7358 Stoney Pond April 30, 2023
Write-up: Jim Wasielewski
Leader: George Fogg
Co-Leader:


Write-up: Jim Wasielewski
Leader: George Fogg
Co-Leader:
Write-up: Dave Rockwood
Leader: Carolyn Eastman
Co-Leader: Dave Rockwood
We had a group of ten for this hike, with 2 first-timers. Bobbie deferred the Hike to Carolyn and Dave (she is recovering from surgery), but she was there to help us find the parking area (in the thick fog!)
We hiked to the fall platform and then down the 100+ stairs to the bottom of the falls for more pictures. We then hiked to the various well known overlooks, like Layman Monument, Inspiration Point (or aka Imagination Point as we couldn’t see anything!), Split Rock and Boulder Rock. Due to the low ceiling/fog we didn’t have great views.
It was a fun place to hike and we would like to explore the other sections in the future. Despite the drab weather we had a great time!
Write-up: Jim Wasielewski
Leader: Jim Wasielewski
Co-Leader: Lorrie Wasielewski
Twenty-two Tramps negotiated the closed road to the Great Camp Sagamore to enjoy a beautiful weather hiking day.
We did not get arrested at Camp Uncas, neither did we get access…however the caretakers provided us with some interesting facts about the camp and were very friendly as Doug got a ride in the 4-wheeler.
The Scout Trail which in previous years was difficult to find is now clearly marked.
A group of tramps went on a hike towards Mohegan Lake they did strike passing by Camps Sagamore, Kill Kare, and Uncas once more on a sunny day, what a delight!
Write-up: Meg Higgerson
Leader: Meg Higgerson
Co-Leader: Lu Blanchard
The sun was shining brightly on this day before Easter as 30 tramps set off on an Easter egg hunt. It appeared to the hikers that this mischievous Easter Bunny started to take off at a run dropping eggs here and there. Then, perhaps because of the serious chill in the air, a sense of urgency to be other places, or the lure of carrots and deviled eggs, the rabbit gave up the egg distribution!
In spite of this disappointment, the Tramps continued on their hike into the woods, down into Root Glen, all around Sylvia Saunders peony patch and then back up into Kirkland forest’s many rolling hills and sometimes muddy or washed out trails.
As we returned to the cars, we were shocked to see rabbit footprints leading to the hike leader’s car. Lo and behold, the Rabbit had hidden the majority of the eggs in the car!
After we distributed those eggs, 9 who were now fortified with sugar, continued back into the woods on the Pontiac trail for an additional couple of miles finding living room furniture and lawn chairs along with the (1958?) Pontiac! All told we hiked 5.8 miles!
The group then continued on to a local watering hole looking for the famous rabbit.
Write-up: Dave Rockwood
Leader: Dave Rockwood
Co-Leader: Greg Sipp
On this fool’s day we had 18(?) people participate in our beginner navigator class. The weather turned out great, reaching 70 degrees and sunny. The trails were muddy and icy in spots. Dave Rockwood led the map and compass class and Greg Sipp lead the GPS/All Trails class. Special thanks to Carolyn Eastman for helping many of the students, it would have been hard for Greg and I to work with everyone on a one-on-one basis.
The map and compass class went over the parts of a compass, magnetic vs. true north, declination, map orientating, and how to interpret topo maps. There was an exercise in taking bearings, and how to determine south without a compass during the day.
For the GPS class, we had hidden some stuffed animals and created routes in All Trails to find them, after some brief instructions, we sent the students on some of the routes and they went forth and found the stuffed animals. We are happy to report all stuffed animals and students made it back to the pavilion.