We live in a bit of day-hiker heaven. Fall weekend hikes sponsored by the Sunapee-Ragged-Kearsarge Greenway (SRKG) Coalition are an opportunity to see local peaks and valley woodlands both up close and with expansive views.
The hikes up Ragged and Kearsarge mountains are classic New Hampshire view hikes. Lower elevation walks in Andover, Sutton, and Newbury pass historic cellar holes on old Class 6 roads and show the importance of land conservation for wildlife habitat preservation. A special hike on the Sutton side of Mount Kearsarge will explore 236 acres that the Forest Society hopes to add this year to its Black Mountain Forest Preserve placed in conservation a few years ago.
Sunapee-Ragged-Kearsarge Greenway Coalition hikes are free to the public. Please call the volunteer hike leader to learn starting location and time. Be prepared: bring water, bug and sun protection, and a snack. See SRKG.org for information and membership.
Sunday, September 11: In Andover, a family hike on Trail 10 from Proctor Academy to Winslow State Park. Six miles on easy trails and old roads. Contact Dave Gardner and Nick Baer at 927-4033 or BudahBing@nullyahoo.com.
Saturday, September 24: From Winslow State Park over Mount Kearsarge to Kearsarge Valley Road on Greenway Trail 11. 5.8 miles. Contact Anne Hewitt at 848-5762 or Anne5762@nulllive.com.
Saturday, October 1: In North Sutton near Kearsarge Regional High School, a backwoods exploration of a hoped-for 236-acre conservation addition to Black Mountain Forest Preserve on Mount Kearsarge. A relaxed few miles of outdoor education. Contact Dave Anderson at 224-9945 x 335 or DAnderson@nullForestSociety.org.
Sunday, October 16: Over Ragged Mountain from Wilmot to Proctor Academy in Andover on Greenway Trail 9. 6.1 strenuous, rewarding miles. Contact Rosanna Dude at 828-1001 or RosannaLeigh@nullgmail.com.
Saturday, October 22: In Newbury on Greenway Trail 14 between Newbury harbor and Chalk Pond. Moderate 4.4-mile woods hike. Contact Lee Carvalho at 735-5719 or LeeCarvalho6@nullgmail.com.
Saturday, October 29: From Kezar Lake at Wadleigh State Park in North Sutton via King Hill and New Hampshire Audubon Sanctuary to Chalk Pond in Newbury. Contact Nathan Richer at 763-2127.