi to spend long periods in a variety of eerging countries which has given hi a unique insight into life there. The presentation will be the Unitarian Church in Westport. For ore inforation on this and all FCG activities, visit: org/fairfield and/or write to fairfieldcty@ct-ac.org Save the Date FALL GATHERING 2012 October 19th - 21st subitted by Debbie Melita, Vice Chair, AMC NY-NoJ Chapter The NY-NoJ Chapter is hosting the AMC Fall Gathering this October and you re invited! Join us and ake this part of our Chapter s 100th Anniversary year a very special event. The weekend-long celebration includes fun outdoor activities (such as nature walks, hikes, bicycling, canoe/kayak trips, geo-caching, capfires, a gear swap/sale), faily events, AMC history, usic, coittee eetings, environental presentations and other current topics iportant to AMC. All ebers and their guests fro Maine to DC are welcoe to attend. Located at the scenic Greenkill Retreat Center in Huguenot, NY near the Shawangunk Ridge, NJ Highlands and Delaware River. Lodging options include tenting, dors or private roos. Stay for 1-2 nights or day rate available. Bus/train service available fro NYC. Details and registration inforation to be posted on Chapter website very soon or write to Debbie Melita: vicechair@ac-ny.org. HARRY DUREN - GREGORY SIMONS SCHOLARSHIP The Harry Duren Gregory Sions Scholarship fund was established by the CT Chapter of the AMC in eory of Harry Duren and Gregory Sions. The fund pays for one or two year olds fro Connecticut to attend one of the AMC s Teen Wilderness Adventure caps each suer. These are great progras and fro what we hear fro the attendees provide life-changing experiences. To qualify, candidates ust be Connecticut residents fro a financially challenged faily, show an enjoyent for the outdoors, and deonstrate a caring attitude for their peers and the environent. For ore inforation, go to ct-ac.org, click on the Progras link, and then click on the Harry Duren Gregory Sions scholarship link. To contribute to the fund, please send checks ade out to AMC Duren - Sions Fund to: Eric Stones, 72 Sunset Hill Road, Bethel, CT John Lawrence in the ountains. Flatwater/Sea Kayak Progra Gears Up For Another Big Season ~ subitted by Barry Gorfain, Flatwater Chair The Flatwater/ Sea Kayak progra is growing this season. We will again have two Fun With Kayaks! skills days- one Sunday, June 17, and one Saturday, August 4. They will be followed the next weekends (Sunday, June 24, and Saturday, August 11, respectively) by a flatwater paddle to give folks ore practice. As any years as I ve attended these skills days, I always look forward to practicing the basics and learning soething new. There are so any ways of rescues and re-entries and soe work better for soe people than others. It s helpful to try different techniques to see which one works for you. We usually start with basics, such as proper PFD fitting, and continue through cockpit fitting and getting in and out of the kayak at shore. Then we ll all get wet and practice wet exits and various styles of re-entry -- both self and assisted. If you have a paddle float or bilge pup but aren t sure how to use the, here s how to find out. If you don t yet own these ites, find out just how useful they are! There will also be handouts with other useful inforation. After all this fun stuff in the water, we ll go for a paddle on Lake Wintergreen proper, which is worth the trip in itself. The lake is in Haden, just north of New Haven, alongside West Rock ridge. We begin at 10 a.., but plan to coe early as the parking lot fills with hikers and dog walkers. There is no fee. Check the Flatwater web site for directions. Also, New London is hosting the tall ships in July for OPSAIL Plans have not been set yet, but stay tuned for kayak activity to view the tall ships parade. It was a spectacular event in 2000! Noinating Coittee The Chapter Noinating Coittee is raping up to begin work on the slate of candidates for the 2013 CT-AMC Executive Coittee. Having graduated one of the ebers to the 2012 Executive Coittee, we need a new eber (or two). The tie coitent is inial; the work is easy. If you re interested in having a voice in where the Chapter goes over the next year or two, please consider joining us. And, of course, we are soliciting recoendations for the 2013 Chapter Executive Coittee. If you know soeone who you believe would be an asset to the Chapter, either as an activity Coittee Chair or as a eber of the Chapter Executive Coittee, please contact us. All essages can be sent to Bruce Laroche, Chair of the Noinating Coittee: noinating@ct-ac.org. - 5

6 Saturday, October 13th, Will Be AT Day 2012 ~ subitted by David Roberts, Fairfield County Group Co-Chair Since its inception only a few years ago AT Day has grown to becoe the Connecticut Chapter s biggest outdoor event and, in ters of the nuber of participants, its biggest single event of the year. Last year well over 200 people participated in one of the any activities, cae to the Grand BBQ or both. This year s AT Day will follow the pattern of previous years with a series of hikes covering the entire length of the Appalachian Trail in Connecticut and several hikes in Macedonia Brook State Park. Hikes are planned with a variety of lengths and speeds and will include a faily hike, a young ebers hike and a conservation hike. In addition there will be trail work parties, bicycle rides, a chance to learn how to rock clib and a flat-water paddle. In the afternoon our crack BBQ tea will be flipping burgers, grilling hot dogs and keeping the fire going. Full details will be published as they develop at: Event organizer David Roberts says We are always dependent on the weather but if it is at least fair we hope to break records again this year on AT Day Here Coe Da Judge ~ courtesy of outdoors.org John D. Judge, 44, was selected as AMC chief executive by the board of directors on January 5, following a nine-onth nationwide search. He succeeds Andy Falender, who successfully served in this role for 23 years. As an Eagle Scout and volunteer who has worked with youth in the outdoors, Judge has hiked hundreds of iles of trails in New England and out west. He is an experienced outdoor leader and four-season caper, and has also been involved in trail design and construction. We are excited about John s experience, talent, and passion for AMC s ission, particularly in getting young people engaged in the outdoors, says Laurie Gabriel, chair of AMC s board of directors. We can t think of anyone we would rather have leading AMC as we work to broaden and diversify our constituents, help ore kids and failies get outdoors, and expand our role as a conservation leader in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. A respected nonprofit and governent leader, Judge has served in executive and senior developent, finance, and arketing roles. He helped transfor a financially troubled Greater Boston chapter of Habitat for Huanity into a top-perforing urban affiliate. Most recently, Judge served as chief developent officer for the city of Springfield, Mass. Judge founded and led Judge Co. LLC, focused on inner-city real estate developent and construction. Judge serves on the boards of Northeastern University s School of Public Policy and the Springfield Technical Counity College Foundation. He holds a bachelor s degree in econoics fro Stonehill College and a Master s of Public Adinistration fro Harvard University s Kennedy School of Governent. He lives in Boston. Judge s first priority as president is to eet with and listen to as any people fro throughout AMC s counity as possible. I a energized by the challenges AMC has coitted to taking on over the next decade, says Judge. Hikers preparing to hike at Macedonia Brook State Park on AT Day. CT-AMC Leadership Workshop Noveber 17th & 18th, 2012 Ever have trouble finding a hike in your favorite park? Ever want to go for a hike but not have anyone to go with? Ever want to learn ore about leadership styles, group dynaics or trip planning? Would you enjoy an autun weekend in Litchfield with like inded, outdoorsy people learning new skills and practicing the in the woods? If you answered yes to any of these questions join us for the 2012 Ct Chapter AMC Leadership Workshop on 11/17 and 11/18. Its a great opportunity for personal developent or the first step on your way to leading your own AMC adventures!. For additional inforation, visit: and/or contact John Crist: education@ct-ac.org. Excursions Is Gearing Up For National Trails Day ~ by David Roberts, Excursions Chair June 2nd & 3rd. Connecticut s celebration of National Trails Day, held the first Saturday of June each year, is the biggest celebration of trails in the country. This year s event will be held on Saturday, June 2nd with expanded activities on Sunday, June 3. Each year our Connecticut Chapter s Excursions Coittee akes a big effort to offer as any hikes as possible that weekend with choices of 10 to 15 hikes throughout the state. Excursions Chair David Roberts says, This is a great day for people to get out and hike on their local trails as well as further afield and to give back by helping out with trail work parties. Trails Day events in Connecticut are coordinated by the Connecticut Forest and Park Association (CFPA), which publishes Trails Day events in a brochure and on its web site is a special year because CT-AMC Hike Leader Chuck Sack is now Chairan of CFPA s Trails Coittee and also Chair of CFPA s Trails Day Subcoittee. CFPA hopes to ake this its ost successful Trails Day / Weekend ever. Visit the CFPA site: and the CT-AMC Chapter site: for listings of all activities as they develop. 6 -

7 FAMILY HIKING IN CONNECTICUT ~ subitted by Eric Stones, photos courtesy of Linda Stones We have soe great faily hikes planned for 2012 so if you have a child / grandchild bring the on an AMC Faily Adventure hike. We ll take our tie on these 2 3 ½ hr adventures to the top of a sall ountain, to neat caves or a cool waterfall. The kids get to clib on rocks, play hide and seek on the trail, soeties have an afternoon swi or after-hike ice crea, and the grown-ups provide snacks on the trail. Sunday, May 6th. Afternoon Faily Hike, Peoples State Forest, Barkhasted, (C3B). Bring the kids for a fun 4½ i hike up 299 stone stairs to dizzying views, huge rock walls and the Manito Stones. Dogs on leash welcoe. Meet at 2 p at Jesse Gerard trail head on East River Road, 2.5 iles north of Route 318 near bridge over Farington River. Rain cancels. Contact: Eric Stones, or failyactivities@ ct-ac.org. Saturday, June 2nd. Trail s Day Faily Hike, Pine Knob Loop, Cornwall Bridge, (C4B). Steep scrable up to the AT with great views of Housatonic river valley, pretty descent by waterfalls. Dogs on leash welcoe. Meet 11 a in parking area on Route 7, 1 ile north of Route 4 intersection. Rain cancels. Contact: Eric Stones, or failyactivities@ct-ac.org. Sunday, June 3rd. Trails Day Faily Hike, Miller s Pond State Park, Durha, (C3C). Hike features oderate to challenging terrain suitable for failies with school-aged children. We will hike on the Mattabesett Trail to Bear Rock and back, enjoying beautiful views of Millers s Pond, streas, rock ledges and a distant church steeple. Joint with Connecticut Forest and Park Association. Children ust be accopanied by a parent or guardian. Meet at 1 p in the parking lot on Foot Hills Road. Contact: Janet Ainsworth, or failyactivities@ct-ac.org. Saturday, July 7th. Faily Hike and Swi, Burr Pond State Park, Torrington, (C4C). Great hike around pond to swiing area. Wear swi suit under shorts and pack a towel. Dogs on leash welcoe. Meet 11 a in Torrington on Burr Mountain Road at boat launch parking area, 0.2 ile past park entrance. Rain cancels. Contact: Eric Stones, or failyactivities@ct-ac.org. Saturday, August 25th. Faily Hike Prospect Mountain, Banta(C3B) Wonderful loop trail to great views over Shepaug Reservoir fro top of Prospect Mountain. Dogs on leash welcoe. Meet 11 a at trail head on Cathole Road, 1.7 iles north of intersect with Route 202 in Banta, (which is 1.9 ile west fro White Meorial Foundation entrance). Rain cancels. Contact: Eric Stones, or failyactivities@ct-ac.org. Sunday, Septeber 2nd. Afternoon Faily Hike, Sleeping Giant State Park, Haden, (C4B). Scrable up the Giants head and onto the lookout tower for great views. Dogs on leash welcoe. Meet 1:30 p in Haden at the park entrance across the street fro Quinnipiac College, off Route 10. Rain cancels. Contact: Eric Stones, or failyactivities@ct-ac.org. Monday, October 8th. Colubus Day Faily Hike, Mile of Ledges, Burlington, (B3B). Bring the kids for this longish 4 1/2 ile scrable over rocks and boulders, through the Bear s Den and on to the historic Tory Den. Dogs on leash welcoe. Meet at 11 a at trail head on East Plyouth Road approxiately 0.5 ile north of intersect with Preston Road. Rain cancels. Contact: Eric Stones, or failyactivities@ct-ac.org. Our children set the pace on faily walks. Taking our tie and using nature s play equipent. Can you see the rebel? On Gallow s Hill in Redding. SAVE THE DATE! How To Calculate The Trail CT-AMC Annual Gathering 2012 Saturday, Noveber 10th This years event will be held at the Hartford Marriott Rocky Hill, 100 Capital Boulevard, Rocky Hill, CT

8 Appalachian Mountain Club Connecticut Chapter 71 Noble Street Staford, CT Suer 2012 Inside This Issue: Forest Flower Watch Progra Introducing AMC s New President, John D. Judge Suertie and The Clibing Is Easy? Ask Leo... CARBON NATION: Call & Response Trish Ellis Herr and Her Girls Conquer The Mountains CT s own Ledge Clayton - Volunteer Leadership Award Recipient Flatwater/Sea Kayak Progra Gears Up For Another Big Season Faily Hiking in CT Coing Events: May 8th - FCG Speaker Dinner, Westport June 2nd - 3rd June 23rd June 12th - National Trails Day October 13th - AT Day Leadership Training Session - FCG Speaker Dinner, Bethel Noveber 17th - 18th - CT-AMC Leadership Workshop Noveber 10th - CT-AMC Annual Gathering 8 -