ithacahikers

 

Hello Hikers!

 

All the photos in this report were taken by Tiger

 

Wed May 23

Rural road walk  —  Bower Road from Burr Road west into the Finger Lakes National Forest, NW  of Perry City

If you’re into country settings, this stretch of road is extraordinarily nice.  The landscape and terrain are wonderfully satisfying  —  and we caught some great conditions  —  the birds were singing and the sun was at a dramatic angle and it was mild but not hot ….

Unless you venture out into these off-the-track places, you simply can’t get the experience just following your regular routines

Official head count:  15H, four D

More photos:

Jack V

 

Sat May 26

Texas Hollow SF, Bennettsburg

Official head count:  18H, four D

 

Sun May 27

Brunch at Katharine and Scott’s, Danby

It was raining pretty hard on our way to the brunch and I couldn’t help but wonder if the dreary weather would cause people to stay home and put a damper on the get-together

We were stuck inside at first  —  it was cheery but the view out the window was melancholy and dull

I shouldn’t have given way to gloomy thoughts!  The rain turned light and intermittent pretty soon and it was lovely

Forty people showed up by 1 pm and there was a great festive vibe.  The party kept going long after Tiger and I left.  Final head count:  48  —  one of our bigger get-togethers

 

Monday May 28

Forest road walk  —  Curtis Road from Hill Road to Fischer Settlement Road, Danby SF

It was already oppressively warm and humid in Fall Creek at 9 when we left for the trail head  —  but the temperature fell steadily as we climbed into the Danby hills and the meet-up was shrouded in delightfully cool mist and a little fog

By the end of the walk the sun was out and the air had cleared  —  it was hot and oppressive in the woods too

Official head count:  27H, four dogs

More photos:

Annie

Jack V

 

 

Hello Hikers!

 

Wed May 16

Ellis Hollow Nature Preserve

This was Tiger’s second hike as the official photographer  — I tore my rotator cuff in a fall last weekend and I stayed home to take it easy.

I always like to start a hike with a candid action shot of the hikers as they stampede in unison for the trail on the “Go” signal, ideally looking energized and cheerful and generally like they’re having fun.  But you need to be out in front of them before they start, and then to scramble and take multiple shots as the group moves ahead.  This is often one of the few times when everyone is together, so it’s a good moment.

Unfortunately someone was talking to Tiger and the group suddenly started, leaving her behind.  In that case you tend to get trapped in the rear in a single line of people, and all you can photograph is their backs, an extremely uninteresting shot.  In the photo above, Tiger had finally managed to work her way up the line and she managed to make it into an action shot  —  it has an element of “You are there” feeling to it  —  it’s not just a dull plodding line

She finally got into decent position for some different action shots ….  took her a long time

Time for a group shot (though not everyone was present).  You can see Jim’s shot immediately below  —  Jack V’s version is in his album here

Official head count:  21H, three D

More photos:

Annie

Jack V

 

Sat May 19

Rained out

 

Sun May 20

Malloryville countryside northeast of Freeville  —  with Bob B

All the photos were taken by Tiger

Fantastic atmospherics  —  it was sprinkling on the way to the trail head and when we stepped off  —  but it soon stopped, and the air, which was blowing up from the south, had a wonderful Gulf Coast quality to it, mild and sweet

150-year-old RR trestle over Fall Creek, which you can see in the lower right corner

Giant beaver dam  —  always an adventure to cross

Entering the distinctive Malloryville bog ….  the wooden walkways can be treacherously slippery

Official head count:  14H, one D

 

 

Hello Hikers!

 

Wed May 9

Shindagin Hollow SF  —  gorge rim trail and trillium displays on lower Shindagin Hollow Road

Official head count:  23H, three D

More photos:

Annie

 

Sat May 12

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

It was really hard to know whether we’d get rained out of this hike or not  —  turned out to be a gorgeous morning  —  the period when the spring greenery comes up here is probably the nicest time of year for this walk

Shortly after I took this photo, I fell down  —  I may have caught my foot in a root snag, I’m not sure  —  toppled straight down and hit with my head first  —  strained a number of muscles  —  Tiger and I abandoned the hike and I tottered back to the car with help from Casey

Official head count:  12H, three D

 

Sunday May 13

Shindagin Hollow Road east to South Road on the FLT past the lean-to

I was too sore to hike, so Tiger took all the official photos.  We’re going to share the photo-taking in the future  —  my balance is impaired and Tiger thinks I scramble around too much going after the photos, increasing the chance I could trip and fall again

This was the first time Tiger photographed a hike, and I think she did a great job.  I’m looking forward to seeing future shots from her.  She did hit one technical problem  —  it was the first time she used my camera and she unknowingly activated a tiny button that made many of the shots come out overly dark  —  I lightened them up at home but they’re still a little dark.

Official head count:  25H, three D

More photos:

Jack V

********

Our nature photographer Jack V is just back from a trip to a base camp in the Himalayas  —  check out his shots

 

 

 

Hello Hikers!

 

Wed May 2

Shindagin Hollow SF, bike trails in the northern sector

Official head count:  23H, four D

 

Sat May 5

Roy H Park Preserve into Hammond Hill SF, Dryden

Official head count:  24H, five D

More photos:

Annie

 

Sunday May 6

Taughannock Falls SP  —  rim trail and gorge trail

Official head count:  26H, seven D

 

 

Hello Hikers!

 

Tuesday April 24

Woodard Road NW to Hines Road and beyond

The state’s in the process of rebuilding the wooden bridge over Fishkill Creek that was damaged and demolished a few years ago.  The work is now moving quite fast.

Official head count:  15H, three D

 

Sat April 28

Layen Road to Bruce Hill Road and beyond, Jersey Hill, Danby

Official head count:  32H, five D

 

Sun April 29

Route 79 at the Tioga County line south to Blackman Hill Road, Caroline

I misremembered the character of the trail  —  it’s actually a killer, up there with our toughest hikes  —  on the other hand, the scenery is pretty much great.  We just need to be sure we do this walk only in chilly weather.

We made it up almost to Blackman Hill Road  —  this is the big field right next to the road  —  normally there are great views, but not this time

Great walk!

Official head count:  18H, three D