November Newsletter 2020
Greylock from Taconic Crest
Election of Officers
Vote now for the 2021-2022 Officers. We would normally vote for the slate of officers at the Annual Banquet which cannot be held this year. Our new Bylaw’s allow us to vote electronically.
President: Martha Waldman
Vice President: Karen Ross
Treasurer: Leslie Siegard
Secretary: Lori McCarron
Voting is easy! Just click on the “ELECTION: VOTE HERE” button below! Submit your Vote by November 10. Voting is open to members only.
Continuing to fulfill our mission, the Board will continue efforts to grow the Club and increase participation through the THC monthly newsletter, the website, and the Facebook page. For the benefit of trail users, we will continue to update, print, and sell our “Taconic Crest Trail Map and Guide”. We will continue to maintaining and grow our partnerships with other outdoor and environmental organizations in the region, and will train new leaders and offer outings throughout the year. We have a robust membership of 223, we recently added 5 - 6 new trail workers, and best of all, the three retail outlets are quickly selling the 2020 Edition of the “Taconic Crest Trail Map and Guide”. This means our Club is engaged with both members and the public and plays an important role in regional outdoor recreation.
Renew your membership for 2021 now!
You may renew online or by mail. Be sure to update changes in your contact information: email, phone, or address.
To renew a membership by credit card or PayPal, go to the membership page of the Taconic Hiking Club website, or click here https://taconichikingclub.org/membership
To renew by mail, make out a check payable to the “Taconic Hiking Club” in the amount of $10. (per person). Send completed check to:
Taconic Hiking Club
c/o Sue Jordan - Membership Chair
276 South Manning Blvd
Albany, NY 12208
Trail work on the TCT.
Bylaws - Changes approved
Thank you to everyone who voted for the proposed Bylaws changes. We are pleased to report that all votes were for approval.
Who is hiking the entire Taconic Crest Trail this year? How long does it take? Where are they from? What do they say?
To date 56 people have completed the trail and applied for the summer cumulative patch this year. That is three times more than usual!
20 people completed the whole 37 miles of trail in one day! Four of the 20 are ultra-runners and the others are ultra-hikers. The other 36 people hiked the trail in sections, the more “traditional” way.
27 are from NY, 15 from MA, 7 from CT and others are from NH, PA., and ME. Only 9 of these are members.
The hikers often expressed their appreciation of the trail and the work done to maintain it in their applications. A few examples:
“This trail was very well maintained and had so many interesting areas and things to see. The blazing was incredible, so thank you to the THC and volunteers.”
“What a terrific Mini Appalachian Trail in our backyard :-)”
“Thank you! We really enjoyed hiking the TCT! I’ve been wanting to thru-hike it for many years, I’m really happy I was finally able to do it.”
“Great Trail! Great Challenge and beautiful trails!”
“I started at 5:13am and ran/hiked and finished at 5:04pm. 38.4 miles per my watch. An enjoyable day. Loved the beds of ferns!!!”
It is not too late to finish the trail this year! You have until Dec 20 to complete the trail to receive a Cumulative Summer Patch in 2020. However, you don’t have to finish it all in one year, if you don’t finish it this year there is always next year! You can also start hiking the TCT to achieve a Cumulative Winter Patch on December 21!
TCT Cumulative Summer Patch
TCT Cumulative Winter Patch
Northeast Ultra 8
Most of the ultra-hikers completing the TCT are also working on the Northeast Ultra 8. The Taconic Crest Trail is one of eight hikes in the Northeast Ultra Challenge. Each of the eight “hikes” must each be done in one day. This challenge requires not just a love of hiking, but extreme ability and endurance. Its focus isn’t on peak bagging like other challenges, but instead on tackling eight epic long-distance hikes in the Northeast. They include the following, and we are happy to take our place among these incredible long-distance achievements.
Devils Path – Catskills
Great Range Traverse – Adirondacks
Saranac 6 – Adirondacks
Cranberry 50 – Adirondacks
Taconic Crest Trail Traverse
Pemi Loop – White Mountains, NH
Presidential Travers – White Mountains, NH
Mahoosuc Traverse - White Mountains, NH
Mount Raimer and Berlin, October
“2020 Edition of Taconic Crest Trail Map and Guide” What is new?
The 2020 edition of the TCT map includes the addition of the “Class of 33 Trail” and the “WRLF Loop Trail”, both can be accessed from the new parking area at the upper end of Berlin Rd in Williamstown. The “Class of 33 Trail” is a strenuous hike to the summit of Berlin Mountain and the “WRLF Loop Trail” is an easy hike, something for everyone! Trail mileages were added to all the access trails on the east side. In addition, some trail head parking information and some pictures were updated. As in the 2014 edition, the map contains the entire trail and access trails with mileages on the front and a concise trail guide, directions to trail heads, and an elevation profile are on the back.
The maps make a great gift, both for yourself and a hiker you know! Information on where or how to purchase the map and guide can be found on the map page on the THC website, https://taconichikingclub.org/maps
Hunting Season
Yep, deer hunting season has begun. It is now bow season in the NYS southern zone, regular (rifle) season opens November 21 through December 13. The NYS Northern Zone regular (rifle) season is October 24 through December 6 and MA shotgun season is November 30 through December 12. Just because there are hunters sharing the woods does not mean we hikers cannot enjoy the trails. There are safe places to hike where hunting is not allowed. Some land trusts and conservancies do not allow hunting. There is no hunting on Sunday in Massachusetts. Some sections of through trails such as the Finger Lakes Trail are closed during hunting season.
When planning your hike, it is helpful to know the hunting season (available on-line), whether the conservancy allows hunting on its property or if the trail is closed. Generally hunting is allowed on state properties.
It is always advisable and helpful to the hunters and yourself to wear high visibility clothing such as hats, gloves, and jackets. Blaze orange is best. Also, it is best to stay on the trail unless you know there is no hunting on the property. By Leslie Siegard
Enjoying the fall near the TCT, wearing our orange vests.
OUTINGS
We have interesting hikes to choose from in November. Refer to the THC website outings page for details about the outings, how to register and social distancing protocols. We are scheduling on a short-term basis rather than seasonally, so check the website periodically.
Friday, November 6: Dunham Reservoir Hike, Grafton NY (Easy; C 4 miles)
Saturday, November 7: Perry’s Peak loop C+
Tuesday, November 10: Bennington Battlefield Trails, Walloomsac NY: C+
Wednesday, November 18: Grafton Lakes State Park Trails: 7-Mile Loop Hike, Grafton NY B-
Friday, December 11: Grafton Lakes State Park, Mill Pond to White Lilly Pond
Wednesday, December 16: Snow Hole, Petersburg Pass B-
Second Pond, Grafton Lakes State Park
West Kill in October
Twin Pond, early October
Sunlight through the autumn leaves