Thursday December 29, 2011 - French Creek

JODY will lead a ~ 4.5 mile hike in French Creek State Park. We will begin our hike on the first part of the loop of the Mill Creek Trail, stopping at the highest point in the park (1000 ft.) for a photo. Then, descend to Miller’s Point and begin climbing back to the top of the hill. This trail is fairly steep in places. We will then continue by retracing our steps back to our starting point. NOTE: Inclement weather cancels, please contact leader if questionable.

MEET: 10:00 A.M. @ Shed Rd. parking lot (located on Shed Rd. off Rte. 345 near the park’s east entrance).

TELEPHONE: Jody 610-286-8913

Thursday December 22, 2011 - Monocacy Hill

MARGARET will be leading a Christmas hike of 5 easy miles in the Monocacy Hill Recreation Area. Monocacy Hill is located near Douglassville. So, get out and hike the trails in this beautiful woodland forest and forget about shopping and baking for awhile.

MEET: 9:30 A.M. @ Exeter Walmart near the Garden Ctr. off Route 422 east.

TELEPHONE: Margaret 610-779-8393

Thursday December 15, 2011 - Blue Marsh

KATHY & KAY will lead a 6.5 mile hike on the main hiking trail through BLUE MARSH. If you have never hiked the entire trail system at Blue Marsh, this will be your opportunity to begin. We hope to continue throughout this year and next year to complete the entire 29 miles of trails at Blue Marsh. This first trek will begin from mile marker five and continue past mile marker one to Swiftwater parking lot. We will be hiking through woodland with a few small hills, around corn fields and some gravel roads.

Dress appropriately for weather conditions and perhaps consider displaying orange. This hike will require a shuttle to our starting point at the Highland Rd. parking lot.

MEET: 10:00 A.M. @ Swiftwater parking lot off Palisades Drive. (It is one of the new lots on Union Canal Connector).

DIRECTIONS: From Reber’s Bridge Rd. parking lot, turn left onto Palisades Drive and travel about .7 mile then turn left onto Swiftwater Rd. and continue to the parking lot.

TELEPHONE: Kathy 610-603-9461 or Kay 610-796-7602 with questions.

Thursday December 8, 2011 - Neversink to Antietam Lake

CLYDE will lead a 4.5 mile moderate hike on the newly opened Gravity Trail. This trail, in the care of the Berks Conservancy, will begin on the Neversink Mountain on South 18th Street at the water tower and end at the parking area for the Antietam Lake trails. We will shuttle from Antietam Lake to Neversink to start the hike. There will be short dissertations along the way to talk about the Gravity Railroad. Lunch later is optional.

MEET: 9:30A.M. @ Angora Rd. & Hill Rd. parking area of Antietam Lake.

TELEPHONE: Clyde 610-913-0284 Check Clyde’s blog page at http://combinedschedules.blogspot.com

Thursday December 1, 2011 - Birdsboro Watershed

LES will be leading a ~7.5 hike through the Birdsboro Watershed west of the Hay Creek. We begin on the Geigertown side of the watershed on Hay Creek Road, cross the Hay Creek and walk along this scenic creek until we take an uphill trail. We will explore much of the watershed above the creek which is hilly and features a variety of trail conditions. Good shoes and blaze orange may be appropriate. Along the way we will encounter the scenic reservoir lake area. Optional lunch stop after the hike.

1st MEET: 9:30 A.M. @ Thun Trail parking area in Gibralter off Rte. 724 across from Turkey Hill Store.
2nd MEET: 9:45 A.M. @ Parking area across from an old stone house on Hay Creek Road (the washed out former route 82) about 2.8 miles on the Birdsboro side of the intersection of Geigertown Rd. & Hay Creek Rd. in Geigertown (.8 mile on the Birdsboro side of the intersection of Hay Creek Rd. & Mullen Hollow Rd.)

TELEPHONE: Les 610-323-1703 if you have questions.

Thursday November 24, 2011 - Shillington & Wyomissing Park

KAY will lead a HAPPY THANKSGIVING DAY hike ~ 5 miles. So, put your turkey in the roasting pan and let it cook while you take a leisurely hike today to work up an appetite. The hike will be to Wyomissing Park and return to our starting point. Be prepared to walk alleys, sidewalks, roads, fields and arrive home in time to eat your turkey dinner.

MEET: 9:30 A.M. @ Rite-Aid in the Shillington Shop. Ctr. Bus. Rte. 222.
TELEPHONE: Kay 610-796-7602 if questions arise.

Thursday November 17, 2011 - Appalachian Trail

MARGARET will lead a moderate 7 mile loop hike encompassing parts of the Appalachian Trail, the Eagle’s Nest Trail and the Service Road to return to our starting point. This is mostly woodland trail hiking in the Blue Mountain Range and wearing orange may be appropriate. Lunch stop after the hike is optional.

MEET: 9:00 A.M. @ Blue Marsh Church Road parking lot off Route 183.
TELEPHONE: Margaret 610-779-8393