Appalachian Mountain Club Worcester Chapter

Please Click Here to RSVP: https://activities.outdoors.org/a5UVX000001EgJl

We'll be camping on a grassy lawn near the front of the park, providing easier access to group campsite, nearby roads and portable toilets for a more comfortable camping experience.

The park ranger may provide access to water inside the office. We highly recommend bringing 1 gallon collapsible water containers or jugs so you can refill and transport water back to your campsite.

This cycle touring adventure takes place in Connecticut combines history, scenic rail trails, coastal views, and a unique rustic camping experience. We will ride primarily on paved rail trails, with some sections on city streets as we approach New Haven. Participants should be comfortable riding in urban traffic and sharing the road with vehicles. During our stay, there will also be an opportunity to easily hike to the park’s historic 1939 stone observation tower, which offers 360-degree views of New Haven County and Long Island Sound.

### Self Sufficiency Requirements

IMPORTANT: Participants must be fully self sufficient and prepared for rustic camping. You are responsible for bringing your own tent, sleeping bag, headlamp, camp stove, enough food for three days and two nights and all necessary camping equipment. *We highly recommend bringing 1 gallon packable water bags so you can refill and transport water back to your campsite. Please bring water filtration system if you have one so you can collect water from Cascade Brook near the campground.
Carpooling
The parking lot has limited space and can accommodate only 10 cars, so we strongly encourage carpooling. If you are willing to offer a ride or need a ride, please let the bike leaders know so we can help coordinate. Thank you in advance for helping us make parking easier for everyone!

Highlights
On Day 1 (35 miles), we will begin in Simsbury, CT, riding the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail before camping for two nights at Sleeping Giant State Park in Hamden, CT.
On Day 2 (28 miles), we will continue on Farmington Heritage Canal Rail Trail until we transition to riding on city streets to New Haven Harbor and reach the Atlantic Ocean. We’ll enjoy a snack by the pier with views of the waterfront before riding back and stopping at the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History to explore its world-class exhibits.
On Day 3 (35 miles), we will pack up camp and bike back to our cars. Before leaving the park, we will take a short hike up to The Tower to enjoy 360-degree views of New Haven and the surrounding landscape.
Requirements:
Helmet, tent, sleeping bag, clothes, camp stove, 1 gallon water bag, water, food for 3 days and 2 nights, bike lock, water and tire repair. You must be reasonably fit to ride more than 4 hours a day.
“A bicycle is a complex mechanical device that can, and sometimes does, unexpectedly break down and fail without any notice. To minimize failure, we expect that, to the best of your knowledge, that you will show up with a good working bicycle with properly inflated tires and no mechanical issues. To do otherwise is a disservice to the other riders. You will never be abandoned on a ride, but you could be remembered!”
Please Click Here to RSVP: https://activities.outdoors.org/a5UVX000001EgJl

Activity Type: Hiking, Local Walks, & Trail Running | Hiking
Difficulty: 4 - Moderate
Trip Leader(s): Linea Rowe, Patricia Lambert, Sue Smith
Registration Type: Application
Please Click Here to RSVP: https://activities.outdoors.org/a5UVX000001GWRZ
Audience: Everyone

Description: Join us for a hike on the Welch and Dickey mountains in New Hampshire. This beautiful 4.2-mile “52 with a View" hike offers panoramic views of Waterville Valley and the White Mountains and has about 1,800 feet of elevation gain. There are some steep rock scrambles and open rock ledges along this trail to keep things interesting. We will hike at a moderate pace of around 1.5 mph and take breaks as needed. Hikers are expected to have the required hiking gear, including sturdy footwear.
Participants must have recently hiked a comparable distance and elevation and will be screened prior to the hike. Detailed information will be provided to confirmed participants several days prior to the hike. The hike will happen in light rain, but heavy rain or a severe snowstorm will cancel or postpone. We will notify no later than the day before the hike of a cancellation. Sorry, dogs are not invited on the hike - thanks for your understanding.
Please note that there is a parking fee of $5 per car at the trailhead parking lot. You can pay on-site using cash/check via the self-service station or by using the electronic card machine. You can also use a White Mountain National Forest Recreation Pass or an America the Beautiful Pass.
Image credit waterville.com

Reminder: Please click the RSVP link above to register!

Activity Type: Biking | Road
Difficulty: 3 - Easy
Trip Leader(s): Maisanna Maung
Registration Type: Registration
Please Click Here to RSVP: https://activities.outdoors.org/a5UVX000001AohJ
Audience: Adults

Description: The Ashuwillticook Rail Trail is a 12-mile-long, 10-foot-wide paved path in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, following a corridor rich in both Native American and industrial history. Long before the railroad existed, the Hoosic River Valley was the ancestral homeland of the Muhheconneok (Stockbridge-Munsee Mohican) people, who traveled and traded along this route. The name Ashuwillticook (ash-oo-will-ti-cook) derives from the Native American word for the south branch of the Hoosic River and literally means “ at the in-between pleasant river ,” or in common tongue, “the pleasant river in between the hills.” In 1845, construction began on the Pittsfield and North Adams Railroad, which soon became part of the region’s growing rail network and helped fuel the Berkshire economy by transporting limestone, textiles, and other goods. The corridor's industrial importance increased after the creation of the Cheshire Reservoir in 1866, when the Hoosic River was dammed to provide power for downstream mills. The railroad remained a vital transportation link for more than a century before freight traffic declined and the line was abandoned in 1990. Community advocates then worked to preserve the historic rail corridor, leading to its conversion into a recreational trail beginning in 2001.
Today, the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail is a universally accessible path and part of the Massachusetts State Parks system. It runs parallel to Route 8 through the towns of Cheshire, Lanesborough, and Adams. The trail passes through the scenic Hoosic River Valley between Mount Greylock and the Hoosac Mountains. Much of the route is flanked by the Cheshire Reservoir, the Hoosic River and wetlands.
Upon our return to Adams, we'll have the option to grab lunch or enjoy some ice cream. Please plan accordingly, this is a relaxed, social ride with time to enjoy the area. If you prefer, you're welcome to head home once the bike ride is complete.
Fun Fact : Susan B. Anthony, one of America's most famous women's rights leaders, was born on February 15, 1820, in Adams, Massachusetts, where her childhood home is now the Susan B. Anthony Birthplace Museum. In addition to fighting for women's right to vote, she was a passionate abolitionist who worked to end slavery. Anthony made national headlines in 1872 when she was arrested for voting in a presidential election at a time when women were not allowed to vote. Susan passed away in March 13, 1906. Although she did not live to see it, her lifelong efforts helped lead to the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment in 1920, which granted women the right to vote throughout the United States. Susan B. Anthony Birth Place Museum (30 minute walk or 5 minute car ride) from the Adams Visitor Center.
Requirements: · Bike in good working condition · Properly fitting helmet required · Water and snacks · Bike lock is a must for this event Parking Address: Please arrive 15 minutes early and be ready to roll at 9:00AM. Adams Visitor Center 3 Hoosac St, Adams, MA 01220 https://maps.app.goo.gl/dUEg7PcLuPLG3PgW7

Reminder: Please click the RSVP link above to register!

Activity Type: Biking | Road
Difficulty: 4 - Moderate
Trip Leader(s): Neil Schutzman
Registration Type: Application
Please Click Here to RSVP: https://activities.outdoors.org/a5UVX000001Fxf7
Audience: Everyone

Description: Free during the morning on the Labor Day and want to get out for good company and a nice ride? Join us for a moderate paced (10-12mph) approximately 23 miles ride (elevation gain of about 1,100ft) through Marlborough, Sudbury and Framingham with a stop at Trombetta's for ice cream.

Reminder: Please click the RSVP link above to register!