GMC Worcester – Outings (Copy)

Saturday, February 15 at 9:30 AM. Poutwater Pond Snowshoe or Hike (depending on conditions). Meet at 9:30 AM at Maypother Baseball Field, 309 Princeton Road in Sterling, MA. You may wish to bring microspikes for hiking. This 3 mile round trip hike will ascend 300 feet in elevation through the North Sterling woods, traversing Sterling Land Trust, Mass Fish and Wildlife and DCR open fields. Come along and enjoy this isolated pond that few venture to in winter. Contact Mike Peckar at fog@fognet.com or call him at 508-209-1833 to sign up for the hike. 

Game Night will be held on Tuesday, February 18 from 5:30 to 8:30 PM at the home of Pat and Stuart Howe, 33 Pine Acres Road, Spencer, MA. Pat and Stuart have many types of games, but if you have a favorite please bring it. You may also bring sweet or savory snacks to share. 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, February 22 at 10:00 AM. Venture out with GMC members and a National Park Service (NPR) ranger for a trek through the Blackall Family/Ballou Farm Preserve in Cumberland, RI. Explore trails preserved by the Cumberland Land Trust and see remnants of farming communities lost to time. Please wear sturdy footwear and comfortable gear suitable to the weather. Bring your own water and wear orange. 

This hike may cover uneven terrain (expect exposed roots, rocks and mud). Hikes will proceed in the case of light rain, but will be cancelled in the event of harsh and dangerous conditions. If participants are interested, we can find a RI restaurant to have lunch at before heading home. We will meet at 10:00 AM at 3751 Mendon Road, Cumberland, RI for the start of the hike. T

he length of the hike is 3.2 miles. It is an easy to moderate hike. Hazards include some wet areas and exposed roots and rocks. Please contact Pat Howe to register (phowe@wpi.edu) or 508-868-5949. Carpooling will be available from 1A Kensington Heights in Worcester, MA at 8:15 AM for those interested in carpooling to the start of the hike. 

Saturday and Sunday, March 15 and 16. Join us for a snowshoe hike to Grout Pond in Stratton, Vermont (weather depending, we can hike if there’s no snow). The hike is over fairly level terrain, about two miles unless by group consensus a longer route. Overnight accommodations at the Nordborg’s cabin, 44 Pine Hollow Road, Stratton, Vermont. RSVP by March 11, 2025 to Steve and Terry Nordborg at srnord7925@gmail.com or text to 774-633-0099, as space is limited. (Maximum 10 people if folks don’t mind bunking together in the bunk room, one semiprivate double in the loft.) 

Plan to arrive anytime on Saturday morning. Hot soup and bread on the stove for a warm meal on Saturday afternoon before we head off to Grout Pond by 4:00 PM. After our hike we’ll return to the Stratton cabin and enjoy time around the campfire. BYOB and sweet or savory snacks to be shared. Bring your snowshoes, warm clothing, flash light and sleeping bag. We will provide a continental breakfast, but as always feel free to bring something to share.

On Sunday morning, March 16, there will be an optional hike to Stratton Pond on the Stratton Pond Trail leaving at 10:30 AM from the Nordborg’s cabin. This is an easy to moderate hike of about 4-5 miles total over fairly level terrain.