Wednesday, March 26
Finger Lakes Trail from White Church Rd., Brooktondale
Hike report by Jim
Sixteen hikers and two dogs met on White Church Rd for an out-and-back hike of the current and former FLT footpath between White Church Rd and Ridgeway Rd. This is hike #26 on our list of regular hike locations: https://www.ithacahikers.com/hike-24.
The entirety of this hike took place on map sheet M18. FLT map sheets are available in paper or electronic formats at: https://fingerlakestrail.org/store/maps-and-gps/purchase-individual-maps/. Proceeds from sale of the map sheets offsets the on-going costs associated with trail maintenance.
There were a lot of large snowflakes falling as hikers arrived at the parking lot on White Church Rd. The chickens at the farm next to the parking lot grew louder and more agitated as the parking lot filled up; I can only assume that they aren’t used to that much activity in their proximity. The snow slowed and eventually stopped once the hike commenced.
After a quick group picture the group set off, crossing White Church Rd and entering the FLT footpath that winds across the open fields towards the wood line. Entering the trees, the FLT snakes towards Wilseyville Creek, making a couple of twists and turns along the way. We passed an observation area for the creek where we’ve often taken our group photos in the past. The wind was visibly roiling the surface of the water, and with the high water levels we saw today there was no sign of the stagnant water we usually see later in the year here.
Turning onto the recently re-routed FLT footpath we proceeded towards the junction of White Church and Coddington Rds, passing along the edges of open fields. The former railbed that is now the FLT passes between some high embankments in this section before arriving at the end of White Church and Coddington Rds.
Trail surfaces were good throughout the hike. I last hiked this section about three weeks ago when there was still a good amount of snow on the ground which has long since departed.
Reaching White Church Rd we immediately turned around and made our way back northwesterly. We by-passed the northerly turn we had hiked on our way in from the cars and continued on the former footpath of the FLT towards Ridgeway Rd that will eventually be re-purposed at an extension of the South Hill Rec Way.
Reaching Ridgeway Rd we paused for a minute before returning towards the FLT and the footpath back to our cars.
We arrived back at the parking lot about ten minutes earlier than planned. This was fortunate, as no sooner had we departed the parking lot but a heavy sleet began to fall.
For those who are trying to earn their FLT50 or FLT100 patches, today’s hike is estimated to have covered 2.8 FLT miles.
A warm welcome to Jenny on her first hike with the group!
Saturday, March 29
Hammond Hill State Forest from Star Stanton Rd.
Hike report by Jim
Thirty hikers and three dogs met on Star Stanton Rd in the Town of Dryden for a loop hike within the trail system of Hammond Hill State Forest. This is hike #31-5 on our list of regular hike locations: https://www.ithacahikers.com/hike-31. Todays hike took place on FLT map sheet M18. Map sheets may be purchased in electronic or paper formats at: https://fingerlakestrail.org/store/maps-and-gps/purchase-individual-maps/. Sale of the map sheets helps to defray on-going costs associated with trail maintenance. Since the majority of today’s route did not include the FLT itself, a better map of today’s route is available at the DEC link above: https://dec.ny.gov/sites/default/files/hammondhillsf.pdf
Leigh Ann led the hike today, with the overall group breaking down into fast and slow groups over the duration of the hike. During the hike we encountered equestrians, bicyclists, dog walkers, trail runners, other hikers, etc Hammond Hills trails were very busy today!
Weather was cool, and we only encountered intermittent rain during the second hour of the hike. Trail conditions were excellent.
This is one of the rare hikes we do that I intentionally plan to run beyond our normal two-hour hike duration. I believe that there are so many really nice sections of trail on this route that I hesitate to cut any of them from this hike. Because it IS a hike that runs longer than average, I try to not schedule it very often.
The trail route today was as follows: from Star Stanton Rd the group took trail G1 to Y1 to Y2. Y2 comes out at the junction of Star Stanton and Canaan Rds, otherwise known as ” Time Square”. Passing through Time Square the group took Y4 until it merges with the FLT footpath. The hike continued on the FLT until we reached the junction with Y5, which we took back to Canaan Rd. Crossing Canaan Rd we jumped onto Y6, which passes through some stands of large pine trees just west of Canaan Rd; this is easily my favorite area on all of Hammond Hill State Forest. Y6 transitions to Y1, which we took back to Star Stanton Rd and our cars. Leigh Ann estimated that the fast subgroup of hikers was finished and at the cars about 20 minutes later than normal.
For those hikers attempting to get their 2025 FLT50 or FLT100 patches, todays hike included only approximately .5 FLT miles.
Warm welcome to new hikers Lynn, Renee and her K9 hiking partner Sammy, Christina, Israel and Jay on their first hike with the group!
Sunday, March 30
Upper Buttermilk State Park, Ithaca
Hike report by Jim
Twenty-two hikers and three dogs met in the parking lot of upper Buttermilk Falls State Park for an out-and-back hike of park trails. This is hike # 10-1 on our list of regular hike locations: https://www.ithacahikers.com/hike-10.
The day was overcast, and intermittent rain fell during the morning.
Our hikers posed for photos before traversing the wooden bridge at the parking lot to access the Bear Trail. The group hiked to the dam at Treman Lake, where we found access to the path across the top of the dam still closed for the season. Continuing on the Treman Lake loop trail the hikers walked to Yaple Rd, then walked to Comfort Rd and walked back into the state park from the access road into the park. The group hiked to the base of the long set of wooden stairs before turning around.
The only item of interest along this section of trail was a fairly large blow-down tree that we had to climb over or around
On the return leg of the hike Leigh Ann led the group, re-tracing the same route we had taken in the first hour. A small group of hikers opted to not remain with the main group and instead ford the stream by the stone arch bridge that’s still too damaged to use.
Arriving back at the cars with some time to spare Leigh Ann opted to take the group across West King Rd and hike towards the lower park on the Rim Trail for a few minutes to use up some remaining hike time.
We were sharing the trails today with a good number of other hikers and dog walkers while we were on the trails.
Water levels were high and the streams were flowing well.
Welcome to new hikers Elanore and her K9 hiking partner Ez, Will, Romaine and K9 hiker Suki on their first hike with the group!
