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.

Friday, January 27, 2012

March 10,2011 - Lake Ontelaunee

Length: 7 miles


Check out the Lake Ontelaunee area with leader; will shuttle (or not) to parking at Kindt’s Corner parking area. Trail conditions may cause shortening of hike. Any kind of bad weather, including snow on the ground will cancel. If questionable, call leader.


Meeting place: 9:30 am, Redner’s Market, Rt. 61 N. Leesport


For more information and further directions, contact: 610-488-7176

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Saturday March 3, 2012 - Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area

Length: 5+ miles


Leader will lead an afternoon hike and this one will be a variation of his prior Middle Creek hikes, but will be mostly on woodland trails. The snow geese will be migrating at this time of year on their way north, so we should see them near the lake. Hike will be a minimum of 5 miles and wear sturdy boots. A lunch stop is optional afterwards.


Meeting place: 1:30 pm, Middle Creek Wildlife Visitor’s Center


For more information and further directions, contact: 610-589-5575 – call if weather is questionable

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Saturday February 25, 2012 - Schuylkill River Trail

Length: 4 miles, easy


The Berks Community Strollers will be joining us for this hike on trails with some road walking. Deep snow cancels. Dress appropriately for the weather. Lunch place will be decided by the group on the day of the hike.


Meeting place: 10:00 am, behind the office building at the intersection of Rt. 345 and Rt. 724 in Birdsboro. We will shuttle to Gibraltar to start the hike


For more information and further directions, contact: 610-796-7602

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

February 18,2012 - Flying Hills Circle Hike

Length: 4 to 6 miles (easy, hilly)


Could be a cool, cold, blustery day for a circular hike along hilly rural roads of Cumru Township. Starting at Flying Hills, this hike will be a nice mix of old and new in the country. We will shuttle from the meeting place.


Meeting place: 10:00 am, Brentwood parking lot, Rt. 10, Morgantown Road



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

Monday, January 23, 2012

Sunday February 12, 2012 - Arts/Park/Concert/Brewworks Part X Meet


We will start with a short walk along the Hassen Creek Nature Trail where we will construct and install a Wood Duck Nest Box. The hike will start at 12:34. Expect it to be “smeary” so bring boots and clean shoes for the concert. At 3:00 we will go to the Allentown Symphony Hall (23 N. 6th Street, Tel #610-432-6715); 10% discount to hikers – mention this. Afterwards we’ll enjoy a brew at the Allentown Brewworks – 812 Hamilton Street (10% food discount with concert ticket). Free parking at the garage deck at 6th and Linden Sts


Meeting place:12:00 noon at the Upper Macungie Park, along Rt.100 just north of Fogelsville.

Directions: to Upper Macungie Park, Rt. 100 N of Fogelsville. Over the hill, right at the light, right at the stop sign on Hassel-dahl Road to the Park.


For more information or further directions, contact: 484-515-8001 or 610-562-8680

February 11, 2012 - Appalachian Trail Port Clinton Fire Tower


Length: 5 to 6 miles


Today’s hike will be a loop hike starting at the Port Clinton Fire Tower, downhill to the Weiser Trail and then east to the Appalachian Trail. Continue on with a short northern hike on the A.T. and then back uphill to State Game Lands #106, completing the loop back to the fire tower.


Meeting place:10:00 am, Redner’s Market, Rt. 61 N. Leesport.

See map at Clyde’s blogsite: http://combinedschedules.blogspot.com


For more information and further directions, contact: 610-913-0284 or Cell 610-413-6281

Sunday, January 22, 2012

February 4, 2012 - Riverfront Park

Length: approx. 7 miles


Leader plans on walking from the meeting place to Baer Park and back. This will depend on the weather and trail conditions.


Meeting place: 10:00 am, Brentwood parking lot, Rt.10, Morgantown Road


For more information and further directions, contact: 484-529-8682

Saturday, January 21, 2012

January 21, 2012 - French Creek State Park

Length: 5.5 miles


Follow the leader as she leads a hike on the green-blazed Lenni Lenape Trail.


Meeting place: 10:00 am, at Scott’s Run Lake in French Creek State Park. Bad Weather Cancels!



For more information or further directions, contact: 610-796-7302

Friday, January 20, 2012

January 28, 2012 - Antietam Lake Hike

Length 5-6 mile loop, moderate to difficult


Clyde will lead the hike from the parking area to Kuechler’s Roost on the new gravity trail, returning on other park trails along the route of the former Gravity Railroad

NOTE: The road at the Antietam Dam was closed at this schedule’s deadline, so drivers should approach via Hill Road.

See map at Clyde’s blogsite: http://combinedschedules.blogspot.com. Please call leader if weather is questionable.


Meeting place: 10:00 am, Antietam Lake parking area, off of Angora Road


For more information or further directions, contact: 610-913-0284 or Cell 610-413-6281

Monday, January 2, 2012

Saturday January 14, 2012 - Lenhartsville Loop

Length – 5 miles


Our “traditional” early January hike along the Maiden Creek and country roads in the hills near Lenhartsville. This is an easy road hike with some nice views of the Maiden Creek and the hill country southeast of town. Eat at C.J. Hummel’s afterward.


Meeting place: 1:00 pm in the rear side parking lot of C.J. Hummel’s Restaurant, Rt. 143 in downtown Lenhartsville


For more information or further directions, contact: 610-921-3252 or 610-451-5380 day of the hike; any questions can also be emailed to leader at “ecg8@juno.com”