Appalachian Mountain Club Planning Trail Day

The Connecticut chapter of the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) will host its fourth annual Appalachian Trail Day on Saturday, October 23. The public is invited to attend events that should appeal to most ages and ability levels.

The Appalachian Trail runs for 2,175 miles, from Georgia to Maine, including more than 50 miles in northwestern Connecticut, a section which is maintained by the Connecticut chapter of AMC and enjoyed by many of its members.

On October 23 in the morning and early afternoon there will be ten hikes which in total will cover the whole of the Connecticut section of the trail. Each hike will be by an AMC Hike leader, and hikes will vary from four to 12 miles. The programs are all scheduled to conclude in time for a Grand BBQ at Macedonia State Park in Kent.

There will be an 11-mile moderate hike in Salisbury, starting at 8:30; hiking from Routes 112 and 7 to Route 4 in Cornwall Bridge, beginning at 8:45; an 11-mile brisk hike departing from Route 341 in Kent, 9 am; hikes of varying lengths at Sleeping Giant State Park in Hamden, starting at 9:15 am; a seven-mile hike from Route 41 to Undermountain Trail in Salisbury, 10 am; an approximately 6.7-mile loop along Macedonia Ridge Trail in Kent, also beginning at 10; an eight-mile moderately paced hike skirting the Schaghticoke Reservation in Kent, also at 10; a leisurely four-mile hike at Bull’s Bridge, just north of Gaylordsville, at noon; and a short but steep two-mile hike at Macedonia State Park, at 1:30.

Also scheduled is a Macedonia Brook Bridge Work Party in Kent, to replace the current bridge, beginning at 9 am; an Intro To Rock Climbing session at St John’s Ledges, also in Kent; as well as a 4.7-mile ridge walk to St John’s Ledges for an option to try rock climbing, departing from Schaghticoke Road at 9:30; a 43-mile bike ride along the Harlem Valley Rail Trail departing at 10 am; flat water paddling in East and West Twin Lakes in Salisbury (contact leader for launch time and location).

Full details of all of the events with start times, meeting places, difficulty ratings, etc, can be found at www.ct-amc.org together with direction to the Grand BBQ

The Grand BBQ at Macedonia State Park near Kent, will start at 3 pm and continue until sunset. Cost is $6 including soft drinks. While rain will cancel most hikes (check the website for details), the picnic will be rain or shine at Macedonia’s pavilion.

Members and nonmembers are welcome to join in any of the events including the Grand BBQ.

Founded in 1876, the Appalachian Mountain Club is America’s oldest conservation and recreation organization. With more than 100,000 members, advocates, and supporters in the Northeast and beyond, the nonprofit AMC promotes the protection, enjoyment, and stewardship of the mountains, forests, waters, and trails of the Appalachian region.

The AMC supports natural resource conservation while encouraging responsible recreation, based on the philosophy that successful, long-term conservation depends upon first-hand enjoyment of the natural environment.