New Year’s First Day Hike – Wednesday, January 1, 2025 1:00 – 3:00 PM
The Land Trust will kick off our planned series of hikes for 2025 with a New Year’s Day afternoon hike through the Hidden Brook Preserve, the most recent Land Trust acquisition. The hike will be about 2.5 miles through Whispering Pines and the Carrington Preserve as well as Hidden Brook. Join us and start your new year with a walk in the woods.
We will meet at the end of Village Lane in Bethany at 1:00 PM. Ample street parking is available. Look for the green Land Trust banner. All are welcome but space for the hike will be limited to 25 registered participants. Please keep your pets at home and inclement weather may cancel.
To register: contact Bob Harrison by Monday December 30th via cell at 203-506-5888 or email at bjh51box@gmail.com
Cold Weather Hiking
Winter’s cold, even with temps below freezing for several days, presents a unique opportunity to leave our comfortable warm spaces indoors for a walk in the woods. No ticks, no mosquitoes, animal tracks, iced over streams and ponds, blissful quiet, early morning and late afternoon winter shadows, the unexpected warmth of the noonday sun, an altered perception of our favorite trails and places….the list of surprises goes on and on.
Being prepared is one secret to enjoying a winter walk in the woods. Check your local forecast and trail conditions. Dress in layers like an onion with a merino or smart wool/synthetic base layer. Use waterproof outer wear with room for layers underneath. It may be not so much bad weather as it is bad clothes. Start off cold, knowing you’ll warm up and don’t overdress. Pack some traction such as microspikes. Also, pack snacks and extra liquids; winter hiking is harder on your body, so you’ll need extra fuel and drink more often than you think you should.
Recommendations for safe outdoor recreation are also available from the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) and the Connecticut Forest and Park Association (CFPA) posted on their websites.