These hikes are designed for the integration of 2 basic components, fitness and recreation.  Though the pace is not quite as intense as the Wednesday hikes, the duration is usually longer, so stamina is important.  Both the day trips and over-night camping trips range between 7-12 mile hikes.  We try to design the hikes to encompass the locale's most note-worthy points of interest, i.e. waterfalls, natural anomalies, etc.  Transportation is via carpool (see Carpool for complete info).  In order to accommodate as many people as possible we plan to separate departure times for Saturday whenever warranted.

Departure times:  (May vary according to trip)

     >Early Saturday usually between 9-11 a.m.

     >Mid-afternoon usually between 2 - 4 p.m.

Essentials: 

>*Backpack/WITHOUT frame (or some facsimile thereof)                      >*Good Shoes (see shoe info under Wed hikes)                                             >*Rain poncho (for inclement weather)                                          >*Water/liquids*Food - You will need to bring:

Lunch

    >Early Saturday departure groups may bring a lunch or take advantage of the locales' quisine after camp set-up.                                                     >Sunday lunch will be taken on the hike and eaten on the trail, plan accordingly.

Dinner

>Saturday evening's meal is a campfire dinner, plan accordingly.                   >Sunday late afternoon/early evening departures frequently dine out on the return trip.        This option is left to your own personal discretion and your carpool. 

*Camping equipment - (See Headquarters Camp info. for equipment supplied for group use).

     >Tent                                                                                                                              >     Sleeping bag/gear                                                                                                                 >     Flash light                                                                                                                                     >     Small ice chest or cooler

(note: the only requirements are sleeping equipment, other supplies can be borrowed from HQ camp.  All loan equipment is available on a first come basis and there are no fees involved.) 

*Fees - campsite fees, firewood, boat rental, etc…  All costs likely to be incurred per trip are listed in the trip planner at the Yahoo site.  The average cost per person is usually between $8-15.  Most fees are shared, such as campsite and firewood, while others such as boat rental (if participating) are optional.  Our goal is to reduce cost to a minimum.

Optional:

*Water shoes (we like to take advantage of the bodies of water, rivers, and lakes etc.. on the hikes.  So if you might be interested water shoes are a good idea.  Sometimes we take trails that cross through small rivers and streams so again the shoes are handy.)

*Towel (if you plan to take advantage of the water)

*Extra pair of dry socks (just in case you accidentally take advantage of the water!)

*Plastic zip bags (to keep dry things dry and wet things away from dry things)

*Small plastic trash bags (for trash receptacle during the hike, i.e. lunch and snacks.  You will, of course, not leave any trash behind.  Whatever you bring into the woods you take with you when you leave.

This is the typical scenario for the weekend trip.  The first Saturday departure group will arrive at the location and set-up camp.  After lunch there will be a short hike, usually 2 - 3 miles.  Then showers and return to camp for arrival of the second departure group.  Campfire dinner is a group activity at HQ camp.  Wake-up is usually 8 a.m. and breakfast is a group campfire activity, again at HQ camp.  Next camp is disassembled and then the hike begins.  In the summer we end the hike with ice cold watermelon.  Sometimes we make dinner plans out on the town of the locale if we end late.  Other times we may meet at some point en route and then times we just simply return back to the carpool point.  We make the decisions on a case by case and group vote basis.   

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