Wednesday, April 3
Roy H. Park Preserve to Hammond Hill State Forest, Dryden
Hike report by Greg
Four hardy, determined mud walkers appeared for Wednesday’s hike. Rain was harder before and after our hike but we had more than drizzle as well. We crossed the lengthy, rather rapidly beginning to rot board walk and proceeded on a steady uphill trudge through 3” of mud. The gravel after that was more than welcome. We turned around at an hour but shorter distance than we have in the past. On our return we were surprised to find the mud had now become a trail wide 3” deep stream. Enough said.
Saturday, April 6
Owl Creek Trail, lower Buttermilk Falls SP
Hike report by Jim
Eighteen hikers met on Yaple Rd in the Town of Danby for a hike through the upper Buttermilk Falls State Park area. The route we took today didn’t correspond to any of the regular hike routes we normally do in the area.
The day was cool and blustery at the beginning of the hike, but by hikes end the sun had come out and temperatures were approaching what I would call comfortable.
Hikers left Yaple Rd and walked the FLT spur trail to the trail that normally loops around Treman Lake, if the upper side of the trail were not closed due to the bridge there being washed out. We found one or two other hikers on this section of trail, as well as a couple of minor blow-down trees that were easily skirted.
Reaching the lower end of Treman Lake the group paused for a photo before taking the stairs and path that crosses over the top of the dam. Once on the other side of the dam hikers took the side trail to La Tourelle, then turned around and followed the Lake Trail to Comfort Rd near the junction with Yaple Rd.
The group splintered up here, with some people leaving early, several hikers taking the FLT spur trail towards King Rd, and some, I believe, deciding to jump back onto the FLT spur trail leading back into Upper Buttermilk.
Those of us on the FLT spur trail leading to West King Rd found quite a bit of standing water and mud, causing some hikers to choose to turn around early.
Welcome to Genie on her first hike with the group!
Sunday, April 7
Black Diamond Trail
Hike report by Leigh Ann
Thirty-five hikers and two hiker dogs met at the junction of Kraft Road and the Black Diamond Trail on this sparkly-clear morning. We hiked north from there. This is an excellent hike for stretching out and getting some mileage and/or walking and talking side-by-side. People turned around at the one-hour mark wherever they were. A few hikers made it all the way to the upper falls viewing point, and for them the hike was about 6 miles round-trip.
