Hello Rhode Island Sierrans,
One of the major chapter priorities identified by members at the 2011 retreat is getting more outings put together.
Our goal moving forward will be to have at least one outing a month for 2011 and 2012.
July gives you two options, both in Arcadia Management Area in Exeter Rhode Island on Saturday July 30th. You are welcome to do both.
Hike to Stepstone Falls via Ben Utter Trail - 9:00 - 11:15 am
3.4 mile hike, along a wooded river trail, with a brief interpretive discussion along the way discussing early renewable power - i.e. water power.
Cost: free.
Difficulty: This is a light hike, with families welcome.
Reservations: Our group permit limits us to 12-15 hikers on a first come first served basis. Please contact outings@risierraclub.org to make your reservation, or call Ben Jones at 401-598-6639.
Other info: Please bring your own calories and hydration, sunscreen and bug repellent.
Directions to Trailhead (from HikeNewEngland.com):
- From the junction of Rt. 3 and Rt. 165 in Exeter, drive west on Rt. 165 for about 5.5 miles.
- Turn right onto the paved Escoheag Hill Road.
- After 1 mile, turn right onto the unmarked gravel Austin Farm Road. There are actually two rights here and either one will do - the first one simply leads through a parking area next to an abandoned park building before hooking up with the second right that is the actual road. Both the rights look more like driveways than roads - if you see Old Voluntown Road on your left, then you have gone just a tad too far.
- Once on Austin Farm Road, pass through a gate and travel 1.1 miles from Escoheag Hill Road, bearing left through a junction.
- There will be a small parking area on the left just before a bridge crossing Falls River.
More information here - http://www.hikenewengland.com/StepstoneFallsRI070907.html
Paddle the Upper Wood River - 11:30am - 3:45pm
This is a beautiful, quiet paddle down one of Rhode Island's most pristine rivers. Put-in is a few minutes by car from the trail head above, or a short bicycle ride. You can bring your own kayak, and we have also made arrangements with Queens River Kayaks for rentals.
Cost: Rentals will be $50 for a single kayak or $85 for a tandem. Depending on the number of rentals and trips required, there may be a $10 fee for hauling folks bringing their own kayaks.
Difficulty: Easy paddle, suitable for beginners with some previous kayaking or canoeing experience. Rentals are sit-on-top kayaks.
Reservations: We need to know by Thursday, 9pm, how many rentals are needed, and/or how many folks are bringing their own boats. Email outings@risierraclub.org or call Ben Jones at 401-598-6639 to make your reservation.
Directions to put-in (From ExploreRI.org):
From I-95 north or south take Exit 5A for Route 102 south. Go 0.7 miles south on Route 102 and then turn right onto Nooseneck Hill Road/Route 3 south. Go 1.3 miles south on Route 3 and turn right onto Route 165/Ten Rod Road. Go 3 1/2 miles west on Route 165 and look for a turnoff on the left, just after you cross the Wood River. There is an old Quonset Hut in the middle of the parking area. The site is marked as a DEM fishing access site.
More information here: http://www.queensriverkayaks.com/wood_river.html
ACTION ALERT:
Also, if you haven't heard the bad news, despite our best efforts to address funding for transportation choice in Rhode Island, RIPTA is once again facing route cuts.
We ask Sierra Club members to try to attend hearings about route cuts, and testify in support of EXPANDING rather than CUTTING public transit.
The public hearing schedule is as follows:
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Newport City Hall Council Chambers 43 Broadway Newport, RI 02840
Time: 2pm - 4pm and 6pm - 8pm
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Burnside Building 400 Hope Street Bristol, RI 02809
Time: 2pm - 4pm and 6pm - 8pm
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Warwick City Hall Council Chambers 3275 Post Road Warwick, RI 02886
Time: 2pm - 4pm and 6pm - 8pm
Monday, August 1, 2011
University of Rhode Island Feinstein Providence Campus Auditorium 80 Washington Street Providence, RI 02903
Time: 2pm - 4pm and 6pm - 8pm
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Narragansett Town Hall Assembly Room 25 Fifth Avenue Narragansett, RI 02882
Time: 2pm - 4pm and 6pm - 8pm
If you can attend one or more of the hearings, please let Abel Collins know via email, abel.collins@sierraclub.org or call the office at (401) 521-4734. We are also looking for video testimony. If you have video recording capabilities (and your iPhone or Android is fine), send them our way. If you don't, we can arrange to lend you a video recorder and/or have someone come to you.
Thanks!
Hope to see some of you this coming weekend on one or both of the outings or at some of the RIPTA hearings in the next couple weeks.
Best,
Ben Jones
RI Sierra Club Chapter Chair and current Outings Chair
P.S. If you haven't already, you can find us on Facebook here.
P.S.S. If you have any great hikes, bikes or paddles, feel free to share them with outings@risierraclub.org. We are also looking for additional outings leaders. Requirements include an interest in getting people outside, completion of Sierra Club's outings training, and first aid certification.