FUTURE EVENTS FOR OCTOBER 2026 AND BEYOND KATAHDIN AND BAXTER STATE PARK, MAINE - Cancelled September 10-13 Unfortunately this trip has been cancelled because of a personal matter regarding the leader James Kendall. Hopefully, this trip will be scheduled again in the future. MAMMOTH MARCH, PENNSYLVANIA - October 10 I have already signed up to do the Mammoth March hike in Pennsylvania on Oct 10, 2026, and I would love for you to join me. It is in North Park, the largest park in the Allegheny County Park system, about 30 minutes north of Pittsburgh. It's a 20-mile hike over rugged terrain and you get eight hours to do it. I will be scheduling several training hikes for anyone interested. Check the following Facebook link https://www.facebook.com/share/1HJexan2e4/?mibextid=wwwXIfr. Advance registration is required and there is a good probability the event will sell out, so if interested please register soon. Contact leader Theresa Ray (317-627-1205, tmquincy@yahoo.com) for more details, hotel information, travel arrangements, etc. THE BIG 50 - October 10 This event is organized by the B&O Trail Association. There are 50K, 25K, 10K and 5K race options. It begins at Daredevil Brewing Co. in the heart of Speedway, IN - the Racing Capital of the World - and covers the entire length of the B&O trail through Marion and Hendricks counties. You'll head east toward downtown Indy for a few miles before turning around to head out to rural Hendricks County before making the return trip back to Speedway. I will be doing 25K and will be recording hiking club miles for any self-guided distance you wish to do. You must register at https://runsignup.com/Race/IN/Indianapolis/TheBigBO50k, which includes a map of the course. Be aware that the price goes up on August 30. Let me know if you are planning to participate and what distance you are planning to do. I will verify the race results on their website. Leader: Therese Cokain (317-796-9183, tcokain@gmail.com) REVISITING BURR OAK STATE PARK IN OHIO AFTER 50 YEARS - October 14-16 Burr Oak State Park is in Ohio about 25 miles from Hocking Hills State Park. Our club last hiked there 50 years ago. We will be visiting again from Wednesday-Friday October 14-16, 2026. We will do morning and afternoon hikes on Thursday and Friday morning. The Park is super with a long lake, hills, and forests. The Park has a newly renovated lodge and 30 cabins. The lodge sits on a hill overlooking the lake. It has an indoor swimming pool. Cabins are large and fully equipped and can easily sleep 5 people. Burr Oak SP has held places for us in the lodge and cabins. With our group discount, lodge rates are $119 and cabin rates are $129 per night + tax. Please book soon. To make a reservation call 800-282-7275 and make sure to identify yourself as an Indianapolis Hiking Club member. For more information about the park, the lodge and the cabins check out their website at https://www.stayburroak.com/. Any questions can be directed to the trip organizer Mervyn Cohen at mecohen@iu.edu or 317-417-2628. WINTER BANQUET - January 9, 2027 Once again our Winter Banquet will be held on a Saturday January 9 at 2:00 p.m. at - St Therese - Little Flower Catholic School, 4720 E. 13th St., Indianapolis. IN 36201. We will announce winners of the 2026 Achievement Awards. As always, we anticipate a big crowd. Look for an invite which will be included with your annual dues notice in early October. GULF SHORES, ALABAMA - February 13 - 19, 2027 Saturday is considered a travel day. Travel time is approximately 12 hours. GPS is the best option to find your way there since not everyone will be staying at the same location. There will be no block of rooms reserved. Everyone will be responsible for making their own lodging accommodations. I can make recommendations for places to stay. A total of 10 hikes will be offered during the week. The first hike will be after the Meet and Greet session on Sunday afternoon. There will be a morning and afternoon hike Mon-Thurs with only one hike on Friday for those that may still be in town. More details will be sent out as the date gets closer. Karen LeClerc kmleclerc58@gmail.com or 920-883-9477. 30TH ANNUAL SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK TRIP - APRIL 13-15, 2027 (Tue-Thurs) Mark your calendar now for the 30th annual club trip to Smoky Mountains National Park. It's not too early to book your room reservations in Gatlinburg, TN. Most club members stay at Riverhouse at the Park (865-436-2070). Another good choice is Bearskin Lodge on the River (865-430-4330). We will repeat the Monday evening poolside social hour at Riverhouse and hope to have a group dinner to celebrate the 30th anniversary. There will be a range of morning and afternoon hikes - easy, moderate and challenging. Hike leaders will include Tim Braun, John Lyghtel, and John and Konnie Schlechte. Contact: John Schlechte 317-294-2021 cell or jschlechte@fastmail.com with questions or for more infomation. CELEBRATING THE HIKING CLUB'S 70th BIRTHDAY NEXT YEAR - SEVEN FOR SEVENTY, 2027 To celebrate our birthday and throughout 2027 we will hike seven hikes at Indiana locations that the Club has never hiked before. Hikes will be scheduled throughout the year during fair weather months. So far, the committee has identified the 7 locations that the Club will hike, and we have found leaders for each hike. Look for a preview of the seven hikes in the December schedule. If you would like more information, please contact Mervyn Cohen at mecohen@iu.edu or 317-417-2628.