Category: Hiking (Page 5 of 7)

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 19, 2019

 HIKING  POMERANCE/MONTGOMERY PINETUM PARK

GREENWICH     10:00 AM

This 100 acre property is now owned by the town of Greenwich but was originally the estate of Ernest Seaton and later the home of financier Maurice Wertheim. The estate house was demolished by the town after falling into disrepair but the stone walls remain. Mr. Seaton is credited with starting a boys group called “The League of Woodcraft Indians” which evolved into the Boy Scouts. Wertheim’s daughter, Barbara Tuchman, lived on the property and wrote the Pulitzer Prize winning book “The Guns of August” there.

This hike is really more of a walk in the woods as the trails are wide, relatively flat and well maintained. It is a very scenic property with mature trees, rock outcroppings and moving water in addition to the historical features. As the property is relatively small, our hike will take approximately 2 hours after which we will enjoy an optional lunch at Louie’s Restaurant (136 River Road Ext.) nearby in Cos Cob.

DIRECTIONS: On Google Maps, enter Montgomery Pinetum on Bible Street in Cos Cob.  There is another entrance to the park but parking there is limited. Go to the Bible Street entrance. We will gather in front of the Greenhouse building at 10:00 AM.

Take I-95 south to Exit 5 and stay in left lane on the ramp to turn left at the light onto US 1 south. Proceed .8 miles across the Mianus River Bridge and turn right into Nassau Street and then a quick left onto Valley Road. After .2 miles turn right into Orchard Street and then a quick right onto Bible Street. Drive .8 miles to a left turn into Montgomery-Pinetum Park. 15-20 minutes from Darien with average traffic.

Contact: David McCollum

HIKING WARD POUND RIDGE RESERVATION

THURSDAY OCTOBER 24, 2019

10:00 AM

Ward Pound Ridge Reservation is a 4,000 acre park located in Cross River, NY with more than 35 miles of hiking trails over varied terrain. We will be hiking a combination of two trails totaling about 4 miles with some moderate climbing and descending on the Leatherman’s Loop section. The reward for the climb is a spectacular view of the Cross River Reservoir and surrounding territory. The trails are wide, well maintained and clearly marked. Optional lunch will follow at Blind Charlie’s Café in Scott’s Corners.

SPOUSES, SIGNIFICANT OTHERS, FRIENDS AND GUESTS ARE WELCOME

 DOGS ON A  LEASH ARE ALLOWED.

We will assemble at the parking lot near the Rt 121 entrance (where the ticket booth is located) at 10:00 AM sharp. From there we will drive our cars to a large parking lot near the trailhead. DON’T BE LATE!

The hike will be led by Dave McCollum.

DIRECTIONS:

Address—6 Reservation Road, Cross River, NY 10518

Using either Ct Route 124 up through central New Canaan, or the Merritt and High Ridge Road (Exit 37) proceed to the junction of 124 and 137 in Pound Ridge.

Continue north on NY 137 past the Inn at Pound Ridge and bear left at the fork, staying on 137. When 137 ends at NY 121, turn right onto 121 and follow 121 about 2.9 miles to the clearly marked right turn into Ward Pound Ridge Reservation. Proceed to the ticket booth. No entrance fee charged this time of year.

HIKING MIANUS RIVER PARK, STAMFORD

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 24, 2020

9:30 AM

Our first hike of 2020 will take place at Mianus River Park, a 400 acre urban forest which straddles the towns of Stamford and Greenwich and is owned jointly by them. While the hiking is not difficult, the trails are uneven and have the usual roots and rocks. Sturdy shoes and a positive attitude will prevail! 

We will hike approximately 4 miles starting at 9:30 am from the Stamford entrance to the park which is at 68 Merriebrook Lane. 

As usual, spouses, friends and dogs on leash are welcome. We will social distance as far as practical and masks are optional. 

There will be no organized lunch after the hike.

DIRECTIONS

We will meet at 9:30 at the Merriebrook entrance to the park on the Stamford side. Merriebrook Lane is accessed off of Westover Road and both Waze and Google Maps will take you there. About 20 minutes from Darien.

There should be ample parking at the park. Do not park on any of the roads in the area, all are marked no parking and are patrolled.

Contacts: Dave McCollum and Bob Plunkett 

Trout Brook Valley Hike Tuesday, June 4, 2019 at 9.30 am
Our final hike of the season is scheduled for Tuesday June 4, 2019. We will be hiking the Trout Brook Valley Preservation Area in Weston, Ct, which is owned by the Aspetuck Land Trust. This is an 1100 acre  reserve that has several trails classified as hard, medium and easy.

The area is lush green at this time of the year. No man-made or machine sound disturbs the serenity of this preserve; the only sounds you hear are of the birds twittering, the brooks babbling and the winds whistling. We will be hiking a loop of about 3.5 miles consisting of easy and moderately difficult trails. So if you wish to commune with nature, come join us in this great hike, which is not as strenuous as our last one at Devil’s Den. Sturdy shoes are required, water and bug spray recommended.

With an early start at 9.30 we should be done by 11.45 am.

Lunch will follow at Tavern On Main located at 150 Main Street, Westport.

We will be using the Bradley Road entrance to the park in Weston. Here are the directions:
-Take Exit 42 off the south bound Merritt Parkway. At bottom of exit ramp. Make a right turn onto
Rt 57 N ( Weston Road)—0.9 miles
-Turn right on Lyons Plains Road and proceed-3.6 miles
-At the fork make a slight left onto Valley Forge Road (not Davis Hill Rd) and proceed 1.2 miles
-Right on Bradley Road -0.3 to the entrance of Aspetuck Land Trust on left (after house number
18, Bradley Road)

On Google Maps, search for Trout Brook Valley Preserve, Weston or 18 Bradley Road, Weston.

As usual, spouses are welcome to join the hike.

Contact: Sunil Saksena 203-561-8601(cell) ; ssaksena44 @gmail.com

Hiking Devil’s Den Preserve
Tuesday, May 7, 2019, 10.00am

We will be hiking the trails at Devil’s Den Preserve in Weston on Tuesday, May 7, 2019 with a
10 am start. This is the largest nature preserve in SW Connecticut and extremely popular with
hikers.Owned by the Nature Conservancy, its has 1700 acres of woodlands,wetlands,ponds and
streams, and 20 miles of picturesque trails. It is home to 145 species of birds, 20 species of
mammals, and over 400 varieties of trees and wildflowers.

We will be hiking a loop of 4 miles.This trail has a moderate level of difficulty in that there are
places of gradual uphill, but these are usually followed by long stretches of flat trail. You do
need sturdy shoes as the trail is rocky in places.
After the hike, at about 12.30pm, we will head over to the Barn Door Restaurant for lunch. This
restaurant is located at 37 Ethan Allen Hwy (Rt 7), about a 10 minute drive from Devil’s Den.
As usual, we welcome spouses and significant others on our hikes. Newer members of DMA
are encouraged to join us.

Directions
Take Exit 42 off the north-bound Merritt Parkway and at the bottom of exit ramp make a right
turn onto Route 57 North towards Weston. After 3.8 miles, make a left and continue on Rt 57 for
another 1.3 miles. Turn right on Godfrey Road West and drive half a mile. Make left on to Pent
Road which ends in the parking lot for Devil’s Den.
On Google Maps use this destination address : 33 Pent Road, Weston

Contact : Sunil Saksena 203-561-8601 (cell) ssaksena44@gmail.com

HIKING BABCOCK PRESERVE in GREENWICH, CT
Thursday March 28, 2019 10AM
The Babcock Preserve is a 300 acre tract of forested land in Greenwich, north of the Merritt. It is the largest park in Greenwich and consists of several hiking trails over a relatively easy terrain. It was acquired by the Town of Greenwich in 1972, partially by gift and partially by purchase from the Babcock Family.

The park is very tranquil at this time of the year. We will be hiking approximately 3 ½ miles which should take us till about 12.30pm.. More than half the trail is relatively flat, the rest is a gentle slope
which isn’t very strenuous.

As usual wives are invited and they will find this hike particularly enjoyable.

After the hike we will have lunch( optional) at a nearby restaurant.

Contact: Sunil Saksena

HIKING MIANUS RIVER PARK, STAMFORD
THURSDAY, November 8, 2018
10.00 am
Mianus River Park is a 400 acre urban forest which straddles the towns of Stamford and
Greenwich and is owned jointly by them.At this time of the year the park is at its beautiful best.
While the hiking here is not difficult, the trails are strewn with leaves and roots and occasional
rocks, so you need sturdy shoes and a good sense of balance. We will hike approximately 4
miles and, starting at 10am, be done by about 12.30 pm. As usual, participation from spouses,
significant others and friends is welcome.

The hike will be followed by lunch at the Madonia Restaurant at 1297 Long Ridge Road, Stamford.

Directions
We will be meeting at 10 am at the Stamford entrance of the Mianus River Park which is near 68
Merriebrook Lane, Stamford. Do not go to the Greenwich entrance which is on Cognewagh
Road. Best directions can be had by googling 68 Merriebrook Lane, Stamford. There is a
parking lot on th right just across the street from mailbox for 68 Merriebrook.
Contact: Sunil Saksena
ssaksena44@gmail.com
203-561-8601 cell

Hiking Zofnass Family Preserve in Pound Ridge on Thursday, Oct 18,  2018  The Zofnass Family Preserve in Pound Ridge is a 150 acre property owned by the Westchester Land Trust.  At this time of the year it is a lush green. There are about 8 miles of trails over a rustic terrain. We will be hiking a loop of about 3 miles, which should be completed in about 2-2 ½ hours. This hike is not for beginners. The trail is
quite rugged with several ups and downs. You do need stamina and a sense ofbalance. Experienced hikers will find this hike in the rustic wilderness most enjoyable.

Due to limited parking space at the trailhead we will meet at 9.30 am at the Long Ridge​ Tavern located at 2635 Long Ridge Road, Stamford​ and car pool from there. Take Exit 34 off the Merritt Parkway and head north on Long Ridge Road for about 3.8 miles till you come to the Tavern on the right ( a red building just before the the blinking traffic light.)

From the Long Ridge Tavern the ride to the trailhead , located at 245 Upper Shad Road is about 5-8 minutes. We expect to start hiking by 9.45 am and finish by about 12.15
pm. Its a beautiful time of the year and the hike should be a rewarding experience.

Lunch will follow at the Long Ridge Tavern for those interested, about 12.30 pm.

We welcome participation from spouses.

Dogs on leash are allowed.

Contact for this hike: Sunil Saksena 203-561-8601 ssaksena44@gmail.com

Picture from this year’s hike.

Hiking Mianus River Gorg​e
167 Mianus River Road,
Bedford, NY 10506
Tuesday May 29, 2018
10.30 am

We will be hiking Mianus River Gorge in Bedford on Tuesday. May 29, 2018 at 10.30
am​ ( Note this 30 min later than our usual 10.00 am start).

The Gorge is a 750 acre preserve of old-growth forest that was established more than sixty years ago as the first
land project of the Nature Conservancy.  While the main trail is 4 miles long, part of it has been rendered inaccessible since a short stretch runs through private property over which the owners have recently denied access to the public. Thus our hike will be a relatively short one: a 2.5 mile loop. The outbound portion of the loop consists of a couple of sustained climbs along a gradual slope. The return is largely downward. The trail is well kept, well marked and rugged in
places. Visitors have the sense of a remote wilderness in the midst of an urban area. The gorge area is quite beautiful at this time of the year with the leaves providing plenty of shade. This promises to be a particularly enjoyable hike. Spouse are welcome.

Starting at 10.30, we should be done hiking by 12 noon. Lunch for the hungry will follow at the Long Ridge Tavern, 2635 Long Ridge Road, Stamford.

Directions: ( Google maps;Mianus River Gorge, Bedford)
Proceed South on the Merritt and take Exit 34 ( Long Ridge Road).
At the bottom of the exit ramp make a right and proceed north on Long Ridge approx
7.3 miles.
Make a left on Millers Mill Road and then after crossing the bridge, make another left on Mianus River Road (a dirt road).
About a half mile down this dirt road on the left is the entrance to the Mianus River Gorge. Plenty of parking is available.
Be alert​: its easy to miss Miller’s Mill Road. Check your odometer when you enter LongRidge Road from the Merritt so you know when you have traveled 7.3 miles. Two helpfullandmarks to watch for: Twin Lakes Drive on the right come just before you turn left onMiller’s Run. Also house number 116 on the right is just across the road from Miller’s Run.

Contact for this hike: Sunil Saksena, ssaksena44@gmail.com, 203-561-8601 Cell

This 100 acre property is now owned by the Town of Greenwich, but was at one time the estate
of a Mr Wertheim, a New York investment banker. The property is of interest because the
mansion that sits atop a small hill was home to Barbara Tuchman, the noted historian, who was
Mr Wertheim’s daughter and who wrote her Pulitzer prize- winning book “The Guns of August”
while secluded in a small cabin on the property. The mansion itself fell into disrepair and was demolished by the Town , but its skeleton was preserved for its historical interest.

Except for a couple of gentle slopes, the hiking trails on this property are fairly flat and suitable for almost anyone who is interested in hiking. Its a very pretty property, rustic and wooded and you will marvel that so much open space has been preserved in the middle of a residential area.

We expect to hike about 2-2 1/2 hours followed by lunch, which is optional will be at the Little
Pub at 531 East Putnam Ave Greenwich at about 12.30pm

Directions:​ On Google Maps mark your destination as Pomerance Park, Greenwich or 101
Orchard Street, Greenwich. Take I-95 South towards Greenwich and get off at Exit 5. Off the Exit ramp make a left turn onto Route 1 South ( also called East Putnam Ave).. Proceed just over a mile and then make a sharp right turn onto Orchard Street(there is a Gulf station at the corner). Drive up Orchard
Street about 0.75 miles and you will see Pomerance Park on your right. Pull into the parking lot
where we will meet at 10.00am

Contact :Sunil Saksena ssaksena44@gmail.com
203-561-8601

Our next hike is set for Thursday May 3, 2018 at 10.00 am

The Leon Levy Preserve was established approximately 10 years ago when the 400 acre Bell property was purchased by the Westchester Land Trust. The hiking trails here are wide, well maintained, well marked and range from an easy to a light moderate level of difficulty. This hike should appeal to hikers of all levels of experience. We welcome spouses and significant others — they will enjoy this outing.

We will start at 10.00am, hike for perhaps 3.5 miles and be done by approximately 12 noon.

Following the hike, an optional lunch will be at Cava Wine Bar and Restaurant at 2 Forest Avenue, New Canaan. A fixed price ($19) two- course lunch awaits you there.

Directions:
The best directions can be had by googling 45 Smith Ridge Road in South Salem, NY. This is a private home on Route 123 very close to the Preserve. In fact, a few yards from their mailbox is a brown sign saying the the Leon Levy Preserve is just ahead on the left. There is ample parking.

For those traveling from Darien, you will basically being going up Mansfield Ave (Route 124) into New Canaan and there connect to Route 123 N which is Smith Ridge Road in New Canaan. Proceed on Route 123 N well into New York State till you see the mailbox for 45 Smith Ridge Road in South Salem and spot the Leon Levy sign mentioned above.

Contact for this hike: Sunil Saksena, 203-561-8601; ssaksena44@gmail.com

We will be walking Greenwich Point Park on Friday December 8 at 10.30 am. Note that this is half an hour later than our usual start time of 10.00 am.

Greenwich Point is a beautiful peninsula surrounded on three sides by Long Island Sound. The walking trail is completely flat and does not require any special skills other than a desire to walk amid some pretty spectacular scenery. We will be doing the full circuit of about 3 miles in about 1 1⁄2 hours.

Following the walk we will have lunch at the Italian Restaurant Applausi Osteria Toscana( 199
Sound Beach Road). Last year this restaurant was a hit with our group.

Directions: Google Greenwich Point for the best directions.
Take Exit 5 off the South bound I-95. At the end of the exit ramp make a sharp right onto Rt 1 and then at the first traffic light make another right onto Sound Beach Road. Continue on Sound Beach for 1.8 miles, then at the T junction make a right on Shore Road which becomes Tods Driftway after 1.3 miles. You enter Greenwich Point Park through a somewhat obscure stone gateway and park in the first parking lot on the right where we will meet.

This park is open only for Greenwich Residents during the season, but this being off-season anyone can enter. Leashed dogs are allowed after Dec 1.

Clothing: It is usually quite windy at Greenwich Point and will probably be chilly
as well. Be appropriately clad. Walking will warm you up and it should be
invigorating and fun. All are welcome. ( Last year our group numbered 18 ).

Contact: Sunil Saksena 203-561-8601 ; ssaksena44@gmail.com