Do you remember hiking the Buckley farm nearly two years ago? That hike took place back in the old days when winters were cold! This Sunday we are going to return to the Buckley farm to explore and lay out a portion of the Springwater Trail.
I had the privilege three weeks ago of spending the afternoon with Norb Buckley and his wife Wilma to learn about where they would like the Springwater Trail to cross their property and also to hear some of their concerns about allowing hikers to enjoy their property without interfering with the Buckley family use of the land.
S – Coates Rd trail at Sugarbush Hollow
B – Buckley Farm
H – Connection point to Harriet Hollister Spencer State Park
This Sunday we will hike the proposed route of the Springwater Trail. We will use this hike to plan the work we need to complete to build the trail and to ensure that we foresee issues we will have with the final trail. Until the Buckley’s approve the complete route, we will not trim trees or smooth the trail – this is the right time to plan the trail.
As you can see to the left, the Buckley farm is on the proposed route from Sugarbush Hollow to Harriet Hollister Spencer park. But on the way, we will find that the Buckley farm, with views north along Honeoye Lake to Rochester, is a great place for a hike.
We will park along Thorpe Rd and split into two groups. The Tourists will traverse the trail in the clockwise direction. Initially we will follow the established trail across the field and part way up the hill. This trail can easily be maintained with a tractor and mower. We then will pass through a spruce woods to Warner Rd. Crossing the road, we will continue around the field at the top of the hill. The trail should stay about 50 feet inside the woods. This will separate hikers from the farmer’s crop, while allowing hikers to see both the fields and the woods.
Meanwhile the Climbers will start across the same field but will stay to the right, heading up to the top of the hill, to join the proposed route from Sugarbush Hollow. We will need to check that the trail isn’t too steep, or that switchbacks will be able to be created to ensure that hikes can safely traverse the trail. The two groups expect to meet along the north trail at a picnic table looking down the Honeoye valley.
What to bring:
- Regular Deer and Bear hunting season starts Saturday Nov 17. So wear orange or other bright colors and plan to stay together as a group.
- If you have a hiking GPS, bring that to track the trail.
- If you can take notes during the hike, please bring a pad to write on. Having key GPS coordinates may prove useful.
Directions (note GPS may lead you astray!)