COMING EVENTS

April 23rd     RAMAPO CHAPTER MEETING
Nanuet Public Library, 7 PM Pot Luck Supper, sale/swap of gently used hiking items, and VOTE on the merger of the Ramapo and North Jersey chapters. You may bring a dessert, entree or salad (RSVP by April 15th to Suzan Gordon). Beverages, plates and utensils will be provided. And clean out your closet of hiking gear you no longer need and bring it to sell, swap or donate!

June 18th     NORTH JERSEY RAMAPO CHAPTER MEETING
On Thursday evening, June 18th our new chapter will have its first program and meeting at 7 PM in the Holy Cross Lutheran. Church, 125 Glasgow Terrace, Mahwah, NJ.
This convenient NJ location is on Route 202 (Ramapo Valley Road), just a bit west of Route 17, the Mason Jar Restaurant, and the Trail Conference Office. Our speaker will be Rick Cech, natural history author, photographer, and field observer of butterflies. Rick is the author of a magnificent 234 page field guide, Butterflies of the East Coast. We will learn many interesting and surprising facts about the hidden lives of butterflies as well as see his beautiful butterfly photographs during his presentation, "Lifestyles of East Coast Butterflies." Rick will have copies of his books to be autographed when you purchase one for your library. Questions and refreshments will follow his presentation. Plan on attending this informative, interesting meeting and please bring friends and family with you. Visit www.butterfliesarestillfree.com for more information.

Sept. 12th    MOHONK DAY
We will meet at Mohonk Mountain House for a day of hiking. Two levels of hikes as well as a rock scramble will be offered. After our day's adventures we will meet at 4 PM on the veranda for tea, shower and change in the spa and go to a delicious four course dinner at 6 PM in the main dining room. The cost per person is $50 for the day. Please RSVP to Suzan Gordon by August 20th. Our rain date is Sunday, Sept. 13th. Please clear both days just in case.

Oct. 30- Nov. 1    FALL FOLIAGE HIKING WEEKEND
We’ve arranged a special weekend package at the Shawnee Inn and Resort in Shawnee on the Delaware, Pennsylvania. We will be guests at this beautiful and historic hotel, which is situated overlooking the Delaware River and adjacent to National Park lands, for two days of planned hikes in the Delaware Water Gap National Park. The Appalachian Trail, Bushkills Falls Trails, and many others are just minutes away. Included in the two day package are many amenities for non-hikers, such as a spectacular indoor pool and a nine hole approach golf course. For an additional fee, you can play their famousl8 hole, River Island course. In addi-tion, fishing and canoeing arc options along with shopping at nearby, brand name outlet stores. Other options include strolling around the Hotel's magnificent property or treating yourself to a massage at thc hotel Spa.
Plan to arrive on Friday, October 30. Arrive early for an afternoon hike or in time to enjoy dinner together. The next day after breakfast, take a pack lunch, and hike or engage in other activities, and have dinner on Saturday evening. Check-out is after breakfast on Sunday, November 1. We then have the option of participating in one more hike before heading home. The trip is only 75 minutes by car from the Trail Conference Office in Mahwah. Please look at the Hotel's web site, www.shawneeinn.com  . Call or e-mail Suzan Gordon for more details. 201-871-3531 or browning.27@verizon.net