Trek 18 of the North South Trail will be held on six Saturdays from March 20 through May 22, 2010

Registration: ADVANCE REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED!! Registration for the Trek is limited to 75 hikers per day. If you'd like to join the Trek after Day 1, call Ginny at 781-8117 to make sure there is room for you.

Registration forms must be received by Wednesday, March 17 to participate in the Day 1 hike. Fees are $15 per person registration fee for the entire 6 days of hikes ($5 to hike on only one day; $40 maximum for a family at the same address). The fee covers postage, bus, parking, refreshments and trail maintenance expenses. Call Ginny at 781-8117 to get a registration form.

In past Treks, Day 1 has been the most popular and the number of participants has decreased in later hikes. So, even if you are unable to register for Day 1, you may be able to attend on later days.

Rain/snow dates: Hikes will be held rain or shine and will be rescheduled only for very severe weather or icy ground conditions. Registered participants will be e-mailed or called if the day's hike will be rescheduled.

Questions? Call Ginny Leslie (781-8117) or Al Pointe (437-0930)

TREK SCHEDULE/DIRECTIONS

Day 1 - SATURDAY, MARCH 20 - Charlestown, southern Richmond - 12 miles

Meet at 9:00 a.m. at Meadowbrook Pond Fishing Area, Routh 91, Richmond (just east of Wood River Junction).

Hikers will ride the bus to Blue Shutters Beach at the end of East Beach Road in Charlestown. Then they will hike north from Blue Shutters Beach, cross Rt. 1, then hike through Burlingame State Park and Burlingame Management Area and end at Meadowbrook Pond on Route 91.

Day 2 - SATURDAY, April 3 - Richmond, southern Exeter - 14.3 miles

Meet at 9:00 a.m. at the parking lot of Browning Mill Pond in the southeast part of Arcadia Management Area.

Hikers will ride the bus to Meadowbrook Pond on Route 91, then hike through Carolina Management Area and along Meadowbrook Trail; take roads to southernmost part of Arcadia; hike through Arcadia to Browning Mill Pond.

Day 3 - SATURDAY, April 17 - Exeter, West Greenwich, southern Coventry - 16 miles

Day 4 - SATURDAY, May 1 - Northern Coventry, Foster - 11 miles

Day 5 - SATURDAY, May 15 - Northern Foster, Killingly, CT, Glocester - 13.2 miles

Day 6 - SATURDAY, May 22 - Burrillville, Douglas, MA - 13 miles

Distances/times: Each day's hike covers between 11 and 17 miles; time required depends on the terrain and the hiking speed of each participant. The average is about 6 to 7 miles in 2 1/2 to 3 hours each morning; in the afternoon after lunch, hikers cover about the same distance in the same time as the morning. Hikes finish between 1 and 4:30 p.m.

Maps: Each morning, maps showing the day's route are distributed to participants.

Food and beverages: Participants should bring lunch, snacks and a beverage. The NST Council provides water, fruit drinks, fruit and cookies at registration, and a car meets hikers at selected points with refreshments.

Transportation: Hikers meet each morning at 9:00 at the end point of the day's hike (9:30 on Day 5), leaving as many cars as possible there. Hikers then take a school bus to the starting point.

Remember, ADVANCE REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED!! For complete information, directions, and a registration form, call Ginny Leslie at 401-781-8117.