Buffalo Hiking Group "Annual Report" -- and Happy Hour!

OK, it's not officially an "annual report," but Buffalo Hiking Group first came on the Buffalo Rising radar a year ago, through their involvement with Powder Keg.  During last year's celebration of Buffalo's winter, they led waterfront heritage hikes from downtown out to "Elevator Alley" -- including a real "insiders" tour of Riverwright's Marine A elevator.  You can find great images from that hike on Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper's Flickr site -- but better yet, why not plan to enjoy the hike yourself during this year's Powder Keg?

And what else has Buffalo Hiking Group been up to this year?  The best way to find out -- and find out how to get connected with them for their most excellent low-impact, max-scenic workouts is to check out their happy hour this Saturday at none other than Conlon's in South Buffalo!  (see details below).

In the meantime, let me pass along this "annual report" I got from Chris Henning, co-founder (with Chuck Saia) of the Hiking Group:

The 2010 Buffalo Hiking Group Year in Review & 2011 Outlook

2010 was a great year for The Buffalo Hiking Group.  We organized 36 events throughout the year. Hikes including places such as:

The Buffalo Hiking Group also participated in Community activities such as:

• The 2010 Buffalo Powder Keg Festival
• The 2010 Buffalo Riverfest
• The fall & spring Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper Shoreline Clean-Up
• The MS Walk
• New York State Park closure protests.

In 2010 The Buffalo Hiking Group also started coordinating many social events for members and non-members alike like happy hours, tobogganing, picnics, pot-luck lunches & dinners, sledding & tubing

2010 saw many changes  to The Buffalo Hiking Website as well.  We've added a blog which is updated a few times a week, The Buffalo Hiking Group Store, Twitter updates on the main page that is constantly updated and also made major improvements on our event registration module, making it much easier to register for events.

In 2011, The Buffalo Hiking Group plans to expand on the number of events planned, including Snowshoe Events, Overnight Camping, Weekend Trips and many more local hikes and community events.  We are also participating in the 2011 Buffalo Powderkeg Festival/Winterfest again by giving FREE Historical Waterfront Tours for all who wish to attend.  We've been asked to participate in the 2011 Buffalo Riverfest again as well, since The Buffalo Hiking Group are big advocates of the Buffalo Waterfront's rich industrial past and its exciting future.

Since there has been such interest in the tours that The Buffalo Hiking Group has offered in the past, we decided to organize and offer group tours of Buffalo's neighborhood for groups of people such as: Corporations, Student Groups or Associations, Church Groups etc...And soon will be opening tours up to the public and will be running them on a constant basis.  Keep an eye on www.buffalohiking.com for updates!

Our next social event is on Saturday, January 8^th at Conlon's Bar & Grill (382 Abbott Road, in South Buffalo).  This Happy Hour event is open to everyone and those who wish to sign up for a membership at the Happy Hour will receive $5.00 off a single membership or $10.00 off a couple membership.  Our next hiking event is Saturday, January 22^nd where we will be snowshoeing at the Erie County Forest.  See our website www.buffalohiking.com for all the event details and to sign up as a member!