No hike this weekend, but lots to do! – February 1, 2015

Springwater Trails is taking February 1st off.  Hikers looking for another hike may want to check out the following websites:

Now a brief preview of our events coming up in February and March.

  • On February 8, Gene has planned a hike on the Ontario Pathways in Canandaigua – join us with your skis or snowshoes to enjoy the winter snow.
  • On March 15, the Springwater Trails Annual Meeting will be held following our hike at the Springwater Center. Please join us for a review of 2014 and the election of the Executive Board for 2015.
  • In preparation for the Annual Meeting, you can send nominations for the Executive Board to Melissa at [email protected].  The offices are: President, Vice President of Hiking, Secretary, Treasurer and Trail Master.
  • The weekends March 21, 22 and March 28, 29, Springwater Trails will be serving the Pancake Breakfast at Stoney Ridge Farms in Farmington.  Please sent us an email at [email protected] if you can volunteer to help.

Finally, if you would like to make a cash contribution to Springwater Trails, please purchase a Membership in Springwater Trails today. For a contribution of $20 ($30 for a family) you will know you are supporting the blazing of the Springwater Trail and the publishing of our seasonal Hiking brochure. Again this year, memberships are being offered at half price, now through the annual meeting on March 15. To buy a membership for 2015, please complete the form below and mail it and a check payable to Springwater Trails, to

Springwater Trails, Inc
PO Box 162
Springwater, NY 14560

Name:  _______________________________

Address:   _____________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________

Phone:  _______________________________

Email: ________________________________

Individual Membership   ______________ $20 $10

Family Membership‡        ______________ $30  $15
‡ A family membership is entitled to two emails and two votes.  Please enter the second name and email.
2nd Name  _____________________
2nd Email  _____________________

Contributing Member*     ____________ $100  $50
* Contributing Members are listed on our website.  Please write the name to appear if different from the name above.
_______________________________________________

Other donation  _______________

TOTAL   _______________

Letchworth State Park, historic 1919 report for use in a Hike Plan

An historic 1919 report of the American Scenic and Historic Preservation Society, transmitted (published) to the NYS Legislature in April 1920.  Each year the Society published an annual report reviewing activities in each of the parks and historical sites they oversaw.  One such report was the 25th annual report, which contains a interesting look at the young Letchworth State Park.  The Society operated Letchworth State Park from the time of William Prior Letchworth’s death, (December 1, 1910) until 1930.  Letchworth had gifted the park in 1907 to NYS, subject only to his life use and tenancy.

Perhaps an interesting reference for inclusion in a Hike Announcement for a Letchworth State Park hike, and/or impetus to Hike Plan in a particular area of the park.   hyperlink is —   http://www.letchworthparkhistory.com/AHSPA%201919%20Report.html

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Additionally of note about Letchworth State Park area and its history:  Friends of Genesee Valley Greenway (FOGVG) some years back (June 15, 2002) sponsored two guided interpretive hikes of eastern Letchworth State Park, including some info about the geology of the area and info about Genesee Valley Canal of long ago.  A June 3, 2002 article about these hikes ran in the Westside News (a newspaper of Spencerport and perhaps some other outlying western suburbs of Rochester).  The article contents are here:

(start of newspaper article)⇒

Canal history focus of two Greenway Walks

Two of the area’s most well known and respected canal historians will both be leading walks on the Genesee Valley Greenway within Letchworth State Park on the afternoon of Saturday, June 15. Each event will focus on a separate aspect of the history of the Genesee Valley Canal which played a major role in the development of western New York and transported passengers, agricultural products, gypsum, lumber, and manufactured goods from 1840 to 1878 between the Erie Canal in Rochester and the Allegany River near Olean.
At 2 p.m., Dave Kipp, Genesee Valley Canal historian, and author of Locking the Heights: The Rise and Demise of the Genesee Valley Canal, will share his extensive knowledge of the canal’s history during a walk along the canal towpath next to stone canal locks #54 to 60. The locks are located within the one-mile section of Genesee Valley Greenway between Oakland and Short Tract Roads in the Town of Portage and are visible from Route 436 between Nunda and Portageville. This series of seven locks is the best preserved of 17 locks built to negotiate the change in elevation between the Keshequa Creek Valley in Nunda and the glacial moraine in Portage. This walk will begin at the Greenway’s Oakland Road parking area, located at the intersection of Oakland Road an Route 436, 1.5 miles west of Nunda.
At 3:30 p.m., Tom Grasso, Genesee Valley Canal historian and lecturer and president of the Canal Society of New York State, will lead a two-mile walk along the former canal towpath (now Genesee Valley Greenway) from the Letchworth State Park Parade Grounds to the famous Slide Area and Portage Hill Tunnel. Grasso, a geologist, will explain how the land forms and geology of the area challenged and directed the efforts of canal builders. Grasso will describe how the Slide Area was formed and why it created never-ending maintenance expenditures for canal and railroad operators. Grasso will also discuss the tunnels envisioned and started by the canal builders, the pinning of the canal to the top of the gorge walls, and the means chosen to cross an ancient river bed. The walk will begin at the Letchworth State Park Parade Grounds parking lot on the east side of the park.
After the walks, the Friends of the Genesee Valley Greenway will host a silent auction, chicken barbecue and barn dance at Ravenwood Farms, located on-half mile north of Route 436 at 9174 Short Tract Road in the Town of Portage. Short Tract Road is 2.5 miles west of Nunda. Funds raised will help support the Friends of the Genesee Valley Greenway’s public outreach, interpretation, and trail maintenance efforts. The Silent Auction will begin at 5 p.m. The chicken barbecue will be held from 5:30 to 8 p.m. From 8 p.m. to midnight, the Starlight Ramblers will entertain at a square dance in the large hay barn at Ravenwood Farms.
Tickets for the chicken barbecue are $7/person or $4/person for a half portion. Take-outs will be available. Barn dance tickets are $5/person. A special barbecue and barn dance ticket can be purchased for $10. Tickets can be purchased at Byrnes Pharmacy, and McMaster Pontiac-GMC in Nunda, from Nunda Kiwanis members and the Friends of the Genesee Valley Greenway office, or at the door. ⇐(end of newspaper article)

 

 

 

Stid Hill East – January 25, 2015 @ 2:00PM (42.764264, -77.369022)

IMG_0678Last summer, Dena led us up Stid Hill from Bristol Valley Rd, Rt 64. The day was hot and the climb was steep but we all enjoyed the woods.  There was one rock on the ridge made all of shale, but sitting on its own above the ground.  We sure wish we knew its history.

IMG_0672This Sunday we are returning to Stid Hill, but this time from the east. Thanks to the hospitality of Jim and Debbie Burger, we will hike the east side of Stid Hill on primarily private land.  Based on our Thursday pre-hike, boots (preferably with traction devices attached) or snowshoes are appropriate for this hike.  And by the time we reach to highest point of the hike, you will have warmed up, so dress in layers that you can adjust.

The Climbers will start from the Burger home on Dugway Rd, and follow a steady climb (about 600 feet over an hour hike) along several horse trails and old logging roads up to the abandoned Stid Hill Rd. The slope is much easier on this side of Stid Hill, but the Climbers should definitely be ready for a good work-out. The old road heads down to the Stid Hill Wildlife Management Area where, depending on the time, we will take a brief tour of the top of the area.  We will exit the Wildlife Management Area along the last bit of Stid Hill Rd and walk Dugway Rd back to the start.

Stid Hill From Burgers MapMeanwhile, the Tourists will do the reverse hike.  We will car pool to the entrance to the Wildlife Management Area on Dugway.  This hike will start with a 300 foot climb and then will descend back to the house. The Tourists will see the same scenic views over Canandaigua Lake as the Climbers but will spend more time walking down hill.

Following the hike, the Burgers have invited us to a social at their home.  Please bring a dish to pass that will complement venison chili, and your favorite beverage – or make a small ($5) donation to the social fund.

Plan to arrive at 1:45 at the Burger’s home at 6275 Dugway Rd, Canandaigua.  Follow the driveway up to the house and park around the circle.

Directions:
GPS destination: 6275 Dugway Rd, Canandaigua, NY (42.764264, -77.369022)

From SpringwaterHead north on NY-15A N over Bald Hill for 10.8 miles.  Turn right onto US-20A E, through Honeoye for 11.9 mi. Turn right onto NY-64 S for 3.0 miles.  Turn left onto Dugway Rd (a well maintained dirt road).  The driveway is on the right at the town line where the road changes to paved. (Approximate time: 37 minutes)

From Wayland: Head east on NY 21N through N Cohocton and Naples.  Before South Bristol, Rt 21 bears right at the junction with Rt 64.  Stay on Rt 21 for 12.2 miles.  Turn left onto Dugway Rd.  The driveway is on the left 0.6 miles up the paved road just before it changes to a dirt road.

Winterfest Hike Recap

IMG_0860WFor those of you who missed the big event at Mendon Ponds Park, here is a quick accounting of the day’s event. Around the park there were numerous “winter” activities to enjoy. There was a good turnout. Springwater Trails had a presence at the winter Hiking Gear Display. Huge thanks to Don who organized the array of traction devices for winter hikers. He did a fine job of representing the gamut of gear for trekkers of all terrains. Don also did a fine job of promoting our own Springwater Trails activities to all who stopped by. Our nine hikers set off from Hopkins Point at 3:15, just as the rain subsided. We welcomed two new folks, Charlie and Sara, on their first hike with us. We headed up the West Esker following the Orange Loop for its entirety. Mendon Ponds Park is noted in the National Registry of Natural Landmarks for its glacial formations, the eskers and kettle ponds being two of them. It was a fairly easy walk with a few moderate hills. At the end of the loop, Mark and Georgia set off to explore the lower regions of the area by the pond, while the rest of us descended to the Devil’s Bathtub, a kettle hole. No one was inclined to test out the ice. After a steep climb out of the Bathtub, the group set out for a stroll on the Grasslands Trail. We encountered numerous deer browsing in the twilight. Our tour concluded with a nice meander along the ridge between Devil’s Bathtub and Deep Pond, a lovely vantage point as the sun set. Arrival back at Hopkins Point Lodge was timed perfectly. We had the place to ourselves, as the ROC group had already departed. The Crock Pots were steaming and sending off enticing aromas for the hungry horde of 9. Again kudos to Don for arranging for us to have the lodge for our social, free of charge. Supper was nothing less than superb, with amazing soup, stew, chili and chicken. Char’s cake was an outstanding conclusion to a perfect evening.

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