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First Saturday Winter Outing Series Recap

(scroll down for schedule)

This was the best year for this series ever. Plans for next season are being formulated with an emphasis on offering a variety of activities (in addition to trail running) at each location, along with more creature comforts and low to moderate travel times. To that end we have reluctantly eliminated the Delaware Water Gap location despite it being the most picturesque and beautiful of all the places we have gone. It is a 2 plus hour drive to get there and it seems to make more sense to look for something closer to home. The good news is we’ve chosen a venue that is less than 45 minutes away and provides something for just about everyone (including heated bathrooms!). A detailed description of this and the December destination appears in a separate article elsewhere in this newsletter. The 2009/2010 First Saturday schedule and destination sites along with refueling stations are listed below. Check out the web sites for more information and refer to the detailed description of each park and recreation area that appears in this and subsequent news letters.

For all dates, there will be a group that will car pool from the Lancaster Sheetz on Oregon Pike at Rt.30, 7:30AM sharp (8:00AM in November). Call or email me for directions to the trail head or start point if you wish to go directly there.

Contact info - peterbbelanger@comcast.net Peter 717-371-0746

For those of you that are unfamiliar with our purpose, here's the basic poop:

WHEN: Beginning in November 2009, the FIRST SATURDAY of each month and concluding in March 2010.

WHAT: An excursion (for running, hiking, walking, cross country skiing, snow shoeing, mountain biking, etc. depending on weather and participants' inclination) to a well marked and scenic hiking trail for a period of 1-3 hours. Some of the areas have hard packed level trails suitable for hybrid bikes, road runners, and jogging strollers.

WHY: What else could you possibly need to do on a Saturday in the winter? The grass has stopped growing, NASCAR is finished, the NFL (and church) is on Sunday, soccer is over, and the laundry can wait.

WHO: YOU! and anyone else who likes the outdoors (including the young’ins). See the pictures on the LRRC website of previous years’ outings.

REFUEL (aka. PART 2): Exercise and fresh air typically encourages the appetite. On the way home we plan on stopping at a family friendly microbrew pub for lunch and refreshing beverages.

The series is open to runners, hikers, bikers, and walkers. You will need to be self supporting and provide your own liquids and trail food. Dress appropriately. The trip will proceed regardless of the weather. Plans are to be out on well marked trails for 1-3 hours depending upon how long YOU want to stay out. Nobody gets lost and no one gets left behind.

2009/2010 Schedule

Saturday November 7, 2009

NEW CAR POOL TIME - 8:00 AM sharp (this date only) R. M. Nixon & William H. Kain County Parks, York, PA (http://ycwebserver.york-county.org/Parks/parkpages/Kain.htm )

Refuel – Lancaster Brewing Company (http://www.lancasterbrewing.com/ )

Saturday December 5, 2009

Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area, Fair Hill, MD (http://www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/central/fairhill.html )

Part 2 – Duclaw Brewing, Bel Air, MD (http://www.duclaw.com/)

Saturday January 2, 2010

Wissahickon Park, Phila., PA (http://www.fow.org/)

Refuel – General Lafayette Inn (www.generallafayetteinn.com )

Saturday February 6, 2010

Weiser State Forest, Elizabethville, PA (http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/info/hikeforhealth/19weiser.htm )

Part 2 – Appalachian Brewing Company, Harrisburg (http://www.abcbrew.com)

Saturday March 6, 2010

White Mountain Ridge Trail, White Mountain Wild Area, Bald Eagle State Forest, Weirkert, PA. (http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/stateforests/baldeagle.aspx )

Part 2 – Selinsgrove Brewing, Selinsgrove, PA. (http://www.selinsgrovebrewing.com/)