FUTURE EVENTS FOR OCTOBER 2023 AND BEYOND ANNUAL WINTER BANQUET - Sunday, December 3 Once again our Club's annual Winter Banquet will be held at Nativity Catholic School on the southeast side of Indianapolis. There will be an hour for socializing with your Hiking Club friends and guests before enjoying a catered meal provided by a new caterer. After the meal we will recognize winners of the 2023 Achievement Awards and new 25-year members. A reservation form for the Winter Banquet will be mailed to all members in early October along with your annual dues notice. GULF SHORES, ALABAMA - January 28 to February 2, 2024 ALL THE LODGE ROOMS IN THE BLOCK HAVE BEEN BOOKED. I will not be adding additional rooms because of a contractual stipulation if we have a high percentage of cancellations. Our room block carries a 5 day cancellation policy. Any changes or cancellations to a reservation less than 5 days in advance of arrival will incur a one night room and tax penalty that will be charged to the person(s) that the room is booked under. If you are still interested in going I suggest calling The Lodge to see if there have been any cancellations. (Make your reservation online via the following link www.group.hilton.com/1lou22 or by calling their reservations office at 800-618-4350. Use group code #908.) All rooms at The Lodge must be booked by Dec 29, 2023 to receive our group rate. There are many condos and hotels in the Gulf Shores/Orange Beach area if you prefer to stay someplace else. The current hike plan is for no more than 3-4 easy miles per hike and no more than 8 miles each day. This will be on all types of surfaces - sand, natural surface and pavement. There will be lots of opportunities to go off on self- guided "excursions" alone or with other members of the group. More details to come on the hikes and a group meal or two as we get closer. Please contact Karen LeClerc if you have any questions at kmleclerc58@gmail.com or 920-883-9477 WINTER WEEKEND - CANYON INN, McCORMICK'S CREEK STATE PARK - March 1-3, 2024 We will be going back to McCormick's Creek Canyon Inn for this weekend trip. To make your reservations either call the Canyon Inn at 812-829-4881, toll free at 877-922-6966 or access the Inn's website. Our block of room group code is 0301IH (IH for Indianapolis Hiking). Our block of rooms will be released on 2-1-2024 so make your reservations before that date. The Double/Double rooms are $109.99 + tax and the Queen/Queen rooms are 139.99 + tax. Information about the hikes and social gatherings will be provided in future schedules. Hopefully all the tornado damaged trails will be open by March 2024. Contact Mary Ann Layman (home 317- 346-1802) or malayman@earthlink.net if you have questions. 27TH ANNUAL SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK - April 16-18, 2024 (Tue-Thu) Mark your calendar for the Annual Club Trip to Smoky Mountains National Park. It's not too early to make your room reservations in Gatlinburg, TN. Most members stay at Riverhouse at the Park (865-436-2070). Bearskin Lodge on the River (865-430-4330) is another good choice. We will repeat the Monday evening pool-side social hour at Riverhouse and on Wednesday we are bringing back the catered dinner at the historic Appalachian Clubhouse in the park. There will be a full range of moderate morning and afternoon hikes, and more challenging full-day hikes. The hike leaders will include Chuck Turner, Tim Braun, John Lyghtel, Konnie Schlechte, and John Schlechte. Contact: John Schlechte 317-294-2021 cell or jschlechte@fastmail.com.