B Well Beat: Website provides resource for hikers

Hiking in Kineowatha Park in Wilton.

By Christine Bruen

I am happy to report that there are hikers in Franklin County who have joined our Mapping our Footsteps (MOF) group on the www.meetup.com Web site. If you love hiking and haven’t checked this site out please do; we’d love to have you join us. If you can’t make any of the scheduled hikes, but have an idea of where you want to go, suggest your hike to us! We are flexible and can work around your schedule to get you out and hiking with our group. Exercise is important and with the beautiful weather continuing this summer, take advantage of it and get out hiking.

On July 5, we had 23 hikers join us at Kineowatha Park in Wilton; they consisted of parents and children who attend the summer reading group at the Wilton Library. It was a magnificent day to explore the trails that aren’t marked, but well trodden so that you can follow them easily. I definitely recommend this excursion for anyone who is looking for an easy walking trail that doesn’t have a lot of rocks or roots to worry about. It’s a network of 1.1 miles of trails that winds through a canopy of tall pine trees and then a stretch along beautiful Wilson Lake.

In addition to walking trails, there are all kinds of fun activities that you can do while at Kineowatha Park including swimming, basketball, tennis, and skateboarding, among others. There’s also a wonderful playground for children, and children at heart, to enjoy.

Another hike that I did with a couple friends that was not on the Meetup Web site, but is nonetheless worth checking out, is Little Jackson Mountain located behind Tumbledown in Weld. This is a moderate to advanced hike that takes about four hours to complete. We setout on a beautiful clear day and the hiking was perfect on this gradually inclined trail with few roots and big rocks. Just when you’d think that you’d have to climb up a steep incline for the rest of the way like Loop Trail on Tumbledown, you are suddenly above the tree line, where you can see magnificent panoramic views for miles. As we continued on to the summit, the views offered joyous thrills among us.

If anyone would like to join me on a Little Jackson hike I would be more than happy to hike it again. I highly recommend this hike to anyone. Suggest it on www.meetup.com and we can make it happen!

A final reminder: If you are hiking always have plenty of water and remember to check yourself for ticks to protect yourself from Lyme Disease.

Happy Hiking!

“We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open.” -Jawaharial Nehru

For more information about hikes and or our Web site please contact Program Coordinator Leanne DiMaio at 779-2933 or write: ldimaio@fchn.org