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Rhode Island Chapter Outings
About the Outings
Once a month, the Rhode Island Sierra Club puts together a traditional local, family friendly, and fun filled outing to the great outdoors. On these day trips, activities can include hiking in the state's beautiful parks, picnicking in historic town centers, and kayaking on the pristine watersheds around the Narragansett Bay. Please join us for one of these upcoming adventures. See you there!
Outings are open to club members, guests, & anyone else interested in getting outside.
We suggest a $3 members/$5 nonmenbers donation to help support the RI Sierra Club outings. Please contact Outings Leader Ben Jones with any questions or suggestions (outings@risierraclub.org or 401-598-6639).
Civic Outings Program
In addition to our traditional outings, the Chapter has received funding from the Rhode Island Foundation to conduct an innovative outings program designed to provide members and nonmembers with hands-on opportunities to build the skills, knowledge and experience it takes to effect policy change. The program will involve a variety of outings including:
• Statehouse Outings to inform participants about administrative processes and encourage
public participation;
• YouTube Outings to educate residents about videography and the power of social media in
modern activism;
• Road Audit Outings to educate residents about current road conditions and potential
improvements available through better transportation planning;
• Outings with Words to share readings in nature and invite participation in outdoor writing
workshops;
• Urban Outings to give underserved and at-risk populations in Rhode Island access to nature;
• Outings in Time to educate residents about the geological, ecological, and cultural history of
Rhode Island’s unique environment;
• Off Your Feet Outings to demonstrate the simplicity and benefits of alternative forms of
transportation like bicycling and boating; and
• Service Outings to enhance and maintain trails and conserved properties.
For more information, contact Civic Outings program manager Abel Collins at abel.collins@sierraclub.org
Upcoming Outings:
February 16, 17, and 18, 2013 - Winter Wonderland in the White Mountains
- Find out if you have what it takes to weather a real New England winter, this coming Presidents Day weekend (February 16, 17, and 18). The Rhode Island Sierra club will be hosting a 3-day snowshoeing /winter hiking outing with 2 overnight stays at the Lonesome Lake AMC hut alongside the Appalachian Trail on Cannon Mountain (or you can stay only one night instead). The hut, located about an hour hike from the parking lot, is situated next to beautiful (and frozen) Lonesome Lake. While the main hut is equipped with full kitchen facilities, and heated by a cozy wood fire in the evenings, the bunkhouses have neither heat nor electricity. Appropriate sleeping bags as well as other equipment that is necessary for hiking and camping under these conditions will have to be provided by the participant. A full list of all required equipment is included below.
- During the days, several summits are waiting to be conquered. To climb the peak of Cannon Mountain, depending on the daily trail conditions, one might need crampons or micro-spikes to make it past some of the steeper parts. The North and South Kinsman peaks though, are generally accessible with snowshoes. Starting at the hut, the 2 mile long Fishin’ Jimmy Trail leads to Mount Kinsman trail, a scenic 0.6 mile climb of moderate difficulty scoping the peak of South Kinsman (4293 ft). After ascending another 0.9 miles, the hiker is rewarded with a rugged, wind-shaped landscape and amazing views at the summit of North Kinsman (4358 ft.). For those who like to stay on flatter ground, a number of trails with less elevation change, surround the hut and the lake.
- Because the low temperatures make this outing challenging, an advanced meeting will be held to discuss safety, equipment, and proper planning. The meeting will be at the Sierra Club’s Providence office at 42 Rice Street on January 28 at 7pm .
- Also, AMC huts are in high demand at any time throughout the year, and are often booked out weeks and months in advance. Therefore advance registration for this trip is absolutely necessary.
- Hut Reservations: $44/night
- Equipment Rentals: Snowshoes - $15-25/day, includes poles
- Gear
- Hiking pack (to transfer your equipment from the parking area to the hut)
- Daypack
- 10°F sleeping bag (0° recommended)
- Fleece blanket
- First aid kit (band-aids, moleskin, asprin, etc. Sierra Club will have bring larger kits)
- Compass (recommended)
- Heat reflecting emergency blanket
- Flashlight or head lamp
- Trail map (recommended)
- Hand towel(s)
- Knife
- Sunscreen
- Whistle
- Meals/Snacks
- Breakfast (at lodge)
- Lunch (on trail)
- Dinner (at lodge)
- Snacks (on trail)
- Thermos
- Insulated water bottle/camel pack
- Clothing
- Snow boots/winter hiking boots
- Wool socks
- Thermals/under armor (top and bottom)
- Sweatpants
- Snow pants
- Sweatshirt
- Winter coat
- Gloves (2x) (mittens recommended)
- Hat (2x)
- Sun glasses (w/ anti-fog spray)
- Lodge shoes or slippers
- Lodge clothes
- Dry cloths to leave in car for ride home
Sunday, March 22, 2013 - Flight of the Woodcock
- Every year from March through May, the American Woodcock puts on a magnificent mating display. Each evening he sings his unique song while spiraling through the dusk sky, all to impress the local lady woodcocks in the region. See it for yourself by joining the RI Sierra Club on their annual outing to the Woodcock's South County mating grounds. Prior to the sighting Abel Collins, RI Sierra Club Manager, will lead outings attendees on a tour of the erosion being suffered around Matunuck Beach that has been increasingly covered in the news.
- The sighting opportunity will take place just after sunset (7pm). If you want to join the erosion tour, meet at the RI Sierra Club office (42 Rice Street, Providence) at 4:15pm to caravan, or at the siting location trailhead (176 Sycamore Lane, S. Kingstown) at 5pm. If you can only make it to the Woodcock sighting portion of the outing, please arrive at the above mentioned trailhead no later than 6:30pm and wait for the other outing attendees to return from the erosion tour. Some of us will be heading to Ocean Mist (right down the road) after the outing for snacks and beverages.
Past Outings Write-ups
Find out what your getting yourself into by reading a few write-ups about some of the past outings that the RI Sierra Club has organized.
Yawgoog Trails Hike - 11/19/2011
Lincoln Woods Hike - 1/1/2012
ecoBBQ at Lincoln Woods - 6/30/2012
Long and Ell Pond Hike - 11/10/12
Stepping Stone Falls - 8/26/2012
Kayaking and Snorkeling in Ninigret Salt Pond - 7/14/2012
Vernal Pools Hike - 5/26/2012
Blackstone River Bike Path Clean Up - 4/14/2012
Neutaconkanut Hill Hike - 12/9/2012
White Mountains Winter Outing - 2/18/2012
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