Join Dee Denehy (she, her), Richard Doherty (he, him), and Hunter Kirschner (he, him) for a LGBTQ+ winter snowshoe along Kennedy Brook in Stoddard! We’ll begin on King’s Highway and continue gently up a woods road into the Andorra Forest. After crossing Kennedy Brook, the woods road turns into a trail that leads past a cellar hole and an enormous glacial erratic that we can explore, and eventually to a high marsh. As a group, we can then decide to circumnavigate the marsh and take another woods road back or cross Kennedy Brook and bushwack to said woods road to return. The total hike distance will be 2.5 miles, and we’ll keep a leisurely pace. After the hike, we’ll convene back at Richard’s cabin for a campfire and warm beverages in the tipi.

2 to 5 p.m. in Stoddard.  Space is limited, and registration is required. To register, please fill out this online form. For questions about the hike, please contact Richard. To borrow snowshoes or ice traction, please contact Miles Stahmann before 4 p.m. on Friday, January 21.

Directions & Parking
From Route 9: Take Route 123 North to Stoddard. Continue past the store/post office and the end of Highland Lake, where the road straightens out and starts heading up. After approximately half a mile, you’ll see the library on the left and the road will steepen. Take the next right onto King’s Highway (before the town hall). Go for about 2 miles, until you cross the bridge over Kennedy Brook. You’ll see the map of the Hidden Lake Association on the left. The trail starts just before that. At that stop sign, turn right onto Kennedy Brook Drive, pass the mailboxes, and make a u-turn at the intersection of Kennedy Brook and Scenic Drive to head back toward Kings Highway. Park on the side of the road across from the mailboxes. There may be a parking spot or two right at the trailhead, as well.

From Route 10: Take Route 123 South toward Stoddard, up over Pitcher Mountain and down into the upper village. You’ll pass the church on the right. Approximately a quarter-mile after that, just after the town office and town hall, turn left onto King’s Highway. Go for about 2 miles, until you cross the bridge over Kennedy Brook. You’ll see the map of the Hidden Lake Association on the left. The trail starts just before that. At that stop sign, turn right onto Kennedy Brook Drive, pass the mailboxes, and make a u-turn at the intersection of Kennedy Brook and Scenic Drive to head back toward Kings Highway. Park on the side of the road across from the mailboxes. There may be a parking spot or two right at the trailhead, as well.