Editor’s Note: Listings in Trail Mix are free. Email: outdoor@recorder.com. The deadline is Tuesday by 8 a.m. Questions? Call 413-772-0261, ext. 276. Weather may cancel or force the rescheduling of some of these events. Additionally, space is often limited. Please contact organizers to ensure you can attend. This is particularly important if registration is required.
Snowshoeing for Seniors Program: ages 60 and older. Guided beginner and intermediate group snowshoeing. Hiking in the case of no snow. Equipment and instruction provided. No charge. Rotating locations in Pioneer Valley area. Every Wednesday through March 8, two sessions: 10 a.m. to noon and noon to 2 p.m. For schedule and to sign up, call 413-584-2052 or email: info@alloutadventures.org. Also, visit: www.alloutadventures.org
Woodland Connections for Women: Feb. 10 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Charlemont. Free. Lunch and discussion, followed by optional snowshoe/walk in the woods. Women offer a unique perspective when it comes to caring for the natural world. From managing wildlife habitat to working with your family to determine the future of the land, women face an array of weighty issues concerning land ownership. Join other women landowners for an informal discussion of your questions, problems, and strategies for owning, managing and planning for your land. Lunch is provided and space is limited, so register by calling 413-625-9151, ext. 111 or emailing: wferris@franklinlandtrust.org. Directions will be provided upon registration. Franklin Land Trust UMass Extension, the North Quabbin Regional Landscape Partnership and the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation are sponsors.
Her Wild Roots: Animal Tracking and Sign Workshop for Women on Feb. 11 and 12 at High Pocket Farm in Colrain. The cost is $325. Register by Jan. 27 and the cost is $285. Cost includes instruction, lodging and food. Do you often wonder what animals walked, hopped or bounded across your snow-covered yard during the dark hours of the night? Or what animals have been browsing, gnawing or nipping their favorite twigs and trees? And do you wonder who left behind that scat or scent marking and what they were eating or communicating with each other? Learning the basics of tracking and unraveling other mysteries that our animal friends leave behind will be the focus of this full weekend-long course. For more information and to register, visit: www.herwildroots.com.
Snowshoeing for 55 and Over on Thursday from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. This winter ramble on the trails at Northfield Mountain will include healthy exercise while searching for signs of historical human uses and the animals that now make their homes on the mountain. The camaraderie of other active adults and a hot cup of tea or cocoa around the wood stove will warm us up after our adventure. No prior snowshoeing experience is necessary. If there is not enough snow for snowshoeing, this winter ramble will be a hike through the surrounding field edges and forests. Bring water, a trail snack, wear light-weight waterproof pants, warm socks and dress in warm layers that can be shed as we get moving. Warm footwear is essential. The program meets inside the cozy, pellet-stove-heated yurt behind the Visitor Center. For ages 55 and older. This is a free event; $18 with snowshoe rental. Register by calling 800-859-2960.
Birdsong by Bicycle from the Atlantic to the Pacific will be held at Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A in Turners Falls on Saturday at 1 p.m. Join birdsong expert Donald Kroodsma, who is presenting a 10-week, 10-state bicycle journey he traveled from the Atlantic to Pacific. You will gain a deep appreciation of the natural symphony of birdsong many take for granted. The program is free and open to the public.
For more information, call 413-863-3221 or visit: greatfallsdiscoverycenter.org