CVOA Celebrates the Holidays

Nineteen intrepid hikers trudged through snow, over log bridges and across the (just) frozen Jones Pond for the outdoor club’s holiday hike. This small pond is located at the base of Cranberry Peak and the Bigelow Horns, right off the Appalachian Trail.

The reward was spectacular views of the Bigelow Range from one side of the pond … and Sugarloaf from the other.

The 2-hour, 4-mile hike wound through the woods and over several streams along the AT before crossing Stratton Brook Road, Cranberry Peak Road and Stratton Brook. The trek attracted 19 hikers, many who spent the morning on skis before stepping into hiking boots and snowshoes. The weather was perfect for this type of winter activity; no wind, temps in the 20s and partly cloudy.

Cookies

"We had a great turnout," said CVOA President Peter Weston. “Everyone had such a good time, this will become an annual event.”

Participating were hike leader Rick ‘Coyote’ Chenard, Pete and his wife Judy Fitzpatrick-Weston, Sandy Jamieson, Stephanie Rushton, Joyce Tobias, Cynthia Pernice, Nancy Perry, Harley Lee, Marcel Poulin, Fred Randall, Rick Young, Linda and Paul Trueworthy, Roger Doherty, Kathy and Peter Fitzpatrick, and Stephanie Reed.

The trek was followed by a cookout and cookie swap at Nancy Perry’s home on West Mountan featuring dozens of cookie varieties baked fresh by CVOA chefs. Another 18 CVOA members joined the hikers for the party.

During the gathering, CVOA members pieced together their activity calendar for 2009. Events will include ski trips to Aspen and Quebec City, bike trips along the southern Maine coast and to Isleboro, hikes to Gulf Hagus and up Bigelow Mountain, a fishing trip to Canada, weekends at Baxter State Park and Acadia National Park, a day on Monhegan Island, two dinner dances, spring ski BBQs, full moon snowshoe hikes, a skating party as well as numerous civic projects.

Check out the online photo album for my images from the trip at: Picasa Web Albums.