The Eastham Hiking Club has set its late winter and early spring schedule through April.
Below is the essential information for the group, which hikes the woods, dunes, beaches and dirt paths of Cape Cod from Yarmouth to Provincetown. Most of the hikes in the area from Wellfleet to Provincetown.
Hikes are led by group leaders Don Light, Mark McGrath, Bob Rabenold, and Chuck Thompson. EHC hikes Wednesdays, beginning immediately after Labor Day until the week before Memorial Day. The Club is an informal group that is free and open to anyone. EHC hikes every Wednesday at 9 a.m. No signup is required, just show up. Contact information and other details are below. Most hikes are 2 hours with some extending to 2½. Participants walk at a decent pace to get a fair amount of exercise. The normal hikes have from 35 to 70 hikers.
Feb. 21: Harwich – Sands Pond — Lorna Hutcheons Memorial. Leader(s): Don & Bob. Rte. 6, Exit 10, S on Rte. 124. R at T at Church. Great Western Rd. to Sands Pond, parking lot on right. Hike along Harwich ponds, herring run, marshland and cranberry bogs.
Feb. 28: Truro – Rose Road, MITRE sites, cliffs. Car Pool, 8:25. 2 1⁄4 hours. Leader(s): Chuck. Rte. 6, R on Rose Rd., immediately after "Entering Truro" sign. Park 200 yards down road. Hike woodland trails to highest cliff, return past three MITRE Sites and Snow Pond.
March 7: Brewster – Nickerson Park Main Entrance: Leader(s): Don & Bob. Rte. 6A to Nickerson State Park entrance. Park in lot on immediate right. Scenic woodlands walk passing several of Park’s premier ponds.
March 14: Wellfleet - Marconi Station, White Cedar Swamp, Cook's Cottage: Leader(s): Don & Bob. Rte. 6, R at Marconi light. Take first left past NPS Headquarters building to end of road. Hike through Marconi Wireless site, along cliffs and woodlands to White Cedar Swamp trail and back.
March 21: Provincetown - Herring Cove, Hatches Harbor, Snake Hill: Carpool 8:10. 2 1⁄4 hrs. Leader: Chuck. Rte. 6 to end, right at Provincelands Road, L into Herring Cove Beach parking lot, far right side. Walk to Hatches Harbor and Race Point Lighthouse (may see whales), return over Snake Hill. 2 1⁄4 hours.
March 28: Provincetown – Snail Road East (Carpool 8:10). Leader(s): Mark. Rte. 6, 3/4 mile past “Entering Provincetown” sign, park on Rte. 6 opposite left turn to unmarked Snail Rd. Hike the spectacular dunes east of main Snail Rd. trail. See dune shacks, walk the ocean beach.
Apr. 4: Dennis - Crowes Pasture (NOTE: THIS HAS A NEW START LOCATION) Leader(s): Don & Bob. Rte. 6 to Exit 9, N on Rte. 134 to R on Rte. 6A, .8 mi L on School St, 1st R on South St, 1st L on Sea St, .4 mi, park at end. Hike woodland trails & marsh to Crowes Pasture, Quivett Creek, return on beach & woods passing Coles Pond.
Apr. 11: Truro – East Harbor (Pilgrim Lake) Dunes & Beach (Car Pool 8:15) 2 1⁄2 hours Leader(s): Chuck. Exit Route 6 at High Head Road. Take first left fork onto dirt road to parking lot at end. Soft sand, over dunes along the back side of East Harbor to a vista, past dune shack to ocean return.
Apr. 18: Eastham - Salt Pond Visitors Center ~ Coast Guard Beach. Leader(s): Don & Bob. Rte. 6, R at National Seashore Visitor Center, meet in parking lot. Walk around old Cedar Bank Golf Course on Nauset Marsh to Coast Guard Beach & return.
Apr. 25: Wellfleet - Newcomb Hollow North: (Carpool 8:25). Leader(s): Chuck. Rte. 6, R on LaCount Hollow Rd. (PB Boulangerie). L on Ocean View Dr. to end at Newcomb Hollow Beach. Hike along woodland trails and past several ponds and walk the high ocean dunes.
LEADER: Don Light 508-247-9887, VKLight@comcast.net. Co-leaders: Mark McGrath (508) 432-3775, Bob Rabenold (508) 255-6983, Chuck Thompson 508-255-8081. Emails: markmcgrath@verizon.net; robertojrabenold@gmail.com; ctorleans@yahoo.com. Email markmcgrath@verizon.net for bi-monthly schedules and/or weekly hike report with maps. Carpooling is optional; meet at Orleans (south of rotary) Stop & Shop, left lot off main entrance.