Dear GMC Members and Friends,
Attached please find a copy of our GMC newsletter for January and February 2024. We hope that you can join us for some of these hikes and other activities (these are also on our Google calendar).You do not need to be a member to participate. Please reach out to me if you have any questions or concerns about the club. I can be reached by email at shivratri@gmail.com, or by phone at 508-210-6965.
We wish you and your family the very best of health and happiness in the New Year by staying active through walking, hiking, and other outdoor activities.
Happy hiking,
Ram Moennsad, President
GMC, Worcester Section
Green Mountain Club
Worcester Section Newsletter
January and February 2024
Saturday, January 13. 9:00 AM. Join the Greater Worcester Land Trust for a hike at Cascades West, 50 Boynton Parkway, Paxton, MA. This moderate loop hike will be led by Mike Peckar, who is a board member of the Greater Worcester Land Trust and a director of the Green Mountain Club. For directions to Cascades West, use google maps: 50 Boynton Parkway, Paxton, MA. Parking will be at Boynton Park. For more information, you may go to the Greater Worcester Land Trust website and look up board led hikes; or you may email Mike at fog@fognet.com or call him at 508-209-1833.
Join us for Game Night on the third Thursday evening of January (1/18), and February (2/15) from 5:30 to 8:00 pm at the home of Pat and Stuart Howe, 33 Pine Acres Road, Spencer, MA 01562. Pat and Stuart have many types of games, but if you have a favorite and want to bring it, please do. RSVP via text or call Pat on her cell phone (508-868-5949), or email Pat at phowe@wpi.edu. The speed limit on their dirt road is 10 mph. Please be mindful when crossing the two small bridges.
Saturday, January 20. Hike the Asnebumskit Trails in north Holden. These trails extend from where the Asnebumskit Brook crosses Mill Street in north Holden to the Princeton Road by scenic Maple Spring Pond. The hike follows a loop of about five miles on mostly gently inclined terrain, much of which follows a rail trail. The hike takes about three hours to complete. Participants will meet at the Unitarian Universalist Church parking lot at 140 Shore Drive in Worcester at 10:30 on Saturday morning, January 20, and drive to the trailhead. Participants are asked to bring their lunch, water bottle, warm clothes, and rain gear in case of a shower. Micro spikes will be helpful for snow or icy trail conditions. Those riding with David Miller are requested to wear masks in the car. To join the outing or for more information, contact David Miller at 508-853-8964 or sentierdeau@gmail.com.
Saturday, February 10. Buffumville Lake South Loop Trail.
AllTrails describes this area as follows: “Explore this loop trail near Charlton, Massachusetts. Generally considered a moderately challenging route….This is a very popular area for birding, hiking and paddle sports, so you’ll likely encounter other people while exploring. The trail is open year round and is beautiful to visit anytime. Dogs are welcome and may be off-leash in some areas.” Participants will meet at the Unitarian Universalist Church parking lot at 140 Shore Drive in Worcester at 10:30 on Saturday morning, February 10, and drive to the Buffumville Lake boat launch for parking at 11:00. We will proceed counterclockwise around the lake completing the South loop (about 4 miles) and looking for a scenic lookout by the lake shore, where we will pause for lunch. We will return to the church parking lot in late afternoon. Participants are asked to bring their lunch, water bottle, warm clothes, and rain gear in case of a shower. Micro spikes will be helpful for snow or icy conditions. Those riding with David Miller will be requested to wear masks in the car. To register for this outing or for more information, contact David Miller at 508-853-8964 or sentierdeau@gmail.com.
Saturday, February 24. Join us to hike the Beaver Brook Association Conservation Land in Hollis, New Hampshire. The Beaver Brook Association manages over 2,200 acres of land protecting habitat for wildlife and providing an extensive trail system through beautiful forest and wetlands. Our hike will begin at the Wildlife Pond Trailhead and follow the Wildlife Pond Trail around Wildlife Pond. From Wildlife Pond Trail we will connect with the Hatfield and Hidden Pond Trails, and then onto the Rocky Ridge Trail. The Jeff Smith that follows along the Rocky Pond Brook will lead us back to the parking area. Expect to hike up to 6 miles over relatively level terrain, except for the Rocky Ridge Trail, which requires scrambling over rocks and boulders with some elevation gain. Please contact Margos Stone at mstone12242@gmail.com or 508-826-6842 for more information or to register for the hike. You may also contact Richard Lombard at rllombard2@gmail.com or 978-394-9619 for more information or to register for the hike. Carpooling will be offered from Worcester, MA for those interested. We will meet at the Lorden Oil Company, 21 Ash Street in Hollis, New Hampshire on Saturday, February 24 at 10:00 AM and drive to the trailhead. For directions to the meet up, use google maps: 21 Ash Street, Hollis, NH. Participants are asked to bring their lunch, water bottle, warm clothes and rain gear in case of a shower. Weather and trail conditions could change at any time so pack a pair of micro spikes for traction on snow, ice or equivalent terrain.