ORFS Winter Hike at Colby-Sawyer College's Kelsey Field Trail

The Outdoor Recreation for Seniors (ORFS) group meets every Tuesday year-round at 10 am.  In the summer we kayak/canoe, swim and hike.  In the fall we hike, and in the winter we snowshoe and cross-country ski.  Our trips are from 1-1/2 to 2 hours, followed by lunch.

Directions and location are available for our Tuesday 10 am outings via email and the monthly New London Chapin Senior Center Courier newsletter. To learn more and join, contact the Chapin Senior Center at 357 pleasant Street, PO Box 1263, New London, New Hampshire 03752 or go to their web site at http://www.coachapincenter.org

ORFS is a very informal group and participation is for all outdoor enthusiasts wanting guaranteed good exercise with a friendly fun group.

Colby-Sawyer College, New London, NH, provided our weekly Tuesday 10 am winter hike. Hiking the Kelsey Field trail was a first time experience for our ORFS hiking group.

Jim was our leader and hike organizer.  Leading 20+ ORFS was a responsibility he readily accepted.  In fact, he first hiked the trail last October to be sure of its locations and turns, and level of difficulty.  The second time he hiked the trail was after a snow and ice storm.  He used emails to notify all ORFS to bring their micro spikes or crampons, snowshoes, and trekking poles ... he expected the trail to be mixed ice with snow.

The sky was cloudless with the temperature in the low twenties.  A beautiful New Hampshire day for a winter hike.

The trail was designed and constructed by Professor Leon Milan, Environmental Services, and his students.  It was built to be used as an outdoor classroom and a cross country track for the Athletic Department.  

The Kelsey Trail had to meet the specifications for cross country track.  It was first opened to the public during Homecoming Weekend, October 2017.

Colby-Sawyer College Event Services office was happy to have ORFS use the trail and also have a delicious lunch in the dining hall.  The entire outing was enjoyed by all. 

DIRECTIONS to Kelsey Field Trail:  from New London on Main Street, turn onto Seamans Rd. at 1st Baptist Church.  Continue behind CSC and turn right at Mercer Field take the first left and drive to the far parking area.  Trailhead is across Seamans Rd.  For lunch walk up the path behind Danforth Hall and Lawson Hall.  Lunch will be at the CSC Cafeteria, Building 20, Ware Student Center. If you have a handicapped sticker you can drive to the Cafeteria and park in appropriate spaces.  Lunch will be the Student Buffet.
Colby-Sawyer College
http://colby-sawyer.edu/

More Blog Posts on Outdoor Recreation for Seniors (ORFS)
1. ORFS Winter Hike Put Safety First: Kidder-Cleveland-Clough Trail

http://outdooradventurers.blogspot.com/2018/01/orfs-winter-hike-kidder-cleveland.html

2. Christmas Caroling with the ORFS
http://outdooradventurers.blogspot.com/2017/12/the-outdoor-recreation-for-seniors-orfs.html
3. Radio Interview with Pearl Monroe - September 6, 2017 
http://outdooradventurers.blogspot.com/2017/09/ 

++++++++++++++++++

" Everyone must do something.  I believe I will go outdoors with family and friends"

++++++++++++++++++
Steve's 5th book, Outdoor Play Fun 4 4 Seasons Volume II, is now available.
Outdoor Play Volume II has trip preparations, routes, and narratives of bucket list places to go.
The book motivates friends and family to make the outdoors a key component of their daily life.
Steve’s books are available as an e-Book at Kindle and hard copy at Amazon.com and
Morgan Hill Book Store (New London, NH.)

ORFS Winter Hike Put Safety First: Kidder-Cleveland-Clough Trail

Last Tuesday at the Outdoor Recreation for Seniors (ORFS) annual meeting an emphasis was placed on the closeness of the ORFS group and the importance and caring they have on watching for each other’s physical being.  No doubt, they are a family.

Bill and Kathy, our leaders for the meeting, had several items on the agenda that brought fourth this family and caring feeling. Kathy reminded us, “Safety first”. If local schools and the Chapin Center are closed, then there will be no “Every Tuesday at 10 am” outing.  Safety first.
The below video shares the ORFS pre-meeting 2-mile snowshoe hike in 20 degrees F temperatures in 2 feet of snow.  The ORFS were the first on this trail after the snow, making an endurance challenge for all of us. Enjoy the ORFS 10 am Kidder-Cleveland-Clough Trail hike.

Other key safety items on the agenda were:

·      Being prepared with proper equipment for the trail

·      Buddy system (For example, do not hike or paddle alone, keep an eye on the first and last person in the group, when coming to a fork in the trail, make sure all in the group know which trail to take).

·      If you have a cell phone have it fully charged before you start – and keep it on.

·      If an accident does happen (e.g. sprained ankle), be sure to report it later to the COA.

As I prepared the above video of the ORFS latest winter hike, all of Kathy and Bill’s attentions came to mind, and I wanted this blog to emphasize winter cautions and gear necessary for a safe and fun hike.  As the saying goes, “you can never be overdressed or too prepared.”

A quick primer:

·      Never hike alone.

·      Always tell someone where you are going and when you expect to be back.

·      Dress appropriately – cotton is the worst fabric for cold, wet weather. Cotton can kill when wet – meaning it soaks up moisture, stays wet, and takes a long, bone-chilling time to dry.  Dress in layers so you can take off or put on as you need. Wool, silk or polypropylene inner layers hold body heat. Wear a hat (even carry a spare), proper insulted shoes (no sneakers!), and gloves (maybe bring a spare pair).

·      Bring water and light snacks.

·      A contractor trash bag (not for trash, but for wearing as emergency rain gear).

·      Whistle

·      Map/compass

·      Flashlight (extra batteries or 2^nd flashlight)

Here are some key winter gear descriptions:

·      Microspikes (some call them crampons) are best worn on fairly level hiking trails covered with packed snow or ice. They provide that little bit of extra traction that you need when your boot treads stop giving you good grips.

·      Gaiter: a covering worn over the lower part of the leg to keep the legs and ankles dry when hiking

·      Snowshoes: usually lightweight platform for the foot that is designed to enable a person to walk on soft snow without sinking.

·      Trekking Poles: I'm a big fan of trekking poles for hiking because they help reduce the strain on my knees when I walk, they improve my balance when I'm hiking over rough ground or crossing streams, and they are useful for establishing a good walking rhythm when synchronizing with your arms. And they exercise your arms and shoulders.

The above are certainly not all inclusive concerns. Learn more hiking “musts” from the below references:

·        Hiking: Winter Conditions Gear Checklist https://www.outdoors.org/trip-ideas-tips-resources/gear-advice/winter-gear-guide

·        Recommended Winter Day Hiking Gear List https://sectionhiker.com/winter-day-hiking-gear-list/

·        Hike Safe Card http://www.hikesafe.com/

·        Why Cotton Kills – A technical explanation https://gizmodo.com/why-cotton-kills-a-technical-explanation-1688286083
·        When do you need snowshoes? Gaiters? Crampons? A winter traction primer 

       https://www.outdoors.org/articles/amc-outdoors/when-do-you-need-snowshoes-gaiters-crampons-a-winter-traction-primer

·        Chapin Center Council on Aging http://www.coachapincenter.org/index.htm 

•      New London, NH Conservation Commission Web Site http://outdooradventurers.blogspot.com/2018/01/a-friend-just-shared-below-new-london.html 
• The Outing Club http://www.theoutingclub.net

More Blog Posts on Outdoor Recreation for Seniors (ORFS)

Christmas Caroling with the ORFS
http://outdooradventurers.blogspot.com/2017/12/the-outdoor-recreation-for-seniors-orfs.html

Radio Interview with Pearl Monroe - September 6, 2017 
http://outdooradventurers.blogspot.com/2017/09/
++++++++++++++++++

" Everyone must do something. I believe I will go outdoors with family and friends"

++++++++++++++++++
Steve's 5th book, Outdoor Play Fun 4 4 Seasons Volume II, is now available.
Outdoor Play Volume II has trip preparations, routes, and narratives of bucket list places to go.
The book motivates friends and family to make the outdoors a key component of their daily life.
Steve’s books are available as an e-Book at Kindle and hard copy at Amazon.com and
Morgan Hill Book Store (New London, NH.)

New London, NH Conservation Commission Website.

A friend just shared the below New London, NH Conservation Commission website. It is a wealth of information for day hikes in the New London, New Hampshire area.  What most excited me was the spreadsheet titled, Individual Trail Links.  Each of the 29 trails listed in the spreadsheet has a link to specific descriptions and directions.  Wow!

http://www.nl-nhcc.com/trails/nlcctrails.htm

Individual Trail Links

1. Bunker Loop	11. Kidder-Cleveland-Clough	21. Philbrick-Cricenti Bog
2. Clark Lookout	12. Knights Hill Nature Park	22. Phillips Memorial Preserve
3. Clark Pond	13. Langenau Forest Spur	23. Pleasant Lake High
4. Cocoa's Path (SRKG)	14. Little Sunapee Associates	24. Shepard Spring
5. Cook Trails	15. Low Plain	25. Webb Forest
6. Cordingley	16. Lyon Brook	26. Wolf Tree (SRKG)
7. Dura Crockett	17. Messer Pond	27. SRKG Trails 5
8. Great Brook (SRKG)	18. Morgan Hill	28. SRKG Trails 6
9. Kidder	19. Morgan Hill Loop	29. SRKG Trails 7
10. Kidder Brook	20. Morgan Pond

The below is a screen print to further entice you to go to this most informative and instructive web site.

++++++++++++++++++

"Everyone must do something.  I believe I will go outdoors with family and friends"

Steve's 5th book, Outdoor Play Fun 4 4 Seasons Volume II, is now available   

Outdoor Play Volume II has trip preparations, routes, and narratives of bucket list places to go. The book will motivate friends and family to make the outdoors a key component of their daily life. If you want 5 or more books signed, send Steve an email send Steve an email  and we can work out the logistics.

Order books at:

• Hardcopyat: http://outdoorsteve.com and https://www.amazon.com/dp/098503842X

• E-book at:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/098503842X