How far can our hikers really hike….6 miles, 8 miles, 12 miles in 2-3 hours? What if they challenged themselves to hike for 10 hours for a long distance hike of 20 miles? This past week I had the honor to be a trail angel for a long distance hiker, inspiring me to design this week’s hike as a distance hike. More details to come on meeting a woman that is hiking the North Country Trail from North Dakota to New York for a distance of 4,600 miles. She is in our area this week on the Finger Lakes Trail.
We will meet in the large parking lot at the entrance to the South Boat Launch on Hemlock Lake at 1:45 for a quick take off at 2:00. Remember it is bow hunting season, wear bright clothing and respect the hunters that use these trails this time of year.
Climbers/Tourists will be taken to a designated location at the top of Johnson Hill/Reynolds Gull Road. Although they will be limited to a 2 1/2 hour hike, they will attempt to cover 6 miles, including a steep downward road trek, picking up the Johnson Hill trail, and finishing over the bank next to Reynolds Gull onto 15A.
Naturalists will car pool to the Johnson Hill trail, crossing over the top of a double cascade waterfall, then proceeding for a slight uphill hike into a Hemlock forest high above the Reynolds Gull waterfalls for a distance of 1.5 miles round trip. Scenic views of Hemlock Lake, Springwater Creek, waterfalls and a beautiful mid fall deciduous forest will offer many picture taking opportunities.
After hike social will be at Pati’s and Jim’s camp on Wheaton Hill Road. Watch for the Springwater Trail sign 1/2 way up the hill between Canadice Lake and Wetmore Roads. As always, bring a healthy fall dish to pass and your preferred drink or make a donation ($5) to the social fund. Jim will prepare a tasty roasted ham for our main meal!
Directions: (42.668316,-77.592123) The parking lot is on the west side of Rt 15A just south of Hemlock Lake. Details are available here.
Just today read the hike description. (Sorry I did not read & post this sooner.) With the pronounced hill terrain for this hike, suggestion that in knowing that we have had some recent rains and lacking strong sun to dry things out, probably be best to wear fairly aggressive tread pattern shoes/boots, or perhaps traction aids often thought for utilization in winter such as Kahtoola MICROspikes, Hillsound Trail Crampon Ultra, Hillsound Trail Crampons, Hillsound Freesteps6 crampons, or similar. In addition to use of these in winter conditions, have had some experience using in non-winter conditions in wet-ground areas on hills in Spring, … with favorable results. Just be kind to tree roots and step around them and not on the roots with the spikes. Happy hiking!
Pati sent a note to all hikers the will be joining us after the Johnson Hill/Reynolds Gull hike:
Please bring a chair to sit around the camp fire. Also, there is a two burner stove at the lean-to to heat up soups, chili, hot toddies etc if anyone is inclined to bring them.