Chiltern Mountain Club - New England's LGBTQI+ outdoors club

We are co-hosting this event with the Connecticut Pride Hikers.
Chiltern will also be hosting the traditional Turkey Tromp on the Saturday after Thanksgiving at the Audubon center, see second event post

Join us this Thanksgiving season for a 3.5 mile MODERATE hike at Mashamoquet Brook State Park (site of the Wolf Den) at 376 Mashamoquet Road (Route 44) in Pomfret, CT on Saturday, November 16, 2024. Meet at 10:30 a.m. for a prompt departure at 11:00 a.m. The rain date is the following day, Sunday, November 17, 2024.
The Chiltern Mountain Club, the first LGBT hiking group in New England (founded by Sturgis Haskins in 1978) established a tradition of a November "Turkey Tramp" at this Connecticut park during the month of November, near the Thanksgiving holiday.

ABOUT THE HIKE: We will meet at 10:30 a.m. at the parking area next to the bridge over Mashamoquet Brook, which is the second parking lot on the right as you driving into Mashamoquet Brook State Park from Route 44. From the bridge we will hike the yellow-blazed trail to the red-blazed trail, and then hike the red-blazed trail loop clockwise to return back to the yellow-brazed trail, and then to the parking area. The 3.5 mile hike is deemed MODERATE because there are some inclines/declines, with rocky areas requiring some navigation. The return part of the loop, however, will be mostly flat.

The hike offers three (3) points of interest: (1) the Indian Chair of Mohegan Chief Uncas, a throne-shaped rock overlooking a ledge from which, legend has it, Chief Uncas surveyed his realm; (2) the Table Rock, a big shelf of metamorphic rock; and, most notably (3) the historic Wolf Den, a nature fissure into a rock ledge where Israel Putnam, in 1724, is fabled to have killed the last wolf in Connecticut. The wolf was preying on local livestock, and Putnam thereby made himself a local hero by killing it. It is possible to crouch part of the way into the Wolf Den, but one must crawl on hands-and-knees to reach the end. There is a plaque laid into the stone to the right of the entrance that tells the story of "Putnam and the Wolf" with the motto: HE DARED TO LEAD WHERE OTHERS DARED TO FOLLOW. Putnam later achieved a national reputation as a Major General during the American Revolution, but failed to be promoted to Commander-in-Chief in 1774 because, at age 56, he was deemed too old for the job (otherwise, Washington D.C. might have been Putnam D.C.; but Putnam did lend his name to a Connecticut municipality).

As always, dress appropriately for the season, including proper waterproof footwear. A walking stick is recommended for balance. Read our Disclaimer, and bring ample water for proper hydration during the hike. Dogs on leash are welcome on the trails. The hike, including the time spent at each of the three points of interest, will be about two and half hours. Bring a small snack for our stop at the Indian Chair.

ABOUT THE PARK: Steeped in history, legend, and folklore, Mashamoquet Brook State Park offers hiking, camping and fishing. "Mashamoquet" is the Mohegan word for "stream of good fishing." It was once the domain of Mohegan Chief Uncas. The Daughters of the American Revolution purchased the major parcel in 1899 and sold it to the State in 1942 for the original purchase price. The State then added to it an adjacent parcel gifted by Sarah Fay. There were other purchases and gifts (including a 1957 gift of the Hotchking Wolf Den Farm), which all combined to create a state park in 1919 with over 1000 acres.

DIRECTIONS: The Park is located on Route 44 in Pomfret, CT. From Hartford and points South and West, take I-84 East to Route 44 East (Exit 69), then stay on Route 44 until you reach Pomfret. The approximate GPS address is "376 Mashomoquet Road (Route 44), Pomfret, CT; Once you are on Route 44 and enter Pomfret, watch for the brown sign of the park.

AFTER HIKE SOCIAL: The optional after-hike social will be at the Vanilla Bean Cafe, located at 456 Deerfield Road, Pomfret Center, CT (at the intersection of Route 169, Route 44, and Route 97), a 10-minute drive from the park. This locavore restaurant, located in an early 19th century barn, is known for its homemade soups and aware-winning chili, as well as its distinctive chowders, sandwiches, burgers, and baked goods. To view the menu, visit the restaurant's website: https://thevanillabeancafe.com

We will once again be hiking at the CT Audubon’s Bafflin Sanctuary, this location has the added advantage of being easier on the knees with rolling meadows mixed with wooded areas. Since this is Audubon land, they do not allow dogs.

The Audubon Society has a large visitors center where we will meet and hike from, there is plenty of parking, the indoor bathrooms are closed to the public, but there is a porta-potty. The address for the visitors' center is 218 Day Road, Pomfret Center, CT 06259.

Come out and join us to get some post-Thanksgiving exercise and enjoy good company in the peaceful outdoors. ~ 3.5 miles

Please meet at 10:30 am for an 11 am sharp start.

Late lunch at a local eatery if there is interest.

Rain Date: Sunday, Dec. 1