THE SUNAPEE-RAGGED-KEARSARGE GREENWAY COALITION

Greenway offers 11 guided summer hikes; some for ‘slowpokes’
NEW LONDON, N.H. – The 2009 Summer Hike Schedule has been announced by the Sunapee-Ragged-Kearsarge Greenway Coalition.

Eleven hikes throughout the region will offer a variety of difficulty and distance. An innovation this year will be some slower-paced hikes. “The Greenway directors decided some of the hikers might like to ‘ramble’ or ‘amble’ for a change,” said Frank Perrotta, Greenway hikes director. “We’ve designed a hike schedule that will challenge the energetic but be pleasing to those who would rather go slower and enjoy the scenery.”

In another innovation this year, the schedule begins and ends with trail-grooming hikes: Saturday, June 20 on Newbury’s Fishersfield Trail and Saturday Aug. 22 on the Greenway’s Trail 8 in Wilmot, the latter an effort to complete an important trail reroute.
The schedule:

The 2009 SUMMER HIKES
Saturday, June 20
WORK WE MUST (I): Lop and chop work party on Fishersfield Trail, Newbury. Pizza reward. Gerry Gold, 526-2857. 3.5 miles (M)

Saturday, June 27
ANDOVER AMBLE: A gentle walk along Mountain Brook Falls in Andover to enjoy the pristine beauty. Nan Kaplan, 735-5352. 2 miles (E)

Saturday, July 4
REGIONAL VIEW: Climb Bog Mountain in Wilmot, with its views of several area peaks. Brian Faughnan, 526-7838. 3 miles (M)

Saturday, July 11
AMBLE THE RAILS: A slower morning hike along the Northern Rail Trail, ending at Potter Place. Ralph Spofford, 526-6568. 3 miles (E)

Saturday, July 18
RAGGED RAMBLE: Take Ragged Mt. F&G Club trails to the summit; then the Ridge Trail, back to the club. Wayne Nicoll, 735-5721. About 6 miles (D)

Saturday, July 25
LAKESIDE AMBLE: Little Sunapee Forest Associates property adjacent to the lake. Ralph Spofford, 526-6568. 2 miles (Some up and down; E-M)

Saturday, August 1
GILE FOREST LOOP: From Great Brook in New London, hike to Morgan Pond, then on to Morgan Hill. Andy Hager, 526-2846. 8 miles (M)

Saturday, August 9
BACK ROADS: Explore Class VI roads in Springfield. Mileage to be determined by the day, bugs, energy. Susan and Michael Chiarella, 763-4661 (E)

Saturday, August 15
CONSERVATION PLUS: Join the Davises on their protected acreage in Springfield. Beaver meadow, views. Cookies, drinks, too. 927-4596. 2.5 miles (E-M)

Sunday, August 16
WELCOME HOME: Arrive at Sutton’s annual Old Home Day celebration after trekking historic Old Province Road. Art Robbins, 927-4377. 5 miles (E-M)

Sunday, August 23
WORK WE MUST (II): A cutting, brushing and blazing party on Trail 8 in Wilmot to complete an important reroute. Brian Faughnan, 526-7838. 4 miles (M)

(Editors: For news checking, please call Frank Perrotta, 603-763-9280.)

The Sunapee-Ragged-Kearsarge Greenway Coalition is a non-profit volunteer organization that promotes hiking and land conservation amid the rugged beauty of three major mountains. Its 75 miles of public trails, incorporating 14 separate hikes through Andover, Danbury, Goshen, Newbury, New London, Springfield, Sunapee, Sutton, Warner and Wilmot, are open to all at any time, free of charge. For information, visit the website at www.srkg.com, or write: Sunapee-Ragged-Kearsarge Greenway Coalition, PO Box 1684, New London, NH 03257-1684.