Winter Solstice Hike and Campfire

Join Friends of Pachaug Forest and The Last Green Valley as they co-host a celebration of the Winter Solstice.  There will be two events that afternoon; a hike beginning and ending at the CCC Camp Lonergan site and a campfire after the hike at the CCC site.

The hike will be an easy 2.2 mile loop along Cutoff Road, then on an old logging road through a portion of the Pachaug - Great Meadow Swamp, will pass by the open meadow where Trail 2 crosses the upper portion of Mt. Misery Brook and then will follow Trail 1 back to the CCC camp through a mature mixed forest.  The hike will begin at 2 pm and end by 3:45.  Hike leaders include FOPF Bob Panko and TLGV Chief Ranger Bill Reid.

Following the hike there will be a campfire at the CCC site from 4 to 6 pm.  The Solstice occurs at 4:48.  The campfire will be a chance to warm against a chill December evening and all are invited to share a story, a reading, a song or anything that helps celebrate the passage into another winter season.  Bring along a mug to share a hot beverage at the fireside as well as a lawn chair and a flashlight for post campfire safety purposes.

To access the event, turn off State Route 49 at the Smokey Bear sign at Pachaug State Forest Headquarters just north of Voluntown.  Follow Headquarters Road through the forest and bear right at the CCC Statue. The CCC camp is just ahead up to the right. (H4VP+P4 is the Google Maps location point for the CCC parking. Type into your Google Maps GPS).