It's May, enjoy the great outdoors with the Weis Wyankokie Wanderers
Ringwood The weather is much nicer now and the views are breathtaking along many hiking routes in the area. Join the Weis Wyankokie Wanderers for a number of hikes this month, from a hike to take in wildflowers or birds, to the more strenuous ones including to the most rugged and remote parts of Sterling Forest State Park. There’s something for everyone, including a free hike for mom on Mother’s Day. All hikes cost $5 for members of the WWW Hiking Club and $8 for nonmembers, unless otherwise noted. Card-carrying WWW Hiking Club members get guaranteed admittance to 12 monthly WWW hikes and two annual Challenge Hikes at an annual flat rate of $69. New WWW members are welcomed with a pack patch and a Weis Trail Map T-shirt. For more information or to register, contact the Weis Ecology Center office at 973-835-2160 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday. Visit them online at www.njaudubon.org. Basics of Birding: Bird Walk Sunday, May 15, 8:30 to 10 a.m. Come learn the basic skills needed to help identify wild birds in the field or at your feeders on this naturalist-led walk so you too can find joy in watching birds. Walks will meet at Weis and carpool to local sites. Nature Discovery Time: Hikes for Preschoolers Thursday, May 19, 10 to 11 a.m. Explore the wonder of Weis with Associate Naturalist Margaret Blewett for short nature discovery hikes and hands-on activities for young naturalists. These programs are perfect for pre-schoolers ages 3-5. Pre-registration is required and there is a limit of 10 hikers. Cost is $5 per child and adults are free. Weis Women’s Hikes Saturday, May 21, 8 to 10 a.m. Moderately paced, two-to-three-mile hikes. Join Phaedra Demers, Weis’s teacher-naturalist, for these early morning hikes to some of our favorite scenic spots. A great way to enjoy some time outdoors, get some exercise, and get home early enough to spend the rest of the day with family and friends. Hikes meet at Weis but hikers may carpool to the trailhead if needed. Wear appropriate hiking footwear, dress in layers appropriate for weather, and bring plenty of water. Hazardous driving conditions will cancel. The cost is $5 per person. Weis Wyankokie Wanderers Club Hike: Overlook and Indian Head Sunday, May 22, 9 a.m. Starting near Woodstock, N.Y., the group will hike from “Magic Meadow” and a Tibetan Buddhist monastery up to Eagle Cliff, hotel ruins, and a fire tower on Overlook Mountain. The hike then follows the Devil’s Path to the summit Indian Head (3,570 feet). This hike is steep and challenging with great views. End to end, the hike is between nine and 10 miles. The group will meet off-site. Good cardiovascular fitness is required. Participants must wear appropriate hiking footwear, dress in layers appropriate for weather conditions, bring lunch and plenty of fluids. There is a limit of 25 hikers for this outing.