General Club Facts:

Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States
Membership in the BCHC is $10.00 per person per year in order to receive the quarterly newsletter. Further information on membership can be obtained when attending a scheduled hike. Other subgroups within the BCHC are the "Thursday Wanderers." Most hikes are followed by a dinner stop. We call ourselves "The Eating Club with a Hiking Disorder"! ****Hiking and Trail Guidelines: ** Be courteous & stay behind the leader unless directed otherwise.** Offer $.10/mile to driver when carpooling. * *In the event of inclement weather, the hike may be canceled.** Please leave your pets at home.**If unable to keep a club commitment, please find a replacement. * Wear blaze orange during hunting season (Sept 1 to last day of Feb). * Appropriate footwear and attire should match the type of hike.** If you leave the hike early, notify the hike leader or ask someone to do that for you.** Bring water and food as the hike description and weather demand.* * Hiking involves risk. Come out prepared and know your capabilities. Each hiker is responsible for their own safety and well-being.

Monday, June 27, 2011

Sunday July 31, 2011 - Sunday in the Park - With Ice Cream!

approx 4 very easy miles


Enjoy the scenery of Wyomissing Park on this flat easy 4 mile loop walk. Top it off with ice cream at the Kenhorst Dairy Queen.


Meeting place: 4:00 pm, Wyomissing Soccer Field, behind the WAWA at the intersection of Museum Road and Lancaster Ave, Shillington; access road is across from Gallen Insurance, next to the National Penn Bank branch


For further information & directions, contact: 610-914-1357

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Saturday July 30, 2011 - Locust Lake State Park in Barnesville, PA

4 to 6 miles


Her "leadership" will lead a 4 to 6 mile ‘blueberry hike’! Hope the blue treasures are ready for sampling. YUM! Last year at this time, blackberries were also in bloom. Bring your own container/bag to take some home.


Meeting place: 8:00 am, Redners Market, Rte 61 North Leesport

NOTE: Mapquest shows destination from Leesport is 32 miles/50 minutes


For further information & directions, contact: 610-796-7602

Saturday July 23 - Egelman's Park & Antietam Lake

6.5 to 7 miles


This will be a loop hike of moderate difficulty from Egelman’s Park to Antietam Lake. We will take the yellow blaze trail most of the way to Antietam Lake. The return will be by a different route, paralleling an orchard at one point, passing Kuegler’s Roost (the 2nd stone cellar of the day), and passing just behind the tower before our return.

Meeting place: 9:30 am, Egelman’s Park, Hill and Angora Roads


For further information & directions, contact: 610-323-1703

Saturday, June 25, 2011

Saturday July 16, 2011 - BERKS COMMUNITY HIKING CLUB PICNIC


See all your friends and enjoy a day of hikes, fun and food at the 22ND annual Berks Community Hiking Club picnic. See the emailed flier to club members for details.



Friday, June 24, 2011

Sunday July 10, 2011 - Mt Gretna Hike, Lunch, & Music

approx. 5 miles Randy and Shelby planned an awesome day starting with a 5 mile hike of the Mt. Gretna area, followed by lunch and ice cream at “The Jigger Shop”. At 2:00 pm, “A Little Night Music” featuring the popular song “Bring in the Clowns”, will feature at the Mt Gretna Theater. Beers and Burgers at “The Hide-A-Way” on the deck after the play. Tickets are $25 with AAA card; call Randy for more information on the tickets. MEET: 11:00 am, parking lot of Mt. Gretna Theater DIRECTIONS: From the south – turnpike or Rte. 322 to Rte. 72, north to Rte 117 exit, at bottom of ramp go left 2+ miles to theater lot on the left. From Reading – Rte. 419 to Rte. 117 LEADERS: Randy and Shelby Vontill - 610-273-9160, ranvon1@yahoo.com

Sunday July 10, 2011 - Mt Gretna Hike, Lunch, & Music

approx. 5 miles


Leaders have planned an awesome day starting with a 5 mile hike of the Mt. Gretna area, followed by lunch and ice cream at “The Jigger Shop”. At 2:00 pm, “A Little Night Music” featuring the popular song “Bring in the Clowns”, will feature at the Mt Gretna Theater. Beers and Burgers at “The Hide-A-Way” on the deck after the play. Tickets are $25 with AAA card; call leader for more information on the tickets.


Meeting place: 11:00 am, parking lot of Mt. Gretna Theater


Directions: From the south – turnpike or Rte. 322 to Rte. 72, north to Rte 117 exit, at bottom of ramp go left 2+ miles to theater lot on the left. From Reading – Rte. 419 to Rte. 117


For further information & directions, contact: 610-273-9160, ranvon1@yahoo.com

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Saturday July 9, 2011 - Mount Penn Hike

WITH THE ELVERSON WALKING CLUB


approx. 5 miles


Join the leader and the Elverson Walking Club for a five mile hike from the William Penn Memorial Fire Tower to Mineral Springs Park with a return via the Pagoda, hiking on several of the many trails in this section of Mt Penn.


Meeting place: 9:30 am, William Penn Fire Tower, Skyline Drive north of the Pagoda


For further information & directions, contact: 610-913-0284

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Saturday July 2, 2011 - Horseshoe Trail Maintenance

Come help out with the section of the trail that our club maintains. We need all the help we can get! Bring gloves, clippers, loppers, weed whackers and wear boots. And of course – bring water.


Meeting place: 9:00 am, Rte 625 New Holland Road, 1 mile south of the traffic light in Knauers


For further information & directions, contact: Trail Maintenance Leader at 610-373-6730

Sunday, June 5, 2011

Saturday June 25, 2011 -Arendtville - Shippensburg Rd.-Shippensburg Road to Pine Furnace State Park Appalachian Trail History / Ice Cream Walk

approx. 8 miles


This will be an EZ AT hike starting along a ridge and ending in a mostly downhill ramble. There will be a lunch/snack stop on the trail. We will pass Camp Micheaux which was a prisoner of war camp for German soldiers. We will also see the Iron Master’s Mansion which served as a stop on the Underground Railroad. The hike will end with a visit at the new AT Museum. Be sure to wear good hiking boots. Bring water and lunch/snack. Optional dinner stop.


Note: Bad Weather Cancels


Meeting place: 8:00 am, Boyer’s IGA parking lot, intersection of Rts 422 and 419 North of Womelsdorf

For further information or directions, contact: Ellen Konecny – 610-775-2677

Saturday, June 4, 2011

Saturday June18, 2011 - Marsh Creek State Park

5 to 6 miles


Join hike leader and the ELVERSON WALKING CLUB exploring the trails at Marsh Creek. During the hike, Clyde will give a very brief “Geocaching” demonstration for those interested. This will not slow down the hike. A lunch stop will be optional on the way home.


Meeting place: 9:30 am at the Elverson Deli Parking lot, at NE corner of Rts. 82 & 23 in Elverson; then drive

8 miles to Marsh Creek State Park. Let hike leader know prior to hike day if you prefer to meet at Marsh Creek S.P. around 10 am.


For further information or directions, contact: 610-913-0284 or Cell – 610-413-6281 - day of hike