Outings

Please take care to match your physical condition, abilities and limitations to the stated length and elevation gain of the outing you choose. It is your responsibility to have appropriate equipment and clothing for an outing. The “level of effort“ is not the same for everyone. If you are new to hiking or unconditioned, a hike listed as moderate would be very strenuous for you. The outing leader may ask questions in order to determine if you can complete the trip safely. Please cooperate for your safety and the safety of the group. It is in your best interest to let someone know if you have limiting physical conditions or are taking a medication.

Click Here to download printable PDF list of THC outings here for a PDF of the rating charts.

OUTINGS RATING CHART

OCTOBER

Saturday, October 5: TCT #6 – Potter Road in Hancock, MA to south end (Route 20 near New Lebanon), 10.5 miles. B+

*TCT in a Year, series hike #6. Jointly sponsored by Rensselaer Land Trust, Rensselaer Plateau Alliance, and the Taconic Hiking Club. This is our longest section, starting with a long steep ascent, and passing through Pittsfield State Forest and by Berry and Twin Ponds, with great views.

Leader: Nick Conrad. Questions? Contact Nick at NBConrad@msn.com Register online with the Rensselaer Plateau Alliance HERE

Wednesday, October 9, Peebles Island (Hiking Class)

This is the first hike of the "Hiking for the Inexperienced or Newly Retired" HVCC/THC Creative Retirement class. Leaders: Joanna Ezinga, Marcia Hopple, Jim Slavin, and Martha Waldman. Outing is for those already registered through HVCC. Volunteers are welcome to assist during the group hikes!

Contact: Joanna at joanna@ezinga.net or 518-610-1355 if you are interested in assisting. (Outing is for those already registered through HVCC.)

NEW! Friday, October 11:  Stissing Mountain and Thompson Pond Preserve, Pine Plains,  NY  B

This is a combination hike: a short and steep loop hike up the mountain to a fire tower (2 miles RT) and another 2+ miles around Thomson Pond.   Expect to take 1 hour to climb the 1 mile, 900 feet gain to the top.   The tower view during fall colors is worth the drive.  The view of the mountain from the pond is enshrined in an American Museum of Natural History (NYC) diorama.

Leader:  Sharon Bonk, scbonk@gmail.com, 519-674-0042

NEW DATE: Monday, October 14 - Erie Canal Trailway - Cycle: Pattersonville to Schoharie Crossing  ( 24 miles RT)  B

This ride features the newest local section of the E. C. Trailway, an additional trailhead and paved trail 4 miles west of Pattersonville where it then meets the not so newly paved part that takes us to Amsterdam.  In Amsterdam we will stop to explore the riverfront park with a pedestrian bridge (bring your lock) over the old canal.  We will then return to the trail and ride to Schoharie Crossing/Ft. Hunter New York State Historic Site. Lunch spot.   Option to continue a bit further for ice cream!  Return via same route with a stop at canal lock between Amsterdam and Pattersonville.  Spoiler alert. The new section is pretty boring, an alee through shrubbery with very limited views of the Mohawk but great views of two working cement plants.

Meet at Pattersonville Trailhead on NY Rte 5S, about a mile beyond the RR trestle.  Take 890 to exit 1A (Amsterdam), drive west through Lower Rotterdam Junction and Pattersonville to trail head parking lot on right.  

Contact Sharon Bonk, scbonk@gmail.com, 518-674-0042 to register.

Wednesday, October 16, Kinderhook Preserve (Hiking Class)

This is the second hike of the "Hiking for the Inexperienced or Newly Retired" HVCC/THC Creative Retirement class. Leaders: Joanna Ezinga, Marcia Hopple, Karen Ross and Martha Waldman. Outing is for those already registered through HVCC. Volunteers are welcome to assist during the group hikes!

Contact: Joanna at joanna@ezinga.net or 518-610-1355 if you are interested in assisting.

Saturday, October 19: South Taconic Trail (southern end) B

We will hike on the new southern extension of the South Taconic Trail. The trail starts at the south end of Taconic State Park in Millerton. The new trail will take us by a couple pretty waterfalls, where we will cross the streams, and two open viewpoints. New, lightly trod trails are so refreshing! Hopefully the weather will cooperate this time! Total 8 miles round trip with a cumulative gain of about 1700 feet. Contact leader with recent hiking experience and for meeting time and location.

Leader: Martha Waldman email: martha829r@aol.com or phone: 518 869 5109. Co-Leader: Cliff Prewencki: email: cprewencki@aol.com

Monday, October 21 WEST KILL MOUNTAIN B

At an elevation of 3,891 feet, this is the 6th highest Catskill Peak. This will be a thru hike covering 8 miles and involving 1,800 feet of climbing. We’ll start at the first parking lot on the Spruceton Road and continue to our spotted car further down the road at the Hunter Mountain trail head parking lot. Contact leader for meeting time and location.

Leader & Reservations: David Pisaneschi, dapadk@gmail.com or 518 227-5630

Friday, October 25   Greylock via The Gould Trail  B+

The Gould Trail makes a beeline for Greylock’s summit (3491’) from the east side, with a trailhead south of Adams, MA off Route 8. It’s a fine trail with good footing that meets Rockwell Road near the summit and then merges with the A.T. to the top.  Bascom Lodge stays open through October, and you can even order lunch there—and it’s good! See BascomLodge.net.  Expect about 6 miles and 2050’ of vertical to reach this highest summit in Massachusetts.  You can also expect snow or ice up there at this time of year.

Leader: Karen Ross kcoyross@aol.com 518 794-7474.

Wednesday, October 23, TCT Snow Hole from Petersburg Pass (Hiking Class)

This is the third hike of the "Hiking for the Inexperienced or Newly Retired" HVCC/THC Creative Retirement class. Leaders: Joanna Ezinga, Marcia Hopple, Jim Slavin, Martha Waldman. Outing is for those already registered through HVCC. Volunteers are welcome to assist during the group hikes! (tentative location).

Contact: Joanna at joanna@ezinga.net or 518-610-1355 if you are interested in assisting.

ANNUAL BANQUET, Sunday, October 27:

Speaker: We are fortunate to have Richard “Rich” Guthrie, a well known bird expert and retired NYS DEC biologist, as our speaker. You may have heard him as a popular guest commentator on WAMC radio’s call-in Vox Pop program on the topic of local birds or read his Times Union blog about birds. Please join us and enjoy listening to him give an interesting and informative presentation on birds in the northeast!

Presentation: Birding over 60 years: "60 years of change - from birds we see every day - that I could only dream about as a kid - to birds we won't see in New York anymore and the totally unexpected newcomers."

Location: Moscatiello’s Italian Restaurant, 99 North Greenbush Rd (Rte. 4), Troy

Date & Time: Sunday, October 27, noon to 4 PM

Cost: $25 per person for a luncheon buffet

Registration Due Date: October 21

Registration contact: Margaret Parks at 518 250-5452 or margaretparks213@gmail.com

Mail your $25 check made out to Taconic Hiking Club to Margaret Parks, 9 Tokay Lane, Schenectady, NY 12309.

NEW! Wednesday, October 30: Harrier Hill to Greenport Conservation Area, Stockport NY C       

Catch the last of autumn leaves along and across the Hudson River on a through hike from Scenic Hudson’s Harrier Hill to the Columbia Land Conservancy’s Greenport Conservation area. 4 + miles with short hilly sections which can be slippery if it has rained recently. Views include Kaaterskill High Peak and possibly an Amtrak train zooming along the river. We will spot cars, meeting at the Greenport Conservation area parking lot, then carpooling to Harrier Hill to walk to Greenport. 

Leader: Sharon Bonk, scbonk@gmail.ocm, 518-674-0042

NOVEMBER

Monday, November 4 DOME SUMMIT B

Following the Dome Trail, we’ll climb to the 2,748 summit. The birch, maple, beech, and oaks of the lower slops transition to a distinctly Laurentian plateau with boreal forest near the summit. The summit offers magnificent views of the entire north Berkshire region, including Pine Cobble, the Greylock Range and Taconic Range. This will be a round trip of 5.2 miles, so there’s no need to hurry on this hike. Total elevation gain will be about 1,500 feet. Contact leader for meeting time and location.

Leader & Reservations: David Pisaneschi, dapadk@gmail.com or 518 227-5630

Wednesday, November 13: Pittsfield State Forest   B 

This hike will include two loop trails, which both go up and back down. The first, before lunch, wends its way back and forth, as it goes up. We will descend on the Lulu Brook Trail which is narrow and has oak leaves on top of roots and rocks, so if you have balance issues, you may want at least one pole, or you can grab a substantial stick in the woods if you don't want to carry a pole the whole time.  Enjoy lunch at the Lulu Cascade parking area. The second loop, after lunch, is like a staircase, up, then flat, up, then flat...The afternoon loop will take about an hour.  Neither is loop particularly steep. As usual, bring water, poles if you use them, snack, lunch and tick spray. Car pool possible from Park and Ride at Schodack Center. Meeting time at the Lulu Cascade parking area is 9:30; registration required. Approximately 7.75 miles with 1100 feet of cumulative gain.

Contact Leader to register: Ginny Akabane, email gakabane@hotmail.com

Monday, November 25:  Sarah Tenney Trails, Williamstown MA C+

The Williamstown Rural Lands Foundation offers a variety of hiking options. We can start on the Sarah Tenney trail about 1.5 miles past Petersburg Pass and follow trails on both sides of the road, including a trek through Treadwell Hollow. We have some flexibility, on the exact route and distance, depending on conditions and preferences of the group. We could spot a car at Petersburg Pass to make it more of a through hike. I anticipate total hiking distance of 4 - 6 miles with relatively modest vertical ascent (less than 1000 feet).

Leader: Bob Armao bob_armao@yahoo.com 518 322-6889

DECEMBER

Tuesday December 10 HOPKINS MEMORIAL FOREST to SNOW HOLE B

Starting from the Rosenburg Center we’ll hike the Lower Loop and Birch Brook trails to the TCT and continue to the Snowhole. We’ll return via the Upper Loop back to the Rosenburg Center. Round trip distance will be about 10 miles with a 1,500+ feet elevation gain. Contact leader for meeting time and location.

Leader & Reservations: David Pisaneschi, dapadk@gmail.com or 518 227-5630