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Report to Hikers: week of Aug 19-Aug 25

Hello Hikers!

Thu Aug 22

Ellis Hollow Nature Preserve

Official head count: 19H, two D

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Sat Aug 24

Connecticut Hill WMA with Dave B — Rowell Hill

The walk started right on time, and Dave got us back to the cars at precisely the 2-hour mark. He really has a knack for such precise timing, though he’s not usually this exact. He routinely times the hike ahead of time using a stop-watch function on his phone, and then keeps track of our progress using mileposts he’s created.

There was one mishap on the walk. Bad Dennis was stung twice, only the second and third times he has ever been stung. ” I was stung twice by ground wasps near the wood “bridge” (just planks) on the way back down the trail we used to go up. Roger knocked several small wasps off my backside and inner thighs–I had one up my shirt sleeve ; his dog was limping on three legs–I think the dog upset the ground nest. Might have a small reaction to them.”

Official head count: 33H, seven D

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Sun Aug 25

The Pinnacles look-out from the southern approach, Danby SF

This was a special day for Tiger and me — exactly 15 years ago, on the last Sunday of August 2004, we took our first hike with the group, after taking over as coordinators — it was a small-scale beginning — there were only two other hikers, Roger and ***another person*** who left the trail a while ago — I’ve enjoyed the 15 years of hiking since then greatly

A few years ago I started to have an occasional disruption of my vision known as an ***ocular migraine***, though in my particular case I don’t actually have headaches. The event leaves big blind spots in my vision and can be accompanied by areas of extreme brightness, making it hard for me to see. I got hit with an episode about a half-hour into the hike — I had to turn back and hang on to Tiger’s arm and stumble along clumsily until the condition resolved after a while.

Official head count: 23H, eight D

Report to Hikers: week of Aug 12-Aug 18

Hello Hikers!

Wed Aug 14

Flat Rock to the Cornell Dairy Bar

Official head count: 25H, four D

More photos:

Annie

Jack V

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Sat Aug 17

Hammond Hill SF ski trails

Official head count: 17H — I had to skip this hike — stuck at home with diarrhea

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Sun Aug 18

Monkey Run Natural Area, north side of Fall Creek at Hanshaw Road

Official head count: 21H, four D

More photos:

Annie

Report to Hikers: week of Aug 5-Aug 11

Hello Hikers!

Wed Aug 7

Woodard Road NW to Hines Road on the FLT, Enfield

The second part of the hike, beyond Hines Road, was totally overgrown and impassable, so we urned around.

We decided to make the walk into a loop by coming back on the road rather than retracing our steps through the woods

The roads here don’t seem particularly dramatic, but they have a wonderful country feeling that I think is really special. Very quiet and deserted.

Corner of Woodard Road and Stonehouse Road. I assume this is the house that gave the name to the road. Very beautiful and mysterious.

Official head count: 18H

More photos:

Jack V

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Sat Aug 10

Rim trail along Shindagin gorge, upper Shindagin Hollow SF.

Normally when we emerge from the woods we head down a narrow steep path to the stream at the bottom of the gorge — but the path was so overgrown most people didn’t want to go down — so we walked down Shindagin Hollow Road to the bottom instead

It’s a lovely walk and really just as satisfying as going down to the stream

Official head count: 20H, six D

More photos:

Annie

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Sun Aug 11

Taughannock Falls SP, rim trail and gorge trail

It ws a gorgeous morning, the kind of day you’d expect the park to be jammed, but it actually wasn’t very crowded

Official head count: 21H, four D

More photos:

Jack V

Report to Hikers: week of July 29-Aug 4

Hello Hikers!

Wed July 31

Bald Hill Road south to the Abbott Loop and up to The Pinnacles Look-out, Danby SF

Dark misty damp morning — extremely nice after all the hot weather

Aside from where we parked, the little clearing at the look-out was the only place with any real light for taking photos

This is where the southern leg of the Abbott Loop crosses Bald Hill Road — we traditionally reverse course and retrace our steps at this point

Back up at The Pinnacles on the retuen leg of the walk

Official head count: 23H, one D

More photos:

Annie

Jack V

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Sat Aug 3

Lick Brook

The improvement to the trail along the edge of Lick Brook involved lengthening the route so the climb is more gradual, and installing several areas of wooden steps to end erosion of the steep slopes. Several hikers said this reduced the adventure of climbing up the hillside. I was hoping the work crew would also level out the path so it no longer tilted strongly toward the stream gorge, but this issue wasn’t addressed. I have a lot of trouble walking on a surface that tilts because, as some of you know, I developed problems with my balance a few years back related to a nerve disorder I inherited. I’m no longer able to walk without lurching and staggering a bit, and this problem makes me worry I could stagger into the gorge.

I’ve been wearing a bike helmet and upper body armor for over a year when I hike ever since I took a weird and somewhat serious fall onto the top of my head that I suspect was related to my balance problems. The helmet and armor make me feel more secure but they can be really oppressive on a hot humid morning like this was.

Official head count: 24H, three D

More photos:

Annie

Jack V

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Sun Aug 4

Connecticut Hill Wildlife Management Area with Dave B — The Saddle

Official head count: 31H, 10 D

More photos:

Jack V

Liz K wraps up this year’s cook-out

Greetings Friends,

What a spectacular day we had for the Hiker’s reunion picnic! By all accounts, it was an overwhelming success. The weather was perfect. The chicken quarters were moist and flavorful. The wait for grilled food was minimal. A record number of people came (between 90-100!). There were lots of great food on the dish-to-pass tables. And a good time was had by all. THANK YOU.

A special shout out to Roger and Gunilla, Randy, Jack, Bud, Pat, Mary, Eckhart, and the very generous donor who wants to remain anonymous for all you guys did behind the scene.

Also a BIG thank you for everyone’s generous donation. We have enough to pay for the website for the year, cash to give to Steven and Susan for the incidentals for other hiker related expenses ( for example sparkling wine at the New Year’s eve tailgate party) and a nice gift certificate to REI so they can keep looking sharp while attending every hike.

Hope to see you on the trails, or around town,

Happy Hiking.

Liz Kyle

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Liz and Gunilla, and Tiger’s back. I really love scenes with smoke that’s illuminated against a very dark background.

Liz always does a great job coordinating the food, and I don’t think anyone’s happier to have her handling it than Tiger and me. We used to do the food operation ourselves but Tiger hated it, and Liz felt I was heavy-handed and brusque. Liz really has a knack for this — she makes it seem effortless.