On November 27, 2016, 18 Springwater Trails hikers enjoyed a hike through the Wesley Hill Preserve.
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Monthly Archives: November 2016
Planning Winter 2017 Hikes – Looking for hike planners
Each season, Springwater Trails hosts 12 or 13 hikes, one on each Sunday. Since this website started in September, 2012, that means we have hosted over 200 hikes. Each hike has been planned and organized by one of our hikers. Often this means that the hike planner has selected an interesting hike, then gone out and done a pre-hike to determine if the trail is open and if all hikers will be able to follow it. Then the planner selects appropriate hikes for our three groups – the climbers, the tourists and the naturalists. Once the planner knows how the hike will be led,a description of the hike gets written up and posted on the website. Then emails are sent to our complete mailing list, telling them about the hike. Finally, we get to Sunday and we get to enjoy another afternoon outside.
We all know its a lot of work, so this season the Springwater Board is trying something a little different. Below is a proposed hike schedule for the Winter 2017 hikes. Each hike has a location and a link to an old hike plan that was followed during a previous hike. The plan describes the hikes and even mentions the social that followed the hike. The only thing missing is a hike planner for the Winter of 2017. We are hoping our hikers will look at the schedule, select one or two hikes they would be willing to plan, and contact Wendy, our VP of Hiking. Wendy will then make assign hike planners. If someone else has volunteered, maybe you will be asked to plan your second choice. In any case, you can read the old hike plans, maybe go out and do a pre-hike, and then post your new hike plan on the website. It will be just fine if the only change you make is the date of the hike.
Please note that the Board has already stepped up to lead half of the hikes. We hope this leaves plenty for the rest of you.
NOTE: If a word in the Location Column is blue, then it is a link to an old hike plan for this location. If two words are blue, they are two different links, to give more ideas for a hike. You may feel free to copy as much of the old plan as you would like.
| Date | Location | Town | Hike Planner |
| Jan 1 | No hikel | New Years | |
| Jan 8 | Genesee Valley Greenway | Cuylerville -Piffard | Wendy |
| January 15 | Mendon Ponds Winterfest | Mendon | Marty |
| January 22 | Harriett Hollister Spencer Park | Canadice | Rick H |
| January 29 | All Western Evergreen Tree Farm | Springwater | Katherine |
| February 5 | Cummings Nature Center RMSC |
Naples | Tony |
| February 11 (Saturday) | Penfield Hikers Jamboree | Penfield | Don |
| February 12 | Steege Hill Finger Lakes Land Trust | Big Flats | Melissa |
| February 19 | Hemlock Canadice State Forest , Canadice Outlet | Hemlock | Pam & Bill |
| February 26 | Schribner Road | Springwater | Mark |
| March 5 | Rob’s Trail | Canadice | Tawn |
| March 12 | High Tor Bassett Rd |
Naples | John L |
| March 19 | Springwater Center (Annual Mtg) |
Springwater | |
| March 26 | Hunt Hollow | Naples | Melissa |
Huckleberry Bog
On Sunday, November 13, 2016, 20 hikers enjoyed the Finger Lakes Trail Bristol Hills Branch. In a new hike for the group, we made a loop on the Huckleberry Bog link and then back on the main trail.
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Finger Lakes Trail-Letchworth Branch
The Finger Lakes Trail in Letchorth Park, Mount Morris, NY
The glorious Fall weather inspired twenty hikers to attend last Sunday’s hike in Letchworth State Park. This section of the FLT was new territory for most of the group. As you can see from their smiling faces, the long and challenging trek left them feeling victorious. The forest was full of color, the trail well maintained. All agreed it was a successful venture. The early start was a good choice as we did not finish until after 4:00.
About half of the group joined the Climbers for a vigorous scramble up and down some serious gullies. There was some consternation when we did not find the park trail leading down to the riverbank for a view of St Helena. However, no one whined about the extra mile down and up a rather steep trail. The scenery did not disappoint. A smaller group of Tourists did the hike in reverse, hoping to meet up with our faithful photographer, Char. They encountered the steeper terrain towards the end of their journey, a true test of their stamina. The Naturalists explored an easier route and one of the FLT’s famous lean-tos.
A huge thank you to volunteer hike leaders Mark and Gene, and to John for the group photo. God bless Pam and Bill, Gene and Georgia for coming to the aid of a fellow hiker.
Several folks convened at Scovill’s Grill after the hike for some much needed refreshments. Despite the shortage of beer, it was an enjoyable meal with some lively conversation.