FUTURE EVENTS FOR APRIL 2012 AND BEYOND Mark your calendar for the following upcoming events. More details will appear in future hiking schedules. Contact a Pathfinder if you would like to preview a future event. WILDFLOWER HIKES - Tuesday's in April Mary Ann Layman will lead 4-6 mile wildflower hikes each Tuesday in April. A 1:00 PM start time will give the flowers a chance to open up. Each week will be at a different location know for its diversity of wildflowers. These hikes, several of which will include lunch suggestions before the hike, are very popular and informative. The Indiana woods are especially beautiful when the flowers are in bloom and then for just a few short weeks. 15th ANNUAL SMOKY MOUNTAINS GETAWAY - April 19-21 Once again, Jean Ballinger and Ron Mutzl will share leading longer all day hikes and Jim Shoufler will lead very popular moderate hikes in beautiful Smoky Mountains NP. If you have not already done so, it is time to book your room reservations in Gatlinburg, TN, since in wildflower season rooms fill up fast. Some suggestions are Riverhouse at the Park (865-436-2070) and Carr's Cottages & Motel (865-436-4836). Contact Jean Ballinger at 696-2120 if you have any questions. KAL-HAVEN TRAIL AND WARREN DUNES STATE PARK - June 16-17 We will hike 10 miles on the Kal-Haven Trail on Saturday and 7-miles in Warren Dunes SP on Sunday. A block of 25 room is being held for the nights of June 15-16 at the Hampton Inn, 4299 Cecilia Dr, South Haven, MI (269-639-8550) at a discounted rate of $98.10 + tax, and includes a hot breakfast. Ask for the Hiking Club rate when you call. The special rate is available only until May 15, after which the rooms will be released. Leaders: Jean Ballinger (696-2120) and Karleen Huneck (765-480-1570). SLEEPING BEAR DUNES, MI - June 18-22 Good morning America voted Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes the "Most beautiful place in America". So we're going again! We will hike 5 days (Mon-Fri) at Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes following the weekend at South Haven. On Tuesday, June 19, we will take the ferry to South Manitou Island for a day of hiking there. You can check out the park at www.sleepingbeardunes.com. Twenty-five rooms are being held for the nights of June 17-22 at Maple Lane Resort in Empire, MI (231-334-3413) website www.maplelaneresort.com at the significantly reduced rate of $89+tax/night. The resort is on Little Glen Lake, which is almost in Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes Park. Be sure to indicate that your're with the Hiking Club. On May 1, rooms not reserved will be released and the reduced rate will no longer be available, so be sure to make your reservation by May 1. You will also need to make a reservation with Manitou Island Transit (231-256-9061) for the ferry to South Manitou Island on June 19. If you plan to go on this trip, please email Jean Ballinger at skierjean@yahoo.com so she can send you the tentative itinerary. Leaders: Jean Ballinger (696-2120) and Karleen Huneck (765-480-1570) CLUB PICNIC - July 28 Once again, the annual summer picnic will be held in Eagle Creek Park. ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK, ESTES PARK, CO - September 9-15 Hikes are planned beginning on 9/10 through Friday 9/14, with an optional hike on 9/15 for those staying over until Sunday. Most hikes will be moderate distance (5-7 miles) with modest altitude gain (usually under 1,000 feet). Shorter and more challenging options will be available on most days, making the trip suitable for just about everyone. All hikes will offer beautiful mountain vistas, flowing streams, pristine lakes and golden aspens. You are guaranteed to see many elk this time of year. Since most hikes will ascend over 8,000 feet, give yourself at least 24 hours (preferably longer) to adjust to the altitude before you start to hike. Make your own flight (to Denver), hotel and car reservations. There are many accommodations in Estes Park to choose from - elegant to modest. Valhalla Resort (where Narcisso and many other Club members plan to stay) offers nicely appointed vacation homes with living room, equipped kitchen, fireplace, cable TV, deck, BBQ and 1-3 bedrooms. Linens and towels are included. Each unit is different and so are the rates. Since this is a popular time of the year, call soon. Check www.Valhallaresort.com or call 1-800-522-3284. Mention you are with the Hiking Club and ask for a senior discount if you are over 62. Also, check out www.estesparkresort.com or www.estesparkresort.com for many more accommodations and information about the area. Look for more details in future schedules. For more information contact Narcisso Povinelli at 784-9381 or narcisso_povinelli@sbcglobal.net. SHAKER VILLAGE OF PLEASANT HILL, KY - September 27-29 Instead of the usual Labor Day Club outing, Mary Ann Layman has secured 35 rooms for the nights of September 27, 28 & 29 at Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill which is America's largest restored Shaker community with 34 original buildings and 3,000 acres of preserved farmland with 40 miles of trails. Check out their website at www.shakervillageky.org. Also, check out photos on this website for a preview of the event. Shaker Village is located 190 miles from Indianapolis, just east of Harrodsburg, KY. All the rooms feature Shaker reproduction furniture, hardwood floors and private baths and are located in 13 restored Shaker buildings. For room reservations, contact Ann Voris at 800-734-5611, ext 1548 or her direct line of 859-734-1548. Indicate the reservations are for the Indianapolis Hiking Club outing, September 27-29. Deadline for the Club's special rate is August 26. Contact Mary Ann Layman at 317-881-8416 or malayman@earthlink.net if you have questions. CHRISTMAS PARTY - December 2 CANAAN VALLEY, WV - September 8-15, 2013 Plan to hike in the Monongahela National Forest, Canaan Valley State Park, Blackwater Falls State Park, Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge, Dolly Sods Wilderness and Spruce Knob in beautiful West Virginia. Look for more details in schedules closer to 2013. For more information, contact Richard or Edeltraud Evans at 812-876-4024 or hre.1989@comcast.net.