Outings

For up-to-date information on outings and programs call our program hotline at (215)592-4073
For information on Inner City Outings go to their website;
http://www.outings.org
Difficulty Ratings
Easy: Good surface, short length, can be enjoyed by almost anyone in good health with good walking shoes.
Moderate Difficulty: May contain some rough or wet surfaces, some steep paths. Length greater than a "short walk or ride.” Can be enjoyed by almost anyone who walks or exercises regularly, and with sturdy shoes, unless otherwise noted.
Challenging: May contain rough surfaces, overgrown areas, and steep terrain. Length may require walking more than 10 miles or most of the day. Can be enjoyed by almost anyone whose stamina allows a full day of exercise, and with hiking boots unless otherwise noted.

Sunday, August 10, 9:45 a.m. Hike in Lor imer Park, Abington, Montco
A four- to five-mile mile hike. The address is 183 Moredon Rd. Meet at the railroad station. or meet at 9:15 a.m., 201 W Evergreen St., Chestnut Hill. Bring water. Wear long pants. Contact: sg@mrbasketball.net.

Sunday, August 10, 1:00 p.m. Hike in Crum Woods and the Leiper Trail, Nether Providence, Delco
A hike of two and a half moderate miles. Meet at the entrance to Pendle Hill, 338 Plush Mill Rd. We’ll walk south along the east side of the creek through Crum Woods, then north along the west side on the Leiper Trail. Contact: billbrainerd@gmail.com.

Saturday, August 16, 8:30 p.m. Moonlight Hike at the Pennypack Ecological Restoration Trust, Huntingdon Valley, Montco
A hike of four moderate miles. Meet at the Visitor Center, 2955 Edge Hill Rd. between Terwood and Huntingdon roads. Bring a flashlight. Contact: laurenfloyd@verizon.net.

Saturday, August 30, 10:00 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.
Hike the Wild Wissahickon Discover and explore the trails less traveled in the lovely and wild Wissahickon Creek part of Fairmount Park. Meet at Hill House, 201 W. Evergreen Ave., in Chestnut Hill. For more information, including directions, go to www.mrbasketball.net/hike or call Sidney Goldstein, 215-247-4459.

Sunday, September 7, 1:00 p.m. Hike the McKaig Nature Center, Upper Merion, Montco
A three-mile 3 mile hike. The center is on the south side of Croton Road between King of Prus s i a Road and Warner Road South. Park in the Roberts Elementary School lot. Contact: annelovatt@verizon. net.

Tuesday, September 9, 6:45 p.m. Educational Program: Polar Bear, Grizzly, Wolf, Eagle Presented at The Free Library of Philadelphia, 19th and Vine streets., Fourth Floor. Richard Whiteford, Pennsylvania and New Jersey representative of Defenders of Wildlife, will talk about The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and efforts to save endangered species worldwide. Then he’ll show a film on biodiversity in Pennsylvania. Contact: billbrainerd@ gmail.com.

Saturday, September 13, 8:00 p.m.M oonlight Hike on the Schuylkill River Trail, Montco
A hike of four easy miles. Take 422 north. Just above the Schuylkill River, take the Trooper Rd (363) exit. Go a quarter-mile northeast on Trooper, left on Audubon Road three-quarters of a mile to Pawlings Road. Turn left on Pawlings, pass St. Gabriel’s on the left, park in the bicycle lot on the right near Wetherill Road. Bring a flashlight and a snack to share. Contact: randewolf@verizon.net, 610-933- 6414.

Saturday, September 20, 2008 (Raindate will be in Spring 2009, watch for relisting), 8.00 a.m. until dinner (all day tour)
The Pinnacle and Pulpit Rock (A Walk in the Schuylkill River Heritage Area Series) Information and reservations: Philadelphia Parks Alliance, 215- 879-8159. Meeting place: please confirm when registering. Terrain and Difficulty: Appalachian Trail – foot paths and woods roads. Moderate difficulty. Wear good hiking shoes, dress warmly if need be, and bring a lunch to eat along the trail. Pre-registration required (limit of 12 participants). East of Schuylkill Gap, the Appalachian Trail follows an undulating ridge with spectacular views over Berks County. This is also a good time of year to observe the raptor migration. We’ll learn as well as about old iron furnaces that form part of the industrial heritage of the Schuylkill River watershed. Trip fee of $25 for members of Sierra Club and a number of other environmental groups, $30 for others includes full hiker’s breakfast but not lunch or dinner; transportation will be via car pools—participants are asked to share expenses.

Sunday, September 21, 1:00 p.m. Hike the Darlington Trail, Middletown, Delco
A two-and-a-half-mile moderate hike. Go west on Route 1 a mile past 452, Pennell Rd. Turn north at the stoplight, Valley Road across from the old Franklin Mint. Go north on Valley a quartermile, passing under the Wawa underpass, to the parking lot on the left. Contact: billbrainerd@ gmail.com.

Saturday, September 27, 10:00 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Hike the Wild Wissahickon
Discover and explore the trails less traveled in the lovely and wild Wissahickon Creek part of Fairmount Park. Meet at Hill House, 201 W. Evergreen Ave., in Chestnut Hill. For more information, including directions, go to www.mrbasketball.net/hike or call Sidney Goldstein, 215-247-4459.

Sunday, October 5, 1:00 p.m. Hike in Ridley Creek State Park, Delco
A three- to four-mile hike. Meet at the Mansion (Park HQ). Take Gradyville Road west from Providence Road, east from 352, to the stop sign, the Park entrance. Turn south onto Sandy Flash Drive, over a hill one-quarter mile to the mansion driveway on the right. Park in the upper lot. Meet at the stairs going down to the mansion. Contact: annelovatt@verizon.net

Sunday, October 19, 1:00 p.m. Walk at Greenbank Farm, Marple, Delco
A one-and-one-half-mile walk. From 252 turn east down a steep hill onto Palmer’s Mill Road, past Natural Lands Trust on the right, to a stop sign at the top of a hill. Go straight, not left, at the stop sign into Greenbank Farm/ Delaware County Historical Society, down a long, curvy driveway over a speed bump to two white houses on the right. The address is 991 Palmer’s Mill Rd., Cottage 1, Media 19063. Contact: billbrainerd@gmail. com, 610 325 3127.

Saturday, October 25 (Raindate will be in Spring 2009, watch for relisting), 8.00 a.m. until dinner (all day tour)
Fall and Pretzels in Lancaster County Informat ion and re s e r va - t i ons : Ph i l a d e l p h i a Pa r k s Al l i a n c e , 2 1 5 - 8 7 9 - 8 1 5 9 . Meeting place: please confirm when registering. Terrain and Difficulty: Easy back paved roads . Mode r a t e di f f i cul ty. Wear good walking shoes, dress warmly if need be, and bring a lunch to eat along the trail.Preregistration required (limit of 12 participants). Join us for an fall walk on quiet back roads of the Amish farm country to observe the harvest, and to visit a local pretzel bakery or two, where we’ll see the traditional skill of pretzel making by hand. We’ll conclude the day’s adventure with dinner at a traditional local buffet with a discussion of land and park planning in Lancaster County. Trip fee of $25 for members of Sierra Club and a number of other environmental groups, $30 for nonmembers, includes full hiker’s breakfast but not lunch or dinner; transportation will be via car pools—participants are asked to share expenses.

Saturday, October 25, 10:00 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Hike the Wild Wissahickon Discover and explore the trails less traveled in the lovely and wild Wissahickon Creek part of Fairmount Park. Meet at Hill House, 201 W. Evergreen Ave., in Chestnut Hill. For more information, including directions, go to www.mrbasketball.net/hike or call Sidney Goldstein, 215-247- 4459.

Sunday, October 26, 1:00 p.m. Hike at the Pennypac k Ecological Restoration Trust, Huntingdon Valley, Montco
A hike of four moderate miles. Meet at the Visitor Center, 2955 Edge Hill Road between Huntingdon and Terwood roads. Contact: laurenfloyd@verizon. net.

Monday, November 24, 6:45 p.m. SPG Educational Program a t t h e Fr e e Li b r a r y o f Philadelphia Pr o g r am s u b j e c t :
Wh a t SEPTA is doing for the environment. Location is the Free Library of Philadelphia, 19th and Vine streets, fourth floor. SEPTA Ge n e r a l Ma n a g e r Joseph Casey will discuss such topi c s a s r ide r ship, idl ing, hybrid buses, and other influences on air quality and global warming. A representative of Phi l ly Bike Sha re wi l l a l s o speak. Contact: billbrainerd@ gmail.com.

Saturday, November 29, 10:00 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Hike the Wild Wissahickon Discover and explore the trails less traveled in the lovely and wild Wissahickon Creek part of Fairmount Park. Meet at Hill House, 201 W. Evergreen Ave., in Chestnut Hill. For more information, including directions, go to www.mrbasketball.net/hike or call Sidney Goldstein, 215-247- 4459.

SERVICE PROJECTS

WISSAHICKON PARK
First Sat. of the month, 10 am / Trail Work Party in the Wissahickon.
Join Sierra Club and Appalachian Mountain Club for a trail work from 10 a.m. -12:30 p.m. followed by lunch at a local spot. For more information, including directions, go to
www.mrbasketball.net/hike or call Sidney Goldstein, 215-247-4459.

2nd and 4th Sat. of the month / Wissahickon Service Project. Contact David Bower at 215-685-2189 for time and meeting place. Various tasks to help restore and maintain the Wissahickon. This project is sponsored by the Fairmount Park Commission. This project is sponsored by the Fairmount Park Commission.

3rd Sat. of the month / Wissahickon Vine Clearing Project
Contact Jake Michael at 610-918-0775 for meeting place to clear invasive vines in the park from 10 am to 12 noon. This project is sponsored by the Friends of the Wissahickon.

PENNYPACK PARK
2nd Sat. of the month 10 am - 1 p.m.
Pennypack Restoration Volunteers. Contact Jackie Olson at 215-685-0470 for the day's projects. This project is sponsored by Fairmount Park and Pennypack Environmental Center.

2nd Sun. of the month, 12 p.m. - 3 p.m.. Pennypack Volunteer Opportunities. Join the Northeast Cyclists for a variety of projects in support of park restoration. Contact Jackie Olson 215-685-0470. This project is sponsored by Fairmount Park and Pennypack Environmental Center.

RIDLEY CREEK STATE PARK
First Sat. of the month 9 am - 12 p.m.. Projects involve a variety of activities to help maintain the trails in this beautiful local park. Due to state budget cutbacks, the park is more short-staffed than ever and needs help. Family and friends are welcome also.
Regular trail work.For details and to register, contact Howard Sherman at 610-626-0751 or
howardsherman@att.net. This project is sponsored by the Friends of Ridley Creek State Park.

Philadelphia Recycling
1st Sat. of the month. Join Sierra Club members and neighbors to recycle plastics, cardboard and other items not part of the city's general recycling program. Contact ajthomson175@hotmail.com.

Note: Service projects sponsored by organizations
other than the Sierra Club
are offered to Sierra Club members as
opportunities to participate in worthy
projects, which enhance, protect and
preserve the environment.