Farmington Recreation One Day Wanderers hiking Bald Mountain are, from left, Emily O’Donnell, Jeff O’Donnell, Diane Kruchkow, Cheryl Schanz, Lee Schanz, Laurie Walker, Linnie Couture, Jean Small and Eddie Yuen.

FARMINGTON — The Farmington Recreation Department One Day Wanderers Club has wrapped up its third year of hikes.

ODWC is a hiking group for outdoor enthusiasts age 50 and older. The club was created to provide a service that eliminates the danger of hiking alone while allowing those who participate to socialize, exercise and explore the state. This year, the club completed four hikes around Western/Central Maine.

The first trip was to Mt. Phillip in Rome. The trail was well marked and maintained. Mt. Phillip is part of the Kennebec Highlands in the Belgrade area. The length of the trail is 1.3 miles and it ascends 300 feet. There are monuments found on the peak as well as some lookouts over the Belgrade Lakes area.

Mt. Pisgah in Winthrop was the club’s second hike of the year. Mt. Pisgah is owned by the town and protected by the Kennebec Land Trust. The two-mile hike features a 60-foot fire tower at the summit that provides views of the surrounding area. On clear days, Mt. Washington and Camden Hills can be seen.

The third hike was to Maine Huts and Trails’ Flagstaff Hut, with a loop trail of 3.6 miles. The trail is gradual and borders Flagstaff Lake on the way back to the trail head. At the hut and along the Shore Trail, views of the Bigelow Range are right across the lake.

To finish up the season, the group visited Bald Mountain in Oquossoc. The moderate 2.3-mile hike is within the Bald Mountain Public Reserved Land located between Rangeley Lake and Mooselookmeguntic Lake. The summit includes a fire tower that provides panoramic views of the surrounding lakes, as well as Saddleback Mountain, Elephant Mountain, the Height of Land and Mt. Washington on clear days. 

In the last three years, the ODWC has taken over 50 members on 14 hikes and hopes that the number of participants will continue to grow. Trails are ranked as intermediate to moderate hikes. The Rec Department provides hikers with a cup of tea when the group summits.

FMI, join: 207-778-3464. 

One Day Wanderers hike Mount Phillip. Hikers are, from left, Eddie Yuen, Mark Stofan, Pat Chick, Jo Rumley, Arleen Masselli, April Guasenti.

Flagstaff Lake was among the many hikes Farmington Recreation’s One Day Wanderers took this season.