Saturday January 2, 2016 - Schuylkill River Trail Pottstown

4 to 5 moderate miles

Start the New Year with a brisk hike in the Pottstown area. Depending on the weather, we will do an in- and-out hike on the Schuylkill River Trail and perhaps walk through Manatawny Park. Dress warmly, bring drinks and an appetite for lunch later. Inclement weather will cancel.

1 st Meeting place: 9:15 am, Boscov’s East (east end of lot), Bussiness Rte. 422 East
2 nd Meeting place: 10:00 am, Grosstown Road Trailhead of the Schuylkill River Trail 

For information or directions, contact:  610-488-9269 or on day of hike: 717-376-5289 

Friday January 1, 2016 - Polar Bear Dip Hike

approx. 6 miles

Take a 4 mile countryside hike with some hills and views of Myerstown’s parks, cemeteries and nursing homes leading to the Polar Bear Dip at 12 noon. If you want to jump in bring your finest, warmest swimwear and join the other “cubs” starting the new year with a ‘plunge.’ Then hike 1.8 miles back to our cars. There is free admission to the dip, but a donation to Lebanon Disabilities is appreciated. Dress warm.

Meeting place: 9:45 am, Dutch Way Restaurant Rt. 422 West before Myerstown. Afterwards, the Dutch Way will have pork ‘n sauerkraut on their special buffet, or platters from their menu.

For more information and further directions, contact: 610-678-5245 

Saturday December 26, 2015 - Millersville University Lancaster

5 - 6 easy miles

Check out Millersville University which is located in a park-like setting. This hike will be mostly on roads and around the pond area of the University. The students should be home for Christmas break, so we should have the campus to ourselves. Lunch stop could be a newly discovered diner or the Oregon Dairy.

Meeting place: 9:30 am, Ollie’s parking lot in Shillington, off Bus. Rt. 222 at the junction of Rt. 222 and Rt. 724

For further information or directions, contact: 610-603-9461 or 610-796-7602 

Saturday December 19,2015 - Iron Plantation Christmas

 4 – 5 easy, mostly flat miles

Visit Hopewell Village to share the echoes and catch glimpses of Christmas past. Beware the Belsnickel! Visit Bethesda Church after we leave the village. Enjoy holiday goodies in the parking lot after the hike.

Meeting place: 10:00 am, French Creek State Park Boat Launch area at Hopewell Lake on Park Road

For further information and directions, contact: 610-286-8913 

Saturday December 12, 2015 - Oley Roads

approx. 5.5 moderate miles

This road hike affords scenic views of Oley farmland and fields. No severe hills as we pass historic sites such as the Reiff and DeTurk Homesteads and the Moravian School area, though nothing remains of it.

Meeting place: 10:00 am at the Weis Market, Rt. 73 and Friedensburg Road in Oley 

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

Saturday December 5, 2015 - ANNUAL BCHC CHRISTMAS PARTY AND HIKE

Reservations required. See club flyer for details. 

Saturday November 28, 2015 - Horse Shoe Trail Hike

approx. 6 moderate to strenuous miles

Leader says the trail stays within the woods this time. There are several difficult up-hill climbs along with plenty of great views and easy hiking. The leaves will be gone, and wearing of the orange is needed, so hope for some sun and little wind. Dress warm and bring water and snacks. This is a carpool shuttle hike. The starting point is the parking lot along Kleinfeltersville Road, below the Middle Creek Visitors Center, by the dam breast. Ending point is the Rt. 501 parking lot, just north of where the trail crosses the road.

Meeting place: 9:30 am, parking lot along Kleinfeltersville Road, below the Middle Creek Visitors Center, by the dam breast. 

For further information or directions, contact: 610-909-5018 or “Cj1sp@allstate.com”

Saturday November 21, 2015 - Nolde Forest

approx. 6 moderate miles

Expect some ups and downs (hills) in a beautiful forest setting.

Meeting place: 9:30 am, Sawmill parking lot off Rt. 625, 2 miles south of Rt. 724 

For further information or directions, contact: 484-824-2740 

Saturday November 14, 2015 - Lenhartsville Loop

approx. 5 easy miles

Enjoy our “traditional” January hike, this season in November, 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 Lenhartsville. We will pass the remains of the Maiden Creek iron furnace as well. Eat at CJ Hummel’s afterward.

Meeting place: 10:00 am, rear of the side parking lot of CJ Hummel’s Restaurant, Rt. 143 in downtown Lenhartsville

For further information or directions, contact:  610-921-3252 or 610-451-5380 on the day of the hike 

Saturday November 7, 2015 - Mt. Gretna / Lebanon Valley Rail Trail

5-7 moderate miles

Randy says to carry water and snacks to explore the Mt. Gretna area via the Lebanon Rails to Trails. We’ll lunch later at the Hide-Away Restaurant for those wishing to dine.

Meeting place: 10:00 am, Mt. Gretna Theatre parking lot

Directions: From the south use the turnpike or take Rt. 322 to Rt. 72 then go north on Rt. 117, at the end of the ramp go left for 2+ miles, parking on the left. From the east, take Rt. 419 to the Cornwall area and pick up Rt. 117 

For further information or directions, contact: 610-273-9160 or “ranvon1@yahoo.com” with questions 

Saturday October 31, 2015 - Birdsboro Watershed

approx. 5 mostly flat miles – wear orange!

Walk along beautiful Hay Creek and enjoy the fall foliage. We will walk to the climbing wall where you can be treated to views of climbers of all ages scaling the almost vertical cliffs using only crampons and ropes. Don’t be tricked into thinking this is easy – it’s not! Return to the cars for a Halloween treat. Lot is small, please carpool.

1st Meeting place: 9:30 am, Livingood Park, Rt. 82, Elverson

2nd Meeting place: 10:00 am, parking lot across from the former White Bear Inn on Hay Creek Road

For further information and directions, contact: 610-286-8913

Saturday October 24, 2015 - French Creek State Park Boone Trail

6 moderate miles

It’s easy to get lost in this area, but not if you follow our leader on the blue-blazed and other trails. Includes some rocky terrain.
Meeting place: 9:30 am, West Boat Launch at Hopewell Lake 

For more information and further directions, contact: 610-603-9461 

Saturday October 17, 2015 - Rausch Gap

approx. 7 moderate to difficult miles

Pack a lunch then carpool to Gold Mine Road. Follow our leader as he hikes over the mountain to Rausch Gap, then enjoy your lunch by the Rausch Stream. We will return to our cars via a rail to trail. Late lunch or early dinner is an option after the hike.

Meeting place: 9:00 am, Church Road parking lot by Blue Marsh off Rt. 183 NOTE: Heavy Rain Cancels!!

For more information and further directions, contact: 860-861-5681 

Saturday October 10, 2015 - Hawk Mountain / Appalachian Trail

5 - 6 moderate miles

Early fall colors may be evident for this shuttle hike from Hawk Mt. Road to the beautiful Panther Spring. There will be some hills and rocks. We will follow the AT and a woods road before arriving at a hunter’s parking lot. Lunch will be an option after the hike.

Meeting place: 9:00 am, Redner’s parking lot, Rt. 61, Leesport to shuttle cars 

For further information and directions, contact: 610-286-6886 

Saturday October 3, 2015 - Monocacy Hill Hike

4-5 strenuous difficult terrain

Enjoy the early fall in this lovely preserve. We can’t miss a climb to the lookout for a beautiful view in any kind of weather. We will also hike around some of the other wooded trails.

Meeting place: 10:00 am, Monocacy parking lot on Geiger Road 

For further information and directions, contact: 508-612-3582 or610-207-5526 

Saturday September 26, 2015 - Memorial Hike

Scheduled hike as memorial to former active member. Attendance by members and invited guests only to celebrate her life and interaction with us. Please see club flyer for details of hike location and time.