Wednesday, July 31
Shindagin Hollow State Forest
Hike report by Mary Weiz
With a threat of light rain and some precipitation, eleven Hikers met on South Road in the Town of Caroline at the FLT crossing to hike eastward for 3.9 miles to Old 76 Road. And, with a bit of hiker’s luck, little to no rain reached our hats or shoulders during our time in the woods.
This hike takes hikers predominantly through Shindagin Hollow State Forest until reaching Boyer Creek near Old 76 Rd at which point hikers travel a short distance on private land with current permission to do so.
This is a typical hardwood forest with a pleasing overstory, shrub layer, ferns and ground cover layers throughout. It’s an out and back on the FLT with a hefty elevation gain (500-1700 feet depending on the source of information) on the return leg when beginning from South Road. The trail was generally clear with only one blow-down walk-around. Many thanks to those who host clearing this section.
On this last day of July summer 2024, the air temperature reached up into the high 70’s, but it was the humidity that was challenging. This particular hike (IMO) can be classified as this summer’s sweatiest to date.
Here’s a shout-out of thanks to two pre-hikers and one canine who took the hike with me on Tuesday, which was nearly as humid.
Saturday, August 3
Finger Lakes Trail through Lower Treman
Hike report by Leigh Ann
Fifteen hikers gathered at the Shady Corners parking lot on 13, to hike under 13 and west on the FLT. This was another humid day that felt cool when you weren’t moving, but once you started moving was like being in a rain storm. This is an out-and-back that can have 1000+ feet of elevation gain, depending on how far you go, so people went at their own paces. Some folks returned to the cars early after turning around right at the 1-hour mark. Others got all the way to the rim trail and took the stairs down to the overlook of the gorge trail and returned at 11:45 after 6 miles. It’s a satisfying hike, however far you go, and it’s one of our best “cliffs of insanity” for sustained steepness.
Many of these hikers went to Roger and Gunilla’s beautiful place for the hiker’s picnic/cookout right afterward, and we met many more people there.
Sunday, August 4
Connecticut Hill, Newfield
Hike report by Dave Bock
18 hikers and 2 dogs met on Connecticut Hill, with the temperature a bit cooler and the humidity a bit lower than the recent sweltering days. A short walk down Lloyd Starks Rd brought us to the trailhead, where 2 potential hikers opted out. Now 16 hikers + 2 dogs strong, we climbed through a somewhat brushy area along one of the DEC cuts before entering the forest. The trail was fairly flat and in great shape as it looped eastward through some lovely woods. Along the way, one of the dogs lost contact with its owner and headed back, the owner following in hopes of finding her pet and then catching up with the group. Our troupe of now 15 + a dog continued the hike to a nice view across the valley that’s home to the hamlet of Newfield, with layers of hills beyond. Upon our return to the main trail we were met by hiker and dog, happily reunited; hearing our voices, they were able to take a shortcut to rejoin the group. The trail stayed in the forest quite a while before crossing the road for a brief — and hotter — walk across a recently mowed field. From there it was woods and more woods as we headed mostly downhill to parallel a deep ravine before emerging at a large pond formed by a wide and tall beaver dam. A short trail later led us back to the road near our initial point of entry, leaving us only the quick walk back up Lloyd Stark to the cars. All hikers and dogs accounted for, we wrapped up 7 minutes early and 4 miles healthier!
