The Eastham Hiking Club’s schedule is set though the first two months of 2019.
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.
Dec. 19: Provincetown, Blackwater Pond and West. Car Pool, 8:10. Leader: Chuck. Rte. 6 to Provincetown, R at first traffic light onto Race Point Rd., Beech Forest lot 1/2 mile on left. Hike paths, bike trail and soft sand past Blackwater & Great Ponds and cranberry bogs.
Dec. 26: Dennis, Crowes Pasture and Sesuit Harbor. Leader: Don. Rte. 6 to Exit 9, N on Rt 134 to R on 6A, .8 mi. L on School St., first R on South St., first L on Sea St., .4 mi., park at end. Hike woodland trails & marsh to Crowes Pasture, Quivett Creek, bay beach and Sesuit Harbor.
Jan. 2: Truro, Ryder Beach, Truro Moors. Carpool 8:20. Leader: Chuck. Rte. 6, L on Prince Valley Rd. (1.25 mi N of Truro town line), right at T onto Old County Rd., 1st L to end. Hike Cape Cod beach, woodland & Cape Cod railway trails to Truro Moors
Jan. 9: Truro, Highland Light, Coast Guard Beach. Carpool 8:15. Leader: Chuck. Route 6, R to South Highland Rd. (1/4 mi after school on R), 1.5 mi. to R on Highland Light Rd., parking lot on R. Hike to Highland Light and along woodland trails.
Jan. 16: Wellfleet, Marconi Station, White Cedar Swamp, Cook's Cottage. Carpool 8:25 Leader: Don. 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.
Jan. 23: Provincetown, Snail Road, Classic Dunes. Carpool: 8:10. Leader: Mark. Rt. 6, 3/4 mile past “Entering Provincetown” sign, park on Rte. 6 opposite left turn to unmarked Snail Rd. Walk to ocean over sand dunes and jeep trails. Visit dune shacks and old Peaked Hill Life Saving Station.
Jan. 30: Wellfleet, Griffin Island, Woods/Beac. Carpool 8:20. Leader: Chuck. Great Island parking lot, Rte. 6, L at Wellfleet Center lights, L at Commercial St., 3.2m, L at triangle to parking. Hike the paths along the Herring River estuary to bay cliffs and beach walk.
Feb. 6: Truro, George Nilson Road, Ryder Pond. Carpool 8:20. Leader: Chuck. Rte. 6, .4 mi. past Truro town line, take L on George Nilson Rd., park on either side of road. Hike past Ryder Pond and through woodlands and hollows.
Feb. 13: Wellfleet, Audubon Sanctuary. Carpool 8:35. Leaders: Bruce Hurter & Mark. Route 6 N, L, .2 miles beyond Wellfleet Drive-In at Audubon sign. Follow to parking lot at Visitors Center. Walk with Bruce through the fascinating marsh and woodlands. No fee for visit.
Feb. 20: Truro, George Nilson Rd., Paradise/Lombard Hollows. Carpool 8:25. Leader: Don. Rte. 6, .4 mi. past Truro town line, take L on George Nilson Rd., park on either side of road. Hike through woodlands and scenic hollows to Bay at Ryder Beach and back (2-1/2 hours).
Feb. 27: Truro, George Nilson Road, Scout Camp. Carpool 8:25. Leader: Chuck. Rte. 6, .4 mi. past Truro town line, take L on George Nilson Rd., park on either side of road. Hike through woodlands to old scout camp.
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.
Carpooling is encouraged. Drive on your own if you wish. On hikes that are beyond Eastham the club will schedule general carpools that will leave from the Stop & Shop near the Orleans rotary. As you enter the main parking lot at Stop & Shop, the meeting place is first area on the left. The schedule will state carpooling and give a time. The time on the schedule is the time that you should leave the Stop & Shop. Arrive at Stop & Shop before the designated time. There will be no leader there so make your own carpools. If there is no one there proceed to the starting location on your own.
CONTACTS: Don Light — 508-247-9887, VKLight@comcast.net; Mark McGrath — 508-432-3775, markmcgrath@verizon.net; Bob Rabenold — 508-255-6983, robertojrabenold@gmail.com. Chuck Thompson — 508-255-8081, ctorleans@yahoo.com. E-mail markmcgrath@verizon.net for bi-monthly schedules and/or weekly hike report with maps.