Four Ithaca Hikers met David Priester of the Cayuga Trails Club at Hanshaw and Lower Creek Roads for a small trail maintenance project on our adopted section of the Cayuga Trail. One of the footbridges had become destabilized due to erosion on a bank.
After a short hike to the work site on the orange-blazed trail section, the work party spent a few minutes digging out one end of the footbridge. David lag-bolted some new 2 x 8 stringers into the existing footbridge, and we backfilled the end of the bridge with rocks and dirt.
No sooner had we completed the project than a Primitive Pursuits class of a dozen or so young kids and adult counselors hiked through and had a chance to try out the reinforced footbridge.
Thanks to everyone who came out to assist with this project!
South Hill Rec Way/Six Mile Creek, South Side, Rim Trail
Hike report by Jim
Fourteen hikers and one excited dog met on Crescent Place for a hike of the South Hill Rec Way and the forest trails that run adjacent to it. The day was sunny, warm, and dry, and the first buds of spring were emerging on the trees around us. There was still a reasonable amount of water flowing in the creeks we crossed, but I assume that as the dry conditions persist they will dry up soon enough.
Hikers made a quick stop at the stone stairs that descend to the creek, and then we took a looping trail to the overlook above second dam.
While trying to navigate the narrow, spiny trail beyond second dam, we encountered multiple nests of ground bees on both the initial descent and the climb up the other side. This forced me to drop my plans for the second hour’s route, and so we ended up simply walking the Rec Way back to our cars.
We arrived at our cars with a few minutes to spare, but it was still an enjoyable hike.
Photo by JimPhoto by Mary W.
Saturday April 15
Loop hike on the eastern branch of Carter Creek, Connecticut Hill, Newfield
On Saturday morning, we received word that there was a major law enforcement incident happening on Trumbulls Corners Road, not far from our hike location. Police were looking for an armed man on an ATV. You can read about the incident here.
Because there was a potentially dangerous person being pursued in the area, the hike was officially canceled.
Nancy L. and Randy went to the starting point to meet anyone who didn’t receive the cancellation notice and showed up for the hike. The suspect was arrested shortly before our scheduled hike time, so those who’d arrived at the meetup point decided to hike.
Hike report by Randy O.
Seven gritty hikers and one well-behaved but overdressed dog hit the trail for a four-mile loop down one side of Carter Creek and up the other.
There were two uneventful stream crossings on a warm and sunny day. The gnats were out in force, and although they did not bite they were a real nuisance. Repellent seemed to work a little.
There’s been an active beaver working at the large pond near where we park the cars. We heard one owl making a lot of noise.
And I think everyone was relieved to hear before they started hiking that the wanted person had been caught.
Long Point State Park and Aurora Brewing Co., Aurora
Hike report by Jim
The group lucked out today!
The weather report for the next week is less than promising, with the return of colder temps and several days of rain in the forecast. By the time warm weather is expected to return, the state parks will be close to starting to charge entrance fees again for the summer.
As I drove from Freeville to King Ferry, there was still a morning chill, and the fog was still thick. By the time I turned onto Route 90 in King Ferry, the sun was out and it was looking like the day I’d been hoping for when I scheduled this hike.
By the time I turned onto Lake Rd. and started the descent toward Long Point State Park, the last of the morning fog was burning off the lake in front of me.
Long Point State Park is a bit of an odd duck. It’s close enough to Ithaca to be a destination option, but small enough that it tends to get overlooked by many locals, thanks to the other state park options around Ithaca.
Ultimately, 12 people arrived at Long Point for a hike of the trails there. This was the first time the group has hiked at this park, and I had only prehiked the trails once last fall when I was deciding whether this might be an option for Ithaca Hikers.
We set off into the woods, and soon we were hiking along a nice ravine. It was too shallow to earn the title of “gorge,” but it had some sheer rock faces along the streambed that elevate it to beyond simple “ravine” status.
After a short distance, we turned into the woods for a loop that took us through a nice section of forest trail that borders the park boundary in places. Here we could see spring flowers dotting the forest floor in yellow-hued abundance. The dogwoods are flowering, and while the undergrowth is starting to produce leaves, views of the surrounding forest floor were not so obscured as to feel that you’re walking in a green tunnel.
Last fall, I hiked this trail system right after the leaves had fallen, resulting in a less obvious footpath as there are no blazes, only the occasional trail sign. On today’s hike, the footpath was extremely obvious most of the time, the only exception being the trail sections that traversed some of the open fields and brush-hogged areas.
At the far end of the forest loop, we had the option of circling a large, open field or sticking closer to the edge of the treeline; the group opted for the treeline, as the open field offered no relief to the sun’s glare which by now was unrelentingly hot on exposed skin that had not yet adapted from our long winter months of multilayered dormancy. None of the group burst into flames in the sunlight, so there’s a positive note…..
Some of the next section of trail had been getting brush-hogged last year, and it’s a little depressing to walk across this huge swath of open field that’s really a layer of ground-up brush underfoot. Some hikers speculated that perhaps the state is planning to turn the field into some sort of camping area. I know that when I worked for the state, we tended to brush-hog some of the open fields a couple times each summer just to keep the growth under control. Those areas didn’t get further development until long after I left that job.
Turning south, the trail system again borders the park boundary. In this area the cedars along the trail drew some attention from hikers. Most of the non-natural colors along the trail were a plethora of No Trespassing signs, which made it clear that hikers are not welcome to leave the established footpath.
We reached a service road, which we took back to the ravine, returning via that route back to the parking lot. With some time to spare, we walked to the nearby shoreline and wandered the paved footpaths there, ultimately arriving back at the cars about 10 minutes early.
After the hike, most of the hikers reconvened at the nearby Aurora Brewing Company, which opened its doors a few minutes early as our group pressed our forlorn faces to their doors giving them our best “feed us” faces.
The brewery has an excellent variety of drinks and prepared foods. After we made our food and drink selections, we quickly claimed a picnic table on the outside covered porch area, which has a good view of the lake and the surrounding vineyards.
Thanks to all who came on the Sunday hike, and to those who were able to socialize afterwards!
On this Wednesday, we had two hike options: our regular hike, led by Jim at and around Mulholland Wildflower Preserve, and a longer alternative hike of the FLT through lower Treman, led by Casey.
Mulholland Wildflower Preserve, Ithaca
Hike report by Jim
Ten hikers met in the Mulholland Wildflower Preserve on Giles Street in Ithaca for a hike of the trails to the Second Dam overlook, as well as some other trails in the area.
Our group’s cars filled the small parking lot, and only a few other people shared the trails with us on this midweek morning. Although foul weather was predicted for the afternoon, we enjoyed clear skies during our hike.
We followed the lower trails as they wound across the forest floor, pausing occasionally to take photos of the cascades or the small waterfalls flowing down the cliff faces.
Eventually, the trail turns and starts climbing the hillside toward the Second Dam access road, which provides a wide hiking trail as far as that dam.
Before reaching that road, however, I opted to take the narrow blue-blazed footpath that goes along the hillside far above the water before arriving at an observation point directly above second dam. There, we rejoined the access road as far as the overlook before turning around and retracing our steps back to the parking area.
After we’d arrived at the parking area, we opted to cross Giles Street and walk to the opposite side of the bridge, where we entered the trail system for Wells Falls.
Several hikers took the higher, blue-blazed trail that climbs the hillside before coming out at an observation area directly above the falls. This trail concludes its short loop by returning to Giles Street by the bridge. From there, we took the lower part of the blue-blazed trail to the base of Wells Falls.
Back at Giles Street, we realized we still had around 15 minutes of hike time remaining. Some hikers chose to use up that time doing a sidewalk hike of Giles Street toward Hudson Street, while others decided to end their hike a few minutes early.
Photos by Nancy H.
FLT through lower Treman to Butternut Creek Rd.
Hike report and photo by Joe
Two showed up for the alternative Wednesday hike, an out-and-back of the FLT from lower Treman to Butternut Creek Rd. It was a little overcast, but a perfect temp for a jacketless journey.
Saturday April 8
Hoxie Gorge, Cortland County
Hike report by Jim
Fourteen hikers met on Hoxie Gorge Road in Cortland County for a hike of the FLT through part of Hoxie Gorge State Forest. The day was sunny with a spectacular blue sky, and the sunlight streaming through the trees mottled the forest floor. Temperatures were cool, and light breezes made the hike very enjoyable.
From the parking area for the McDermott Nature Trail, we walked a short way to the blue-blazed trail. This trail, formerly a section of the FLT footpath, is now downgraded to an access trail to the current FLT.
This beginning section of the trail, including the McDermott Nature Trail, is part of the Hoxie Gorge Nature Preserve maintained by SUNY Cortland for educational purposes.
I’ve previously found this blue-blazed section of trail to be enjoyable as it weaves its way through the forest, sometimes passing close to the flowing stream before climbing back up the hillside, where it shares some trail distance with the McDermott Nature Trail.
Today we found the access trail suffering from some severe footpath damage from blowdowns and running water that will require trail repairs or some major rerouting in the future. Multiple blowdowns along the FLT required sidestepping trees or attempts at the limbo as we slithered under tree trunks.
The last couple of times we’ve done this hike, we’ve taken the FLT toward Hoxie Gorge Freetown Rd. My thinking was that this section of trail, as it passes through lowlands and crosses several waterways, was likely to be a wet, muddy, miserable slog. So I opted to take the group in the other direction, toward the Hoxie Gorge lean-to and Underwood Hill beyond it. In this direction, the FLT stays on some higher ground, which today proved to be mostly mud-free, although we did encounter small patches of mud here and there.
There were a couple of water crossings along the way, but the volume of water in the creek was not so much that it made those crossings hazardous.
For the most part, the footpath on this section of the FLT is enjoyable, although as Joe said at one point the trail still requires careful attention as it winds its way up and down the hillsides and across some rooty sections.
Eventually we reached the Hoxie Gorge lean-to, which is situated on a nice hillside near the streambed. From the lack of journal entries and a significant amount of untouched downed wood around the structure (which would’ve long since been burned at a more frequented lean-to), I have to assume that this lean-to doesn’t see many visitors.
After writing a brief trail journal entry, I saw that we had some time left on our outbound leg. The group agreed to hike a few additional minutes toward Underwood Hill, on my promise of a good view from a field in that location.
We did reach the edge of the field, although time didn’t allow us to continue to the crest of the hill, where there’s an excellent view of the valley and where the property owner has placed a picnic table for hikers to use. There is a small parking area on Underwood Rd, and I’m thinking that at some point in the future it would be worthwhile to start a hike from that location so that the views and the rest of today’s hike can be enjoyed in the opposite direction…
After pausing to admire the field,we turned around and retraced our steps until we reached the McDermott Nature Trail. That yellow-blazed trail offers a more direct route back to our cars. Ultimately, we did run over on our time by a few minutes, but everyone seems to have enjoyed the hike.
Based on the FLT map mileage, today’s hike was 4.4 FLT miles, for those working to get their FLT50 patch this year.
Mary called this the “semi-private privy.” Photos by Mary W.Photos by Leigh Ann
Twenty-four hikers and two dogs gathered at the corner of Carter Creek and Rowell Hill Roads on a sunny, crisp spring morning. Hikers were offered two hikes: a road walk along Carter Creek Road and another hike that included a trail walk to the east of Lloyd Stark Road. Due to some confusion about the routes, most hikers turned onto Lloyd Stark Road and eventually followed Randy and me into the woods to explore the plateau at the top of Rowell Hill.
The initial walk up Lloyd Stark was quite steep for a climb of nearly 500 feet, but the trail on Rowell Hill was quite gentle. We took note of a small pond on the trail where some egg masses were spotted. There wasn’t much vegetation, but this allowed the sunlight to penetrate the woods. Occasionally, we also had views of the surrounding hills and fields. Rock walls and evidence of a small foundation could be seen. At the end of the hike, some hikers were able to visit with a horse and rider.
A smaller group hiked out and back on Carter Hill Road.
Ten hikers (plus a local dog) met at the junction of Beech Hill and Dawes Hill Roads in West Danby for a rural road walk. We were joined by a neighborhood dog that chose to come along with us, a first that I can recall, so at Casey’s urging I’m including the dog in our official tally.
It was a sunny day, a far cry from the snow showers we’d been promised when I scheduled the hike. As we began our hike, walking to the end of Dawes Hill Rd., water gurgled in the roadside ditches and the sun warmed the frozen dirt road underfoot. Unfortunately, the long-distance view of distant peaks in Pennsylvania was a little hazy and underwhelming.
We returned to the parking area and walked the seasonal part of Beech Hill Rd. This consists of a steady downhill walk, followed by an often steep climb back to our cars.
About midway down the hill on Beech Hill Rd., there is a Finger Lakes Land Trust holding that I checked out for a few minutes while the main body of hikers continued down the road. The bulk of the property along the seasonal part of the road is owned by Cotton Hanlon and is thoroughly posted against trespassers. The Land Trust property must have been Cotton Hanlon property at one time and still has old logging roads heading downhill toward streambeds. I’m hoping that I can return to the area and plot out a future cross-country hike for the group using the logging roads.
Photo by JimWe need more signs like this on our rural roads!
Saturday April 1
Dabes Diversion Loop, Kennedy SF, Cortland County
Hike report by Jim
Saturday started out cool and with a stiff breeze blowing through the trees around us through much of the early hike. The day was overcast, and I was certain that the rainy weather overnight would contribute to a lower-than-normal turnout for this hike.
While waiting for the group to arrive at the trailhead, I took note of the patchy snow on the forest floor and the sections of water-logged trail leading from the trailhead. Deer jumped across the road, and birds sang from the trees. In the calm before the hiking storm, it was an enjoyable and peaceful prelude, even with the cool wind.
Thirteen hikers and a dog ultimately arrived to participate in this hike. After we’d left the parking area it didn’t take long to encounter our first waterlogged trail sections. Snow on the actual footpath was minimal but seemed to be on hillsides and the shaded sides of trees we stepped over, ready to make any hiker slip if they weren’t taking proper care.
The first water crossing was uneventful; quite a bit of water was flowing, so the normal stream crossing rocks were slick and hazardous. I personally gave up and resigned myself to having wet feet for the duration of the hike.
I always think of this hike as having distinct trail sections: the initial downhill combined with a stream crossing and then climbing the hillside on the opposite side of the stream, a couple of level sections of trail, some nice sections of old stone wall, stands of hemlocks that were somewhat brooding on the overcast outbound leg of the hike but had some nice play of shadow and light on our return after the sun came out.
Around the time we reached the open field with the rock pile, the sun decided to make an appearance and the nature of the hike changed immediately. The second half of the hike had a nice warm breeze, and the sun made a distinct improvement to the hike’s second hour. It didn’t take long for hikers to start shedding layers.
After the rock pile, we headed toward the international loop trails, which always fall outside of our time limit for two-hour hikes. Along this section of trail there’s another, more significant water crossing, more stone walls, and the lean-to.
At the hour mark, we turned around and retraced our route back to the cars.
Casey reports FLT mileage at 4.53 FLT miles for those trying for their FLT50 patch this year.
A warm welcome to Brian on his first hike with the group!
And a belated welcome to canine hiker Po Boy! (Apparently I didn’t acknowledge Po Boy by name after his first hike with us.)
Twenty-two hikers and one dog met at the junction of Bald Hill and Station Roads for a hike to Thatchers Pinnacles and beyond. The morning was sunny and cold, with a chill wind blowing. The early arrivals were soon voicing a longing for the warmer temperatures of the previous day as we waited for the last hiker to arrive.
Before the hike started, we discussed routes. We’d all hike to the Pinnacles and down the other side of the hill back to the seasonal part of Bald Hill Rd., where hikers would have three options:
(1) Turn around and retrace the route back up to the Pinnacles. (Casey C. led this group. Thanks, Casey!)
(2) Come with me as I hiked a loop around parts of the Abbott Loop and Dove Trails back to Bald Hill Rd.
(3) Cut the hike a bit short and walk directly back to the cars.
In the end, the group split into three fairly even subgroups, one for each option.
After our briefing and a quick group photo, we took off down the seasonal part of Bald Hill Road, which was a mix of semi-frozen mud, running water, and puddles. The line of hikers quickly stretched out as we proceded.
By the time we left the road and began the climb to the Pinnacles, I could see a long line of single-file hikers strung out along the trail ahead of me. As we climbed the hillside and the trail curved around the hilltop, I lost sight of the lead hikers and also those trailing behind me.
Our stop at the Pinnacles was extremely brief, even though the views were great. The wind did little to encourage practicing the art of standing around. By the time I reached the peak, the lead hikers were already disappearing down the trail.
I arrived at the seasonal part of Bald Hill Rd. to find my Dove Trail loop hikers waiting for me. Casey had already taken his faster Abbott Loop hikers ahead on the Abbott Loop section heading down to the stream. My hikers reported that the subgroup who were headed straight back to their cars had already departed.
My group walked a short way down Bald Hill Rd. to access another section of the Abbott Loop. We hiked that section downhill, followed the stream a while, and crossed over to scale the hillside and reach the Dove Trail. We took the Dove Trail back to Station Rd., arriving back at our cars about 10 minutes early. Casey’s group of hikers arrived at the cars right on time.
For those trying for the FLT50 patch this year, I believe that the Abbott Loop qualifies as mileage toward the patch. If so, today’s mileage per Casey and Joe was about 4.5 miles.
Ten hikers met on Kraft Road in the town of Ulysses for an out-and-back hike of the Black Diamond Trail. It was a pleasant hike, with nice weather and glimpses of distant fields and homes through the leafless trees. We shared the trail with a handful of bicyclists, but otherwise the midweek volume was fairly light.
The group set off heading south, everyone doing their own pace. From my point of view, it seemed that the larger group had quickly broken down into subgroups of two or three hikers, and each smaller group was a microcosm of hikers engrossed in conversation as we all made our way down the footpath.
At turnaround time, I personally had gotten as far as the bison farm (no bison observed today), and the faster hikers had made it a considerable distance farther than I did.
Welcome to Lee Ann W. on her first hike with the group!
Saturday March 25
Finger Lakes Trail south and east from the corner of Townline and Layen Rds.
Hike report by Jim
Saturday’s weather started out with a rather intimidating rainstorm, which I suspect deterred some people from joining the hike. But seven hardy hikers met on Townline Road in Danby for a hike of the FLT. Thankfully, the downpour abated as we set off.
The first section of the FLT we traversed was as muddy as we’d expected. By the time we entered the open fields, the wind was whipping enough that I found myself pausing periodically to brace myself against the gusts. Because most of us knew what conditions can be like in this section, hikers had worn enough layers that I don’t think the weather caused much discomfort for anyone in the group.
Inspired by David Priester of Cayuga Trails Club, I recently acquired a Kestrel handheld weather meter, and this hike was my first real opportunity to put the gizmo through its paces. I found myself trailing the group as I measured wind speed, checked the temperature of water at stream crossings, etc. (Wind speeds in the open field hit 19 MPH on the hike’s outbound leg, while the water temperature at the first major stream crossing was barely above freezing).
The other hikers eventually made it to our usual turnaround point at the far side of the open fields, and they scooped me up on the way back.
For those working to earn their 2023 FLT50 patch, Casey gave an FLT mileage of 4.5 miles.
Photos by Leigh Ann
Sunday March 26
Finger Lakes Trail through Finger Lakes National Forest, Burdett
Hike report by Jim
Twenty-two hikers and two dogs met on Logan Road in Schuyler County for a hike on the FLT. It was a sunny, clear day, the weather a vast improvement over Saturday’s hike.
We started with a quick group picture, followed by a hike briefing as everyone clustered around the rebuilt map kiosk (there were actually maps available in the map boxes today!). Then the group was off and climbing the hill, with Casey and Joe leading the charge. The immediate climb provided a quick warm-up for those who had gotten chilled waiting for the hike to start.
Because of the recent rain, a decent amount of water flowed over the cascades in the ravine that the trail follows for the first mile or so. Roger and I brought up the rear, and we found ourselves stopping often along the way to admire the forest around us.
The trail crosses the stream and begins a wandering path through the woods, making a second, much smaller stream crossing before finally arriving at Burnt Hill Road. Because I knew that the other hikers had gone far ahead, I opted to road walk to where the FLT comes out on a lower section of the road, rather than try to race ahead to catch up.
This worked out pretty well. Because the fastest hikers found themselves with some extra time on their hands, they opted to do a quick detour down Wyckoff Road to burn up some minutes until all of the hikers emerged onto Burnt Hill Road. When everyone was accounted for, we hiked back to the FLT and descended the hill to our cars.
After the hike, a few of us gathered at Grist Iron Brewing Company for lunch and conversation. A warm welcome to Beth and her canine hiking companion, Stout, on their first hike with us!
Today’s hike, per Casey, counted as 4.9 FLT miles for those working toward their 2023 FLT50 patch.
