Author: Benben

Wednesday, February 19

South Hill Rec Way from Burns Road

Hike report by Jim

Nine hikers and one dog met on Burns Rd in the Town of Ithaca for a hike of the more easterly part of the South Hill Rec Way as well as the side trails in that area. This is hike #2-3 on our list of regular hike locations:  https://www.ithacahikers.com/hike-2.

The day was cold but windless, unlike the previous day when I pre-hiked our route. The Rec Way surface was icy, but the side trails had a surface of crunchy snow only a few inches deep.

Our group had the trails to ourselves, even along the Rec Way where we saw a skier at the beginning of the hike but never again.

Saturday, February 22

Bock Harvey Forest Preserve and Riemen Woods, Enfield

Hike report by Jim

Approximately twenty-five people and three dogs met at the Bock Harvey Preserve for a hike of the FLT led by Mark S and/ or a return after a hiatus of a couple of years of our annual mid-winter cookout. I did not get from Mark a mileage total for the hike, so for any hikers today who are tracking your FLT miles for an FLT50 or FLT100 patch, you’ll have to guesstimate what your hike miles today consisted of.

A work party came in on Friday and walked a good supply of firewood to the lean-to from Dave B’s house; Dave had volunteered the use of his wood for the picnic event. Thank you Dave and the firewood worker bees for your assistance!

Roger B oversaw the lighting and maintenance of the fire at the lean-to while Mark led the hike. Cooking started as soon as the hikers returned to the lean-to from the hike and continued for around an hour until everyone had had their fill of food. Thanks to everyone who brought a food contribution to the cookout event!

Weather conditions were blue skies and sun. Temps were wintery and cool as could be expected. Trail conditions were generally good, with no recent snowfall and a solid base on the section I hiked in on.

Today’s events occurred on FLT map sheet M16. FLT map sheets are available for purchase in paper or electronic formats from the FLTC at:  https://fingerlakestrail.org/…/purchase-individual-maps/. Sale of the map sheets helps to defray the on-going expenses related to trail maintenance.

Hike report by Mark Sussman

On Saturday, February 22, about 25 hikers and 3 dogs showed up for the winter cookout and hike. It was a perfect winter day – sunny with blue skies and mild temperatures. The hike was at the Bock-Harvey preserve which was covered in a nice layer of snow. Most of the snow, except for one leg, had been previously trampled down making the hiking fairly easy. There are some decent up and down hills on the hike to help warm people up. The woods are always lovely, and highlighted by a grove of large old-growth maples.

Some folks just came for the hike, and left early. Others came later, and were just there for the cookout. Most did both. The cookout had plenty of food, and was heavy on meats, but other items were also available. 

Numbers of hikers helped by bringing in wood, starting the fire and cleaning up. Overall it was a success and thoroughly enjoyable.

Sunday, February 23

Potato Hill State Forest, Caroline

Hike report by Jim

Today’s hike took place entirely on FLT map sheet M18, available for purchase in paper or electronic formats at:https://fingerlakestrail.org/store/maps-and-gps/purchase-individual-maps/. Purchase of the map sheets assists in defraying the costs associated with on-going trail maintenance.

Thirteen hikers and two dogs met on Level Green Rd in the Town of Caroline where the FLT crosses. The planned hike of the day was to hike west and south on the FLT towards Seventy-Six Rd. Due to snow accumulations on that section of trail I instead opted to have us hike east and north through Potato Hill State Forest towards Blackman Hill Rd. That section of the Finger Lakes Trail has been more recently hiked, with the snow compacted by hikers, skiers and snowshoers. This is out-and-back hike 29-1 on our list of regular hike locations: https://www.ithacahikers.com/hike-29.

The day was sunny and comfortable as we hiked through the woods. Trail conditions were generally good; while the snow on this trail section was somewhat compacted, it didn’t take long for us to struggle a little on the footpath as the compacted portion of snow was only a narrow strip that was easily deviated from. There were a few frozen sections of trail that we crossed over, and one stubbornly unfrozen pool of water near Level Green Rd. This section of trail is wet all year round, so it was not unexpected.

After crossing the two footbridges and before reaching the trail register, we crossed a snowmobile trail; I decided that it was a better option to hike on the much more compacted snowmobile trail than the FLT. The group hiked the snowmobile trail to Blackman Hill Rd and followed that trail downhill towards Tioga County until we reached our turnaround time.

We re-traced our route and re-entered the FLT, returning to Level Green Rd without incident.

Despite our abbreviated time on the FLT, I estimate that we still hiked around two miles on the FLT, for those who might be tracking their 2025 FLT miles in order to qualify for an FLT 50 or FLT 100 patch. More information on that program at: https://fingerlakestrail.org/whats…/hiking-programs/flt50/.

Wednesday, February 12

FLT west from Burnt Hill Rd. to Satterly Hill Rd., Finger Lakes National Forest

Hike report by Jim

Seven hikers and one dog met on Burnt Hill Rd in Schuyler County for an out and back westerly hike on the Finger Lakes Trail. This is hike # 42-4 on our list of regular hike locations: https://www.ithacahikers.com/hike-42 .

This hike location appears on FLT map sheet M15. Map sheets are available for purchase in paper or electronic formats at:  https://fingerlakestrail.org/…/purchase-individual-maps/ . Purchase of the map sheets helps to defray the on-going costs associated with trail maintenance.

Leaving the parking area the first part of the hike is a steady downhill slog towards Logan Rd. We used to start this hike on Logan Rd, but a re-route of the FLT footpath beyond Satterly Hill Rd last year forced us to relocate our trailhead for this hike.

Trail conditions were good today; a few inches of snow, and only a few people had preceded us on the trail. There was a decent amount of small, downed trees and tree limbs on the trail, waiting for warmer weather and the local trail maintainer in the spring. There were a few slippery spots on the downhill section, but nothing too bad. We did take our time though. It took us a good forty minutes to reach Logan Rd, a section of trail that normally takes us half that time in summer months.

Because of our slower pace, once we reached Logan Rd the group agreed to turn around once we reached the Mulvaney bridge rather than climb the hill towards Satterly Hill Rd.

After crossing Logan Rd, we continued on the FLT. No hikers had been on this section of trail recently; the only tracks in the snow being numerous animal tracks. Following the edge of the open fields we soon returned to the woods. I like this particular section of trail as it runs through an area of woods that has little in the way of brush or saplings. Line of sight through the forest is more distant than what you might normally find in other forest trails.

The group reached the bridge, looked the area over for a minute and turned around to re-trace our route, now with Mark S in the lead for the return part of the hike.

The second half of the hike was uneventful, and we got back to the cars exactly on time.

For those tracking their FLT miles in order to qualify for a 2025 FLT 50 or FLT100 patch, today’s hike included 3.3 FLT miles.

Saturday, February 15

Shindagin Hollow Bike Trails

Hike report by Jim

Fifteen hikers and three dogs met on Braley Hill Rd in the Town of Caroline for a hike of the bike trails in Shindagin Hollow State Forest. This is hike # 28-3 on our regular hikes list: https://www.ithacahikers.com/hike-28. Actually, we ended up having to modify the hike described at that link. When I got to the parking lot, there was a note at the kiosk asking that hikers stay off of the groomed yellow and red bike trails, which make up part of the trail loop I had planned on hiking with the group today. To avoid any conflicts with the cyclists, I modified our route as we went, making a loop hike by linking the blue bike trails, a short section of the FLT, and ending our route with a road walk.

Today’s hike is displayed on FLT map sheet M18, available for purchase in paper or electronic formats at: :https://fingerlakestrail.org/store/maps-and-gps/purchase-individual-maps/ . Sale of the map sheets helps to defray on-going trail maintenance costs.

The group set off from the parking lot in a southerly direction on blue blazed trail B1. Trail conditions were lightly packed snow; I was expecting that the bicyclists would have compacted more of the snow into a firm footing for us to hike on. While the snow was somewhat compacted due to past hikers and bicyclists, it wasn’t as firm as I had expected.

Reaching blue blazed trail B4 we turned onto that bike trail, hiking in a south westerly direction until we reached the FLT. This section of the FLT is one that I haven’t led the group on in a while, and its in some serious need of refreshed blazing. The group hiked in a westerly direction on the FLT until we reached Braley Hill Rd, where we hiked north back to our parking area. We hiked past our cars and continued on to Shindagin Hollow Rd before turning around and finishing the hike at our vehicles.

Not exactly the hike I had expected to take, but still an enjoyable winter hike in the woods.

Because of our modified route today we only hiked about a half mile on the Finger Lakes Trail. That small amount will still count for anyone compiling their FLT miles for a 2025 FLT50 or FLT100 patch:  https://fingerlakestrail.org/whats…/hiking-programs/flt50/ .

View Leigh Ann’s photo album.

Sunday, February 16

Kennedy State Forest, Dryden

This hike was cancelled due to severe weather.

Wednesday, February 5

Ellis Hollow Nature Preserve

Hike report by Jim

Thirteen hikers met at Ellis Hollow Nature Preserve in the Town of Dryden for two loops around the main trail system there. This is hike # 38 on our list of regular hike locations: https://www.ithacahikers.com/hike-38

The day was sunny, and a few inches of fresh powder were on the trail when we started the hike. There were a few slippery spots on the downhill trail sections along the way, but the group was able to navigate those without issue.

We shared the trail with only a couple of other dog walkers over the time that we were hiking.

Saturday, February 8

The Pinnacles from Bald Hill Rd., Danby SF

Hike report by Anne Becker

17 hikers and 1 dog met in Danby at intersection of Station and Bald Hill roads for a hike to the Pinnacles.

Weather was cold but not too cold. The group mostly stayed together until we got back to Bald Hill Road. A few hikers Made their way straight back to the cars while most of the group headed south on the seasonal road to fill out the 2 hour slot.

Welcome back Casey!

View Leigh Ann’s photo album.

Sunday, February 9

Lick Brook from Townline Road

Hike report by Jim

Fifteen hikers (including late arrivals) met on Townline Rd near the intersection of Sandbank Rd, for a wintery loop hike within the icy and snow-covered Sweedler and Thayer Nature Preserves. This is hike # 7-1 on our list of regular hike locations: https://www.ithacahikers.com/hike-7.

Today’s hike location is depicted on FLT map sheet M17. FLT map sheets may be purchased in paper or electronic formats at:  https://fingerlakestrail.org/store/maps-and-gps/purchase-individual-maps/. Sale of the map sheets helps to defray costs associated with the on-going maintenance of the Finger Lakes Trail.

It had snowed overnight; not the amount we had been forecast to receive, but still a couple of inches of new powder over the icy layers deposited by previous storms a day or two previously. This snow-over-ice made the downhill portions of this hike somewhat challenging, and even the uphill portions of the hike were made more interesting by the icy layers beneath our feet.

Hikers left the trailhead on Townline Rd and set off downhill on the white-blazed Finger Lakes Trail. This footpath wound its way through the woods, crossing a couple of streams along the way and turning downhill along one drop-off into a gorge. Most people had foot traction and poles, but even with those to aid in the descent it was a tricky proposition at certain points. Some hikers chose to simply sit down and slide down some of the icier trail sections.

The sun came out illuminating the treetops around us; we had blue skies overhead, although the rest of the visible sky were solidly encased in clouds.

Eventually the FLT reaches the valley floor and makes its way to the main Lick Brook falls, which we found solidly encased in ice. Some hikers walked to the base of the falls and tried to climb the icy walls, without much success. The group continued on the FLT through the Babcock Preserve as far as the railroad trestle before turning around.

Returning to the falls area the hikers ascended the hill on the switchbacks of the blue blazed ” Jims Trail “. This route offered some good views of the upper Lick Brook falls.

After reaching Townline Rd most of the group chose to leave early. Leigh Ann led around six of the remaining hikers onto the orange blazed Toms Trail on the opposite side of the road to use up the last remaining hike minutes.

For those hikers who are tracking their mileage on the Finger Lakes Trail to earn their FLT 50 or FLT 100 patches in 2025, today’s hike included 1.5 FLT miles.

Warm welcome to Pam and Jen on their first hike with the group!

View Leigh Ann’s photo album.

Wednesday, January 29

Monkey Run Natural Area, south side of Fall Creek, Varna

Hike report by Jim

Twelve hikers met in the Town of Dryden at the fisherman’s parking area just east of the state route 13/ Hanshaw Rd intersection, for a winter hike of the Monkey Run trail system. This is hike # 6-2 on our list of regular hike locations: https://www.ithacahikers.com/hike-6.

The day was overcast but warm as we set off from the parking area, passing underneath the bridge and entering the woods on the other side.

Our group followed the shoreline of Fall Creek for quite a distance, the twisting footpath under us never far in sight or sound from the water. We passed several intersecting trails along our route; yellow and orange blazed trails, some of which we would see parts of later in the hike.

As the trail moved away from the creek, we had the first of a couple of short uphill sections. Eventually the trail returns back to the creek, only now seen from an elevated position. Eventually our route brings us to a junction with the yellow blazed trails and the final observation point of the creek, from bluffs far above the creek. While we were at this location the skies overhead grew ominously darker than during the first hour of the hike. The group paused here for a while before continuing on the hike.

Jumping onto the yellow blazed trail, we hiked for a while in semi-darkness in a steady squall of snowflakes. We soon encountered the orange blazed trail that took us to the dead-end parking area of Monkey Run Rd. Crossing over the parking area we continued on the orange blazed trail, stopping to make a trail journal entry before walking to the nearby Dryden Rail Trail. By now the skies had cleared and the snow had stopped

Once on the Rail Trail we walked in the direction of state route 13 until we turned back into the Monkey Run trail system very near to the state highway. We took this short section of orange blazed trail, in the process passing over the new puncheons installed in that area last summer by the CTC. Soon we arrived back to our entry point in the Monkey Run trails, returning to the path under the bridge and our cars.

This route was a little short on time but overall still very enjoyable.

Saturday, February 1

Jim Schug Trail from Dryden Village

Hike report by Jim

Twelve hikers and one dog met in the Village of Dryden at the Kenny Van Sickle Ballfield parking lot, for an out and back hike of parts of the Dryden Rail Trail and Jim Schug Trail. This is hike # 49-1 on our list of regular hike locations: https://www.ithacahikers.com/hike-49

The day was cold and snowing lightly when we started the hike. The forecast had been for temperatures below 0 F with wind chill factored in, and while it didn’t seem to reach those lows during the hike, it was definitely cooler than it had been in recent days.

The group posed for a picture at the beginning of the hike and then set out, hiking the Dryden Rail Trail to West Main Street where we picked up the Jim Schug Trail. Both trails had a packed surface in the middle of the trail, while the outer edges were basically untouched.

Snow fell intermittently during the hike; by the end of the hike the skies and cleared and the sun shone brightly off the fresh snow. Crossing several foot bridges along the way it was an enjoyable hike, being able to study the contrasts between the dark water flowing in the creek bed and the snow-covered creek banks.

I think that we saw only one other dog walker and a cross-country skier sharing the trails with us today.

The faster hikers in the group reported that they had completed about a six-mile hike today; everyone’s hiking mileage apps didn’t seem to agree with each other on the issue of distance hiked.

After the hike several members of the group reconvened at Hopshire Brewery for some good conversation and an occasional adult beverage.

View Leigh Ann’s photo album.

Sunday, February 2

Lindsay Parsons Preserve, West Danby

Hike report by Jim

Thirteen hikers and a single dog met in the parking lot of the Lindsay Parsons Biodiversity Preserve in the Town of Danby, for a hike of trails within the preserve. This is hike # 16 on our list of regular hike locations:  https://www.ithacahikers.com/hike-16.

Setting out from the parking area we found that the trails were in good shape, with only the inclined portions a little slippery in places due to frequent use compacting the snow into a skim of ice. Windblown snow in the open fields had resulted in somewhat deeper snow around the perimeter of the fields, with patchy bare spots of soil showing through elsewhere.

The group stopped briefly at the very frozen-over Coleman Lake, but the biting winter wind proved to be too persistent to stay in one place for too long before moving on.

Crossing the open fields, we looped around the bogs on the red and yellow blazed trails, finally entering the woods and hiking the orange and purple blazed trails on the opposite side of the railroad track with Leigh Ann in the lead. Piled remnants of the many blow down trees from last year were all around us on parts of this loop, but the trails themselves were in great shape and the blazes along our route only recently re-painted.

Re-crossing the railroad track, the group made its way back to the blue blazed trails via the yellow and red blazed loops. The blue blazed trails led over the crest of the first field we’d crossed and led the group back to the parking lot. Leigh Ann burned up the last few minutes of time by leading the group to the short viewing loop at the opposite end of the parking area that provides a view of the more southerly end of Coleman Lake.

Warm welcome to Dawn on her first hike with the group!

View Leigh Ann’s photo album.

Wednesday, January 22

Ellis Hollow Nature Preserve

This hike was cancelled due to severe weather.

Saturday, January 25

Cayuga Trail South Loop

Hike report by Jim

Nineteen hikers and two dogs met on Forest Home Drive in the Town of Ithaca for an out-and-back hike on a combination of the Cayuga Trail South Loop and the Monkey Run trail systems. This is hike # 4-2 on our list of regular hike locations: https://www.ithacahikers.com/hike-04.

While the Cayuga Trail itself is a frequent location for our hikes, the South Loop hasn’t been a recent hike for the group. I had recently done a hike here with the Cayuga Trails Club and thought that it was worth bringing the Ithaca Hikers along this route today.

After crossing the suspension bridge the group took a right turn and continued to bear to the right at the next two trail junctions. This kept us walking along the northerly shore of Fall Creek, which was very enjoyable as it was nearly entirely covered in ice for much of the area immediately around the suspension bridge.

Soon the orange blazed Cayuga Trail enters a couple of open fields. The” Trail” here morphs into a service road for a couple of Cornell fields. The orange blazes are few and far between, but the change to an actual dirt road allows hikers to walk side by side as they talk during the hike.

Soon the route brings hikers out to Freese Rd at the long-closed Freese Rd bridge, which seems to finally be making progress towards being replaced in the coming years: https://tompkinsweekly.com/…/town-of-dryden-gets…/

Crossing the bridge the Cayuga Trail makes a sharp left and follows the southern side of Fall Creek, passing through some minor woods areas before coming out on more Cornell agricultural fields. The winds were a little strong blowing across these open fields, but I enjoy following the bluffs above Fall Creek here as the waterway winds through several twists and turns. We encountered the only other hikers we saw all morning on this portion of the hike.

Soon enough the Cayuga Trail comes to an intersection with the red blazed Monkey Run trail system. Our group took the red blazed trail, while the Cayuga Trail turned to circle around the fields. Re-entering the woods, the Monkey Run trail is never far from the water, and at several points offers a nice viewing location of the Creek at stream level as well as the high Varna bluffs on the opposite bank of the Creek.

We set a better pace than I expected; I had planned on the group being a little slower than it was today, and so we got to my planned turn-around point a full ten minutes sooner than I had planned. Had we continued further on the trail it would have taken us into more open fields.

Turning around, the group was led for the return leg of the hike by Leigh Ann. We did stop at a couple of the viewing locations to check out the bluffs and the Creek and managed to still make it back to our cars with ten minutes to spare.

Thanks to all who came out to hike today!

View Leigh Ann’s photo album.

Sunday, January 26

Finger Lakes Trail in Danby State Forest

Hike report by Jim

Twenty-one hikers and three dogs met on South Danby Rd in the Town of Danby, for an out-and-back hike of the FLT in Danby State Forest to the Tamarack Lean-To. This is hike 23-1 on our list of regular hike locations: https://www.ithacahikers.com/hike-23.

Today’s hike was entirely on the Finger Lakes Trail, depicted on map sheet M17, available for purchase in paper or electronic formats at:  https://fingerlakestrail.org/…/purchase-individual-maps/. Sale of the maps helps to defray the on-going costs associated with trail maintenance.

While I say that this is on our list of regular hike locations, we actually haven’t done this particular hike in about a year, and I’m not sure why I haven’t scheduled it sooner. We’ve more recently hiked to the Tamarack Lean-to from the other direction (State Route 96B) on the FLT, but for whatever reason I’ve slipped up on having us hike to it from South Danby Rd. I’ll have to do better to get it in the rotation more often, as this is a nice hike.

Leaving South Danby Rd, the FLT begin a steady climb that lasts for much of the outbound leg of the hike. The footpath weaves in and out of the trees as it climbs the hillside, repeatedly crossing a snowmobile trail along the way. There are a few short flat sections on this uphill climb, and the climb isn’t really steeply pitched, it’s just more or less a continuous climb.

There are some trail sections along the way that are fairly muddy in the summer months. Today those sections had a fragile crust of frozen mud and ice, resulting in hikers in the lead of the group repeatedly crushing through the thin shell. Most of the footpath was in good condition, with a firm footing of snow. I do suspect that we put more boots on the trail on this section today than it’s seen in a few weeks.

There was a steady breeze blowing through the treetops, which consisted of stands of pines and several large deciduous tree species, as well as the Tamaracks that the lean-to takes its name from. The day was sunny, the blue sky full of clouds a good day to be on the trail. The sun broke through the trees in long beams of sunlight, contrasting sharply with the shadows deeper in the treeline around us.

The FLT crosses seasonal Travor Rd as it gets closer to the lean-to.

The faster hikers, led by Leigh Ann, arrived at the lean-to and took a short break before starting the return leg of the hike and picking up the slower hikers on the return portion of the hike. The group was back at the cars more or less exactly on time. Good job Leigh Ann!

For those hikers tracking their FLT miles for the 2025 FLT 50 or FLT100 patches, todays FLT miles total was 3.8 FLT miles.

View Leigh Ann’s photo album.